Dharma combat, part one (year-end keeps this working stiff busy; I did my best-if it's not enough, let the chapters build up)

Hearing the Purple Robes Youth's voice, Wang Ba felt a slight jolt.

He wants me to take the next bout?

His gaze instinctively swept over the Tribulation Crossing cultivators around him.

Their presences varied-gloomy, radiant, fierce, gentle... the rules upon them also differed markedly from those of the Cloud-Heaven Realm. Clearly, they came from different world domains.

Among them were early-stage Tribulation Crossing cultivators, but also mid-stage cultivators like Ba True Person, and even one or two whose presence made his heart tighten. Most were fully rested and vigorous. By rights, no matter how he looked at it, his turn should not have come.

As if sensing Wang Ba's doubts, the Purple Robes Youth's voice sounded beside his ear again, slightly solemn:

"With the Mahayana cultivators absent, late-stage Tribulation Crossing cultivators are the needles that steady the sea. They cannot act lightly, or things could easily spiral out of control into a full-scale battle."

"And the Supreme True Buddha's Arhats and Bodhisattvas far outnumber ours. Even if an ordinary cultivator from our side enters the field, they can always find an opponent who counters them. Only you possess such varied methods that you are difficult to counter... I, Bai, also hope you can turn this defeat around and buy more time for Gai True Person, Senior Heavenly Lord, and Heavenly Venerable Xiahou."

His voice paused before he continued:

"Of course, whether you win or not, our sect will offer cloud shells... if you have yet to recover and cannot enter the field, then there is nothing to be done."

Hearing this, Wang Ba immediately understood that the other man clearly already knew what had happened inside the Cloud-Heaven Sect Treasury. After a moment's consideration, he transmitted:

"Since you think so highly of me, Daoist brother, I shall naturally do my