The two guys from the Trade Hall or it would be better to say from the Mao Household indeed provided him with information about Mao Xun. Even though it wasn't the one expected, as, from their words, Mao Xun had not left the northern area of the 'Underground Forest' since the start. There was no reason to doubt them, and from what he learned, Mao Xun has not been alone during this time. Between three and four people from the same household were staying along with him.

Bai Qi asked the reason for such grouping, reasoning that the Slates being individual challenges so groups could be considered detrimental. And he got an answer, Mao Xun had a task. A task which was surprisingly similar to Bai Qi's own, except that Mao Xun was only looking after the five from the same household. With one or two of them staying in the camp, the rest remained under his wing. It turned out that even the trade stall idea was Mao Xun's, with him trying to use both trade and challenges while looking for a few specific items.

And as Bai Qi supposed, the stall also served as an information-gathering point. With that in mind, Bai Qi began diverting the topic until he left Mao Xun and all matters related to the Mao Household. Even though he wanted to find out more about what items the guy was looking for, Bai Qi decided to avoid attracting too much attention. And so, for the rest of the evening, he spoke and asked only about the 'Challenge Slates'. He even revealed a few bits of the knowledge he now had, providing tips for some of the challenges.

Thus shortly, Bai Qi, or better said Chen Guang from the Dai Clan, became more popular than one could expect. Not to mention that with a lot of participants approaching to listen to his tips, practically no one paid attention to his information and gossip gathering. As for the ones that could take notice, Bai Qi began avoiding asking anything with them present. At least as soon as he managed to identify the few people that also were trying to keep tabs on everyone.

With no incidents, at least ones that he heard off, occurring and with all of the Sage cultivators he had marked remaining safe, Bai Qi decided to continue staying in the open. It would allow him to gather more information and gossip. And even to examine some of the participants closely if any suspicion arose.

***

By staying in the camp, it was not strange for him to cross paths with familiar faces. But Zhuan Min continuously tried to avoid him. Even when they saw each other, she only quickly greeted before finding a reason to leave. Although it was not normal, Bai Qi decided to follow her lead. If she wanted to avoid speaking with him for now, then he would not try and force a conversation either.

Chang Kun also appeared in the camp several times. And each of them, he tried to keep his distance. When it wasn't possible, Chang Kun glared at Bai Qi for a few seconds before quickly leaving.

Neither his avoidance nor the stifled hostility in his eyes was surprising after what had happened. Still, Chang Kun did not say anything, and Bai Qi felt that the boy should get over it by himself. So in place of trying anything, he simply ignored the boy's glares and presence.

As for some of the participants' Bai Qi had interacted with lately, like the chubby Fu Wei, or the two guys from the Mao household, they tried to spend most of their time around him. For one to listen to his tips, as each of them proved to be useful. But also in consideration of his cultivation level. After all, with Mao Xun not present and the other two 4th level Sages never appearing either, Bai Qi was the strongest in the entire lakeshore camp.

***

And so, hunting for 'Challenge Slates' and spending the so-called nights in the camp, Bai Qi spent four full days. And it was only on the morning of the 10th day since the opening, that something occurred. Something that made him spring into the forest at full speed.

___________________________________________________________________

10th Day. In the southern part of the 'Underground Forest'.

Gao Heng and Gao Ping were the only ones that knew about Xue Zhou's true identity - Sheng Feng, the nephew of the City Lord and the current inheritor for the position.

Not that it was surprising with Gao Hanying, their foster father and master being one of the two elders that escorted the young lord since his birth. The two siblings had practically grown up in the 'Seven Petals Palace', the residence where Sheng Feng lived. They had played, studied, and even trained together for over eight years by now.

And so, when Sheng Feng decided to use Xue Zhou's identity to enter the 'Underground Land of the River', it was Gao Heng and his sister that helped him do so.

The young lord had not been a public person, at least not yet, and so even though his name and overall description were known to many, his face wasn't. Still, to make sure he wasn't recognized, the Gao siblings had suggested remaining away from the places where participants gathered, like the lakeshore. A plan that had been working, at least until now.

***

"Who are you?! Why are you attacking us?!" Gao Heng bellowed while covering himself, his sister, and Sheng Feng with the barrier of a protective talisman.

*Twink* *Twink* *Twink*

A barrage of arrows emerged from behind the trees, but the barrier protected them against all of them before dissipating.

"We are down to the last talisman, did any of you sense the shooter's location?" Gao Heng asked via qi transmission. Receiving a negative answer, he proceeded in the same way "Then there is no choice. Young Lord, take the talisman and use it to defend yourself and my sister"

"Do you intend to blindly rush into the forest? Are you crazy? You will be shot dead before you even see the archer!" Sheng Meng used qi transmission while grasping at Gao Heng's shoulder.

"Brother, don't do anything rash!" As for Gao Ping, she directly hugged him while whispering.

"For the heavens sake, you two. It's the sixth barrage already, and we are down to the last talisman. If I do not prevent him from shooting, or at least don't attract his attention, we three will be dead anyway" He glared at the two while transmitting the message.

"But what if the archer isn't alone? Or he is stronger than you? We should try and get to a more crowded area. Have you noticed? There is a pause of about five breaths between each barrage, so after the next one, we all rush into the opposite direction of the arrows. Then take separate paths to the north. If we move at full speed, it will take us only a few minutes to reach the lake" Sheng Feng transmitted to both of his companions.

Both of them tried to complain as it would leave him open, but Sheng Feng cut them at the root with a forceful shake of his head and another transmission "It was my decision to come here, and so I will not cower behind you two. Now, let's do it. Shout again, provoke him into shooting"

Although Gao Heng still had doubts about the plan, there was nothing he could do to change Sheng Feng's decision.

"Show yourself, you bastard!" Doubts or not, he still roared while preparing to activate the talisman.

*Twink* *Twink* *Twink*

And did it right it time, as several arrows appeared again, this time from a southward direction. Only to be blocked by the barrier.

"Run!" Sheng Feng exclaimed and was the first to follow on his words, darting towards the north with all the speed he could exert. Gao Ping also started running but ignored Sheng Feng's words about using separate paths. In place running right behind him, trying to place herself between the young lord and the shooter.

As for Gao Heng, he did run, but not towards the north. In place, he turned towards the direction from where the arrows had come and rushed forward. But he had not even made a few steps, as he sensed danger from the left. Gao Heng reacted immediately, throwing himself on the ground.

*Thump*

An arrow flew right where his head would have been if he had reacted slightly slower, and rebounded against the formation that protected every single thing in the forest.

Gao Heng felt a presence emerge next to him, but before he got up, or even thought about it, he was pinned down by someone's leg.

"Don't move, or the other two die" A female voice entered his ear, and Gao Heng stopped struggling.

***

Several minutes later, a restrained Gao Heng was brought to a small glade. One that was surrounded by trees from three sides and the Southern wall of the zone from the fourth.

His cultivation had been sealed by the talisman-covered ropes he was bound with, and so, unable to move he was dragged by his captor until here. Only to be thrown on the ground near a similarly restrained Gao Ping and Sheng Feng.

On the way here, each of them saw several dozens of talismans and even several formations that surrounded the clearing. As on the glade itself, a couple of tents and signs of a camp could be seen.

Who had first attacked and now captured them? Why does someone have a concealed base inside the 'Underground Land of the River'? These two questions surfaced in the mind of the three youngsters as they looked around, trying to take a peek at the mysterious attackers.

"Stay put, or the three of you die right now" A voice from an unseen man entered their ears, and from the tone, it was clear that he wasn't joking.

___________________________________________________________________

Bai Qi had not only personalized each of his marks when he had the chance to do so, but he also had added a few alarms to them. One of them reacted to any damage, and so when he sensed that Gao Ping was wounded, he immediately checked on her mark.

Only to see how her and Xue Zhou's marks waned and then disappeared. A moment later, Gao Heng's one did the same.

Ignoring the surprised looks, Bai Qi immediately rushed towards the last known location.

Using his full speed, it took him only a couple of minutes. Still, when he arrived, there were no signs of anyone. "What happened?" Bai Qi's thoughts raced as he began examining the surroundings of Gao Ping's and Xue Zhou's last location.

Unable to find anything on the spot, he continued a mile south, to where Gao Heng's mark had disappeared. But he stopped halfway, on a small area between the trees.

"Protection Talismans were used around here" He muttered as his aura and senses expanded and covered the small clearing. A protection talisman would be used only while under attack. Thus Bai Qi presumed that the trio was attacked and captured. Acting on this assumption, he began looking for clues.

***

Bai Qi had no idea either of the identity or numbers of the attackers. Not a single trace except the one from the talismans remained, and even Bai Qi's senses did not catch any aura traces. This latter could only mean that a treasure to erase them was used, as otherwise, he would sense at least who had activated the talismans.

"I don't believe that someone managed to clean any traces in the time it took me to reach this place" Bai Qi muttered and began thinking. Aura traces aside, there were dozens of other methods to track someone. So now, it was just a question of finding the one which the kidnappers had not prepared against.