The teleportation formation from the district had transported him to [Sagtsikhe], the only city of the [Steel Fang] Region. But Bai Qi did not remain there more than for a few hours. Only enough time to replenish his pills and talisman supplies. And to find how to find Kass Shaa'r.

The former had been quick, with the city being the center of trade for the entire region. Although the prices were higher than in Shuomen, Bai Qi did not care. He had over 40 mid-grade spirit stones and at least three times that in resources and materials.

As for Kass Shaa'r, Bai Qi doubted that the lizardman had already reached some position to help him get a place to train, but he could help. After all, he had been important enough for one of the strongest Beastmen to be sent to pick him up from Shuomen. Thus, even if he could not grant Bai Qi permission to travel and live in the region, he could help Bai Qi reach the Beastmen that could.

Hu Laohu's orders had come from the [Feathered Snake], so Bai Qi asked about both personages in one of the human-run taverns.

"Young Master, are you truly intending to enter the region?" The owner had asked him after hearing the reasons for Bai Qi's question.

But even though the owner, a middle-aged Sage, warned Bai Qi against it, he still gave the information in exchange for a few spirit stones.

Each year, the war packs of each of the three Man-Beast Kings would meet for a battle event somewhere on the north, in a place called [Slithering Pool].

Though the tavern owner did not know the exact location, he knew there was a teleportation formation there, so it should be possible to reach via the one in the city.

Bai Qi thanked the owner, and after drinking a cup of the local [Swamp Bamboo] wine, returned to the place he had arrived first.

"Human, why do you want to go there?" A grey-haired ape asked with a growl. He was both the formation guard and its sole operator. Thus Bai Qi had already spoken with him before.

One thing was to arrive from Shuomen City to this open border city. But to be transported to the heart of the Steel Fang region? And to a place that usually was unknown to humans, not to mention restricted? The ape's questioning was understandable.

Bai Qi did not need to hide either his identity or his reasons, so he truthfully explained.

"A friend? Wait, you mean a green man-lizard that came here less than half a year ago?" The ape questioned while frowning.

"Senior is right. Kass Shaa'r is a friend of mine, and we both arrived from the same place. When Senior Hu Laohu went for him, we agreed that I would visit later" This was true as well.

Although Bai Qi had not made any requests or even asked much when he said that Kass Shaa'r was free to go if he wanted, Bai Qi did say that he would visit at some point.

"Hmm, I don't understand why the [Fire Tiger of the North] would have even paid attention to you, but I do not sense deceit from your words" The gray ape crossed his arms and even half-closed his eyes, thinking about the matter. It wasn't like a human could not travel the region, or that place was restricted. It wasn't, at least during this time of the year.

The old ape elder asked himself. And found the answer just a few moments later

Bai Qi calmly waited for the beast to speak. He wasn't aware of most of the events happening in Shuomen, lest in the Steel Fang region. Thus, he thought that if the formation guardian had some reservations, they probably would be not related to Bai Qi but because he was a human.

"There is no problem in sending you there. But only after the pack battles end. You would die before having a chance to explain if they go now" The ape shook his head.

Even though the ape was almost two hundred years old, and had cultivation similar to a Warrior King, being a 5th level Saint Beast, he took his time and explained everything to Bai Qi.

And while doing so, offered an alternative. "Each of the big war pack camps has a teleportation formation as well, so if you want to find your friend, it would be better to travel to the North Tiger Camp. Not to say it would be safer!"

"Understood, I will leave it to Senior's decision." Bai Qi said while cupping his hands. He wondered but decided to avoid asking. After all, this ape may not be a member of it, but who knows if it's a taboo or something?

"Do you intend to leave now, or do you need to do something first?" With the agreement about the destination reached, the formation guardian asked.

"There is not much to do here, and if Kass Shaa'r hasn't left, he may do it shortly. So if it's acceptable, can I leave right now?" Bai Qi requested.

"Mm. If someone asks on the other side, say that I, Hou Zhong, decided on it. Oh, and if you do not find your friend, try looking for a man-tiger called Tiao Wen, he's an old acquaintance of mine. Just don't accept his invitations to drink. He's a bad drinker!" The ape said and then placed his palms on the formation. The wild aura of a Saint beast expanded, and the rune-covered platform began shining.

"Go!" He commanded, and Bai Qi immediately jumped on it.

___________________________________________________________________

The [Sky Tear] plane had a single continent surrounded by a single ocean. The most simple form in the Astral Road, and at the same time one of the rarest ones.

Even before his stint to the [Blue Planet], Bai Qi had researched the change from world to plane. Was the addition of qi and the connection to the Astral Road the only things? And he found out that it wasn't so.

Worlds varied between themselves, and could look like a sphere, an oval, or assume even stranger forms. So, why did all the planes have the same, almost square shape? He could not find the exact motive, but the cause was the connection to the Astral Road. After all, Chaos planes could assume other forms after being separated. Even if scholars attributed the latter to the effects of uncontrollable chaos qi, Bai Qi considered that was wrong.

Basing himself on that idea, that he would confirm after reaching the Divine realm, Bai Qi had committed almost a hundred years to the matter still.

The connection followed what he could only call an |Unfurling| as the pear-shaped world he had observed broke from one side. And slowly, almost during fifty Astral Years unfolded until it became a flat plane. At least half of that world's dwellers, now [The Twisting Flats] lower-tier plane, had perished during the process.

Still, the form was not square at that point, but more like a fan. And although Bai Qi had no chance to way for the thousand or so Astral Years it would take that plane to get its first expansion, he had observed several of the latter.

The result of the first expansion had always been an increase in size until the shape became a square. As well formation of the visible planar borders.

This latter, the planar borders, were another topic that had always made Bai Qi wonder. They existed even before a world connected to the Astral Road. So, why did they were made visible only after the plane's form assumed the one of a square?

___________________________________________________________________

"One day, I will find out" Bai Qi nodded to his murmured words and then cleared his mind by taking a long breath. He knew the reason for his thoughts, with the milky wall of a planar boundary now visible in the north. Still, it wasn't time for recalling old dreams.

Bai Qi thought as he began examining the surroundings.

It was ironic that the beastmen, a race unable to tread any of the non-martial paths had formations set up in almost every important location of their region. And free to use even for humans.

[Sagtsikhe] aside, the spot with most humans in the region, and a trading city, all the other formations were unguarded. And most of the teleportation formations were located in the wilderness, as most war pack camps were migratory.

Hou Zhong had said that the camp was due north as if walking towards the boundary. Thus, Bai Qi at least had a direction to follow.

***

"What are you doing here, human?" A growl stopped Bai Qi as he only walked a single mile from the formation.

Bai Qi was moving with his senses expanded and should have noticed the beast or beastman, but he did not.

"I am searching for the [Fire Tiger of the North] war pack. Hou Zhong from [Sagtsikhe] city told me that I would reach it moving north from the formation. Did the Senior mistake something?" Bai Qi answered calmly as his senses began wandering around the surroundings.

"Here is the territory of the pack, and humans are unwelcome. Leave!" The growl responded again, and Bai Qi's senses locked on the possible position.

"I'm sorry, can't do. I can not activate the formation, and I have an important matter in the camp" Bai Qi responded calmly. In truth, he could activate the formation and return to the city or move somewhere else. If he counted with the planar coordinates of the receiving formation he could even move to any connected spot. Still, why would he?

"I do not care, leave or else..." The growl turned more menacing, and this time Bai Qi managed to determine both the location and even latch on the speaker's aura.

Bai Qi could only guess. Even a 1st level Saint beast was comparable to a Warrior Lord, and Bai Qi's aura clearly showed that he was just a 4th level Sage.

"I can not. But if your pack doesn't allow humans to near, then call for someone of the elders. I am a friend to Kass Shaa'r, a lizardman that arrived recently. And your chief, Huo Laohu, agreed that I could visit" Bai Qi continued in the same calm manner, but he inwardly was prepared for something to happen.

And his preparation wasn't for naught, as in place of an answer, something jumped towards him.

*Swoosh*

His senses had placed the speaker behind a cluster of trees on his left side, and he had been right. Thus even with the attacker launching what should have been a surprise attack, Bai Qi dodged.

"Stop, I have not come here to fight!" Bai Qi shouted while examining the figure that had landed on the spot he was standing on just now.

A light brown fur covered a human-like figure, and a cat-like head continued from the shoulders. It was a beastman, or better said, a beast woman? Indeed, most beastmen did not use clothes or only the bare minimum for a human city. But the one that had attacked Bai Qi had something that resembled a woven dress on... her?

*Growl* *Swoosh*

In any case, male or female did not matter. It released a growl and then pounced towards Bai Qi with its long claws aimed at his neck.

Bai Qi activated 'Counting Steps' and easily avoided the pounce. He again tried to explain but was ignored, as the Saint beast attacked again.