Bai Rui was indeed Bai Ze's older sister. And she turned out to be far more reasonable than her younger sister as well.

Even before asking anything, she had already suspected what happened, and with Bai Ze's conduct confirming it, Bai Rui first thing apologized to Bai Qi.

"I'm sorry for my sister's conduct. Since she became a Saint Beast, she has been trying to fight each being she can" Bai Rui lowered her head slightly after glaring at her almost trembling sister.

"No apology is needed. I enjoyed the fight, and no one was seriously wounded anyway. So, let's consider it a spar, agreed?" Neither wanting to be involved in their family business nor trying to frame his opponent Bai Qi decided to leave it like that.

"Thank you. You, foolish cat, thank this man. He is far more generous than others. Do you imagine what could have happened if you attacked someone who considered it an attempt at his life?" Bai Rui threw another glance at her sister, and the latter somewhat bashfully thanked him as well.

With the misunderstanding cleared, Bai Qi explained the reason for his arrival.

After listening to the explanation, Bai Rui's round eyes widened even more as she heard his introduction, Wu Guang.

"So you are the man that brought Kass Shaa'r to this plane? He spoke a lot about you!"

Having been identified and then verifying that he wasn't mistaken about Kass Shaa'r current affiliation, Bai Qi then asked if he could meet with the lizardman.

"Our camp is open to guests, humans included, so there is no problem in waiting for him there, but meeting him right now? I fear it is impossible!" Bai Rui answered before proceeding to explain further.

All the Steel Fang region groups had a tradition. Their new members or recently ascended Saint Beasts would attend the event at the [Slithering Pool]. A combat event in which they would compete with similar strength opponents. But while the event was more or less open, meaning that some foreigners could observe it, the participants would not be allowed to interact with any of them.

Plus, the [Man Eating Tribe] was not a simple rumor. But an actual war pack that despised humans. Thus even if Bai Qi went there, he would face danger for naught.

Hearing this, Bai Qi decided to ask directly. He explained that his actual plan was not only to visit Kass Shaa'r. But also ask if there was a chance to stay around here for a while.

"My cultivation requirements are a bit odd, and I am searching for a place where I would be able to both cultivate and find willing sparring partners" Bai Qi did omit what part of his method was odd, but for the rest, he spoke the absolute truth.

During his last battles, Bai Qi felt that he needed to improve his prowess, skills, and powers. And that required opponents. So, what better place to find them than a war pack of Beastmen?

Fighting also would allow him to settle any advances he made, and he did not plan to return to the [Great Forest] until he reached the peak of the Sage realm.

"Our camp is open to guests, but for matters of staying for a long time, I think you should speak with the chief directly. But he is away with the group at the [Slithering Pool]. But you can stay at the camp for these three weeks if the elders agree!" Bai Rui explained thoroughly.

When her sister reached the point of the elders, Bai Ze's eyes twinkled while she lightly shook in a burst of silent laughter.

Bai Qi felt a strange lightness after the fight, and even his thoughts showed it.

Still, he spoke back in his usual calm manner, "Mmm, it seems reasonable to wait after what you told me. Can I impose on you to bring me, or at least direct me to the ones I have to speak with?"

Bai Rui nodded and then, sending a last glare to the far more relaxed Bai Ze, motioned for Bai Qi to follow.

***

Now that they were not fighting. And moving towards what should be Bai Ze's family and group, she was far friendlier towards Bai Qi. Humans weren't a rare sight even here, on the edge of the plane, but most of them had been local. That and the fact that Bai Qi was both close in age and strength made Bai Ze less restrained when barraging him with questions.

Everything was of interest for her, from powers and other regions, old experts and new geniuses, and so on. She did not miss the opportunity to ask about the plane from where Kass Shaa'r had come either, being surprised and even slightly sad at the fact that he was the only beastman there.

Her older sister, Bai Rui, was calm and silent. But that she deliberately slowed to allow Bai Qi to answer more questions showed that the two sisters were very alike.

Bai Qi's light feeling had not disappeared but turned into something akin to comfort. Even he was surprised when he understood that yes, he was.

And so, although Bai Qi did notice that their supposedly ten-mile journey took them over an hour, he went with the flow, talking and sharing everything he could.

***

The North Tiger's camp, the personal dominion of Hu Laohu, the [Fire Tiger of the North], turned out to be smaller than Bai Qi expected. He had not seen other war pack camps, but he had thought that with Hu Laohu's strength and position, the latter would definitively have an enormous amount of followers.

The camp wasn't luxurious either, with even the main tents made in the same half-cloth, half-leather style as the smallest ones.

Bai Qi's senses caught traces of over a thousand different presences, but the number was too small to even compare to a 3rd tier power of the [Great Forest] region.

Not that one could underestimate the power of this pack. There were over two hundred Saint Beasts between the 4th and 6th levels. The equivalent of two hundred Warrior Kings! And at least thirty were releasing Auras above the 6th level!

Shuomen City counts with less than 10 Warrior Emperors and 30 Warrior Kings among their ranks. Even adding all the guests, unaffiliated groups, and so on, Shuomen City would lose in numbers. And not only in numbers, as beasts above the 3rd level were not like Bai Ze. They knew how to cope with their disadvantages and fully utilize their advantages over a cultivator.

Bai Qi's thoughts had taken such direction, but he did not miss any detail around himself either. His two guides were now silently leading him through the camp, and dozens of Beastmen eyes followed them. Beastmen were known for their directness, so he wasn't surprised to be examined. Neither he was offended by the questions like, "Who is that human?" "From where he is?" Being asked to Bai Rui even though Bai Qi was right next to her.

Most of the beastmen he saw came from the tiger, cat, or other feline races, but surprisingly there was a wide array of other races as well.

Their destination soon appeared right before Bai Qi, and Bai Rui motioned for him to wait while she went inside to speak with the elders first.

Bai Ze remained outside, resuming her questions while waiting for her sister. Previously Bai Qi had mentioned something about using aura to manipulate objects as an extension of oneself, and she had been very interested. Most beasts fought physically, and even ones that had special innate abilities preferred to use their claws, paws, tails, teeth, or whatever other forte they had first.

Weapons were not rare, especially among the Beastmen, but they seldom went for ranged combat. Still, Bai Ze was interested in improving herself, and although Bai Qi did not know the reason behind it, he felt that it was good that she did not want to avoid even such a method. So he wasn't surprised that when he mentioned his use of discarded throwing knives during a melee battle as an example, she immediately pounced on the topic.

"It will be slightly hard to explain by only using words. Let me show you first. Is it okay to do it here, though?" Receiving an assured nod and surrendering to her enthusiasm, Bai Qi summoned a dozen daggers from his Void Ring. Using strands of his aura, he took control over them, and they began floating around his body.

"Look at the tendrils of aura I am using. They come from the aura cover on my body, but I control each individually. Using your mind, or consciousness will allow you to" - Bai Qi recalled his expanded aura, but the tendrils remained in place - "even separate the tendrils from your entire aura. And until they disperse, they will remain under your control. Try sensing the moment I dispel the aura!"

*Swoosh*

The daggers on his command flew half a foot farther and then formed a circle. A few moments later, he lightly inhaled, and the aura around them disappeared entirely, allowing them to fall on the ground.

"Why did you make me sense the dispelling?" Bai Ze blinked several times while trying to understand the reason behind what she considered illogical. After all, with no aura to sustain them, the daggers would fall as they did now.

"Look again!" Bai Qi exhaled, and a small amount of his aura flew towards the daggers, picking them up and returning them to his hands. He then repeated the same thing as before, controlling, separating, and then dispelling his aura.

"They are marked by your aura! So you do not need to control it when you try to send it again!" This time Bai Ze felt what Bai Qi was trying to show her, and he nodded in response.

"Yes, and that's how you can use anything as a projectile with your aura, even when fighting in a melee. You simply place an aura trace, for your aura to follow it naturally without distracting you" Bai Qi had used a more hands-on example, considering that explaining how to place a trace without actually using the daggers first would take too long.

"Ahh, excuse me, human. I'm called Chi. I could not help but look at your aura control. But it is possible for us, beastmen, to do the same?" Bai Qi had retracted his senses, considering it would be rude to scan everyone around himself. Thus he had missed the fact that a few beastmen, most of them young like Bai Ze, had been observing his demonstration. And one of them, a pale-red colored tiger, had approached to ask him.

"Mmm, it is. A beastman I know did manage to do so after some training" Bai Qi nodded and quickly explained the basics of the training. Saint Beasts could not separate their aura naturally, and learning that required practice with some kind of spirit material that absorbed aura. A method was also required, lest the aura was simply absorbed, but the explanation would require a bit more time.

"So we would need to practice with an aura holding orb? Hmm, I haven't heard of that item. Can you tell me about it?" The man-tiger Chi nodded and asked with his head inclined in doubt.

Before Bai Qi could explain, Bai Rui emerged from the tent and motioned for him to enter.

"I am sorry, I am now to appear before your elders. But if they allow me to stay, I will try to teach you. As for the orbs, I have a few of them with me" Noticing the gleaming in both Bai Ze's and Chi's eyes and trying to not appear as if he was conditioning his stay Bai Qi added, "I will leave a couple of them with Bai Ze later in any case"

***

The tent that the elders occupied was at least forty feet to each side, and except a few pelts around a table on the floor, it was empty. It had no openings except for the cloth that served as a door, so the illumination came from a couple of braziers made of bones.

Even if the beastmen usually avoided titles and shunned court-like manners, he did consider that when speaking with a senior expert, anyone should show some degree of respect. Thus, Bai Qi entered with his aura and senses retracted and slightly bowed in a respectful greeting.

"Come in and sit, young human. Bai Rui told us about your purpose, but we have to ask you directly before deciding anything. Three weeks is a long period, and our lands are not so safe as to guarantee we can be good hosts" A slightly hoarse voice, coupled with the usual growling accent, sounded, and Bai Qi acted as instructed.

Four beastmen and a single beast sat around a low table, and Bai Qi took his place on the farthest spot.

Bai Qi pondered while looking and nodding at each elder.

A truly old fire tiger female. With most of the crimson turned gray by the passage of time.

A cat-like beast woman similar to the Bai sisters. Actually, her appearance was almost identical to them, except for the fur, as the latter was practically white.

A man-rhinoceros, with dozens of scars on his bare torso and at least three cracks on his horn.

A man-tiger, who by some reason was not only fully dressed in a martial robe but even had a leather cloak draped over.

And a milk-colored, seventeen or so feet long snake covered with strange markings and plume ornaments.

"Now, young human, speak" The man-rhinoceros waited until both Bai Qi finished examining them, and they did so in turn before nodding.