These five elders had already decided about Bai Qi's stay. And their decision was a positive one Bai Qi was sure of it. Otherwise, he would not be sitting here. Or even would haven't been invited to enter the tent. After all, the character of the Beastmen was a direct one, and they would either agree or disagree right away.

So why did they want him to speak up? Bai Qi inwardly shrugged.

The same character that did not allow, at least usually, to give false hopes to others was also the cause of this. Indeed, if they already agreed to let Bai Qi stay, how could they ask for something in return? Especially if they did not know what he could offer? Thus, they went with the easiest possible method. The one that consisted in - offer us something before we proclaim the decision.

It was funny to see how a direct race like the Beastmen used such petty tricks. Still, one would not become an elder without remembering to procure for the tribe after all.

Bai Qi had not expected to stay without offering anything since the start in any case. So, with a solemn expression and laughing inwardly, he skipped over most things and just stated what he would do and what he could do.

His mention about being a practitioner of pills and refining was far more than the elders expected. After all, with Beastmen incapable of practicing any of those paths, even a common-tier pill or medicine was a valuable commodity in the Steel Fang region outskirts.

"And although I know about the customs that your race follows, I would be not a good cultivator for not offering some gifts. Considering the rarity of rune and formation masters, I have brought a few dozens of holding pouches. They are not to buy my stay, but more a show of gratitude for the pack that took in Kass Shaa'r" Bai Qi slightly smiled and summoned fifty holding pouches from his Void Ring.

A [Holding Pouch] wasn't so valuable even on the [Seven Islands] plane, so what to say about this one. Still, every cultivator always carried at least one on themselves. Even if they had a [Storage Ring] or the rarer [Void Ring], pouches were always a handy item, even if it was just for separating items. Bai Qi had obtained dozens of pouches as containers for the gifts and rewards. Or even as loot from his enemies.

Considering that he would not need them with the several [Storage] rings he had inside his [Void] one, Bai Qi decided to gift them to the Beastmen.

What Bai Qi inwardly considered a pretty low price made the elders immediately agree. No thoughts or deliberations like the ones they had spoken about at the start, just a plain yes. It was just three weeks until Huo Laohu returned, but they even promised to ask him in Bai Qi's place. Not that it would be needed, but Bai Qi was grateful nonetheless.

***

The man-rhinoceros elder that was the first to speak and introduced himself as Xi Cuo even stood when Bai Qi was leaving.

Although Bai Qi's furnaces were destroyed on the attack on his residence, Sheng Huangye had sent him a cauldron as a gift. It wasn't rare or truly valuable, but it was a cauldron. And one that Bai Qi could use for both Pills and Refining. Thus, a place was required for him to set it up.

Outside the tent, Bai Qi saw that Bai Ze, her sister, and even Chi had been waiting for him. He nodded affirmatively to the unasked question and then quickly promised Bai Ze and Chi that he would teach them the aura control he had shown before.

"Just let me select a place and set up a camp. Then I should be able to show you the correct methods" Bai Qi then excused himself and tried to walk away.

But he was stopped by a sudden question from Bai Ze, but one probably supported by Bai Rui. Or at least the older sister wasn't opposed, as she did not interfere when Bai Ze asked, "And why don't you stay with us?"

Beastmen were very simple in matters of behavior. And different from how humans thought, they did not feel that there should be any distinction between sexes. That also applied to their housing, with males and females living in one room without a problem.

It wasn't as if Bai Qi thought much about it either, especially as he did not consider the Bai sisters as women. Females? Yes. But someone that he could be interested in? Or ashamed from showing himself before them? No.

Still, his reasons for setting a camp and a protected one stemmed from a different matter. He intended to do a lot of things. And some of them were things that Bai Qi did prefer to remain unknown to others. Not to mention that he would attempt several breakthroughs throughout his training.

"I am grateful for the offer, but I will be working with a cauldron, and it would be better for not doing it with other people around" Bai Qi chose the easiest explanation and went with it while showing a small, grateful smile.

"But, you can work with it in another spot while living with us, no? I heard that human cultivators do not require food, but still, other things would be hard to do by yourself, won't they?" Bai Ze did not pay attention to Bai Qi's reluctance and asked while inclining her head to the side.

"..." Bai Qi had no answer for that indeed. At least not without directly revealing that he would be doing a few things that he forgot to mention to the elders. It wasn't anything bad, but saying that you also dabble in formations, runes, and practically all the other paths would probably be a little too much for the Beastmen. Forthright or not, having such a person in their camp would be just a damn good thing to let him leave later without attempts to keep him.

"Bai Ze, don't be overbearing. If Wu Guang thinks he should stay alone, and the elders have agreed to it, then it should be left like that. He will be in the camp anyway" Thankfully, the older Bai Rui was shrewder than her sister. And even without understanding the reasons supported Bai Qi's decision.

In response, Bai Ze only pouted. And while a pouting beast face would probably be scary for others, Bai Qi could only lightly laugh.

"Your sister is right. I will be doing a lot of stuff, and I am used to living without anyone by my side. Still, I will be indeed in the camp, so you can just come to visit me when you want" Bai Qi decided to end it on the same light note, so he smiled and with a nod, this time left for real.

***

The camp contained several hundreds of tents. And by Bai Qi's estimate, as he could not see some tents because of the trees, it occupied an area about a square mile.

Being too far from the camp would negate the reasons he had for staying here, but being in the midst of it would also not work. Thus, Bai Qi decided to search for a spot on the outskirts of the camp.

Thankfully, it took him only a single walk around the camp to find a decent spot. It was a small elevation, hardly deserving to be called even a mound. Just a hundred feet at its widest, and about fifty feet to its top, it still gave him a decent area of about two hundred square feet on the top that he could use for the camp.

It was also less than a quarter of a mile from the last tents, so the entire camp was in both his sensing and aura ranges.

"Even though I do not require an actual shelter, it would be best to have at least some kind of enclosed space for the experiments..." Bai Qi muttered while examining his chosen spot.

Bai Qi had always been a follower of the idea of killing two birds with one stone. And if he could augment the number of birds, it would be his ideal. His inner qi control was almost at the level of a peak Warrior Lord, but for elements? It was practically null.

A skill or technique circulation automatized the process of converting one's qi to the relevant element. And since fusing with the 'Ghostflame', Bai Qi never tried to separate his inner qi into elements on his own either.

***

He had a couple of daytime hours remaining, so Bai Qi utilized them to gather some materials from the surrounding forest. Probably he could have asked the beastmen for the materials, but he decided to use the time to scout the surroundings as well.

Using 'Imperial Blade' to cut down trees, he got a couple of dozens of more-or-less equal trees. And then, by using 'Earth Spiked Shield' to make stone and good soil emerge, Bai Qi got enough of both materials as well.

With the space inside his [Void Ring], he would have no problem bringing them to the projected campsite, but he used his aura to carry everything. It was fairly taxing even with his soul-power and qi pool, but Bai Qi did it for two purposes. One was obvious, training. As for the other, well, he was perfectly aware of the several dozens of Beastmen that were following him full of curiosity.

But as he did not show that he knew of their presence. And they tried to avoid interrupting or distracting Bai Qi. Thus, both parties acted as if they weren't aware of each other.

Right after sunset, Bai Qi returned to the mound he had decided to claim as his own. Sweat had covered most of his body, and he felt how his Soul Power was consuming more and more of his qi to maintain such an aura. Not that it was strange, considering that he was carrying over five hundred stones of weight on an aura strand that extended for at least a hundred feet.

"And now, building something with qi!" Bai Qi made sure that his words entered the ears of his unwarranted public and slowly began to move every material separately as if he was completing a puzzle and not building something.

Soil to reinforce the mound, coupled with an application of qi to strengthen it.

Stone to create the floor of his base. The stones he had gathered were uneven and spike-shaped because of his technique, but a careful application of 'Ghostflame' and a few adjustments on angle and deepness made him able to create an almost perfect square.

"And now for the walls. Even though the trees were cut, the Wood Element is still present. Thus, with a correct application of qi..." Bai Qi placed the trees around the stone square he prepared and then continued, "One can replant them and make their roots grow out again!"

He acted while talking, and one by one, the trees formed the walls of his base. A few corrections, and the canopy of all of them intertwined into a provisional roof. It could not be considered an actual building, but it would serve him for his plans.

By the time he finished, the moon was already past the midnight point. Bai Qi felt tired, but looking at his work, he felt that it wasn't for naught. His control over qi maybe not have increased a lot, but the connection with the elements did improve. Especially with the Wood element, one that he constantly used via the 'Green Demon Claw'.

Bai Qi inwardly wondered why he even decided to act like this, but well, a base was a base.

Before sitting down to meditate, he singled out Bai Ze's presence, one that had been following him since he left the camp and sent her a message.

{I will meditate for now, but tomorrow I will teach you about controlling objects with aura. I have seven orbs, but I will need a few free hands for another project. Thus, if you find twice that number, I will be very grateful}