There was an open plain-like area of about a square mile between the last trees and the hill. Bai Qi and the two beastmen hid in the dense undergrowth while observing the situation, confirming everything before acting.

As Heise Zhao had said, the Beasts occupied a few caves on the hillside. The caves were not natural, as the size and mounds of earth showed that the beasts had dug out several shallow holes in the gentle slope of the hill. Bai Qi's thoughts were shared by the two Beastmen, although they avoided speaking and so only communicated with signs.

From their position, they could see how a few beasts were pacing around the dugouts while a few others were resting inside. Something quite irregular as well, as having scouts or guards showed intelligence, and Demon Beasts only acted on instincts.

The unidentified beasts, the pack leaders, were nowhere to be seen. But for the rest, the information was correct. About half of the visible beasts were recently born, with their size only half of the usual for their race. Bai Qi identified them as [Scarlet Bonewolves], the most standard form for the offspring of corrupted wolf-like Spirit or Saint beasts.

An adult Bonewolf would be about seven feet tall and nine feet long, but the ones in from were hardly two-thirds of the size. Some were slightly smaller than the others, which meant that they were probably from two different broods.

The entire situation was so strange that Bai Qi almost asked himself if he was looking at Demon Beasts or not.

But the patches of blood-colored fur, overgrown bones that formed the spikes on their backs, and the horns on their heads, as well the aura they were unevenly releasing, left no questions about neither their race nor the fact that they were Demon Beasts.

Without expanding his senses, Bai Qi could not be sure of their actual strength, but from their size, he reckoned that they would be somewhere in-between the Spirit Beast peak and the lower level of a Saint Beast.

The other beasts, the ones that Heise Zhao had mentioned as 1st generation Demon Beasts, were a recently corrupted group of Spirit Beasts indeed. The Chaos Qi had not finished warping their bodies, so it was hard to understand what they were before.

Each looked different from the others. Some were hairless, and black or green colored splotches covered their skin. Other's still retained their fur, but it looked discolored, with only one or two having any indication of its original yellow color. They stood on their fours, but it was impossible to assure if it was because of nature or it came from that the length of each extremity was different.

Bai Qi concentrated on the closest dugout, where one of these still warping beasts could be seen almost entirely. It was hairless, and its hind legs looked too short for the body. It lacked any indication of a tail while its head lacked ears and even eyes, but after mentally comparing them to the Beasts he could recall, Bai Qi concluded that it was a feline.

About seven feet long, with what looked like stronger forepaws, He questioned himself while noticing how the claws on the left paw suddenly extended.

***

Heise Zhao slightly raised his arm, indicating to prepare and then took an item from his [Holding Pouch], one of the ones that Bai Qi donated to the pack.

Bai Qi silently cursed, understanding that the first signal would use a rare [Fake Sun] herb to release light. Using a few signs and a one-sided qi transmission, Bai Qi traded it for a light orb, considering that spending a rare ingredient on such a menial task was nonsense. He inwardly added while storing the herb into his [Void Ring].

The man-lynx was slightly taken aback by the sudden trade, but he quickly regained his poise. And a moment later, he rapidly lowered his raised arm, motioning for Bai Qi and Gi La to move out. From a rational point of view, it was so. But Bai Qi believed that the reason for targeting them now was the pain they suffered.

The meat of a 1st generation wasn't safe for consumption, be it for cultivators or other beasts. Less they wanted to ingest a dangerous amount of Chaos Qi. And Bai Qi was sure that the Beastmen had no such plans, so the desire to free them from suffering was a likely reason.

Bai Qi, Gi La, and Heise Zhao made their way into the clearing, making themselves visible and expanding their auras and senses.

Immediately as they did, dozens of roars sounded, and the Bonewolves outsides the dugouts turned as one to face them while growling. The warping beasts did not move or even stand up, with only a couple of them adding to the choir of roars and growls.

"31 beasts" Gi La calculated, then took a pause and continued, "7 weaker and 8 more powerful Bonewolves, but neither of the two types is stronger than a 1st level Saint Beast"

"The 14 warping beasts are another matter, their auras are too unstable, but they should not surpass that level either" Bai Qi added.

"Mmm, let them come at us. When I give the signal, we rush forward. You two support the others. I will go after the two stronger presences in the top cave" Heise Zhao sensed the same as the others and decided on a path of action.

Chaos Beasts had no system, and no scholar had been able to establish one either. Thus, the only manner to know their strength was to either fight or attempt to compare their auras to one's own. Something fairly difficult considering the volatility of their auras. One should not forget about innate abilities either. For example, [Crimson Bonewolf] were capable of shooting their horns and spikes as projectiles, and their penetrative capabilities were far over a normal 1st level Saint Beast's attack.

***

The plan was sound, and Bai Qi probably would have acted similarly if he was the one in charge. At least based on what they knew and what they did not. Still, as in any situation when the information wasn't complete, it did not go as expected.

"Wu Guang, try to provoke them with a ranged attack" The man-lynx commanded in a low growl. The Demon Beasts were very aggressive, and that they had not attacked or even moved yet was alarming.

Bai Qi was thinking the same as the Heise Zhao, so he briefly nodded before summoning the almost forgotten [Siege Bow] he had retained since the Wildlands. The distance between him and the nearest [Crimson Bonewolf] was close to a mile. Right on the limit of the bow, so as Bai Qi prepared the bow, he covered it with qi as a measure to avoid snapping the string.

*Swoosh*

A two feet long arrow was shot, aimed in between the four horns of the Bonewolf. But before it reached its target...

*Swoosh* *Swoosh* *Swoosh* *Swoosh* *Cling*

Dozens of bones were shot by several wolves, and they continued shooting until one of them intercepted the arrow.

"What?!" Both beastmen could only exclaim in surprise. Bai Qi would have probably done so as well, if not because he was preparing another arrow.

*Swoosh* *Swoosh* *Cling*

Still, the result was the same. But something more alarming was that this time, it took the wolves fewer bones to intercept the arrow.

"This isn't instinct! It's like they are being told what to do!" Bai Qi exclaimed with unhidden surprise. The first time all wolves did, but this time only the ones in the correct range shot.

"Then more reason to quickly deal with them!" Heise Zhao snarled and threw an orb into the sky. An instant later, it began releasing an orange-colored light while floating two thousand feet above the ground. It was the signal for the others but also would serve to counter the lack of sunlight, as the sun was already on the verge of setting down.

*ROAR*

The orb attracted the attention of the Demon Beasts for a few instants before a stronger wave of roaring followed. Still, not even a single beast moved from the spots they were sitting, lying, or standing.

"Damn... If they don't want to come, then we will go!" The man-lynx roared and was the first to follow on his words.

*Swoosh* *Swoosh*

Gi La followed right after him, but Bai Qi did not. He could not pinpoint the reason, but he felt that it was better to not throw himself headlong into such a strange fight. He decided while following the two beastmen with his eyes.

It was as if someone was giving orders to the Demon Beasts indeed, as they moved to intercept the approaching beastmen in an orderly fashion. Six Bonewolves towards Gi La and nine towards the man-lynx.

*Roar* *Roar* *Growl* *Whimper*

But sound judgment or not, the matter of combat power remained. As the two beastmen and the 15 Demon Beasts clashed, it was clear that the sides weren't equal. In less than a moment, Heise Zhao clawed several times. And a bonewolf's head fell on the ground while another two bonewolf's jumped back while whimpering, with several deep gashes crossing their backs.

Gi La wasn't doing bad either, meeting the incoming beasts with a tail whip and then launching herself on the two that she did not knock aside.

But the situation changed again after a few growls, almost as if they were speaking between themselves, the Bonewolves changed their tactics.

The ones around the man-lynx opened distance and began encircling him. Not close enough for a quick attack and instantly retreating when he attempted to jump at one. As for the two wounded ones, they began shooting bones at Heise Zhao, forcing him to defend himself with aura.

The six that clashed with Gi La also assumed a similar tactic, but in place of distancing, they surrounded her while biting and shooting bones. They weren't strong enough to wound her or even break the scales on her back, but they did not leave her even a single opening to counterattack.

Seeing this, Bai Qi summoned all the ten arrows he had, and without caring for the bow's condition, shot them one after another almost in an instant. He aimed three arrows at three different Bonewolves and sent the last one at the unwarped Demon Beast he had observed previously.

*Snap*

As soon as the tenth arrow was shot, the bowstring snapped. But Bai Qi did not care, concentrating on following the arrows.

*Swoosh* *Swoosh* *Swoosh* *Splatter*

His first mark was one of the beasts around Gi La. And it fell on the ground, dead, with three arrows in the body.

*Swoosh* *Swoosh* *Splatter* *Swoosh*

His second mark was one of the already wounded beasts shooting bones at Heise Zhao, and two arrows made it fall as well. The third arrow missed as the beast had already fallen.

*Swoosh* *Swoosh* *Swoosh*

But his third mark avoided the arrows, in a way that again made one think that someone was controlling the Bonewolves. Indeed, if not for someone else, how could a beast that was about to jump on Gi La's back suddenly move to the side, and allow the arrows to pass without harm?

*Swoosh* *Clink* *Snap* *Snap*

Far more alarming was what happened to the last arrow, the one sent to the unmoving beast. It was as if Bai Qi had done something taboo for the Bonewolves. Or as if the latter's objective was to protect the beast.

With a wild roar, all the wolves in the arrow path shot their horns at the arrow, not only intercepting it but practically shattering it into pieces.

The bone spikes on their backs would regrow almost instantly, and thus they were one of their main attack ways. But the horns were different, not only they were a lot stronger and sharper, but they also would take hours, if not days, to regrow. And the fact that they used them to block the arrow, could only mean one thing...

"Wu Guang! We will take care of the [Crimson Bonewolves]. Attack the ones undergoing the process. It seems they can not defend themselves!" Heise Zhao also noticed this strangeness and roared a command. Though a tardy one, Bai Qi had already darted towards the hill with the same idea in mind.

The fight had started just a minute ago, and it was both a tense and strange one. Thus, not one of the three thought about another strangeness. Where were the other members of the hunting group?