Two figures, one human-like and the other resembling a mantis, savagely clashed, tearing at each other with arms and appendages.

*Swoosh* *Swoosh* *Rip*

But the action was cut short as the human figure ducked, allowing the two scythe-like appendages to pass over his head, and in turn, a hand, formed into a claw, tore at the insectoid's torso.

*Tear* *Splatter*

Reaching deep inside the torso, the hand stopped before being pulled back quickly. And along the torrent of strange bluish blood, the claw ripped out a small orb, not bigger than an apple, which glowed in several colors, but blue being the predominant one.

"The 35th one." A murmur escaped Bai Qi's lips as he stored the Saint Beast Core into his [Void Ring] and began moving forward along the coast.

***

The [Roaring Bay], located towards the north of the [Lands of the Ice Exalted], had been considered a blessed land for non-cultivators for hundreds of years.

A calm sea, surrounded from three sides by an earthy coast and frondous forests, it was quickly settled, even though the heavy roar sounds coming from the open sea side, which gave birth to its name, did unsettle not one generation of locals.

Still, the lack of cultivation resources, the abundance of fish, and low-level marine Spirit Beasts made it quickly known as the blessed land for fishermen. And indeed, what better land for a fisherman but one where no powers ruled or taxed because there was nothing but the fish?

But a few years ago, the situation changed. From just one day to another, the bay was overrun by waves over waves of Beasts. Saint beasts, ones never seen in the area previously, appeared as if from nowhere, emerging from the water and taking over the entire bay. Fish and weaker beasts disappeared, being eaten or scared away, and between danger and scarcity, the fishermen that called the bay their heaven had been forced to leave.

Even though there was not a single power in the area, and a few cultivators that had chosen the few caves on the small cliffs as a place for their seclusion, the [Roaring Bay] was still part of the [Great Forest Region]. Thus, the overlord had sent cultivators to investigate. But, with neither of the beasts being intelligent, at least of the ones encountered, the cultivators had found nothing.

A year ago, a full-force expedition was arranged. And nearly a thousand cultivators had arrived, ordered with uncovering the reasons behind the beasts' appearance, numbers, or their reluctance to leave. But as previously, except for the abnormal amount of beasts and several species never met before in the Region, the expedition hadn't succeeded.

There were rumors of at least three attempts to clear the [Roaring Bay] from beasts, but even when hundreds of them were killed, the next full tide brought a new wave of them, bringing the numbers back to the initial amounts. Still, the beasts did not attempt to leave the bay, so the bay was encircled with a protective formation and left alone at least until the cause was discovered.

But cultivators required opponents, and with the beasts replenishing their numbers by themselves, just a few months ago, the [Roaring Bay] was announced as a training zone. Surprisingly, one that was left open for everyone, even for rogue or unaffiliated cultivators.

Armed with that knowledge of the area, confirmed by He Delan, Bai Qi and his group had not even stopped in [Yan Yu City] but took off north and reached one of the several entrances into the [Roaring Bay] formation.

A small tavern and a gatehouse with a couple of Warrior Kings from the [Sea Forest], the northern 1st tier power, were the only things that the group encountered. And while a group formed from rogue cultivators, beastmen, and a Warrior King from the [Void Palace] did raise a few questions, He Delan's identity and assurance had been enough for the group to be allowed without hurdles.

For better or worse, though in most of Bai Qi's group's opinion, it was for the former, the bay was essentially empty because of the war's beginning. And for the first week of travel in the nearly three thousand miles enclosed area, the group did not meet anyone but beasts. None of which had posed any trouble for them because, as the rumors indicated and the formation guards confirmed, no beasts above the 5th level Saint beast had been sighted.

In fact, Bai Qi's group did not encounter any beast of that level either, with the strongest one being a 4th level Saint beast, an [Ebony Crab]. Too dumb to be able to communicate or even feel the danger from Bai Qi's group, the ten-foot-wide, four-pincered crab-like beast had attacked directly and merely a few breaths later had been eliminated by a joint attack of Bai Ze and Zhua.

Using the lack of danger, and the need for everyone to hunt their own prey if they wanted to experience at least something, Bai Qi had proposed they all separate and spent a week moving in small groups or even alone.

His real reasons were slightly different, as while Bai Qi was grateful for it, the Beastmen had been acting over-protective with him. To the point that this week, Bai Qi had not gotten the chance to fight even once!

***

Now, Bai Qi had spent the last days alone, attempting to recover what he lost, his martial skills and the control over his aura. Fighting every beast he could, Bai Qi did everything he could. He fought with weapons, fists, claws, and pure aura, recovering his fighting prowess. And he had succeeded, although not because of hard training or after learning the skills yet again.

A nearly miraculous recovery did occur, but one owed to nothing but the bizarre manner in which he had rebuilt his soul. Bai Qi himself could have never thought that his current soul wasn't a new one as he had supposed initially, but a true mix of three!

After being pushed back by a beast, and in an attempt to fight back, Bai Qi had, for some reason, concentrated on just a part of his soul power, the one that felt like Bai Qi's previous one, and at that moment, he found out that all of his skills were there.

Then, to confirm what he discovered, Bai Qi concentrated on the part that felt like Kui Mulang, and the results had been too unexpected and, as he found later, dangerous.

His body twisted, not entirely but sufficiently to resemble the demon's form;

The black scale on his chest, one that he had no luck examining even, shone, and then dozens, hundreds of similar scales appeared all over his body, covering it;

Flames sprouted from his facial orifices; His nails grew, becoming feet-long claws;

And while Bai Qi remained in control of both body and mind, he felt more akin to a passenger as the demon's incarnation, and this one an authentic one tore the 2nd level Saint beast in half.

His fighting prowess, in such form, was enough to both amaze and scare Bai Qi, but it came with an enormous price, as when he managed to stop tearing at the beast's flesh, nearly his entire qi-pool and soul power was spent, and that was in just a few breaths!

"Uhh..." And as the last of his qi was spent, Bai Qi found himself groaning in pain as his body returned to normal, and he fell to the ground, absolutely exhausted. {But if I learn to control this, it can be a real trump card!}

After some time, when he had recovered, Bai Qi decided against trying to control Kui Mulang's part and concentrated on his own, ignoring the small Wu Guang's soul piece, as he doubted it could be of any use. And if there was an unfortunate part in all of this, it was that Bai Qi discovered that now, even while using only his own part of the soul and the same skills as previously, his actual consumption had grown several times. {It is almost as if I am expending two times the qi and three times the soul-power. Can it be..?} But there was no way to answer or confirm that he was right about the reasons, at least until he got entirely used to the changes, even the not so obvious ones, which he suffered.

"I have to fight more, risk more, not just stay back as they wish me to. And while I truly appreciate the care, a cultivator can not progress avoiding dangers." It wasn't the first time that such a thought occurred to Bai Qi, but it was the first one for him to voice it.

Even if it was just a low whisper, it was enough for the concealed Bai Rui, whose presence Bai Qi felt thanks to the link they shared, to hear. {It is not fair for her if I do so, but heavens, I know they are keeping all beasts above the 2nd level of the Saint Beast realm away from here!}

On the 8th day since they separated, in the [Fisherman's Dream] tavern, located just outside the formation's entrance Bai Qi and all his companions met.

"I trust that everyone had a nice hunt?" Bai Qi casually started as if nothing had occurred, neither the overprotection nor the strange discoveries he continued to make.

Receiving a few nods of confirmation, and after Zhua finished bragging about the 5th level Saint Beast, a [Deepsea Fishworm] she downed herself, Bai Qi took a long breath before starting a long-prepared talk, one that was meant to thin the group at least somewhat.

After all, he would indeed require dozens and hundreds of followers and companions if he truly decided to follow the [Ruler of Nothing] part of his cultivation set. But, right now, a group of six Beastmen, six cultivators, and two mortals, was just too big, even detrimental.

It should be not needed to say that not one except Ma Su agreed with Bai Qi, with even He Delan considering that there was no need to separate. The latter's thoughts were easy to read, or at least Bai Qi thought they were, as he supposed she was just against allowing Chun Hua to leave her sight.

In truth, she had a few other reasons, but He Delan would never just say them, even in a low whisper meant for herself. And how could she indeed? Acknowledge that she was somehow attracted to the salt-pepper haired youth? Impossible.

***

In the end, the talk took far longer than Bai Qi expected, and they only left the tavern on the next day, but not all walked in the same direction...