The City Lord of [Zihoadao], the third after the heavens in the [Yi Clan], the current ruler of the island, city, clan, and company alike, Yi Lao.

His words and actions were forceful and broke the protocol, and yet, who would speak out against him? Who would ignore him? And who would consider him to be wrong? Such people there were none, at least not in the Main Arena of [Zihoadao] and the entire [Great Forest] region.

Undoubtedly some people would harbor a few doubts or questions, and some would even be sore about Bai Qi's win. And yet, not a single voice of dissent was heard, as everyone present, including most of the Arena Masters, saluted Bai Qi right after Yi Lao's sincere congratulation.

With a faint smile on his face in response to the reaction to his words, Yi Lao spoke up again, "Usually, we would announce the winner here and immediately continue to the titling ceremony."

As the City Lord paused after saying just the opening of what he intended, it was logical that people began guessing what would follow. After all, Yi Lao's appearance on stage or his peak 3rd level Warrior Emperor aura outbreak already broke the procedure. But this unexpected silence wasn't a blunder on Yi Lao's part. He required everyone's attention as he would need their participation, so he planned to get them both.

"But with the participants, especially our new Arena Conqueror, tired from the battles, I have decided to hold a feast later today. A party where I, as part of my duties as the acting head of the [Yi Clan], will engrave to stone the results of today's battles. And everyone will know this young Warrior Lord, Bai Qi, as the Conqueror of the Beginner Warrior Lord Arena!" Yi Lao only spoke up as nearly everyone looked at him inquisitively, revealing his actual plan. In the last part, he reinforced with qi, so each of the present people would feel the importance of the fact.

The announcement was one met with mixed emotions. For the [Yi Clan], Yi Lao had already shared his thoughts about Bai Qi having a backing, so it appeared as something rational. For visiting or passing by experts that decided to look at the fight, it also seemed as adequate, even correct, if one considered Bai Qi's possible future development. But while both groups would either be taking part or receive their invitations, as no City Lord would ignore even slightly renowned experts inside his walls, the general public, especially the non-cultivators, felt as if left out.

Not that the latter, most of the attendants on the stalls, would mull over it for long. Because Yi Lao's following words sent them into a spree of welcoming shouts, "The party will be held in the City's Hall, but we will also hold a feast on the main square, so everyone present shall be able to greet the young Bai Qi with his new title."

As the ovation and shouting caused by his words decreased, Lord Yi decided to end the event, "Everyone, I thank you for arriving today. Everyone who won, no matter if you lost or won, I hope you enjoyed it. Now-" Without any visible reason, Yi Lao abruptly cut his speech.

The City Lord's 3rd level Warrior Emperor aura turned alert, even aggressive, absolutely unlike the gentle pressure he had released until now, as means of calming everyone down. And he roared out an order, "Everyone stays on their spots, don't move, and don't dare to release your aura or use qi. If you do, I will consider anyone of you an enemy."

Surprised, outraged, distressed, and even scared. Yet, everyone followed the most powerful cultivator's order. And even as he took flight, followed by some of his clan's people, the arena remained silent.

As Bai Qi's last combat finished.

Qiao Jingyi felt the [Signal Orb] he carried inside the sleeve vibrate. He thought to himself as his body started moving, following the traced route he had spent nearly a day preparing.

Avoiding the runes, lines, and other parts of the inactive yet alert formations, Qiao Jingyi approached a wooden pillar, the only thing in the empty and dark underground room, dozens of feet beneath the lowest basements of the city.

*Shatter* *Crash* *Shatter*

Qiao Jingyi's task was to destroy the pillar, and so he did, revealing himself only at the last moment as he crashed through the unavoidable alarm formation on the secondary core of the grand protective set of [Zihoadao]

Every moment and action planned, he turned around as the single entrance to the room opened, and two Warrior Lords sporting the clothes of the [Yi Clan] barged in, weapons in hand.

The two guards assigned to look over this secondary node, one with no actual importance by itself, were always from the lower level of the clan's warriors. And with the war and the day's citywide event, there were only two of the most recent additions everyone else occupied or outside the city. Yi Bao and Yi Ze, one 18 and the other yet to reach her 17th summer, both held no doubts as they rushed inside in response to the alarm. Regretfully, they never achieved anything, dying before their eyes caught on the intruder.

*Splatter* *Splatter*

A concentrated current of aura coupled with a previously prepared weakening talisman on the door, such was his, Qiao Jingyi's method. An effective and savage one. As a result, the two young guards were crushed into a bloody paste before they understood what was happening.

Qiao Jingyi recalled his 4th level Warrior King aura, and as the [Signal Orb] vibrated once again, left the room at full speed, moving to the next task assigned to him by the [Man Family] and his superior of the [Hai].

At the same time, at five other locations housing the same type of secondary nodes, created to support the enormous protective formation array around the city and all the crucial structures, similar events took place. And as the five people responsible for the tasks rushed out of their locations, the same as Qiao Jingyi, three different auras exploded a few miles above [Zihoadao]. Three Warrior Emperors had come, and not with good intentions.

{Raise the alarm;

Gather everyone;

Send reinforcements to all the principal nodes and everyone else to guard the Palace and the Teleportation Square;

Yi Min, you are in charge of searching for the culprits inside the city;

Request Senior Overseeing Elder Dai regarding notifying the Great Sect. No Rogue Warrior Emperor would dare to attack a city. So, this is likely a raid by the [Worshippers];

Cai Zhenkang, I know about your condition, but accompany me to meet our guests.}

In response to the alarm formations activation, and the several secondary nodes destruction, something the City Lord and the [Yi Clan] leader would sense immediately, Yi Lao had flown out of the arena while giving out orders. His last two came as he felt the auras expanding above the city as Cai Zhenkang appeared behind him. At that moment, Yi Lao sent the last one before ascending to the sky, prepared to meet the so-called guests, who were enemies no doubt, {Commune with Great Elder Yi Rong, make him start the preparations to break out from seclusion.}

***

"Who do you think you are to come and cause trouble in MY city?!" Yi Lao did not consider any pleasantries needed. No Warrior Emperor would expand their aura in a location ruled or occupied by another, even less in a city of the latter if it was not a challenge. And even if any doubts remained, the incidents in the city and the timing left space for none.

The three cultivators, their faces hidden by masks, their aura forceful but without any signature, even the clothes on their backs of mortal material and no badges or other identifiers. All of that left no doubt they weren't planning to reveal anything about themselves. And so it was. The three silently stood in the air, increasing their aura even more as if preparing to attack.

Yi Lao never considered himself the strongest under the Heavens, his brother was an entire level over him, and dozens of acquaintances from higher-tier powers were able to toss him around as if he was a mortal. Yet, he was shocked as he found that the attackers had someone who felt the same as him.

More worrying, there were at least two more Warrior Emperors, weaker, but Yi Lao had only himself to count it. Cai Zhenkang was out of the question, a 1st level Warrior Emperor, and weakened because of his unique cultivation and disciple method. As for the Great Elder of their Clan, even if he decided to break out of his seclusion, it would require not less than half a day!

***

As all the related events took place in no more time than a few breaths, Bai Qi and the entire arena, except for the [Yi Clan] people, remained still and silent. Even the experts, while not many, and only Warrior Kings had not dared to voice anything on the City Lord's last words.

It wasn't as if everyone felt they had to do so. Yet, there was hardly anyone who wanted to antagonize [Zihoadao]. The main reason? While it was true that the city was ruled by a mere 3rd-tier power, it was still the same truth the city was the stage for the entire region. And so, they carried the right to speak directly with the overlord.

In short, the weight of the otherwise missable vassal of many for the [Great Forest Sect], no matter who was the one they spoke about or against, the overlord would hear them out, leading to fatal outcomes.

But time passed without any new announcements and the ones with the sharpest senses caught on the aura exchange starting overhead. Thus, for reasons ranging between anxiety, fear, and alertness, one could say that it was natural for the forcefully maintained quietness to waver.

In the case of experts, Warrior Kings, and experienced Warrior Lords alike, they only had two paths. They could either stay or leave, selecting to either remain under the [Yi Clan] called protection inside one of their buildings and then join whatever was brewing outside if asked to, or to leave in search of a path to leave the island, at least if the teleportation formation wasn't available.

The cultivators had no name, backer, or experience behind themselves were limited to the same, even if they didn't know it yet. They could leave, or they could stay. But they had no idea what outcome they would meet in either case. No matter if their senses didn't catch on to what was happening, their intuition already signaled danger, and so for many, staying seemed the best - at least they would remain under the [Yi Clan] protection and orders.

For the mortals and noncultivators, people who only unlocked a few levels and realms because of the location of their birth, the current situation was far harder. They had no idea what was going on, and they were scared shitless by Yi Lao's words about considering them enemies if they dared to move. Yet, they were many, and the restlessness of many others was hard to resist when one was part of the mass. They were the first to start asking questions, even if most were still shivering from feeling the City Lord's Emperor aura from before.

The Arena Masters and their entourages, for the ones that did bring one, could be said to be a different group altogether. Some were connected or directly part of the [Yi Clan] and their [Yi Company] power, so they could only wait until orders came. But others, especially the [Yuwen Family] members and the leeches, cowards, and sycophants that gathered around any rich people, already started to generate turmoil, asking why the hell they were being kept waiting here.

It was at that moment, just before the true commotion started, but the calm was already broken, that a voice reinforced by qi unexpectedly resounded, filling the entire arena, reaching everyone present, "Everyone, I understand your unease, but please hear me out."