A Saint Beast's senses were sharper than a similar level cultivator ones, a well-known truth.

Yet, at the same time, Saint Beasts rarely had the same understanding of the different non-martial paths, among them the formation path, and only rare individuals had absolute control over their 7th sense.

So, while Bai Qi's senses remained on the 3rd level, and he had entirely concentrated on healing, it was he and not the Bai sisters to feel danger approaching a few breaths before the formation shattered.

Considering his premonition important enough and having understood from Lord Yi's words that battles were already raging inside the city, Bai Qi stopped his meditation.

Then, without pausing for even a moment to confirm or think about his feelings, Bai Qi immediately sent a brief qi transmission to the [White Tiger] sisters, making them activate their original [Mist Cat] bloodline ability to conceal themselves.

As for himself, he summoned one of the concealing talismans from his [Void Ring], the effect of which, when coupled with the grass cloak he immediately donned, hid his presence against most of his own realm cultivators.

Thus, when the unknown attackers arrived, shattering the formation, no one could sense, even if someone tried to, either Bai Qi or his escort.

And as the chaotic, bloody conflict inside the Main Arena of [Zihoadao] began, the three, having used the competitor's exit, were already several streets away.

Even while hiding his aura and only using his passive senses, it took no time for Bai Qi to understand the city was under attack. Hence, even with him only feeling a single battle, the one starting inside the building they just left, he had no doubt about several others taking place.

{The city is under attack. That's obvious, as no matter if several battles are taking place, there is no way for the Arena to be left to its fate, to remain unprotected, not with such a quantity of people, and guests, inside. At least not if something is blocking each one of the city's defenders.} Explaining his thought process Bai Qi waited for the [White Tiger] sisters to agree before he continued, {With Warrior Kings and Warrior Emperors fighting it out, we aren't in the position to interfere. Even if we were, we do not owe [Zihoadao] anything.}

To such a plan, Bai Rui agreed without a word. As for Bai Ze, she actually questioned the part about not being in the position. Still, if Bai Qi did not plan to rush into a potentially deadly venture, she would happily oblige.

***

After a brief discussion via qi transmissions, all while carefully moving away from the Arena, the Bai group had decided that the safest area in the city should be its outskirts. And indeed, if the attackers weren't here to subjugate [Zihoadao], they would only strike at the crucial facilities and locations, be they of the city, the [Yi Clan], or the latter's [Yi Company].

Moving at a nearly mortal pace, following only side streets, avoiding any person the beast girls could smell or Bai Qi sense, the three walked almost until the [Mist Cat] bloodline ability ended. They were yet to reach the city's wooden wall, but they weren't far either, with just a few lines of housing separating them from it.

{Let's find a place with no one so I can set up a concealment barrier. After that, we attempt to reach He Delan and the rest.} Planning to sit this out, Bai Qi's plan wasn't extravagant or unusual. He would merely use and do what would be enough to remain hidden and safe from who knows what dispute of the [Yi Clan].

Regretfully, for most cultivators, it would always be a simple wrong turn, a poorly chosen location, or a mistaken assumption, the one to derail any of such plans. And in Bai Qi's case, it was the first, a wrong turn, and he and his two companions suddenly met face to face with a cultivator who, similarly to them, was concealing his presence and slowly advancing toward some objective of his.

Concealed or not, just the fact that Bai Qi couldn't sense the cultivator until seeing him in close was enough to understand that the latter surpassed Bai Qi's cultivation.

{Remain hidden until the last moment you can. Let's hope this one is not hostile, or if he is, that he has nothing to do with a Warrior Lord like me.} Not planning to start a fight, which would reveal their location, Bai Qi transmitted to the sisters as his eyes met the ones of the man before him.

***

Qiao Jingyi had successfully infiltrated the city, then the secondary core location assigned to him. There he had destroyed the latter and escaped unnoticed, even if it had required him to kill the guards. But, while this latter was already no small feat, it had been only the first part of the many he had to do of the grand scheme that the [Man Family] raid on [Zihoadao] was.

His next task was some special one, as Qiao Jingyi had not received any orders but a place and a time, and he had rushed towards it. And he arrived in time, even though an unfortunate encounter with [Yi Clan] affiliated cultivators had led to a fight. A brief one he had dealt with in mere breaths, thanks to the overwhelming advantage in cultivation he held against his opponents.

Qiao Jingyi arrived at the indicated spot in the eastern part of [Zihoadao] that looked like the average housing district, but he found no one to meet him. Having waited for over a hundred breaths, Qiao Jingyi was already beginning to speculate on what could happen to delay the two people he was supposed to meet as his [Signal Orb] vibrated again, and a brief instruction entered his mind.

[Proceed towards the eastern wall. When you reach it, the [Orb] will indicate the spot to strike. Maintain stealth but kill any witnesses if required.] The order was unpersonified and appeared with neither voice nor any hint of the one behind it. Yet, with only two people, the [Man Family] ladies, being able to override the [Signal Orb] to send anything but a signal, Qiao Jingyi held no doubt about the latter's source.

Even if no one saw him, Qiao Jingyi slightly bowed as he received the instructions. And after completely recalling his aura while adding a concealing talisman to obscure his presence, he started moving to the east.

Having to kill each person who managed to see him, as while most of the city's residents had holed inside their homes, some remained outside, seemed unwise. Thus, Qiao Jingyi chose to use back streets and even climb over some of the houses. All to ensure he would remain concealed and not resort to unnecessary killings that may end up attracting the attention he had to avoid.

For most of the way, Qiao Jingyi had successfully avoided being noticed, not allowing a single pair of eyes or any senses to catch on him. Yet, as he was about to reach the wall, a single line of houses remaining in between, he suddenly ran into someone. A young man with a strange grass cloak strewn over his shoulders. This latter may be anyone, but he felt like a cultivator. And considering the lack of any aura or presence, he was doing the same as Qiao Jingyi, moving while concealing himself.

The young man, a boy, initially appeared shocked to encounter someone on his path. Yet, he surprisingly quickly calmed himself, his eyes meeting Qiao Jingyi's with no visible fear or worry.

"Brother, I am just an attendant who wants nothing to do with the attack, and I believe you may be the same. Considering that, may we say no one saw the other as we continue on our paths?" The black and white haired youth spoke first, his head slightly inclining, his arms slightly raising, showing he had no intention to fight or oppose Qiao Jingyi.

No, if he's questioned later, as someone who ran away, he may try to win some points and point out other suspicious things.

Judging from his age and that he isn't taking part in the defense, he shouldn't have high cultivation. So he is not someone whose escape will cause any uproar, right? No, I can't risk it. And the orders were to kill anyone.> Several opposing thoughts ran through Qiao Jingyi's mind in less than the time one would require to blink, but he settled on the same as always - to follow orders.

"Yes, neither of us saw a thing." Qiao Jingyi may have decided to kill the youngster. But, he would not assault him openly, as no matter what level of cultivation the latter had, even breaking the lightest defense with the strength required to kill would take him out of concealment.

Qiao Jingyi inwardly smirked as the two passed side by side.

*Swoosh*

Half a step after they passed each other, Qiao Jingyi turned around, his left hand bolting toward the back of his opponent's neck.

***

After their eyes met, Bai Qi's expectancies about the situation resolving without bloodshed evaporated. The middle-aged, well-dressed, well-groomed, and half-smiling man looked trustable and likable. Yet, that only was valid if one didn't look closely into his eyes. That eyes were not of the average man or even cultivator, no. The cold, emotionless steely eyes held no goodwill and, from Bai Qi's own feelings, would only flash with delight as their owner released his well-concealed killing intent.

His thoughts translated to the Bai sisters via the slightly reduced but still present link, and both of the latter readied as Bai Qi spoke up and then walked side by side with the unknown man.

*Grab*

Bai Ze broke out of concealment as her claw grabbed the man's left arm just as it was about to reach Bai Qi's neck.

*Swoosh* *Swoosh*

Without waiting for any reaction, she thrust forward, intending to finalize the matter without allowing it to develop into a fight, her free claw aimed at the man's neck.

*Flash* *Swoosh*

The man, though, reacted as if he had long expected this sudden, impossible to sense attack. His figure flashed with a blinding light, and as Bai Ze's claw clawed at nothing, she found that her other one was holding nothing but a piece of cloth.

Without showing any surprise or saying anything, the man, who now stood several steps away from the revealed Bai Ze, waved his hands, releasing several talismans from the long sleeves of his robe.

{Left sleeve poison and the other aura weakening.} The reveal of the Beast girl was accompanied by the surge of her aura, allowing Bai Qi to expand his senses without truly revealing his own, and he immediately sent a qi-transmission to both. His experience with such means had allowed him to identify the talismans at such speed that one could only wonder if it wasn't him the one to release them.

"Attacking from behind, and now poison? Are you even a warrior?" Bai Ze was somewhat bent on rules of combat, even though beastmen rarely observed most of them, and she growled out.

Usually, Bai Qi would say that revealing that you knew the opponent's means was a dumb thing to do, but this time, he was close to complimenting Bai Ze on such an action. Indeed, such means appeared more of an assassin than of a warrior. And breaking the former's concentration by revealing their movements was a reasonable strategy.

"Warriors kill the same." Surprisingly the man responded, showing no concern for his means to be revealed, but still backed slightly, opening just enough distance to be ready for any sudden attacks.

"Beasts do the same." Bai Ze growled back and rushed forwards, avoiding the floating talismans, intending to bring the combat to a quick finish in close quarters.

{Careful, he's still hiding his cultivation, the aura used for the talismans was hardly above the one of a Warrior Lord, and its obvious one of such level would not prepare to meet you in combat. He's at least a 3rd level Warrior King.} Bai Qi continued to serve only as the voice of reason, fully aware that in such a setting, his interference would only endanger himself and his companions.

In the brief moment it took Bai Ze to cross the talisman-filled zone and to approach the man, he didn't move. Neither did he as the over seven-foot tall, white-furred, tiger-headed beast girl clawed at him with her full strength.

*Clang*

Bai Ze's left claw was blocked, stopped by a strange-looking blade that seemingly had no handle or guard, being what seemed a short dagger-like edge extending from the man's right palm.

*Clang*

As for Bai Ze's right claw, it similarly was stopped short of reaching her target. But this one was with some concealed weapon. Hidden or not, judging from the qi ripples, sound, and sparks from where her claw connected with the man's long sleeve, it was clear that it was a spirit-tier weapon made of a spiritual iron or steel material.

"Not even an introduction, so can I also doubt about you being a warrior?" As if he had not just blocked an attack from a peak, physically above most of her brethren thanks to her evolved bloodline, 4th level Saint Beast, the man snickered.

But his smirk quickly disappeared as someone's voice entered his ears, "[Steel Fang], Bai Rui."

*Swoosh* *Swoosh* *Flash*

With a claw coming to him from his right side, from an arc that he would see the attack but would be hard-pressed to react even if he wasn't blocking, the man ended up using the same method from before. His body brightly flashed, and as if he had teleported, he appeared a few steps away from his previous position.

"So, it's two of you? Should I expect even more, or that's all of your escort, young master?" Taunting words for some, the man actually asked without any mockery, as if he merely wanted to know.

"We two should be enough." Yet, it wasn't Bai Qi to respond but Bai Rui, whose claws began shining with the white of her aura.