Moving in the direction indicated to him via a mysterious, untraceable transmission that had forced his hand, compelling him to participate in this second part of the [Martial Path of the Herbs], Bai Qi found himself lost in deep contemplation. However, his thoughts were not his usual musings on winning or preparing against unseen opponents but comprised of nothing but doubts.

The [Shameless Lion] he had encountered and killed? It made Bai Qi doubt his own knowledge. But as he moved on, his speed comparable to a Spirit beast run, Bai Qi started doubting even his senses. And indeed, what else could he doubt if what appeared to be a straightforward, nearly open, at the degree a forest could offer, path turned out to be a maze? One in which he was now... lost?!

[Shameless Lions] were one of the weaker Spirit beasts, hardly a threat even for talented Body cultivators of the Yellow Realm. Their actual danger, which made them dangerous even to peak Yellow Realm cultivators, actual Sages, was nothing more than their numbers and hunting manners. And yet, Bai Qi neither sensed nor encountered a single beast since he moved away from the spot where he dispatched, with ease, the first of many, as he thought, beasts. Now, he had moved for over five miles. And still, he could sense nothing nearby. Not the so-called temple, the one that the voice had indicated him as a target, and which was, supposedly, located just three miles away from his initial location. Not a single beast or even simple animal of the ones that should inhabit a lawless, savage land that he had been, again supposedly, sent to. Heavens, even the trees foliage, which he had, at first, assumed to be green, had turned out to be yellow!

Without the mysterious voice saying anything, Bai Qi had assumed to be on the right track, but as he moved over twice the distance he had been supposed to, increasing his speed with every step, he understood that everything was far from right. With such a thought, Bai Qi froze on the spot, breaking from the quickly hastening run he had started since leaving the place where he had been assaulted by the hairless, lion-resembling Spirit beast. The sudden realization struck him like a bolt of lightning, causing his heart to pound in his chest.

Even before thinking about the distances or the other details that didn't match his first impression, Bai Qi had already reached the correct conclusion.

And indeed, it was one...

After hearing Hudie Xiuying's words, the remaining five members of the elder council didn't spend much time in shock. After all, they were cultivators with hundreds of years of experience. They rallied in less than a couple of breaths, each starting to use their own means to look for Bai Qi.

With five of the most powerful cultivators of a 2nd-tier power of the region combining their strengths, it was just a question of time for them to succeed. And indeed, not an hour had passed as Huang Song called for Hudie Xiuying, the latter having to spend her time with the several guests from the smaller powers that gathered for this [Sword and Herb].

One could say that there wasn't even a need to call for the [Brave Hairstreak] if not for a small detail, The thought crossed the minds of the five women at the same moment, the elders waiting for Hudie Xiuying's arrival without even knowing what to expect.

***

"But how he got there..?"

"...the Fairy's formations aren't connected to that land, are they?"

"...only the main, the one we call the [Goddess] ones!"

"Did he get there by himself..?"

"What is he planning to do..?"

"But what if the [Goddess] herself summoned him..?"

"...that can be for the worst."

Hudie Xiuying arrived at the control room, the one with nothing but a few wooden statues, only to find the five elders from the closest circle bickering and arguing, questioning and theorizing.

Her presence would make everyone turn around, cutting their words and theories short, their questions only mirrored in the eyes that now looked at the [Brave Hairstreak]. Not that she had any answers for them, even after the [Wise Elfin], Huang Song, summarized everything they had discussed.

Not that she would give any answer, as at the moment that silence ensued once again, the five elders allowing for some moments of thought for the factual leader of the [Delicate Forest Palace], a voice resounded from one of the statues, a calm, female voice that not even the oldest among them, Hudie Xiuying, would have expected to hear in any situation but the danger of absolute destruction of the [Palace].

"This man, Bai Qi, is someone I choose for a task, and he will complete it or die on the way. Do not interfere, as it is not the [Delicate Forest Palace] the one to rule the lands, do not forget it." The voice appeared to flow out from one of the statues, one depicting a beautiful woman in her early twenties, each detail so well done that the wood's surface appeared to come alive it also was accompanied by a presence that dwarfed everyone else's, even Hudie Xiuying's peak Emperor Realm one.

In response to the voice, everyone but Hudie Xiuying paled and went to their knees, the latter merely inclining her head. Not that it was strange, though, as the accepted leader of the [Palace], the [Brave Hairstreak] was less suppressed than the others, even allowing her to ask a question in place of shivering and nearly kowtowing.

"Honorable spirit of the [Primordial Fairy], do you now send someone to crash what was an accepted project of our [Palace], one which you approved?"

"I am still the ruler of my 8own lands, even if I am a remanent spirit." While the voice remained calm, the presence grew enough in strength to make Hudie Xiuying bow while Hudie Min, the weakest of the Warrior Emperor's present nearly vomited from the sheer pressure, "As for your question, it is something that was meant to happen, at some point. It's just that..." The remnant spirit, the only remains of the [Fairy] that was later dubbed as a [Goddess], started to explain before going silent.

Not that the silence meant anything like weakness or that the remains of the [Fairy] conscience disappeared. No, it was just that she chose to share the last part only with Hudie Xiuying,

***

"Observe, but do not interfere in the slightest." With the pressure, as well as the presence, gone as soon as the so-called [Goddess] gave her explanation, Hudie Xiuying commanded while opening a [Void Corridor] back to the reception area in their building in [Baoshi Hua].

"Understood, and you..?" Huang Song wouldn't even have the chance to finish her question, cut by a slightly angry but still low-toned response from the so-famous [Brave Hairstreak];

"And I will go to entertain the buffoons that think that us inviting them here means anything for their status..."

Concluding that he was under an illusion, Bai Qi attempted one after another the ways he knew to break one, considering that he had no idea what kind of illusion it was or even what power, cultivation, or formation was behind it.

From closing and releasing his senses, biting his own tongue to feel pain, and dripping blood on the surroundings, Bai Qi attempted every method from the books. From there, he moved to more obscure, unknown methods, using spells and even an array to get a grip on reality, but each of them would net him nothing, the forest around him staying the same.

An hour later, even Bai Qi, with all his grit and will, felt like trying to achieve the impossible. The illusion went against all the rules he had learned during his long, original 800 years. And still, he didn't give up, choosing to do a thing that no cultivator would attempt, at least if not an idiot, to brute force his way out of the illusion.

*ROAR* *ROAR*

Bai Qi released every bit of his now demon-like [Ghostflame] infused qi he could, sending it to burn all around himself with a loud roar, opposite to the calmness and silence of a [Yin Flame] that actually comprised what he called his own version of the [Ghostflame], or maybe, [Demonflame].

Unsurprisingly, the roaring black flames died off after barely licking the trees, air, and qi around him, proving that either he was in a so-high-level illusion it affected the dao laws of the world or that he was just too weak to break through. And yet, it would be this unusual way, at least for him, the one to give him a hint to how to break the illusion.

***

Bai Qi opened his eyes. This time, he was sure he was in the forest that the mysterious voice had sent him to. To this latter, there was no doubt, as if it wasn't the voice, who else would have sent him to a test that no one, without the power of a Warrior Emperor, or at least someone with knowledge far above it, could pass?

There weren't any actual changes, at least visually. But as Bai Qi released his senses, he found himself in an area heavily inhabited by beasts and the like, which in place of scaring him, actually made him smile,