While Bai Qi had revealed his cultivation to be at the 6th level of the Warrior Lord realm, with the subsequent increase in his aura - it meant that the person to interfere in the battle was at least a 7th level Warrior Lord.

Not a real threat to Bai Qi, even without considering Ma Su standing behind him and adding that his mood was already bad, Bai Qi decided to finish everything quickly.

Locking his aura on the newly arrived hostile, who turned out to be a middle-aged man in unremarkable robes, with neither the build nor the looks of a fighter, looking more like a low-class, even somewhat destitute scholar, Bai Qi released his entire aura, entirely obliterating the meager 7th level Warrior Lord resistance and sending him crashing to the ground right next to the other ambushers.

The five young geniuses of the now-extinct [Ninety-fifth Breath of the Saint] despaired again. If at first Wu Mong and the others considered Bai Qi to be easy prey, they found that it wasn't so and got nearly killed. And yet, when Elder Tang had appeared and saved them from certain death, they had seen a glimmer of hope that was crushed so quickly and throughout, with just a single release of aura that even the once-first genius of the Dojo found himself close to a breaking point.

As for Tang Chen, he had already felt that the situation was impossible to salvage since the moment that Bai Qi suppressed the five disciples. After all, if he got involved, even if he won against Bai Qi, there would be no cause for an Elder to intervene in a battle between the youngsters and, at the same time, reveal his unremarkable strength. Thus, eliminating both ways, he had prepared to avoid being attacked by the dozens of people he had sensed nearby.

With Bai Qi's aura suppression so complete that it prevented him from talking, Tang Chen understood there would be no negotiation. This rogue, Bai Qi, had already bared his fangs at every previous ambusher, something visible from the bloody tinges in his aura. And so, Tang Chen's and the young disciples' fate had been already decided by this young man.

Although Tang Chen was no hero, and his loyalty to the [Ninety-fifth Breath of the Saint] had been shallow at most, he still didn't want to become the one that caused the death of the last surviving disciples. But there was no medicine for regret.

*Bang* *Bang* *Bang*

Six muffled explosions resounded as Bai Qi used the most bloody and primitive way to explode his ambushers, sending splatters of blood and viscera all around the small clearing that formed in the surrounding forest because of the initial clash.

Such actions greatly surprised Ma Su, who had not expected Bai Qi to act so directly, not even trying to identify the attackers or try and solve the situation peacefully, or at least to search for some justification as he had done before. But before she could ask, the situation had already changed, with a few previously concealed figures appearing in the range of her senses and then rushing away as if they had seen a ghost. All but four did not get scared away and approached openly.

*Clap* *Clap* *Clap*

Even before the three figures approached enough to be identified, the sounds of clapping and a booming voice resounded in the area.

"What a fine way of killing chickens to scare the monkeys! Brother Bai Qi, consider me impressed!" Lei Guiying, as it was no one other than him, laughed out loud while continuing to clap.

While the latter's arrival was somewhat surprising to Bai Qi, as he was aware that this young and straightforward genius would not be interested in something like robbing, his companions were even less so interested but far more surprising. After all, who could have expected the genius swordsman of the [White Grove] to be followed by two other powers cultivators who also participated in the [Martial Path of the Herbs] and interacted with Bai Qi, Zeng Hui, Lao De, and Gao Xiulian? Especially with Lao De being not even an Earth realm cultivator?

***

The [Bleeding tree of the Penghou] inner disciple Zeng Hui and his outer circle co-disciple Lao De greeted Bai Qi courteously right after they had approached. "We had waited for you in the city as the Palace announced that you went into secluded training, so I decided to follow you now to find you to thank you for protecting Lao De inside the event's grounds."

Gao Xiulan still dressed as gaudily as before, but now a plaque hung on her waist, revealing her to be a member of the ruling Gao clan from [Yuxuan] city. And she even curtsied as she reintroduced herself to Bai Qi and revealed why she had been looking for him. "As one of the top rankers, I and brother Lei stayed behind to train in the Palace grounds and meet you after the event, but after spending the allocated days, we had no luck. Still, now that I heard you were out, I followed after you to formally invite you to visit [Jade Scroll] city as instructed by my Uncle."

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"As for me, Brother Bai, I was thinking of challenging you outside the limited arena of the event, but now I see that it would be for naught." Lei Guiying sheepishly scratched his head after allowing the other three people to introduce their reasons for following Bai Qi. "And also to extend you an invitation to visit the [White Grove], considered one of the best sects in the entire region for cultivators of the sword path." While Bai Qi had never used his sword in front of him, the rumors of Bai Qi actually being advanced in the path of it had been made public after he defeated another three opponents and got the super genius Lo Dai interested enough to issue a challenge!

_______

One should know that the current rising star of the [Palace of Balance], Lo Dai, was truly considered a super genius in the entire [Great Forest] region. With his sect officially declared as the strongest of the 3rd-tier vassals of the [Great Forest Sect] and being blessed by the heavens path of cultivation, Lo Dai was not only one of the strongest of the younger generation - already stepping into the 9th Warrior Lord level and a well-known saber master, but also had ranked second in the [Martial Path of the Herbs]!

Thus any person who was interesting for this new rising star of the [Palace of Balance] was definitively a person to have an eye on, especially with Bai Qi being a rogue with no background but several big events under his belt. So, what heights could the latter reach if he received enough resources and instruction, especially since he was younger than most of the acknowledged geniuses?!

_______

Bai Qi's strategy of killing the late ambushers was indeed one of killing the chickens to scare the monkeys, and as it turned out, it did work out pretty well. While he was surprised to find out that some of the presences he had sensed tailing him turned out to be his acquaintances from the event, between their words and the fact that he sensed no malice from them, he ended up spending some time making small talk and interacting with these fellow cultivators of his generation.

Dismissing Zeng Hui's thanks after explaining that it was something that anyone would do, Bai Qi ended up accepting a badge from him after promising to visit the [Bleeding tree of the Penghou] at some point, especially as this was an invitation that had no other intent but cordiality. Right after that, Zeng Hui and his junior left Bai Qi after making him promise to visit.

After that, Bai Qi was left alone with Lei Guying and Gao Xiulan, with Ma Su who continued to act as a simple servant standing guard some dozen feet away. It was easy to understand that the approach of both Lei Guying and Gao Xiulan was a way to attempt to recruit him, decided not by them but by the elders of their powers so he didn't outright refuse.

Even if Bai Qi didn't plan to join any power, some friendly relationships would only help him at this point. Plus, as if the heavens were helping him, Bai Qi's plans did include a visit to the [Jade Scroll] city. After all, the [Seven Strokes Hall] that Li Xia had joined was there!

"I thank you both for your kind invitations. I will definitively pay a visit to the [White Grove] sect as soon as possible, but Brother Lei, you will have to excuse me as I intend to take Miss Gao's invitation first." Bai Qi smiled at the sword genius before revealing that he had a friend in the [Jade Scroll] city and that his initial plan after leaving the [Delicate Forest Palace] was to travel there.

"Oh, so it's decided! I will travel with you as I was also planning to visit the [Jade Scroll] city and spend the [Dark Days] there to solicit a few things for the sect. Plus, brother Bai Qi's friends should be interesting to meet. And then, from there, we can travel to the [White Grove] if you don't have any other plans." Lei Guying took no offense at Bai Qi's decision and surprisingly even decided to accompany them.

Bai Qi wasn't arrogant enough to consider that everything revolved around him, especially as he was a rogue Warrior Lord with no background or power. Yet, for an acknowledged genius of a sect to suddenly decide to accompany him, it indeed showed that there was something more than just friendliness behind the matter.

"Well, now that everything is solved, shall we move and meet with the elder of my [Gao Clan] and proceed towards the city?" Although Gao Xiulan was taken by surprise when the talented [White Groove] decided to travel with them, she remained composed and acted as if she had anticipated this turn of events. She knew that this would have an impact on her clan's ability to recruit Bai Qi, but did not let her emotions show on her face.

"Mmm, I have a small matter to attend first, so do you mind if we meet in [Dongpo] city in a week?" Bai Qi had left [Baoshi Hua] and the [Delicate Forest Palace] on foot and had planned to go to the smaller city of [Dongpo], or [Eastern Inscription City], where he planned to use the teleportation formation present there. Although he had free use of the formations in the [Palace] and the [Baoshi Hua] was far better equipped than [Dongpo], Bai Qi had decided on this journey for two reasons, both stemming from the fact that he was now a fat target for robbers.

Now, while the first one, tempering and testing his new strength, was completed. Although he didn't need to hide - his second reason for the journey, he still decided to complete it alone and only then meet up with his newly acquired guides and move to the [Jade Scroll City].

As for the new reason for traveling to [Dongpo], it was that he was still worried about Lan Yanzhi, who should still be in [Guanming] city, the [Radiant Orb] martial school base. And so, now that he didn't require an escort, he decided to use the travel formations there to send Ma Su to check on her.

"Understood. Then we will go and reunite with our respective elders before meeting you in [Eastern Inscription] city!" While both were a bit surprised, Gao Xiulan and Lei Guying immediately agreed and took their turn to leave, leaving Bai Qi alone with Ma Su, the latter's mind full of questions she wanted to ask...