"Is Master sure that letting the three of them leave just like that is the right call?" Meng Chin, Kongbai Meili's apprentice, cautiously asked as she finished observing the recorded talk between her Master and the young Warrior Lord, Bai Qi.

"So even Tao Xuegang agrees, but you disagree? Interesting. Tell me, what should I have done then?" Different from the cold and distant self she had shown before, Kongbai Meili asked with a faint chuckle.

"There is no question that Bai Qi's actions were of utmost importance, so he should be free to do whatever he wants, and the least we can do is reward him and forget about anything that could affect him if mentioned, but..." Meng Chin knew that it was rare for her Master to ask about others' thoughts so openly, but that when she did, there would be no repercussions, no matter what one said.

Still, she hesitated a bit before finishing, "But He Delan? And the [Astral Devourer]? They are true assets of the Palace, and we did not need to force them out, as, in truth, Master's words about not allowing identities to be concealed was nothing else but a veiled order to leave less they met punishment."

"Hmm, you are only half-right, but you need to look deeper. If you, one day, inherit my position, you have to grasp the overall situation, not decide on what you see at first glance." Kongbai Meili's tone grew more serious, as it always happened when she lectured Meng Chin about anything.

"What your Master is trying to tell you, Meng Chin, is that beings like Chun Hua need to be nurtured earnestly for them to grow, and our Palace will be unable to do so, for the time being at least. As for He Delan, isn't it better for her to stop playing being an elder and, in turn, experience a bit more of the world outside? Remember that unlike you, she only spent a couple of months between leaving my wing and taking over a tower." Tao Xuegang, who arrived in time to hear the last words of the Palace's head, explained.

This incident, if such a light word could be used to describe the events that led to the death of nearly two-tenths of their Palace members, showed that the [Void Palace] required to not only rebuild. No, it also will require the change of several, if not all, procedures, defenses, etc. Ones that were thought to be flawless and nearly impenetrable.

It also showed that most of their disciples and elders lacked the preparation and experience to react to the unexpected. This latter could not be solved right away, but hopefully, the hard lessons of these days would be useful to change that, even if slightly.

"And, you know, I think that we will see all of them in a near future." Tao Xuegang suddenly added as Meng Chin started to make her way towards the exit, aware that the talks between the Head and Vice-head that would follow were not for her ears.

"Huh?" She half-turned, sending a questioning glance at the old senior.

"Young geniuses like him... they will always be where the action is. And something tells me that this incident is only the start, even for us. After all, the war, the war has now commenced." Kongbai Meili was the one to respond before opening a [Void Passage] for Meng Chin and nearly forcefully evicting her from the room, the same where the talks with Bai Qi had taken place.

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While Yuan Taotu and the two elders from [Shoumen City] had to return to their respective powers, they still chose to accompany Bai Qi outside the [Ice Phoenix Ravine], even out of the [Exalted Lands] altogether.

For one, even if they lost a day or two traveling to [Yan Yu City], it did not matter much after spending several weeks waiting for Bai Qi's awakening.

But the main reason was Bai Qi himself, or better said, the current state of his. He had greeted and spent some time with them, but it was as if he wasn't there entirely.

No one of Bai Qi's, now increased by five, group had any idea why he remained so silent, moving with eyes closed and nearly oblivious to everything around, as if in deep introspection.

But while reasons there were multiple, most of his behavior stemmed from something he had discovered during his investigation of his body prior to his talk with the [Void Palace] head. Even the meek, absolutely unusual for him, responses to the Kongbai Meili's essentially running him and Chun Hua out came from the same reason.

Nearly for an entire day, Bai Qi continued, like such, examining himself and trying to call for his skills, from the wood element 'Green Demon Claw' and up to his own, 'Black Flame Demon Incarnation'. But neither responded to his calls, and Bai Qi was forced to accept that probably, he had lost nearly all of his combat methods.

With one's advancement on the cultivation path, one's soul grew more and more important with each realm, if not each moment. First, it was one's aura, then the martial skills that depended on it, and later, the dominion or domain. After breaking into the Sky realm and becoming an immortal, a cultivator's body could be entirely destroyed. And yet, one would continue to live and have the ability to restore it entirely, all while one's soul remained intact.

At the same time, as the soul's importance grew, even minor wounds to it would leave severe repercussions. For a Yellow, the 1st major realm cultivator, a soul would only mean the impossibility to advance further before it was healed. But for an Earth, the 2nd major realm cultivator, a similar wound would mean losing part of his powers, and the time to heal such a wound increased exponentially as well.

But, what would happen to someone whose soul was fragmented or destroyed? One could fall into a coma-like state or even directly die, and it was rare the case of someone being able to awaken as quick as Bai Qi did. Even rarer would be the case of someone being able to repair a fragmented soul without external help in the face of Saint or even further Mastery formations or treasures of the Sky-tier if not above it.

Still, Bai Qi had managed to restore it by himself. Though it could only be described as a miracle in truth, it was nothing but a matter of uncanny luck or a horrible curse, depending on how one saw it. After all, having at least three separate souls, and with one of them being a demon, who could say if it was a blessing or a curse?

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

But no matter how one looked at it, Bai Qi had managed, even though he himself was unsure of why to reunite the fragments of three separate souls into a single one and thus awaken. Still, miracles come at a cost, as he always thought even as the [White Scroll Immortal] he was in his previous life.

I met allies, enemies, friends, seniors, and juniors, and not on one plane but two.

I lost nearly nine-tenths of my lifespan and advanced an entire major realm.

So, if the price for this awakening, the ability to continue on my path, is to lose all of my abilities and my soul being now a mix of three... so be it!>

Unable to continue lamenting what had already happened and resolved to continue no matter what new blockades he would face, Bai Qi broke out of his pensive state, opened his eyes, and looked around.

His gaze stopping on the men, women, beastmen, beastwomen, and even the two children accompanying him, Bai Qi lightly smiled to each, "Everyone, I'm sorry it took me longer than expected to regain my bearings in full."

***

With Deng Guying's presence, the descent from the nearly seven-mile tall plateau took no longer than a few breaths. The old Warrior Emperor had just expanded his domain, and when he dispelled it, they were already on the green, tree-filled lands of the [Great Forest Region].

Just a few dozens of miles away from [Yan Yu City], in a glade bordered from one side by the rock wall of the [Lands of the Ice Exalted] they just left, Bai Qi's group stopped for a rest. Neither of the members required it, with them being cultivators and the two nearly mortal girls carried in a gentle envelope of aura for the entire journey. Bai Qi had returned, as he himself considered, merely an hour ago, but it had been enough for him to share his plans for the next few weeks.

"So you plan to visit your friends? I recall you wanted to do so before, and it is a good thing to do. So, take your time, and then return to [Shoumen]. While I am unsure we will be participating in the war much, there is always something to do for a man of your talent." Deng Guying spoke up first, and then he simply nodded while wishing that this time, Bai Qi was spared from such dangers and, with a quick farewell to the others, left.

"I wish you the best of luck, young friend. Don't hesitate to call upon help if you require it, although it seems that you have made good friends that are ready to fight for you in this plane as well." A warm smile filled up Grandmaster Li's youthful face as he tapped on Bai Qi's shoulder and passed him a message orb of his own creation, one that could reach [Shoumen City], or wherever the Grandmaster would be, from any place in the plane.

As the two elders left, both crossing nearly the entire region only because of worry, unfaked, for Bai Qi, the latter formally saluted and did not raise from the half-bow until the two elders disappeared from sight.

Yuan Taotu had to return to the [Fish Gazing Sect], on the orders of which he had come to the area in the first place. Aware of the looming war, he had taken a mission as a courier between the main forces of the [Southern Forest] group and [Burning Forest], Ran Shao's elites that had broken the siege before. But after completing it and arriving at the [Void Palace] to use their teleportation formation, he had met with Deng Guying and found out about Bai Qi's presence and state.

After asking and being granted a few weeks to remain here, Yuan Taotu had patiently waited for Bai Qi's awakening. Now that they had expired, and Bai Qi had again surpassed all expectations, somehow surviving even his soul being shattered, it was time to return.

*Clasp*

A strong handshake, a nod, and a brief assurance to meet again be it before the deadline for the return to the [Seven Islands Plane] or right on it. And while they could not say when, both were sure that they would meet indeed.

Bai Qi thought as his gaze followed Yuan Taotu's figure. The latter, dressed in the deep blue and golden fishes embroidered uniform of an inner circle disciple, with an aura that revealed a cultivation of a 1st level Warrior Lord, had grown indeed.

As the three people who had to leave left, Bai Qi turned toward the other two new additions to his group. Chun Hua was someone he considered close to himself, and knowing how she had gone berserker and defended Bai Qi's and He Delan's nearly dead bodies even against the [Void Palace] rescue teams had confirmed that she was of the same mind.

While the [Astral Devourer] hardly understood the reasons for the treatment Bai Qi and He Delan received, though she did understand why she was run off herself, Bai Qi understood perfectly. After all, Chun Hua had revealed that she wasn't a human. And the enormous potential she had as a cultivator, even if it was by trekking a path no [Void Palace] member could.

If that was just that, and she proved herself as a member of the Palace, Bai Qi doubted that they would even allow her to leave, but she held only two people close. At least close enough to risk revealing herself and fighting to the death against cultivators nearly a realm above her, and anyone could judge that from her actions.

Bai Qi had understood most of that since the start, but only now he could clearly formulate the entire situation calmly.

In any case, and whatever the standing of either involved party, it did not affect his plans. Indeed, Chun Hua would follow him, even if she wasn't so enthusiastic about meeting the others, considering that Bai Qi and Scaly, Kass Shaa'r, were the only important ones from the [Seven Islands Plane].

"Senior He, I trust that you heard that I plan to go visit the people who arrived with Chun Hua and me from our original plane. Will you accompany us? Or senior has something else planned?" Already aware of what the answer will be, Bai Qi still asked, glancing at the silent and pensive woman, who though not evicted from the [Void Palace], still had chosen to wear a white dress in place of the black robes of her power.

"I can not leave my disciple, can I? I was asked to leave the Palace to look after this troublesome girl." And as expected, He Delan confirmed she would remain with the group.

"Understood, then I suppose we can move out. The path isn't close after all." Bai Qi hid a grin and changed topics.

"I thought we were going to [Yan Yu City], and from there, we would use the formation to reach [Zihoadao]?" Ma Su asked in surprise.

"Well, we could do so indeed, but I have been out cold for a few weeks, so some training on the way will not hurt." Bai Qi smiled before adding with a chuckle, "You all did nothing either. What if you all got rusty? Thus, if everyone agrees, I want to visit the [Roaring Bay] up north."

"The [Roaring Bay]? I heard it has been entirely overrun by marine beasts, most of which are too savage to be reasoned with." After thinking for a few moments, He Delan recalled the location and what she had heard about it.

After listening to the danger degree of the zone, Bai Qi simply nodded, "Senior He is right about all that, but there are no rumors about Saint Beasts above the 5th level, and we can deal with them, don't we?"

"Yes, and..." He Delan thought for a moment before her eyes twinkled, and she added, "Stop calling me senior, or I am so old?"

"Understood." Bai Qi felt an urge to tease the ex-elder, but he restrained himself.

"Grr, a fight is exactly what I need!" Tired of the long talks, Bai Ze growled while stretching her over seven feet tall body.

"Let's go then!"