Bai Qi's thought was right on the spot. Indeed, what if not a trap could it be? Small-time robbers, as who else would try to rob three cultivators walking on their feet - simply had no way to create such a formation.
His aura had expanded immediately after hearing the warning, and still, he was slower than the dome-like formation that encompassed an entire mile of the Exhibition Square they were walking on, trapping them in the center. He had no opportunity to closely examine the formation, but the fact that he did not sense it, and even Wu Ren did not until it activated was enough explanation. As well the fact that his aura crashed against the wall and rebounded, meaning it was at least on the strength of a Warrior Lord.
But if this was a trap, two questions arose.
Who it was meant for? And what would be done with the other two?
Not that the answer would take long to be found out, for example from the 6 figures, cloaked and hooded, that were standing about half a mile from them, on the edge of the northern edge of the formation.
"Who are you? And what do you want with us? I am a disciple of the 'Fish Gazing Sect', announce yourselves!" Qiu Zemin took a step forward.
"..." None of the six spoke in response, and Bai Qi found, with true worry, that he could not get a read on any of their cultivations.
"They don't seem to want to talk" Wu Ren calmly said while sending a questioning qi transmission to Bai Qi and Qiu Zemin.
"Young friends, do you have any enemy that would like you dead?"
Bai Qi, in his Chen Guang's identity he used since his arrival, had interacted with just a few people, and the ones that he did speak for anything except business could be counted with the fingers of one hand. And from them, two-thirds were next to him right now. "I doubt that the Gate Elder decided to send someone after me, even if he had some strange reason to do so, he would have chosen a moment when I was alone" As Bai Qi thought, he answered negatively.
Qiu Zemin had no idea of why anyone would send anyone after him either. He had made his breakthrough a pair of weeks ago, becoming both a 1st level Warrior Lord and an Inner disciple of his sect, so he simply had no enemies as far as he was concerned. Not to mention that nobody would be crazy enough to assassinate a 2nd tier power disciple in the middle of Shuomen City, with the consequent scandal that would occur. Well, maybe except this six that seemed to not care about his identity at all.
"Haa, then I am truly sorry to say that probably their target is me" Wu Ren transmitted.
"If you are after my head, then leave the two youngsters to leave, they are not involved in any of my matters. If you do, I am ready to submit" He voiced while walking forward and placing himself in between the attackers and the aforementioned youngsters. His aura expanded, creating a qi wall around Bai Qi and Qiu Zemin, showing that he would otherwise fight to protect them.
There were no words, but the six auras that flashed could be considered as an answer.
The cloaked figures silently ran forward, with three going after Wu Ren, and three circles to the right. Their intent was apparent, with three of them ganging on the strongest opponent, the other three would deal with Bai Qi and Qiu Zemin.
Bai Qi's thoughts were directed on the impending battle, but still, as he examined the revealed auras, he could not help but think that something was extremely fishy. Indeed, it was as if the six attackers were prepared exactly for them.
Bai Qi was a 2nd level Sage, and the opponent that was moving towards him, and locking him with his aura, was a 3rd level one.
Qiu Zemin was a recently ascended Warrior Lord, and his opponents were a first-level Warrior Lord and a peak Sage realm.
As for Wu Ren, Bai Qi suspected that the latter was hiding his real cultivation, but still, the one that he had revealed was one of a peak Warrior Lord, and his three opponents were exactly on the same level.
"You want to target them with me present? Dream on!" Wu Ren bellowed and his aura condensed around him.
*Swoosh*
He just lightly stepped on the ground but propelled himself towards the middle of the separating attackers.
"Lunar Needle, Whirlwind!" Before the latter could even react in any way, Wu Ren wildly began spinning, and dozens, hundreds, and then thousands of small, faintly shimmering needles began appearing around him.
"Fly!" Just a breath later, surrounded by an uncountable amount of needles, Wu Ren stopped spinning as he landed. The three stronger attackers to his left, and the weaker to the right, Wu Ren released the needles towards both sides without losing a single moment.
"Protection!" Just as it appeared that the needles would reach their targets, the six men produced a talisman from their sleeves and activated it. Wu Ren's attack was a wide area one and even though the needles were more or less targetted, each of them had very low power, probably not even enough to break even Bai Qi's qi cover.
Obviously, a hundred of them would be a different tale, but with their individual power being low, the simple protection talismans, albeit hardly able to stop a Warrior Lord attack were the perfect counter against this one.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
*Twink* *Twink* *Twink*
The golden barrier, made possible by using a single-direction protective formation engraved on the seal blocked the needles, and they fell on the ground. Being made of qi, they simply disappeared, and with the protective barrier following suit, it was like if nothing had occurred.
"Go!" One of the peak Warrior Lords commanded, and his two companions instantly placed themselves on the sides of Wu Ren, encircling him, while the weaker three moved to engage Bai Qi and Qiu Zemin.
"Brother Qiu, I will take care of my own opponent, so let's separate as to not interfere with each other" Bai Qi transmitted and activating 'Counting Steps' disappeared from the spot he was on, moving to the southern edge of the formation. His opponent immediately followed suit, and for the first time, Bai Qi met someone who was just a hair's distance from equaling his speed, and that was with him being on par with a novice Warrior Lord! Not to mention that he could follow 'Counting Steps to Heaven and Earth', something that should be impossible. "Seems the formation, or... formations do something else apart from not allowing us to leave" This was truly the only explanation, and if that was the case, then Bai Qi was forced to consider that there was a Formation Saint involved, as no mere Grandmaster could hide a formation into another one.
Still, almost equaling and equaling were not the same thing. And Bai Qi reached his planned position almost an entire breath before the opponent.
With the 'Ghostflame' now being whole, even obtaining an actual embodiment in the form of a black flame that floated inside his spiritual dantian, Bai Qi's Fire element techniques were on a far superior level when compared to other elements. And albeit it wasn't yet on the level of a Yin Spiritual Flame, and had no true sentience, he could now actually command it, not to mention that any spent 'Ghostflame' infused qi would slowly recover, so he had no need to worry about spending it.
The battle with the Eagle Kingdom cultivator whose body was now Chun Hua's had provided him with two fire element Martial Skills, and now it was time to use them in real combat.
"Blazing Claw" His right hand assumed the form of an Eagle talon, and the technique, one that he found could be used both with weapons or barehanded, covered it with black fire, up to his forearm.
"Scorching Claw" His left hand followed suit in the same manner.
From the similar looks, caused by the 'Ghostflame' infused qi, and the way in which they appeared, one could think that the techniques were basically the same, but it would be a mistake. The true difference lays in their usage, and how qi would be applied. 'Blazing' was meant to destroy anything in its path, with a wide slash. But 'Scorching' was meant to land a single, extremely penetrative hit.
With the techniques covering his arms, Bai Qi timed his turn and his cross-like attack to land on his opponent as soon he reached him.
*Thump* *Thump*
Only to find his opponent's forearms clashing with his wrists, preventing him from actually slashing. "Just what is that man made from? His skin resisted contact with the 'Ghostflame?!" Bai Qi had no time to be surprised, neither he had actually finished his attack.
"Break!" He bellowed and released both skills.
As his right claw sent a torrent of flame forward, one that only barely resembled the image of a talon from such distance, Bai Qi's left claw began slowly gathering qi around his nails.
"If I can not kill you right away, then allow me to take something at least!" As his opponent gathered all of his aura to protect himself from the black flames surging from his right hand, Bai Qi savagely grinned and grabbed the man's left extended hand with his own, and sensing how his nails sunk into flesh.
"Explosive Repulsion!" As if he did not feel pain, the man in front, and it was now sure it was one, suddenly shouted and Bai Qi found himself being sent flying back by an enormous force.
Even so, Bai Qi did not let go of the man's hand until he could not hold anymore. Still, he did not recall the skill, neither did he release the claw, trying to inflict the bigger amount of damage possible.
*Crash*
Even though he protected himself with his aura, the crash against the formation wall, which did not even bulge, left Bai Qi gasping for air. He managed to land on his feet and avoided any serious damage, but... "Are the locals so much stronger than the cultivators from the 'Seven Islands Plane'?" After shaking his head Bai Qi looked at his opponent with newfound respect.
Although his opponent managed to throw Bai Qi against the formation, it was clear who the victor of their first clash was.
The right side of his cloak had completely disappeared, allowing Bai Qi to see a toned body covered with a crimson robe made from some kind of silk, probably heavily enchanted with runes or formations as it had resisted the 'Ghostflame' torrent. Still, it did not protect him entirely, as some burns were visible on the uncovered forearm and neck.
As for the left arm, Bai Qi's claw had not managed to entirely destroy his hand as intended, still, it was badly mutilated, and only three fingers remained.
*Swoosh*
The man shed his destroyed cloak and revealed himself before Bai Qi.
Not older than twenty-five, with a muscular body and height about the same as Bai Qi. With such age and cultivation, he would probably be considered a supreme genius in the lower-tier planes.
His face could be called handsome too, if not for the twin crimson lines, probably some kind of tattoo, that went vertically from his forehead down to the eyes, and then until his chin.
He had no facial hair, while his head was covered with intricately braided knots.
"Who are you? And why are you attacking me?" Bai Qi asked while taking into account that he could not sense the 'Ghostflame' infused qi that should be currently ravaging the opponent's body from inside. As well as the lack of any signs of pain or concern on the man's face.
"..." The man did not answer anything, dropping into a half-crouch and then rushing at Bai Qi.
"No answer, huh?" As he thought, Bai Qi took a deep breath and murmured
"Flaming Incarnation"