[Black and White] I_Travels along the Astral Road

*ROAR*

Adding a few strands of qi to make the abruptly released [Ghostflame] roar, Bai Qi buried deep into the ground. [Earth Crab Hidden Shell] not only concealed a cultivator against others in the same or lower level but also created a small area for the user to rest, hide, or recuperate. And Bai Qi intended to do the three, as while the wounds he received weren't serious, he was also exhausted to the limit.

Still, before doing that, he had another matter to finish. A thin strand of consciousness, barely noticeable even by the keenest senses, connected to the standing still clone aboveground.

A third of Bai Qi's entire qi pool formed the clone, and before it dispersed, he intended to create even more chaos.

*Swoosh*

The unexpected blaze of black flames had both pushed back and attracted the attention of everyone around, and even before it dispersed, a figure launched out of it.

*Slash*

Bai Qi sacrificed one of the few common-tier weapons he still kept, and now his clone used an ax against the nearest, 2nd level Warrior Lord.

*Clang*

And while the target blocked the attack, it was just a momentary respite, as at the next moment, a qi-covered hand, in a knife-like manner, slashed at the opponent's neck.

*Splatter*

Even if it was his qi and skill, controlling it did diminish Bai Qi's combat prowess. Thus, the attack had been slower than before, so the opponent managed to avoid a fatal wound, only receiving a tear on the shoulder.

Bai Qi had not used the clone for direct combat before, but as he did now, he immediately started countering the flaws he discovered.

There main two were that the speed and sensing capacity decreased close to a third. Thus, Bai Qi decided to change to a hit and run style, all while carefully maintaining the clone not farther than fifty feet from his underground position, as he could only conceal his consciousness strand for such a distance.

***

Dashing from side to side and always retreating after an attack, Bai Qi, as assumed by everyone aboveground, fought against all of the dozen cultivators nearby.

The monstrous opponent of theirs was now showing exhaustion, which made the different powers cultivators attack with renewed vigor. And it indeed seemed that Bai Qi wasn't at his peak anymore, as not one but several attacks passed dangerously close to his body.

Still, he did fight back earnestly. Two enemies retreated, each with serious wounds that took them out of combat.

Then the first one Bai Qi had wounded fell to a sudden attack from nowhere. Actually, it was just a void-related maneuver, much like the [Void Palace] members used, but as Bai Qi had not used it before, it was absolutely unexpected and so worked.

Or maybe no one had expected someone to throw an ax through the void.

Or for a sudden rip in the void open behind someone and an ax to hit through it.

No one could answer why, but the result was there. Bai Qi's clone suddenly let go of the ax, so it disappeared, and then suddenly appeared behind a cultivator, cleanly hitting him in the middle of the spine.

By that point, Bai Qi's presence wavered seriously, showing that his qi had reached a dangerously low status.

Only Bai Qi could answer why it was so, as he knew that the [Shadow Clone] used far more qi for any movement or attack, not to mention that it consumed qi and soul power while active. And not in small quantities.

A lucky, or allowed, attack hit the clone's arm, and blood gushed out of the previously unharmed Bai Qi. This latter and the addition of a few cultivators that had observed Bu Zan's and Bai Qi's duel encouraged the hostiles. And so, for the next breaths, Bai Qi's clone was surrounded by a storm of weapons, techniques, and skills.

And at some point, an attack, one extremely lucky, around the moment Bai Qi was about to kill yet another attacker, ended Bai Qi's life.

***

"That can not be!" Bu Zan's face went blank as he repeated the phrase from a few moments before.

And indeed, he could not understand what had occurred. How a 1st level Warrior Lord, and of the most average rank, had just killed the man that fought Bu Zan previously to a standstill.

It was true that the youth called Bai Qi had been fighting for a long time and so should be exhausted, but... how?!

But his senses did not lie, as the presence Bu Zan had been following was snuffed out completely.

*Swoosh*

Ignoring his condition, Bu Zan rushed forward, but the only thing that met him was a gallery of shocked faces from everyone that took part in that last fight.

"What happened? Where is the body?!" Bu Zan asked overbearingly, compelling the close-to frozen cultivator nearby to shake up and answer.

"We don't know! You tell us!" But the answer wasn't the one that Bu Zan expected at all. On the other hand, how could cultivators with neither genuine instruction nor knowledge explain how a cultivator's body suddenly disappeared, as if consumed by the shadows?

As soon as the thought crossed Bu Zan's mind, he commanded everyone to scan every inch of the surroundings, "Find him!"

As for himself, he had no other choice but quickly make his way out of the formation zone. And outside, as a 5th level Warrior Lord, start rebuilding the gate construct. He inwardly cursed as he prepared for the unavoidable. After all, he had not only lost most of the men under his command but even used the last resort [Shatter]. And both without accomplishing anything!

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When Bai Qi had told her to not believe what would happen next, Elder Ye Zexi had no idea what he meant by that. Neither she could understand why did he help them to such an extent but did not retreat with them. After all, he should be exhausted as well, shouldn't he?

Thanks to Bai Qi staying back, no one followed Ye Zexi or her disciples into the tower. And so, they managed not only to reach the control room safely but also spend a few minutes outside the latter, recuperating at least some qi.

But while the disciples, exhausted and wounded, thought of nothing but healing and recuperating, Ye Zexi only spent a few breaths before moving into the room. There, she connected to the formation that allowed her to glean outside, and so, she witnessed Bai Qi's supposed last stand.

Not someone who enjoyed fighting, and one to avoid it entirely, she still was just a hair from running out to help him when she noted Bai Qi was on his last.

Even she could not answer that, but as she noted the vanishing body, she at least understood what she was said to avoid believing.

***

{Elder Ye, how is your state?} Kongbai Meili contacted Ye Zexi through a void crack. The exhausted elder quickly related everything. And especially noted the enormous help that the unexpected ally had provided them.

{Understood. Sooner or later, the decisive fight will start. But as we can not be sure of the timing, be prepared for another outing at some point. Still, good work, and make sure to recuperate.} The [Void Palace] Head acknowledged the received update and then continued to the other two towers that had acted at the same time.

For this moment, three sets of towers, each comprised of three on both east and west and two on the south, had acted. And from this total of 24 towers, most of the outings had been successful.

"Honestly, even the two towers that found not a single enemy should be said to be successful. But regretfully, the 11th and 87th weren't so lucky. Still, just three people in exchange for over two hundred dead or out of combat? I say that we are doing well." As if reading her thoughts, Tao Xuegang remarked.

"...agreed. It pains me to acknowledge it, but the losses are under the acceptable threshold indeed. Still, losing Elder Xun is something I did not expect." The Head, covered in a cloak of a pure tamed void strand, heavily sighed as she recalled what happened to Elder Xun, the master of the 87th tower.

"Mmm, but who could expect that he would meet the [Edge Worshipping Monastery] maniacs? I have never understood how cultivators that disregard any technique and skill can exist, but the towers give them an advantage, regretfully for us." Tao Xuegang did not change his manner of speaking, but a few notes of anger seeped into his otherwise calm manner.

The [Edge Worshipping Monastery] had always been a power that no one, not even their [Demon Worshippers Alliance], understood. Originally an authentic Buddhist monastery, they had strayed from their path and began worshipping Demonic Weapons as if they were gods.

Since the change, they did not allow any of their monks or apprentices to use anything but weapons for combat. Surprisingly, the previously unranked power slowly gained in strength and by now could contest against a 3rd-tier power of the [Great Forest Region].

It was unknown what did they gain from it, but they sent a few dozens of men to participate in the [Void Palace] siege, and now, they proved themselves as formidable opponents indeed.

Elder Xun Yang was the complete opposite of Elder Ye Zexi. Not only did she enjoy combat, but also was an advanced master of her weapon path.

Still, as she left the control room of her tower, she found herself goaded into a fight against the [Monastery] low-ranked monks, and unexpectedly for everyone, lost. And lost in a duel!

"But this Bai Qi is indeed something." Deciding to bring her master out of her gloomy thoughts, Meng Chin mentioned the unexpected and already proved ally.

"Mmm. Usually, a 3rd level Warrior Lord isn't worthy of mention in a battle between powers. But with the formation on, he is truly a special case." Tao Xuegang followed suit, and this time he talked far more enthusiastically.

"...I loathe admitting that my interest is piqued as well. But, don't forget about our situation." Kongbai Meili chided both her ex-disciple and the vice-head. Her line of thought was clear, and she did not want them to try and distract her from what was happening to her members.

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The night slowly descended on the [Ice Phoenix Ravine], but it stopped neither the besieged nor sieging cultivators.

The former continued their outings, but with more variation than before, to avoid being found out. Every Elder and disciple participated, to the utmost of their abilities. And for the first time since the siege started, the morale had not dropped but actually increased. Indeed, they suffered losses and were wounded, but the enemy bled!

As for the latter, as soon as the first fights had ended, runners from their bosses, heads, sect masters, and other leaders reached almost every one of them. Each tower was assigned to a single power, with bigger ones taking control over several, and several countermeasures to make the [Void Palace] pay blood for blood were drafted.

Thus, with both sides having the same mindset of shedding blood, it wasn't surprising that both the night and the following morning were crimson in color...

***

*Rumble*

Earth parted, and a shell-like form emerged, only to open and reveal a figure cloaked in crimson wrappings.

It took Bai Qi seven hours to get himself back in shape. Not quite to the peak, but at least he could continue with his objectives. Still, he did not plan to fight right away but to scout the situation again.

He had sensed the situation aboveground before emerging and found no trace of any presence he recognized. Thus, he wrapped himself with one of the looted robes and emerged.

"Who?!" A shaved man in a simple grey shirt and similar pants shouted in alarm and immediately flared his aura.