Just slightly over a mile, the distance that separated Bai Qi from his target. At his full speed, just a couple of breaths. But as Bai Qi moved, he felt this mile to be far longer and this couple of breaths to be almost eternal.

With every step he made, it was as if dozens of sharp needles pierced him. Bai Qi circled the Crimson Bonewolves, and as he did, every passed wolf turned his gaze on him. And it wasn't just the usual aggressive glance of a Demon Beast. It was something far more than that.

Bai Qi felt that it was as if they knew what he intended to do. And that they were unable to stop him. Indeed, they could not with Heise Zhao and Gi La now taking the initiative and attacking at even the slightest opportunity.

Bai Qi did not know how to answer these questions, and so, he shook his head while moving ahead, prepared to do what he had to do.

The eye-less, ear-less, hair-less, and motion-less beast did not react in any way even when Bai Qi arrived next to it. The beast was undoubtedly alive, both breathing and releasing its aura, but it looked as if it wasn't conscious.

"Let's hope that your rebirth will happen in a better environment, one where you have not to suffer like this" Bai Qi did not know why, but as he lifted his qi-covered palm, he briefly muttered.

*Thump*

The qi-covered palm touched the unmoving beast's head, and the released qi ravaged its brain, instantly killing it. "I wish you well... And I am sorry" Bai Qi whispered before turning around, preparing to move towards the next beast.

*ROAR* *ROAR*

All the Scarlet Bonewolves roared in unison, and even some of the unwarped beasts joined the chorus. Still, neither of them could do anything but roar. The former could not stop their assault on the two beastmen unless they broke the encirclement and allowed their suppressed enemies to act. As for the latter, even the few beasts that roared, they were too weakened to do anything else.

As Bai Qi moved towards the next warping beast, he found that he was feeling grief and anger from the roars. Still, it wasn't as he had any choice in the matter now. He had already started, and the fact that the Demon Beasts felt, thought, communicated, and strategized, or anything else from what he had discovered did not change anything.

It wasn't as if Bai Qi thought for the sake of all the beastmen, but he did have a few that he would like to protect, and that was enough for him to act. If his actions would lead to the grief of others, so be it!

*Swoosh*

The next target wasn't unconscious. It wasn't eye-less either, as Bai Qi's arrival made it look up at him. Seemingly it was too weak to do anything else. Still, the gaze was enough to transfer its feelings.

*Thump*

Bai Qi thought as his palm lowered again.

*ROAR*

A similar but more pained roar followed his actions. And even though Bai Qi had braced himself, he still felt a pang of guilt. Not enough to prevent him from starting to move towards the next beast. But sufficient as to slightly slow him.

And probably this short holdup saved his life, as before he reached the next beast, a murderous aura covered the entire hill. One enough to paralyze and even make Bai Qi shiver. And thank the heavens for not rushing headlong towards the next target.

"Wu Guang, Retreat!" Heise Zhao roared in alarm.

Bai Qi inwardly thought while cursing. He had not entered the zone where the aura was at the strongest. Thus he avoided the grizzly fate of being squashed. Still, the one around him was enough to make him incapable of moving or even speaking.

"Damn! And for the sake of the sacred ancestors, where are Tiaowen and Guandian?!" Heise Zhao did not need to be told about Bai Qi's condition. He detected it right away. He also noticed another alarming fact, not only the separated members had not appeared, but he could not even sense them!

The Scarlet Bonewolves that surrounded him sensed that the man-lynx was distracted, and five of them launched at him.

"I will not be done in by some damned dogs! Scram!" He roared in anger as his aura exploded, covering him and releasing a strong feeling of decay.

*Whimper*

Four of the bonewolves managed to stop themselves in time, but one had been too hasty. Thus, it touched the dark whirlwind around Heise Zhao and fell to the ground. Rolling and whimpering in pain as the innate ability of a [Death Hunter], Heise Zhao's bloodline race, began consuming its body.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Everything followed the laws of the dao of equivalence - The stronger the power, the more costly it is.

Releasing one's innate ability into one's aura was akin to the most powerful trump card of a Beastman. One that could decide a battle with ease, but at the same time, would leave the user drained. For most Beastmen, bloodline abilities could be used only once in a period that could be from an hour and up to an entire week.

"Gi La, break their encirclement and go look for the others!" Heise Zhao, encircled with the literal winds of death, bellowed a command. And with a "Scram!" roar, began moving forwards, entirely ignoring the Bonewolves.

And he could do so indeed. Even before the activation of his bloodline ability, the bonewolves had not been able to wound him. Heise Zhao was a 4th level Saint Beast, and they hardly could compare to a 1st level one. And that without mentioning that Beastmen were inherently stronger than beasts of their level. Thus, they could not even stop him, at least if he did not want to keep them occupied.

Before, he had allowed them to, but now? He was moving ahead, surrounded by a whirlwind of black aura that would kill the Bonewolves even with a slight touch.

*BOOM* *CRASH* *Whimper

Gi La followed the command she was given and did it without holding back. Either because she was hesitant to spend it, or because she had no such ability, the aura that she released was pure. But it had exploded forcefully, pushing back the Bonewolves just enough for her to turn into a wild tornado of swipes, punches, and kicks. The five demon beasts around her were caught in the frenzied attack, and only two managed to retreat in time.

"Be careful, both of you" Because of worry, her words were blurred by a hiss, but still, they were understandable. And as soon as she said them, she immediately sprang off, moving towards the north, where the fire tigers group should be.

*Step* *Step*

As soon as he crossed the boundary of the hostile aura, Heise Zhao's steps began slow, with his aura beginning to clash against the hostile one. His wasn't much weaker, but he had greatly minimized its area with the usage of his bloodline ability. Thus, he could only slowly advance, gaining inch after inch.

The intention of the Beastman was made apparent by the direction he took. He wanted to free Bai Qi from the suppression by counteracting the aura from the front.

*ROAR*

Another chorus of roars resounded, and this time every conscious beast, including the wounded ones, joined it.

{Even if you, human, aren't someone who should, you still came here to destroy us. Thus, tell us, why?} Heartless, detached, and unnatural. These were the only adjectives Bai Qi could think of as the voice entered his mind. It wasn't speech, but neither a qi transmission.

Bai Qi's mind was shielded with his true consciousness potency, close to a peak Warrior Emperor or a 9th level Saint Beast. For nothing except an actual Saint realm cultivator, it should have been impossible to enter his mind or speak to him like this.

{We aren't one, and we aren't many. We are what we are.}

As these words entered Bai Qi's mind, the aura around him strengthened, even stopping Heise Zhao's advance. At the same time, the presence of the Scarlet Bonewolves and the warping beast began fading away as if life was being sucked away from them.

Bai Qi could not guess why the mysterious being was speaking to him in such a way or why all the Demon Beasts' presences were disappearing. Still, as it was talking, could it be that it wanted something? To avoid this mysterious being listening to all of his thoughts, Bai Qi separated a part of his consciousness, shielding it with both mind and soul. As for the part that he left on the open, he again asked,

{Look at us and understand!} The pressure surrounding Bai Qi grew even more in intensity, forcing him to go on one knee. And still, he was doing better than Heise Zhao, who had already fallen on his fours by now.

One moment there was nothing at the top of the hill, and on the next moment, a figure appeared. It looked almost human-like, at least if humans could be fifteen feet tall and have four arms. But that wasn't the point that made Bai Qi gasp. He had seen dozens, hundreds, thousands, and even millions of different beings, and so nothing short of an actual sacred beast or Astral Realm cultivator would surprise him.

Bai Qi's gasp came from what he sensed from the figure.

{We are one, while we are not one} The answer was convoluted, but Bai Qi understood what the being was trying to convey. It was aware that the form it assumed was of a single consciousness, but it had at least a dozen different consciousness inside. And indeed, as Bai Qi thought of it, the form suddenly waved and turned into a golden cloud. Only to reform as an enormous tiger, one that looked almost like the [White Tiger] from legends.

Bai Qi attempted to clarify while recalling all of the memories he had about the snake-elder and Heise Zhao's explanations.

{It does not matter. You killed several bodies and prevented me from separating ourselves.}

Bai Qi had a few trump cards that he could use to escape such a situation. There was also the chance he could negotiate with the... thing in front.

Still, neither of that was something he would allow even the honest and direct Beastment to see, especially as all of them included revealing his true self.

And unexpectedly, the being agreed. Although maybe it simply wasn't interested in the beastmen.

{We have angered something we should have not. I have a way to escape that I can attempt. But I will not be able to if you are close. Retreat as soon as the aura weakens! If I manage to escape, we will meet at the [Fake Arrow] tree!} Bai Qi sent a qi transmission to Heise Zhao, and the being indeed weakened its restriction slightly, just enough for the man-lynx to stand up.

Still, Heise Zhao did not run away but turned to face the being, which had assumed the form of a human. Transparent and without features, but still a human.

"Great Being, please forgive our actions and allow us to leave. Or if you intend to take a life, then take mine!" The man-lynx bowed deeply while pleading, but the being ignored it. Even more, it suddenly disappeared, only to reappear near Heise Zhao and lightly touch him.

*Plop*

The man-lynx fell on the ground without showing any signs of life, but his presence was still present. A moment later, Heise Zhao's body disappeared entirely.

{I have sent him to the place that you thought about. Now, human, what are you going to do?} Even if it appeared unnatural and emotionless, Bai Qi sensed a tinge of interest in it.

It has read my mind, and it knows who I am. So what does it want? Bai Qi's separated and hidden consciousness questioned itself while trying to understand what he could offer the being. Or if that did not work, how to achieve what he told Heise Zhao and escape.