While Bai Qi wholeheartedly hated remaining just an observer, it wasn't as if he could influence the battle in any way. With Bai Rui and after her Bai Ze using aura to empower their claws and physique, their opponent had to reveal his one as well.

Bai Ze fought in the same manner as most tiger-related beastmen did, her claws not stopping for a moment, hounding her opponent, attempting to overpower him with a mix of superior speed and strength.

As for Bai Rui, she followed a more cunning way of fighting, searching for openings, circling around her opponent, and attacking from the most unexpected angles.

Yet, even with the two 4th level Saint Beasts, each equivalent to a peak 3rd level Warrior King didn't stop attacking even for a moment that their opponent had not received a single wound until now. He dodged what he could by using short and calculated movements, his strange weapons blocking what he could not avoid. And sometimes, using that flashing skill to dodge the unexpected thrusts from Bai Rui.

Bai Qi kept his thoughts to himself. Until he had something, he wouldn't think of distracting the sisters.

Thus, his entire self, uncaring about the surroundings, was concentrated on observing the man, searching for hints about his plans.

***

As any trained cultivator of the [Shihai Wetlands], Qiao Jingyi was well-versed in close combat. The region he called home was also home to hundreds of species of beasts, both Spirit and Saint level ones. In most cases, they were savage and would attack on sight, so even the smallest villages had a couple of cultivators, be they from the local populace or one of the two leading clans.

In his line of work, doing what the Hai clan wouldn't advertise as their deed, Qiao Jingyi had become very adept at concealing the amount of effort he used, and he was doing the same.

His opponents and any observers would think he was blocking with ease. The truth was that he was at his limit, with his weapons never meant for prolonged combat, his main path being the one of the Talismans.

Qiao Jingyi's skimmed around, searching for a spot, unnoticed means, and other elements he could utilize. And though it was only a glance, he found one, the young cultivator the two female beastmen were escorting.

The [Hai Clan] man thought, dismissing every other thought as like why the young cultivator didn't escape already, all of his mind directed to create a strategy.

A strategy that was quickly designed, but first, Qiao Jingyi considered all the possible ways and outcomes. In the end, settling on the easiest and one that could also help him confirm how well the Saint Beasts in front could notice the thin aura strands he used as his authentic way of fighting to control the talismans.

*Flash*

Noting the quickly declining amount of [Glimmering Phantom] talismans on himself, the ones he used for such changes of position to avoid an otherwise unavoidable attack, Qiao Jingyi used one once again. But this time, he positioned himself straight from the grass-cloak youngster.

*Swoosh* *Swipe* *Swipe*

The first beast to attack him, the one that had spewed all that nonsense about warriors, instantly pounced at his new position, her two claws sweeping at him from the sides while covered with a dangerous aura amount.

*Clang*

Infusing qi and covering it with aura to nearly the limit of the [Henjiu Steel] used for the blade, Qiao Jingyi's right arm [Edge of the Palm] blocked the left claw of the tiger-like beast.

*Swoosh* *Clang*

As for his left arm - it also rose into a defensive position, yet Qiao Jingyi feigned being late to react, his movement far quicker than required, and a few of the [Last Shine] poisonous talismans appeared to escape his sleeve.

Initially, his face showed surprise, then changed to a similarly simulated grin, as if to say - I got you - and the six talismans flew directly toward his opponent.

***

Bai Ze never liked combats where she had to run after her opponent, preferring the savage exchange from where only one would be left standing. Thus, her opponent, no matter if he showed to be able to resist her and her sister's blows, was one that she had no desire to fight for long.

There was also the issue of the city being under attack. So a fight would attract attention from both foes and allies, but Bai Ze hardly thought about it. Still, her current line of thought was to finish the fight as soon as they could. A line correct in any case.

As the opponent broke up the distance again, thanks to that strange shine that surrounded him and allowed him to appear a few feet away, she decided to go all in. And as she pounced again, she covered her claws with nearly a tenth of her aura, the absolute limit if she didn't want to cripple her paws.

*Clang* *Swoosh* *Clang*

Confirming what she sensed during the previous clashes, her opponent managed to equal her strength and aura, yet he also touched his own limit. But if a weapon user was limited to the weapons at hand, in this case, two, beastmen had not two but four claws. And Bai Ze was planning to use that advantage.

She had also asked her sister to arrive just a moment late - to avoid the opponent using his flashing skill. And if it didn't work, then for Bai Rui to take the killing blow on the latter's new position.

Yet, by a sudden lucky break, the opponent's hasty defense had released several talismans. And the man didn't hesitate to send them at her, forcing Bai Ze to stop her plan.

*Clang* *Swipe*

In less time than it would take someone to blink, Bai Ze disengaged her right claw, releasing the contained aura in the form of aura slashes.

*Tear* *Tear* *Swoosh*

One of the slashes cut down a talisman. The other one intercepted two. The other three slashes continued on their way to her opponent. As for her, using the recoil from the release, she forced her body to half-turn, allowing the other three talismans to pass by without touching her, bearing no harm as they were of the latching type.

*Flash*

Her opponent, perfectly aware of her aura slashes power, used the glimmering skill again. But as Bai Ze prepared to rush at him again, this time to support Bai Rui, who also had formulated a similar plan and now started it, she froze. Bai Ze's head turned around as she felt the talismans continuing forward and recalling who was standing in their path.

***

This fight was out of Bai Qi's league, there was no doubt, at least if one took his cultivation and state into account. Granted, Kui Mulang's form, the one Bai Qi assumed if he allowed the full release of the demon's soul and essence, could give a fight even to Warrior Kings as it was now. But he couldn't just use it. Not without risking being crippled, dying, or worse, never awakening from the berserker demon state.

He couldn't join the battle. And yet, he couldn't leave either. So, he dedicated himself to observation. Understanding the enemy's plan wasn't easy, but as Bai Ze dodged the talismans and the remaining three flew toward him, there was no need to guess either. Bai Qi had no answers to these questions, but he immediately saw that this man had succeeded, at least for the first part.

{They are Warrior Lord level talismans, ignore me, I will deal with them! Concentrate on the battle, don't allow him to take the initiative!} Bai Qi nearly shouted out, even the qi transmission ending up more forceful than usual. Though no wonder, after all, it wasn't just Bai Ze but also Bai Rui who stopped her attack. And now both were close to launching themselves to defend him from the slowly approaching talismans.

Bai Qi had not lied about the talismans' level, and their speed was hardly impressive, giving him enough time to scan the battlefield, send a transmission, and even activate [Counting Steps] to disappear from the spot he was on. Yet, as he appeared a hundred feet away, his senses told him that the talismans had not passed by but turned around and now were flying towards his new location.

Dodging them again, to the same result, Bai Qi wondered. The only answer he could arrive at was that the enemy was controlling the talismans himself, but,

{I will deal with them! Finish the fight, we already spent too much time here, and I am worried about the others!} Noticing how the Bai sisters still sent him a couple of looks, even now that they were assaulting the man again, Bai Qi sent yet another transmission, then ignored everything, only concentrating on the talismans.

*Swoosh*

As he launched towards the talismans, Bai Qi's right arm burned with black flames, using the few strands of [Ghostflame] qi he had recovered.

*Tear* *Tear* *Swoosh* *Roar*

Clawing and tearing two of the talismans before they could touch him, Bai Qi avoided the third with a sudden jump and then released the [Ghostflame] in his skill, using something similar to a weakened [Flaming Claw] martial skill.

*Sizzle*

Nothing but a few grains of ash fell on the ground, the last of the poisonous talismans destroyed.

***

While Bai Qi had dismissed the option as impossible, it was true that Qiao Jingyi had been controlling the talismans by himself all this time. Having chosen talismans as his method of combat, influenced by the several years he spent alongside the Taoist sorcerers of the [Wetlands], Qiao Jingyi could fight, talk, move, and do anything, even while controlling dozens over dozens of talismans, what to say about three?

But even if his hunch about the female beastmen being distracted by any probable harm to their charge, since the young Warrior Lord started acting to defend himself - the two had dropped any fears. And now they were concentrating entirely on the fight, not giving Qiao Jingyi a moment of respite.

*Clang* *Swoosh* *Clang* *Flash* *Clang* *Swoosh* *Flash*

Claw after claw, aura slash after aura slash. Qiao Jingyi's stockpile of [Glimmering Phantom] talismans depleted with worrying speed. And yet, while his face showed worry and how hard it was for him to keep up, deep inside, he was laughing.

With the beasts disregarding everything but the battle or their desire to kill him and the young cultivator occupied, dealing with the last talisman, Qiao Jingyi managed to drop several talismans at various locations, and now, it was time to activate them.

*Flash* *Flash* *Flash*

Using three [Glimmering Phantom] in succession, Qiao Jingyi broke up the distance for a good two hundred feet. Without committing the error of waiting, boasting, talking, or doing everything that most above-average cultivators, several of which had fallen prey to him, Qiao Jingyi immediately enacted his plan.

***

He had only landed on the ground after dealing with the last talisman, as Bai Qi's senses screamed of danger. His eyes darted around, only to see that the several dozen talismans the enemy had released, to no harm at the battle's start, were flying towards him, all at the same time!

Bai Qi wasn't in his peak state, not even close, and the situation could be already called dire. Yet, the actual crisis wasn't that, but his own companions' actions!

"No, don't! It's his plan!" Forgetting even about transmissions, Bai Qi cried out, seeing how the two [White Tiger] sisters broke out of their pursuit, changing directions and rushing towards him.

Regretfully, Bai Qi's warning would come just an instant late.

***

"I never introduce myself, but today, I frankly feel like doing it-" With his plan underway, and nothing short of the appearance of the Heavenly Emperor able to stop it, Qiao Jingyi laughed. The tension of today and the strain from the combat ending up released in this action, so unlike him, "Qiao Jingyi, the one to kill when others can not!"

*BOOM* *SLASH *BOOM* *SIZZLE* *SLASH* *SIZZLE* *CRASH*

Explosions, thunderbolts, blades of wind, projectiles of pure qi, traps to paralyze or poison, nearly a hundred talismans. All aimed at the spots where his two opponents would be if they stopped and turned around to help the young Warrior Lord they protected.

Qiao Jingyi had no doubt it would be enough to kill even someone a level above him, and both [Steel Fang] beasts were a level below. As for the youngster, he may have the skill, or the luck, to deal with three.

But what about dozens of them?

What had initially appeared as just some talismans was, in fact, far more!

Twenty-six [Last Shine] ones, paired for better effect. And as surefire means against him or anyone else, fifteen [Soul Eating] talismans in bundles of three, enough to drain even a peak Warrior Lord!