Death... and me

Roan was thinking about the Jade Slip the twins got back in the Jiran Forest. They didn't dare to enter it in the past because it had Stage Four Demon Beasts. In fact, even now, entering it at their level was not a good idea at all. Not to mention that Juri said that there were rumors of even Stage Five Deamon Beasts existing in there.

However, Rean and Roan were planning to enter the Core Formation Realm pretty soon. Once they do that and put all their abilities together, their average strength should shoot up significantly. With Rean's Enhancement and Roan's Shadow Steps, they should at least be able to escape if necessary. Of course, that was only in the case of Stage Four Demon Beasts. If a Stage Five Beast appeared, the story would undoubtedly change.

Still, Roan wasn't in the mood to wait for the time they could safely do everything. After all, it would not serve as training at all. In his eyes, the Initial Stage of the Core Formation Realm was a perfect choice. They could test their own increase in power and experience real Life and Death combat.

However, it was then that Calina asked Roan.

"Are you worried about Malaka's Master finding out that she changed her cultivation technique?"

Roan nodded, not minding too much.

"It's not really a worry. Mia will definitely notice it straight away. After that, she will ask Malaka how she got it. Obviously, she will find out about you sooner or later. After all, the amount of Yin Energy in your body is very high. Zaia most likely already got someone to check your identity, which is safe because of the Zafa Bank. However, Mia is a lot sharper than Zaia. She might, no, she will get very suspicious."

Calina shrugged her shoulders.

"In that case, I just need to give it to Malaka in the open. What I said is that others can't know the technique itself. I've never said that others can't know that I passed it to someone."

Roan narrowed his eyes.

"Chances are that Mia will ask Malaka to show it to her. After all, she is Malaka's Master. She has the right to be worried that Malaka might be cultivating something bad. Besides, this would make a lot of people jealous as well."

Calina couldn't help but sigh.

"Why does everything have to be this complicated? Fine, I will give a copy to Mia as well. As the Sect Master, she should be able to at least keep her word, right? I just need to ask her to not spread it."

Roan looked at Calina.

"How come this secret technique of the Imperial Family doesn't seem that secret anymore? Aren't you being way too open all of a sudden? Just because she is the Sect Master doesn't mean that she won't spread it, you know? Where did you get your confidence from?"

Calina got angry.

"Can't you just decide already?! Do you want me to do it or not?!"

Roan could only nod in the end.

"Fine, let's do as you say. I hate to admit it, but it's true that Mia has a habit of keeping her words. As long as you say that it's part of the techniques of your Family, it should be okay. If she asks why you decide to give it to them, just say that you wanted to. After all, you and Malaka are already back to that 'best buddies' behavior, just like in the Profound Abyss."

Calina finally smiled. She felt like she finally won an argument against Roan, which was quite rare.

"By the way, Malaka and I are going out for a mission in a week again."

"I know. You two are doing well like that. I checked with the Missions Hall. The two of you have been selecting pretty hard missions. That's a good way to test your strengths. However, don't exaggerate. Challenging Missions and Suicide Missions are entirely different."

Calina laughed as she said.

"Don't worry, I'm not an idiot."

With that, Roan finished his talk with Calina and left. However, even though Calina resolved the issue of 'secrecy' herself, his plan to visit the Jade Slip location was not canceled. He wanted to see what was being kept in there. Well, Roan also knew that considering their resources now, whatever it is that was hidden there might not be that impressive.

Later, he told his plan to Rean as well.

"Are you sure about that? If Tribe Leader Juri's words are true, we really could end up bumping into a Stage Five Demon Beast, you know?"

Roan nodded.

"So what? It's no different compared to when we went to gather those ginsengs. We entered the middle of a war where we could have found someone we would be helpless against. Still, did we stop? Just focus on cultivating so we can breakthrough in the next two months."

Rean had to admit that Roan was right. They got into quite a few situations where danger was at every corner. This would just be one more of them.

Later on, Calina passed her cultivation technique to Malaka, who also gave a copy to Mia. When questioned, she spoke what Roan suggested. Malaka was her best friend in the Sect, so she wanted to help her. She went even further and said that this technique of her Family wasn't really super-secret. As long as one got the connections and paid the price, her clan didn't mind passing it out.

Mia looked at the technique and had to admit that it was incredible. However, she also knew that 'Illia' was supposed to be a daughter of the Fosk Clan. From what she knew, a clan as powerful as that one would indeed have something like this. It couldn't compare to the Nine Subordinate Clans of the Imperial Family. However, it was still more powerful than her Dalamu Sect.

Mia then got into a dilemma. She wanted to pry more about 'Illia's' sudden decision of passing this technique to them. However, she also couldn't help but feel tempted by it. Her Master had a similar technique. However, it was only compatible with Fire Element users, so she couldn't use it.

"What do you want in exchange for it?"

Illia shook her head.

"This is for Malaka. All I ask is that Sect Master doesn't spread it. I'm only passing it to you since you would be worried if Malaka suddenly changed her technique. Well, there is also the fact that my punishment wouldn't be that bad if my elders find about it. It's a risk that I don't mind taking."

Mia nodded but still insisted.

"I'm glad that you think like that. I will not even investigate further since this technique is crucial to both my disciple and me. Still, I feel bad to just obtain it for free. Zaia told me that you entered the Sect because of resources, right? Let's do it like this. I'll give you free access to the cultivation tower from now on. That way, you won't need Sect Points anymore. Of course, I don't think that it is enough to pay for a technique like this, so I'll let you take 100 Rank Three Spirit Stones from the treasure every month as well. No need to pay."

Calina was indeed planning to give the technique for free. However, she wasn't surprised that Mia decided to pay so much for it. She knew better than anyone else good it was. After all, it was one of the Imperial Family's Manuals. If anything, Mia's payment wasn't even close to being worth the technique. Nonetheless, getting to receive something when you decided to give it for free wasn't bad at all. Not to mention that those Spirit Stones would indeed be of great help.

Things continued to move at a smooth pace. Just as Calina mentioned, she and Malaka began to go out on missions every now and then together.

Rean and Roan also continued to practice their own things. Droman had finally given Rean the title of an Earth Middle-Level Formations Master. As for Roan, he caught up to Rean's Blacksmith level, reaching the Earth High-Level Alchemist rank under Old Worm's guidance.

Of course, there was another thing that didn't stop. Destiny Points! In the end, Rean and Roan decided to play it safe. Because of that, they didn't expend a single point of it for half a year! Why? Because they wanted to buy the next level of the Soul Connection Upgrade, which was Level 3! The thing with the highest price at the moment, 5000 Destiny Points!

[Soul Connection Range Upgrade level 3 – 5000 Destiny Points]

[Destiny Points Balance: 5237]

[Confirm the Purchase?]

"Yes!"

[Initiating Upgrade.]

As the Soul Gem System worked, Rean and Roan also discussed something else with Sister Orb.

"Sister Orb, how's our cultivation so far? Do you think we already reached the limit of what we can do at the Peak Stage of Foundation Establishment?"

Rean and Roan wanted to enter the Core Formation Realm too!