Rean and Roan ran quickly and stealthily. In fact, Roan would prefer to move alone. However, cultivators had Spiritual Sense on this side of the universe, so trying to keep oneself hidden wasn't an option unless you had a technique capable of it. That's why Rean came together. As one could imagine, Rean was using the Fourth Form of the Life Style to bend any Spiritual Sense that passed by them, just like light.
Too bad that it was so hard to control. Otherwise, Rean could use it on Malaka and Kentucky as well. Eventually, they arrived at the place where the roar came from.
"Arghhhhh!"
It was then that they saw a cultivator sent flying by the sweep of a tail. At the moment, five cultivators were fighting against what seemed to be a snake made of dark fog. However, on both sides of its mouth and tail, there was something that looked like blades. The cultivator that was sent flying just now had just been hit by it. Rean and Roan couldn't even say if he was still alive or not.
"It's a Fog Blade Python... but this one... is just huge!"
Roan nodded.
"Reliance alerted us before that a few Initial Stage Four demon beasts were also left alive in the Profound Abyss. This one ought to be one of them. The leader among them seems to be at least in the Late Stage of the Core Formation Realm, but even he is being suppressed. And that is already considering that his group has the advantage of numbers."
Rean also agreed with Roan.
"Let's get out of here. Those cultivators will eventually flee once they see they are not a match for it."
Thanks to Rean's Spiritual Sense Bending ability, neither the cultivators nor the python noticed the twins' presence. A few seconds later, Rean and Roan were already gone from the scene.
Malaka and Kentucky didn't have to wait much for them to come back.
"What was that sound?"
"It was a Stage Four demon beast. Let's leave this place in case it has some sensory ability that it can use to find us."
Malaka nodded, and the group immediately departed in another direction.
"We need to be careful. We haven't found a single Decaying Demon Beast at that level until now. From the looks of it, the ones that were left alive were those close to the Decaying Caves."
Malaka and Rean understood that as well, so they also got ready for anything that might happen.
Around one hour later, they finally found the first Decaying Cave Entrance. Of course, this was only one of the thousands. However, it was not because there were thousands that there were thousands of Vermilion Pools. The caves inside were connected, so you could totally bump into other groups that used other entrances. Also, the total number of Vermilion Pools was definitely not enough for everyone.
"Should we enter this one?"
Roan pondered a bit but shook his head.
"The amount of Yin Energy coming from the entrance through the Decaying Fog is not that much higher than the outside. If I'm not wrong, the thicker the Decaying Energy, the closer the entrance will be to a Vermilion Pool. After all, the Vermilion Pools are known to be one of the reasons for the Decaying Fog."
Rean and Malaka nodded.
"Great! Then let's find another one."
Roan then continued to lead their group further ahead, looking for an entrance with a lot of Yin Energy. They passed several of those caves, but Roan ignored them. They found a few groups of cultivators that had just arrived as well. However, after they saw that Rean's group gave up using the same cave as them, they discarded the idea of attacking them. It was better to conserve energy for when they enter the cave effectively.
However, there was one thing that those groups were surprised with. Because the Decaying Fog increased as one moved further into the underground world, it was even harder to proceed forward. The groups, duos, and lonely cultivators that made it to this point so quickly were the ones with the highest cultivations.
Most of the cultivators with lower cultivations were still making their way here and were still far away. Or perhaps, they died or gave up already. Seeing a group with three Foundation Establishment kids and a Stage Two demon bird was not what they expected. Sure enough, they made sure to remember the faces making up Rean's group. Some even recognized Malaka from the settlement gathering challenges.
Finally, Roan stopped in front of a cave entrance that seemed to interest him. He stayed in front of the Decaying Fog coming out of it for a few seconds and then nodded, satisfied.
"This is the one. Let's go."
However, just as they were about to enter the cave, Rean and Roan's hairs changed into black and white colors. Right after, they immediately attacked two dark corners around the cave. Simultaneously, Malaka and Kentucky gathered their energy and attacked another point that Rean told them with his Spiritual Sense. Rean even made sure to use his enhancement skill on Malaka first before dashing forward with Roan.
'Death Style, Second Form, Crescent Moon!'
'Death Style, Third Form, Three Claws of the Dragon!'
'Death Water Style, Second Form, Spinning Dragon Tail!'
Kentucky's body burst with Black and White Flames. He then flapped his wings while using his legs to help with the initial ascension. Right after, he descended like a meteor of Black and White Flames, attacking the same point with Malaka.
*Swish, swish, swish!*
*Bang, bang, bang!*
*Boom!*
"Ahhhhh!*
In the next second, all they could hear were several screams coming from the three points targeted by their group. It turned out that a group was mounting an ambush in that cave entrance. Not only that, but they seemed to know some techniques that also made it hard to detect with Spiritual Sense. Unfortunately for them, they might be able to hide from Spiritual Senses, but they can't hide their Life Forces! The moment Roan stopped in front of the cave, Rean already felt their presence in the shadows.
What was supposed to work in their favor turned out to be their mistake. The position where they were hidden didn't give the ambushers the option for dodging the attacks. With Rean and Roan's combat power at the Late Stage of the Core Formation Realm, plus their deadly techniques, the outcome was pretty much decided already.
In fact, the combo between Malaka and Kentucky was almost as powerful thanks to Rean's Enhancement Ability. The two of them were able to deliver a small area attack with the power of a Middle Stage Core Formation Realm cultivator.
But above all, their greatest mistake was underestimating Rean's group due to their age and cultivation. Their guards were utterly down, thinking that Rean's group was already dead in their hands.
Soon after, two more figures came out of two hidden places. They didn't even try to avenge their companions and turned around to flee into the cave. Rean's group wasn't the least bit surprised, though.
'Death Style, Fifth Form, Mirage Assault!'
Four Semi-Real Mirages identical to Rean and Roan appeared right in front of them and released their own attacks. Although they only had 70% of Rean and Roan's strength, it was more than enough to hold them down.
"Fuck! Who the hell are you?"
Roan coldly smiled as he dashed forward and stated.
"I'm Death. I came to send your souls into the path of reincarnation."
Rean almost burst into laugher after hearing that. Others might think that Roan was only provoking his enemies, but only he knew how real those words were.
With Malaka and Kentucky's help, Rean's group quickly finished them off. Of course, Roan left one alive to ask the same questions again.
"As I thought, you were one more of those guys contracted by Valeu to take this Pendant back. Have you never thought about the possibility that he was sending you to die?"
Roan didn't have to torture the guy. He opened his mouth the moment he was captured.
"I-I couldn't resist his offer. H-he promised that I could go to the capital and join his Samikil Clan. The Samikil Clan is one of the subordinate clans directly under the Imperial Family's rule. The number of resources they're given per year is unmatched by any sect in my country. I had to take that chance. Anyone in my position, even you guys, would do that too, right?!"
Roan shrugged his shoulders. In the end, it was the same promise that the other three groups received.
"You guys are really naive. You don't even know that even if I don't kill you here, you will die later anyway. Oh well, whatever..."
"Wait!"
"Hm? Is there anything else?"
"I-I am not a threat for you anymore, right? I'm only at the Initial Stage of the Core Formation Realm. Now that my companions are dead, I stand no chance for the Vermilion Pools, nor will I try it. Can't you let me go?"
Roan snorted in response.
"For you to rush and tell the others about us? Thanks, but no thanks."
"Roan!"
Malaka then called his attention once more.
"Can't we do it just like the last ones?"
Roan narrowed his eyes before saying.
"These pills are expensive, you know?"
Malaka showed a depressed face.
"But..."
Sure enough, she might kill when they are in a Life and Death situation. But she still doesn't like the idea of killing someone defenseless.
Rean then laughed as he patted the girl's head.
"Oh, come on. I'm the one who is paying for the materials of those pills anyway. Just think about it as making me lose money."
Roan pondered a bit and nodded.
"I have to admit that this train of thought is a lot more appealing."
Roan then took two pill bottles from his bag. One contained just a single black and purple pill, while the other had three white ones.
"Alright, swallow the black one."
The man didn't dare to go against Roan's orders. As soon as he took the black and purple pill, it dissolved and spread through his body. Immediately, he felt a terrifying pain.
Roan then took out a white pill and made him swallow it. Only then did some of the pain disappear. However, he could still feel it.
"Alright. I guess it is pretty obvious. I gave you poison, and the white pill is there to prevent it from killing you. However, it is not the antidote. You have another two white pills inside this bottle. Their effects last for one day. After that, the pain will return, and the poison will kill you not long after. As long as you are fast, it should be enough time for you to run out of the Profound Abyss. This is not a poison hard to eliminate. Just ask one of your Nascent Soul elders to use his Spiritual Energy to drive it out of your body. With their power, it shouldn't take more than a few hours to succeed. Alright, off you go."
The man didn't believe that he survived just like that. However, he didn't dare ignore Roan's words. He immediately gathered his Spiritual Energy and dashed in the direction of the Profound Abyss entrance. As for trying to find Valeu to tell him the news? Fuck that! All his companions died because of him to start with.
These poison pills that Roan made were not for this purpose but to threaten and force others to make his bids if necessary. However, because Malaka didn't like to kill the ones who surrendered, he decided to use them this way. It was something very naive in his eyes. Still, he decided to do as Malaka asked the last few times.
There was a reason for that, of course. The fact that Malaka was at least willing to kill during the heat of the battle was already a significant advancement. This was only his own way of rewarding her. Besides, he didn't feel any danger from those guys he let go of since he knew they wouldn't be idiotic enough to go alert Valeu. They would definitely prioritize their own lives and get out of the Profound Abyss first.
"Alright, happy? Let's go!"
Malaka showed a smile as bright as the sun as she nodded.
However, just as Rean's group was about to enter the cave, a blue light began to pulse on Roan's chest. Obviously, that caught everyone's attention.
"This... it's Calina's Pendant..."