Death... and me

"Does that mean we need to escape this place to pass the test?" Milina could not help but ask.

Julian shrugged his shoulders in response. "How would I know? The Sacred Land didn't say what the rules were. However, that's the only thing I could think of."

Roan then asked something else. "Alright. Then, we can basically run in any direction until we leave the region with the Yin Corpses. Does that work?" It was obviously a question for Julian.

However, Julian immediately shook his head. "It's not that simple. To make sure these Yin Corpses don't leave the Soul Eater Sect's territory anymore, the region has been sealed. I wasn't sure why the Sacred Land never got rid of these Yin Corpses, but seeing them being used for our test, it makes sense that they didn't. It wasn't just a warning to show what happens to those who defy the Sacred Land."

Rean found something strange, though. "That's not right. If the cultivation technique is what creates those things, how come the Yin Energy in the air can do the same? It's not like we're cultivating that technique."

Julian shook his head as he replied, "Now you've asked way too much. If I were to guess, I think that the Yin Energy that transforms the others comes from the huge concentration of Yin Corpses."

Roan immediately confirmed Julian's guesses. "He's right. I could feel the Yin Energy being several times thicker when that army came in our direction. After being in this sealed space for so long, it's no surprise that the whole region is filled with this corruptive Yin Energy."

Julian was happy to hear that. "Is that so? That helps." Sometime later, Julian asked. "Alright, I've answered all your questions. Can I leave now?"

"You haven't answered everything yet." Roan shook his head in response. "Since this is a sealed area, and we need to find the exit, there must be a way out. Do you know where it is?"

Julian shook his head. "If I knew, I wouldn't be in such distress at the moment. First of all, I don't even know where we are. It's not like I've ever entered this place. Don't forget that the Sacred Land sealed this place. I've only read of its history. I have no idea what geography it has."

Suddenly, Roan's scythe came out and stopped right on the guy's neck. It was so fast that Julian simply didn't have the time to react at all! Naturally, that took him by surprise. 'Holy shit! How can he be this quick with this cultivation?!' Immediately, he understood that running away from Rean's group was nothing but a pipe dream.

Roan then warned Julian, "This was the very first lie you spoke after all this time." Sure enough, Roan picked out the clues straight away. "But considering that you said the truth to us so far, I'll give you one last chance. Do you know where the exit is? This time, you better tell us the truth unless you want to see your own headless body from afar. Since you know so much, I refuse to believe I won't find more people with information about this place."

Julian let out cold sweat after that. Somehow, he felt that Roan could tell straight away if he was lying or not. "Alright, alright! It's not that I know where the exit is. When I said that I didn't know where we were in the Soul Eater Sect region, I wasn't lying. All I know is that the region was sealed starting from the sect itself. If there's a way out, the only place I can think there is a clue is there. It's true! I'm not lying!"

Roan retrieved his scythe while narrowing his eyes. "He's telling the truth this time. However, the sect's location should be the place where most of these Yin Corpses are located. Not only that, but the highest level ones should be around there as well."

Julian rubbed his neck for a moment before saying, "The second part is right. But the first, not so much."

"What do you mean?" Rean and Milina asked at the same time.

Julian didn't want to offend Roan anymore, so he decided to give a bit more information. "Yin Corpses are the same as Demon Beasts. They don't have sentience anymore, just strength. That means that they're also very territorial. If you don't have the power to live in that area, you have to leave. With that said, the old Soul Eater Sect is most likely the place with the least amount of Yin Corpses."

Roan nodded, satisfied. "That's also not a lie. However, it also means that the real dangerous Yin Corpses are most likely gathered there."

That raised another question from Rean. "Julian, you said that the Sacred Land eliminated the high-level Yin Corpses, right?" Julian nodded and waited for Rean to continue. "In that case, what was the level of this elimination? Do you know what would be the highest cultivation of the Yin Corpses that remain here?"

Julian shook his head straight away. "Sorry, I don't know that much."

Surprisingly, Milina was the one to give an answer. "Well, they sent us here for the second test, right? If there were Yin Corpses at the Transition Realm level or above, it would be a meaningless test. We might as well kill ourselves straight away as we have no hope of passing through a place with many of these. I believe that the highest level would be Elemental Transformation Realm Yin Corpses."

Rean, Roan, and Julian had to admit Milina was right. However, Julian also corrected a small flaw in her theory. "You're right for most of it. However, if that's the case, I believe we might have some Transition Realm Level Yin Corpses, but definitely nothing above it."

Roan agreed with Julian. "He's right. After all, he said that Yin Corpses are basically like demon beasts who act on instinct. We know this recruitment has Elemental Transformation Realm participants as well, although very few." Roan continued, "With that said, we have a huge advantage in combat strategy, especially since we're talking about the cream of the crop of the entire Huring Continent. Everyone can fight way above their level. Having Transition Realm Yin Corpses would just be proper."