Death... and me

Cassia then looked at Roan before asking, "You've gotten quite the attention. Can you deal with the angered powers for stealing their frontrunner position?"

Roan glanced at Cassia in response and replied, "We just used the best available option there. That's all. If others try to get revenge because of that, then so be it."

Seeing how Roan didn't show even a hint of worry impressed Cassia. After, he was in front of all the leaders from other countries, especially the strong ones. "I'm looking forward to it. You can head back to your guardian while you wait for the rest of the participants to finish the second test."

Rean couldn't help but ask, through. "Isn't there any reward for being first?"

Fabio let out a bit of cold sweat after hearing that. 'Is he trying to cause trouble? Who would ask something like that to Cassia?' He was right. No one would ask that as the only thing they wanted was to be selected.

"No," Cassia answered. "The only reward you can get is entering the Sacred Land, but you haven't finished everything yet."

"So petty..." Rean then went to the back with Roan, not seeing Cassia's mouth twitch after hearing that. Roan also did the same, not caring about it at all.

Milina and Julian felt a chill, though. they quickly retreated before Cassia lost her patience. Fabio did the same thing, hoping that Cassia wouldn't take Rean's comment to heart.

Well, Cassia's companions looked at her with some surprise. They totally expected her to not let things go like that. However, she didn't say anything and returned her focus to the test. 'Since when has she been so... forgiving?' Of course, none of them questioned her actions or the lack of it.

Three days later, the Huring Country participants, especially the Elemental Transformation Realm ones, finally finished defeating the Yin Corpses. However, they didn't kill most of the Transition Realm ones. Although the Yin Corpses moved on instinct, they still feared being destroyed, so they simply fled. Once the second test was over and everyone left or died, they would return to the Soul Eater Sect again.

*Vup, vup, vup, vup, vup, vup...*

One by one, the Huring Country's participants began to appear in the guests' hall of the Sacred Land. Venali and Dissielle seemed quite tired, especially since they had been exposed to the Yin Death Energy for all this time. Nevertheless, they carried a proud expression, knowing that they were the first ones to reach the teleport and escape the Yin Death Zone.

Venali quickly located the Huring Country's elder and joined them to report. "Your disciples have concluded the test, elders. We are happy to say that we upheld the Huring Country's name and were the first ones to come out."

Venali then looked at the elders' faces, expecting to see their smiling expressions. However, all he could see was the weird look they showed. Obviously, the leading elder of the Huring Country had to break the news to Venali and the others. "You were not the first group, but the second one. Another group escaped the Yin Death Zone three days ago, so you're all far behind."

"What?!" Venali, Dissielle, Ricab, and all the other members of the Huring Country were taken aback. "Impossible! The teleport formations were infested with Yin Corpses. If not because of our Huring Country, no one would be able to access it any time soon!"

The leading elder could only use his Divine Sense to explain what happened to all the Huring Country participants. 'And that's how they got out. There was no helping it as everyone else didn't consider that breaking the Sacred Land's sealed barrier was possible.'

Vaneli then looked in the Kamos Country's direction. Ever since they succeeded in the second test, it became quite easy to find them in the middle of the crowd. However, Rean and Roan weren't paying attention to anything. At the moment, they were cultivating with the help of the Sacred Land's huge concentration of Divine Energy. Even the Kamos Palace couldn't match its density.

That wasn't all. Both of them had Rank Two Divine Stones in their hands. Sure enough, they took the chance to make use of Rean's success in bargaining back in the Yin Death Zone. With Celis and Kentucky also cultivating back in Lukimira Sect, they advanced their cultivation speed in at least two weeks these last three days.

Venali then went to check the twins. He wanted to know how they did that. However, he was shocked when he saw their cultivation. 'Peak Stage of the Soul Transformation Realm? They're just two ants! How the hell did he open a hole in the Sealed Barrier with his power alone?'

Roan noticed Venali's attention on him and finally opened his eyes. Only then did he notice that the other participants began to come out of the Yin Death Zone. "Tch...couldn't they have stayed there another two or three weeks?"

The people around, especially Fabio, felt that Roan was being too bold with the Huring Country's leading participant. 'Why must you do that?!'

Velani's mouth twitched after that. "Are you looking for a fight?"

Roan looked at Venali, puzzled. "An Elemental Transformation Realm of the so powerful Huring Country, challenging a Soul Transformation Realm from a small fry country for a fight? Despicable."

Fabio and even the other princes and princesses of the Kamos Kingdom felt like crying already. 'For fuck's sake! Can't you read the situation?'

Venali's expression went red in anger. However, he could see that everyone's eyes were on him. He didn't really challenge Roan, but that did sound like that. "Hmph! You talk like you could defeat me in a fight of the same level."

Roan shook his head as he said in response, "That I don't know. Perhaps, if the chance presents itself, we can give it a shot." Roan wasn't overconfident. He didn't know what kind of abilities and strength Venali had. He had never thought about himself as invincible on the same level, especially in a place like this. Of course, he would be very eager to try.

Venali narrowed his eyes and finally decided to ask, "Forget it. How did you open a hole in the sealed barrier?"

Roan obviously had no need to answer that. "That's a secret."