Death... and me

'No can do,' Gille replied. 'The Sacred Land also has its own Soul Binding Contract clauses. Just like us, it will prevent you from betraying the Sacred Land. Both contracts will enter in conflict with each other.'

'Then forget it,' Roan said in response. 'The Sacred Land just seems like a better option for me at the moment.'

Gille was taken aback to hear that. 'But you'll have a better cultivation environment if you choose us. The cultivation path is full of dangers, you know? Are you going to run away from every obstacle when you see them? You will never get far like that.'

On that point, Roan agreed with Gille. 'Sure, I know that much. But I don't consider the Sacred Land an easy place to live either. After Cassia told us about the different categorizations for disciples, it's obvious that going up is very hard. That should prove to be more than a good enough obstacle for me.'

Gille found it difficult to continue. He truly needed Roan, but it was hard to come up with an argument to convince him. Simply put, this was the worst place he could have found Roan. Here, he couldn't do anything. He would have brought Roan back by force otherwise.

Gille gritted his teeth before saying, 'Fine! Tell me what you want.'

Roan faintly smiled before saying, 'I want a Dark Element catalyst for the time I breakthrough into the Elemental Transformation Realm.'

'This...' Gille was prepared to negotiate anything with Roan. However, he truly asked for a phoenix feather there. 'That would be quite complicated. Dark Element materials are extremely rare, even for us.'

Roan knew that. Otherwise, Rean's catalyst wouldn't be that hard to get either. They went after information of Light Element materials, but the information given by Langara Talan was the only clue so far. Of course, once he joined the Sacred Land, he would try to look for information about it there as well. It's just that the Blood Path Sect, as a place filled with Dark Element users, might know something.

'Well, I guess I can only rely on the Sacred Land then,' Roan told him.

However, Gille immediately called his attention back. 'Wait, wait, wait! I think I know where to get it.'

'Where to get it?' Roan asked. 'Does that mean you don't have it with you?'

Gille nodded in response. 'Exactly. However, I will only tell you about it once you sign a Soul Binding Contract with me. I'll add to the clauses that I must tell you where to get Dark Element materials that can be used as a catalyst for your breakthrough. It just so happens that you're near the perfect cultivation to head into that place.'

Roan pondered in silence for a bit before using his Soul Connection to talk with Rean and Sister Orb.

Rean shrugged his shoulders as he said in response, 'Why not? You can get the skills you want, no? You can also find your Dark Element materials for your breakthrough.'

[Indeed. With Celis and Kentucky's help, your path to the Elemental Transformation Realm is very smooth. The earlier you can get your hands in that material, the better. After all, you really won't be bound by any contract with the system here.]

Still, there was a problem. 'What about the Sacred Land Recruitment? Will you just give up?' Rean asked him.

Roan pondered in silence for a bit and shook his head. 'We still need the information on how to pass through the Continental Barrier. For that, the Sacred Land is our best choice.'

[You can divide your forces. Rean will join the Sacred Land and use your sister's glittering coin to find Tulipa. Meanwhile, Roan will go back with Gille and 'join' the Blood Path Sect. Once both sides get what they need, we can simply leave.]

Rean and Roan nodded in agreement. 'That seems the most optimal choice.'

However, Sister Orb warned Roan. [Just be careful out there. Something tells me this Gille guy doesn't just want you to be part of his Blood Path Sect.]

Roan nodded after hearing that. If even Sister Orb noticed it, then let alone him. 'Yes, I know that. But it's also based on the Soul Binding Contract, so I believe it's worth the risk.'

Rean smiled after that. 'Worst case scenario, if they try to imprison you, I can get close enough so that we have access to the Soul Gem Dimensional Realm. You can use it to leave by then.'

Being imprisoned couldn't be considered a dangerous situation to the system. Roan would just be locked without the risk of being attacked. That being said, it would allow Roan to enter it. Of course, if people wanted to kill Roan there and had the means to, it would block it. In any case, it was a risk worth taking just for the Dark Element skills of the Blood Path Sect alone.

'Alright, then that's decided. Once the next test is over, I will refuse to join the Sacred Land and leave with Gille,' Roan decided.

'I'll stay and try to look into other options for Dark Element materials in case Gille's information isn't of any use.' Rean also had his part cut for him.

With that, Roan looked at Gille and nodded. 'Fine! But first, let me tell you that I'm already in a Soul Binding Contract.' Roan then explained the terms of the contract that he had with Fabio.

At first, Gille thought it would be something hard to deal with in that contract. However, he relaxed when he heard that it was just about giving help in times of need. 'Oh, is that all? No problem, no problem. This Kamos Country is very far from us anyway, so we won't be meddling with them for no reason. If this Fabio guy gets in trouble, you can go help him and even use our sect's name to resolve the issue.'

'Good!' Roan nodded, satisfied. 'Fabio should come back anytime now. Come closer so that we can talk to him. I want to make everything clear since I owe him for this opportunity.'

'Understood.' Gille then made his way to the twins and waited for Fabio to come back.