Death... and me

"Divine Demon Beasts?" Shelandra and Venali pondered over the question for a bit.

After some time, Venali seemed to remember something. "I believe the Sacred Land does have a guardian demon beast. Perhaps that's what you are talking about. However, I don't know where it is or even if it's a Divine Demon Beast or not."

Shelandra shook her head, telling him, "Same for me. Your best chance is to head to the Demon Beast Hall and see if you can get information there. I doubt they would tell a simple Inner Disciple any information about their Guardian Beast, though."

Rean already expected as much. "Is that so?"

"Why do you need a Divine Demon Beast?" Venali asked with a puzzled expression.

However, Rean just brushed off that question, telling him, "Oh, it's nothing. I was just curious about something."

Rean then turned around and began to make his way out. "Anyways, this makes us even. I'm going to the Blacksmith Hall now. See you around."

Shelandra and Venali definitely didn't think it was just mere curiosity. However, it wasn't their business anyway. With that, those two left as well.

However, Sister Orb couldn't help but ask Rean after that. [Why do you need a Divine Demon Beast? You already have Kentucky and Celis, no?]

'That's exactly why,' Rean replied. 'Celis and Kentucky don't know how they should act in the Realm of Gods. Also, I wanted to check whether Divine Demon Beasts are supposed to talk about their cultivation or not. If it turns out that they can, we can use it as an excuse for Kentucky and Celis's ability to talk.'

[Now that you say that, isn't it risky that everyone knows that you came from Lukimira Sect? The Sacred Land should have found out already that two Stage Six Demon Beasts there are capable of talking.]

Rean smiled, not concerned about that, saying, 'Don't worry, nothing will happen.'

[How come?]

'Because elder Etherian knows of our origin. Obviously, Etherian knows that Kentucky and Celis came from the Mortal Realm as well. As a person from the Mortal Realm, Etherian is well aware that Demon Beasts at Stage Six have sentience and are able to talk. Since they already had that ability in the Mortal Realm, it makes sense that they kept it once they arrived in the Realm of Gods. Elder Etherian is our shield at the moment, and he will deal with it.'

Sister Orb was surprised to hear that. [I see...in the end, it was very lucky of you two to find him here. What would you have done if he didn't appear?]

Rean shrugged his shoulders, saying, 'We could only use the same excuse as we've always used. We came from somewhere far away from this place, and there, demon beasts gain sentience at Stage Five. Don't forget, Sister Orb. They can think and talk while they're still at Stage Six. However, that's all. It's not like it makes them stronger or anything. Well, it does make them stronger in a certain way since they can fight with a conscious mind. That's definitely better than a demon beast that only acts on pure instinct.'

[Well... that's true.]

In the end, Rean resolved to go to the Blacksmith Hall first. Since Kentucky and Celis's situation was fine, he wasn't in a hurry to find more about Divine Demon Beasts.

Meanwhile, Roan was in the Mission Hall. At first, he went to the skills repository and took out quite a few manuals to study. However, there were just too many of them there. The Sacred Land didn't just gather the best ones. They gathered everything, including the worst skills and techniques available.

Roan thought it was a good thing, though. 'You never know when you might find an answer for your problem by reading some unknown manual. Not all issues can be resolved with complicated explanations from high-level techniques.'

Nevertheless, it was way beyond what he could memorize in a short amount of time. With that being said, he changed his approach and focused on the skills and techniques that would be most useful for his goal of gathering Merit Points. Now, he was looking into the 'helper' jobs and their rewards.

-Helper needed to test new chakram skill. A Soul Binding Contract is necessary, stating that you will never share information or use this skill in your life with a severe penalty for breaking this rule. Reward: 6000 Merit Points-

-Helper needed to try out a new righteous path cultivation technique. It has only been theorized so far, and there are risks of backlash. Signing a Soul Binding Contract is necessary. However, you are allowed to use this technique in the future as long as you don't share it. It will all be in the contract. Reward: 7000 Merit Points.-

-Helper needed for a new forbidden alchemy pill. The job is to test the effects of the pill on the soul, trying to increase its power. Treatment and compensation for any side effects will be provided. No need for a Soul Binding Contract. Reward: 13000 Merit Points.-

-Helper needed...

Roan went through several rows of jobs of that type. Sure enough, they provided a lot more Merit Points and could be finished much faster, some on the very same day. Compared to the missions and tasks, this really looked like a windfall. However, the fact that many more cultivators were looking into the normal missions and tasks instead of these helper jobs showed how risky they were.

Eventually, Roan saw one that caught his eyes.

-Helper needed. Testing a new righteous path meridian circulation method for the Mantis Blade skill. High chance of body damage. Pills will be provided to recover any lost body parts or shattered meridians. The helper is allowed to use the skill with the new meridian path in the future. However, they will need to sign a Soul Binding Contract, stating that they won't share the information. Reward: 16000 Merit Points.-

Roan took the job and checked its details.

-Contractor: Orphi Tian-

-Contractor's Realm: Elemental Transformation Late Stage-

-Location: Inner Sect, Residence 5983-

Roan then brought it to the counter soon after, saying, "I'll take this job."