Death... and me

Naturally, Rean noticed that Roan didn't go after the guy. With Kentucky here and Rean's Enhancement skill, Roan could definitely catch up. However, he didn't do so. "Are you fine with letting him go?"

Roan nodded, saying, "He was able to make me think he was going to attack me but fled instead. That's something you most likely wouldn't see coming from those geniuses in those large powers. It's an ability you can only gain while mingling with the bottom feeders that have no huge talents. Out of respect for his proficiency in deception, I'll let him live."

Hurio then got close and couldn't help but take a deep breath, saying, "Man! You sure are strong. That guy just now couldn't even hold a candle to your power. I knew that you two weren't normal, but I didn't expect such a one-sided slaughter."

Rean laughed in response, telling Hurio, "Well, it didn't seem like you were too concerned either. Obviously, you never thought of those guys as something worth getting concerned about. But then again, the fact that you have the strength to back us up is a good thing. After all, we're all under the effect of the Soul Binding Contract."

Hurio smiled after hearing that. "Was it that obvious? Oh well, let's stop here as we won't be saying anything about each other's backgrounds anyway. Then again, don't you think that guy will end up spreading the word about you two?"

"So what about it?" Roan said in response. "All he can say is that he almost died to a Saint Realm cultivator. That itself is already humiliating for someone like him. Chances are that he will pretend this encounter has never happened in his life. Even if he does open his mouth, what would he get out of it? It's not like he knows who we are or where we came from, so who would he even sell this information to? Just forget it."

Hurio was surprised to hear such a thorough analysis from Roan. "I have to admit you're right. Moving that aside, shall we keep going?"

Rean and Roan nodded in response before the three of them jumped on Kentucky's back once more. Kentucky, on the other hand, couldn't help but ask through Divine Sense, 'He attacked me, yet you actually let him leave? You should have exerted vengeance for me instead!'

Rean patted Kentucky's back, telling him, 'Come on, we both know that other than making you lose a little balance, you didn't suffer even a scratch. Is such a weak guy really worth of the great Minokawa's attention?'

Hearing those words calmed Kentucky down immediately, laughing as he replied, 'Hahaha! True, true. This grandfather has no time to deal with ants!'

Several hours later, Caras finally stopped to run, confirming that he had definitely left Rean's group behind. "They must be disciples from the Lanqueas Sect or some part of the big ten. There's no doubt about that. However, those powers have their own schedules when entering the Lost Star Realm, so why are they here right now?"

*Hissssss...*

Out of nowhere, Caras heard something come from behind and immediately jumped back, distancing himself from the source. However, he quickly noticed that it was nothing but a small snake. He couldn't feel any cultivation from it at all, showing that it was quite an ordinary beast. "Shit, who the hell brought a snake into the Lost Star Realm? It almost gave me a heart att-"

*Zup!*

Before he could complete his words, the snake disappeared, just to appear behind him while a hint of blood leaked from its fangs. Not long after, Caras's body began to turn dark as he thought, 'Ancient beast... why... why would one of these things be so close to the entrance...?' That thought only lasted a second before his body turned completely black. His body then fell to the ground and broke apart like glass. Surprisingly, the wind began to break it even further, as if it was made of fine sand, carrying his remains away with it. All that was left was his clothes and spatial ring, which the snake completely ignored.

*Hisssssssss*

The snake then looked in the direction from where Caras came from for a moment before turning around and continuing on its merry way. Little did Caras know, but this small snake was one of the ancient beasts of the Lost Star Realm. He just so happened to enter its range while it was moving around. This was one of the aggressive types that Hurio talked about, so Caras never had a chance to escape it in the first place. In fact, even Rean and Roan wouldn't be able to outrun it if they tried.

Caras wasn't the first one the little snake encountered along its path. If one followed the path it had taken, then it wouldn't be surprising for one to find many more strewn clothes and spatial rings with no one using them.

Somewhere else, close to the borders of the depths and the outskirts of the Lost Star Realm, a few cultivators could be seen gathering in front of what seemed to be a barrier. This scenario happened because they couldn't continue forward into the depths. The cultivators were all confused, not understanding why there was a barrier here right now.

Many of them had ventured into the depths before, yet they had never seen this barrier. However, it wasn't like they couldn't pass through it. In fact, as long as they wished, the barrier wouldn't restrict them, and they would be able to pass through it and traverse to the other side. But there was just one problem. They couldn't see the other cultivators who passed through it, making it obvious that they couldn't come back.

Any idiot could come to such a conclusion. Once one passed through it, there was no way back. That was the reason why most of them were gathered here, wondering whether they should head to the other side or not.

Some of these cultivators just so happened to use some kind of uniform that easily made them stand out among the rest.

"Isn't that the cultivators of the Lanqueas Sect?"

"Why are they here?"

"Shouldn't their time for entry be two years from now?"

"They aren't the only ones, though. The other top powers are also here. Look, those are the cultivators from the Croste Clan."

"Indeed, the Vanios Sect is here as well. None of them are supposed to be in the Lost Star Realm at the moment."

"The golden-robed ones are from Jix Organization."

"The Dragon Tail Brotherhood's marine blue robes are also here."

Those random cultivators couldn't help but wonder after that. "There is this barrier here as well. Just what the hell is happening in the Lost Star Realm?"