Death... and me

Unfortunately for them, Rean's group also heard the dragon's Divine Sense messages. Naturally, they knew that Celso's group would figure out that they weren't alone. With that being said, Kentucky had already turned around and shot into the distance. With Rean's Light and Divine Sense bending skill, Celso's group ended up not finding even a single clue to where the other marks were. Of course, they still remembered when they found Rean's group at the same entrance, so they guessed that they might be the culprits. "But why would they stay in the First Level all this time? No one else is supposed to have the need to stay here more than necessary. Could they be involved with the other top ten powers?"

One of Celso's companions, a guy called Wrigal, shook his head, saying, "Everyone had to sign the Soul Binding Contracts regarding the truth of the Lost Star Selection. There's no way the information leaked out."

Another one, a female cultivator called Baraloa, also added, "Besides, would that group we found at the entrance of the first level be able to hide from us? They're all Saint Realm cultivators and obviously not members of the big ten. We have been wandering in the first level for 21 days, so I think it's more probable that another group of the big ten would get close to us instead. Those guys from the entrance most likely left this first level a long time ago."

After that, a guy called Lipa mentioned an important point, telling them, "The dragon that gave out the mark only accepts the five cultivators or demon beasts who it considers to be the best ones. Do you think all four people we met at the entrance were better than the rest of us? Due to the contract, we know that they definitely aren't part of the top ten, so I refuse to believe that they're all more talented than the four of us. That just sounds ridiculous."

Celso narrowed his eyes but had to admit Wrigal, Lipa, and Baraloa were correct. He also found it hard to believe that some Saint Realm cultivators would be able to hide from them. Even the other group from the big ten would find it difficult due to the reconnaissance abilities of Celso's group. "Whatever. We'll know if they're the ones who took the other four marks as long as we see them again. If it were some other group of the big ten, we would naturally see the Dragon Wings on their foreheads."

In the meantime, Kentucky shot through the air, heading straight for the exit of the first level. Rean's group didn't know if Celso's group could track them down with those new marks, so they wanted to get out of this place first before doing anything else. It's not that Rean, Roan, and Kentucky were afraid, but they lacked too much information at the moment.

Along the way, Rean looked at Roan and Hurio, who obtained the same Dragon Wing Mark as himself. "It's obvious that the Dragon Tail Group was after these marks. In the end, Roan was half right about his conjecture."

Roan didn't deny that. "Indeed. I guessed that we would need to gather the three marks before the first one completely disappeared. Then again, when you think about it carefully, it would be weird to think that no one else thought about it before. It actually turns out that we had to receive the recognition of one of the Mark Beasts."

Hurio touched his forehead and could feel the wing shape there. "I had no idea such a thing existed. It seems like the top ten powers have been keeping this secret among them all this time." Hurio then looked at Roan after that, saying, "Roan was right about the other half of his conjecture, though. We need to gather all marks. I just don't know if the next ones would also have guardian beasts like this one."

Lilia couldn't help but mention after that, "The Divine Sense message from the white dragon said that there are ten beast marks. Don't you think it's way too much of a coincidence that our continent has ten big powers, including the Lanqueas Sect? Of course, this might be just a coincidence. Then again, we all know that the Lost Star Realm was already here when the Lanqueas Sect took this continent."

Rean and the others agreed with Lilia on that point. "There was also what the dragon said. He shall seal himself until the next Lost Star Selection happens. Lilia, Hurio, have you heard anything regarding something like that?"

Lilia and Hurio immediately shook their heads in response. "We're just as surprised as you guys. We definitely know a lot more than the average cultivator of the Lanqueas Continent when it comes to the Lost Star Realm. However, this is the first time we saw and heard anything about what just happened."

Roan pondered over it for a bit before asking, "Do you think that perhaps Lamanto and Mira know something about it?"

"This..." Lamanto and Mira made it obvious that they knew a lot more than what the rest of their group was told. For example, only they knew where they were going. The rest of the people following them were oblivious to the matter. "We don't know..." However, they would definitely keep it in mind now.

"Lost Star Selection... whatever it is, we should work to get into it. I don't think the big ten would go to such lengths if it wasn't something worth such a large mobilization. Not to mention that they're breaking their own agreement of only having a single power in the Lost Star Realm each time."

Now that Rean and Roan were thinking about it, they also connected a few other points through their Soul Connection. 'We know that Langara was very powerful before she got hurt in the Lost Star Realm, remember?'

Roan nodded in response. 'Yes. Perhaps she got involved in this Lost Star Selection and paid the price. It's quite unfortunate that she never told us how she ended up like that. In any case, she's dead now, so we couldn't ask even if we went back.'

Rean sighed and looked at Hurio, Kentucky, and Roan, telling them, "Alright, I first need to do something about our marks."