Death... and me

This city did have its walls even though it was underwater. At first, it looked ridiculous since anyone could simply swim and completely ignore the walls. However, Rean quickly noticed that those walls were not just for decoration. "All those walls have formation runes on them. Look at the demon beasts and humanoid races coming and entering the city. They're all passing through the gate. No one is trying to fly over the walls. There's a formation protecting the entire undersea city."

Rean was right. The formation wasn't possible to be seen with the naked eye, but it really was there. Without much choice, Rean's group had to go to the gate as well. Fortunately, there were enough aquatic demon beasts and humanoid race guards to take care of the screening process, so the queue moved very quickly.

Once their group finally arrived at the gate, one of the guards quickly asked, "Reason for the visit?"

"We came here for the Mercenary Guild, as well as to buy a few materials for cultivation," Rean replied.

The guard, an aquatic demon beast in human form, nodded after that. "10 Rank One Divine Stones for each member of the group."

Rean didn't mind and quickly passed the Divine Stones. With that, the guard opened the path for them. "You can go now. Just make sure you finish your business inside and get out as fast as you can. Otherwise, don't complain later."

Rean's group was taken aback. However, the guard wasn't looking at them anymore and was already checking the next one in the queue.

Falangia couldn't help but ask, "Could it be the aquatic demon beasts don't like it when humanoid race beings come into their city?"

Roan nodded after that. "That's most likely the case. Anyway, we don't need to worry since the cities are a neutral space. Let's do what we came here for and then leave later."

Rean and the others nodded.

Roan then took Luan in his arms before saying, "I'm going after the materials for Luan to start the Starlight Body Cultivation Technique. You guys can do whatever you want while it."

Roan quickly left but left a certain curious girl behind. "Body Cultivation Technique?" Falangia asked.

"Yep," Rean nodded. "Since Luan is Roan's disciple, he's going all out on the kid. Too bad Luan will probably hate it."

Falangia found it strange. "Why would he? Roan is the one who wants Luan to use it. Isn't this Starlight Body Cultivation Technique good because of that?"

Rean nodded in response, explaining, "There's no doubt it's very good. Once Luan cultivates the first level, he will probably trash you if you two fight. Your advantage in cultivation won't help anymore. That's how good it is. However, this cultivation technique is really painful."

Falangia obviously became interested, asking, "Would I be able to cultivate it as well?"

"You could," Rean confirmed. "However, it will be very expensive. The very first level of the technique will need Stage Five Demon Beast blood, just for reference."

Falangia was shocked to hear that. "That's... way too much."

Rean laughed in response, saying, "Hahaha! It really is. However, it isn't a problem if you decide to cultivate it in the future." Rean then threw a jade slip at Falangia after that. "Here, that's the Starlight Cultivation Technique. Make sure to commit it to mind and then destroy the jade slip. Also, you better not tell anyone about it. Trust me when I say that you'll probably die if word of this technique comes out."

For Falangia, just the fact Rean didn't want her to say anything was enough. "I won't tell anyone."

Rean then went to find an inn since he didn't have much to do in this city anyway. 'Roan will probably need a few days to help Luan find his own star.'

Falangia and Rafatia, on the other hand, decided to move around the city. Since it was neutral territory, there wasn't a risk of them being attacked. The city was really beautiful in their eyes, so they wanted to see more. Of course, Falangia took Rean's job and began to provide Rafatia with the Divine Energy necessary to live underwater.

Kentucky liked the idea, so he decided to go with the girls. Well, he would most of the time choose to stay with the females anyway. 'I'm going with Falangia and Rafatia. Don't worry. I'll protect them even if someone tries anything in this neutral city,' said Kentucky through a Divine Sense message. 'I'm a little worried about what that guard said, so I better be close just in case.'

Rean pondered over it for a bit and nodded before he separated from them.

As Rean made his way to an inn, he noticed something different, though. 'Weird, how come everyone seems to be in a hurry.' Rean wasn't wrong. In his Divine Sense, Rean could see the aquatic demon beast and humanoid race beings going back and forth as if they didn't have time to waste. A lot of businesses were being concluded with almost no words. 'Once Roan's back, I'll check with him.'

Rean then shook his head and entered the inn. However, when he asked for a room for a few days, the worker there looked at him with a weird expression, asking, "Are you sure?"

Rean narrowed his eyes in response. "Of course I am. Could it be you guys don't accept humanoid race beings in this inn?"

The worker shook his head, saying, "Of course not. 20 Rank One Divine Stones per day. There's a discount if you pay for a whole week in advance."

Rean nodded, satisfied. "That's more like it."

He then paid for the room and went up. He didn't need to tell Falangia's group where he was since Kentucky could feel the twins' presence. If they decided to come back later, Kentucky would be able to guide them.

A few hours later, Roan finally arrived at the inn, following his connection with Rean. "Did you notice that things look weird in the city?" Roan asked Rean.

"You noticed it too, huh?" Naturally, it was just like Rean.