Death... and me

Rean looked at the old woman who had the appearance of someone in her 70s or 80s. Of course, he still couldn't talk, so he could only hear her side. "I'm really surprised with your recovery speed. Usually, it would take at least ten years for those who changed into the statues to reach your stage. On the other hand, you only took five."

She could obviously tell that Rean couldn't talk, so she continued, "Well, you're probably confused as to what's happening here. You were supposed to have died after transforming, but here you are, gradually reverting to your original form. By the way, until you get to talk, just blink once for no and twice for yes. That's all we can do at the moment. But don't worry, since your eye has already recovered, it won't take more than a few weeks until you can at least use your Divine Sense partially. When that happens, talking with each other will be a lot easier."

Rean blinked twice, expressing that he understood her words.

The woman said in response, "Good. Your thinking ability is also back to normal since you can answer me with your blinks. Well, let's start with where you are at the moment. To that, I have no idea."

Rean was taken aback to hear that. How come she had no idea? 'Could it be that she's some prisoner and don't know where she is?' he thought. 'No... she doesn't look like someone who's being held against her will.'

Sure enough, the woman explained what she meant after seeing the surprised look on Rean's eye. "I meant what I said. I really don't know where we are, nor does anyone who lives here. We were all just like you and your friends, statues who were caught by the Salt Sweep, or the White Dust Waves, or the Death Dust Spread, or..." She mentioned a few more names in a row.

Rean was confused after that. He obviously knew the Salt Sweep. However, it was his first time hearing the other terms. 'Could it be...'

He didn't need to conclude that thought before the woman told him, "Yes, as you can probably imagine, the phenomenon that caught you doesn't only happen in a single place. It happens in quite a few different regions in Pol Continent. It's just that they have different names. With that said, until you can use your Divine Sense or recover your mouth, I won't be able to tell which one of those areas you came from."

She continued, "Anyway, no one knows where we are, but we do know that this place is where all the statues are sent to. Of course, that's only if the statues aren't broken. If you had been broken, then you would absolutely be dead now... well, kinda. If what broke was a leg or an arm, then you could still survive probably."

"As for why the statues are sent here, that you will have to see by yourself once you're free from your confinement. It'll be useless to talk about it for now since there's nothing you can do anyway."

The old woman then took a flask with some kind of colorful water and began to spread it on Rean's body, especially the transformed parts. Following that, she left Rean behind and moved to Roan, then Luan, and finally Kentucky last. Well, she spent quite some time in Kentucky's case due to his enormous body. "Well, that should do for today."

She then returned to Rean's side before saying, "Just close your eyes and rest. You will get out eventually. I'll be coming every day to pass the Divine Water on you all."

Rean, obviously, didn't want the old woman to go. He still had way too many questions in his mind. However, she was right. He couldn't do anything else other than blink with his free eye. In the end, the old woman left Rean behind just like that.

Rean, of course, contacted Sister Orb, Roan, and Celis after what transpired. 'So, what do you think?'

Roan was the first one to answer, saying, 'At the very least, it doesn't seem like we're in immediate danger. Second, we're definitely not anywhere near Salt Canyon City anymore, considering that old woman spoke the truth. As far as I can tell, she did speak the truth, though. As for the faster recovery, that's most likely due to our constitutions and elemental affinities.'

[Roan is right.] Sister Orb said soon after. [If Roan wasn't able to detect a lie, then it's pretty much certain that the old woman spoke the truth. As for Divine Water, that's way too generic. Many types of liquids in the entire Realm of Gods carry this name, so I can't tell which one it may really be. Maybe it's something completely new.]

Celis simply ignored that. [Whatever. Since she won't speak anymore, then we can only wait. By the way, I have already reached the limit of Peak Stage Eight. It seems like that even though you guys were in your statue form, I could still share cultivation with you. However, I can't break through at all if you don't do the same. Just know that as soon as you return to normal, we can all enter the Transition Realm.]

Sister Orb immediately denied Celis' words. [They won't be able to break through anytime soon. They have burnt their Nascent Souls out. Without that, they're back to the Peak Stage of the Core and Soul Fusion Realm.]

Celis knew that. [I know that. However, you told me they could buy the reward to revive their Nascent Souls. They also have the Destiny Points for it.]

Rean then explained, 'We will obviously buy our Nascent Soul Revival. However, it seems like Sister Orb didn't mention how long it would take.'

[Well, the fact is that I don't know either. It's not like it's an exact science, you know? You will take as long as it is needed. Of course, it'll definitely be much faster than trying to cultivate all the way to the peak of the Elemental Transformation Realm again.]

'Sigh... it seems like we're in for a long wait... again...'