Death... and me

The reason the twins' group decided to tell Levid about that was very simple. 'This is most likely related to the system's quest. Perhaps whatever formation Levid needs Rean to look into is what will let them escape the Upside Down World. If that's the case, we can take this opportunity to investigate or maybe even sabotage that formation,' Roan concluded.

Levid's eyes lit up when he heard Rean's words, saying, "A Golden Peak-level Formation Master! Even you're just a pawn of the Sacred Undersea Kingdom, your connection to them has definitely helped you a lot in your development with formations. Perhaps you're exactly what we need!"

Rean didn't mind it, replying, "Whether I'm what you need or not will depend on what you need me for. What kind of formation do you want me to help with? Would it be risky? What about the payment? We have a lot to discuss before we jump to conclusions."

Hearing that, Levid calmed down and agreed with Rean. "You're correct." Soon after, he looked at Himatikia and said, "You can bring this Demon Tree away with you. I will need to talk with the twins in private."

Celis narrowed his eyes, asking in response, "Why should I leave? What if you do something to them?"

Levid could tell that Celis was probably some kind of guardian that the twins' got to protect themselves now that they were weak. "Do you think you can help if I decide to do something? Have you seen where you are and the difference in cultivation between you and me?"

Rean then patted Celis's shoulders, telling him, "It's fine, Celis. Just go take a look at the tower since you'll most likely be included in the purging organization as well. I don't think Grand Elder Levid called us here to create enemies."

Celis only sighed after hearing that. "Fine..."

Well, Himatikia was also very curious about the reason Levid needed Rean's knowledge of formations. However, she could only follow his orders. "Understood, Grand Elder Levid. I'll take him to the building where most of the demon beasts with intelligence stay."

Levid nodded in response, satisfied. "You can also start the procedures to include Rean, Roan, and Celis in the purging organization. Oh, right! I heard that you didn't want to take part in the purging that happens every one hundred years. Although this is a very important mission of our purging organization and most of the reason for our existence, I can make an exception. After all, your knowledge of formations will be of great help to us. However, I believe Himatikia told you already. Anyone who intervenes with it will be killed straight away. Understood?"

Rean nodded once he heard that. "Yes." Well, if it really came to it, he probably wouldn't stop. But for now, it was better to pretend to agree.

Levid then looked at Roan, saying, "What about you? Since it's your brother who knows about formations, it would be better for you to leave with your Demon Tree."

Roan didn't seem to care about it, shrugging his shoulders as he replied, "Fine. It's all about secrecy, right? Since I know almost nothing about formations, it's better for me to not get involved in this." He then turned around and followed Celis and Himatikia. Well, it didn't really matter since he could see everything Rean did as long as Rean allowed it.

After Celis, Roan, and Himatikia left, Levid brought Rean to another room, where he found a teleport formation. Rean could tell that it wasn't anything powerful. It couldn't teleport anyone more than a few tens of kilometers. "The formation you need help with is not here?"

Levid nodded in response. "Correct. This place is too small and too far away from the formations' objective." Levid then stepped on the formation, saying, "Step on so we can go."

Rean did as he was asked and stepped on the formation. Since it was a low-level formation, the Divine Energy in the environment was more than enough for it. Soon, the formation activated as Rean disappeared in a flash of silver light with Levid.

Rean was right about the formation. It really didn't teleport them very far. However, there was no other way into the place they were brought in other than a few secret teleport formations. The only way out was through the teleport formations as well.

Levid and Rean then appeared in a room with only one opening. There were no windows whatsoever around them. Other than Levid and Rean, there was also an aquatic demon beast in human form taking care of the formations in that room. "Welcome back, Senior Levid. Who is the brat?"

Levid then patted Rean's shoulder as he replied, "He is a new Formation Master that will take part in the plan, Lin. I'd suggest you don't look down on his cultivation. He just lost his Nascent Soul. Also, he's a Golden Peak-level Formation Master that has just arrived in the Upside Down World."

Lin was obviously the demon beast's name. "Golden Peak-level? Holy shit! I can count on one hand the number of Formation Masters at the Golden level we've received from outside. And to think he's even at the Peak level. This is great!" Following that, Lin took a Soul Binding Contract out of his spatial ring. "However, rules are rules. He will have to sign a Soul Binding Contract to keep the secret."

Levid then looked at Rean and said, "Sorry, but we can't allow you to talk with others about this. At least not until we're done with it. I hope you're fine with that."

Rean pretended to not be happy as he grumbled, "You could at least have told me in advance." Of course, Soul Binding Contracts were useless against him.

In any case, he read the terms. Basically, the contract prohibited him from talking about the project to anyone not related to it. However, it wasn't permanent. Part of the contract stated that he would be free to do as he wished if the project succeeded or if it was abandoned in the end. Seeing that there wasn't anything wrong with it, Rean finally signed it before the Soul Binding Contract attached itself to one of the Soul Gem System's dummy souls. "Alright, can you now tell me what's happening here?"