Death... and me

Sure enough, everyone was delighted when they saw their own runes working in their chosen formations. Even Vaz was certain that these power control runes would make a huge difference. "As expected of the Sacred Undersea Kingdom. Even though you were only a pawn to them, they still taught you a lot. These runes are going to save us from a lot of trouble."

Rean shook his head in response, telling him, "This is nothing. You have to see the formations they used themselves. Now, those ones are the real deal. Compared to those, these formations and runes I taught everyone look like garbage."

Vaz didn't doubt that, saying, "That would be too much to ask for. In any case, as long as it can help us get out of this place, they will more than serve their purpose."

"That's true," Rean agreed with Vaz. "Now then, I still have quite a few things to pass to all of you. It's just that these other runes and formations would have little to no effect on the shooting formation here."

Suddenly, a voice echoed from the building where the teleport formations were located, telling Rean, "Then you don't need to teach them that for now."

Immediately, Rean and Vaz looked in the direction of the voice. Soon after, Vaz's expression turned dark. From there, they could see several grand elders of the purging organization together, including Levid. However, the main character was the one in the center. "What could the purging organization's head want to do here with the Formation Masters? Clinbay, don't you have other more important things to take care of?"

Rean was surprised to hear that. That was the first time he saw the purging organization's head. Clinbay wasn't tall by any means. If anything, he looked almost a dwarf. However, Rean could also tell that although he was part of the humanoid races, he wasn't human. It's just that he didn't know which race Clinbay was. Nevertheless, Rean immediately put a respectful expression, saying, "Hello, sir."

Clinbay didn't mind Vaz's words. Everyone knew that Vaz was very annoying when it came to the projects he worked with. Even the purging organization's head wasn't an exception if he tried to meddle with Vaz's works. Clinbay then looked at Rean and nodded, saying, "Hello, newcomer. I heard from Levid about you. From the looks of it, we were able to make huge progress with the shooting formation. You have my thanks."

Rean smiled in response, replying, "That's nothing, sir. I also want to leave this place as soon as possible."

Clinbay agreed with Rean before looking at Vaz, telling him, "I know that you don't like others intervening in your work, Vaz. However, I'm still the purging organization's head. I can totally put someone else in charge of this project and throw you away. Don't forget that."

Vaz snorted in response. "Who cares? I would just get more time to work on my own projects. If you want to do that, go ahead. First of all, with Rean here, I don't think there's much of a use for me anymore as his proficiency is much higher."

Clinbay was surprised to hear that. As far as he remembered, Vaz would definitely not accept being taken out of this project. However, he understood why after thinking a little. With Vaz's personality, he wouldn't want to leave since no one could take his place. It's just that now there was someone to take the lead of this project other than himself, Rean. "Whatever, I won't take you out. We're so close to having a shot at leaving this damned Upside Down World, so just ignore my comment from earlier."

"Hmph!" Vaz snorted but didn't dwell on that matter. "So, what do you all want?"

Clinbay then explained, "We have been watching the progress of your work. Naturally, we have an idea as to how close you are to activating the formation. As Rean mentioned, the rest of the knowledge he has on formations will have little use for the project. In that case, you can learn it some other time once we're out. For now, change your focus and finish the formation."

Vaz found it strange, asking, "Why would you be hurrying me up now? We have already been working on this for over 30 years, you know? Will you mind waiting for it a little more?"

It was then that Levid, the one who recruited Rean, stepped forward, saying, "Unfortunately, we don't have that much time remaining."

"How come?" asked Vaz in response. Naturally, that was the question in Rean and the other Formation Masters' minds as well.

Levid then explained, "We believe that word of our project here has escaped outside. It won't be long before our purging organization tower gets flooded with cultivators who also want to escape the Upside Down World."

"What?!" Everyone was shocked to hear that. "How did that happen?!"

Clinbay bitterly smiled as he explained, "As you know, Soul Binding Contracts are useless against those at the Void Tempering Realm and above. It turns out that one of our grand elders noticed the advancement in the project and spilled the beans. Aren't we missing someone in our group?"

Vaz took a good look at all the grand elders and immediately noticed who was missing. "Grand Elder Liman?"

Clinbay nodded in response. "The one and the same."

"Who is Liman?" Rean couldn't help but ask.

Vaz obviously didn't mind explaining to Rean, saying, "Just like Levid, who recruited you, he's a grand elder of our organization. There isn't really much more to talk about him." He then looked at Clinbay. "Then again, can't you cover the news? With our organization's power, that shouldn't be too hard, even if a grand elder is involved."

Clinbay agreed with Vaz to a certain point. "That's true... if he had just told one or two people or demon beasts about it. However, before we found out, several high-level cultivators were already aware of this news. At the moment, everyone is wondering if it's just some rumor. No one has ever escaped this place before, after all. It's just that now that the rumor reached all those ears, it won't take long before others knock on our door."