Death... and me

After leaving the building, Rean and Roan continued their discussion.

'Sect Master seemed to be pretty sure that Weren and Tuve didn't really see anything.'

Roan nodded.

'Yes. However, Mia still believes that the princess was attacked nonetheless. In the end, it's just a difference in how it was done, so she didn't insist on the topic. She might even think that the ones who did it were us. Regardless, Profound Abyss rules stated that even the Imperial Family wouldn't have any protection, so it doesn't matter.'

At some point, while descending the mountain, Rean received a message from Droman.

'I need you to come with me to check a few things with the Router Formations. They are already working, but there are a few problems to check and improvements I want to try out.'

Rean then went to the Formations Hall, where Droman was already waiting.

"Are you ready to go? We need to look at the formations in other cities. Don't worry, we should be back soon enough as long as you come flying with me."

Rean pondered a bit before asking.

"Roan and I got a lot to digest after this last trial. I would like to stay in the Sect for the next two weeks. I hope Elder Droman doesn't mind it."

Droman shook his head in response.

"It's okay. It was too harsh to ask you this just after you come back from that place. Still, you can at least help me with the things that can be done here in the Formations Hall, right?"

Rean smiled as he nodded.

"Of course. That's why we kept one of the Router Formations built in here. You can tell me what you found wrong and your ideas about what you want to improve. I believe you had time to do a lot of those tests while I was out."

Droman sighed in relief.

"That's good then. I don't want to delay things for too long since many cities are already added to the network. The Mission Hall and other buildings already started to make use of it as well. Things are starting to pick up speed."

Rean and Droman then went ahead to work on the Router Formation. Of course, Droman didn't neglect Rean's training, so he also took the time to teach him about other Formations.

There was a reason why Rean asked for two free weeks before going out of the Sect. That's because it has already been over a year since he and Roan had entered and joined the Sect. That also meant that the next Sect Entrance Exam was about to start in a week or so. It was a very convenient moment since they needed an excuse to get Calina inside.

Roan also returned to check the things with Old Worm.

"Finished?"

Roan nodded.

"I'm pretty free now."

Old Worm then took a few notes out and passed them to Roan.

"Here are a few things I thought up of while you were out. They are all related to your use of Dark Energy during alchemy. Make sure to take a look and see what is practical for you."

Roan wasn't surprised by that. Old Worm seemed to be someone who lived and breathed alchemy. He was always reading those kinds of books and had been interested in the usage of Dark and Light Elements so far. Since Roan still had nine days until the start of the Exam, he might as well take a look into it.

The days passed in a flash. Soon a week went by.

During this time, a few things happened. The first thing was that Rean and Droman finished what they called version 1.1 of the Router Formation, which Droman immediately went out to test. The second thing was that the twins' cultivation finally finished stabilizing. With that, they could cultivate once again.

Still, Sister Orb warned them that their foundation was a little shaken because of the fast progress between the Late and Peak Stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm. Because of that, they should refrain from using Spirit Stones for the next two months at least. They had to give it time to 'heal.'

Another thing was that they finished processing the medicinal properties of the Vermilion Pool. With that, their meridians also stabilized, which allowed them to see how much better they got. The same could be said for Malaka, Calina, and Kentucky.

[The results are not bad. It is the same as if you had upgraded your Spiritual Energy Absorption in the Soul Gem System Reward by one level.]

Rean couldn't help but ask.

'That means we got 5% or so of improvement. Still, considering how famous those Vermilion Pools were, this was quite a small improvement, in my opinion. Besides, shouldn't I have got a higher effect from the pool since I stayed in there for longer?'

Roan agreed with Rean.

'I also expected something better. After all, those who enter the pool are known to have a big chance of entering the Nascent Soul Realm in the future.'

[First. You find it strange that Rean's improvement was similar to Roan's even though he stayed longer inside the pool, right? However, there is nothing odd about it. Rean's body was already extremely compatible with Yang Energy, which was abundant in the Vermilion Pool. Naturally, improving even more wouldn't be easy. To use a metaphor, think about an experienced fighter and someone who had never fought before. Once they start training combat, which one of them will have the most significant improvements during the same time?]

Rean and Roan understood what Sister Orb meant.

'I see... that's why Roan was capable of improving the same 5% while he stayed less than half of the time inside.'

[Exactly.]

[Next, let's talk about why the Vermilion Pool is famous. You guys are not wrong. The problem is, this small improvement was only for the two of you. The others did really get a much higher benefit from it. Calina, for example, got a whole 20% or so of improvement in her Spiritual Energy absorption. Malaka's improvement was probably even greater.]

Rean and Roan were taken aback. Isn't that a considerable difference between them?

[Before you ask, the reason for that is because both your bodies have been nourished by the Soul Gem System ever since you were born. You always had the purest Yin and Yang Energies in your bodies. Not to mention that you cultivate by exchanging Elements with each other, so you get nourished by the other part. Simply put, there wasn't much there to be improved to start with.]

[Did you forget? Your Foundation's Spiritual Pools are already significantly larger than other cultivators at your level. However, you two still can cultivate faster than them? Why is that? That's not just the Soul Gem Cultivation Manuals' effect. Your own bodies, especially the meridians, have always been much better than others. What Malaka and Calina experienced was basically a 'catch up' to your levels.]

Rean couldn't help but sigh.

'It feels like we didn't get much from this adventure and even got a huge burden instead.'

Roan agreed with him.

'Indeed. Still, no point in complaining now. Let's enter the next topic.'

With only two days remaining before the Sect Entrance Exam, there was one thing Rean and Roan had to do. They quickly arranged everything and furtively left the Sect without anyone noticing. Rean got even better with his Bending Light and Spiritual Energy abilities, so Roan didn't need to piggyback him anymore. As long as he stayed beside him, that was enough.

As for Kentucky, the Minokawa was finally starting to become more independent. With that, Rean could now leave it at the Beast Taming Faction for them to take care of. He or Roan just had to make sure to appear there once every few days so that the chick wouldn't feel restless.

With that, Rean and Roan sped to Majories City. At their cultivation level, what took them ten hours before, now only took four at most. Soon, they passed through the city gates.

"Alright, Roan. Let me just go to the Zafa Bank take my part of the payment for the Steel Weapons. After that, I need to quickly pass by the Jamariz Weaponstore to check the things. We can do what we came here for once I finish these things."

Roan didn't mind it.

"In that case, I'm going to rent a room in the hotel."

Rean then asked.

"Can you find a room available? The Sect Entrance exam starts in two days. Everything should be full now."

Roan nodded.

"Don't worry, I just need to show our Sect Emblem, and they will arrange it for us. There won't even be a need to tell who I am."

"Oh, that makes sense. Majorias City is just beside the Sect, after all. It would be weird if they didn't have a few rooms reserved for Sect Members."

With that, Rean and Roan separated to do their own things.

Rean was already used to all the process, so he didn't take too long to get his payment and pass by the Jamariz Weaponstore. Everything was working pretty much fine, so Rean quickly arrived at the Hotel that Roan found. With their Soul Link, Rean had no need to ask where Roan was going. He could always tell where he was.

However, Rean wasn't empty-handed. In his hand, he had quite a few products he had never used before.

He entered the room, just to see Roan waiting for him.

"I got what we needed. Did Sister Orb check the room already?"

[Yes. There is indeed a formation to prevent Spiritual Senses from prying inside. It is working pretty okay as well.]

Roan nodded.

"That's to be expected. Dalamu Sect is just too important for Majorias City. They definitely treat all its disciples as best as they can."

Roan then looked at Rean.

"Just to be sure, check it yourself once more."

Rean nodded.

'Life Style, Fourth Form, Hidden Radar.'

Instantly, Light Element gathered around Rean. With that, he could perceive any possible Spiritual Sense. The higher the cultivator's level, the easier it would be.

Rean smiled before turning the skill off.

"We are fine. There is no Spiritual Sense entering the room."

Roan nodded.

*Vup!*

Suddenly, Calina appeared inside the room out of nowhere. Rean and Roan had finally brought her out of the Soul Gem Dimensional Realm.

"Phew... It's good to be out again. Where is this place?"

"It's a Hotel in the city beside the Dalamu Sect. The Sect Entrance Exam always starts here."

Calina nodded. She already knew that they would use the Exam to put her inside.

"Isn't it two days away from it?"

Rean nodded.

"Yep. However... we can't have you participate in it with your real face, right? It's time for an image change."