Death... and me

One of the elders, a man named Wuxan, couldn't help but ask in response, "Cynthia told us why you wanted to join us, but is that really okay? As you've probably noticed, we even had to send most of our elders out to do missions to help with the financial situation. We really don't have much to offer." Wuxan was one of the few Soul Transformation Realm members of the sect.

After that, another elder, a younger woman called Tura, added, "Elder Wuxan is right. I believe you two don't understand how much you would be losing to stay with us. Take the Praler, Vintchi, and Ostrao Sect, for example. They have quite a few disciples around the same age as you who are also at the Soul Transformation Realm. To be an elder, they have to reach the Saint Realm first. But here in Lukimira, such a level is enough for you to be one of the top elders or the Sect Leader herself. We have a lot more Nascent Soul Realm elders that were promoted from the disciples than we have Soul Transformation Realm elders."

No one minded Tura's words. After all, that was the truth.

Tura continued, "Considering your age and cultivation, you can definitely join one of the top three sects as disciples and acquire a high rank there very fast. Trust me when I say that you have a lot more to gain there as disciples than you have here as elders." It wasn't as if Tura didn't want experts at the level of Rean's group to join the sect. It's just that she was afraid they would leave the sect soon after once they found out more about the other sects. Many of their disciples definitely would if they had the talent or money for it.

Rean's group wanted to say that compared to the sects of the Realm of Mortals, this sect was already tons powerful enough. Let alone becoming the top sect of a city. They had more than enough power to reign over an entire country back there. Of course, they couldn't mention such a thing.

Rean then asked something else, "Elder Tura seems quite young as well. Why are you here?"

Tura was taken aback for a moment. "Me? Young?" She then laughed out loud. "Hahaha! Well, compared to Senior Cynthia, I'm really young. However, that's because my cultivation makes me look like this. Believe it or not, I'm already 213 years old. To be at this age and still be in the Middle Stage of the Soul Transformation Realm is probably slightly better than average."

Cynthia sighed in response, saying, "You didn't need to say it like that, brat." However, she was too old to mind such things. "Oh well, I am indeed very old as I'm close to my 400s."

Wuxan, who was quite old himself, narrowed his eyes in response. "Who are you trying to deceive, old woman? We joined this sect almost at the same time. You're over 400 for sure, just like me."

"Shut up, Wuxan! No one asked your opinion!"

Kayla couldn't help but laugh in response. "Hahaha! You two are always like that. Well, I've watched you two grow, so that makes me feel older than anyone else as I'm already in my 500s."

Little did they know that their ages and cultivation were impressively high while being impressively young if they were in the Realm of Mortals. A Soul Transformation Realm cultivator's lifespan was 1000 years, while it was 1600 years for those at the Saint Realm. Wuxan and Cynthia were in the Late and Peak Stage of the Soul Transformation Realm, respectively, before reaching even half of their lifespan. Tura was doing even better, being almost 800 years ahead. Let alone the Sect Master, who was in the Middle Stage of the Saint Realm and still had over 1000 years of lifespan. In the eyes of Rean's group, they were heaven-defying geniuses, at least when considering the standard of the Realm of Mortals they were previously in.

It was then that Kentucky asked something else. "Oh, right! I noticed it when walking through the city. The same thing happens here in the sect. Why are there so many Nascent Soul Realm cultivators but so few cultivators at Soul Transformation Realm and above?"

That was true. Kentucky saw a lot more Soul Transformation Realm cultivators proportional to the population in the Realm of Gods. It definitely trashed the average proportional numbers in the Realm of Mortals. However, there were so many people at the Nascent Soul Realm that it was weird that the number of Soul Transformation Realm cultivators was just that.

However, Roan was the first one to explain that. "That's normal, dumb bird. To enter the Soul Transformation Realm, a cultivator has to find its true path. It's totally different from you, demon beasts, who just need more energy."

Rean smiled as he said, "We lived in an area where there were many demon beasts, but not so many cultivators. That's why Kentucky is puzzled. Don't mind him."

Roan then warned through Divine Sense. 'Don't ask things that could raise suspicion. Sister Orb said that it was easier to find one's path than it was in the Realm of Mortals. And that's true. That's why we have a lot more Soul Transformation Realm cultivators proportional to the number of cultivators back in the Realm of Mortals. However, that doesn't mean that finding one's path is easy.'

Rean agreed with Roan, saying, 'The ice block is right. Divine Energy makes it much easier to cultivate until the Nascent Soul Realm. Still, if you had really paid attention back in the city, you would see that most of the Nascent Soul Realm cultivators you saw were at the Peak Stage. They were all young, middle-aged, or old. That's your answer. In the end, finding one's path here is easier than back on the planets. Nevertheless, it's still a very hard thing to do.'

Kentucky rubbed the back of his head with his wings in embarrassment. "Sorry, sorry. I was just curious. I should have put a little more thought into it."

Kayla didn't mind as Roan's words were true. "It's fine. That's also why our sect has so much more Nascent Soul Realm elders than those at Soul Transformation. Look at the elders in this room, including Cynthia. They are already thirteen of the twenty Soul Transformation Realm elders of the entire sect."

Another elder, someone called Jusis, then added, "Of course, if you join a top sect of the city, then you'll definitely see many, many more people at Soul Transformation concentrated there."

Those words brought the conversation back to the initial issue, so Tura asked once more. "Do you see what you're losing out on by choosing us? You have talent, being at the Soul Transformation Realm while still in your late thirties. I don't want our sect to accept you just for you to leave our sect a few days later once you find a better choice."

Kayla agreed with Tura. "Indeed. You should think twice before selecting us. Of course, if you still prefer to become part of our sect and possibly our financial struggles, you are obviously welcome. Hahaha!"

All the elders in the room laughed out loud as well. They weren't hoping for much anyway.

Rean nodded in response, saying, "Indeed, we should have thought things through." Everyone sighed after hearing that, thinking that Rean and the others decided to leave after hearing their words. However, Rean smiled as he continued... "Now I'm even more sure I want to join this sect. Thank you for accepting us."