Rean and Roan then turned around and went back. This time, they used Rean's skill to hide their presence and passed by the area where the red crystals were being placed. Since no Core and Soul Fusion Realm cultivator got very close to Rean, none of the Lakure Race members noticed their presence.
However, there was one thing that Rean noticed on their way to the valley.
'Say, don't you think that there are more Lakure Race members here than there was one year ago?'
Roan nodded as he replied.
'There are. However, we already know that these members found a way to escape the underground world and are being teleported here. It makes sense that their numbers increased with time as more of them escaped from there.'
Rean agreed with that. Well, there was nothing they could do to change that anyway.
The two moved quickly, ignoring everything until finally, they arrived in the valley. Rean kept using his Hidden Radar skill, looking for any higher level Spiritual Sense. However, the further they went, the less Rean could feel. In fact, it looked more like the average level of the Lakure Race members they saw in the valley was below what they could find in those protecting the red crystals outside.
'What's happening here?'
'No idea. I thought their experts would be all gathered here. But we can't find them. Could it be that they're all refraining from using Spiritual Sense? After all, I can't detect their presence if their Spiritual Sense doesn't touch my bending skill.'
'That seems hard to believe. Unless...'
It was then that Roan thought about a possibility.
'Shit! Let's get out of here.'
Rean didn't know why Roan's expression instantly changed, but he trusted him when it came to these things. Immediately, he turned around with Roan and began to run to the valley entrance.
However...
"Oh! Did the two ants notice it? How amusing... And here I was, thinking that you would go all the way into the valley's core. Did you know? You just made me lose a bet."
"Hahaha! I told you, Hevan. For these two little guys to get this far, they must be intelligent."
"Sigh... I also bet that they would go all the way to the valley's core."
Rean and Roan's expression immediately turned dark. Sure enough, that's what Roan was afraid of. Rean also understood what the problem was.
'They have another way to sense our existence without using Spiritual Sense.'
Roan nodded.
'Exactly. It didn't make sense that no high-level expert was overseeing this place.'
Rean then looked at the ground as he sighed. Most likely, it was a formation that revealed their presence here. Unfortunately, they couldn't use Sister Orb to check it since she was busy with the natural formation instead.
Rean and Roan looked at the experts that appeared in front of them. In total, 27 Lakure Race members were blocking their way out. Just from their aura alone, the twins could tell that all of them were at least at the Nascent Soul Realm. Some even had the same presence that Mia and Droman gave them, possibly being at the Soul Forging Realm.
Of course, the twins were not really concerned with their safety. They could enter the Soul Gem Dimensional Realm any time they wanted. However, they wanted to see what these guys wanted to do.
'They haven't attacked us straight away, so it's quite convenient.'
Rean nodded.
'Indeed. Let's see what they want.'
One of the Lakure Race experts then came down in front of Rean and Roan. Soon after, Rean's Spiritual Sense and Camouflage skill disappeared, revealing their appearances. Since they could tell where they exactly were, there was no point in keeping it activated.
"Oh! I know you. I got a few reports about a group with five cultivators and one demon beast attacking the Life Energy Crystals. This group had two twins inside that had white and black hairs. I guess those guys are you two?"
Rean smiled in response.
"Well, you could say so. What is it? I heard how much your Lakure Race hates us humans. Are you here to take revenge for the people we killed and the fact that you were sealed in the underground world?"
Everyone couldn't help but laugh after hearing that.
"Hahaha! Indeed. It wouldn't be strange if we decided to take your lives right here and then. To be honest, we very much wish to do so straight away. However, we received orders to not kill anyone at the Core and Soul Fusion Realm and below."
Rean and Roan were instantly taken aback. Why would someone order something like that? Still, that explained why they never saw any Nascent Soul Realm enemy in the areas surrounding the red crystals.
"Is this some kind of joke? Because I can't see what's funny about it. Since when did your Lakure Race become so compassionate?"
Not long after that, a powerful Spiritual Energy pressure assaulted the twins, making the two kneel down almost instantly.
"Brat, the rule only said we couldn't kill you. Nothing's stopping me from taking a few of your limbs away."
The man then came walking in the twins' direction while keeping them locked with his Spiritual Energy. Rean and Roan were pretty sure that this guy wasn't just at the Soul Forging Realm. Even Droman and Mia's pressure couldn't compare to him. They couldn't confirm with their Spiritual Senses due to the difference in cultivation, but they were pretty sure this guy was in the Saint Realm!
Of course, Rean and Roan wouldn't just wait for the guy to cripple them, so they decided to enter the Soul Gem Dimensional Realm. However, just as they were about to do that, the pressure of Spiritual Energy suddenly disappeared!
The man, who was using it, narrowed his eyes as he looked in a particular direction. Rean and Roan followed his eyes and saw a female cultivator flying in their direction.
"Jana, why are you stopping me?"
Rean and Roan didn't need to be geniuses to understand that it was that woman who stopped the guy in front of them.
"I should be the one asking, Xila. Why are you assaulting two Core Formation Realm cultivators? Did you forget the ancestor's new orders?"
Xila was obviously the guy's name.
"Of course not! I wasn't going to kill them, just going to teach them a small lesson. Is that really a problem?"
Jana sighed before saying.
"Xila, you know that I'm not in favor of this either. However, thanks to the ancestor, we were able to live in the underground world up to now. It was also thanks to him that we finally have a chance to leave the underground world. Can't you trust him once again in his decision? You should know that he would never do anything to harm us."
Xila finally calmed down after hearing Jana.
"Fine... It's just that this black-haired brat irritated me."
Jana smiled, satisfied.
"Well, you still can kill the Nascent Soul Realm and higher-level cultivators in case they pass by. It should also be funnier since they would at least be able to present some resistance."
Jana then looked at all the experts around them before asking.
"I trust you all have nothing to say either, right?"
Everyone nodded. In the end, they all trusted their ancestor.
Rean and Roan looked at each other, not knowing what to say. What is this ancestor thing about? What is this rule? It didn't seem like they would try to attack them, but they weren't friends either.
Jana then looked at the twins with a cold expression.
"Now then, about the two of you. The ancestor determined that none of the Nascent Soul Realm and above members of our race could attack those at the Core and Soul Fusion Realm and below. However, that doesn't mean that the Core and Soul Fusion Realm members can't. If I were you, I would start running already."
Sure enough, several shadows began to appear in the distance. Their auras were much weaker than the experts in front of them, but there were quite a few.
However, Rean shook his head as he looked at Jana and Xila.
"Senior Jana and Xila, right? I don't understand. On our way here, we saw how the cities were wiped out. I don't think you would've had such an easy time without the help of Nascent Soul Realm cultivators or higher."
Jana's expression was still cold as she answered Rean's question.
"I have no reason to tell you why that's the case. However, it won't make any difference whether you know it or not. Simply put, the ancestor's orders came a few months after we started our invasion. At that time, we didn't have to follow any rules. It's just that simple."
Roan also took the chance to ask.
"Are you sure you don't want to intervene? Your race's experts are great opponents for us. That's why we are attacking those who are at our level. However, we won't show mercy when we fight them."
Xila snorted when he heard that.
"We don't need your mercy. Don't forget that it goes both ways. You are good training partners for our members as well. I read it in the reports. Your group always attacked even though you were at a disadvantage in terms of numbers and cultivation. If our members die because of that, it's their fault for being too weak."
Still, the experts were quite puzzled with Rean and Roan. Those two could definitely see the lower-level members of their race coming over. Nevertheless, they weren't trying to flee.
Roan then looked at Rean and asked through their Soul Connection.
'Are you sure?'
Rean nodded.
'Yeap. It's worth a try to see how they will react.'
Rean then approached Jana and Xila, much to their confusion. They had their guards up. However, with the difference in cultivation, they didn't bother trying to stop Rean. If he really attacked, then they would have an excuse to kill him.
"What is it, brat?"
Rean smiled before extending his hands.
"Seniors, please give me your hands."
