Death... and me

"Well, you're probably as lost as we are. After all, it has been thousands of years since an outsider entered this city—all the way from the time the city was located outside. To be honest, we only have records about it since anyone who saw outsiders have already ascended or died of old age."

Tiria and the other Nascent Soul Elders were surprised to hear that.

"Don't you guys never go out?"

Wario shook his head.

"The formations left behind by our ancestors were not something we could breakthrough. Besides, we received strict orders that no one shall leave the city until their return."

Xansio couldn't help but ask.

"So, are you telling us that your ancestors moved the entire city to this place and locked it down? However, they left right after and left you alone?"

Wario sighed as he nodded.

"Putting it in simple terms, that's what exactly happened."

Wario looked at everyone's puzzled faces and could tell what they were thinking.

"You're probably imagining why we look so unphased with your presence in this place. After all, this is the first contact we had with outsiders during all this time, right?"

Everyone nodded. Even Rean and Roan had to admit that they found it a bit strange. Considering how long this city had been locked, why were they not more excited? The only exception so far was Sira, the guy with snake scales all over his body.

Wario continued.

"That's because most of us simply don't care about it. We don't want to leave the city, so your presence doesn't matter much to us."

Furen Posin asked straight away.

"Why? If what you said is true, then you have been confined in this tiny space for your whole life. I would feel mad already, to be honest."

Wario smiled as he answered.

"That's because we are waiting for our ancestors to come and grab us away from this place."

Colen, another expert of the Royal Family, asked.

"Are you talking about the so-called ascenders?"

Wario nodded.

"Exactly. Many of our ancestors reached a level high enough to break through the barrier to a higher realm. Such a thing happened many times in the past. Before the last ones left, they told us that they would lock us so that no one would threaten our existence. We should simply wait for their return. Once that happens, they will bring us together to the higher realm."

Everyone couldn't help but think it was a bit creepy when they heard that. Wario looked like some fanatic from a weird religion, though it did make sense. Otherwise, how would they have endured so many years to the point of being born and dying in this place?

Sira then sighed as he also stepped forward.

"Elders... We can finally go out. There is no need to wait for our ancestors anymore."

Wario and other elders just smiled at Sira, as if he didn't say anything out of the ordinary.

"Child, we are happy to be in this place. With our cultivation, our lifespan is incredibly vast. We have already waited for so long, always believing. We will not waver that easily."

However, there were two elders in the middle of all of those who came forward. Just like the leader at the front, none of the Nascent Soul Realm cultivators could see their cultivations.

"Wario, most of you believe that, but it's a fact that the city has more and more people who don't wish to wait anymore."

"Indeed. If you guys wish to stay, then so be it. However, we won't lose this opportunity. We are going to leave."

Sira nodded as he joined those two elders. Every elder of the outside powers looked at the current situation with weird faces. For some reason, they seemed to have become some kind of spectators. It was as if their presence didn't mean much. Or, to be more specific, they set off the fire, but their own fire was now useless in front of the size of the flames that they had created.

Wario and the elders who still believed in their ancestors' words didn't seem to mind their attitudes.

"I know. That's why I didn't do anything to the outsiders and even called them inside. Fuka, Nifere, you two had never been very satisfied with the life here. Since that's the case, the other elders and I had a meeting and decided that we might as well banish you together with the citizens who don't want to stay. Unfortunately, we couldn't banish you anywhere since there was no way out. That being said, the outsiders' presence is truly convenient for us."

"This..."

Fuka and Nefere were taken aback. It was apparent that they didn't know about this meeting at all.

"When was it?"

Wario then explained.

"It had been decided several centuries ago. Of course, since there was no way to banish you, we didn't say anything. However, I guess this is not a bad deal for any of you since you will have your desires fulfilled."

Fuka couldn't help but ask.

"What if a way out hadn't appeared?"

Wario shook his head.

"It wouldn't have been the first time. If the situation reaches a critical point, then we would be forced to eliminate the root of the problem. Fortunately, it didn't reach that stage yet."

Before Fuka could say anything, Wario turned to Rean and the others before saying.

"Even though we have different beliefs, it was a fact that they were born and raised in Laan City. They are important to us, nonetheless. The reason I decided to let you in was to ask all of you for a favor."

Everyone's attention turned in Wario's' direction.

"Fuka, Ferene, Sira, and many others who want to leave don't know how the outside world works. In fact, no one in the city remembers it anymore, either. I want you to help all of the people who will leave with this problem. In exchange, we can also share some of our cultivation knowledge, or spare a few treasures that would greatly help low-level cultivators like you all."

Even the Nascent Soul Realm cultivators were considered low-level at this moment. However, they didn't dare say otherwise since it was a fact that those elders were much stronger. Perhaps some of them had even surpassed the Saint Realm.

Wario once again looked at Fuka and Nefere before saying.

"Go. Gather all of the citizens who have doubts about our beliefs. You all have two days to gather everything before you leave. If you don't, we will have to move you out ourselves."

Fuka and Nefere immediately nodded and left the room with Sira. The city wasn't that big, so it wouldn't take that long for them to gather everyone.

However, the sect powers and the rest were still puzzled. There were many questions unanswered. For example, weren't they afraid of the sects and royal family to come back to try and take their city? What about the people they would bring out with them? Weren't they afraid of the 'outsiders' fooling their city members and imprisoning them? Maybe even killing them?

Of course, none of them thought about that. What they wanted was nothing more than convincing those high-level cultivators to join their own powers.

However, they decided not to bring those topics up. At the moment, they were a lot more interested in the payment the city would give them. 

Xansio then stepped forward and asked.

"When can we take a look at the cultivation manuals and treasures?"

Everyone's eyes lit up. However, there were two exceptions. Rean and Roan.

'Should we ask them for information instead?'

Roan was pondering precisely that. They wouldn't have time to look into all this place. Not to mention that they probably wouldn't be left alone to start with. However, they were truly a lot more interested in information regarding Vruve than anything the elders promised. After all, they had the Soul Gem System. Those things couldn't beat what the Soul Gem System could provide in the long term.

While the twins thought about what they would do next, Wario explained how it would work.

"Each one of you will have the right to chose one thing—a suitable cultivation technique for you, or a treasure. However, as you can see, many of us use cultivation techniques that affect our bodies. There is a chance that you will also receive a cultivation technique that might transform some parts of your body."

"But don't you worry, your offsprings will still be normal humans. The changes can't be passed down by bloodline. If you think it is worth it, then choose your cultivation techniques without fear. As for treasures, it will depend on what you want. It can be a cultivation resource, a weapon, an armor, a formation blueprint, etc. We will let you choose according to your own levels."

It looked like a lot. However, the key point was 'according to your level.' The highest cultivation was Nascent Soul Realm. For a city with experts at the Saint Realm Level or even above, the items of Nascent Soul Realm cultivators probably didn't matter much.

Rean and Roan then looked at each other and nodded.

'Sister Orb. How far are we from the Save Point?'

[1478 kilometers.]

The twins' nodded. Soon after, Rean turned to look in Tiria and Juvian's direction and asked with a Spiritual Sense message.

'Elders, if I suddenly say that I need 500 Rank Four Spirit Stones, would you have it? Don't ask why. I just need an answer in case things get complicated.'

Tiria and Juvian were taken aback. But as Core Elders, they knew about the twins' special position.

'If Juvian and I take everything we have, we should barely have this amount.'

Rean and Roan nodded before turning in Wario's direction to send a Spiritual Sense message.

'Elder Wario? Can my brother and I ask for information instead?'

Wario was surprised to hear such a proposal, but nodded nonetheless.

'As long as it is something we can answer, then yes.'

Roan's expression then turned solemn as he asked.

'What do you know about Vruve?'

From the very start, Wario's expression had never changed. However, as soon as the term Vruve appeared, shock instantly appeared on his face.