Death... and me

Well, if it was any other time like a dream, Frandin would've loved to have such high-level girls showing interest in him. However, his situation at the moment was anything but good for that. The last thing he needed in this world at the moment was a relationship.

"Ahem... I guess it's enough already, you two. As I said, I'm going to pay a visit to the Portin Clan. However, I don't mind paying a visit to the Asuma clan after this either. I'm looking for some information after all. Anyway, Lady Xiria, I'll be going there when I finish my business here."

Xiria smiled, not minding it at all.

"Then, we will be waiting for you, Gian."

She winked at him before turning around to leave.

Valia felt like tearing the girl apart. Unfortunately, she couldn't do that with her uncle around. Besides, it wasn't like their clans were enemies with each other. It's just that the two girls were on bad terms. Nevertheless, Valia quickly calmed down before looking at Frandin and apologizing.

"Sorry for this shameful display, Gian. Also, I'm sorry for how I treated you back in the shop. I should have noticed that you had an original Rank Five Bloodline Mark."

Frandin pretended to not care.

"Don't worry about it. So, Lady Valia, should we enter?"

Valia smiled as she nodded. Soon, Frandin entered the Portin Clan estate, followed by Roan and the girls. The guards looked at that and found it weird. After all, no humans should be permitted to enter through the front gate. Nevertheless, Valia showed them a token from her father, which kept their mouths shut.

The estate was very luxurious and wide. Many human slaves could be seen almost everywhere, working on their own tasks. In a certain way, their life didn't seem too bad. Because of the clan's face, they had to wear good clothes and seemed to be healthy. Of course, the slave collars on their necks proved that they didn't receive anything for it. 

'Well, I guess they're still better off than most slaves.'

Thought Calina...

Valia then began to introduce the estate for Frandin and didn't say anything else about the humans with him anymore. Every now and then, they would be greeted by the other girls of the clan, who seemed to have quite a lot of interest in Frandin. Of course, Frandin understood why and pretended that he liked it.

Eventually, they arrived in a big hall, where a few elders were discussing something.

"Sorry to interrupt you, elders. This is the friend I talked about, Gian Torio."

The oldest man in the pack looked at Frandin and couldn't help but ask.

"I heard that you've already earned your Rank Five Bloodline Soul Mark. Say, how old are you?"

Gian laughed before answering.

"I was just lucky. I'm 24 years old."

Frandin joined Roan's group over half a year ago, so he already had his birthday. Well, the years on Frandin's planet were completely different from Rean's group. They were much longer, so it would put him at around 30 years old back in Sunkan. Then again, that was still very young in the elders' eyes.

Following that, Frandin released his Bloodline Soul Mark, which allowed the elders in the room to confirm that he really earned his Mark.

"Such a promising youth. Gian, let me be honest with you. You're a member of the Celestial Lands, aren't you?"

"This..."

Frandin was taken aback by that question. However, it did make sense that these Zasfins thought about that. After all, there should be no records about his Rank Five Trial in the Empire's Trial Grounds. Since that's the case, it could only mean he used the Celestial Lands Trial Grounds, which were separated.

Roan then sent Frandin a Spiritual Sense message before Frandin answered the elder's question.

"I'm sorry, senior. But this isn't something I'm allowed to talk about."

Neither of the old men and women in the room seemed to care about his answer. In a certain way, Frandin's words had already confirmed their suspicion.

"Hahaha! That's fine, that's fine."

The man then looked at Valia and said.

"Valia, make sure to treat him well. You are to attend to all his needs, absolutely all of them. Am I clear?"

Valia slightly blushed in response but nodded in the end.

The man talking was none other than the oldest Rank Five Bloodline Mark Owner of the Portin Clan, Ancestor Ye Portin. His status was even above the clan head. In the Portin Clan, his words were law. Well, he would usually be cultivating, but he came out to see this Gian that the clan head talked about. Sure enough, he was quite satisfied after analyzing Frandin's cultivation and seeing his Bloodline Mark.

Frandin couldn't help but let out a bit of cold sweat. He really didn't want Valia to attend to all his 'needs.' Well, Frandin was still a man, so he also thought that it was a bit of a waste that he couldn't take advantage of such a thing.

Ye then took the chance to change the topic.

"I heard that you accepted our invitation because you wanted information. Go ahead, ask away. As long as it isn't improper, we will make sure to answer them."

Roan and the girls had already discussed with Frandin how he should approach the question regarding the Bloodline Trial's kids, so he knew how to ask.

"I'm out of my home as a test, and I have to arrive in a certain place within a few years at most, or I'll fail. However, my elders didn't give me any information."

Ye nodded after hearing that. They also gave many tests to their youngsters, so he didn't think that it was strange.

Frandin then continued.

"I don't know the name of the place, just that it's the heart of the Trial Grounds. It's also supposed to be the only place with a Rank 10 Bloodline Trial. That's the place I'm looking for."

The moment that these words came out of his mouth, all the elders present showed an expression of shock.

"Rank 10 Bloodline Trial?! Is there such a thing in this world?!"