Chapter 298 - Contact
Other than Demon Beasts, there were also a few groups of cultivators. Of course, it was not easy to find them. They would bump into one or two every 500 to 1000 kilometers. Sometimes even none. That makes sense since only those with high cultivation would dare to enter here.
If Rean and Roan found those people, then so would others as well. At the moment, Rean and Roan just so happened to be talking with one of those groups. As for the topic...
"Are you two sure that you are not lost? Where have you ever seen 14 years old brats like you two training in a place like this? I'm surprised that you haven't died yet."
This group had one Initial Stage Core and Soul Fusion Realm cultivator while the other three were at least at the late Stage of the Core Formation Realm. They had come to the Core of the Jiran Forest to gather demon beasts' materials and demon cores. After all, Stage Four demon cores and materials were still worth a lot even if they can only be sold for Rank Two Spirit Stones.
Roan became annoyed at their blabbering as Rean sighed helplessly. As much as this group has good intentions, being stopped for such a reason really bothered them. If anything, they were in a much better condition than them, with the Dimensional Realm available for emergencies.
"We appreciate your thoughts, but you don't need to worry. We are more than strong enough to survive in this place. We are members of the Dalamu Sect, after all."
The leader of that group nodded.
"That explains how two brats at your age were able to reach the Core Formation Realm so fast. This old man spent over 30 years to reach the same stage as you two. It took me even longer to arrive at the Core and Soul Fusion. Not to mention that I have no hope of reaching the Nascent Soul Realm one day. Still, even if you are from the Dalamu Sect, you should return. This cultivation of yours is too low."
Roan finally lost his patience.
"Whatever, just ignore them. Let's go."
Without even looking behind, Roan dashed into the forest. Rean bitterly smiled as he nodded.
"Don't worry, sir. We know the risk. Just leave us be."
*Chick!*
Kentucky saw the twins running away and quickly followed as well.
A man in this group couldn't help but ask the old leader.
"Father, is it really okay to leave them? Shouldn't we try to stop the two? I believe the Dalamu Sect would even give us a reward for helping bring those two geniuses back to their sect. After all, I don't think they would allow them to enter this Core Region with their cultivations."
The man pondered for a bit about the situation. Although he wasn't part of a sect, he at least knew how they work. As his son said, those sects wouldn't allow geniuses of that level to venture in a place like this without the necessary cultivation.
Another member of their group also added.
"I believe he is right, Clan Leader. Since our Lopin Clan lives in the Dalamu Sect's Territory, it wouldn't be a bad decision to acquire a favor from them. Besides, they are already lucky that no one tried to rob them yet and that it was us who came. Others would most likely try to rob them once they saw that they were part of the Dalamu Sect. After all, they are bound to have quite a few good items with the cultivation they are showing."
Well, the truth was that Rean and Roan had already encountered two groups like that. One was while they were still in the Inner Region, while the other was after they had just entered the Core Region. Robbers in a place like this weren't anything rare. Demon beasts were far from being the only risks to take here. Unfortunately for those two groups, they really selected the wrong group to attack.
Finally, the man nodded his head.
"Fine, but let's not try to stop the twins straight away. You are young, so you can see it. Something tells me that they are not as simple as they look. It's just like you said, they were way too lucky to not have been robbed so far. That makes one think, had they really been lucky or not?"
"Is father saying that they might really have the power to defend themselves with that cultivation?"
The Clan Leader nodded.
"It seems ridiculous, but you must understand one thing. Don't ever underestimate the sect's powers."
The Clan Leader's son and the other two companions looked at each other in dismay. Could that really be the case? The Clan Leader didn't wait for them to say anything before grabbing them with his Spiritual Energy and taking flight. At the Core and Soul Fusion Realm, one can finally use Spiritual Energy to fly, after all. It would be a lot easier to watch the twins like that.
Rean and Roan kept moving forward, as Roan commented.
"We already entered the region where we need to look for that mountain with four peaks."
Rean nodded.
"That's good. Let me fly with Kentucky to take a better look around."
Rean then jumped on Kentucky's back and transmitted his intention through Spiritual Sense. Kentucky immediately opened his wings as Light Element gathered in his body. In the next second, the Minokawa shot at high speeds to the sky.
Rean then looked around to see if he could see any mountain before uttering through their Soul Connection.
'I can see two mountains, but I can't tell if they have four peaks or not since they're covered by clouds.'
Roan nodded, not finding it too surprising.
'It seems like we will need to verify one by one from now on. Come down. You will gather too much attention if you keep flying above everyone's heads.'
Rean nodded before telling Kentucky to descend. However, he also noticed that the group of cultivators from a while ago was also nearby.
'Well, those guys seem to be following us.'
Roan couldn't care less, though.
'Ignore them. As long as they don't bother us, then that's fine.'
Rean then asked.
'What if we find this Jade Slip's location?'
Roan pondered a bit before saying.
'In that case, we can simply change direction and lead them somewhere else. After that, we will enter the Dimensional Realm and wait a while until they leave. Simple as that.'
'By the way, did you find any clue that might be related to the target we are looking for?'
Rean shook his head.
'The region is too big. That group of cultivators was basically the only one since we arrived in the searching area.'
Roan nodded again.
'Alright, let's keep an eye just in case we find something. It's not like we need to bring the old woman back anyway.'
Rean agreed with Roan when all of a sudden, he felt some familiar energy as he looked behind.
'Ah! Found another group. They are coming from the same direction as the guys from before. Could it be that they are gathering forces to attack us?'
Roan snorted after hearing that.
'As if! They have a Core and Soul Fusion Realm member in their midst. Do you think they would feel afraid of two Initial Stage Core Formation Realm teenagers? If they wanted to attack us, they would have done so as soon as we met.'
Rean nodded. No one knew about their real combat power, after all. However, his eyes narrowed after a while. The new group didn't seem to be anything different from the others they found in the past. However, Rean finally remembered where he had felt that familiar energy before.
'Umbral Energy!'
He quickly patted Kentucky and had it fly down. Roan already heard his words through their Soul Connection, so he was already on guard too. As soon as Rean left everyone's sight, he touched Kentucky's body and sent the Minokawa into the Dimensional Realm. Soon after, Light Element gathered around his body while Roan stayed close to him.
'Light Style, Fourth Form, Hidden Radar!'
With that, Rean would be able to feel all Spiritual Senses while being able to bend them in order for the two of them to be undetectable. Of course, Rean's bending ability had a limit. If the Spiritual Sense was too strong, he would still feel it but wouldn't be strong enough to bend it. Fortunately, the Umbral Sect's strongest member at the back was only at the Middle Stage Core and Soul Fusion Realm. Rean could just barely bend his Spiritual Sense with Light Element before it touched them.
Roan then looked at Rean before asking.
'Have they noticed you?'
Rean shook his head.
'I doubt so. It was because of the Umbral Energy that my attention was caught at first, but they definitely noticed the previous group that stopped us.'
Roan nodded.
'Since you can keep us hidden, let's go take a look. They most likely came for us, so I want to know how many are there.'
As soon as Rean's group disappeared, the Lopin Clan Leader showed a shocked expression. Rean's group had just disappeared right inside his Spiritual Sense. However, he didn't have time to think about that as his son called his attention.
"Father, there's a group coming."
The Clan Leader then looked behind and saw a six-member group moving in their direction.
"Be careful. There are two Core and Soul Fusion Realm cultivators with them. One Initial and one Middle Stage."
As the Umbral Sect group arrived, no one noticed the change in the light near their position. Sure enough, Rean also used his Light Element camouflage.