Death... and me

Everyone looked at each other, confused. "What do you mean?"

Rean and Roan, on the other hand, could already guess the reason for this sudden change. 'Destiny Attraction...' The system's beloved ability to throw the twins into weird events wherever they went. Obviously, they thought it to be one more of those.

'Well, we want to know what he has to do with the Vruves, after all,' Roan commented, and Rean nodded. They were already used to this kind of thing.

Kanglai then raised her hand. "Sorry, friend Nolui. But we have our own tasks to carry out after this. The attack on the Krohasan Region is still ongoing, so we need to go back to give support. Now that you are safe, we will have to leave."

However, it was exactly at this moment that Kanglia received a call from the Rambram Sect. She quickly answered, and her expression couldn't help but show helplessness. "So you already arranged everything..."

Nolui nodded. "Yes. Flinyu made an agreement with your Sect Master. However..." Nolui then looked around. "Where is the guy called Kinglei? He was supposed to be with your group and also take part in this next job."

"He left," Kanglia answered. "As soon as it was confirmed that you were safe, he didn't want to have anything to do with us anymore. Don't ask me where he went because I don't know. And I highly doubt he would answer a call from me."

"Let me give it a try..." Nolui once again contacted Fliyu back and made a few arrangements. A few moments later, he turned to everyone. "Alright, come with me."

The cultivators were still curious. Even now, they didn't know what they had got themselves into. Above all, they still remember when Nolui talked about the Vruves. 

"Sorry, but I have no intention of going," suddenly one of them spoke. "I knew someone who was involved with the Vruves in the past. He disappeared without a trace before his Soul Flame snuffed out. Everyone at our level or above knows that nothing good comes from involving themselves with the Vruves."

He was quickly followed by another cultivator, Bacia. "He is right. I'm sorry, senior Kanglia. But if I have to face punishment for refusing this new mission, I will glad accept it. I'm not going either."

Kalngia wasn't to retort, but even she couldn't come up with a good reason to convince the others to go. Threat to kill them for disobeying orders? They don't want to go because they thought it to be a certain death, so what was the point?

Nolui didn't seem surprised with that. "10000 Merit Points."

"WHAT?!" Instantly, everyone's expression changed. That was a ridiculously huge number. Missions like this rescue don't appear every time. Usually, it would take several years to amass 2000 Metir Points, let alone 10000. Rean's group was an exception only because of their special abilities and the fact they were much stronger than their cultivation level showed.

Nonetheless, even Rean and Kentucky were taken aback. "Nolui, right? Do you even have the authority to offer 10000 Merit Points?" Well, Rean and Kentucky would follow Nolui regardless of having points or not. Still, why not confirm it as well?

Even Bacia, one of the cultivators who voiced his refusal, seemed to be struggling. In the end, he asked with a doubtful tone. "Goku is right. Do you have that authority?" 10000 would be enough for him to buy everything he was aiming for. So, even if he gets involved with the Vruves, if he survives, he can just hide himself for a long time until everyone forgets about him.

However, everyone's question didn't need an answer from Nolui. That's because their communication badges were activated, having received a new message. When they all looked inside, they were shocked. 

They had just received the 2000 Merit Points from the rescue mission. On top of that... another 5000 Merit Points appeared out of nowhere!

Seeing everyone's expressions, Nolui laughed. "Hahaha! Seems like it was faster than I thought. I got you half of the payment in advance. Of course, you won't be able to spend it here. Only after the mission is over. If you decide to leave now, these 5000 points will be taken back, but you won't receive any repercussions. However, I hope these 5000 points serve as proof that I'm not joking. Go on this mission with me, and if you return alive, you will be 10000 Merit Points richer."

Rean and Kentucky instantly flew to Nolui's side. "You can count on us, Nolui." Well, they would do that with or without points anyway. Yet, this situation played in their favor as it looked like they were the most determined ones.

Nolui nodded, satisfied. "Good! Anyone else? I can guarantee you there will be no other chance to get this many Merit Points in the future. In fact, this might be the easiest Merti Points you ever got. That's because it is still not guaranteed that the mission will involve any risks. Of course, whether you believe it or not is up to you."

Kanglia sighed and then stepped forward, too. "I'm going. With these 10000 points, I can retire from this war earlier and get the item I was aiming for."

Slowly, more cultivators moved to Nolui's side, accepting their fates. Big risks are followed by big rewards. That was the law of the universe.

In the end, only two cultivators were too afraid to participate, so they bid farewell to everyone and left. Nolui used his communication badge to warn the higher-ups about these two as well, having their points taken away.

He then looked at the remaining cultivators and demon beasts. "Good. I can also tell you that Kinglei will join us later, so it should put you guys more at ease."

Everyone bitterly smiled. Was Kinglei's presence really something that could put anyone at ease? Not that complained, of course.

"Seven Elemental Space Realm experts, all in the Peak Stage. Kanglia and I are both in the Space-Time Realm, although I'm in the Late Stage while she is in the Middle," said Nolui. "There is also Kinglei, so it should be enough."

Finally, he looked in a certain direction. "As for our mission... it is to investigate a new Pseudo-Temporal Path that doesn't seem to connect to any of the Three Higher Realms nor the Mortal Realm."