Death... and me

Rean then told the rest of his group what he heard. Of course, Roan heard everything first through the twins' soul connection.

'I didn't expect that my words would spread this much. For this guy to talk about all of that without being afraid of being exposed can only mean that everyone knows about that already.'

Roan nodded in response.

'In any case, that was our objective from the very start. The Lakure Race is still united about protecting themselves. However, their opinions are now diverging from each other. At the very least, there might be a chance of them not going all out, killing everyone they see after the natural formation deactivates.'

Calina was more worried about the situation at hand, though.

'Still, what do we do about the sects and the royal family powers? Are we going to attack them as well to keep our covers?'

Malaka immediately shook her head in response.

'I'm definitely not doing that.'

Rean agreed with her as he said.

'Of course, we won't do that. However, it feels strange. The sects and the royal family should know the difference in power between them and the Lakure Race. Still, they came to this place.'

Roan nodded as he added.

'Indeed. I don't think they came to buy a fight with the Lakure Race. Let's get there first. After that, we can check what is happening and decide what to do after.'

It didn't take too long for them to arrive in the place where both sides were gathered. Sure enough, the number of Lakure Race members was much higher than the sects and royal family. However, the secs and royal family didn't bring any members at the Core and Soul Fusion Realm and below. There was only the Nascent Soul Realm and Soul Forging Realm cultivators. Of course, the number of high-level cultivators of the Lakure Race was definitely superior.

From the looks of it, a battle hadn't started yet. Both sides just looked at each other without doing anything.

Rean couldn't help but say.

'The Lakure Race members have the advantage. However, their numbers wouldn't be enough to stop the sects and royal family's powers from escaping. That's why they're in this stalemate.'

Wano agreed with Rean.

'That's correct. However, there are more members of the Lakure Race coming here as well. It's just that our presence has now become somewhat useless. After all, Core and Soul Fusion Realm cultivators and below can't do much in a battle of high-level cultivators.'

Roan nodded.

'Indeed. The Lakure Race probably called us over because they thought the sects and royal family's powers would bring their middle and low-level cultivators as well. However, I'm seeing a few strange faces on their side as well. There are a few people who aren't from our Jialin Country.'

Wano recognized them.

'I know who they are. I've been to their country a few weeks before I came to the valley—those are the members of the Guntao Country.'

Rean's group then continued to observe, waiting to see what they would do.

On the Jialin and Guntao Country's side, Erbec and Suan came forward after seeing that enough Lakure Race members had gathered. They seemed to have been waiting for that exact moment. Suan then looked at Erbec and allowed him to do the talking.

"I'm Erbec Jialin, a direct descendant of the Jialin Bloodline of the Jialin Country. This one beside me is an expert of the Guntao Country, a place nearby my Jialin. Is it possible to have some words with the leader of your group?"

Rean's group nodded when they heard that. Sure enough, the two countries didn't come here to fight.

The Lakure Race Nascent Soul and above realm experts looked at each other. If it was three years ago, they would have started the attack already. Even if they knew Jialin and Guntao could escape, they wouldn't have cared. However, ever since they got the order given by their ancestor and what they've heard from Rean, many doubts have appeared in their minds.

There was also a good thing for Jialin and Guntao. Jana gave an order that no Saint Realm cultivator of their race should leave their ancestor's side. That said, Jana, Xila, and the others stayed inside the valley. Only a few of the Soul Forging Realm and a bunch of Nascent Soul Realm cultivators came out.

"What do we do? Should we attack or talk?"

"Is there even a need to ask? We should have started to attack already!"

"Don't be ridiculous. You should have understood that the ancestor doesn't wish us to fight, right?"

"Then, what? Should we forget everything they did to us and pretend to be friends?"

"Didn't you hear what the white-haired brat said in the past? Are you really not in doubt whether he was right or wrong?"

"Indeed. In fact, wouldn't it be better if we can bring our race out without having to sacrifice anyone?"

"Bullshit! Do you really believe what that brat said?"

"So what if it is bullshit? Are you saying that it's a good thing to have many of our members dying for an act of revenge that might be wrong?"

The Lakure Race's high-level experts were quite divided in their opinions. However, they really couldn't start a battle against the Jialin and Guntao's forces if only half of them wanted to fight. In the end, both diverging sides agreed to at least hear what the humans had to say even though the fighting group wasn't too happy with it.

Three Lakure Race people stepped forward. It was one woman and two men, all in the Soul Forging Realm as well. Two of them were part of the not-fighting group, while the one who would talk was part of the 'kill them all' group. That's the agreement that both sides reached to speak with the Jialin and Guntao Country's forces. The man in the center then looked at Erbec and Suan before he said.

"I'm Gal Lamik. Speak what you wish to talk about. Many of us want to rip your group to shreds, so be careful about what you say."

Erbec and Suan sighed in relief. The most stressful moment was whether these guys wished to talk or not. If they attacked straight away, everyone on their side could only turn around and run again.

"Thank you for listening to us. The fact is, we don't know much about your group other than what we heard from your low-level members. We did get information that you are from the Lakure Race, a race that walked on this land thousands of years ago before being sealed."

"However, we have absolutely no idea why that happened. Some of our leaders outside might know something, but even they weren't alive during that time either. That being said, we wish to know if there's no way we can reach an agreement. You Lakure Race people obviously have the power to become a huge problem to all the countries around and even the Sasamil Empire. If possible, we would like to avoid it."

Gal snorted after hearing that.

"And why should we trust you? Have you forgotten that we've already wiped out seven of your cities? Of course, that isn't even close to what you've made us pass through during all these years in the underground world. So don't expect us to regret what we've done."

Erbec nodded in response. The fact was that only one of the cities was in the Jialin Country's territory. The rest was in the Qerlen country or the other borders. Guntao was even further away, so they weren't affected to start with. Suppose he could prevent a war from starting at the Jialin Country's doorsteps. In that case, his Jialin Family could definitely let it go. After all, a conflict between the Sasamil Empire and these guys was bound to bring their Jialin country down with them. He had to prevent that at any cost.

"I understand. If we were in your shoes, we would also be enraged after so many years sealed in such a place. That's why we don't blame you for what happened, nor do we wish to take revenge for it. The fact that we can at least talk now is proof that we can definitely reach an agreement, don't you think?"

Gal narrowed his eyes after hearing that. He expected that they would definitely complain about the cities. From the looks of it, they might really be able to talk. Of course, Gal was part of the ones who wanted to initiate an attack, so he wasn't happy that they easily ignored his provocation. As long as the other side's attack went a little overboard, they would have an excuse to kill. Obviously, that didn't happen.

In the end, as much as he hated it, he could only ask.

"What do you propose?"

Erbec and Suan sighed in relief.

"We understand that what your group wishes to have the chance to live on the surface again. I won't be a hypocrite and say that we can give you all the world back. After all, this world is the place we were born on too. The people who participated in the event that sealed your race down there are all dead now."

"That said, I'm sure we can at least reach an agreement of allocating an area big enough for your race to live on. In fact, it might be even better for both races to simply live together and share the land."

There was another reason Erbec wished such a thing. As a high-level member of the Jialin Royal Family, he knew a little about the Sasamil Empire and Chrole Empire's situation. Especially since Mia went out to discuss this problem with them as well. This was really a terrible moment to start a fight against the Lakure Race.