Death... and me

However, Xila didn't attack this time. Although this duo were the real ones this time, no one knew that. Besides, they were walking in between the injured Lakure people. If Xila attacked them like the last time, wouldn't they all die?

Sure enough, Xila reigned over his anger and didn't do anything. There were two Reans and two Roans on different sides of the field. Which ones were the real deal? He didn't know. First of all, are any of the four figures even real?

Jana sighed as her hand touched Xila's shoulder.

"Give up, Elder Xila. They totally have you in the palm of their hands. As long as you can't tell if they are real or not, you can't do much."

Jana then looked at the twins before asking.

"Rean and Roan, right? Do you think our relationship would become better if you keep acting like that?"

Roan nodded as he answered.

"That will depend on you guys. If your entire race acts like Xila, then it would be difficult. However, it seems like only a scant few of you are as hardcore as Xila. From what this test has shown, most of your race is at least considering this option."

Xila and Jana were taken aback before they looked around. Sure enough, the twins' actions made it very clear whether a negotiation would be possible or not. In the end, it was all a test... a test that used Elder Xila as the trigger.

Just a few of the Lakure Race members seemed to be angry with what just happened. The rest had conflicted expressions, and some even looked like they were considering the twins' words to hold some truth in them.

Jana then looked at Xila's fists, which were making sounds nonstop. Xila obviously understood that the twins used his anger to test the field. Not only that, but they also achieved the results they desired.

Eventually, the twins headed in Xila's direction, completely unafraid of his power. Rean then smiled at Roan before saying.

"Let me do the talking this time. Your tone is not very good for negotiations."

Roan simply nodded. He also knew that he wasn't the easiest person in the world to talk to. Well, he had no intention of changing anyway.

Rean looked at Elder Xila, who seemed to be holding back as much as possible to not attack the twins straight away.

"As far as I can see, this type of negotiation should be done with Jana. After all, she is the one directly connected to this ancestor of yours. However, we won't get anywhere if you keep acting like this. I definitely wouldn't feel safe to let my sect members live in the valley with you there either."

Xila narrowed his eyes as he said.

"What are you trying to tell me?"

Rean smiled before asking.

"This negotiation was supposed to be something beneficial for your Lakure Race's future. There would be no war, or at least not against Sasamil Empire. I can't say anything about Sasamil and Chrole since we don't know what will happen in the future. In any case, the Sasamil and Chrole Empires are mainly composed of humans, so it matters little to you."

"Why are you so adamant about fighting? Is there, really, really no other way to settle the differences between you and us other than killing each other? Let's completely forget about who was at fault or not when your Lakure Race was sealed down there. After all, even you can't guarantee that it was definitely the fault of the human race. Everyone alive at that time is already dead, so you can't take revenge on the real culprits even if you wanted to. Think! I refuse to believe that there is no other way around."

Xila narrowed his eyes in response. Another way to settle the differences? It's not that he never thought about it, but that he didn't care before. All he wanted was to have the humans dead. Xila believed that with his ancestor's power to hold the fort, he would be able to rampage around as he wished until he was finally satisfied. However, he understood after his ancestor's orders two years ago that this might not really be the case. Still...

"Hmph! Do you think it's that easy to simply forgive and forget? However..."

It was then that he noticed one thing. There was indeed one thing he hated more at the moment than the human race.

"I don't mind giving it a chance as long as I can deal with you two in place of the humans."

Surprisingly, all the Lakure Race people who also wished to fight like Xila responded in unison.

"That's right! Surrender to us, and we can talk."

"That's good, right? Two lives in exchange for the rest."

"Elder Xila, we agree with your decision!"

Xila was satisfied to hear that at least a few members still agreed with him.

"So, what do you say? Don't worry. I won't be idiotic enough to kill or cripple you two in any way. After all, we truly need you to heal everyone's underground poison. However... hehe!"

Tiria, who was just observing the situation, couldn't help but say.

"That can't do! You'll obviously try to kill them!"

Erbec and the other experts of the human race also thought the same thing. However, they didn't say anything.

Xila then looked at Tiria and snorted.

"Whether you trust me or not is not my problem. However, you can see everyone who agrees with me. Only these twins are more hateful than anything else. In any case, that's my condition."

Jana narrowed her eyes as she looked at Xila.

"Xila, can it wait until they at least heal everyone?"

Xila immediately shook his head as he said.

"No! I will not accept any other moment than now. If you refuse, then I will just keep looking for a way to get rid of you humans. One more thing, I don't want clones. They have to be the real duo."

Rean and Roan looked at each other before talking through their soul connection.

'What do you think? I totally can't tell if he just wants an opportunity to kill us or not.'

Roan nodded before replying.

'Don't worry, he won't kill us.'

'How do you know?'

'Because that would incur the wrath of his own race. Look around. The majority are dreaming about having their poisons eliminated. Besides, I'm pretty confident in my experience of reading others. In any case, it's not like it could be more painful than the Soul Gem System's upgrades.'

Rean had to admit that Roan was right.

'That's true. Sister Orb definitely has the ability to make it feel even worse.'

Naturally, they talked about the times she began to make fun of them while the upgrades in their bodies went through.

[Hahaha! Come on, it's not that bad. Besides, it'll serve as a good memory in the future to tell your grandkids. Isn't that great?]

'Great your head! Like hell would we tell our grandchildren about that!'

[Oh! Is that so? Don't worry, then. I'll make sure to tell them myself.]

'Fuck you!'

Rean then calmed down. It was better to ignore the orb in these moments.

Eventually, Rean and Roan nodded before they looked at Xila.

"Oh. Then, we accept! By the way, the two of us in front of you are the real ones."

*Boom!*

At the very moment they said those words, Xila attacked the two on the ground. Bones crackled while their organs ruptured as the twins coughed blood.

"Oh! It seems like it's true."

Xila then looked at the other who supported him before saying.

"Come on, everyone! It's showtime!"

This might be the first time in the cultivation world's history that someone had agreed to get beaten to prevent a war, let alone twins.