Death... and me

Rean shook his head. "I wasn't lying. We truly wanted to find a place where we could leave a bunch of low-level cultivators so that they could live their lives. This place here is quite good. If we can bring them out here and leave, it should be enough for them to take care of themselves and cultivate relatively in peace."

Old Worm pondered a bit. "That's going to be quite difficult, don't you think? After what just happened between you and us, do you think Lord Eagon and his daughter will simply let them stay?"

Rean nodded. "I know. However, before finding what you wanted to do with us, there was still a chance that everything was going well. Not it is pretty obvious that leaving them here will only be a calamity, especially if this spoiled girl behind you decides to take revenge. After all, you won't get a single Divine Stone from us."

"Sigh..." Old Worm nodded. "That's to be expected. Now, then, you should just go. I'll see that they will be brought back in safety."

Roan couldn't help but ask. "Won't you get punished by this Lord Eagon you talked about? You could come with us instead. We have an enormous Dimensional Realm and plenty of resources."

Old Worm narrowed his eyes. "Is this your idea of paying back for what happened in Sunkan Planet?"

"No." Roan shook his head. "It is true that we were the target, but I'm not idiot enough to say it was our fault. We did not destroy it, period. Whether you consider it to be our fault or not is not my problem, though. I'm just offering this option because you are my master. You helped me a lot, and I owe you for that, not because of the planet."

Old Worm's expression changed into a faint smile. "No wonder Mia kept saying you were similar to me. You truly carry the same type of thoughts and see everything objectively." However, he shook in the end. "Unfortunately, I have a contract to honor, and I intend to complete it instead of running away."

Roan began to think about that contract and finally asked. "Is this contract something that can bind your soul or something like that?"

"It is." Old Worm confirmed. "However, it is not the soul, but my Dantian. If the contract is broken, my Dantian will be destroyed. That means I would instantly become a mortal. Well, except for my body, that would still be just as strong. Nonetheless, I would have to start cultivation all over again."

Roan looked at Rean, who just shrugged his shoulders. "That's up to you. We definitely have more than enough space. Not to mention, you seem to trust him even though he knows we were involved with the planet's destruction."

"I do." Roan didn't hide. "I've known my master for all those years we lived in Dalamu Sect. He is not the type to blame others for something they didn't do themselves."

"You hold quite a high standard for me, don't you think?" Old Worm couldn't help but ask.

Roan nodded. "Am I wrong?"

"No." Old Worm had to admit he was a little happy, which was a huge deal for someone who could contend against Roan for the title of Ice Block. "Even though I have some resentment for the fact you were the reason for the attack, I do not blame you. However, what do you plan to do?"

Roan shrugged his shoulders. "What else? I can simply buy out your contract. Wouldn't that be very simple and failproof?"

"I guess..." Old Worm knew that as long as the holder of the contract agreed, it could be transferred. It was quite common, in fact. "However, even if you want me to come with you, I have my conditions."

"Ehhh?" Rean was taken aback. "We are pretty much buying your freedom. Why is there a condition? It is not like you need to come with us, you know?"

Roan surprisingly agreed with Rean. "He is right. I'm not buying this contract so that you will become my subordinate instead. I'm truly just buying the contract to get rid of it. Mas, you will be simply set free to do as you wish. We mentioned our Dimensional Realm, and you would be welcome to use it. Nonetheless, it is not mandatory."

Old Worm understood. "So that's how it is... Nonetheless, I still have a condition. I wasn't the only one who came to the Realm of Gods. There is another person who I wish you would buy the contract over."

"Someone else also came with you?" Rean and Roan were surprised since it was indeed very hard to bring someone else... or so Old Worm said.

Old Worm nodded. "Other than Qia and Calina that you mentioned, I also saved two other members of my Sasamil Empire. On top of that, I just so happened to be near Mia Orzute, so I got her out of the planet as well. The two members of my Sasamil Empire stayed behind in the Mortal Realm. After all, I didn't know how risky it would be here, so they stayed so that they could spread our bloodline again. However, I did bring Mia Orzute."

"You brought Sect Master?" Rean and Roan obviously remembered Mia. She was the Dalamu Sect Master back in Sunkan Planet. They had quite a few interactions with her. They weren't that close, though.

"You don't know this, but that girl was also my disciple back then," explained Old Worm as he looked at Roan. "Simply put, she is Roan's senior sister... although I don't think either you or I care for such honorifics."

"I definitely don't," said Roan with a nod. He truly couldn't care less about who came first or second.

Old Worm continued. "She is also here, and her talent is even better than mine. By now, she has already advanced into the Elemental Transformation Realm and is very close to the Transition Realm. I don't wish to leave her behind, so there is no point buying my contract if hers can't be bought as well."

Rean and Roan looked at each other and nodded. "Alright, we can see if a deal is possible."