Death... and me

Min narrowed his eyes in response. "I'm not sure. In the end, the scale of this problem is way beyond our cultivation level. If we go back, you'll definitely be killed and have your heart taken."

Rean agreed with Min, saying, "That's their only option now. Whatever the outcome is, your death is a must. After all, if you grow strong enough to head back and use the power of your Clendes Sea Heart, the races that attacked your White Scaled Carp race will be done for. Even if you say you won't take revenge, not a single soul there will trust you."

Erla's expression turned worse after that. "That means I can't go back?"

Rean nodded. "That's correct." He then pondered a bit before saying, "In fact, you can't leave the Jhiod Sect building either. Blansin did say that he came with a few elders of his race. I'm pretty sure they're all high-level ones with cultivations that will make you feel despair whatever you do against them."

Blansin didn't deny that. "Yes. They're all top elders of my race." His expression seemed terrible now that he realized Erla's race would be wiped out regardless of the outcome.

Rean continued, "With that being said, you only have one choice. You must complete the twelve tests of the Jhiod Sect and join them. That's the only way you can guarantee your race's survival."

"Why?" Erla asked straight away.

"Because once you join the Jhiod Sect, the Silver Horn Sturgeon race won't be able to touch you. Terces is nothing in the eyes of the Jhiod Sect that controls this region. They have control of all continents around in their hands, you know?" Rean explained. "Keeping your race alive will be the only way to prevent themselves from being wiped out the day you resolve to go back to Terces Continent. They will use them as leverage."

Min agreed with Rean on that point. "He's right, Erla. This is our only choice. Well, I have no use here. The only one who must pass this test is you."

Erla immediately embraced Min. "I don't want to be in this alone! You have to pass the test as well! I don't think I can hold myself in Jhiod Continent without you there to stop me."

Min sighed before patting her head, replying, "You do know that now that you've become a real Pristine Blue Carp, our talents and future are in completely different leagues, right? First of all, you always cultivated slightly faster than me. I have no chance of keeping up with your cultivation at all. Are you sure I'm still good enough? I'm pretty sure you can find someone a hundred times better. In fact, with your future prospects, you can have someone important in the Jhiod Sect marry you and guarantee a much better future for your race in Terces. Not only that, but it would be one of the fastest ways of helping your race in getting out of this situation."

Erla's expression became sad when she heard that. "I..." Still, she knew that Min was thinking about her future and her race for her. Even after all the prejudice, he thought about her future above all else.

*Bang!*

Suddenly, Min was sent flying out of Erla's arms. Erla then looked at the perpetrator on the side. "R-Rean, what you doing?"

Rean had a terrible expression as he exclaimed, "What kind of bullshit is that? Do you know how it feels to love someone while not being able to be with them? To not know how they're doing? To not know even if they're alive or not? Man up, you fucking piece of shit! Don't talk about what you don't know if you haven't even experienced it."

The kick was so strong that Min broke several of his rib bones. That showed how Rean didn't care about holding his strength back at all. "Rean, you..." However, seeing Rean's expression, even an idiot would know that Rean definitely had some experience with it.

Erla, obviously, noticed that as well. "Is it really so painful?"

Rean then calmed down after that. "Sigh... you have no idea." He was on this journey to the center of the Realm of Gods to try and find information about Qia. He might not show it on the surface, but he obviously missed her. When he heard Min's words just now, he couldn't hold his anger back.

Rean then came closer to Min and touched his shoulder.

'Life Style, Second Form, Instant Recovery!'

Naturally, Min's injuries disappeared in a moment. "Trust me. Not only will your departure make her sad, but it will also make things worse. If you truly love her, you should never leave her side. Don't turn out like me."

Min dropped his head before he looked up again. This time, however, determination appeared in his eyes. "Right! I'll definitely stay by her side."

Erla couldn't help but tear up a little after that. "Idiot. You should have said that from the very start. Why do you need to receive a beating to understand that?"

Blansin, who was watching everything, finally called their attention back to the main topic. "Ahem... I'm happy for you two. However, we have some more pressing matters to talk about, no?"

Rean nodded before he looked at Erla. "He's right. By the way, aren't you forgetting to ask about a certain someone, Erla?"

"Ah!" Only then did Erla notice who it was. "My father! What happened to my father! Is he dead?"

Blansin nodded, answering, "Don't worry. He did receive many severe injuries, but he won't die from them. It's just that he refused to cooperate until the very end. Tuwencio was willing to see the entire White Scaled Carp race disappear rather than utter a single word about you."

Rean couldn't help but laugh after that. "Hahaha! He's definitely a terrible elder to have in your race, but you have to admit he's the ideal father."

Erla sighed in relief. "Right. He definitely is."

Rean also mentioned, "Don't worry, he won't be killed. He's definitely the main carp that can't be killed at all costs. Obviously, that's because he's your father."