Death... and me

Frandin didn't waste time and asked straight away.

"You don't know where they're located. However, you do have a way to contact them if someone good enough to join their ranks appears, right? Once that happens, they will most likely send a representative to test the guy or girl out."

Ye didn't deny that, answering.

"That's correct. However, it's not like we can call them over anytime we wanted to. They made it very clear that if we bothered them just because we thought our clan members were good enough, there would be consequences."

Frandin narrowed his eyes as he continued with his queries.

"In that case, there must be a threshold in place. Just how good is good enough?"

Ye smiled before continuing.

"It depends on one's cultivation and Soul Power. Your soul power talent might be amazing for your age, but your cultivation is just above average. That wouldn't be enough to call their attention. 24 years old with a Late Foundation Establishment cultivation is just not enough. If you were already in the Core Formation Realm, then the story would be different."

Frandin was taken aback. Being at the Core Formation Realm at the age of 24 would be way too heaven-defying. Probably powers like the Imperial Family and Celestial Lands would be able to bring someone up to that point.

'Well... that's if you don't consider the twins' group. No, they don't count since they cultivated in another world before this. Then again, Calina is already at the Core and Soul Fusion Realm, and I heard from Rean that she's only 25 while he, Roan, and Malaka are 24. Qia is the youngest girl there at 21 years of age. But even then, she's already at the Peak of the Core Formation Realm.'

One must remember that Qia was older than the twins. But after the nine years and something inside the Natural Formation, they surpassed her in age. She had better resources than Calina back in the Sasamil Family, so it was normal for her cultivation to be higher as well. Calina just caught up because of the hellish training that Roan gave her. At the moment, Qia and Calina were more or less at the same level once one considered that Qia was 4 years younger.

'As for Agis, he's just two years younger than Qia. But he's also at the Late Core Formation Realm, just like Malaka.'

In fact, Malaka was far behind Agis when they joined the Dalamu Sect. Then again, she spent several years together with Rean and Roan, so she caught up to him in the Natural Formation. Her age surpassed his for the same reason, though. That showed just how talented Agis was with his Red Color Aptitude. Even without the Natural Formation, he was able to keep up with his cultivation.

Frandin noticed that his mind strayed from the current topic, so he quickly shook his head and put these thoughts behind. It was then that he remembered one thing.

'Right! Rean's group only knows about those girls controlling the Trial Grounds because they're humans. For Zasfins, they will never meet humans like Liza and Luna in the illusion trial. Naturally, no Zasfin knows about their existence other than the organization controlling it. Even I thought that my Trial only had something to do with the guy I chose back then, not noticing anyone else's presence at all.'

'From what the twins told me, that organization needs humans with high Soul Purity for that to work. They need it so much that only kids are used since those are the moments the souls are in their purest form...'

Frandin then smiled as he had an idea.

'Even though they were using kids, I refuse to believe that kids with high enough Soul Purity can be found easily. That means...'

Frandin looked at Ye before asking.

"Senior Ye, could it be that this organization also entrusted the big shots of this city with an extra task?"

Ye Portin's eyes widened when he heard that. However, he quickly recovered.

"I won't say they didn't, but I won't comment anything about that. Unless... you already know what it is."

Frandin nodded.

"I also can't comment about how I found about this, but I do believe that you should have been tasked with testing humans' Soul Purity, especially children. You should even have some kind of equipment that can test it out."

Ye Portin nodded with a serious expression.

"It seems like your elders also told you this information. Since that's the case, there's no need to hide something you already know about. Indeed, we have been tasked to test humans' souls of five to ten-year-old humans. They're giving huge rewards to those who can find one."

Frandin nodded after hearing that. It was as he expected. However, he also found a problem.

"I've passed by many cities before arriving here. Also, I've been to many more before that as well. Although many shops sold human slaves, it was not like there were huge farms for them. You said that there were huge rewards in case you found a kid with enough Soul Purity, and I believe the other leaders of the other big cities are also aware of this."

Ye Portin nodded, already knowing where Frandin was coming from. Nevertheless, he waited for Frandin(Gian) to conclude his words.

"The rewards are huge, but there are no human farms. From the looks of it, Soul Purity has nothing to do with quantity. Even if you build many human farms, making them reproduce as much as possible, it won't increase the number of kids with high Soul Purity. No, it's more correct to say that this method has already been tested in the past but has failed miserably. Otherwise, that organization wouldn't have a need to ask for you guys to look for those children."

Ye nodded as he replied.

"I've never seen anyone trying to build farms to increase their chances of getting a kid with high Soul Purity. That's because those people warned us that doing so was useless. They didn't explain why, though. However, I'm sure many have tried it before, just to fail, as you have mentioned. Nowadays, it doesn't even happen anymore, as far as I know."

Frandin then commented.

"Now I'm even more sure about it. These kids with high Soul Purity... they are who knows how many times harder to find than it is to discover talented Zasfins to join their ranks."

Ye agreed with Frandin.

"Exactly... or so I believe. I've heard about a few Zasfins who joined them through my connections. However, I've never heard about any of my peers finding a human that matched the conditions. The other lords know about it as well."

Frandin smiled as he asked.

"In that case, do you mind if I borrow your Soul Purity Test equipment?"

Ye narrowed his eyes, slightly suspicious.

"Why would you need it? We already tested all the children in this city and the surrounding smaller ones. Not to mention that we repeat the test without anyone knowing every year. I can guarantee that you won't find a single one in this place."

Frandin shrugged his shoulders as he responded.

"Don't worry, I have my own reasons for this."

Roan, Calina, Malaka, and Qia never passed by Ye Portin's mind. After all, they weren't kids anymore. That being said, he was puzzled as to what Frandin(Gian) wanted to do with his Soul Purity Testing Equipment. Unless...

"I can't lend it to you since there's no way to replace it. However, I don't mind testing the humans you want with it. If you really know a human who does have enough Soul Purity, you can bring him or her to me. There's no need to worry. I won't try to rob you of your achievements. I'm not seeking a death wish."

That was to be expected since Ye Portin was already 100% sure that Frandin(Gian) came from the Celestial Lands. Even if he was tens of times more daring, he wouldn't try anything against him. However, as the one who owned Soul Purity Testing Equipment, there might be something in it for him as well.

Frandin pondered for a bit before nodding.

"Very well, I'll think about it. Besides, it's not like I have someone that can fill the criteria anyway. I just have a hunch. As long as it leads me to the place where this organization is located, that will be enough for me to pass my test."

Ye Portin was more than happy to hear that. Not to mention that he still hoped that Valia or any of the other girls in his clan would catch this young man's attention.

"That's for the best."

Ye Portin was an old fox, so he didn't waste that chance.

"By the way, what do you think of our Valia? I've heard you two had quite a heated argument a while ago."

Frandin felt a chill on his back when he heard that question.

"Ahem... Don't worry, I don't hold any grudges against her. I'm aware that I have peculiar tastes because of how I treat my humans."

Ye shook his head with a smile.

"You know very well that I wasn't talking about your humans. I'm talking about you and her at the moment."

Frandin was forced to keep his play.

"Hahaha! She is beautiful, of course. Her fiery temperament is quite a sight."

Ye Portin nodded, satisfied.

"Good. As I mentioned before, Valia will take care of all your needs. And I mean all of them... if you know what I mean. By the way, I can guarantee she's still a virgin."

Frandin almost vomited blood at that moment. Isn't that guy being way too direct?

"Ahem... Well, we'll see how things play out in the future. Anyway, I'll take my leave now."

Ye gave Frandin a knowing nod, not trying to stop him.

However, Frandin asked one last thing before leaving the room.

"By the way, what's the name of that organization?"

Ye then turned serious as he uttered two words.

"Soul Rulers."