Death... and me
chapter-1018

The stealth test had several phases. After all, some people were better at hiding in certain environments and situations than others. However, there was one element that excelled in all of them, Darkness! Many of the cultivators here knew how to use Yin Energy, allowing them to manipulate Dark Element. There wasn't a single one among the top contestants that didn't know how to do it. After all, even the Realm of Mortals had cultivation techniques that allowed one to use Yin Energy, let alone the Realm of Gods.

Yet, one thing was to use Yin Energy to manipulate Dark Element. Another...was to be born with an affinity to it! Roan's Shadow Steps could merge with the shadows. When he used Rean's Light and Divine Energy bending skill with his own experience, he basically ceased to exist as long as he didn't need to get too close to someone.

Roan never left as much as a blade of broken grass behind to denounce his position. His position in relation to the artificial wind in the several tests was always the most optimal as it could be to hide his smell. Divine Sense couldn't catch his presence as long as the other party's cultivation was lower than his or he didn't get too close.

Any time he had to go from one shadow to another, Rean's Light bending skill would suffice as well.

In the end...

"Roan Larks wins the Ambush Test!"

"Roan Larks wins the Scouting Test!"

"Roan Larks wins the Silent Escape Test!"

"Roan Larks wins the Infiltration Test!"

"Roan Larks..."

By the time half of the stealth tests were over, none of the top contenders felt like participating anymore. After all, each test gave a certain number of points for a score, just like the Soul Power Test. Roan's score...was over double what the second place had.

'He's a ghost!' That was the only thought in everyone's minds when the stealth test was over.

Of course, it wasn't as if Roan was perfect at everything. There were many random elements that caught even him by surprise. Mostly, he would fall into someone's Divine Sense range and would be too close for Rean's bending skill to work. Everyone watching the stealth test naturally caught that flaw. It's just that compared to everyone else's flaws, Roan's flaw could barely be considered an issue.

"Ahem..." The elder who took care of the test looked at Roan and couldn't help but feel jealous of his stealth ability. Sadly, he didn't have Dark Element Affinity. "Roan Larks gets the Bronze Low-level Divine Vein!"

This was another one of the low prize competitions.

Fabio then came outside of the spatial door with the participants of the Stealth Test. "Alright, we are having a break of one hour. Just make sure to not leave the room until I come back since the assembly isn't over yet." Fabio then left while the City Lord mansion's subordinates stayed behind to guarantee no one would do anything idiotic.

Roan came back to his Lukimira Sect group after that, telling Rean, 'One more Divine Vein.'

Rean nodded with a smile. 'Obviously. They just had to have something like the Stealth Test in this assembling. How the hell would anyone defeat you? Let alone those Saint Realm guys. I believe you wouldn't lose even if Elemental Transformation Realm cultivators participated.'

Of course, Rean and Roan used their Soul Connection to talk about that. However, they didn't have time to talk for long as they soon began to receive a few visits.

"Hey, where are you guys from?"

Rean immediately recognized the voice as he looked behind him. "Oh! It's Sansa! Do you need something from us?"

Sansa shook her head as she replied, "No, but I'm curious. You did say you weren't from this place. You told me you just joined the Lukimira Sect to take part in this competition in their name."

Another voice continued, "That's true. Considering your cultivations and true abilities, you shouldn't be from the cities around." Roan glanced at the newcomer and also recognized him. It was Tiran Dastin, the person who got second place in the stealth competition, a Kunstan Race member. "My Kunsten Race has an advantage when it comes to stealth, but I still lost to you, a human, by over double the points."

Roan nodded, not minding to talk a little. He recognized that Tiran's hiding ability was truly good as he still opened a sizeable distance from the third place. "We are indeed not from here. However, my stealth abilities are more connected to another reason." Roan then raised his hand and used his Divine Soul Power to gather Dark Element. "You didn't see my test before entering the assembly, did you? If you did, you would understand why I'm so good at Dark Element Manipulation. I'm one of the odd element cultivators, and my affinity is Darkness."

Tiran was taken aback. "What?! Darkness Elemental Affinity?!" Tiran then used his Divine Sense to check the Dark Element gathered around Roan's hand. "Holy shit! You're not using Yin Energy to gather Dark Element!" Tiran was truly jealous of Roan's natural ability. He also could more or less accept why he lost so through.

Roan nodded, saying, "Exactly. However, Dark Element Affinity also gives me a huge Yin Energy Affinity, even better than Water Element users. When I put both together, there are indeed few who can match me in a stealth competition." Of course, there was also his countless years of experience on top of that from his previous life (or death?).

Rean was quite surprised to hear Roan talk so much. "Aren't you being too amicable today?"

Roan didn't even bother to answer Rean. He simply took a liking to Tiran's abilities. Be it scout, assassin, or anything else, he was sure Tiran would do great. "Here, take this." Roan then passed a jade slip over as he explained, "Some of my insights on stealth skills are inside. I won't say you can reach the same level as me since you don't have Dark Element Affinity. Still, with your abilities, you're sure to get close one day."

Tiran completely forgot about the question of where the twins came from. The moment he put his eyes on the descriptions in that jade slip, his world only existed for that. Others could only hear Tiran murmuring, "I see...so that's how it is...oh! I can understand what I was doing wrong in that second environment...what? Is such a thing possible?! I have to test it once I head back to the sect. Hey, this part is funny..."

Well, Tiran might have forgotten about the question, but Sansa didn't. "Aren't you going to tell me where you came from?"

Rean shrugged his shoulders as he replied, "Even if I did, you wouldn't believe me anyway."

Sansa narrowed her eyes before muttering out, "Could it be that you came from the capital of our Kamos Kingdom?"

Ran was taken aback for a moment. However, it made sense that she reached that conclusion. In fact, many were thinking the same thing as Sansa. "Hmm... let's just say that I'm from really far away."

Sansa didn't like that answer but also understood that Rean wouldn't tell her the truth. "Definitely despicable."