Divine Emperor of Death

"Little aunt... why are you so formal?" Davis couldn't help but wryly smile at Tia's actions, "Aren't we close enough to cross a heavenly tribulation together? Besides, I was going to reveal to them anyway. Otherwise, it would make these old men curious enough to explode that they would get some strange ideas instead."

Tia blinked in his hold. The touch of his warm hands over her arms made her feel giddy and blush, but she shook her head.

"How- How can I not show respect? Big brother is a prominent character called the Emperor of Death and commands immense respect from everyone else, even these two grand characters from the Heaven Mandate Temple and Heaven Gazing Sect. I owe my life to big brother for saving me, and for that, the least I can do is show immense respect..."

"Uh..."

Tia's voice adorably echoed, causing Davis became taken aback.

He didn't think that she had begun to vaguely distance herself due to respect but thought of something else. Perhaps, it was both, but still, he didn't want her to become too formal towards him because it was completely awkward.

"Tia, you don't need to be so stiff with me. Just act like you always do..."

Looking at the Emperor of Death beginning to console his little aunt, the Mandate Emperor and Karmic Guardian Emperor still couldn't come out of their reverie.

Originally, they both thought that young miss Tia had sinned a lot and acquired immense karmic sin or to be receiving a Destructive Heavenly Tribulation of four levels higher, or use some kind of Legacy Artifact laden with immense karmic virtue from the efforts of many powerhouses, allowing her to gain karmic virtue by sacrificing that Legacy Artifact but such things could only be done in theory. After all, where could they find a Legacy Artifact with such immense karmic virtue?

Nevertheless, even though they took a step back and considered that it might be the case since this Alstreim Family seemed to have extreme luck, they never dared to think that the Emperor of Death faced the heavenly tribulation for her!

Who in their right mind would go help others face their heavenly tribulation!? Not even cultivation companions would attempt such an endeavor!

The heavenly tribulation was meant for the person taking it. If someone else interfered, not only was it extremely disrespectful towards the heavens but also curse-worthy. After all, many people, even them, were afraid of superstitions. If they even showed the slightest disrespect towards the heavens, then would their karmic luck reduce? What they were supposed to obtain would be taken away by someone else?

Thoughts like this eventually led people to not take the heavenly tribulation lightly nor take it for anyone. Instead, they made formations and found significance in concepts of karmic nature to help in their heavenly tribulation.

It was almost a rule that no one should interfere with someone else's heavenly tribulation, yet this person, the Emperor of Death, dared to face a heavenly tribulation of four levels higher, making them feel aghast more than shocked.

'This... is he not afraid of death...?'

They couldn't help but think to themselves.

Back then, Davis had seemed to sacrifice himself for his family but later came alive, which became dubious. However, the fact that he faced a heavenly tribulation whose prowess is four levels higher for a 'little aunt' completely changed their perception of him.

Even brave men wouldn't dare to face something like that for their own cultivation companion unless they were seeking death! After all, it was said that if someone else took heavenly tribulation for a person that was undergoing the tribulation, the prowess of the heavenly tribulation naturally matches the interferer and even became overbearing because of the disrespectful intervention.

Moreover, it was unlikely the person who interfered would survive along with the undergoer, so no one bothered to help people, even their loved ones who go through heavenly tribulation and could only watch helplessly as the tribulation undergoer try to survive or end up dead.

This made them feel deep disbelief towards the Emperor of Death's actions. However, young miss Tia's fourth-level Karmic Guardian Physique told the Karmic Guardian Emperor otherwise, which made him inevitably believe that Davis faced the heavenly tribulation for her.

"How... how is this possible that the Alstreim Family suddenly gave birth to three prodigies, and it is all related to Claire Alstreim, who was said to have lost her life in the Forsaken Phoenix Realm, which turned out to be false?"

He sent a soul transmission to the Mandate Emperor, which shook him out of his reverie.

"Sigh, there must be some kind of heavenly fortune that stuck to them in that place. The heavens favor some people, and although it is unfair, it is the mandate of the heavens." The Mandate Emperor imperceptibly shook his head, "We can't do anything about it or risk death ourselves."

The Karmic Guardian Emperor could only helplessly nod with a complex expression on his face. Both of them were heavily influenced by the teaching of their ancestors that they didn't dare move against the heavens as it was the sole deity in their minds.

Besides, the Mandate Emperor practiced Mandate Laws, which made him respect the heavens all the more.

"Mhm, I'll follow big brother's words..."

After some time of consoling, Tia meekly nodded at Davis.

Davis saw that she still put him on a pedestal, but also knew that he couldn't change her thoughts swiftly, so he wasn't too forceful on her. Still, after going through that heavenly tribulation together, he didn't see her as someone distant but a close family member, so it made him feel uncomfortable to be treated with distance.

"You two. Who are you?"

Clara's melodious voice echoed with coldness as she looked at the Karmic Guardian Emperor and Mandate Emperor. By this time, she already felt something was amiss.

"Greetings, Young Miss Clara. I'm the Mandate Emperor."

"Karmic Guardian Emperor..." The latter still had his eyes in Tia's direction, appearing to ignore Clara as a look of jealousy appeared in his eyes.

Why didn't he possess a nephew like the Emperor of Death? He felt indignant enough to have his mental state disturbed.

'So it's the two of the four leaders of the righteous path. As expected, brother is exceedingly capable.'

On the other hand, Clara's eyes went wide in shock before a prideful smile appeared on her lips ever so slightly. She turned to look at her brother as her lips moved.

"Brother, don't tell me they came to recruit Tia and me into their power?"

"Yes, with privileges and benefits included for you two, of course..."

Hearing Davis's words, Clara became silent.

Did their relationship with the righteous world improve for the better?

She didn't know, but in order to become powerful, she knew that she had to seek the Heaven Mandate Temple one way or another. Besides, now that she no longer had a chance with the Ice Phoenix Immortal Inheritance, her only way to become powerful is through learning the Heaven Mandate Temple's manuals and techniques.

Understanding this despite the risks involved, Clara didn't say anything other than nod her head. But on the other hand, Tia, who saw Davis turn around to face the two leaders, suddenly wrapped her arms around him.

"No... I don't want to go..."

Davis became stiff a bit as he felt her trembling body latch onto him.

He knew that Tia was a shy girl.

Although she was brave, she rarely spoke to anyone without becoming acquaintances first due to her upbringing. Other than her family members and his wives and siblings, she did not speak to anyone of her own will but would remain silent even after being asked a question from strangers, and due to her status as his little aunt, no one would berate her.

Just when he began to think if his decision was truly going to be correct, he found a soul transmission heading Tina's way.

"Tia, you swore to become strong and predict dangers for your big brother. Have you become satisfied or forgotten those words you uttered that day to me with a slight encouragement from my brother?"

Tina's eyes shot wide as they trembled.

"Ah! Forgot what I said! I'm willing to go to the Heaven Gazing Sect and become strong!"

She hurriedly separated from Davis and shook her head at him while clenching her hands.

Davis didn't say anything to Tia but cast a look at Clara, not knowing what she said to Tia. But due to the importance of the situation, he didn't hesitate to use Heart Intent and found that Tia genuinely wanted to go for some reason despite her words earlier.

It made him feel confused, but at the same time, feeling those familiar emotions of affection directed at him with Heart Intent, Davis instantly understood.

"Tia, you don't need to go. You can stay with us."

"...?"

Everyone other than Tia looked at Davis with incredulous expressions on their faces.