Divine Emperor of Death

"…"

Lea felt her heart settle down as she turned to look at the relatively unscathed sect after first taking in the sight of the devastated outskirts of the Burning Phoenix Ridge. She heaved a deep sigh of relief, and so did Shirley, not wanting her sect to meet the fate of destruction.

The others also visibly sighed, and consequently, the heavy pressure radiated from their gaze decreased, leaving the immortals a bit flabbergasted.

"Lea, thank the heavens~"

Ancestor Cornelia's eyes wept as she took a step forward and appeared before Lea, hugging her in her bosoms. Lea instantly felt at ease, a shy smile appearing on her face as she wasn't vulnerable at all in the past thousands of years, yet now that she made some people she could rely on, the sense of security physically and mentally she felt knew no bounds.

"Davis, is your avatar alright?"

"Yes. Just a bit exhausted."

Davis answered as he turned to look at Evelynn as her beautiful purple eyes shimmered with worry.

"Nonetheless, I still have stuff that has to be done. Consider heading home first."

Evelynn nodded, "I still want to see, but I'll refrain."

The others also didn't say anything as they knew they were weak to face immortals, while the stronger ones also faced the same fate of perishing, although they were worried about their children back home and wanted to get back as fast as possible.

Davis smiled and patted Evelynn's head, knowing that she was suppressing her vengeful arachnid blood. He then turned to look at Myria.

"I am obligated to thank you so often, Myria, for just about everything. I'm grateful, but I'll take it from this point forward."

"Aaa~ I finally get some breather, and you want me to go back inside again?"

Myria rolled her eyes, causing Davis to become dumbfounded before he understood that Ellia had switched out.

"'I' gained some insights, so 'I'm' pondering on it. Meanwhile, I'll help you get them back home safely. What do you say?"

"Ellia, you're a life saver."

He thought he could give his avatar some soul force and take them back home. However, with Ellia helping him, he was reassured.

"Unlike 'me', you looked after me when I had nothing to rely on. Just like you feel indebted to 'me', I feel indebted to you. So use me as you please. Hehe~"

Ellia giggled as she unceremoniously grabbed Evelynn's hand and left. Evelynn was momentarily taken aback while being held within Myria's hand, the person whom she tried to kill not so while ago. However, feeling Ellia's resolute grip on her, she didn't know what to say, lowering her head.

The others also followed suit, except for Lea, who stayed, her eyes flashing with a hint of revenge. Not only was her Burning Phoenix Ridge targeted and harmed, but her avatar was also killed. It wouldn't be a lie to say that she was hoping to kill the perpetrators with her own hands, but she knew she was powerless, her gaze falling on her man subconsciously.

Davis watched them leave with a heartened smile on his face. Sometimes, he had to request Myria, and sometimes, Ellia responded even without requesting anything. This dynamic left him feeling complicated, wondering when he could separate Ellia and allow her to have her own body while he could experience her love and warmth through physical and intimate touch.

At this moment, he sensed Lea's gaze, his heartened smile turning into a somber expression.

"Follow me."

His soul force covered her body as he wrapped her around in his grasp, flying towards the distance.

Instantly, Founder Alstreim Windstorm's expression changed.

"D-Davis…! Where are you going!? That direction is where the wicked path region lies."

Davis momentarily paused and hovered along with Lea, his lips moving as he turned to look back.

"I know."

"Then why?"

"To hunt immortals."

"You… are you insane!?" Founder Alstreim Windstorm's expression twitched before he waved his hand, "Come back here! I'm ordering you as your ancestor and Founder! I can't allow you to reencounter danger."

Davis raised his brows. For the first time, Founder Alstreim Windstorm tried to use his authority, and its intent seemed to be to protect him, which made him feel hearteningly amused.

However, was it going to work on him?

He shot towards the distance without replying, causing Founder Alstreim Windstorm to react. His figure flashed in an instant, quickly arriving beside Davis.

*Whoosh!~*

However, Davis accelerated beyond his speed as his entire body flashed with arcs of black lightning while his feet became covered in dark crimson immolation flames, leaving him in the dust.

"What the…?"

Founder Alstreim Windstorm's jaw dropped as there was a sudden distance of thousands of kilometers between them, which shouldn't be… possible at all when considering that… he was the immortal! Besides, Davis didn't even seem to be using Soul Forging Cultivation but Essence Gathering Cultivation, so how could he be so fast!?

*Whoosh!~*

Nonetheless, he quickly followed suit, wanting to stop him from being suicidal.

"Ancestor, please protect him."

Ivy Aries's worried voice rang out, causing the stunned Jade Lotus Valley's Immortal to turn to look at her.

"He saved Valley Master and me and protected the Jade Lotus Valley by flattening the Emperor Sword Sect. Please…!"

The Jade Lotus Valley's Immortal blinked, lightly shaking her head.

"Destroying more than half of the Emperor Sword Sect… I'm still in disbelief over such a thing… How can this happen? My late husband would be extremely sorrowful if he came to know about it..."

"But it wasn't the same Emperor Sword Sect. It was ruled by the Shards. I swear…!"

Ivy Aries panicked, almost wanting to catch her immortal ancestor's hand and shake them to urge her as she would usually do.

"Ancestor, you personally saw Anc- I mean, Ambercrown intrude on our sect and leave a baby, a Shard nonetheless, before committing suicide in front of our gates. Even she could not bear the weight of the sin her lover inflicted upon the Emperor Sword Sect, upon our Jade Lotus Valley."

Valley Master Jade Aurora explained, causing the immortal ancestor to slightly lower her head, not having expected such a tragedy to occur. Similarly, Ivy Aries went silent, her expression turning sorrowful as she bit her lips.

Ancestor Ambercrown was Ancestor Nereus Shard's secret lover and their relationship during the last days of the Shard Family's reign seemed to have gone beyond and consequently birthed a baby for better or worse. It was unknown where she had been all this time before finally arriving today and seeking death in front of the foothold of the sect as she committed suicide, leaving behind the Shard's legacy, leaving her baby's fate to the whims of the sect.

They were… mortified and full of grief as they understood Ancestor Ambercrown wasn't in the wrong as she had been deceived.

This incident caused even the unsuspecting Jade Lotus Valley's Immortal to shed a tear as she became pissed at the Shards as well as Davis, finally coming here to confront him. Fortunately, Ivy Aries and Valley Master Jade Aurora told the story and vouched for him as they traveled, so when she finally arrived here, she decided to lend a hand to Davis before confronting him, but it seemed like he didn't have the time to talk with her.

Nonetheless, since the matter of the baby was brought up again, they couldn't help but worry.

"…" The Jade Lotus Valley's Immortal was silent for a while before she looked at Valley Master Jade Aurora, "As the Valley Master, what are you going to do with the baby?"

"Our sect will nurture Ambercrown's child." Valley Master Jade Aurora didn't hesitate to answer, "However, she will not be recognized as a Shard, not would she recognize herself as a Shard. I'll make sure of that."

"How?"

"I'll take her as my adoptive child."

The Jade Lotus Valley's Immortal lowered her head, seemingly contemplating before her lips moved.

"You can give her to me. I'll become her adoptive mother then."

"Truly?" Valley Master Jade Aurora's eyes widened, causing the immortal ancestor to wryly smile.

"In this world, I lost what I loved. The least I can do is protect the young ones as I wither away from this world."

"Immortal Ancestor, don't be so-"

"Enough. Do you want me to save him or not?"

"Please save him!" Both Ivy Aries and Valley Master Jade Aurora stiffened as they answered.

"Then, from now on, both of you shouldn't think of disobeying my words."

Their immortal ancestor's sharp voice fell on their ears, causing them to nod their heads like hens which put a sweet smirk behind the immortal ancestor's veil before she wrapped them around with her immortal soul force and shot into the distance, chasing Davis and Founder Alstreim Windstorm's remnant undulations.

Lastly, there was only Ancestor Cornelia left, hovering over the stretch of ruins with a wry smile all on her face, her backbone bending in ease as she became all alone.

"Sigh, it's time for me to meet my end sooner or later while the young ones rise up like the phoenix from the ashes." She turned around, her expression appearing content as she left towards the sect.

Two Territories away, in the Deprived Hymn Abode Territory, Davis found the immortal he was looking for.

A crimson-robed woman strode out from a makeshift cultivation cave, her red infernal lightning streaking around her as they formed a snake-like figure as they formed around her. Her voluptuous bosoms shook ever so lightly amidst her tightly worn robe with each step she took, her outlines simply impressive.

However, the most surprising thing was that she seemed to have already restored her severed body!

"Little rabbit. Have you come to settle grievances? Or have you come to seek death under my embrace?"

The Infernal Lightning Palace Immortal's voice seethed with allure and hatred.

It was as though she was going to thoroughly humiliate Davis on the bed as she strangled him to death!