Divine Emperor of Death

In another location, Tanya, Natalya, Iesha, Niel Bladeheart, and the silver-robed woman appeared together.

Their bodies shook as they lost their footing but regained their balance upon their feet touching the surface. They landed on the same obsidian, azure tiles again but different than the last time, they were in a vast hall that seemed to have no end. Wherever they looked, it seemed to expand beyond the horizon, leaving them feeling a bit small.

"So the first group of trialists has arrived. How many years has it been since my ascendance?"

Suddenly, an icy wisp sparked into existence and transformed into a pure white light before them, making them squint their eyes and look away.

When the bright and mesmerizing light disappeared and the melodious voice faded away, they saw a dark-blue-robed woman appear in her flesh. Her fair skin and her mellow sapphire eyes that glittered with ice struck their souls, causing them to gasp for breath as they felt the incredible pressure she possessed descend on them.

"Frostcloud Sword Empress~"

The trialists cupped their hands in respect and lowered their heads. Even the indifferent silver-robed woman displayed incomparable respect when addressing an Immortal Emperor. They were all arrogant but knew how to survive.

However, the was one trialist who didn't show any respect and stared at the Frostcloud Sword Empress with wide eyes.

"Niel Bladeheart, are you crazy?"

Tanya sent him a soul transmission on seeing him disrespect an Immortal Emperor. She warned him out of the kindness in her heart, causing him to instantly come out of his reverie in a panic and cup his hands. However, he didn't lower his head and lightly smiled.

"Greetings, Frostcloud Sword Empress. My name is Niel Bladeheart."

"Bladeheart?" The Frostcloud Sword Empress looked at him as her eyes slightly held a different reaction, "You're actually from that Nameless Sword Style's Bladeheart Family?"

"Yes." Niel Bladeheart couldn't help but grin from ear to ear as he heard the Frostcloud Sword Empress's words.

For an entity like her to know of his family, he was extremely prideful.

"No wonder you're here, but your sword art encompasses almost all laws, which isn't necessarily what I'm looking for in a disciple."

The Frostcloud Sword Empress lightly shook her head, causing him to look a bit disappointed.

"If you don't mind, can I know if you are still alive?"

'This... this idiot... he's actually wooing the Frostcloud Sword Empress?' Natalya inwardly gawked.

While others might be clueless, she instantly realized why he was disappointed and asked if she was still alive. He had fallen for her in a single look or, rather, was in direct admiration over her sword aura that encompassed them.

"Am I still alive? That's a good question." However, the Frostcloud Sword Empress seemed oblivious to it.

Or rather, she seemed interested in that question itself as she moved her hand to her chin, covered by a thin veil, "I'm a remnant soul, so I wouldn't know what my true soul knows. After all, every piece of knowledge I have is already old compared to what my true soul should have, that is if I am still alive."

"I see."

"It is good for a future disciple to care about his master. You show promise."

"..." Not only Natalya's brows twitched, but Niel Bladeheart also displayed an awkward reaction but hid it by cupping his hands and bowing.

"Thank you for your praise, but I'm leaving."

"Why? Is the pride of Bladeheart that important?"

"No. I just decided on something that makes it inappropriate for me to become your disciple."

"Strange." The Frostcloud Sword Empress's eyes squinted, "I do not forbid my disciples from having other masters as long as they're not my enemies."

"It's complicated."

"Family issues?"

"Indeed." Niel Bladeheart nodded, his nervous, fast-beating heart returning back to normalcy.

He knew if the other party had any idea about his intentions, he knew she would cut him into pieces. As far as he knew, she was a legend in the sword world and was known to be unmarried. Now that he saw her remnant soul and felt her sword aura directly through his body, he was completely in awe of her sword arts, but that also met what he required in a woman.

For the first time in his life, he felt moved yet inferior at the same time, but that just lit up a spark in his heart, adding oil to the fire that had already been burning bright.

"The Bladeheart Family had always been secluded and secretive yet frightening. Regardless, since you entered, you can't leave until one of you finishes the trial. If you don't want to become my disciple, then simply don't give your best."

The Frostcloud Sword Empress shook her head.

"Haha. That won't do. My pride won't forgive me for going easy on my fellow sword cultivator over here. If anything, I'm interested in testing my skills against her."

"..."

Niel Bladeheart ended his sentence as he turned to look at Tanya, causing the latter's lips to twitch.

Compared to Niel Bladeheart, who was born into a legendary sword family, she was merely a fledgling in learning sword arts. She picked it up as something that she was willing to dabble in and make improvements, but that changed when Davis got her the full records of the Emperor Sword Arts, allowing her to blossom her potential.

Even then, she didn't think she could have such a high opinion from Niel Bladeheart.

'He respects husbands and consequently expects more skill from me. I can't let my husband feel disappointed over my subpar skills, so I must strive to live up to his level no matter what...'

Tanya felt a huge pressure landing on her shoulders, but her eyes flashed as she was determined to prove herself worthy.

The Frostcloud Sword Empress panned her gaze and saw all these young people radiate the air of an expert and the recklessness of youth. However, she saw that they all had one thing in common.

"Is our Aurora Cloud Gate still well?"

"Senior... you were an elder of the Aurora Cloud Gate?"

"Elder?" The Frostcloud Sword Empress's tone stretched into an amused one, "I was one of the seven Guardians."

"...!"

Niel Bladeheart and the silver-robed woman turned shocked. As far as they knew, the Guardians were high above beings whose identities were unknown. They appeared and went as they pleased, and not even their names were publicized.

For all they knew, it could be a random worker in the sect posing as an ignorant youth, and the disciple who supposedly had a chance to meet them would turn into a butterfly from a worm. Such stories weren't unheard of.

On the other hand, Natalya and Tanya's hearts shook. They had all heard from Davis that the seven Guardians were entities that were the ultimate pillars of the Aurora Cloud Gate and chances are that they could be all Divergents.

Therefore, did that make the Frostcloud Sword Empress a Divergent?