Divine Emperor of Death



*Sizzle!~* *Sizzle!~*

The annihilative heavenly flames were being pushed out by Epsila's soul force. Her undulations reverberated as she slipped out of the cauldron's lid, rising above as the blue-gold light flowed out in waves. 

Her appearance remained the same, cerulean and crystalline like a blue-green diamond. However, there were hundreds of tiny runes etched on her tiny pill frame, appearing to give off a radiant light before they disappeared.

Epsila sounded like she was shivering in a cold climate despite the extreme heat seeping into the barrier. She flew into Dalila's hand, who held her with a pinch of her finger before placing her on her palm. 

Her palm already possessed burn marks, and so did her face, neck, and even her cleavage, where her robe had melted due to the overwhelming heat.

Her appearance was that of a regal purple-robed beauty who was now painted with painful red in a few spots. It caused her arms and face to twitch ever so lightly that it could be seen she was enduring more pain than she had ever experienced in her life. 

Regardless, she maintained a firm expression despite the fear that could be seen in her eyes. In fact, her expression only grew a grin, and her smile only widened a second passed by. 

Amidst the blazing wind inside the barrier, her torn robe rippled and swayed. While being scarred, a juxtaposition of fear and delight formed a crazy smile on Dalila's face that caused Davis's heart to skip a beat.

'This... she knows what she is doing...?'

For confirmation, he lowered his head and caught Tina's figure, which was also rising. She appeared to be no longer exhausted, her amethyst eyes glowing in four colors like a four-colored clover, emitting a relentless light. 

Seeing her appear, Davis was convinced that his Dalila knew what she was doing. It made him stunned, making him wonder if he should've even taken any action at all. 

"That the way! Extinguish the flames before the third one falls!"

He shouted a bit excited, knowing that they cross this tribulation if all four of them worked together. 

After all, Epsila's prowess had rapidly undergone a qualitative leap that he mused that she was as powerful as Tina or perhaps even more powerful. 

Still, with Dalila, Tyriele, Tina, and Epsila working together, he was fully convinced that they could overcome the third strike of the Annihilative Heavenly Flame Tribulation.

He understood that the third strike would most likely appear in its dragon form, capable of dealing heavy damage at Level Four Immortal Emperor Stage or even above, but he knew its Will would resist until the end, never to snuff out until it was completely out of energy. 

"You did it, Dalila..."

Tina's delighted voice resounded out. 

"I didn't..."

Dalila replied, her voice sounding excited, "Epsila did..."

Tina's smile didn't recede. She appeared rather confident at this moment despite the impending doom that was already forming above them. 

*Rumble!~*

The crimson-gold clouds thundered, its tyrannical sound resounding across the region. Anyone who first heard of its apocalyptic tune would've fled long ago, but there were many present near the edges, waiting for it to disappear. 

Amidst the chaotic atmosphere, Lea Weiss and the others marked a few figures with their senses while they still remained inside the region enclosed by the crimson-gold thunderous tribulation clouds. 

They didn't move to attack, nor did they make their presence clear, remaining hidden within the forest, rivers, mountains, and lakes. 

With them covering the eastern region, Davis was not worried about the outskirts. Although he was still chained, he calmed himself, watching Tina and Dalila closely this time, but his gaze was also on Epsila.

Epsila's soul force was actually boosting Dalila's own soul force, which in turn boosted Tyriele's defense. 

He knew their combined prowess had leaped, but their actions still didn't make sense to him unless they were planning something else. 

"Myria, what happened with Epsila?" Davis asked in a solemn tone, wanting to confirm his speculation. 

However, Myria didn't say anything. Instead, she kept silent, causing Davis to not know what to say. 

"Tina, we're doing this...."

"Good. We can't have it any other way~"

Dalila and Tina communicated through soul transmission. However, Tina didn't do anything. She remained holding her hands as though she was already focused on something. 

On the other hand, Dalila smirked crazily. 

She slapped Epsila on Tyriele, causing the latter's cauldron body to reverberate gently. Her crimson runes once again lit up, causing the barrier to expand. 

The blue-gold barrier was ten meters wide, expelling all the heat outside as well as pushing back the annihilative heavenly flames that seemed to be relentless in their assault.

The combined prowess of the first and second heavenly flame strikes was additive, burning with more force than a Mid-Stage Immortal Emperor could possibly release. 

But even then, Dalila continued to hold on, not taking a single action to extinguish them. She let the annihilative heavenly flames continue to burn the blue-gold barrier, causing Davis to finally understand.

His expression was certainly not amused, but he couldn't bring himself to yell at them either.

"So be it..."

He voiced out, having never thought his Dalila would be crazy enough to do such a thing. 

"Your creation... she's no longer a twelfth rank, Spirit-Tier Pill..."

"What?"

Suddenly, Davis sounded confused as he heard Myria's voice. He was surprised she chose to talk as he guessed that she must've been fuming because he didn't listen to her words properly. 

He wanted her to get rid of this seal, but before he could even say it, he sensed the seal weakening. Knowing that it was being undone, he sighed inwardly before asking what was wrong again. 

"I didn't mean that your Epsila would fail her heavenly tribulation and die. In terms of cultivation, she hasn't changed much. I meant that she had surpassed the likes of a twelfth-rank pill and is almost one step into the next realm..."

"...!"

Myria's solemn voice resounded, shaking Davis to no end. 

The pill he created, treated with care, and tasked her with certain responsibilities was now no longer the Epsila he knew?

"She has taken half a step into the next realm, the thirteenth rank, the tier of Exalted..."

*Rumble!~*

Davis's brows creased as the skies thundered. The annihilative heavenly flame dragon was already starting to manifest, its cries sounding like threats.

But at this moment, none of that mattered as he heard the ridiculousness of the situation. 

All he wanted was for Epsila to be an Immortal King Grade Spirit-Tier Pill, but things had gone south as she attracted an Annihilative Heavenly Tribulation.

Initially, he wondered if it could be because of him and confirmed that it might be the case since he couldn't think of any other reason, but he also forgot surpassing risks might give unexpected rewards, perhaps great or perhaps unworthy. 

"Indeed, the appearance of the Annihilative Heavenly Tribulation boosted her growth to the point that she has almost entered the Exalted Tier, making her a pill that is capable of cultivation."

Myria spoke, her voice containing immense amazement, but Davis remained shocked, unable to let out a word.

The annihilative heavenly flame dragon formed underneath the tribulation clouds, the air searing in a crimson-gold light. 

It plunged, zigzagging through the skies unlike a bolt of lightning, its movement filled with the elegance of a dragon. 

It was quite slow, seemingly razing the air in its pathway as it exuded quite an insurmountable aura, seething with an overwhelming force as it made its way toward Dalila.

Its dark gold eyes blazed with heavenly flames as it seemed to fume at her for blocking their punitive actions. 

*Aooo!*

It released a furious cry, finally crashing into the blue-gold barrier like a meteor, except it opened its flaming mouth and bit down, causing the barrier to be pierced as its fans sank down.

"...!"

Davis was greatly alarmed while Dalila felt her scalp turn numb. 

Annihilative heavenly flames suddenly sunk into the barrier from the fans, abruptly encasing Dalila in it. 

But as soon as that happened, a tiny blue-gold light shot forward, causing the heavenly flames to be suppressed as it was pushed out of the barrier. 

"Perfect, Epsila!"

Dalila cheered with a crazed expression. She was rejoicing because Epsila seemed to be even stronger than she expected. 

Epsila pushed outward, causing the dragon to flail. A long tail made up of crimson-gold flames struck the barrier, causing the insides to shake.

"Pui"

Dalila spit out blood from the impact, but she clenched her fingers, finely controlling Tyriele and Epsila as she tried to defend against the dragon. 

*Boom!~*

Epsila burst forth with an unbelievably strong prowess for her tiny figure. She practically bypassed through the barrier and smashed against the heavenly flame dragon, causing it to spit blood in the form of flames.

Dalila suddenly also launched herself towards the heavenly flame dragon, causing Davis to reel in shock.

"Dali-"

But just before he could roar at her, she suddenly shifted positions with Tyriele, causing Tyriele and Epsila to form a yin-yang diagram that caught the dragon between the throat!