Divine Emperor of Death

Chapter 4120  Verdant Vale Lower Realm

The vast expanse of the azure sky stretched endlessly, colored only by drifting clouds.

A floating continent was suspended in the vast space, and its horizons couldnʼt be seen with the naked eye. In some parts of the edge, waterfalls cascaded down and formed an ecosystem by itself where one could see magical beasts thriving. Lush forests even grew beside the stream.

As the ship approached the continentʼs edge, the serene space grew turbulent. Gusts of wind swept across the deck, howling like spectral voices tearing apart oneʼs ear drums.

”Woah, talk about a wild journey…”

Fenren tumbled around as the flying ship shook ever so lightly from the terrifying winds.

The concealment of the flying ship came off like it did previously when they crossed this region. The winds were too strong here, but they had no choice but to go this way since the only path to the edge was the valley in this region. The vice versa was also true. Otherwise, they could only go around, which would take more time and be met with other threats.

The ship trembled as it pierced the vortex of tumultuous waves of winds, its runes glowing and flaring with golden light to defend the piercing blades.

”Are you sure youʼre leaving like that?” Lereza finally asked, ”That was probably your final chance to return to your clan and make your ancestors prideful.”

Fenren couldnʼt help but smile wryly, ”I do have some regrets about leaving where I initially belonged, but that doesnʼt matter anymore. The countless dreams I had upon ascending and showing my brilliance were shattered on that day when I almost got executed by my own clan. Still, I do not feel hostility for them as they did what they had to do. As for myself… we brothers have decided to do whatever we claim to do together. Itʼs only a matter of time before we rise or die together. Thereʼs simply no other way. Itʼs a matter of conviction so that nothing can stop us midway.”

”I see.” Lereza nodded, ”I praise your conviction. Not anyone could decide to follow master and keep up with him. There are simply some things you need to abandon, like how Fairy Aila left her family for wanting to be with master.”

”Indeed. This is not an easy path.”

Fenren chuckled lightly. Although he encountered great boons, like becoming a variant Starshard Luminous Wolf and entering King-Tier again, as well as obtaining a diluted Gilded Realm Ascendant Pill to consume, he was absolutely screwed.

The amount of pain and fear he experienced when undergoing the transformation couldnʼt be described in words. If it werenʼt for the fact that he believed Davis wholeheartedly, he mightʼve struggled to keep himself alive with his sheer Will alone.

Lereza stopped talking.

She had seen Davis interacting and trusting his friends so much and even sending her and Vereina to help them. She always possessed a hint of distrust towards them. It wasnʼt particularly for them but for everyone who wasnʼt Myria. She had this same distrust towards Davis and the World Master, but that eventually faded.

Now, she started to believe in Davisʼs wives and was working on keeping an eye on others and learning to trust them.

After all, she saw herself as the Guardian of the Davis Family. She took on a mission to protect her master. It was her lifeʼs mission. Although it was directed toward Myria, now it was directed toward Davis. Hence, she wanted to make sure no one betrayed him and always kept an eye on the people he interacted with.

As far as she knew, Davis had four close friends. They were Drake, Fenren, Soaren, and Andiron.

She had seen Drake as someone who hates to lose, but that same Drake went as far as to abandon his family and ascend in order to verify Davisʼs life and death. He also supplied dubious items which honestly got her curious but couldnʼt check because of propriety. At the same time, she was surprised by Drake because he managed to keep up until the events of the First Haven World without an apex treasure.

He just needed a bit more time, but things happened too fast, with the World Master sending them all out and causing them all to be desperate to increase their cultivation, which left Drake in the dust.

She didnʼt belittle his ability to be a powerful expert within a few decades.

However, it wasnʼt the ability she was looking for but the sincerity they had. Drake proved his sincerity, and Fenren, Soaren, and Andiron also proved their sincerity from her perspective.

They literally stood behind Davis during the events of the Central Primesky Alliance War, had a big role in saving Davisʼs father from the Accursed Warlock, and no matter how their clans cruelly treated them after ascending, they didnʼt give him up nor expose his whereabouts.

These actions spoke louder than words.

Lereza knew this was what moved Davis. At the same time, it also moved her and many others. If it werenʼt for that, she wouldnʼt have agreed to leave and help them. But still, it wasnʼt like she fully trusted them.

She recounted the previous conversation and discovered that Matriarch Leora Verlight was somewhat passionate about wanting to retain Fenren.

”What is your relationship with Realm Master Leora Verlight? You two seemed rather familiar.”

”…” Fenren was silent for a few seconds before he wryly smiled.

”The day I got arrested, she stood before me and wanted to make me her magical beast mount. After all, I was a King-Tier Starlight Jade Wolf with extremely pure blood. It lit up so many lights on the altar of bloodline purity that I was welcomed with the utmost fanfare before the Heavenʼs Warriors gave the verdict to hunt all the inheritors.”

Fenren chuckled, ”It could be said that she looked favorably upon me from the very beginning. However, I refused her offer. I refused again, even after I got arrested. It was obvious she wanted my blood.”

”Do you not hate her for putting you on that execution platform?” Lereza blinked.

”I do, but she didnʼt go as far as to extract my blood essence and leave me like a dying dog on the execution platform. She didnʼt even take a single drop of blood from me. Whatʼs stopping her? There was nothing. I can tell that sheʼs pragmatic on the surface but sincere on the inside. She wanted me to be a magical beast mount till the end. Sheʼs doing her best to be righteous as she claims the wolf to be, so I decided not to be hostile and give her a chance. Fortunately, I didnʼt have to fight with her, or we wouldʼve killed a beauty. It wouldʼve been a pity…”

”I see…”

Lereza uttered. Since she heard that there wasnʼt anything special between them that would warrant her watchful eye, she relaxed. She felt like she was looking too much into it.

Soon, they made their way deep inside the region before finally reaching the valley.

The ship eased into a clearing nestled deep within the valley, where the winds subsided to a gentle breeze. The ship was about to enter concealment again, but an authoritative voice resounded.

”Halt!”

A group of experts appeared as a powerful gale swept through them, causing the flying ship to come to a halt.

Fenren and the others gazed at them.

They were all Autarch Stage Experts! Each of them appeared to be a vast force to reckon with, making Fenren frown. They were surrounded instantly. The way they moved was as though they knew they would appear here.

It was possible that they tripped some kind of mechanism the first time they came here, but this group of experts wasnʼt there to restrict them. Now that they were here, these Autarch Stage experts surrounded them without a hint of disunity among them as though they had done this many times.

”Allies of the Divine Emperor of Death, step out of the flying ship and surrender. Otherwise, only death is at the end of this valley.”

A formation also appeared to trap them at this time. It covered the valley and appeared to be a High-Level Autarch Grade Defensive Formation.

Fenrenʼs heart sank. He knew this formation was used for realm defenses. The steep and jagged environment of the Verdant Vale Lower Realm was created due to being constantly bombarded by tumultuous winds and other weather conditions. This made it possible for many locations to be hard to traverse, yet at the same time, it could lead to a lot of traps.

Although the Verdant Vale Lower Realm was famous for its wind cultivation locations and danger zones, the realm was dangerous, with bandits and other wild beasts occupying a few areas like this valley in other locations throughout the realm.

At this moment, Lereza stepped out of the flying ship. She floated in the air, her black-green hair swaying gently in this soft breeze.

”Verdant Vale Realm Master, Thousand Windblades. We have no enmity or the slightest acquaintance, but you want to stop us? Think carefully before you make a move. You wonʼt even receive a warning from us.”

”A mere Level One Empyrean wants me to stop?”

Thousand Windblades appeared quite amused. He possessed white hair and seemed like a middle-aged man with a scholarly face because of the way his face appeared quite gentle. However, his robes were quite the opposite, with a crimson-green flavor. It made him appear quite bloody and vindictive.