Divine Emperor of Death

Chapter 5267: Skycloud Island

A roc?

What kind of roc?

Davis narrowed his eyes lightly, unaware of the distinction between the roc he was saying and the rocs he knew of the original line.

Emerald Gale Roc.

In the Saint Rank Bloodline, the Emerald Gale Roc, Wind Phoenix, Wind Dragon, Sovereign Wind Skylark, and the Devouring Wind Garuda were known as the Five Grand Sky Supreme Beasts. It was a glorious title, but in the Upper Realms, they were practically nothing other than fodder.

Due to their glorious bloodline, they may be respected and protected, but they certainly wouldn’t be able to strut around like other beasts.

In the Great Saint Bloodline Rank where the magical beast’s bloodline limits reached the Empyrean Stage, the Emerald Gale Roc turned into Greensky Tempest Roc. The next gradual evolution in line was an Indomitable Soaring Tempest Roc, a Grand Ancestral Bloodline Rank Magical Beast that had no limits in terms of the stage it could reach.

It could reach the Exalt Beast Stage, Realm Beast Stage, and even above.

Hence, it was a terrifying magical beast whose wings were so fast that it was otherwise known to be indomitable, or unsubduable.

But this Level Seven True Exalt Beast Stage Roc ruling above the Skycloud Island was clearly not an Indomitable Soaring Tempest Roc.

This roc had black-gold wings while the Indomitable Soaring Tempest Roc possessed azure-white wings.

Instead of roc wind energy, he could sense wind-darkness energy emanating from it. He felt it was either a variant Indomitable Soaring Tempest Roc or a roc magical beast he hadn’t heard or read about from the magical beast compendium he had robbed from the many supreme geniuses.

Looking closely, this roc possessed a massive regal head with a sharp black-gold hooked beak, dark-violet eyes filled with emerald sparks, and a crown of swept-back black, emerald, and gold feathers, while its thick neck and chest were covered in luxurious plumage that flowed into a colossal body clad in sleek midnight-black feathers with emerald highlights and a metallic sheen.

Its vast wings stretched nearly four times its body length, formed from black-gold feathers with emerald-black tempest energy swirling between them; its muscular, scaled legs ended in enormous, curved black-gold talons; and between its brows rested a diamond-shaped jewel containing a miniature black-green tempest, making the entire beast resemble an ancient imperial eagle.

Davis still couldn’t tell what it was.

It was not rare for a new species line to emerge within a magical beast race.

Davis was confident that with blood and life, he could create a new species of some magical beast subrace as long as he focused and took the time to nurture them. It was only a matter of studies and whether the heavens would allow it or not.

Considering he was the reason for a Chaos Dragon like Mira to appear, he felt like it was low-key allowed, but the karmic burden was also his to carry.

”I’ll take care of it, master.” Illumina said as though she was about to leap.

However, Davis raised his hand, blocking her.

”Whether it’s a beast, human, or some other species, as long as there’s not a single hint of a battle, don’t jump to fight unless your intent is to kill them in the first place.”

Illumina pointed at the black-gold winged rock in derision, ”But master, it opened its wings wide. Surely, it’s provoking us...”

Davis smiled wryly, ”It’s afraid of you although it’s hiding it well.”

Illumina frowned.

She supposed it was truly afraid, considering she was not only a True Exalt Beast but also an Emperor-Tier Beast.

On the other hand, this roc was a True Exalt Beast but not an Emperor-Tier Beast.

Considering that only Emperor-Tier Grand Ancestral Rank Magical Beasts could have a chance to become a True Exalt Beast, she could tell this roc had fallen from grace, fallen from Emperor-Tier, King-Tier down to being normal.

The roc hadn’t restored its imperial bloodline yet, unlike her. She supposed the treasure it was nurturing was connected to this matter of improving its bloodline tier and allowing it to breakthrough into the Realm Beast Stage, becoming even more powerful.

Illumina’s eyes narrowed, feeling that it wouldn’t let go of the treasure easily, but she was proud and confident.

She smirked, ”Ha! So you recognize the greatness of my master? Obediently kneel and pay respects to the great Divine Emperor of Death.”

”...”

Davis nearly faltered.

Why did it sound like he was a young master who had brought along his young and clueless female retinue to strut around pompously?

He had felt this way while searching for treasures, but it was more obvious now.

Illumina rarely let him speak, speaking for him as though she feared he would waste his breath.

He found it quite heartening and amusing.

In any case, he flicked his sleeves and cupped his hands, ”The ruler of this land and sky, do you mind trading your World Hegemon Grade treasure with us? I can arrange for appropriate compensation. Should you refuse, we will leave, but I can’t guarantee that this place will remain peaceful.”

His expression was calm and unhurried as he waited for a response.

The vast black-gold wings of the roc stayed spread, casting a long shadow across the clouds above Skycloud Island. Wind-darkness energy continued to swirl between those feathers, faint yet sharp enough to make the air itself feel heavier.

The roc did not move for several breaths. Its dark-violet eyes, flecked with emerald sparks, studied Davis with a slow, measuring intensity. When it finally spoke, the voice that rolled out was deep and resonant, carrying the weight of centuries spent ruling the skies.

”Trade?”

The single word carried both disbelief and a faint edge of mockery. The diamond-shaped jewel between its brows pulsed once, the miniature black-green tempest within spinning faster.

”You stand upon my island, speak of my treasure, and offer a trade as though you are a merchant haggling over fish in a mortal market.” The roc’s hooked beak tilted slightly.

Davis couldn’t help but smile, ”Was the fish at the nearby port market tasty?”

The roc’s gaze quivered before it roared, ”Insolent!”

”You dare roar!?”

Illumina’s voice rose as she also let out a shriek.

Her resonant voice was young but full of imperial authority, making the roc quiver as it let out a short squealing whimper.

”A female roc...?”

Davis raised his brows before he inwardly thought, ’A good mount for my Fiora...’

He couldn’t help but already imagine riding this glorious roc and then unleashing arrows like the Celestial Transcendent did and even Venerable Knight Lussandra.

The moment Venerable Knight Lussandra’s visage appeared, he shook his head.

”You- rabbit beast. How dare you make me suffer embarrassment? If I had my peak strength, would you dare face me in battle!?”

”You are not a match for me currently.” Illumina sneered, refusing to engage in a battle of words regarding the past.

She rose to the skies, and Davis no longer stopped her.

They had given this roc a chance, but it had wasted it and even provoked Illumina. He couldn’t stop her after that.

Illumina rose to the skies, causing the hundreds of other birds, whether Empyrean Beasts or Exalt Beasts, to all scatter as they soared towards the edge of the huge lake. However, they didn’t leave; they quickly surrounded Illumina in a giant, whirling formation.

A hurricane emerged above the huge lake while harnessing the energy of all the beasts and even the black-golden winged roc itself; the terrifying winds focused on harming Illumina.

”Mmph!”

Illumina snorted as she raised her hand and flicked her finger, causing the swirling bird formation to rumble.

Countless birds spat out a mouthful of bird, dropping like flies as they lost control over their wings. She swung her hand twice in opposite directions subsequently, her dark nails turning into a black crescent wave of nether shadow energy and pierced through the hurricane formation, causing massive amounts of blood to spurt as Exalt Beasts fell and Empyrean Beasts practically imploded into feathers.

”Don’t harm my nest!”

The black-golden winged roc shrieked as it emerged from its nest, revealing something underneath.

It was a single black-blue flower, yet it made Illumina’s heart flutter.

She sneered and shot towards the roc, ”You should’ve thought about it before your nest made its move.”

*Rip!*

A deep gasp emerged from the black-golden winged roc, blood spurting from its plumage near its chest while the emerald-black gale it sent towards Illumina was sliced cleanly in half.

Even as a Level Seven True Exalt Beast, its prowess was only three levels higher, so it fell short of a level when compared to this rabbit who was only at Level One True Exalt Beast Stage but had a ridiculous prowess of being ten levels higher.

That single level caused it harm, but it knew even if she managed to escape, its nest would not survive.

”Stop! I will hand over the treasure, so spare us! I’m from the Glorious Wind Roc Sect in the Celestial Transcendent Greater Realm. Fellow cultivators, we will remember this favor!”

*Whoosh!~*

Davis was about to make his move to prevent the bird from escaping, as it was nearly impossible to kill someone with just one level of difference, even if they could easily prevail in battle. Furthermore, this was a roc, and a roc with a wind attribute was nearly never caught.

However, he came to a stop, sensing some hope and sincerity in its words.