Divine Emperor of Death

It could be theorized that their actions bent on destroying the enemy or practicing cultivation to crazy limits at the expense of their own health when they could just purely wait, follow Isabella and Nadia's lead but didn't could be due to the darkness in their souls. Or, they already had these thoughts, but the darkness in their souls allowed them to do so without caring for any amount of consequences.

Niera was also here, but it could be seen that she was totally normal, perhaps coming to look after Sophie as he heard from Evelynn's account when returning to the Purple Guest Palace with her.

Nevertheless...

"Seems like you noticed." Davis nodded at Sophie, "It's not a problem for me, but does it hurt for you?"

Sophie shook her head, "It doesn't. I swear..."

She was worried that Davis would see her as something else due to the change in her soul. She didn't want to be mistaken as evil.

"What's wrong?"

Davis was about to nod Niera couldn't help but ask. Being in that underground lava cave through thick and thin, their bond grew more closer, so she couldn't help but feel worried for Sophie.

"Nothing's wrong..."

Sophie spoke, causing Davis to smile.

"Sophie, there is no need to hide it. Even Evelynn came to possess it, and Mo Mingzhi might have it as well."

"What!? Why...?"

Sophie couldn't help but squeal in disbelief.

When she first witnessed the change in her soul, she had been frightened.

"I don't know, but Evelynn claimed that it didn't do anything to harm her either, although I believe that it twisted all your emotions to seek a darker path for yourselves."

Sophie couldn't help widen her eyes again.

Indeed, noticing that the darkness in her soul didn't do any harm, she prioritized cultivation for vengeance. But again, noticing that she dragged Niera along with her, she couldn't help but tremble.

"I..."

Sophie didn't know what to say as she looked at Niera. In the end, she moved her lips.

"Niera, I almost dragged you down..."

"It's alright." Niera shook her head, "I know what I was doing when I volunteered to make sure nothing happens to you, Sophie."

"Niera..."

Sophie's eyes inevitably trembled as tears welled up in her eyes.

"In the end, it was proven that we should've followed third sister's lead." Niera smiled, "Let's both apologize to third sister for bringing needless trouble, okay?"

'A fairy from the heavens...'

Sophie's heart skipped a beat before she heavily nodded and wiped her tears.

"Mhm~"

Davis smiled as he saw both of them before he didn't bother. While Sophie shared what it was like to have this dark soul in incoherent words that really didn't amount to anything, they all arrived at the Grand Alstreim City.

However, Davis parted ways with them on top of the Grand Alstreim Ocean and appeared in the Blood Pledge Villa Territory with Nadia. They were both in a concealed state.

"Nadia, do you know where Mo Mingzhi currently is...?"

They both stood side by side before Davis looked at Nadia's pale appearance and couldn't help but feel that she was in a class of her own. She didn't become more beautiful, but there was this invisible air about her that made her look quite... mythical.

"I know..."

Nadia nodded and shot toward the distance while Davis followed behind her.

"Nadia, what's your species name now?"

Unexpectedly, Nadia shook her head.

"I don't know."

Davis became a bit stunned by her answer.

Weren't magical beasts supposed to know about their species as they possessed bloodline memories?

"Davis, I don't have any bloodline memories, neither do I know how to cast my unique species technique. Everything is blank, and I received nothing new other than this death energy..." Nadia answered with a bit of doubt in her voice.

Davis couldn't help but rapidly blink.

"Could it be that you're the first of your kind...?"

Nadia shook her head again, causing Davis to descend into contemplation as he followed her.

Perhaps, the whole reason she formed a cocoon was that she did not undergo a mutation that was already in her bloodline. It was a new mutation from raking in so much death energy. Moreover, there were absolutely no traces of bloodlines memories, meaning she is the first to attain this mutation in her entire species lineage!

Davis also mused Nadia's ancestors must've been from the darkness species branch, and therefore, had easily mutated to Twin-Tailed Dusk Wolf and Dark-Winged Twilight Wolf instead of forming a cocoon-like structure to nurture herself.

However, it was unknown if her current species rank is Emperor Rank Species or above.

"Nadia, do you feel any bloodline shackles?"

"Mhm, it's hard to tell when I haven't reached Peak-Level Emperor Beast Stage yet..."

"Alright." Davis calmed himself down since it couldn't be helped that there were no bloodline memories to guide her, but once he thought of another matter, he couldn't help but ask.

"How would you fare against Evelynn?"

"I would lose."

Davis's brows lifted up. There was no hesitation from Nadia in accepting defeat. But...

"However, if I were at the same level as Evelynn, she would not be a match for me."

Davis couldn't help but smile. That competitive heart still wasn't lost. She was the same Nadia he loved.

"Yes, you're still at the Mid-Level Emperor Beast Stage. Why didn't you consume Peak-Level Spirit Stone Vein Fragments during your doppelganger patrolled? We have millions of those with us in addition to Isabella's inheritance. Surely, as a magical beast, you could absorb all of them faster than us and make quick breakthroughs, right?"

"Davis, we're trying. I already consumed about a million Peak-Level Spirit Stone Vein Fragments secretly whenever I had time to stay out of people watching my movements, but it wasn't enough for a breakthrough as it just brought me to the apex of the Mid-Level."

"Curse the heavens!" Davis swore as he sighed, "I thought so...! Your prowess has already exceeded the Peak-Level Ninth Stage judging by the feats I heard you achieved, so I was doubtful if Peak-Level Spirit Stone Vein Fragments even worked on you, but it seems like it's starting to lose its potency on you. If it's like this, then you must absorb sources."

"Isabella considered that but absorbing such a thing will be easily noticed. I can only do that in the sealed lightning space if I wanted to do so, but I had no way to enter as it seemed like Niera had the key to that space. However, it's not an issue since I was plagued by powerhouses keeping a tight-knit watch over me and my doppelganger, mostly through divinations..."

"Wouldn't they be freaking out now?" Davis raised his brows.

"It's fine as long as I don't disappear for three to four hours. They provoked me and knew my limits, so I know theirs too."

An imperceptible smug hung on Nadia's peerless beauty, causing Davis to truly look at her again. Was it his imagination, or did Nadia grew smarter?

Nevertheless, taking his gaze off, Davis wondered how many levels were separating the Peak-Level Ninth Stage and Immortal Level. One should know that even having perfection in everything wasn't enough to kill an Immortal other than conjuring a Supreme Immortal Rune. Therefore, he mused that there were at least four additional yet hypothetical ninth stage levels separating the Peak-Level Ninth Stage and Immortal Stage.

'It's almost as if the hypothetical ninth level of the ninth stage is the Immortal Stage...'

Davis couldn't help but descend into contemplation.

Soon, after many twists and turns, Nadia sniffed out Mo Mingzhi's scent like the wolf she is. They finally arrived in front of her, looking at her be seated alone in a cave of a mountain. However, there was also another person wearing a mask and a hood on the opposite corner, looking at the dark-yellow crystal ceiling that gave off a rather ominous light, but due to the curvy figure of the person, he found out that they were a woman who had him raise his brows.

When he wondered why Mo Mingzhi could be here with this woman, it didn't matter to him the next second as he revealed himself.

"Mingzhi, I'm back."

Mo Mingzhi listlessly stared at the floor, but then she froze the moment she heard Davis's voice. She had thought that it was her delusion but feeling her companion strangely react as she stood up, she raised her head and looked at Davis, her black pupils beginning to tremble before a deep smile filled her face.

"Finally, I was wondering how long you intend to stay dead..."

Tears ran down Mo Mingzhi's face as she deeply smiled. Her voice was full of numerous emotions that caused Davis to spread his hands. Mo Mingzhi got the cue and jumped to his embrace, tightly wrapping her soft arms around his neck as she squealed in joy while crying.

"It... It's you..."

Abruptly, a female voice full of hatred echoed by their side.

Davis and Mo Mingzhi turned to look at the woman and saw that she was deeply trembling before turning her gaze towards Mo Mingzhi.

"Mo Mingzhi... have you too betrayed me...?"

Blood crimson energy swirled around the masked female figure as Low-Level Law Sea Stage undulations revolved, her prowess capable of reaching almost two levels higher!

"I should've never saved you...!"