Divine Emperor of Death

"Phew, that was close."

After they gained enough distance and appeared before their island, Shirley sighed. Her heart still pounded faster while remembering the scene before. She never expected the Ice Phoenix Clan's Matriarch to suddenly appear, almost causing her panic to show up on her face.

"Good job misleading her, Tanya. I'm truly impressed."

"That's right. Not only have you become stronger than us, but you have also become sharper to the point that I don't recognize you anymore."

"Thank you for your valuable praise, fourth and third sister."

Tanya cupped her hands and silently giggled, appearing delighted over Shirley and Isabella's praise. She could also feel this overwhelming confidence flowing in her veins now that she had gained an inheritance and could battle Immortal Kings.

Never in her life did she imagine that she would rise to this level, causing her to look at the person responsible for it.

She pursed her lips, wanting to say something but figured that the timing wasn't right.

Davis chuckled at them before turning to look at Yeyin Blizzara.

"What was that about? Your clan's Matriarch became our Aurora Cloud Gate's disciple?"

"This... I don't know."

Yeyin Blizzara appeared confused. There was no way the Ice Phoenix Clan's Matriarch would be accepted as a disciple unless...

"She abandoned her position and exiled herself...?" Isabella couldn't help but blink.

The four of them looked at each other, unsure of what had happened. Wouldn't the Ice Phoenix Clan's Matriarch take an oath for taking their position as a head of the clan?

Did she break it, or had she never done something like that? They were full of doubts.

Davis also possessed a solemn expression on his face. He could ask Elder Aradiel Furiose what had happened but felt like he would receive a similar answer to what they speculated. However, he imagined himself in the Ice Phoenix Matriarch's shoes and wondered why he would take this step, causing him to raise his head.

"You both felt being traced, right?"

He asked Shirley and Yeyin Blizzara, causing them to nod their heads.

"Then it's likely she knows that there are two inheritors of her Ice Phoenix Clan here. The risk of her signing up as a disciple here to find you two far outweighs the risk of the Ice Phoenix Clan losing its head. After all, gaining two more inheritors means significantly improving their chances of winning the Candidacy. Therefore, instead of warring with the Aurora Cloud Gate and reducing the power of the Ice Phoenix Clan, she decisively chose to abandon her position and enter the Aurora Cloud Gate."

"In that case... heck... she's a fearsome woman."

Davis couldn't help but chuckle and comment after stating his assumption.

"I've heard the Matriarch had a few successful conquests in the Northern Divide." Yeyin Blizzara commented, "In war terms, she was designated as a genius tactician and praised for her achievements."

"..." Davis pursed his lips, "That's a troublesome foe if turned into an enemy. I could deal with brutes and erudite foes, but tacticians and a genius tactician at that? They'll think ten or twenty steps ahead and cause you to walk into a trap without even trying."

"You two must be immensely careful when facing her in the future because I'm sure she is staying and seeking a chance to find or expose you two as the inheritors so the Ice Phoenix Clan can appear and take you two."

Shirley and Yeyin Blizzara nodded and eventually calmed. The former was almost caught.

However, Yeyin couldn't understand why she would cover for Shirley. Was it because she shared her blood with her that she didn't want to expose her?

She didn't know but felt that everything would eventually make sense before the Candidacy began.

"Then, I'm leaving."

"Tanya, can you escort her back to her island?"

"More misleading actions? I'm up for it."

Tanya giggled with a sly smile on her face, causing Davis to nod at her, feeling immensely satisfied with her actions and conduct. He pursed his lips, wanting to say something but, like her, decided that it wasn't the right time.

Tanya was also glad that Davis relied on her. She gestured to Yeyin Blizzara, and after the latter cupped her hands and said her thanks once again, they both left the island's airspace.

"Husband, what is this? Tanya has become so powerful that I practically don't recognize her!"

"True. From her silent self to oozing out with confidence and valor, she looks like a different person now."

"Haha." Davis chuckled, "She has inherited a non-Candidacy immortal inheritance through her own ability, which she will explain to you all sooner or later."

"However, it's not like she is a different person. She was like this when we first met her, childish and competitive. Even now, she has some rivalry with Natalya despite being good friends, but since she has left all of you behind, she's now taken the role of a big sister and seems to be enjoying it to the fullest. If you two catch up with her, then she will again be silent and try to surpass you all. I didn't see it before, but I now see she's the kind of person who will go to extreme lengths to make sure her people are safe, and I sure do... love it!"

Davis grinned as he remembered the scene where she butchered the Unfettered Gargantuan Ice Fiend instead of granting it quick death, causing him to feel gratified. He was glad that he didn't leave Tanya back then when he knew that she low-key had feelings for him and never said it with her mouth.

She was a woman who didn't reveal her emotions unless she was sure that she could do it and take responsibility for it.

Shirley and Isabella also smiled. To have gained another sister to rely on, they were more delighted than Davis was. The more powerful their family was, the less vulnerable they would be and the less burden they would be to Davis. Moreover, the fact that Tanya was more powerful than Davis at the moment was something that they wished to attain so they could earn more attention and praise from him, not to mention allowing him to rest and relax, even if it was for just a few moments.

Knowing that he not only worked hard to protect them and grow as a family but also gave more of his time than he should, they grabbed his hands and pulled him to the island, wanting him to enjoy the time spent here.

Davis let himself be dragged by them as he appeared on the island's grounds.

"Welcome back, Legion Master."

Yotan and a line of Reaper Soul Legion members greeted him, causing him to nod his head.

"Well done guarding our home, Yotan."

"Those words are wasted on me, Legion Master." Yotan smiled as she extended her hand and snapped her fingers.

A golden carriage then appeared, and she gestured for them to get in.

Davis's eyes lit up, not expecting this kind of gesture.

Nodding to Yotan again, he stepped into the carriage with Shirley and Isabella and sat inside with both of them by his side. The carriage took off, and they saw the renewed scenery that was full of gardens and statues of mythical creatures from the windows, giving them a picturesque scene to look at.

He wondered if this change was Bylai's doing and took some joy in watching his island look and feel to be pleasant before finally arriving at his mansion, stepping out and looking at the magnificent presence of it, giving him a sense of belonging more than anything could possibly give him.

"Home, sweet home..."

Davis rubbed the bridge of his nose and pushed the door open, stepping into the mansion as a wave of floral fragrance hit his sense of smell.