Divine Emperor of Death

The people remained silent, not knowing what to speak of the matter that had temporarily ended at this moment.

To them, everything was shrouded in a layer of lies and deceit, although it could be seen that the Emperor Sword Sect was vastly different from the rumors they had heard.

They were so cowardly that they didn't even dare to believe that those people were from the Emperor Sword Sect. Besides, it seemed like they depended on the Soaring Emperor Sword, the Legacy Artifact of the Emperor Sword Sect, to establish their power.

However, it was unfortunate to them that their first opponent with the Soaring Emperor Sword just had to be another supreme genius, Fairy Myria, whose knowledge on item spirits seemed to have no bounds.

Naturally, Fairy Myria was declared the winner, and she returned to her Mystic Ice Sect's seating area.

However, the Mandate Emperor, Emperor of Death, and other people remained in midair, looking at the Jade Lotus Valley's women whose expressions were overwhelmed with part sorrow and part rage.

Matters that were vague about the mysterious deaths of their husbands in Emperor Sword Mini Realm before became clear to them. However, what they couldn't digest was Ancestor Ambercrown's betrayal. They believed her for her neutrality and uprightness, and since the Ancestor Nereus Shard also remained unmarried until that incident, they believed his words too.

Back then, Ancestor Nereus Shard married one of their Grand Elders for strengthening the relationship with their Jade Lotus Valley, making them believe that he took that action to maintain an amicable relationship, further cementing the belief that his ill-words about their husbands could be true.

However, even that Grand Elder's death after giving birth to a few children became suspicious right now.

Had she died from sickness, or was she poisoned in an untraceable way?

Because Ancestor Shard broke his vow to remain celibate and married to strengthen the relationship with the Jade Lotus Valley since most Emperor Sword Sect men with a connection to the Jade Lotus Valley had died, that Grand Elder was sent to the Emperor Sword Sect despite the strict restrictive rules of the Jade Lotus Valley in order to show their own sincerity, so they would never know if she died from unfortunate sickness or poison.

Perhaps, she had found out the truth and was silenced?

Thinking about those matters of the past now made them clench their teeth, tears spilling out of their eyes.

Only now did they understand that the Shard Family's schemes ran deep that they were completely deceived like they were fools.

The humiliation was worse, but when they thought Ancestor Ambercrown had also betrayed them, their hearts turned cold.

However, there was a person among them who didn't lose herself to the overwhelming emotions.

"Valley Master Jade Aurora and Ancestors, activate all the defenses in the Jade Lotus Valley and keep the disciples and elders related with the Shard Family- and even the ones subordinated to them under strict isolation for the rest of the days till this competition ends. We'll deal with the Shard Family when we return from the competition."

Ivy Aries instructed with a somber yet encouraging tone.

"…"

The others looked at Ivy Aries, blankly nodding their heads before it took a few seconds for her words to register in their minds.

"I'll also send a few trusted Grand Elders to protect Little Ivy's ancestor." Valley Master Jade Aurora added, "She's old and frail, but not easily killed since she survived for this long."

Ivy Aries nodded. In any case, her ancestor was already protected because she possessed a special status in the Jade Lotus Valley because of her World Devouring Water Body, so she wasn't worried that much. In fact, the urge to tell her ancestor what had happened here was more than wanting to remain in the competition, but since she was the acting head, she had to restrain herself.

Only she and Valley Master Jade Aurora could remain relatively clear-headed. Therefore, while she took the helm here, the Valley Master would return now to the Jade Lotus Valley.

They talked about returning before the Valley Master relented to go back after the Eighth Stage Segment ends.

After all, Valley Master Jade Aurora was less than a thousand years old, and she could possibly participate in the Ninth Stage Segment.

As for the safety of other Jade Lotus Valley members; Fortunately, since the Jade Lotus Valley moved out to the competition, the other disciples were forced to return to the sect no matter where they were because of the strict rules.

This was one of the rules that Ivy Aries hated, but it had actually saved them at this moment that she couldn't help but feel that some of them were rightly etched in their rules. They were written for a reason.

At this moment, the old Ancestor of the Jade Lotus Valley approached Davis.

"Are you the one who put Little Ivy up to this?"

"Ancestor, no. It was my deci-"

"You could say that."

Ivy Aries denied as she interfered, but Davis simply nodded his head amidst the old Ancestor's stern gaze.

The old Ancestor's eyes narrowed, "What exactly did you do when your Yin Lotus Fairy took her out."

Considering the Emperor of Death's concealing arts, it was possible that he could've appeared in front of Ivy Aries in his soul body. Becoming aware of this possibility, the expressions of the other Jade Lotus Valley disciples and elders changed.

Was their Ivy Aries brainwashed? Or perhaps, soul controlled?

"Nothing. I had my Natalya just give her a letter which narrated the truth of the events that Old Man Garvin told me. In fact, I was waiting for Ivy Aries to side with the Shard Family so that I could push aside the fact that she is Old Man Garvin's descendant and kill her without remorse because she would be a traitor then."

Davis's tone was indifferent, causing the others to become shocked.

Even Ivy Aries's heart shook. However, recalling how she treated that letter as a proposal letter, she couldn't help but lower her head, her cheeks becoming crimson, but others mistook that as fear.

However, they didn't blame Ivy Aries.

Even Ancestor Nereus Shard ran with his tails between his legs. One misstep and Ivy Aries would've also had her life taken away.

Hearing these words from Davis, the old Ancestor merely sighed and walked away, appearing exhausted. It seemed that this turn of events heavily weighed on her heart, all of the women's hearts.

Davis felt like he had poked the hornet's nest that he couldn't help but feel a tinge of pity for their plight. He turned to look at Ivy Aries, who curiously looked at him.

"Do you need help at your Jade Lotus Valley?"

Ivy Aries blinked before she shook her head.

"Don't worry. Anyone who invades into our Jade Lotus Valley is courting death. Even your eminence will not be able to withstand the might of our Guardian Lotus."

Davis nodded. He didn't know much about this Guardian Lotus, but if they were that confident, he preferred to have his hands useful for other purposes.

"We are of the same generation, so calling by names would be apt."

"Then I won't stand on ceremony, Davis." Ivy Aries sweetly giggled, her melodious voice giving him a sense of goodwill as this gloomy atmosphere was rather infectious.

"I'm glad you're Old Man Garvin's descendant and not some kind of traitor. He would be proud even in death to have a descendant like you."

"I see…"

Hearing Davis's words about her Ancestor, Ivy Aries couldn't help but smile sadly. So ancestor Garvin Woller was really dead. She couldn't help but feel sad that her ancestor Aries would feel more sorrow. However, if she heard that the Emperor of Death was actually ancestor Garvin Woller's favored disciple, she would be on cloud nine.

Thinking about this, she wanted to invite Davis to the Jade Lotus Valley. However, men who are not allies could not enter their Jade Lotus Valley, nor could she bring her sick ancestor Aries out. She couldn't help but feel annoyed at this moment, wanting to change the old restrictive rules of the Jade Lotus Valley, but she was also aware she could only do that once she became the true Valley Master along with the approval of the Ancestors.

Nonetheless, she still felt thankful to Davis. He was the one who also informed her that Ancestor Ambercrown was in a relationship with Ancestor Nereus Shard. She had no evidence of it, but she was proven right when she took that leap of faith with Ancestor Ambercrown acting speechless and guilty.

As for how Davis knew, could anyone here escape his eyes that could see the karmic threads of fate? Maybe Ellia and Myria were the only exceptions.

"By the way, what Ancestor Ambercrown said was the truth."

Davis's voice woke Ivy Aries up out of her reverie. However, her expression changed the next moment.

"W-What!?"

The others also incredulously looked at Davis.

What was he saying!?