Divine Emperor of Death

Davis sensed Vereina also absorbed the Celestial Luminescence Pill's pill essence. He realized that he didn't need too much essence.

For one, this was practically an Immortal Emperor Grade Pill, so the Laws of that stage were still restricted to the Immortal King Stage even if he got insights at the Immortal Emperor Grade from it. It would be hard for him to comprehend them with natural restrictions imposed by the heavens, which meant that he would need to wait for the Celestial Luminescence Pill to restore its energy before absorbing it again when he finally steps into the Immortal Emperor Stage.

Naturally, he couldn't do that here as he didn't know if he would be able to return, not to mention that he wasn't confident enough to undergo his tribulation in this Astral Forgeheart Minor Realm, knowing that it might break the barrier of what's holding back so many elders that they're of the heart to wait and see, not that he knew for sure as he was of the vague, hopeful thought that the World Master was holding them back.

If that was the case, then he couldn't possibly bring the World Master trouble by bringing down an Annihilative Heavenly Tribulation at his level, one that was far worse than what Epsila or the Apocalyptic Flame Essence brought down because the tier of the Annihilative Heavenly Tribulation he would induce was much, much worse due to him attracting all twelve Paragon Magical Beasts and even a heavenly being like the Celestial Transcendent.

Therefore, he swiftly made the decision that it was better to share the overflowing essence with Vereina for what it was worth, allowing her to comprehend more of her physique and, in turn, allow him to comprehend more.

Vereina's eyelids fluttered as she also began to sense the myriad of Laws submerging inside her, giving her tons of insights into the Laws that she specialized in. She trained in four Laws, to be exact: Darkness, Space, Illusion, and Sound Laws. One Greater Law and three Primary Laws, but her intents in all of them were already at the foothold of the Immortal King Grade.

Right now, she could sense her comprehension rapidly increasing, making her inwardly shocked.

She felt that this pill was too miraculous, but at the same time, her heart swelled with complicated emotion, unable to understand why he would share this with her when he could share this with his spirit, Eldia, or even his magical beast, Nadia, upon calling them here.

Draining more focus, she slightly opened her eyes and gazed at his face. It was serene, fully focused on comprehending Laws as well as exploring her soul essence to much of his capability. Even she, the user of the Violent Soul Punitive Physique, hasn't heard much about this physique or is able to derive much other than the fact that it boosted and intrinsically allowed her to understand Darkness Laws.

Clearly, it was a darkness-attributed physique, but she hadn't been able to use her physique for anything other than absorbing and refining souls, which honestly put her in a stagnant state, unable to learn anything other than having a high innate proficiency in comprehending Darkness Laws. That's why she also wanted a Six-Headed Hydra's soul essence, preferably a King-Tier one from the Empyreal Monarch, to understand more and improve her physique, but she was denied it.

But with the Celestial Luminescence Pill that contained the myriad of Laws, she felt like she was starting to see a pathway where she could implement her ability to refine souls in techniques and improve her Darkness Laws drastically, including the Illusion Laws and Sound Laws that she recently increased with Myria's pill made from the dark flower.

But looking at his serene expression, she wondered if he was all doing this on purpose, as she couldn't see through his thoughts. It made her feel a bit frustrated.

Regardless, taking a light breath, she inwardly thanked him and closed her eyes, remembering this act of magnanimity while continuing to comprehend Laws along with him.

========

In another cultivation chamber, a white-robed woman sat at the center on a cushion as she sat cross-legged, appearing to cultivate. There was another woman over at the door, wearing an icy-blue robe that accentuated her wonderful curves.

However, her eyes seemed to be a bit clouded while she remained downcast, looking at the marble floor.

"That's enough, Bing Luli. Go out. Can't you see that I'm unable to focus here with your periodic gaze on me?"

Bing Luli raised her head to look at Myria, narrowing her eyes.

"I apologize. I'll be heading out."

She spoke in a bland tone, turning to leave when Myria's voice resounded again.

"Bing Luli, to train in the ice arts I taught you, you know you should be unperturbed by most matters, right?"

"…"

"What's more, as a disciple of the Mystic Ice Sect's arts, you should already know how to control your emotions, but the fact that you couldn't only show how disturbed you are. If you cannot suppress it, unleash it, and perhaps, there will be a conclusion. Or, are you afraid of that conclusion that you don't dare try what you are thinking in your heart?"

"…"

Bing Luli's gaze shook heavily as she heard Myria's calm voice that appeared to see right through her. However, that snapped a nerve in her, causing her to turn and glance at Myria.

"I'm disturbed? Indeed, I was stupidly thinking if I was only you, chased so passionately by the man I like and couldn't help but inevitably cast a gaze filled with jealousy which disturbed you from your cultivation, but what are you still doing here when you already absorbed the pill you made a day ago to increase your soul prowess? Are you sure that you are not avoiding him on purpose?"

Myria's expression flickered as she glared at Bing Luli, "Soul cultivation is not the only cultivation I train in."

"Is that so?"

Bing Luli scoffed lightly, "I know you were about to head out, but as soon as you sensed his presence outside, you concealed yourself."

"You-"

Myria's lips parted, her expression trembling, but suddenly, Bing Luli turned her body and knelt.

"Master, I said too much. Please punish this disciple for being so presumptuous and holding an unsightly, envious heart~"

"Stand up…"

Bing Luli shook her head. She was full of regret as she saw a glimpse of guilt flash past Myria's eyes, causing her to feel guilty as her gaze shook.

"I am a woman who sinned, feeling envious over my only master and friend. You saved my life and treated me well from the moment you accepted me as a disciple, but my ugly thoughts demand that I don't deserve to live."

Bing Luli slammed her head on the floor, causing blood to splatter from her forehead.

Myria's body trembled, but she didn't go help her, merely looking away.

"What are you saying? You saved my life, and I merely repaid the debt. There's no debt between us, and we're still master and disciple, but to me, you're the only friend I can place trust in without looking back."

"Heh… hehe…"

Bing Luli couldn't help but laugh, clenching her fist as her nail ground against the marble surface.

"Why…? Why do you take this disrespect and let me go without punishment at the very least?"

She trembled, raising her head, "Fine, if this is how you're going to be, then seal my memories of him."

"What?"

Myria narrowed her brows at Bing Luli, but Bing Luli's eyes teared up, her voice shaky.

"I would rather be loyal to the woman who saved my life and die for her than feel envious of her and try to plunder the love she has from the man I accidentally came to like. Even back in the Grand Beginnings Continent, I held some affection for him, and it only grew worse with time as I accompanied you and watched him from afar, so it will be difficult for me to forget him…"

Bing Luli shed tears as her bottom lip stuck out, "Myria, this… honestly hurts… He doesn't seem interested in me, and I don't want to feel like this anymore, so if you don't seal my memories, then- I'm afraid that I can only go so far as your loyal friend, committing an unforgivable act sooner or later."

"…"

Myria stood there stunned, never knowing how much emotion her best friend held for Davis. She never knew she held affection for him from back then.

"What do you mean by an unforgivable act? Do you really think our master and disciple relationship matters to him, or do I think anything about it?"

Myria shook her head, "You're too stiff, Bing Luli."

"Impossible! I know you." Bing Luli's eyes were wide, "You're a Saintess who-"

"That Saintess is, in fact, in love with a married man…"

Myria's lips twitched as she interrupted Bing Luli, her cheeks blushing, "That Saintess who would've never looked at a man's way if even he so much as held another woman's hand in courtship, is now unable to extricate herself from thinking about a married man all day."

Myria trembled heavily, causing Bing Luli to become dumbfounded as she could even see Myria's ears turn scarlet. Perhaps it was an embarrassment from admitting that she loved him or shame from loving such a man, but either way, Bing Luli felt something brewing in her.

A sense of camaraderie grew within her, allowing her to understand Myria like she understood her contemptible love.

"You were right."

Myria calmed herself and walked closer to Bing Luli, lifting her up, "I did avoid him, but I did not do it to hurt him."

She bit her lips, appearing a bit shaken, "I am afraid because our union could be a calamitous consequence that changes our fate, perhaps even the fate of everything in this world. He's too strong, and I'm the right catalyst for him to help him grow stronger by every ounce of knowledge available to me."

"What- what do you mean?" Bing Luli's gaze shook.

Myria's expression trembled, "Do you know how strong our souls attract each other?"

"If I don't keep it cool, it is like I might fall in his embrace without knowing. It's like we're made for each other, but that deep, otherworldly attraction is what makes me afraid as it fills me with a bad premonition."

Myria's lips quivered, her eyes becoming teary.

"Bing Luli, you're my closest friend who sworn to live and die with me. However, you have probably seen way more complicated situations like this between couples as you're from an all-female sect. Tell me, what should I do? I want to be with him, reciprocate his feelings, but I am too scared that I might cause him to die with my accursed fate, one that never allows me to be happy or the people that are close to me."

"…"

Bing Luli could only remain quiet at the woman who came clean with her feelings, relying on her to give her advice.

She could understand why she was asked this question as a woman from an all-female sect marrying a man to forsake the sect would usually mean calamity for both parties, but at the scale of the universe, how was she supposed to give advice?