Divine Emperor of Death

Flying across the region, Davis saw the calamity he had left behind.

Of course, the remnant aura of heavenly lightning had long receded, but the scorched lands he could see still remained. They were direct evidence of his existence and, if he died, would become legends and might even be named after him, like how the land of the secret realm he collapsed was named after him.

He crossed a few cities and saw that they were almost deserted.

Considering that these were the border cities from the Aurora Cloud Gate, he wasn't surprised that people specifically left this region. This is where he would strike first, even if, through some miracle, he was going to stop in people's minds.

Suddenly, a crimson-robed person flew over with a solemn gaze, but as soon as the other party recognized him, he froze mid-air.

Davis saw that it was a Level Nine Immortal.

He still remembered how Tier Three Cities had Level Nine Immortals as their City Lord, Tier Two Cities had Level Nine Immortal Kings as their City Lord, and Tier One Cities had Immortal Emperors as their City Lord.

Presumably, this man could be the City Lord of the city below him.

Seeing that he froze and didn't dare to block his path, Davis no longer paid attention.

The Level Nine Immortal shuddered as the flying boat went past him. But from the corner of his eyes, he saw his Clan's Elders shaking their heads ever so lightly, indicating for him not to do anything that might offend the Emperor of Death.

That man lightly nodded and gulped, wanting to do nothing with this situation.

He had already requested a transfer many times and wanted to flee this numbered city, but his request was never accepted. If he ran, he would be executed under martial law, so he had no choice but to remain. So when the Emperor of Death finally appeared, he thought it was the end of him, but the calamity didn't care and shot straight past him, causing his panic to lessen but his heart had yet to stop pounding faster, leaving him breathless when he could no longer sense their presence.

Davis didn't stop anywhere near the Tier Three Cities. These were numbered cities that didn't have many people belonging to the Fire Phoenix Clan. They could said to have normal people or people who have a bit of their blood but can be considered abysmal enough not to be considered a part of the Fire Phoenix Clan's many clans.

The main branch was the Zenflame Clan, but he had also heard that there were four or five sub-branches who worked solely to keep the main branch steady. This was normal in every power, so Davis didn't care if the Zenflame Clan was suppressing the other branches or something.

All he wanted was revenge, and if he found out that these branches were in any way connected to tricking Shirley, then they were going to die along with the main branch.

However, the three inheritors, Great Ancestor Zenflame, Sierra, and Hirona, did say that they have talked with other branches and are apparently not guilty, so they specifically asked them to be spared one time before that failed. They then asked for him to spare the youths, which he ignored.

He didn't want anything from them and only wanted to take lives from the Fire Phoenix Clan for the hideous trick they tried to use against Shirley. Perhaps no one would've said anything if Shirley actually fell for it, but since she didn't, it was him who was being overboard in the world's eyes.

He expected no one to understand, so he was at ease with what he was going to do.

Smiling lightly as he saw the population grow in the Tier Two Cities, he still kept going.

"Emperor of Death, we…"

Davis took a look at them and saw that they were middle-aged and appeared quite rough, lacking the handsomeness of the Zenflame Clan's features with their anxious expressions. It seemed like they could no longer bear the silence and were afraid something might happen as they were approaching the heart of the Fire Phoenix Clan.

However, he didn't say anything and turned back again.

He kept silent until they reached a Tier One City.

With his purple robes billowing in the gentle breeze, he surveyed the city below—a vast, sprawling kingdom nestled within a circle of formidable walls. The quality of the walls was at Low-Level Immortal Emperor Grade, which couldn't make a dent even with Immortal Kings battling, so that was a praiseworthy feat for a Tier One City near the heart of the Prefecture.

The city bustled with life as one would expect in any city. However, its streets were not teeming with merchants hawking about exotic wares. Instead, most people had wagons full of materials as though they couldn't fit enough in their spatial rings. Patrol clad in intricate crimson armor roamed the streets, letting some go and blocking some, perhaps even trying to take some bribe to let them go.

Davis's eyes remained indifferent as he took his eyes off them and panned his gaze.

Beautiful palaces adorned with ornate carvings rose to the skyline, reaching towards the heavens as if aspiring to touch the very heights he stood on. His keen eyes traced the winding paths in between, admiring the intricate architecture he dreamed of destroying but also reminding him of that random palace he pierced through and caused an entire family to be destroyed by the Annihilative Heavenly Tribulation.

Even in the town square, where laughter, chatter, and occasional clash of strength were commonplace, they were nowhere to be seen.

Although the city was bustling with people, it was silent as though they were walking corpses, dreading the fact that a calamity could befall them at any place, any time, ever since he came back from the secret realm.

'I bet they wished that I died in the secret realm… not that I blame them considering how despondent they all look…'

Davis inwardly laughed but turned to look back.

"What? Are you all not letting them leave?"

"N-No!" Levon Zenflame went on one knee, "Emperor of Death, some cannot be allowed to leave because if they left, it would bring a catastrophic economic collapse. Others are free to leave, but not the ones who hold sway over the cities and marketplace. Even my-"

"Emperor of Death," Tyler Zenflame interjected, "if you wish for them to leave, then we won't stop them anymore."

"…"

Davis returned his gaze to the city and looked a bit more as though etching this scene in his heart. He didn't say anything for half a minute before his voice finally fell.

"This city and all the lives in it… or one of your limbs each…"

"Choose."

"!!!"

Levon Zenflame and Tyler Zenflame greatly shook. Their pupils dilated when they heard his first few words, but the next few words, further telling them to choose, made their hearts sink.

However, the answer was clear to them, knowing which one they should choose or, rather, sacrifice.

"One of our limbs."

Levon Zenflame and Tyler Zenflame both answered at the same time.

Their words caused Davis to look back at them as he smiled lightly.

"Respected elders shouldn't kneel so easily. Stand up."

Levon Zenflame couldn't help but hide his smile as he knew he had given the correct answer. However, just as he stood up, he fell to the side.

"Eh?"

A leg fell in front of him, but he saw that it wasn't his own but Tyler Zenflame's. The latter reached out his hands to hold his right thigh as blood flowed out in copious amounts. However, he didn't scream, only maintaining stern expressions as he shuddered ever so lightly.

"Hggh…"

Levon Zenflame suddenly also felt pain flood his lower body. His left leg was also sliced, and it fell behind, but he clenched his teeth, trying to endure the pain as much as he could.

The both of them didn't even see what attacked them. It was an invisible blade of wind zoomed out of the Emperor of Death's hand, but they couldn't even perceive him having released any kind of attack, making them fear him to no end as they remained silent.

"I said stand."

Levon Zenflame quickly stood up upon the Emperor of Death reminding him. He tightened the muscles in his left thigh and stopped the bleeding. He knew he had at least lost five percent of blood essence with this attack, having no way to reattach his leg as the remnant aura-

'What…? It dispersed…?'

Levon Zenflame sensed the unknown energy that should've remained dispersed. He didn't know why the Emperor of Death dispersed it.

"Hmm. This city survived. Heal yourselves while we move on to another one."

Davis steered the flying boat in another direction, heading towards another city.

But when his words fell, Levon Zenflame and Tyler Zenflame's expression fell into one of despair.

There was… more to this…?