Divine Emperor of Death

Evelynn, Isabella and Shirley reunited. They celebrated their reunion with hugs and smiles, appearing happier than ever despite the difficulties they have faced. Isabella brought them back to her group and introduced them while Evelynn and Shirley also did the same for Rea Tyriel and Dewzai.

"Isabella, I sense you have become a bit stronger than before." Evelynn couldn't help but have a permanent smile on her face.

Being back together with Shirley and Isabella really made her feel at home, allowing her to once again realize the importance of family. Even though her cultivation base was one of the lowest right now, she felt safer than ever.

"Yes, I learned Rumbling Laws~"

Isabella placed her hands on her hip, appearing proud. This revelation caused many eyes to widen.

"Rumbling Laws?" Founder Rocksunder sounded shocked, "That ultimate combination of Earth Laws, Space Laws, and Yin Laws?"

"Accurately, it's a combination of Earth Laws and Space Laws combined with Yin Laws."

Isabella nodded.

"That's a big achievement." Founder Rocksunder appeared delighted, "I heard that it is a Low-Tier Supreme Law, comparable to the likes of Hex Laws commanded by the Three-Eyed Chromatic Hex Arachnid's inheritor here. Its power lies in its ability to control the range of one's attack to the tiniest point and cause tremendous ripples to appear in those particular points, causing it to burst and collapse matter inside without possibly damaging the space itself."

He took a deep breath, shaking his head, "I don't think I can reach such a level without learning Yin Laws, as my ability to balance is not that great. I specialize in brute force like a true Earth Dragon, after all, but-"

Turning to look at Isabella, his gaze held a hint of admiration.

"I thought your achievements were due to the bloodline you possessed, but I now admit your comprehension talent is no less than that of those elites in the Earth Dragon Lower Realm in the true immortal world."

"Ridiculous~" Shirley scoffed, "My Isabella's talent is no less than the true elites of the Azure Dragon Upper Realm."

"Haha, you are right. I only know a bit about the Earth Dragon Lower Realm, so forgive me for my offense."

"None taken~" Shirley shook her head.

"So, should we go back to clearing the Fifth Hidden Pagoda? I don't think all of us is going to be allowed to enter unless we evict them."

Founder Rocksunder asked, his gaze turning sharp. Some didn't understand his meaning, so he explained the situation over how they left, allowing them to understand.

"They might've already started and are going to clear the trial soon…" Shirley pursed her lips in a humorless manner.

"It is certainly possible." Founder Rocksunder nodded, "But I don't regret leaving an opportunity to come to your aid. Remember, our mission is not to clear Hidden Pagodas but to inherit the Candidacy. We shouldn't sacrifice our lives before that, no matter what."

"And what makes you think these Hidden Pagodas aren't connected to the Candidacy?"

Shirley asked, causing Founder Rocksunder to fold his hands, his brows narrowing.

"The fact that there are rewards for it makes me think it is a form of consolation prize. It almost feels like complimentary prizes for losers…"

"Losers, huh…"

Shirley's lips couldn't help but curl.

Gilded Realm Ascendant Pill for losers?

She'd really like to be a loser in that case. However, she didn't go as far as to argue and reveal that they had six Gilded Realm Ascendant Pills. That was no different than courting death, enough to turn all these people against them.

"No, I didn't mean to say it like that." Founder Rocksunder laughed lightly before shaking his head, "Forgive me, Miss Rea. I meant that it is kind of like the prizes given to those who come second and third, so on and so forth."

"…" Rea Tyriel didn't know what to say.

Did it matter if it was a consolation prize when she had hers stolen?

She had the urge to look at Evelynn and glare at her.

However, during the trial of the Eighth Hidden Pagoda she participated with Evelynn, she was offered a chance to get back her Gilded Realm Ascendant Pill as long as she could win against Evelynn or gravely injure her.

She agreed to Evelynn's deal as it seemed fair, but only later did she know that Evelynn was convinced of her victory, aiming to make the stolen goods into one of a fair transaction.

Rea Tyriel didn't know what to think about other than that she was defeated fair and square, which pissed her off the most as she thought she would have been the strongest among them if everything was removed, leaving only one's physical skills and usage of Greater Laws and below.

"Founder Rocksunder doesn't need to rectify that statement. Compared to the World Master's legacy, the rewards do pale in comparison."

Shirley's voice was lazier than ever as she placed her hand before her veil and looked like she was yawning.

Only Evelynn and Isabella knew the weight of that statement.

If they did indeed compare World Master's Legacy, which could create a universe, to some mere pills made from realms, then it wasn't something worth talking about at the same scale.

"W-World Master…" Dewzai shuddered, her pupils dilating.

Suddenly, the atmosphere turned both tense and awkward as the others also went stiff. They were not sure if they should talk about such a being.

They couldn't help but admire Shirley for addressing that person out loud. That's why they always addressed that person's legacy with the Candidacy.

'Oh right, only we know that the World Master is a gentle soul unless someone provokes her…'

Shirley thought.

She imagined the World Master in everyone else's minds was a ridiculously tall man with a long beard and a scary face as she also had that kind of image in her mind until Davis told her that she was a beautiful woman, her beauty akin to Saintess Lunaria and the other Celestial Fairies.

"Oh?" Founder Rocksunder abruptly spoke loudly, "You're saying you know what the treasure is?"

"I do, but I won't reveal."

Shirley smirked before she turned to look at Zahara and Yeyin. She had heard from Isabella that they protected her, which made her feel immensely grateful, but Isabella also told her that they had regained their original memories and were now Flamerose and Frostrose instead of Zahara and Yeyin.

She didn't know how to approach them.

But before she could speak to them, Crystia came forward and announced.

"First Inheritor Rocksunder, our Fourth Inheritor, really did complete a Hidden Pagoda, the Fourth Hidden Pagoda."

"Really?" Founder Rocksunder flinched before he raised his hands, his expression surprised, "Bu-fahahaha! That's great."

"Wah~"

Shirley placed her hands together and gazed at Isabella, becoming pleasantly surprised. Evelynn also couldn't contain her smile. They both grabbed her hands and glared into each other's eyes.

To others, it was of little doubt that they were speaking through physical soul transmissions.

'No freaking way…'

Dewzai and Rea Tyriel's jaws almost dropped.

There was no way these three sisters from the same power would be able to win three Hidden Pagodas and that too in matter of two days. Just what are the chances?

Of course, it was obvious to them that they possessed extraordinary prowess, but that alone didn't decide the outcome of the trial. Rea Tyriel knew only the First Hidden Pagoda, which focused on the highest prowess. As for the other Hidden Pagodas, like the Eighth Hidden Pagoda, it needed tremendous skill and the ability to finish off a similarly skilled opponent within five minutes, which was near impossible.

She didn't know what the Ninth Hidden Pagoda entailed, but after Crystia explained that Isabella only won the Fourth Hidden Pagoda because of her comprehension of Rumbling Laws that induced absolute control of her energy over a point in space in a large range, she could tell that the Ninth Hidden Pagoda was anything but a battle of prowess.

Meanwhile, three pairs of enchanting eyes were sparkling.

Evelynn, Isabella and Shirley came to know that they were in possession of nine Gilded Realm Ascendant Pills altogether, four made from Minor Realms and five made from Lower Realms.

It made them want to abandon the Candidacy and return to Davis right now to see him praise them to the heavens. Unfortunately, if they left through the Crystal Gate, then the treasures they obtained would be taken away by the World Master.

It was mentioned in the monuments they encountered.

"We have nine of Gilded Realm Ascendant Pills… I think it's better if we stay put than endanger ourselves by trying to clear the Fifth Hidden Pagoda and having more eyes on us."

Evelynn gave her thoughts, her face turning solemn.

As the big sister, she needs to consider their safety first, more than anything.

"Ehh…?" Shirley sounded disappointed, "I guess staying safe right is also an option. No-"

"Big sister is right. People like Fanwain, whom I encountered at the Ninth Hidden Pagoda, will eventually spread the information that I have a Gilded Realm Ascendant Pill. Hundreds of inheritors wouldn't hesitate to gang up on us at that time."

She quickly turned her thoughts around, losing interest in checking out the other Hidden Pagodas.

The Fifth Hidden Pagoda required sixteen participants, which meant the presence of sixteen Immortal Emperors at this point in the Candidacy while they were still lowly Immortal Kings. There was no telling if others would arrive, and the subsequent inheritors would try to contact their power's inheritors or allies.

"The World Master spoke to me. She said if we gain a large amount of realm pills, it would turn out to be immensely dangerous for our family…"

"…!"

Isabella added, which instantly made Evelynn and Shirley cement their decisions to stay safe instead of going to look for Hidden Pagodas.

Closing her eyes, Isabella inwardly sighed.

She thought utmost they would've had five or six Gilded Realm Ascendant Pills altogether after World Master indirectly mentioned that Evelynn and Shirley could've won one or two Hidden Pagodas but she didn't expect it to be nine pills and more importantly, five of those pills to be made from Lower Realms.

That was even more ridiculous and would be strife with karmic burden.

"Honestly, without Flamerose and Frostrose and the others, I wouldn't have survived. I don't want to continue being shameless anymore, depending on their strength to survive. Even now, we're being protected by them without giving them back anything in return, not even sharing the identity of the rewards…"

Isabella confessed, causing Evelynn and Shirley to smile as they glanced at each other.

Their Isabella didn't know how to be truly shameless, even if she was dabbling in hoodwinking and plundering.

"Well," Shirley's eyes darted, "I'd be ashamed too if I don't reward Flamerose and Frostrose for protecting you. Only… I think darling should divide these treasures while leaving one for us each."

"I agree."

Evelynn and Isabella nodded before the former looked like she had something to say.

Eventually, she sent them soul transmissions.

"The identity of the rewards would eventually scour the Crystal World. There's a bit of danger in exposing it right now, but ultimately, this would let us know if they're truly allies. If they wanted these treasures no matter what, we could even distribute them appropriately as we couldn't defend ourselves. Otherwise, I doubt we'd survive their onslaught. However-"

Evelynn's eyes turned cold, "We don't have to cling to our morals in supporting Earth Dragon Clan and Fire Phoenix Clan anymore. Instead, what we will do is cut our ties and take the final inheritance for ourselves."

"That seems highly… appropriate~" Shirley laughed.

She had enough with the Fire Phoenix Clan that if it weren't for Flamerose, Frostrose, Founder Zenflame, Hirona, and Sierra, she would've long washed her hands off them.

"I agree too, but there's no need to hurry. If it were only me, I would've revealed it, but I don't want to endanger you two. Since the three of us are in the same place, it would be easier for them to kill us all together. I'd say we reveal it when the next seal, the seventh seal, shatters, and we become Level Seven Immortal Kings. At least, we could escape by sacrificing our blood essence when using an escape technique, even if we don't have an Escape Talisman."

Isabella said, convincing Evelynn and Shirley.

*Tack!~*

As though someone was listening to them, the seventh seal just broke, causing them to blink at each other.