“…”
A pair of eyelids quivered ever so lightly before opening slowly, revealing unfocused sapphire eyes that trembled from the rays of sunlight shining upon them. Taking a moment to adjust to the luminescence intensity, that person took a deep breath and sat up.
Checking up on their body, they confirmed that their injuries were actually healed, and even the soul essence they sacrificed to heal a white-haired beauty was restored.
‘Was it Fallen Heaven…? Not likely…’
Davis thought as he turned to look aside where Myria was sitting a few dozens of meters away from him but still close compared to the precious distance she adopted. Perhaps, it was Ellia seated there cultivating. Seeing that she was fine and not dead like she was in his dream, or rather a nightmare, he heaved a sigh of relief inwardly and turned to look at the others who were close by, simply sleeping along with him on the grassy plains.
‘You all…’
Davis’s brows twitched, not knowing what to say other than he was sleeping in a flower bed, their floral fragrance making him giddy although he had just woke up. Even Clara and Tia were here, having their eyes closed and resting as if they hadn’t done it for a long time.
However, he couldn’t find Schleya among them.
Of course, there was the person who noticed him wake up, quickly rising to her feet before she fell before him, raising her head to touch his cheek, her luscious red lips moving.
“Davis, are you fine?”
Evelynn asked, her purple eyes gleaming with worry. Her voice instantly woke up everyone else as they hurriedly sat up.
Davis lightly smiled and nodded, “How many days has it been?”
Due to being out cold, he couldn’t tell how much time had passed, unlike a normal seclusion session.
“Five days…”
Davis gawked, a sense of urgency appearing in his heart. He was about to ask them why they didn’t wake him up sooner because of the danger looming outside but glimpsing at the deep concern in their eyes, his agape mouth closed as he was unable to bring himself to ask.
It was obvious that they chose his life as a priority over anything else.
However, how could they be completely at ease? He could see the deep worry in Isabella and Shirley’s, their eyes slightly red.
Were they crying?
‘Wait, why are everyone’s eyes slightly red?’
He could see stains of tears from the corner of their eyes, although some quickly tried to hide them by looking away.
“W-What’s the matter? Am I… Are we dead or something? Is this the reincarnation cycle?”
Davis turned around to see once again, but he still saw that they were in the Life Nurturing Formation, not to mention that he could feel the presence of the palace through the soul connection. However, his expression couldn’t help but suddenly change as his pupils dilated.
Instinctively touching his stomach, he felt the changes in his lower dantian.
His energy had even more weight to them, dense and strong, overflowing with heavenly fire and heavenly lightning energy.
“Yes, you entered the High-Level Law Rune Stage while asleep…”
Evelynn wryly smiled, unable to derive much happiness from it. On the other hand, Davis’s brows continuously twitched.
To make a breakthrough while battling was said to be rarer, one in a billion chance of occurring, but to perform a breakthrough while sleeping was, even rarer, usually experienced only by those who are at the absolute limit of their cultivation, where as soon as they relaxed, the energy that is filled to the brim will instinctively circulate and reach the next level as they smoothly flow without any kind of obstruction.
He had come across such a thing, perhaps because he had been using his Essence Gathering Cultivation a lot, and such a rare occasion would invite joy, but now, it only invited gloom.
Normally, a breakthrough in higher stages would be a matter worthy of celebration as an increase in level meant an increase in reputation and authority. Many cultivators would use this chance to leverage many matters. However, for Davis, entering High-Level Law Rune Stage would mean that his base prowess was at the ninth level of the Ninth Stage, meaning that he would be forced to ascend once he exited the Nine-Treasured Immortal Ordeal Palace.
Davis inwardly grumbled but then shook his head.
‘Erm… whatever. I risked ascendance when I told Fallen Heaven to no longer hold back its powers. It’s all the same…’
He consoled himself, although there was a valid chance Fallen Heaven might not be subjected to the ascendance rule as it was a unique existence, an apex treasure described by this palace’s spirit herself.
But for him, he was going to be subjected to enforcement regardless.
“Don’t worry, you all. Things haven’t changed but just hastened. We’re just going to live somewhere else if it’s fated for me to ascend. Sophie, Niera, and Lea. Think about it. I promised you three to marry you in the immortal world. Aren’t you three excited?”
Sophie, Niera, and Lea instantly blushed as they were suddenly put in the spotlight. Their mouths went agape as they didn’t know what to say, wishing to go to the dangerous immortal world unprepared just because they could have their marriage?
Evelynn giggled at their probably thoughts and turned to look at Davis.
“Maybe we can try suppressing your cultivation, not by yourself but actually trying to seal it.”
Evelynn’s third eye opened as it blinked adorably. As long as Davis doesn’t resist and lowers his cultivation prowess, it should be possible for her to seal him using her Sealing Hex.
Davis felt that Evelynn had a point, contemplating for a moment before he nodded his head, “We could give it a try.”
His words made Evelynn smile brightly. Even though they were married, to agree to seal their cultivation was an act of absolute trust for the most part.
“It’s useless.”
Abruptly, a melodious voice echoed from the skies, causing their expressions to change as they all stood up warily, their energies surging in defense.
“Suppressing nor sealing would work as you’re a denizen of this world. The Grand Formation in the First Haven World recognizes every one of you, and the moment your prowess has reached the immortal level, you’ll be forced to ascend.”
Davis’s brows furrowed as he heard the loud voice. It didn’t seem like Lereza designed to show herself, but he wasn’t bothered about that, wanting to know more.
“Lereza, do you know anything about the immortal world?”
“…”
“Silence, huh. I know you’re biased against me, but I’m a man who holds grudges and repays debts. Whatever people do to me, I’ll do the same to them. So the sooner you open up to me, the better it is for you in the future.”
“Are you threatening me? Shall I destroy you right now when I actually can?”
Came a booming voice that made the others actually tremble in pressure. Even Myria appeared disturbed, her eyes squinting at both Davis and the palace spirit she hadn’t seen yet.
“Tch, I only said what I said. There’s no nuance behind it. Besides, rather than believing you and waiting to see if you’re on my side or someone else’s at a precarious moment, I would doubt and learn if you’re on my side now! Come on, let me see if you can kill me as you said.”
Davis’s voice was sharp and resounding as he gestured at the skies, finally flicking his sleeve.
“Hmph! You’ve got guts!”
Lereza’s angered voice resounded as Davis braced himself for impact, intending to use Fallen Heaven, although assumably, he was not sure if he could kill a spirit at the Immortal King Stage! The intense pressure itself was too much to deal with, but rather than being subject to an unknown plot that ruthlessly caused him to despair, he felt that it was better to face it here.
“…”
Surprisingly, no attacks came even after a few seconds had passed, causing a few of them to relax while Davis looked confused.
At least there should be a probing attack, right?
‘Could it be that she can’t attack me because I’m the palace master?’ Davis wondered if there was a limit placed on her.
Nonetheless, he couldn’t help but wonder what the problem with this spirit was? Was she checking his character and bottom line?
Feeling a bit suspicious, Davis shook his head and turned to look at his first wife.
“There you have it, Evelynn. Apparently, it’s useless even if others sealed one’s cultivation.”
“I see…”
Evelynn pursed her lips, appearing a bit reluctant. Although she didn’t believe that spirit, she couldn’t find a reason for that spirit to lie either, as it was in line with what they were thinking. The others thought similarly, leaving them to place their hopes that they could only persevere through the struggles as Myria declared for herself.
On the other hand, Davis decided to unhesitatingly leave as there was little that could be done.
Initially, he thought that he could use the Grand Chaos Body Art to temper his body with the Chaos Essence Orb to survive his tribulation. However, this time, he would be forced to ascend without having to undergo a tribulation, so there was no need for him to spend time on the Grand Chaos Body Art, especially when he didn’t know what was going on outside.
Moreover, he had Fallen Heaven, which had released its powers, no longer suppressing itself, so he wasn’t worried about the immortal world as much as he did a week ago.
For the forced ascendance, he knew that he would just be locked in place for a few hours or so just like any other immortal if it followed the same rules, giving him enough time to get his people to ascend with him. However, thinking about the Alstreim Family’s situation after he left as his ascendance would be more or less made public as he was still in the Distorted Skies of Yonder, he couldn’t help but become worried even though Ancestor Dian Alstreim had enough power to defend himself and the power.
“Alright, let’s go get my rewards before leaving here.”
Davis didn’t know if he would be blessed with the opportunity to enter the Nine-Treasured Immortal Ordeal Palace, so he decided to take the Grand Chaos Body Art and Chaos Essence Orb into his spatial ring first. If his spatial ring couldn’t house it due to some kind of restriction or inability, there were the spatial inheritance rings of Shirley and Isabella that were more sturdy and durable.
He exited the Life Nurturing Formation after taking the Life Essence Orb from the core and exited the chamber, starting to fly as being the master of the palace allowed him to do so, and since he allowed them, they also began to fly behind as they followed him.
Even Myria did the same, seemingly interested in Chaos Treasures.
As they arrived at the ninth floor and once again saw the treasures that made their very souls tremble, Davis moved inside the chamber as he arrived in front of those two treasures.
