Divine Emperor of Death

With the Boundless Wind City Lord's soul essence floating before him, Davis narrowed his eyes.

His soul force surged like an unseen tide, tendrils of life diving into the shimmering fragment of consciousness. Images, thoughts, and emotions unfolded within his mind, a chaotic cascade of memories unraveling within him.

Like any time, Davis didn't like peeping into others' memories. It more or less contained uncomfortable scenarios. He was sick of them. Nonetheless, he clenched his teeth and went through it.

The first wave was pure noise—irrelevant flashes of family banquets, mundane city administration, and personal indulgences. A lot of… personal indulgences. There were too many, as the Boundless Wind City Lord seemed to have lived for three hundred thousand years. He was fairly young, considering he was a Level Three Autarch.

But in the realm of supreme geniuses, that was pretty old.

Regardless, Davis swept through these like a blade through weeds, severing the unnecessary memories and letting them disintegrate into nothingness.

He slowed as a more substantial memory surfaced. It appeared to be a meeting in a lavish hall.

The Boundless Wind City Lord stood before a hooded figure cloaked in a black robe, their voice sharp yet restrained. "The Whispering Wildlands Realm Master... they say he moves as the mists do and is hidden behind a layer of clouds, but a single name might bring you closer—Arys Duskbane. You may be able to find him in the Scarlet Ember Pavilion as he frequently visits there to spend time."

"Alright." The Boundless Wind City Lord responded.

The memory continued, and Davis lingered, tracing the faint echoes of the hooded figure's presence. He couldn't glean more—this figure had shielded their thoughts well, leaving only more questions in the City Lord's mind.

He could tell that the City Lord was trying to garner information to meet the Whispering Wildlands Realm Master. It was said he was the most elusive out of all the Realm Masters in the Lower Realms, rarely showing his face. Hence, no one could find him. Even the major powers wouldn't be able to find him even if they wished for it, but it was said that there was a set of people who knew how to contact the Whispering Wildlands Realm Master, and that was the twelve mysterious Grand Elders.

Even their existence was quite a secret. The only way to identify them was that they possessed talismans unique to the Whispering Wildlands Lower Realm.

As for why the Boundless Wind City Lord was trying to meet the Realm Master, that was naturally to gain more power and influence.

Davis probed deeper, sifting through layers of resistance-free memories. Fragments of political dealings and covert operations swirled around him like a tempest, but he focused on the path forward.

He limited the echoes to the name Arys Duskbane and the Scarlet Ember Pavilion.

"Nothing directly about the Whispering Wildlands Realm Master or his location." Davis's voice was calm, but a glint of amusement flashed in his eyes. "But this Arys might lead me to him."

The Scarlet Ember Pavilion appeared to be known to be a haven for rogue cultivators and mercenaries.

Davis couldn't stop a smirk from appearing on his lips. He felt like it had been years since he ventured out to adventure, and this smelled like one.

"Looks like my day just got a little more interesting."

With a flick of his wrist, Davis dismissed the soul essence, letting it return to his soul sea. What he sifted through were memories and not the energy of the soul essence itself.

"…" Illumina simply watched him move, appearing smitten.

She wouldn't even have a Level Four Immortal Emperor in her eyes with her current prowess, but this man had her full attention.

She then received the command to leave, causing her to acquiesce.

The flying ship soon left, and everyone could only watch in confusion.

Did the Boundless Wind City Lord meet a person of status for him to have gone silent? Moreover, what was the sudden burst of energy that seemed like a death knell?

They couldn't tell. They didn't want to check out either, as the Boundless Wind City Lord was ruthless.

But after the flying ship left, the Boundless Wind City Lord's family came out crying, announcing that he was dead!

It caused a pandemonium within the city. Confusion spread, and disorder became rampant. The city that had stood for hundreds of century millennium was shaken, and it was taken advantage of as looters and bandits stormed through the city. However, they were quickly subdued, and a new City Lord, a Level One Autarch, took his place.

Naturally, the new Boundless Wind City Lord sent out numerous pursuers but was unsuccessful. The flying ship seemed to have disappeared into thin air as it didn't seem to leave any traces.

After a few hours of travel, Davis's flying ship descended gracefully, its shimmering aura fading as it approached the dense forest bordering the Scarlet Ember Pavilion. The atmosphere here was charged, the air thick with an undertone of hostility and latent energy.

Davis could sense numerous people, possibly bandits, trying to ambush. However, their eyes were good. They saw his flying ship and, recognizing it was Autarch Grade, something that they couldn't possibly deal with, they decisively left.

These bandits seemed to be experienced. Some of them even headed towards the pavilion.

Davis imagined that they could also be the pavilion's informants.

Regardless, Davis stepped out, his black robes fluttering as he landed on solid ground.

The forest floor was damp, the scent of earth and decayed foliage filling his senses. Ahead, a narrow path led to a bustling complex of towering red pavilions and ornate arches decorated with the shapes belonging to the twelve Paragon Magical Beasts. It was common to see this type of design in the True Immortal World, for the legend of the twelve Paragon Magical Beasts was well known.

Davis looked ahead. The Scarlet Ember Pavilion loomed in the distance. Its blood-red color shone under the sunlight, exuding an air of danger and intrigue, but to him, it was nothing.

He walked along with Illumina, who seemingly acted as his bodyguard. She seemed to have hidden her bunny ears and tail with illusion art.

The same could be said about Davis. He switched to a black robe and made his hair black. It wasn't like he wanted to hide, but if people knew about him, he would have to kill needlessly. Besides, he could not kill anyone under the Empyrean and Autarch Stages. Otherwise, he was screwed.

And it just so happened every person nearby was below the Autarch Stage.

If Davis so much as accidentally killed them, he could say goodbye to his life.

However, he was too lazy to mask his facial features. He didn't feel like it.

As he made his way closer, Davis's gaze swept across his surroundings. The forest seemed alive, not just with wild magical beasts but with countless watchful eyes hidden among the shadows. He could sense many auras shifting past the trees—rogue cultivators, mercenaries, and bounty hunters.

Reaching the edge of the pavilion's perimeter, Davis was greeted by a checkpoint.

A group of armored cultivators standing beneath a crimson banner emblazoned with a blazing ember sigil. Their leader, a burly man with a long scar crossing his face, stepped forward, his narrowed eyes sizing Davis up. He was even a head taller, appearing imposing.

"State your purpose," the man barked, his tone laced with authority but also suspicion.

A mere Level Four Immortal Emperor dared to step into their place and visit the main pavilion?

Davis's lips curved into a faint smile, his demeanor calm yet commanding. "I'm here to meet Arys Duskbane. I was told he might be able to assist me with... certain inquiries."

Everyone nearly flinched but held their breath.

The scarred man's gaze hardened, "Such a big figure doesn't meet just anyone. If you want to talk to him, you'll have to earn the privilege—or pay for it."

Davis raised an eyebrow. "And what currency does the Scarlet Ember Pavilion value most? Transcendent crystals or spilled blood? I seem to have both in my pockets."

The man smirked, though his grip on his weapon tightened. "Both have their place here. But if you're not prepared for either, you'd best turn around now."

"Damn, a Level Nine Sovereign could really talk, huh…"

Davis's smirk deepened as he released a faint ripple of his soul force, just enough to pressure the scarred man without drawing too much attention. The man's expression stiffened, a bead of sweat forming on his temple.

"Courting death!"

A subordinate abruptly launched himself to Davis with a spear in hand. The spear twisted with a roll of the hand and pierced towards Davis with incredible pressure. This attack came from a Level Seven Autarch whose prowess was three levels higher. It could be said he had surpassed the common confinement of the Sovereign Stage.

Davis didn't bother to make a single move.

Illumina took a step forward, but she stopped. The scarred man suddenly appeared between his subordinate and Davis, blocking the spear by grabbing the shaft and stopping the spin. His palm almost seemed to light up in flames from the friction and Flame Laws trying to explode.

"Leader!" The subordinate yelled out in disbelief, but what he received was a fist on his face. He was sent flying and crashed into a pond nearby.

"Insolent! Who gave you the permission to take action?"

The scarred man bellowed at his subordinate before he turned to Davis.

"My apologies. I didn't recognize that you were a supreme genius."

"…!"

The surrounding warriors jumped in shock and surprise.

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