Divine Emperor of Death

Central North East, Alstreim Family Territory.

Above the massive Alstreim Ocean, a figure solitarily flew, rushing past the clouds that mostly blotted out the entire ocean. Many magical beasts scurried away at the sight of this silhouette, not even bothering to see what kind of existence the outline was as soon as they sensed the powerful undulations.

Even the countless sea magical beasts dwelled deeper into the ocean, not daring to come out.

Suddenly, the silhouette stopped at a point in the sky, hovering. In the surrounding hundred kilometer radius, nothing was present other than the ocean, but looking at the small island that spanned about fifty kilometers in the distance, they took a step forward and disappeared.

The next moment, the silhouette placed a foot on the island's fertile soil a two hundred kilometers away and boringly looked around, sensing a few magical beasts scampering away again.

"Mhm... Since he's coming towards me, I'll just wait here where it's relatively safe..." The silhouette chuckled in a male voice.

The shadow of his silhouette disappeared, replaced with a grand red robe that draped over his entire body. Standing six feet tall, he possessed sharp sword-like brows, a small nose, and thin lips. A small crown hung over his head, making him look like an emperor. 

In the distance, another silhouette rushed past the clouds above the Alstreim Ocean, heading towards the small island where the man with the powerful undulations seemed to be present. However, it appeared that this new silhouette unleashed the same powerful undulations released by the man in red robes.

The powerful newcomer quickly arrived and floated above the island. It was a man dressed in white robes, and he possessed a pale-white face, seemingly looking sick but was not.

He shot a condescending glance down the island and looked at the red-robed man who seemed to look as if he was making himself at home, building a house. In a few seconds, a palace rapidly appeared in the middle of the small island.

"Your illusions are as crappy as ever, Elizar Yantra. Want me to destroy it in an instant?" A rumbling voice echoed as essence energy surged, rapidly destroying the island's flora in an instant. The grass, flowers, trees all burned to ashes. Even the sands and the soul of the island looked scorched, instantly making it a barren land.

However, the palace remained standing tall, a voice laughingly echoing from inside.

"Ah, Dian, Dian... Why are you so angry? Come, come! Let me serve you a cup of wine in honor of our friendship!"

"Hmph!" Ancestor Dian Alstreim snorted before he flicked his sleeves and disappeared.

When he reappeared, he was inside the palace.

In a particularly luxurious room, Elizar Yantra sat on a grand chair. In front of him was a dining table that seemed to be made of a translucent white sheen of crystalline, gorgeous, and appealing to the eyes. It was a table made of Peak-Level Spirit Stones, and on it were two small cups that radiated an immense feeling of ancient aura and an open pot of wine that emitted deep fragrance. 

Elizar Yantra simply gestured for Dian Alstreim to be seated as he moved his other hand to pour the wine.

Ancestor Dian Alstreim possessed a cold expression and stood still as if refusing to be seated.

"Dian, we have a lot to talk, and catch up on old times-"

"Just stop letting out farts, and say what you are here for!" Ancestor Dian Alstreim icily spoke. He had no friendship with this person and couldn't help but instantly become incensed when mentioned a second time. At the least, he had communicated during the Nine Easter Territories competition.

Ancestor Elizar Yantra's brows narrowed as he frowned at the immense disrespect. He was also an Ancestor-level character, yet he was treated like a beggar!

Even though he knew that they were in the wrong, who cared?

The only ones with the might had the right to speak!

He ignored it but somberly replied, "Give back the Illusory Yantra King Bell, and if you do, I can pay a relevant price that would make you-"

"Heh!" Ancestor Dian Alstreim sneered, "I have yet to visit your Yantra Family to demand reparations for the damages your people have caused, but you're already here demanding for that rusty bell?"

"Didn't you kill my family's prodigy, Faragin Yantra, for it!?" Ancestor Elizar Yantra retorted, "I didn't ask anything about it, did I?"

"Hmph! The life of a waning old ghost is something not even worth a low-level spirit stone, and yet you dare to say that Faragin Yantra is your family's prodigy, and you suffered an immense loss because of it?"

"I only knew that the Yantra Family is scheming with their illusions, but never did I know that they were beyond shameless!"

"You!-"

"What you!?" Ancestor Dian Alstreim icily interrupted the inflamed Yantra Family's Ancestor.

"At first, I exchanged your family's Elders who had hidden here for a price since I only thought that it's a simple and childish move to instate a rebellion, but since you dare tried to internally jeopardize the Alstreim Family, it is rather painfully obvious that you tried to uproot my power!"

"It leaves me with no choice but to give the Yantras no more leeway!"

"From now on, every Yantra found in my Territory would be killed without question!" Ancestor Dian Alstreim declared with hostility, his purple pupils burning with crimson flames.

Ancestor Elizar Yantra's expression trembled, "Dian Alstreim, don't go too far! If you dare to do this, I will mobilize the entire Flowing Mist Sect to kill your adventuring experts!"

"Hmph! Just do so if you dare! With justice by my side, I will have the entire righteous sects of the Nine Eastern Territories know of your family's conduct with proof, and your Yantra Family's standing in the Flowing Mist Sect would inevitably drop!" Ancestor Dian Alstreim sneered.

"Don't delude yourself that I don't know anything about the internal affairs of your Flowing Mist Sect."

Ancestor Elizar Yantra stared at Ancestor Dian Alstreim, his swirling black eyes staring daggers that would kill. It was as if he acted on it; a ray of illusory swords would abruptly spurt out from his eyes, raining down upon Ancestor Dian Alstreim, rendering him to shreds!

However, his pupils trembled in apprehension, and he didn't. Instead, he took a deep breath to calm himself down.

"Dian Alstreim, the Illusory Yantra King Bell is my family's legacy artifact. It contains our karmic luck, making us prosper. It has no value to people such as yourselves since it contains our blood and soul."

"You know this, and so do all peak powers, so it won't matter if you sell to someone else, but if you sell it to me, I can pay a steep price for it!"

Ancestor Dian Alstreim coldly stared, not even giving an inch of leeway. 

Ancestor Elizar Yantra grimaced, "You won't reconsider?"

"There's nothing to consider!"

Ancestor Elizar Yantra's veins erupted, "You're refusing a toast, only to be forced to drink a forfeit!!!" 

"If you want an all-out war, just say so!" Ancestor Dian Alstreim coldly smiled, "My Alstreim Family isn't afraid of external threats. Even if our blood dyes this land, I assure you that I would use my entire life to take down the Yantra Family. At that time, let's see if the Flowing Mist Sect's other two prominent families keep you with them..."

Ancestor Dian Alstreim coldly laughed.

'You madman!!' Ancestor Elizar Yantra inwardly cursed as he trembled.

He used his entire willpower to calm himself down before he opened his mouth again.

"Is there really no way?" His voice trembled.

"Fool!" Ancestor Dian Alstreim raised his hand and pointed his finger at his nose, "You dared to scheme against my Alstreim Family twice! 

"If I still held exchanges with you, I won't even have the least bit of face remaining when I meet my ancestors in death!"

Ancestor Dian Alstreim remained adamant. This Illusory Yantra King Bell was the biggest and conclusive proof he possessed for their wrongdoings. Giving it away for a bit of benefit would make them lose the initiative and the overwhelming advantage.

He would be the ultimate fool and the loser to take that kind of action.

Unless the benefit overwhelmed the losses, he would never do such a thing.

Ancestor Elizar Yantra trembled like a volcano that was about to erupt on hearing Ancestor Dian Alstreim's answer, but he still didn't dare to declare anything. Instead, he was worried because without the Illusory Yantra King Bell protecting their karmic luck, he didn't dare to initiate a war between their powers. 

Karmic luck is obscure and seamless beneath the heavens, but it was something everyone at the level of Ninth Stage could vaguely realize a bit. This fact was confirmed by those Ninth Stage Powerhouses who have comprehended laws pertaining to karma, also known as Karma or Karmic Laws.

It was said that the existence of karmic luck always played a major role in a power's fate, capable of bringing them prosperity if it was high and bringing them to ruin if it were just the opposite, negative high. 

Ancestor Elizar Yantra didn't know much about it since he hadn't learned Karma Laws and experienced the mysteriousness of it by himself, but since every major power seemed to place utmost importance in karmic luck from ancient times, he didn't dare to be dismissive.

Therefore, he understood that even if they lost a battle, as long as there was karmic luck from the heavens supporting them, they would have a chance to fight back depending on the difficulty of the calamity they are facing.

And at this time, where the ominous Calamity Light loomed over the top of their heads, he knew that he couldn't lose his family's precious legacy artifact, which maintained their karmic luck.

If he completely lost the Illusory Yantra King Bell, it was unknown what kind of fate his Yantra Family would experience. Hence, no matter what, he had to get this legacy artifact back, or even the bit of karmic luck that remained in the Yantra Family would dissipate, ending up inviting a calamity for them!