Divine Emperor of Death

While Davis stared at Nadia, she did the same. She had a look of askance, wondering why he was looking at her while embracing his fourth mistress.

Did she have something on her face?

Indeed, she was an extreme beauty whose facial features were almost perfect, but Davis wasn't thinking of that while looking at her, but instead, he was wondering if her prowess had reached the Ninth Stage! 

However, he felt that it was unlikely unless she stood at the cultivation base of Peak-Level King Beast Stage. After all, the gap seemed to just get wider and wider, but what did King-Tier stand for?

Does it absolutely allows to cross levels by two times regardless of the stage, or was it like humans just increasing their prowess by two times? Davis felt that although King-Tier's ability in crossing levels applies to levels, it surely does not apply to stages. 

For example, although he now may be able to fight a stage higher in Essence Gathering Cultivation, it wouldn't be the same once he reached the Law Dominion Stage. The number of levels he could surpass would take a hit unless he managed to conjure a high-level domain, increasing his prowess at that stage.

However, for a King-Tier Magical Beast, whether if it was Earth Rank Species Magical Beast or an Emperor Rank Species Magical Beast, it would be able to fight two levels above its current cultivation base regardless, but when it comes to stages, it does not apply.

Therefore, although Nadia could easily outwit Low-Level Ninth Stage Powerhouses with her concealment, she could not defeat or even injure them at this point in time unless she had the chance to strike at their weakness or at their weak moments.

Thinking of Ninth Stage, Davis frowned, but he then put a smile on his face before separating from Sophie.

"Sophie, do you think Emperor Rank Species Magical Beast exists in the Hundred Devil Thunder Archipelago?"

Sophie blinked, wondering why he suddenly brought this, but her lips moved as she didn't hesitate to answer, "Well, this is something that I heard from hearsay and asked my grandfather since I felt curious. He said that Emperor Rank Species Magical Beasts did exist here, but it was something about even before the Alstreim Family was founded. It seemed that they were all exterminated by the Infernal Lightning Palace and the other powers who came here to plunder the resources here."

"Oh... So it wasn't only the Alstreim Family who was subjected to this kind of bullying..." Davis finally understood.

Likely, the Hundred Devil Thunder Archipelago was the same as Peak-Level Spirit Stone Mines. The resources that probably acted as a source, generating Emperor Grade Resources, were all taken away when the fog split apart the land, splitting it into Fifty-Two Territories!

And when every five hundred years passes, new Emperor Grade Resources would've been born in the Hundred Devil Thunder Archipelago, and it would be ripe for the taking, making the other peak powers move while ignoring the hegemon so as not to attract the giants of the righteous path.

When he thought of it this way, apparently, leaving a few Peak-Level Spirit Stone Mines in small Territories and banning it from being plundered by all cultivators of the righteous path and a few understanding magical beast powers was nothing but an act of mercy in the giants' eyes.

'If even the Peak-Level Spirit Stone Cores that act as sources are taken away, then the small Territories would become worse than country-side, becoming desolate and weak like the current Tripartite Alliance Territory.'

The only reason why Eighth Stage Experts weren't present in the Tripartite Alliance Territory was because of the decree announced by the three nearby ruling hegemons, and the only reason why the Ninth Stage Powerhouses weren't present there and tried to usurp the control of the Territory was because of the absence of Emperor Grade Resources.

Where there are peak resources present, peak powers shall naturally be present.

'So this is the reason why the Infernal Lightning Palace doesn't want this Territory. Instead, they have taken a mid-sized Territory for larger space while having better resources at their reach. As for this far away Hundred Devil Thunder Archipelago, they would probably send one or two Ninth Stage Powerhouses along with Eighth Stage Experts to collect the resources that have grown in the last five hundred years.'

Davis felt that everything about Alstreim Family's silence about the Infernal Lightning Palace fell into place as it now made sense. They were an enemy whom they could not declare as an enemy, and it wasn't their problem as the Hundred Devil Thunder Archipelago never truly belonged to them as it was being plundered even before they had established themselves.

"Indeed, letting no one know about the situation in the Hundred Devil Thunder Archipelago and maintaining their reputation is the wiser move..." Davis nodded his head.

"What...?" Sophie became confused.

"Ah, nothing. I was just thinking about Ninth Stage Powerhouses, that's all."

Davis shrugged before he took control of the flying boat, riding it towards a mountain peak that was enshrouded by grey fog. It made no difference where he landed since the Dark Thunder Island's entirety seemed to be covered in grey fog from his view, so he felt that it was better if he took the high ground.

He surveyed the grey fog and saw that his soul force wasn't impeded. He tried using his essence energy and martial energy and perceived that it was the same. The grey fog had no effects on his energy, nor did it serve to deeply obstruct his eyesight. It seemed to be just a byproduct of the extinction lightning that fell here all second, all day long, seemingly not harmful at all.

Davis furrowed his brows in suspicion.

"Sophie, do you think or know if this grey fog is harmful...?"

Sophie shook her head, "No, it's just harmful to cultivators who haven't reached the Gold Stage yet."

"Mhm? Gold Stage?"

"Yes, Gold Stage because this grey fog is extremely dangerous when it is breathed in before it manages to seep through your bones, tainting your bone marrow while making it rot. Fortunately, with the nectar you gave me, I advanced into the Gold Stage, so I would not be harmed here even if my energy becomes nil because my natural body's defense has effectively made the grey fog harmless."

"However, I would not survive in the inner region where the grey fog's potency is much greater than the grey fog here. Nevertheless, for you, you would be fine even in the core region, but of course, you would be taken down by ninth stage extinction bolts of lightning instead, so I wouldn't recommend."

Sophie uttered while Davis saw her brain expand like a balloon in an imaginary manner. He bowed and gestured a cultivator's greeting.

"I understand, your majesty!"

Sophie flushed red, "Don't tease me!"

"Ahaha!" Davis laughed as he turned to look at Nadia.

"Nadia, don't conceal your undulations. Make it blaze so that no magical beasts dare to disturb us anymore. My targets aren't magical beasts anymore but the comprehension of the soul and Lightning Laws, so use your doppelganger to stay here with Sophie while you come with me to protect both of us at the same time."

"Yes!" Nadia's lips possessed a wide smile.

"What...? But... I..." Sophie looked crestfallen.

Davis knew that she wanted to say that she would come with him, but he digressed.

"Sophie, I understand your feelings..." He spoke in a soft tone, "But staying here while beginning to comprehend Fire Laws through Starcy will help you tremendously in re-manifesting your Law Manifestation than sticking with me at this moment. Nadia's doppelganger will protect you during this time, so be my sweet wife and wait for me, okay?"

"Yes..."

Sophie appeared to have melted from affection as she lowered her head. She raised her head a moment later and looked determined.

"I won't disappoint you!"

Davis smiled profoundly as he grasped her chin, "I like strong women, but it's not like I dislike women who listen to me either." 

He leaned as his lips pressed on hers, giving her a parting gift.

"Alright, wish me luck."

"Mhm... Please take care of yourself and don't overdo it."

Davis grinned widely as he bowed, "As you wish, your majesty."

*Whoosh!~*

He disappeared into thin air along with Nadia, causing Sophie to not let out her retort as it got stuck in her throat. She closed her agape lips and smiled, 'Why are you so good to me? It's almost like a fantasy....'

She blinked before she shook her head. 

'It's a fantasy come true!'

Sophie smiled as she looked around. Finding herself a good spot on the mountain peak, she brought out a wooden house similar to what Davis summoned out of his spatial ring. Any elites planning to head towards the Hundred Devil Thunder Archipelago will bring these types of abodes with them as they wouldn't be able to find a cultivation cave or too lazy to create one for themselves.

She wasn't surprised. 

Soon, after informing Nadia that she was going to seclude herself to perceive Fire Laws, she entered a room and sat crossed-leg on the bed. She took out the Crystallized Flame Bead as she held it in her palm, feeling its heat trying to enter her pores.

"Master!~"

Sophie could feel the excitement in Starcy's childish voice. She smiled before she spoke, "Go ahead and absorb it."

*Whoosh!~*

Starcy appeared out from Sophie's dantian as her purple flames soared. Her flame body appeared and directly engulfed the Crystallized Flame Bead as she began to devour its energy! In just an instant, Starcy's energy began to rise as if it had been fed some vigor pills. 

"Yes, keep absorbing its energy just like that until you achieve a breakthrough. We need to become stronger for me, for yourself, and most importantly for him!"

Sophie's expression bloomed into a delirious smile as she saw a bright future ahead of her. All that remained was to grasp it and never let it go! Such a simple matter, but she mused that it was the most challenging task to do!