Davis began refining the Peak-Level Lord Beast Stage Soul Essences. As expected, after refining one of the thirty-eight, he didn't receive any kind of byproduct like comprehension, and besides, he couldn't feel any increase in his Soul Forging Cultivation.

Nevertheless, he wasn't disheartened and continued to refine.

Two, three, four soul essences were refined and still no increase. However, at the fifth refinement, he felt his soul essence suddenly experience a bit of change!

Davis's eyes were still closed, but his body shook in excitement. Although he felt that it didn't amount to a significant increase, it still was an increase, letting him know that it might be possible for him to increase his soul essence's quality which in turn would automatically result in his soul prowess increasing.

He continued to refine after feeling the excitement in his heart lessen but still remain!

======

A few weeks back, the Solitary Soul Avatar and Nadia's doppelganger managed to safely bring Sophie back to the Purple Guest Palace. They had just entered when and released their concealment when an elder came to visit them.

Davis saw the visitor and saw that it was none other than Grand Elder Krax Alstreim.

Sophie's eyes went wide why her grandfather quickly managed to find her when she suddenly realized that he was not looking at her but instead looking at Davis's so-called avatar.

"Dragon Queen's Protector, my Ancestor says that he has something important to discuss and would like to invite you to the Ancestor Hall. I merely came here to relay this message, but Ancestor also added that it is 'significant'."

"I understand. You can go..." Davis uttered in a hoarse voice. He had instantly worn his black robes to hide his features when he sensed a guest, so he didn't get caught.

"Yes!" Grand Elder Krax Alstreim raised his head from his slight bow before he saw that his granddaughter was here. Shouldn't she be with Davis at the Hundred Devil Thunder Archipelago? He couldn't understand for a moment about what was happening that he couldn't help but ask.

"Protector, why is my granddaught-"

"Well, it seemed that Young Mistress's subor- friend met danger, and this woman was with him, so I took both of them back here. You can take her back if you want..." Davis nonchalantly uttered in a hoarse voice.

It caused Grand Elder Krax Alstreim's eyes to widen, "What!? Davis Alstreim has met danger?"

Davis nodded, "Yes, but he is safe within this structure, receiving treatment from the Young Mistress herself, so you don't need to worry."

"I see..." Grand Elder Krax Alstreim heaved a heavy sigh. He couldn't help but give a deep bow, "Thank you for saving our hope!"

Indeed, rather than his granddaughter's matter, he was more worried about Davis's safety as he was their Alstreim Family's path to glory. However, it wasn't like he didn't care about Sophie. He would be more than happy to learn if they had developed some kind of intimacy, but since it was something more than he could wish for, he didn't dare to burden Sophie with expectations.

He merely raised his head, smiled, and asked, "Child, would you like to return?"

He felt going on an adventure in the Hundred Devil Thunder Archipelago and safely returning with their current strength was a blessing from the heavens. However, he had no idea that they had reached places that they shouldn't step into with their supposed cultivation bases.

"Grandpa," Sophie raised her head as her eyes flashed with worry, "Alchemist Davis protected me from many dangers, finally ending up being injured in my stead. I can't be shameless and return without thanking him at least!"

Grand Elder Krax Alstreim blinked before he nodded his head, "Very good! You must learn to differentiate between gratitude and hatred. For a woman who refused to engage in interaction in festivities, you have surpassed my expectations, knowing how to behave, just like how you now choose to reciprocate kindness with gratitude."

"Grandpa..." Sophie appeared to be taken aback.

Grand Elder Krax Alstreim clasped his hands towards Davis, "I'll take my leave, Protector."

He turned around and exited the Purple Guest Palace while Davis looked at his back, feeling that he was a diplomatic and neutral person who knew to differentiate between gratitude and hatred, following Ancestor Dian Alstreim to the fullest, unlike Grand Elder Valdrey Alstreim's subordinate, who turned out to be a total betrayer and a scapegoat prepared by the Yantras.

Once Grand Elder Krax Alstreim left, Davis opened his mouth, "Well, I'm looking forward to seeing how you would 'repay' me with gratitude."

Sophie's cheeks turned red as she instantly picked up on his meaning, "I would like to... but you're not here..."

Davis became taken aback, expecting her to frame him as shameless, but she did the exact opposite, making his illusionary heart fluctuate. He couldn't help but wryly laugh, "Now that you're here, perhaps, you should meet with them..."

Sophie's expression turned awkward, "I already met Evelynn and established familiarity, but I haven't met Natalya... What should I say to her...?"

"I don't know..." Davis glanced away, "Perhaps, you should say that you kissed and seduced me, so you had no choice but to take responsibility and become one of my wives?"

"Ah~" Sophie hid her face in embarrassment with her two palms as she recalled the moment she kissed him, thinking that she was going to die anyway, thinking that she had nothing to lose, so might as well fulfill her last wish of wanting to be together with him at least at the final moment of her life.

But reliving that moment, she felt extremely glad that she did something stupid like that. Otherwise, she might not have been here today or received numerous benefits from him like Starcy, the Purple Star Flame, and the Crystallized Flame Bead that was refined a few more times to help her cultivate as she increased Starcy's rate of growth.

Nevertheless, she knew that the most important thing she had gained during this suicidal adventure was Davis himself, making her extremely satisfied that she couldn't feel in all these years.

Davis grasped her wrist and walked her into the pathway before entering the hall. From there, he passed by a few corners before they stood in front of a door.

"Sophie, it seems like Ancestor Dian has something important to inform me, so I will leave you here."

"Eh?" Sophie panicked, "What!? But I..."

"It's just Evelynn in this room, so don't worry." Davis was about to open the door when it opened by itself, and a figure rushed to embrace him,

Davis became taken aback as he saw Evelynn hug him tightly while wrapping her arms around him as if she would never let him go. He couldn't help but understand.

'Ah, what a worrywart... She couldn't stop worrying for my safety, unable to cultivate from the time I left to retrieve Sophie...'

He caressed her head and ran his fingers through her silky green hair, silently consoling her in front of Sophie's moved expression. She could feel that they extremely cared about each other, making her panicked emotions fly away.

She didn't feel jealous or sad at all, because she already knew that she had fallen in love with a married man. Instead, she couldn't help but wonder when she would reach similar to Evelynn's place in his heart. That was the only thing she worried about when she saw them affectionately embrace.

"You were okay..." Evelynn finally let him go as she stared at his sapphire eyes.

"Of course, and as I told you, I brought Sophie over here..." At the end of his sentence, he couldn't help but avoid her affectionate eyes as he glanced at Sophie.

Evelynn followed his gaze and saw a red-faced Sophie, seemingly not knowing how to interact with her that she couldn't help but smile.

"Both of you, come inside first..."

"Ah no, I have a business to attend to since it seems like the Ancestor has something important to inform me..."

Evelynn's eyes momentarily went wide, realizing the weight of the matter. She calmed down, looking at Sophie with a smile, "I understand. I'll take care of her."

Davis pursed his lips, "I'm sorry for burdening you when you should be cultivating..."

Evelynn shook her head, "In any case, I couldn't concentrate well, at least for the time being, so using this chance and getting to know our future sister Sophie Alstreim is the natural choice of action I should take..."

Davis couldn't help but reached out his hands to pinch her cheek, "You're starting to sound like me, haha..."

"You're my other half after all..." Evelynn giggled as her bosoms trembled along with her laughter.

Sophie's eyes went wide as she saw those big bosoms. Her own bosoms were ample, but in front of Evelynn, she couldn't raise her chest in proudness.

"Well, I have no choice but to depend on you again, Evelynn. I'll see you two soon." Davis gestured with a wink and disappeared right in front of their gazes.

Both of the ladies blinked before they turn to look at each other in awkward silence.

"For now... Let's enter..." Evelynn uttered again, causing Sophie to nod her head like a hen.

"Yes!"

=======

In the Ancestral Hall, Davis appeared after getting through the magical beast guardians without a problem. He manifested himself in front of Ancestor Dian Alstreim and Ancestor Tirea Snow, causing the both of them to be taken aback.

They were instantly taken aback by his concealment, but Ancestor Dian Alstreim still possessed a solemn expression on his face as he looked towards Ancestor Tirea Snow.

"Tirea, tell him what you saw there..."