"Hahahahaha!!!"

Top Disciple Vito Rein's ears were full of mocking laughter that even his thick face couldn't help but blush in shame. He glared at Shirley before giving a sweeping glance over the entire battle arena as if remembering all who dared to laugh at him.

The disciples who were laughing reacted as they became quiet, not willing to incur his wrath. Soon, the laughter died down with Top Disciple Vito Rein's full sweep. When he looked back at Shirley, they coldly stared at each other for a while before he harrumphed and looked towards Top Disciple Verona Stein.

To save what was left of his face, he could challenge her and battle above the battle stage. Still, she was his woman, and he felt little to no greed over that overly dangerous heavenly resource. Hence, feeling no need to aggravate her, he suppressed his anger and swallowed the humiliation at this moment as he didn't want to offend his other option.

If Top Disciple Shirley wasn't for him, he must entertain and court Top Disciple Verona Stein. That didn't change, but he had hoped to obtain both women. He began to smile as he flew back to his seat, seating beside his elder brother, who possessed a mocking expression on his face.

"Elder brother, your Shirley is so feisty. Can't you tell her to give me a bit of respect?" He raised his brows as if wanting to garner his elder brother's reaction.

"Who told you to fly off like others when she hadn't said anything to you? It was rather obvious that she was going to make fun of you when she gets the chance, so don't blame her or me for your own foolishness." Top Disciple Azzuren Rein chuckled.

While they were talking rather loudly, Shirley's brows furrowed as she commented, "Look at them talking as if I am very close with them."

"Don't worry..." Davis kept his indifferent expression as he sent a soul transmission.

"They won't live for much longer than you think they would..."

Shirley couldn't help but have her lips curve, her beautiful smile hidden behind her crimson veil, "I'm waiting for it, but don't do anything dangerous."

'Hehe... How can it not be dangerous, Shirley? If those two brothers die, you're the number one suspect regardless if they have evidence or not...'

Davis ruefully thought as he shook his head.

Shirley was already suspected of killing Schneider even though they had no evidence on their part. If these two elder brothers were to mysteriously die, she would again be suspected regardless of the evidence. Because she possessed a low cultivation base, she would undoubtedly be taken advantage of, but if she possessed a higher cultivation base like, perhaps a Grand Elder, then she probably won't even be disturbed on the account if they fail to find evidence.

Davis understood that was how this world worked.

If he or anyone expected sympathy from a stranger, then they have nothing else but to face a rude awakening, the reality of the world, but of course, there were also true sympathetic and kind people. He didn't erase them from his calculations, but he also knew encountering them is rare as ascending at this point, so they were as good as non-existent in his calculations.

Likely, Shirley knew these points as well, but she had faith in him and how he would carry out his plan.

Davis inwardly sighed, feeling the weight of the faith placed on him. He turned to look towards Sect Master Lea Weiss, wondering if he should make a deal as he did with Ancestor Dian Alstreim and Mival Silverwind. Surely, Grand Elder Valerian was also Sect Master Lea Weiss's enemy from the stories he heard so far, so there's quite a bit of chance that she might accept his proposition.

Suddenly, Sect Master Lea Weiss's head moved, and her crimson pupils connected with his eyes. One was looking up, and the other was looking down, the positions of their seats denoting the wide difference in their status. However, they both seemed to be wary of each other, regardless of their statuses.

'Mhm... She's likely suspicious and possibly anxious, wondering if I know about her Fire Phoenix Flames as Shirley does...'

Davis narrowed his eyes before he took his gaze away as he felt the intensity of her gaze. Her soul was actually at the High-Level King Soul Stage! Of course, it was not enough to threaten him, but along with her other two cultivation bases, the pressure she released from her gaze alone was nothing to laugh about.

Nevertheless, his thoughts were on some other matter as he began to contemplate.

With her prowess, she could absolutely disregard and thrash Grand Elder Valerian as it was said that their cultivation bases were not the same, possessing a difference of one level. One should not underestimate that one level because that one level alone was enough for Sect Master Lea Weiss to kill Grand Elder Valerian as long as he doesn't escape.

The gaps between levels in the Ninth Stage were the difference between heaven and earth, and that's why it was also said that out of the ten thousand known Ninth Stage Powerhouses in the Fifty-Two Territories were mostly Low-Level Law Rune Stage Powerhouses.

Making progress after entering that stage also became extremely difficult so it would take hundreds and thousands of years of progress for them to possibly move into the next level. Furthermore, it wasn't a given as resources like Peak-Level Spirit Stone Vein Fragments weren't easily obtained, not to mention the banned resource, the Peak-Level Spirit Stone Vein Source or Cores, which could never be used in fear of depleting it.

If all the Peak-Level Spirit Stone Vein Sources were somehow consumed, then the era of Ninth Stage Powerhouses would come to an end, and the dream of ascension might be severed! That was why the four large Territories had banned the consumption of Peak-Level Spirit Stone Vein Sources to protect their descendants' future.

It was something that the Grand Sea Continent also foresaw yet failed to protect.

Davis felt like he could compare it to environmental awareness as well, but he didn't go too far and thought of the reason why Sect Master Lea Weiss hadn't made a move on Grand Elder Valerian yet.

He felt that there were two possibilities, both enough to make him nod in understanding.

One, they were secretly working together.

Then everything that happened so far would make sense, but to go so far to suppress the background-less Shirley, that was going too far, but he didn't instantly reject it from his mind as they might have teamed up to do something else, something he had no idea about.

Of course, it was just a far-fetched possibility, so he didn't ponder too much on it.

The other was naturally a powerful intervention, like...

"Are you not going to ask why I didn't use my Perfect Domain...?" Shirley's voice suddenly resounded in his head, causing him to come out of his reverie.

He looked at her and blinked, "Because it would reveal your Fire Phoenix Flames?"

Shirley nodded her head but then shook, "My domain is a bit variable where I can interchange Fire Phoenix Flames and Burning Phoenix Flames as I please. I assume this is possible because they are a bit similar as the Burning Phoenix is a descendant of the Fire Phoenix."

"Woah, you can do that...?"

Davis became convinced in his ability to manipulate two forms of lightning if this were the case. The extinction lightning and Blazing Thunderlight Kirin's lightning are said to be similar in nature by that Blazing Thunderlight Kirin Immortal. Therefore, Shirley's variable use of domain gave him many options.

Shirley nodded her head.

"Therefore, I'm not worried about displaying my domain. Hehe, I've already displayed my Supreme Domain in the mini-realm, so most top disciples should know what kind of prowess I possessed previously, so I simply did not display my Perfect Domain to bring out the dumbstruck faces in them later."

"Shirley, you're quite the poser... I mean, in a good way..." Davis commented as soon as he realized his mistake.

"Well," Shirley didn't seem offended, "I like those reactions that validate my superiority."

"Me too..." Davis sounded convincing that Shirley couldn't help but smile, but her expression froze on hearing his next words.

"I just recently awakened to it. It's rather addicting, I should say truly..."

"Don't say like it's a fetish or something...!" Shirley's ears became red before she shook her head.

"In any case, I'm still hesitant to display my Perfect Domain for another reason. My fame will then shoot through the skies, and numerous suitors would ask for my hand in marriage, not to mention the number of miscreants who target me would start to increase, and even these Elders and Grand Elders might get an idea because of my talent and rich blood..."

"These are all too much trouble for me to reveal my Perfect Domain..."

Shirley sounded worried in Davis's head that he chuckled and couldn't help but say.

"No, go all out if you want. Your sect must naturally see you as the top priority to care about and nurture while they forget about those two vile brothers when I kill them. As for those who dare to come near you, just leave them to me."

"Are you sure...?"

"Yes..."

Davis did not hesitate to nod.

It became apparent to him that she was asking for his permission like a good wife who did not want to trouble him. After all, he knew that the number of people who conjured a Perfect Domain in the mid-sized and large-sized Territories was way less than the number of Ninth Stage Powerhouses present in the entire Fifty-Two Territories.

Their fame wouldn't be any less than the Ninth Stage Powerhouses!

Shirley nodded her head in reaction to his approval, feeling extremely fortunate. Many men would prioritize their own life when it came to offending powerful and influential people, but then, here was her beloved, telling her to act unbridled so that he could take care of anything that cropped up.

It made her want to use her Perfect Domain to make him feel proud of her but also not use it as she might end up troubling him.

'I hoped that he would say no... It would've at least saved me the trouble of having to decide whether to use it or not. But now, sigh...'

Shirley thought as she felt conflicted.

Davis was aware that the troubles would increase but conversely, Shirley's protection would also increase. She would become the greatest asset of the sect, and naturally, they would treat her as their goddess.

But would that be the case? Wouldn't they try to marry her off to someone else?

Davis smiled as that is where he came in, to incite fear amongst those burning phoenixes to not touch Shirley.

His identity? Fake and anonymous...

Could he be traced? Probably not, as nothing could be obtained from his soul body...

The enemies would probably become stuck in a loop if they are not courageous enough to make a move, but if they made a move, he would kill them anyway.

He was careful, but there was a limit to how careful he should be. If he kept steering away because he did not want troubles, he should probably retire and live freely in the Grand Sea Continent!