Davis and Shirley looked at the narrow pathway that led to this main hall. They possessed exasperated faces, all because the Sect Master interrupted their romantic moment once again.

Soon, the Sect Master's lovely figure became visible. She floated towards them, her two feet just an inch away from the artistically tiled floor of the pathway. Stopping right before them a few meters away, she didn't respond for a while as she just kept looking at Shirley.

"Sect Master...?"

Shirley asked with a confused expression on her face. She had already removed her crimson veil after entering the crimson palace, so her beautiful face was plain to be seen.

"Shirley, you really don't place me in your eyes, do you?"

Shirley's expression instantly changed into a wry one.

"Sect Master, I-"

"If you did, you would've already informed me that you had formed the Perfect Domain." Sect Master Lea Weiss shook her head as she interrupted, her expression hidden behind her crimson veil, but her closed eyes appeared disappointed.

Shirley kept her wry smile.

It was imperative of disciples to inform the elders or their closest and trustable elders if they had made an improvement so that they could be treated with certain unique privileges according to the level in their improvements, but she kept it hidden.

She really couldn't find any excuses to make a comeback because all else seemed like nothing but vain excuses.

"In any case, I'm not here to talk about that." Sect Master Lea Weiss opened her crimson eyes as it lightly smiled, "Congratulations on forming the Perfect Domain, Shirley. You have surpassed my Supreme Domain and stepped into a higher realm of your current Law Dominion Stage cultivation. Without a doubt, you can reach the Peak-Level Law Rune Stage with the resources of our sect, that is, if you were poured with everything we have to nurture you."

Her voice sounded rather joyful, very different from the indifferent or cold voice they had heard before.

However, before Shirley could even thank Sect Master Lea Weiss, the latter's smile faded from her eyes.

"It hadn't even been fifteen minutes yet since you revealed that you have a Perfect Domain, but you're already in seventh place on the kill list of the wicked path. It's pretty ironic because you reached the same place in the competition today."

"..."

"Haha..."

Shirley couldn't help but wryly laugh at Sect Master Lea Weiss's words.

She was placed seventh on the kill list? The last time she saw it, wasn't she somewhere around the three hundred?

"Shirley, is your life a joke to you?"

Sect Master Lea Weiss's voice changed, suddenly becoming solemn.

"Do you know about the recently emerged Dragon Queen? She's ranked third in the wicked path's kill list, but no one from the wicked path dares to offend her because the Dragon Families are behind her. Any power that attacks her will likely face the wrath of the four great Dragon Families while you have only us."

"The Dragon Families have Peak-Level Ninth Stage Powerhouses while we don't. I'm a bit embarrassed to say that we only possess a bit of power to protect you if you go outside the sect. Therefore, from now on, if it isn't for your cultivation, you are not allowed to go outside without three Grand Elders protecting you, you understand?"

Shirley blinked, "Sect Master, why did you bring up that Dragon Queen Isabella now?"

Sect Master Lea Weiss looked dissatisfied at receiving no answer, but she gently sighed as her crimson lips moved behind her veil.

"Not only have the four great Dragon Families surrounded the Alstreim Family Territory to protect Dragon Queen Isabella, but they also have her surrounded so that she wouldn't be able to escape. At least, it seems like that from what I've heard. However, those four families, judging by their movements that seem cautious of each other, it is already obvious that Dragon Queen Isabella is not a part of them but someone they're trying to recruit for her unique prowess. In other words, you and she are the same in terms of uniqueness."

Davis heard Sect Master Lea Weiss's words clear and well. Even though he was still with Evelynn in the bed, he was already aware that these pricks from the Dragon Families had congregated on the other side of the three Territory Gates.

Ancestor Dian Alstreim had already informed him, but they didn't seem to enter for some reason, and perhaps as Sect Master Lea Weiss mused, they were really unable to come to a consensus and decided to wait those few months for Isabella's closed-door cultivation to end.

His lips couldn't help but turn into an imperceptible curve as he couldn't tell if they were fools or smart.

After all, Isabella wasn't here in any case!

If they were to force themselves in and find out that she wasn't here, their change in their expressions would turn out to be quite a spectacle, or so he mused. However, with the pride they possess, it is unknown if they would take their anger out on the Alstreim Family, but they would definitely take him hostage instead of killing him to smoke out Isabella.

Reasonably, he felt that the situation didn't spiral out and was still in his control. Otherwise, the Dragon Families would've made a move already. If they didn't, then that meant that they were still fighting to decide to whom among the four Isabella would belong.

Honestly, it disgusted him so much that he wanted to kill them to make them know not to think about his Isabella, but that would undoubtedly ignite a war instead, which he probably could not handle and would ruin the plans he had placed in stone for him and his family to steadily grow.

He slightly turned his head to look at Shirley, feeling fortunate since he knew that she asked about Isabella to make him know about the situation back at the Alstreim Family.

"I see..." Shirley let out a sigh, but she knew that this would happen one way or another.

"Consequently, you and Dragon Queen Isabella will now be at the center of attention. You will also receive many marriage proposals from other powers like I received when I was about to become the Sect Master, but if you don't like rejecting them all by yourself, the Burning Phoenix Ridge will be happy to reject those proposals for you."

"Tear those proposals right in front of their faces, please..."

Shirley oddly smiled.

"Hehehe~"

A peal of melodious laughter escaped from Sect Master Lea Weiss, catching Davis and Shirley off guard as they blinked their eyes. They couldn't believe that they made her laugh.

"I like you because I did the same, but there are a few powers where we could not tell them bluntly like that. The four great righteous hegemons and the four great dragon families. They might also ask your hand in marriage, rather strongly, so it is up to you to reject them as the sect can't be rude to them."

Shirley became annoyed before she blinked, her gaze becoming rather stern.

"Sect Master, could it be that I don't have independence in who I choose as my cultivation partner?"

"Of course not." Sect Master Lea Weiss shook her head, "The Vermilion Bird's natural disposition may be stern and honorable, but the Fire Phoenix is dignified and cares deeply about love. The sect allows you freedom in choosing your cultivation partner, but it also has the requirement of choosing someone within the sect. However, it's not compulsory but still encouraged, perhaps even enforced sometimes in the name of the bloodline thinning-out problem."

"However, you're under my care, so I won't let the elders abuse you. You can rest assured, Shirley."

Shirley appeared to release a sigh of relief.

"I thank Sect Master for caring deeply about me. However, I still have my own protector... So-"

She shrugged, feeling that Sect Master Lea Weiss would get her meaning.

"Is your protector really a Ninth Stage Powerhouse?"

Sect Master Lea Weiss narrowed her beautiful eyes while she didn't bother to look at Davis.

"Even if your protector is a Ninth Stage Powerhouse, I apologize beforehand, but I can't have a mere soul body responsible for protecting you because I don't trust your protector even if you do. Moreover, even if he doesn't harm you himself, he is still incapable of protecting you as a soul-body in my eyes."

"Any Grand Elder can take him out with a wave of their hand, and yet he was arrogant enough to provoke them and shrewd enough to know that I would interfere to help you."

"I don't like him, and I don't particularly appreciate being used either. Moreover, killing a soul body doesn't mean that the cultivator would die. Therefore, I almost feel like he is hiding behind me rather than protecting you."

Shirley possessed a wry expression on her face.

Sect Master Lea Weiss obviously didn't know about Davis's secret and terrifying killing method, so it was understandable that she would think that way, but what was she trying to say? That her protector, that her man was a coward?

She felt vaguely pissed off as she maintained a smile.

"On the other hand, if your protector brought his main body here, I cannot allow him to stay with you for your own safety. Shirley, unless he's your father or grandfather, I really do not recommend letting any man stay near you."

Sect Master Lea Weiss absolutely didn't give Davis any face as she spoke bluntly.

'Duh, he's my man!~' Shirley inwardly screamed, but she didn't say it out loud.

Instead, she acted as if she was contemplating over it.

Sect Master Lea Weiss frowned as she looked at Shirley's indecisive expression.

Even after telling her all this, she was still counting on this Elder Chu Feng to protect her?

She felt a headache.

Her sect was blessed with such a good seedling, and yet, she can't understand that people took advantage by getting into her comfort zone?

Many female disciples had their chastity taken advantage of like that, whether their uncle or some other relative promised to protect them. She had seen it many times in the few thousands of years she lived and was sick of it.

Looking at the little chick who knew nothing of the cruel world, she sighed.

"My Burning Phoenix died to protect me, and I refined her blood essence to make myself stronger. It was her wish that I do not waste her death. It was cruel of her, of what she made me do, but now, I understand what she meant when she said that I should live no matter what."

Shirley blinked her eyes in a snap.

What...? What was this about? It was so sudden that she couldn't understand what Sect Master meant!

"Sect Master, wh-"

"Shirley, you can rely on your Burning Phoenix but not this man or me!~"

Sect Master Lea Weiss turned to stare at Davis.

"However, your Burning Phoenix hasn't matured yet. Hence, you can only rely on me. Trust me, Shirley. If I wanted to take advantage of you, I would've done it long ago."

Davis also kept staring at Sect Master Lea Weiss as he heard her speak.

Shirley looked at them with her head buzzing in headache.

No matter what she might answer, it was clear that she would offend one of them!