A few minutes later, Davis finally finished inscribing a copy of the Incandescent Vermilion Soul Mantra. When he raised his head, he saw that Sect Master Lea Weiss was already closer by the side, looking at him engrave the scroll with a curious look on her face.

A smile couldn't help but appear on his face.

"Does Sect Master feel cold in here?"

"Mhm?" Sect Master Lea Weiss looked confused, "This is the Burning Phoenix Ridge... Cold? What do you mean?"

"Well, didn't Sect Master come near me for warmth?"

Her expression froze as her pupils dilated. The temperature suddenly spiked around as her undulations began to swirl, but then, it fell before she looked away.

"Inscribe on the jade slip as well."

"Sect Master Lea Weiss sure is a slave driver... haha..."

Her cold voice echoed out while Davis chuckled.

Sect Master Lea Weiss moved away, maintaining a respectful distance, while Davis began to record information on the jade slip. He finished it within ten minutes and handed the scroll as well as the jade slip to her.

Sect Master Lea Weiss got them both before she didn't forget to check the jade slip. When she had viewed the Soul Forging Cultivation, she was already immersed in it, making her feel like she had gained countless inspirations from his writing. After noticing that both the scroll and the jade slip now possessed the genuine Incandescent Vermilion Soul Mantra, she raised her head, looking at Chu Feng with a complex light.

"Leave this Ancestral Palace, and please don't show your face in public again. I don't want other powers misunderstanding that we're harboring a future calamity like you, nor do I want you interfering in my sect affairs."

"Well, that's long as some idiot doesn't offend Shirley again, but in that case, I'll wait for Sect Master to make a move before making a move myself if yours isn't satisfactory to me. Nevertheless, I see Sect Master has no need for me after using me like this... I feel rather sorrowful."

Sect Master Lea Weiss frowned.

"Stop spouting nonsense and leave already..."

"Alright..."

Davis turned around, eyeing Shirley and the others to follow him as they all complied. Sect Master Lea Weiss still held the scroll and the jade slip in her hands, but instead of storing it, she looked at his back, narrowing her eyes in contemplation while also being filled with a complex glint.

Davis and Shirley didn't talk about anything as he once again hid in her soul again. This time, Shirley didn't look as uncomfortable as before. She left the Ancestral Palace, heading back to her place.

Returning to the familiar Crimson Palace, Davis shot out of Shirley's glabella and naturally stopped to look at each other. However, he first made sure that no one was around sneaking in to listen in on their conversation, not to mention that he was now basically a dead man who should not be caught alive.

Shirley also eyed Esvele and Freya to leave, telling them that she needed privacy before they nodded and left.

Once they left, Shirley turned to look at him as her crimson lips moved.

"Is this truly fine...?"

"What is fine?" Davis raised his brows, changing his disguised face back to his real face.

"I mean, you decided to give them a Peak-Level Emperor Grade Soul Forging Cultivation Manual as compensation. As far as I know, only the four great righteous sects and the Soul Palace publically possesses a monopoly on cultivation manuals that lead to one becoming a Soul Emperor. Are you truly fine with it?"

Davis couldn't help but smilingly shook his head.

"The reason that Ancestor Cornelia backed down so easily was precisely because of this manual. Do you think I could've stopped her from harming me and taking you hostage in any way?"

"I'm sorry..." Shirley lowered her head.

"What do you mean by sorry?" Davis looked annoyed, "It was my actions that led to this situation. I was the one who told you to stay here because I'm sick of running all the time. I thought I was adequately powerful to handle the troubles the Burning Phoenix Ridge could throw at me, but you saw how wrong I was with Ancestor Cornelia entering the fray."

"Moreover, I basically gambled with your life by letting you stay here when I took action, gambled that the Burning Phoenix Ridge wouldn't do anything against you even if I massacre those idiots. This is the reason why I encouraged you to display your Perfect Domain."

"Your value would be entirely different for them to be not able to punish you as even Sect Master Lea Weiss would be protecting you already, and can you now see which path Ancestor Cornelia took? That's the only thing I wasn't wrong about. They wouldn't dare harm you unless you were wicked and insufferable."

"Moreover, If I wasn't convinced that they wouldn't harm you after my lethality struck fear into them, I wouldn't have made a move either but took you away. You understand?"

Shirley looked aggrieved, tears welling up in her eyes.

"The dangers are the price for me staying here. Do you think I don't understand this obvious consequence when I followed your lead? I don't care about my life! What I'm asking is, was it worth it for you to sacrifice your life like that? I mean, even if you gambled with my life on the line to kill an Ancestor with that kind of prowess, you've obviously sacrificed your blood essence or soul essence or both back at home as one of your wives screamed to me."

"I don't believe that the prowess you have came free of cost!"

Davis became flabbergasted at her outburst. It was true that he sacrificed his soul essence and experienced immense pain that had him wishing death shortly, but it was also true that he could regain back his soul essence earlier than the time he mentioned to them.

Although the feeling of sacrifice was there, he didn't feel much when he did it for someone he cared about.

Davis let out a sigh, "Indeed, this prowess didn't come free of cost as you expected..."

"Then...!-" Shirley's face became aghast.

"But as I said, I can still heal myself. You don't need to worry, thinking that I wasted my potential. I am a selfish man, Shirley. If I know I would be dying, I would not do something like initiating the battle myself unless it's a do-or-die situation."

"Furthermore, the Incandescent Vermilion Soul Mantra, although compatible, does not suit me. It suits these people and you more, but I muse that the Fire Phoenix would have something better in store for you. For now, I'll inscribe you a copy as well since you need this soul manual that's better than the current Burning Phoenix Ridge's Soul Forging Cultivation Manual."

Shirley didn't know what to say as she looked at him with confusion. In the end, she decided to ask.

"You're really not mortified to lose something precious like this?"

"Lose?" Davis shook his head, "That was merely a copy, and it would be far later when I give them the complete Incandescent Vermilion Soul Mantra. At that point, this manual is already trash to me."

Shirley blinked, but Davis continued.

"As a person who would inherit something greater, set your sights on something greater. I do not mean that it is okay for you to throw away treasures, but if a treasure like the Incandescent Vermilion Soul Mantra could help me save another invaluable treasure, which is you, I would gladly give it away. I mean, wouldn't you do the same for me?"

"...!"

Shirley couldn't hold her tears back as she stepped forward and held him, nodding into his chest while he embraced her back. They held each other like that for some time, merely satisfied to find each other's embrace warm enough to soothe their hearts.

A few moments later, Shirley raised her head, gazing at him with her charming eyes that looked entrancing.

"I'm really happy to know that you care about me this much..."

"Wasn't it rather obvious that I love you enough to protect you?"

Shirley bit her lips, smiling as she wiped her tears, "You wouldn't understand my worries. What am I like to you? Your fourth woman? Fifth? I haven't even made proper love with you yet. Would a man even bother about losing one of his harems to protect his treasures? However, it doesn't matter anymore, not after I've seen how you fought and defended me."

"Silly woman..." Davis couldn't help but chuckle, "I'm a man who will reciprocate the same passion and love you and my wives give me. You should've understood that by now, no?"

Shirley's expression became a bit crimson as she lowered her head, 'Same passion? I think you've done something far greater than I ever did for you...'

Nevertheless, she raised her head, looking spirited.

"However, this event once again made me realize my weakness. I was satisfied with suddenly gaining you, not cultivating seriously as I had before. But now, I'll start cultivating harder and not slack off anymore, not because I want to get stronger to match you but because I want to help you at times like these. You will let me help you if I become strong enough, right?"

"I..." Davis hesitated, thinking.

"I'm not going to have you make me stay here, watch you die again even if you're a soul-body! I still want to kill some of the Reins over it!"

"..."

Feeling the fiery intensity of her voice and her eyes that looked aggrieved as if she was going to cry again, Davis pursed his lips before he nodded.

"Fine, as long as you're strong as me..."

'Which is virtually impossible...'

Davis inwardly lampooned as he smiled. But watching Shirley's expression blossom into a smile as she heard him give him her permission, he couldn't help but shake his head.

"Remember, only if you're truly strong..." He didn't forget to add once more.

"I will become way stronger after I obtain the complete Inheritance..." Shirley smiled, looking silly.

"Alright, Princess Shirley." Davis clasped his hands, looking respectful, "My life is then in your safe bosoms."

"That's supposed to be my hands!"

Shirley's instantly blushed as she retorted.

Davis chuckled, taking pleasure in looking at her embarrassed reaction that was just too charming for him that he felt like taking a bite out of her sweetness!