Chapter 1981: Blood Debt
Davis waited for a moment for them all to comprehend his words before his lips moved.
"Ancestor Ambercrown told the truth, but it wasn't necessarily near to the reality's truth. I guess she truly spoke from her perspective, and that would make it likely that she had also been fed lies by that Nereus Shard, but since she loved him secretly enough to not make their relationship public, she took his words as gospel and didn't tell anyone else since she didn't have the need to do so. She's probably a victim of Nereus Shard's schemes, but I'll still kill her since she is fated to side with the Shard Family."
The Jade Lotus Valley's members looked visibly shaken. Even Ivy Aries could not control her trembling hands as she asked.
"How can you tell?"
Ivy Aries was confused. How could he know all this?
"What can I say?" Davis wryly smiled, wondering if he should say it or not before he sighed, a sound barrier appearing around them all, "I possess Heart Intent, so I can read the hearts of people around me. Ancestor Ambercrown was completely confused with Ivy Aries's account of the matter back then that she couldn't even speak properly, not knowing what the truth was anymore. At least, the emotions of feeling like you have all betrayed her wasn't a lie."
"…!"
Davis's voice wasn't loud, but his words had everyone, including the Mandate Emperor's eyes to bulge.
A previously known slaughterer had comprehended Heart Intent? What kind of bullshit was this!?
On the other hand, the Mandate Emperor's heart shook.
He felt a vague unique probe but merely felt that it was Davis's soul sense but who would've thought that it was Heart Intent.
He was still shaking. The Emperor of Death had grown so fast that he felt like he could no longer match but then again, he wondered if comprehending Heart Intent was why the Emperor of Death was able to overcome insanity and almost became convinced that it was the case.
The people who could comprehend Heart Intent were far too few and far too special. However, it was not like all Heart Intent users were good people. Most were good, but a minority also used it to manipulate for their gain. He didn't know if Davis was the latter but hoped that it was the former, and so did the erudite Jade Lotus Valley's members.
However, once the shock about the Emperor of Death's ability receded…
"Shard Family Bastards! I swear to decimate you all from the face of this world!"
Ivy Aries threw her head above and cursed for the first time in her life, her face twisted in rage.
The eyes of the Jade Lotus Valley's disciples and elders all turned bloodshot as they couldn't help but remember how Ancestor Ambercrown was good to all of them, like one's own grandma. That was why the betrayal was too much to bear, but now the Emperor of Death said that she was also likely manipulated.
Their hearts twisted as though countless blades were tearing them apart.
The two other Ancestors also felt their hearts shake in pain, remembering the time they called her Little Amber and taught her cultivation like she were their own daughter. Even the Valley Master couldn't help but silently shed a tear as she felt that they were the closest despite their age difference.
At this moment, Ivy Aries's furious cry formed an irrevocable blood debt between the Shard Family and Jade Lotus Valley. It was likely they wouldn't stop until one of them was dead.
The Mandate Emperor couldn't help but inwardly sigh at this scene. Was this something Davis orchestrated or something that truly needed to occur as karmic retribution?
He couldn't tell, but he could tell that blood would be shed on both sides if he didn't interfere. However, the proud Jade Lotus Valley elders wouldn't accept his help either as they were a secluded bunch who only opened up to the Emperor Sword Sect and Pill Refining Sect.
On the other hand, Davis was more than happy to delegate this vengeance to Alexi Ethren and Ivy Aries.
To him, making Old Man Garvin's descendants obtain vengeance was more apt. This way, Old Man Garvin would be even more proud if he came to know of it while watching them from the underworld. Besides, it could count as a tempering adventure for Alexi Ethren and Ivy Aries, although he was sure the former wouldn't get some action because Ivy Aries was already quite powerful.
Judging from the Shard Family's cowardice, whom he measured with Heart Intent, he mused that they would turtle up in their defensive formations or, at most, roam a Territory away. That's all. It was unlikely they would touch the Burning Phoenix Ridge or his Soul Palace. If they dared, then they wouldn't have run with terror in their hearts today, knowing that he could kill them anytime he wanted, irrespective of defensive formations.
They wouldn't dare to offend him. It was more likely they would try to hide in that so-called Emperor Sword Mini Realm until he ascended, thinking that it could protect them from his mysterious killing methods.
As for ascending themselves, that would be courting death because they already have wasted twenty to thirty percent of their blood essence from the backlash. They would likely die before they survived seven lightning strikes if they underwent tribulation before recovering, not to mention the karmic sin for betraying and killing many righteous powerhouses.
Even Nereus Shard spat a mouthful of blood, and it was no act as the remnant aura of the wasted blood essence was still present.
Moreover, there were heavenly flames to worry about for them.
Davis knew that Nereus Shard and a few other cronies like Adamantus Shard possessed karmic sin as he could see it on them. However, the others couldn't sense their karmic sin, making him think that they hid it with some kind of special technique.
As for the Soaring Emperor Sword, it probably wouldn't help them either, considering Ellia freed it. In fact, he was surprised that they decided to gamble it all on that sword. Perhaps, if Myria didn't exist, their plan to rely on the Soaring Emperor Sword would've come to fruition and brought them glory that Davis couldn't help but find this funny.
That idiot Rayn Shard just had to pick and challenge the wrong opponent, causing their plans to become foiled before he could even make a move at the start.
At the end of the day, Davis felt that his people would not be harmed, so he wasn't worried. Ivy Aries rejected his help, so there was nothing for him to do. He naturally returned and sat amidst his women, his previous valor nowhere to be seen as he became a womanizer quickly, his hands occasionally behaving naughty.
This kind of shamelessness truly opened the eyes of the crowd as they finally understood what kind of person the Emperor of Death was. He was a licentious yet honest youth who didn't hide his personality to act like a supreme expert, although they couldn't sometimes understand if his narcissistic behavior was also his character or an act.
Somehow, they couldn't help but laugh at themselves, thinking how they could forget that he was not even older than thirty years old? That was too young in their eyes.
Nonetheless, with the Emperor of Death knowing to possess Heart Intent, the higher-ups of the Jade Lotus Valley somewhat believed his words.
A person who can comprehend Heart Intent is a person who can remarkably sympathize, able to resonate with the emotions of others. On that note, they believed that they could trust that aspect of his character.
It took some time for the competition to resume after everyone returned to their seats.
Only then did the people dare to hush and whisper, gossiping of the events that had occurred as they tried to gain more understanding of it.