Davis's eyes quivered. He didn't know how to reply as he heard the Starlight Jade Wolf King's passionate response.
Of course, he felt the same, but this was the other party's clansmen they were talking out. Those were individual lives in his eyes, not something that could be glossed over. Even now, he was still aware of his deeds in the Western Fire Phoenix Prefecture, not having forgotten the cries of the helpless but still choosing to bear those misdeeds as his sins.
He didn't feel justified at all despite his claims that they were not innocent because they grew and progressed along with the Fire Phoenix Clan, nor did he want to justify it as he knew that killing those who had little idea about him could not be justified.
However, he still remembered how the Vast Sky Emperor's people changed tune when he lied to them that he was still alive. Those people, whom he thought to be innocent, instantly changed their tone, feeling so righteous and loyal to their Emperor that they demanded that he apologize and kill himself.
He could never forget that scene and imagined that it could be the same everywhere. The people living in a certain clan's Prefecture would always remain loyal to them as it wasn't like they were mortals living only for a century or so, neither were they living in random villages but in cities protected and run by the respective powers. Their loyalty and fear were ingrained in their minds for centuries and millenniums. If the power pointed at a person and told them to do their bidding, it was little doubt that they would do it.
They could not be called completely innocent or unrelated as they were subjects of the power, yet he still thought of them to be that way because of his learning as an earthling.
But disregarding whether they were innocent or not, he knew a hundred percent that the Starlight Jade Wolf Clan's soldiers died for a cause that it wasn't even worth fighting for. That made him feel immense guilt.
How could it be glossed over because of the bond he shared with the Starlight Jade Wolf King? That felt even more unreasonable to him.
Looking at Davis remain silent, the Starlight Jade Wolf King finally remembered that this calamity in front of him was young yet carrying a huge burden, causing him almost slap himself on his forehead. He opened his mouth.
"If you feel so apologetic, then do not let my clan perish even if I die. Then… it could be considered that my people's actions weren't in vain, and I wouldn't be touted as the clan's dumbest sinner to befriend an Anarchic Divergent."
Patriarch Fenren Jadelight's expression turned pale. After all, he was a King, and his inherited memories would be passed down to whoever becomes a King-Tier Beast in his lineage.
Still, he was a King! He could even sin at the expense of his clan but not be dumb! That was an absolute insult to the species itself.
However, seeing his brother's expression, Davis almost burst out laughing but suppressed it and lowered his head.
"Alright. I'll see to it that no one offense the Starlight Jade Wolf Clan anymore. If they do, then they would be my enemies."
"Heh~" Patriarch Fenren Jadelight instantly did a one-eighty and smiled wickedly, "With this, I have your words, and as a fellow man of integrity, I know you won't go back on your words."
"I had the intention to protect the Starlight Jade Wolf Clan anyway, so it makes no difference to me if you ask me this or not. Also, you didn't forget the words I gave to you, didn't you?"
"…"
Patriarch Fenren Jadelight's expression went blank. Could this be about allowing him to retain his King-Tier status after breaking through to the Immortal Emperor Stage? Just thinking about it made his blood boil in excitement, but he didn't dare hold too much hope considering that his chances were less.
"Tch~"
But suddenly, Davis made an annoyed sound as he clicked his tongue, turning to look at Hirona and Sierra.
"You two. I saw that you used your blood essence to stop the Nine-Phoenix Locking Relic. What is the meaning of that when we are enemies? Did you all already forget how I massacred your people right in front of your eyes?"
Davis's gaze was cold as he blared his deathly aura at the two ladies, causing their hearts to weigh heavily as they turned pale.
What kind of aura was this!?
Not only was their prowess surpassed, leaving them far behind, they had not experienced anything like this, making them feel terrified and feel out of breath. It was no wonder his enemies weren't able to maintain focus, quickly losing a battle against him.
"No, we are not enemies. The Fire Phoenix Clan wants to surrender."
Great Ancestor Zenflame spoke without falling back, stepping forward in front of the two ladies as he protected them.
"Surrender?" Davis raised his brows with an unamused expression while Patriarch Fenren Jadelight nodded.
"Brother Davis, I guess they really do want to surrender as they handed their lives over to us." Patriarch Fenren Jadelight added, "Although their actions are admirable, I may want to end their lives for the sake of having a better chance at Candidacy."
"Gain an advantage while you can." Renfa Jadelight uttered.
Davion Jadelight nodded, "I'm sure a number of immortal inheritors will fall before the Candidacy even starts."
Their words caused the immortal inheritors of the Fire Phoenix Clan to turn nervous. If they felt like they could escape after being freed from the execution platform, then right now, they weren't even able to move properly under the overwhelming aura of the Emperor of Death.
He had not only grown too fast but also retained his incredulous prowess at the Immortal King Stage. They still couldn't digest this fact as he had far surpassed their fears, becoming a true disaster, as stated in the legends about an Anarchic Divergent.
It was no wonder everyone tried to kill him. He could not be allowed to grow, or if he grew and sat on top of them, demanding many things like an Emperor, and if they failed to provide, then they might easily be sentenced to death, but that was the least of their concerns as Divergents would more or less be unreasonable because of being actively hunted down by the heavens during their growth.
They would feel that they deserve everything because they won it with their own strength, twisting morals and views and imposing it on the world.
But for some reason, they felt that the Emperor of Death was somewhat different.
"Did you really massacre my people?"
Great Ancestor Zenflame spoke, "Then why did you stray away from the dense locations? If slaughter was your aim, then why did you leave more than half of the city alive?"
"More than half?" Davis chuckled, "I thought I got at least seventy percent of them killed. Seems like I need to go lay waste to your cities again."
"Nonsense. I didn't see you kill any innocents. The heavens did."
"Not this again..."
Davis sighed. Why was it difficult for people to understand that he actively led the heavens to strike them? He was fully aware of what he did and didn't want to push it away, nor was he going to let it affect him either.
If it was for the sake of his family's survival and making sure that no one dares harm them, then he had long made his peace to do anything that it might take, even if he had to become a calamitous fiend, for the immortals around him wouldn't give him a second chance just because he was an Anarchic Divergent, perhaps, even his talent.
"You don't need to convince yourself that you're wicked."
Great Ancestor Zenflame glared at Davis, "It is typical of people to blame you, an Anarchic Divergent, for everything unfortunate around them. Everybody else doesn't even let you get a word in while they act like righteous beings and hunt you down to save their own skin, even target your family to smoke you out, and then the moment you are pushed past your breaking point, you're suddenly the most despicable and evil man in this world."
"…"
Davis's gaze shook. Those words… for some reason, it resonated with him, but Great Ancestor Zenflame continued.
"We phoenixes are graceful and righteous beings, but we're also immensely loyal. If it weren't for your actions that we witnessed during your tribulation, I wouldn't be here but stick with the Fire Phoenix Clan, even if they're wrong. I wouldn't be here if I didn't know you were titled Divine by the people of the Grand Beginnings Continent, a heavenly title only granted to the people who gained the approval of trillions of lives! That can't be false!"
He pointed at Davis right over his nose.
"You are an accursed being filled with contradictions of light and darkness, your powers being a direct manifestation of that, but I can still see you're still human, trying to do your best, so don't fall into insanity like other Anarchic Divergents. It's not worth it for you nor worth it for my people to suffer for the mistakes of my overbearing descendants. If you want to kill someone, kill me. I'll die twice in your hands if that is what it takes to stop you."
Taking his hand back and pointing at himself, Great Ancestor Zenflame waved his hand, his crimson eyes wide as he remained determined.
Davis clenched his teeth as he glared at Great Ancestor Zenflame.
He couldn't understand. They still had their powerful Ancestors to depend on, so why not just follow their lead? After all, if they could kill him, wouldn't that be great!?
But these three… they were putting him off, affecting his determination to take this matter to the end, where either party cannot exist under the same sky, especially as he thought back to the scene where they deviously tried to trap his Shirley into a world of suffering.
Just seeing those wicked words etched onto the Blood Soul Contract made his heart burn with unforgiving rage, so how could he let this matter end just like that? Not to mention they even waged a war to hunt him down!
He was answerable to the Starlight Jade Wolf Clan's suffering!
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