"…"
Logan reclined on the bed as he looked at his daughters-in-law line up around him while watching him with a curious gaze, some of whom he had never seen but could vaguely tell how powerful they were as he had just seen his fair share of undulations in a single day.
He had just killed a few prisoners and sent back information to Claire and the others, but his daughters-in-law were forcing him to take some rest. Beside him on the chair was Clara as she held his hand with a worrisome gaze.
He couldn't believe his first daughter had changed so much, coming to show more feelings than staying icy-faced all the time.
Nonetheless, he couldn't help but smirk, knowing his son made such powerful women his.
"Let's see… where should I start from…? Yes, the moment Davis's life tablet broke, heaven and hell almost broke loose in our family…"
He started explaining to them why he would ascend when he made it clear to Drake that he would only ascend a year later or if Drake was dead, causing Evelynn and the others to finally understand.
They were shocked to hear that the world calamity in the Grand Beginnings Continent was the work of the Accursed Warlock. To think he had planned it so deeply. They were completely infuriated.
"Father-in-law, we apologize for all that happened. We…"
Evelynn then explained how they were also targeted by many factions, which disallowed them from placing their own people outside the domain since they would more or less be captured or killed.
"What are you saying? It would not be Davis's, Clara's, or anyone's fault if I died after ascending. I had children so that they could thrive and grow under my protection and not burden them. As the parent, I should be the one protecting you all, but I failed to live up to the expectations."
Logan's expression was wry, "It should be I who should be apologizing to you all."
"…"
Evelynn and the others didn't know what to say.
How can it not be their fault if they couldn't protect him? After all, their father-in-law, the Emperor of the Loret Empire, was the one who stayed to look after the family on Davis's request instead of ascending together. They were sure if their father-in-law ascended with them, he would be a powerful Immortal King if he had access to the same resources as them.
After all, he was their husband's father. How could he fall behind?
At that time, they really wouldn't have any trouble pinning the blame on him for roaming around and getting captured.
However, his words really got rid of the guilt Isabella felt.
"In any case, father-in-law," She opened her mouth and gestured with an overbearing finger, "You better not roam around in the name of adventuring as you saw what happened."
"Oh, I did."
Logan laughed, his expression one of amused rage, "Never in my life have I been subjected to such a beat down. Is that the 'bastard' that Davis told me to be wary about before he ascended?"
Isabella solemnly nodded, causing Logan to shake his head as he recalled that this person was actually the white witch, Myria's enemy, meaning that he was probably even more powerful than the Immortal Emperors who rescued him.
"Who saved me?"
"Father-in-law means the Bladeheart couple who saved or Saintess Lunaria who healed you?" Shirley spoke, "We'd like you to keep her existence a secret as she's rather a… legendary figure."
She pursed her lips, still feeling some anxiety as such a thing happened as soon as she left home. Perhaps, if she had been there, then she could've helped Isabella overcome Accursed Warlock Fraser Herrion or at least improved the odds of success.
She shuddered when she heard the story from others, slightly blaming herself for being absent.
Fortunately, Guardian Ryheris Yilan was present to save Isabella, making not only her but everyone feel like they owed the Aurora Cloud Gate more and more.
Nonetheless, after she explained the legend of Saintess Lunaria, Logan felt his head spin as he couldn't believe he had met with such powerful existences upon his ascendance.
"Getting thrashed by a supremely powerful enemy before being saved by powerful allies and healed by a legendary goddess. Darn, aren't I lucky?"
His smile was a bit crazed, not appearing to be amused at all.
Evelynn and the others could also understand his emotions. It was really too much to bear. If they had met with this kind of calamities at the beginning of their ascension, then they would've long perished.
However, they saw a proud smile appear on Logan's face.
"That's just goes to say how powerful my son is. As long as he's making enemies who want to kill him by even capturing his parents or women, it means he's on the right path. I had been afraid since he got so many of you that he would forget you all, but it seems like it didn't become the case, fortunately."
"Father-in-law, I won't allow you to insult him even if he is your son."
Evelynn pouted, causing Logan to raise his hands up.
"Alright, I surrender."
He knew he couldn't win against a harem that was bent on believing their man no matter what. He also believed his son to be a responsible man. Still, as the Loret Empire's Emperor once, he had seen many cases of women being abandoned by the Kings or even local officials in his jurisdiction.
He was not much different until Davis changed him, but at the end of the day, he also recognized that power would change people. He felt that it was good that his son didn't change from Evelynn's account.
But he couldn't help but stare at Evelynn.
His first daughter-in-law really had changed. The firmness in her voice was really different, making him think she was as overbearing as Claire or perhaps even more.
"But… those soldiers of the turtle clan… they…" Logan's expression sank as he recalled their deaths.
An entire division had sacrificed their lives for him, making him drop his hands as he clenched his fists. Even an Ancestor-level character had died.
After some time of explaining each other's situation, Evelynn stepped outside and contacted the Obsidian Crystal Turtle Clan.
She apologized again and again for their losses despite the Obsidian Crystal Turtle Clan's Patriarch saying that he was aware and that it wasn't their fault. She really couldn't continue to say something, with the other party insisting that it was not their fault.
An Ancestor-level character had died. That was a huge matter, but the Obsidian Crystal Turtle Clan was being supportive of them instead of demanding some reparations. She was moved but also hoped that they wouldn't force Davis to do ridiculous things for them.
She was aware of the reason they were following Davis, so she didn't want to take advantage of them as well, promising them more riches when Davis came back.
The Starlight Jade Wolf Clan and the Golden Crow Clan also contacted, relaying their apologies for their inability to help during the precarious situation. The Starlight Jade Wolf King and Patriarch Soaren Goldsun personally contacted Evelynn, but she didn't blame them as the former had lost two Ancestors already while the Golden Crow Clan was holding the skies for the Central Primesky Alliance from falling.
They had their own problems to deal with.
Sometime later, she got a report from an assassin who delivered a letter to the Reaper Soul Legion.
"…!"
Evelynn turned shocked as she saw the letter, unable to believe that the entire Heaven Gazing Hall was massacred.
Due to it being a sacred and mystical place that peers through the veil of the heavens to look and understand fate, there were not many people there, but all of those people present had been massacred by the Ghost Tear Hall's Deathseeker who was none other than Davis's master!
Naturally, she was aware that Accursed Warlock Fraser Herrion's nest was at the Heaven Gazing Hall since Mystic Diviner Hailac had been possessed there, but she didn't expect Davis to give the Ghost Tear Hall command to attack as it was extremely dangerous.
They would be completely provoking a vindictive opponent.
It seems both Accursed Warlock and the Emperor of Death predicted how the board would play out, but the former failed to include the allies Davis had, causing him to fail in capturing their people.
Nonetheless, hearing that the Heaven Gazing Hall was cleared out of life, she was partly overjoyed and partly apprehensive as she knew that she could expect retaliation from the Accursed Warlock soon.
Judging by how he chased after Myria, one could understand his stubbornness and the vengeful tactics he could employ to get what he wanted, so Evelynn began seeking help from her sisters, Isabella, Ellia, and Mingzhi as they were the brightest minds they had to formulate a counter plan.
She knew this wasn't the end of it.
========
In the Astral Forgeheart Minor Realm, the sun rose from the horizon.
With the youths from the Starlight Jade Wolf Clan, Golden Crow Clan, Obsidian Crystal Turtle Clan, and the Ice Phoenix Clan in tow, Davis set off along with his people.
He didn't lead them back into the mountain tunnel he made by himself to come here but took a roundabout way in order to obtain more treasures.
Since their group was large, they were easily noticed by Feral Beasts and attacked, but they welcomed it due to the sheer amount of energy they could unleash. No one was getting overwhelmed since they took turns to clear the horde, so their pace didn't get slowed down at all.
In fact, their flying speed was normal, as though they didn't face any obstructions.
As soon as they ended a Feral Beast's life, it would enter any one of their spatial ring, ready to be processed later. They made big gains every hundred kilometers they traversed, their expressions full of smiles as they knew they were going to make breakthroughs in cultivation, insights, or prowess with so many essence blood, beast cores, and other parts of the body they could use to make pills and consume.
Soon enough, as they came across the peak of a waterfall, they saw a lone dark flower blossoming at the edge of the falls.
But right now, there were already three other groups looking at it.
Once Davis and the others appeared in their zone, their gazes clashed, the other group's emotions ranging from shock to amusement as they couldn't believe some group was traversing with so many people.
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