'Pleading...?' Davis knew that he was going to be offered incentives or perhaps threatened, 'Why would I release a wicked path cultivator who had offended me unless they can convince me...?'

He thought to himself after killing the corpse cultivator before he could even reveal his background.

'Poor corpse cultivator...'

'That's a Peak-Level Mature Soul Stage soul... Combined with his Peak-Level Law Sea Stage Cultivation, he's quite strong but not enough to match my prowess. Therefore, he must be an influential character in the wicked path, but I killed him just like that...'

Davis felt like he had once again experienced freedom after entering the wide world with an anonymous identity.

He was now in a state where he would experience little to no consequences.

It didn't matter to him if he was found out as he had his facial features changed. No matter who had seen him today kill this corpse cultivator, they would not be able to trace him back unless they tried really hard with a Mystic Diviner, or so Davis mused.

The atmosphere was dead silent as everyone looked at the black-robed person. Even the Burning Phoenix Ridge disciples appeared wary, not releasing the formation that had been activated. They stayed their hands, waiting for the command of their elder.

'I was not able to sense that soul attack... He must be an extremely skilled Supreme Soul Stage Cultivator or perhaps...'

The elder's heart trembled, but he denied before he adopted a cultured smile on his face as he clasped his hands.

"Esteemed cultivator. The Burning Phoenix Ridge thanks your assistance in eradicating evil. If it were not for your help, I would've been unable to destroy that vile spawn's physical body, and he would have escaped. Fortunately, you helped me while also exterminating his soul. The world does not need such miscreants, or it would suffer even more..."

Davis held his tongue, but then he changed his mind.

"I'm of the same opinion, but it can also be applied to the wicked people who wear righteous masks, hiding amongst the righteous powers, no?"

"Hehe..." The elder wryly chuckled, "That's something we can never get rid of... Human nature is not stable after all... Sometimes, we need peace, sometimes we crave for blood and battle to experience exhilarating emotions so that we could feel alive..."

Davis blinked as he felt a bit of respect for accepting it, "Elder's words make a lot of sense..."

Many wouldn't even accept that the righteous powers are somewhat ambiguous in their stance towards treating the common populace. However, this elder precisely accepted that it would always be present and couldn't be rooted out.

'Mhm, I think I found a decent person from the Burning Phoenix Ridge... Maybe I can befriend this elder to find Shirley instead of grasping on empty straws...'

Davis had his eyes narrowed before it relaxed.

"I'll be on my way then..."

He floated, looking like he was about to take off when the hesitant elder suddenly called out.

"Esteemed cultivator, I would like to invite you to the Burning Phoenix Ridge as my guest for helping me deal with this corpse cultivator of unknown origins, but I don't know if you're receptive to my kind intentions."

'Yes, it came as expected...'

Davis wasn't completely sure if he would be invited at this moment. If he wasn't, perhaps he would have to shamelessly turn and ask about a few things to try and make friends. However, he counted on this elder to invite, and he really was invited.

This was basic courtesy if someone was helped, to call the aider or the savior back and treat them with whatever luxuries they may have. Of course, not anyone could be invited just because they helped. Davis felt that he was invited because of his mysterious prowess.

"Hmm? You want to invite me? I'm just an undistinguished cultivator roaming around. I don't have a background, you know..." Davis wryly smiled.

"Background doesn't matter in this case. Your prowess allowed me to maintain my face, so I will gladly reciprocate if I am given a chance to return the favor. Even if it is not now, esteemed cultivator can drop my name anytime in the Burning Phoenix Ridge, and I will gladly entertain you if I'm free at that time..."

The elder smiled as he flicked his hand, taking out a flat stone with a symbol embedded on it.

"My name is Karlheinz Strom. You can also contact me through this one-time messaging talisman if you need my help in this Burning Phoenix Ridge Territory."

Davis couldn't help but keep that wry smile.

Looks like face was important to this elder, and perhaps pride as well. He looked around and could see the disciples of the Burning Phoenix Ridge maintain a strictly disciplined posture, seemingly ready to react at a moment's notice.

Davis felt that if he were to offend them, they would not let him leave alive even if they came to know he had the Dragon Queen as his backing. It was more likely they would try to kill him and take the dispute to the four great righteous powers because they probably had the power to do so!

Nevertheless, he reached out his hand and took the messaging talisman.

"Perfect, now I can enjoy the sceneries and gaze at the beauties in the Burning Phoenix Ridge without having to pay a single spirit stone..."

"Hahaha!"

Karlheinz Strom couldn't help but burst out laughing at Davis's words.

"No one cares about staring, but I would advise for my guest to keep your hands to yourself. Otherwise, my face would be destroyed within an instant while I would have to go cry in a corner for inviting you."

"Haha, I'll try my best! My name is Feng Chu!"

Davis clasped his hands, looking excited to go while Karlheinz Strom's heart suddenly clenched a moment, feeling perhaps he made a mistake in inviting this character named Feng Chu.

"Hehe, great..." Karlheinz Strom wryly chuckled, "However, my mission of guarding this Territory Gate is not over yet. If you could wait half a day for this mission of mine to end until some other elder is posted, I would appreciate it. Heinous criminals like these corpse cultivators are rather running rampant in the Dual Lotus Manor Territory these years, mostly indulging in carnal pleasures before returning to their evil lairs in other Territories."

"I understand. I'll roam the Border Town here as I wait for you to finish your mission." Davis pointed towards the distance, gathering a nod from Karlheinz Strom.

"Alright, gather at the plaza half a day later. We'll go together, or I'll send someone to notify you if there are any changes."

"Sure..."

Davis nodded his head before he clasped his hand, taking his leave in a calm manner under the admiring gaze of the people and the Burning Phoenix Ridge disciples.

'I hope Karlheinz Strom doesn't find that I'm Chu Feng...' Davis couldn't help but inwardly lampoon as he began to head to the Border Town.

There's some information collecting to do after all!

As for the spatial ring of the corpse cultivator, that naturally went to the Burning Phoenix Ridge. Perhaps, not even Karlheinz Strom would be able to take something from it unless he applied to do so as he was just on a mission on the profitable Territory Gate.

Nevertheless, Davis didn't want that spatial ring. Aurelius's spatial ring had almost made him vomit when he checked, who knows what was held in this corpse cultivator's spatial ring. He certainly didn't want to see the skeletal remains and corpses of babies.

======

"Hmmhm~ hm~ Hhm~"

Sitting by the window under the luxurious ceiling of a crimson palace and the dusky sky, a red-haired woman was happily humming as she played with the letter in her hands.

The letter was stamped with the symbol of a grand tower embedded with a peculiar eye.

"Thank you for getting me this, Esvele!" She stood up and looked at the voluptuous woman behind her.

Esvele's face was full of smiles as she bowed, "Anything for senior sister Shirley..."

Shirley resplendently smiled, her beautiful face glowing with such joy that she truly looked charming enough to mesmerize Esvele, who kept staring at her in a trance because she had never seen her senior sister look this ecstatic before.

Nevertheless, Esvele came out of her reverie as she blushed a little, wanting to know what had happened.

"Senior sister, why do you want to know about the Dragon Queen and every little thing about that esteemed person? It took us so many spirit stones to gather the information from the All-Seeing Towers that we're now nearly empty..."

Shirley came out of her reverie as she looked at Esvele, a teasing smile appearing on her face.

"Esvele, do you really want to know...?"

Esvele pouted, "Senior sister, don't tease. Quickly tell this junior sister what made senior sister so happy... I'm dying of curiosity here..."

"Hehehe..." Shirley sneakily giggled, "Esvele, didn't you ask one day if I was in love with someone?"

Esvele became stunned, "Yes...?"

Shirley grinned like a fool as she pointed at the letter she held with her index finger, "It's precisely this person..."

Esvele became shocked and trembled as her bosoms heavily heaved while she took a deep breath. She couldn't help but look at her senior sister in disbelief!

She gulped before her lips couldn't help but move to confirm.

"Senior sister Shirley is in love with... Dragon Queen Isabella!?"

"You fool! Look at it properly!"

Shirley's expression became utterly red as she pointed at the letter once again, specifically at three words that said 'Alchemist Davis Loret'.

Esvele became stunned once again as she read the sentence.

[Her favorite subordinate Alchemist Davis Loret, who had just recently defeated the Zlatan Family's youth...]

[...]

[...]

"S-Slapped a near Martial Sage Stage Expert three times!? Moreover, this person who was slapped was the second youngest of the Zlatan Family!?"

Esvele felt faint at heart as her lips quivered when she read that particular line.

"He has come... He's really in the Alstreim Family Territory, Esvele..."

While Esvele remained dumbfounded by this Alchemist Davis's strength, Shirley bit her lips as her eyes moistened.

What she was searching for after making it to the Burning Phoenix Ridge had finally shown itself to her eyes!