Shirley was undoubtedly put in a spot at this moment, not knowing if she should reject Sect Master's care or not. Of course, she intended to choose Davis, be on his side no matter what, but what if Sect Master attacked Davis on the spot to erase his soul body?

After all, the Sect Master might be easily offended by her answer.

Furthermore, it would really be considered nothing as she could see people using their soul body to battle to the death when it really isn't. It was a form of resolving differences in the Burning Phoenix Ridge, for matters that couldn't be considered big or small, but that was not the point!

In any case, she really didn't want the Sect Master to disperse Davis's soul body with a single wave of her hand. Then again, she didn't know how to answer either.

If Sect Master Lea Weiss were really intent on protecting her, she would waste her goodwill and not waste Davis's life. However, if Sect Master were scheming against her, she would protect herself from her ill intentions.

'This has turned into a difficult situation...'

Shirley's brows creased before she narrowed her eyes as she looked at Davis.

'Wait, why is he silent all this time...?"

Looking at his indifferent expression, she was flabbergasted.

She thought he would be angry and possibly kill Sect Master as he did so in an instant in the past at the time of the Gathering of the Elites Competition, killing those two wretched emperors. However, he did not seem like that.

Then again, she felt that it might be the calm before the storm!

Not wanting Davis to accidentally kill the Sect Master who took care of her all this time, she was about to make him come out of his reverie when his lips suddenly moved.

"Sect Master's Burning Phoenix... Was Valerian the cause of her death?"

Sect Master Lea Weiss's eyes rapidly narrowed as her Law Rune Stage undulations became a bit strained, almost as if it were slightly trembling with rage.

Shirley blinked at Sect Master's over-the-top reaction because it was as if Grand Elder Valerian really did kill Sect Master's Burning Phoenix. She had just relaxed that Davis was not angry, but looking at Sect Master remain solemn while the atmosphere became heated, literally, she felt like wiping off the sweet sweat that might form on her forehead soon.

"I don't see the need to talk to you about my Burning Phoenix with an outsider. If it weren't for Shirley, I wouldn't be talking with you now for trying to pry into my past."

"I see... So it's Valerian who killed your Burning Phoenix. If that is the case, then I can rest assured that you two are not working together." Davis spoke in a monotonous tone.

Sect Master became angered at his prying, but she creased her beautiful crimson brows upon hearing the latter part of the sentence.

"Why would I even be working with that ba- He and his sons are outright villains who don't deserve to be in my Burning Phoenix Ridge...!"

Looking at Sect Master Lea Weiss becoming a bit emotional as her crimson pupils trembled, Davis was now more than sure that Grand Elder Valerian was the cause for Sect Master Lea Weiss's Burning Phoenix to die.

"I take it that Sect Master has an irreconcilable difference with Grand Elder Valerian, and yet you can live under the same sky as him for all these years?" Davis shook his head as he possessed a disappointed expression on his face, "I didn't think that Sect Master would be such a coward as I felt that Sect Master was daring and courageous."

Sect Master Lea Weiss coldly looked at Davis while her crimson eyes were wide in incredulity, almost not understanding what this man dared to say to her.

She narrowed her eyes and cast her gaze to the top disciple.

"Shirley, you thought I was scheming against you, and so you called your Elder Chu Feng here who doesn't know how to keep his own life?"

Shirley shook her head in a hurry, "No, I didn't call him for that. I was wary of Grand Elder Valerian and his three sons."

"I am aware of that, and isn't that why I protected you even after you killed Schneider?"

Sect Master Lea Weiss glared as if she knew everything, causing Shirley to hesitatingly shake her head, "I... I didn't-"

"Shirley, are you going to lie to me again about killing Schneider?" Sect Master Lea Weiss lightly shook her head, "Even if you had confessed that you had killed him, I was still intent on protecting you."

"Sect Master... I..."

Shirley didn't know what to say as she didn't fully trust Sect Master Lea Weiss. However, hearing her words, she was feeling rather bad for suspecting without a valid reason. Thinking back, it was not like Sect Master did anything to her other than protecting her from danger.

She had used the spatial talisman Sect Master gave to her a few times to get out of dangerous situations. For example, during the time she saved Esvele from Schneider, and even magical beasts in the wild understood that the spatial talisman was dangerous, their bloodline knowledge or instincts warning them that on the other side of the spatial talisman was practically a monster.

Even though the Sect Master may not have helped her directly, it was true that she was helped so many times by just revealing that spatial talisman, with it acting as a huge form of a deterrent that had even rooted fear in a few Grand Elders.

Shirley inwardly sighed, feeling like she had to tell the truth. However, she suddenly heard an audible sigh.

"Protecting, protecting... protecting..." Davis heavily sighed, "Sect Master constantly says that you are protecting Shirley, and yet, why do I not see Shirley be assured? Is there a lack of communication between the two of you?"

Sect Master Lea Weiss looked as if she took a deep breath as her bosoms heaved gently.

"If I'm not wrong, you're the one who has probably corrupted Shirley with your baseless thoughts, but even if it were not for that, tell me one reason why I shouldn't exterminate your soul body for your rudeness...!?"

"Maybe because I know about your fire phoenix flames and can tell the whole world about it?" Davis still possessed a deadpan expression on his face as he blinked.

"!!!"

Sect Master Lea Weiss glared at him, her crimson eyes harboring a threatening intent before she turned to look at Shirley.

"I made you sign a Blood Soul Contract that absolutely has no binding on you whatsoever. It was a High-Level Emperor Grade Blood Soul Contract that can considerably affect me if I were to go against my words on protecting you, further blocking me from reaching the peak-level of Law Rune Stage, and yet you still thought that I was scheming against you?"

"Furthermore, you even told him about the blood essence you shared with me. I trusted you that you wouldn't do something foolish and did not lower myself to place any binding on you since making our uniqueness known to others would affect you the same. However, I was proved naive to trust and protect a foolish little girl like you."

"You betrayed me, Shirley. Perhaps, it is not exaggerating to say that you would be the cause of my undoing!~"

Sect Master Lea Weiss's voice was so disappointed, perhaps even sad, that Shirley couldn't help but feel that she was misunderstood.

"Sect Master, it's not like that! Elder Chu Feng already knows that I have the Fire Phoenix's diluted blood essence in me, even before you, so what you're saying is all one-sided. It's a misunderstanding."

Shirley shook her head, feeling wronged.

"Is that so?"

Looking unperturbed, Sect Master Lea Weiss closed her eyes and opened, her pupils still shining with disappointment.

"I swear, Sect Master. We don't mean any harm unless we're harmed. That would make us the same!~"

Shirley took a step forward, emphasizing that they were on the same side if what they said to each other was true.

Sect Master Lea Weiss shot a deep, profound look at Shirley, staying silent for a while as if scrutinizing Shirley's words and motives before her crimson lips hidden behind the veil moved again.

"Even then, you have disappointed me, child. I can only merely hope that you won't betray me again by making others know about my uniqueness as I am still bound by our Blood Soul Contract. If someone comes to know about my uniqueness, then you leave me with no choice but to end your life, even if I have to sever my path to the peak in the process because I abhor betrayers and deceivers the most."

Sect Master Lea Weiss shook her head, lowering it before she turned around and left as if she was truly disappointed.

Shirley bit her lips, feeling mortified and disgraced. She wasn't a betrayer nor a deceiver!

She felt hurt that she reached out her hand, wanting to say something, but had the feeling that no matter what she said, it wouldn't reach Sect Master Lea Weiss's heart. It was too difficult to change a person's mind when they're already convinced that they have been betrayed.

She had faced Davis in the past as he was once convinced that she was the reason that she had been the reason why he had been unable to save Evelynn from being harmed before he realized it himself. Therefore, unless the person realizes the truth themselves, it was impossible to convince, and sometimes, even if there was solid evidence placed in front of them, they might still be in denial!

"Wait... Lea Weiss..."

Sect Master Lea Weiss stopped as her body shivered ever so lightly. She turned her head around, casting a cold look of disbelief at Elder Chu Feng for calling her name without any respect.

Davis looked absolutely relaxed, perhaps unhinged in another sense as his lips moved.

"What if I said that I can kill that hateful Valerian for you...?"

"!!!?"

The icy look Sect Master Lea Weiss had was shattered, only to be replaced with utter confusion!