Divine Emperor of Death

Dewzai returned her gaze to Shirley, but she still held a frown behind her veil.

If she couldn't defeat Shirley's avatar from that attack, she knew she would be hard-pressed to defeat her main body. Going back, she couldn't even tell how such an avatar existed, as this also meant that her soul probably incorporated the soul essences of a Fire Phoenix and an Ice Phoenix.

She still couldn't understand how these two different entities fused together as it went against the laws of nature. Nevertheless, her eyes held a bright light of acknowledgment as she withdrew her Emperor-Tier aura. However, her battle intent didn't seem to drop one bit.

"I admit I was wrong when I said you weren't worthy. If you still want to battle fairly, we'll have a go at it, or if you want to continue this battle, let's fight until one of us dies or uses an Escape Talisman."

Dewzai smiled behind her veil.

Shirley could see that Dewzai was completely intrigued by her power and wanted to compare what would cout victorious at the end. However, Shirley shrugged.

"I always wanted to fight fairly from the beginning. It is you who tried to evictand even stole from me."

"…"

Dewzai's brows twitched. She raised her hand, summoning the Vein Fragments from her inner world before she sent it towards Shirley.

Shirley wrapped the Vein Fragments with her soul force and saw that the items stolen from her were returned. Now, she only needed a few more Vein Fragments to access the Ninth Hidden Pagoda, but Dewzai didn't know that.

After all, Dewzai assumed they both needed around ten thousand crystal units. Even if it was different, she guessed that it wouldn't have such a gap but she never knew that Shirley only needed like fifty more High-Level Immortal Crystal Vein Fragments.

"I gracefully accept it."

"Not yet."

Dewzai sent twenty-five more Vein Fragments, causing Shirley's lips to twitch.

"What is this?"

"This is compensation for stealing from you and looking down on you. I respect people with strength and integrity, and you have shownthat you have both."

Dewzai's words were still coming from a place of superiority which left Shirley speechless. However, Shirley wasn't surprised as it was true that beings with Emperor-Tier blood felt high above all and mightier than anyone. Especially for feys, she heard it from Evelynn how difficult it was the suppress the urge from looking down on humans and magical beasts alike, so she ignored her superiority complex.

It wasn't like she didn't understand, as she had King-Tier Blood in her as well, but it wasn't such an influence as she was still human. Her human Will toppled it all.

Shirley's lips curled in response, "That's fine. Good luck to you."

Dewzai nodded, "May fortune be with you as well~"

She turned to look around, "However, do you still suppose those Empyrean Stage Crystal Beasts will attack us upon leaving this area?"

"Most likely. Otherwise, we wouldn't be still sensing their murderous intent thrown at us."

Shirley shrugged before she went back into the underground crystal root formation of the mammoth crystal tree. Then, she concealed herself and cout, quickly exiting the place.

"…"

Dewzai watched without blinking before she realized what had just happened.

"You-!"

She was left here as bait while Shirley made it out. She did so in three seconds that Dewzai didn't see it coming. After all, they were still talking, and looked like they were going to plan their way out to mine again, but Shirley went ahead, leaving her here ripe for the taking.

"…"

She could feel the intense stare from the Empyrean Stage Crystal Beasts, almost hearing their thoughts as though they wouldn't let her go since they managed to lose sight of Shirley.

Dewzai stamped her feet and tried the sthing as Shirley, trying to conceal underneath the roots to first block their sight and then cout. However, numerous wind blades descended in every direction over the outer area, blocking her path.

"…"

Needless to say, Dewzai felt beyond pissed.

"Hehe~"

In the distance, Shirley giggled like a child who had just played a prank on someone.

She chanced upon a crystal mound upon the edges of the outer area and began to mine.

She couldn't believe Dewzai even gave her compensation, which now made it so that she only needed twenty-five more Vein Fragments. She didn't need to go as far as to waste her tdigging for a Vein Source.

'But oh well, she is a good woman who doesn't necessarily need to die…'

Shirley couldn't tell if she was a scaredy cat or just a brave yet inexperienced woman. After all, Dewzai had wet herself on the eighth step. That's why she thought Dewzai was a pampered lady who didn't go out much and gave her sleeway when battling her.

If it had been a Candidate with a bad mouth, then her icefire wisps would have turned them into a crimson-blue crystal that burned them within.

Being with Dewzai made her remember her own half-siblings, causing her to recollect those goofy days of playing around.

She quickly collected twenty-five High-Level Immortal Crystal Vein Fragments in five minutes and planned to return. However, just as she stepped out of the crystal mound, she blinked as she saw strange dark clouds covering the branches of the colossal crystal tree, making her blink.

"…"

Shirley watched carefully before her pupils dilated.

'No way… it can't be…'

*Whoosh!~*

Concealing herself, she quickly moved in the direction of the colossal tree. She doubted what she was seeing as these clouds were from the usage of a Divine Technique, which meant that it was possible that Dewzai was attacked by the Empyrean Stage Beast or even sother Candidate.

"Girrarar!~~~"

As she made her way, Shirley heard irredeemably grating loud roars quaking the space. It made her shudder, sweat quickly forming on her forehead from the pressure. It allowed her to know the Empyrean Stage Crystal Beasts were involved. However, she still concealed herself properly and made it back to the base of the colossal tree.

She cto a stop as she reached the base, looking at Dewzai stand before the Ninth Hidden Pagoda while holding a massive crystal sphere by her side.

Surrounding her was the faint light of a barrier.

Shirley believed that it was the light of the defensive barrier, and the crystal sphere she held was none other than the fruit of this colossal tree guarded by the Empyrean Stage Crystal Beasts, which would understandably explain their involvement right now.

Dewzai smiled proudly.

Yet, her right arm was gone. Her body seemed half smashed with blood oozing all over while even her left eye seemed to be lacking a socket. She leaned over the Ninth Hidden Pagoda, seemingly exhausted.

However, her wrecked face still possessed a wide smile.

"Shirley, looks like my luck was somewhat good enough to survive the Empyrean Stage Crystal Beast's attack using the Defensive Talisman. I'm entering first…"

*Whoosh~*

Dewzai disappeared. The crystal sphere also disappeared, seemingly having been absorbed into the Ninth Hidden Pagoda to power it up.

It was unknown how many crystal units the crystal fruit was worth, but it was pretty apparent it was at least worth around ten thousand crystal units since Dewzai was taken in.

"…"

Shirley remained dumbfounded, not quite catching up to the situation.

There was no need for her to challenge the Empyrean Stage Crystal Beasts in order to obtain this giant crystal fruit. Instead, she only needed to get twenty-five High-Level Immortal Crystal Vein Fragments, so what was supposed to be extremely and not tconsuming was somehow beaten by Dewzai's reckless challenge to the Empyrean Stage Crystal Beast that owned that crystal fruit?

Normally, the Candidates wouldn't dare try such a thing as no one knew the capability of the Defensive Talismans.

Was it capable of blocking Empyrean Stage attacks?

It now seemed like the case, but the impact certainly left Dewzai half-killed as she looked so weak.

"You-" Shirley finally reacted, her expression churning as her lips parted, "Dewzai, I swear I will kick your ass when you cout!"

She didn't think Dewzai was so brave or foolish enough to challenge the Empyrean Stage Crystal Beasts, yet despite all the danger, the result was such that Dewzai won and managed to get into the Ninth Hidden Pagoda, which pissed off Shirley beyond compare.

From her perspective, she had it right in her hands, yet it was taken away from her. Such a feeling made her want to go on a rampage.

However, her eyes also shone as she finally acknowledged Dewzai as a real foe. Just the feat of daring to face the Empyrean Stage Crystal Beasts alone was worthy of her respect.