Divine Emperor of Death

Natalya's voice was full of astonishment as she sensed the icy aura emanating from the frozen statues of the Unfettered Ice Fiends.

Beside her, Davis frowned, "This is Forsaken Yin Aura? It certainly doesn't feel like it."

"It doesn't, but my instincts are saying that it is indeed Forsaken Yin Aura?" Natalya appeared not too sure.

She couldn't confirm the authenticity of this icy aura as one from the Forsaken Yin Lotus Manual as it was vastly different than hers, but she could feel that they intrinsically had the same wavelength when sensed beyond their surface.

However, Davis quickly understood what was going on.

"Oh, so this is what you arrive at if you are willing to actually abandon me. So cold and freezing as though containing all the hate- no, indifference in the world. "

Davis could feel the intent from the energy itself, like a residual will. If it were Natalya's, it would carry some innate warmth, even if it was absolutely chilling. He knew this because he had literally tasted her aura while dual cultivating, but the frozen statues he was sensing were all devoid of even a sliver of warmth, but it seemed to perfectly intertwine with the icy aura of the forsaken yin energy, making it extremely powerful and vastly different than what Natalya had mastered.

"Will..." Natalya's frown became heavier as she heard this word.

It wouldn't be a lie or an exaggeration to say that this matter had been on her mind for some time.

After all, the essential requirement to train in the Forsaken Yin Lotus Manual was for the user to forsake the world, not the beings living in but the one or the thing that they consider their world. Being able to detach oneself from that world is supposedly enough to increase their prowess greatly.

"I think I know what this is called."

Tanya had her arms folded as she took a step forward and panned her gaze like a teacher.

"This is something similar to what people call Sword Will, which is the foremost pursuit of any sword cultivator. One basic intent that's manifested from Sword Will is similar to blind confidence."

"Blind confidence in one's sword techniques will make one feel unrivaled in Sword Laws, so you will usually see sword cultivators act like nobody can defeat them even if it is not true. It can be called confidence, self-hypnosis-"

"Or self-delusion," Davis added, causing Tanya to giggle.

"... yes, self-delusion, but one's intent that stems from the deepest realms of one's soul will empower their prowess so much that it is taken as a real form of power, but such a thing usually requires one to sacrifice something, so they're truly embedded in that self-imposed will."

"For example, sword cultivators who are powerful in their cultivation base would've usually understood a thing or two emotional intent about focused and silent rage. This calm before the storm is usually linked to something they have lost, and they never want to lose it again, so they hurl all their frustrations at that move and strike, causing the heaven and earth to churn and howl in resonance, aiding them with an unseen force that stems from their consciousness."

"That's how the first sword intent was born, called the Emperor's Will because he lamented that he couldn't hold the lives of his subordinates in his palms and could only watch it wash away amidst the billowing waves, causing his fury to soar, the skies to rumble and the heavens to retreat."

"..."

Tanya's voice was melodious and flowed smoothly like a gentle river stream. However, her iteration caused the others to be thoroughly taken aback, not having expected a lecture from this ice beauty.

"Aha..." Realizing their gazes, Tanya giggled awkwardly, "... this is just a mythical story I read from the records of the Emperor Sword Arts, not to be confused with current or real events, but it is said that it holds true in any era as long people know how to feel."

"Aiyo, my Natalya." Davis turned to look at Natalya, his eyes flickering with some amusement, "It seems like you might face some trouble soon."

Natalya's eyes narrowed. So someone practicing the Forsaken Yin Lotus Manual was here? Was it that silver-robed woman who hovered away before them? Was she also a part of the Aurora Cloud Gate?

She couldn't help but worry if they would come to seal her cultivation since she was cultivating the manual unauthorized by any being, unlike her three close sisters who had their inheritance masters' permission.

However, the silver-robed woman passing by them just gave a glance before she left. Could it be that she was wary of her husband?

Natalya figured that must be it before she shrugged.

"If they want some trouble, I'll give them some real headache with my obsessive will. I'll let them understand that they're wrong in how they're cultivating the Forsaken Yin Lotus Manual."

"That's my woman."

Davis nodded deeply.

Everything was tied to one's ego in the cultivation world. Whether it was self-hypnosis or self-delusion, as long as they could make they prove their talk with their actions, their egos and arrogance would be completely justified.

It was the same in his case, feeling like he could kill anyone at any time as long as he was willing to sacrifice a bit of his life. That made him fear no one except a few who could probably strip of Fallen Heaven like they were having him for dessert.

Naturally, they took the carcasses for themselves since that silver-robed woman didn't appear to complain.

In fact, after collecting the carcasses, they were on their way, following that silver-robed woman. They didn't know where she led them, but her trail ended at an intersection of many tunnels again.

"Forsaken Yin Disappearance." Natalya suddenly spoke, "This is the only technique I haven't been able to grasp since it requires me to suppress my yin nature to the fullest, but my powerful ice energy interferes with the circulation, leaving me unable to figure out the right proportion of energy I should use."

"In that case, I can try helping you with my Nethersnow Mirage Steps." Tanya interjected, "I've comprehended the final technique back then and surpassed Ancestor Tirea Snow, so I think I'm more than qualified to teach you after I've learned much more about it, being able to even accommodate those footsteps into the Emperor Sword Arts I've learned."

"That would be helpful."

Natalya didn't reject as she smilingly nodded. However, she turned to look at Starlily. Not only her but everyone also did the same as this seemed to be the spot where any going through any tunnel had a high possibility of leading to a treasure.

Starlily raised her hand and adjusted her green hair behind her ear, feeling a bit pressured by their gazes.

"That way..."

She suddenly pointed towards the west, causing Davis to nod as he took the narrow tunnel.

*Boom!~*

Abruptly, the tunnel exploded, screaming out with a horrific howl from the impact of the explosion. Ice shards and icicles flew everywhere, stabbing into the intersection, but with Natalya shaping up an icy barrier, it didn't manage to harm them. However, they watched the entrance to that cave collapse, and Davis got sealed inside, his life and death- known.

"As I thought, traps..."

"..."

Starlily and the others turned to look at Davis being present by their side. Didn't he just enter that collapsed cave?

Wait, did he never enter in the first place and just send his soul body instead?

Starlily's gaze shook. That was not good for her as it meant distrust- no, he never believed her in the first place, perhaps even thought that she was making a move against him!?

However, Davis shook his head as though seeing through her thoughts.

"It's not that I don't believe you, but if people are giving you some information willingly, there could only be two possibilities. One, they're willing to make an investment in you. Two, they're trying to take advantage of you. Naturally, it seems like the one who sold you information about this tunnel's path obviously tried to take advantage of you, or rather, me."

"If you see the people who sold you this information, tell me. Now then, the way to the Hailstorm Wind Stone treasure seemed to be a trap but let's try again. What's the way to the Frozen Spider Vent?"

Starlily remained frozen. The sight of Davis being engulfed by the explosion was still fresh in her mind, and she dared not point at the same mistake again.

"Let me divine the way forward."

At this moment, Tia stepped up, joining her hands as she began to murmur strange and ancient words that seemed to make no sense whatsoever. However, the air in the enclosed region picked up, and strange resonation began to occur, causing Davis and the others' eyes to flicker with some worry.

Divination wasn't meant to be used blindly like this, was it? Or was that how powerful her Karmic Guardian Physique was?