"Oh...? No wonder you were so arrogant all this time... It is indeed acceptable..."
Ezekiel Alstreim’s eyes flashed with curiosity.
"I want to know how I would be able to fare against a Soul King. I’ve also never fought one before, so care to entertain me somewhere else?"
Davis couldn’t help but chuckle as he was about to reply, but...
"I advise you all from wanting to challenge him to know his true prowess." Ancestor Dian Alstreim’s voice resounded out, causing everyone to look at him.
"He sneakily attacked me and was able to seal my cultivation for a few seconds with a mysterious spirit formation, and that was more than enough time for a Soul King to kill you if you’re unlucky without any soul defenses put in place."
He shook his head, looking rueful. He wanted them not to began a fight in the name of exchanging friendly blows just when the situation had become amicable.
Ezekiel Alstreim blinked while all the others looked shocked. Especially Claire, who couldn’t help but worry why under the heavens her son would do that. She was proud, but what if Ancestor had taken it in the wrong way?
"Why did you do that for?" She pouted.
"Just cause..."
Davis winked as he really didn’t have a valid reason. He just wanted to see what it would be like when he fought against a Law Rune Stage Powerhouse, just like how Ezekiel Alstreim wanted to see how he would fare against him.
Claire couldn’t resist hitting him by the side.
The Solitary Soul Avatar got the hit while the real Davis grinned from Niera’s side.
Looking at Logan, who smilingly shook his head, he couldn’t help but say with a teasing intent.
"Father, you’re awfully silent this whole time..."
Logan, who already possessed a smile, deeply smiled at this moment.
"Davis, what else do I have to do when I have an excellent and capable son like you? You came from me, so whatever you do, the reputation of the outcome will also naturally come to me,"
Logan looked as if he had triumphed while Davis became flabbergasted, about to complain that it was unfair when the former continued.
"... even the bad ones. I’m just standing here, feeling glad that you haven’t strayed to the wicked path as the people call here. I’m glad that you’re just a pervert like me and not an evil man."
Davis was extremely moved but hearing his father speak, but at the end, his expression began to twitch.
"That girl... She’s Nora’s little sister...?"
"Yes..." Davis answered, shaking his head, "She-"
"Should I call her sister-in-law or daughter-in-law...?"
Logan had a confused yet teasing smile on his face while Davis’s expression instantly froze. He looked away and let out an exasperated breath.
"The latter..."
"Hahaha! Did you think I was going to call her the former?"
Logan teased while Davis knew he had lost this one. If it were before, he would’ve teased back his father, but after having a good time... an extremely good time with his sister-in-law Fiora in bed, he could only have his mouth shut. He couldn’t be two-faced about this, nor did his parents know about Fiora.
If they did, Logan wouldn’t have dared to make this cliched joke as he would know that he would’ve made things awkward! After all, it was quite common that a common family would marry off sisters to a powerful man, especially if he were wealthy, authoritative, and well-protected as well.
Claire lightly hit Logan, chastising him for making the atmosphere awkward between them.
Logan chuckled, "In any case, you’re the one making the calls, Davis. I’ll just sit back and enjoy my life, perhaps adventure with my wives like I wanted to."
"It’s not like I want to make the calls all the time." Davis shrugged, "You can make the decisions, father, but you have to be responsible for it as I am for my own."
"Nope, I almost exhausted my life being an Emperor. I am not one, nor do I want to become one again..." Logan shook his head, "You always think the best for us while we think the same for you. So, all your father wants to say is don’t be bent on cultivation all the time. With the way you’re going, it is as if though you’re going to get retribution from the heavens..!"
"We heard from father-in-law that you saved Tia from a... heavenly tribulation?"
A soul transmission fell on Davis’s head.
Logan’s tone was inquisitive and proud, while his eyes were deep with worry. Even Claire looked the same, looking as if she was reproaching him for doing something dangerous like facing a heavenly tribulation, especially for someone else.
Davis’s expression became a bit proud instead.
"I saved mother’s little sister. Don’t you two feel proud of me?"
"We do... I feel like if I died at this moment, I would have no regrets for having a son like you, but do you not know that a father’s greatest fear is to see his son die before him?" Logan narrowed his eyes.
Davis blinked, feeling like his father became a bit emotional.
Indeed, both Logan and Claire were distraught when they heard Edgar Alstreim’s account. Davis wasn’t even at the foot of the Ninth Stage, and yet he had already faced a heavenly tribulation of the legends! Fortunately, he had crossed it, but when they heard it, they thought that Edgar Alstreim came to announce the news of Davis’s death to them. They were practically frozen stiff at that time, almost scarred for life.
Fortunately, Edgar Alstreim quickly said that everyone was okay.
Evan had already been born at that time, or otherwise, something might’ve gone wrong with Claire.
"I’m not saying that you should not face dangers, but I’m saying that you should know your limits. I always tell Claire that you know your limits, but this... The destructiveness of the heavenly tribulation is something unknown to us, but you dared to face it? Could it be that you were relying on your master? No, even your master wouldn’t have dared to intervene when a heavenly tribulation appears because the ironclad rule of it is if someone else interferes, the heavenly tribulation is always going to match their strength...."
Davis could feel the heaviness in his father’s words. He understood that he was not being criticized but asked why he did that.
"True, I was almost near to death, but I won in the end. As you already know, I have unearthly healing arts that don’t leave any residues in me as medicinal pills do, so I knew that if I were to survive, I would experience a massive change in my confidence with almost no consequences."
"However, such thoughts didn’t run in my head first as I just wanted to save Tia. I knew I was reckless, but I just had to do it or watch little Tia turn into ashes. I really didn’t plan on interfering with her tribulation in any way. However, at that moment..."
Davis shrugged.
"Fine, fine... A man’s got to do what a man’s got to do..."
Logan sighed, looking as if he was somewhat satisfied with that answer.
He had saved many random women in his adventures as a youth, even had consensual one-night stands with them so in a romantic manner while some of them ended up in his harem a few years ago. So he believed that it was all his fault that Davis was like this, wanting to save damsels in distresses while even risking his life.
He really couldn’t blame his own genes, could he? It was not even a random woman but a close relative, basically another sister-in-law, so he really didn’t find fault but was just worried for his son’s life.
Claire looked at Logan, not really understanding his point as her son’s life was greater than anyone else. How can he sacrifice his life for a woman who wasn’t even his wife or daughter?
Of course, she was glad that her little sister from another mother survived, but if she had to lose her son for it, never!
However, she didn’t say anything in the end because she knew that no matter how strong he was, she was always going to worry when he faced dangers.
That was the fate of a mother.
Fortunately, he possessed extraordinary offensive and defensive prowess that would ensure his survival. Claire understood that and calmed her worried heart, but she still couldn’t help but leave these four words.
"Don’t do it again..."
"I’ll try..." Davis scratched his head while looking wry.
Claire furrowed her brows, "You’re like your father. So stupid..."
She pouted and looked away before she sighed, "Davis, now that everything is settled, including the main perpetrator Faragin Yantra, has been killed, I want to return home to see my other children, your siblings whom I have abandoned taking care of all these years."
Davis blinked, feeling like he had talked about returning two or three months later, but even he was feeling an extreme urge to return so that he could see Isabella, even his little sister Clara and the other two adorable kids who had probably grown up.
"Don’t be hard on yourself, mother. Some things just can’t be delayed. If you had waited, there’s a chance that Faragin Yantra and his lackies might’ve uprooted the Alstreim Family or caused immense damage, not to mention the Aqua Flood Dragon might’ve totally destroyed the Grand Alstreim City. Besides, I wouldn’t have met Natalya again and fell in love while she fell to danger again, nor would I have met all these wonderful women whom I know I could love dearly... Your adamance and determination gave me happiness that I didn’t know that I could’ve experienced, mother..."
"Davis..." Claire’s eyes became moist as she became inexplicably moved.
There wasn’t a single day she had gone by without thinking at least once about her children she left back home. It was done for them to be safe and have a protected environment to grow, but no matter how she twisted it, she was still abandoning her duty to nurture them.
Davis’s words melted her heart that she couldn’t help but almost cry. She wiped her eyes with her sleeves and smiled.
"Can you give us that token? I think Logan and I can go back by ourselves, or you can lead us to the spatial gate with your concealment if you want to..."
Davis shook his head as he deeply smiled.
"I’m coming with you all to the Grand Sea Continent..."
Claire’s expression froze as her smile faded.
Like these three, the others in the hall were talking amongst themselves in groups, sharing their experiences, growing together emotionally while even Davis’s main body was interacting with Niera, Nora, and their family, watching them bond, although it was a bit hilarious for him and everyone else as Nora teased how these two stinky men captured their hearts.
It garnered humorous waves of laughter while everything, including his relationship with Niera seeming to be going smooth, not disputed by anyone. At the same time, Nora even said it was good for her little sister because she had approved Davis’s character.
As always, it was hard to say no to be wed to a smooth, attractive, powerful man. It was rather a common sight. However, the matter of the wedding date was not discussed, perhaps because everyone felt that it was too soon even though they may have accepted.
Davis didn’t care as it coincided with his plans while he fully took advantage of his privileges to socialize for a while before he took his leave, only leaving his Solitary Soul Avatar to take care of any remaining matters.
A few minutes later, he secretly arrived at the Dark Thunder Island along with Nadia and Eldia with his blinding speed.
*Whoosh!~*
Both Nadia and Eldia shot out from his body before one of them looked deeply excited.
"We got no time to waste! Eldia, it’s time for you to show your prowess in devouring this heavenly lightning!~"
Eldia’s figure flashed with black-lightning while she spun around in mid-air as if she was waiting for this treat all day long!
"Yes!~~~ Master!"