Davis found that his Soul Forging Cultivation was rising rapidly without much consumption. This matter was contradictory to what he knew since the amount of soul essence required remained almost five times, directly proportional to his prowess that reached four to five levels above.
Of course, the Low-Level Ninth Stage was counted as two levels when accounted for its gap between the Eighth Stage.
Therefore, he needed four to five times the amount of soul essence, making it so that he needed four to five High-Level Emperor Soul Stage Soul Essences to reach the High-Level King Soul Stageās peak and possibly breakthrough into the Peak-Level King Soul Stage.
It was a given that Fallen Heavenās refinement speed increased since its own level increased, but the consumption of soul essence lowering didnāt make sense. It was almost as if he returned to needing only one time the amount of soul essence, making him inwardly shocked and think that it was because he was merely catching up to Fallen Heaven.
After all, his soul was intrinsically connected to Fallen Heaven. If his Soul Forging Cultivation got stronger, it got stronger too, so why wouldnāt it be the same for him?
āIt works like that...?ā
Davis couldnāt help but feel annoyed with the precepts changing every time he broke through a stage or vastly increased his prowess. It was even more significant this time, but learning that he didnāt need much soul essence anymore, he practically leaped in joy.
However, he kept in mind since he was merely catching up, the consumption would turn normal, increasing to four or five times once he reached the Emperor Soul Stage because thatās where Fallen Heaven was, according to his assessment.
As he cultivated, time passed, and night fell.
Davis felt that his High-Level King Soul Stage Cultivation was already almost at its peak, making him feel ridiculous. His speed was so fast that he couldnāt help but feel overjoyed but also dumbfounded at the same time, wishing if it was only this easier all the way to the peak.
At this moment, he slightly paused his refinement, passing the task to Fallen Heaven as he opened his eyes and saw a white-robed womanly figure enter, having long silky brown hair.
She slowly walked inside with uncertainty since she saw no guards and nothing blocking her way, even after opening the many doors leading to this place.
Once she arrived, she looked at Davis and another woman who seemed to be seated beside him, looking at him with a gentle gaze before she moved her head, her gaze falling on her.
Evelynnās four spider lances were hidden inside her robes as they were neatly stacked upon themselves, consuming little space. Her closed third eye looked just like a beautiful vertical symbol on her forehead, similar to Nadiaās mark and many other women who mark their foreheads with a beautiful mark to make them look good. Hence, she seemed no different than a human.
However, the sinister yet powerful aura coming from her made Yotan terrified.
This woman was a peak-level existence!
"Youāve come." Evelynn spoke first with a mystical voice, "So, have you made your decision?"
Yotan dropped to her knees as she lowered her head.
"I... Iāll become a maid and follow his eminenceās words, so please donāt."
"Please donāt what...?"
Yotanās curvy body shuddered as she heard Evelynnās cold voice.
"Ple- Please donāt take my innocence."
"Mhm?" Evelynn reacted heavily, her sinister aura becoming more prevalent, "How can a woman swear loyalty without offering her chastity? Do I hear it right?"
"No, I- Please... Anything but that..."
Hearing Yotanās hushed voice, Evelynn felt that she had made her suffer enough. She no longer bothered and left it to Davis as she turned to look at him.
Davis understood that Evelynn had finished venting her anger.
However, to leave Yotan with just two sentences, his Evelynn sure was gentle.
"Yotan, I destroyed your Soul Palaceās Emperors and enslaved Elusivemist. Thereās nothing you can do to turn that around. I conquered the Soul Palace, and it doesnāt matter if you all accept me or not because I have taken over its resources. However, I donāt own the people in it, nor am I going to hurt them, but you heard what you werenāt supposed to hear, so you know the consequences, right?"
"Your eminence, I..." Yotan shuddered while her eyes were glazed with tears, "I am aware of it."
"Good." Davis nodded, "You say that you donāt want to warm my bed. That is fine as I donāt desire you either. However, how can you prove your loyalty to me? Either you get enslaved by me or commit suicide. I can only think of these measures, or do you have another reasonable answer that you could give me to free yourself of consequence?"
"I can... swear-"
"Oh, pretty woman," Davisās lips curved, "For people of our level, we all know that swearing to the heavens can be negated, and although forming a Blood Soul Contract can be binding, you can still spread the information and die or end up a cripple for your Soul Palace since I assume that youāre still loyal. Iām not going to give a pawn to Elusivemistās hand to play, you know. Despite being my slave, he is still called the master of illusions and perhaps, manipulation that I canāt afford to carelessly play with him."
Davis could somewhat tell all that disgruntled feeling of Elusivemist was merely a farce. There was more shrewdness in him than genuine feelings, like a vile snake pretending to be a friend only to backstab later. Perhaps, he was indeed disgruntled, but mixing truth with fake makes him all the more dangerous.
Or perhaps, Davis was merely overestimating him.
Nevertheless...
"I know you donāt want to be enslaved since I will be able to control your life and death and order you around to my heartās content. However, that is the only remaining way for you to stay alive."
Davis echoed out his opinion, waiting for Yotanās reply.
However, even after a minute, she failed to voice out anything, likely frozen or expecting sympathy from him since he already appeared merciful for a tyrant. Davis inwardly sighed, feeling that this is why he should put on his devil face as he did with the Blood Demoness.
He was reminded of the Blood Demoness, Schleya, imagining that she was probably screaming at them to release her by this time, but that depended on Mo Mingzhi.
āAtone for my wrongs, huh?ā
Davis couldnāt help but inwardly smile at Mo Mingzhiās words, ā
I have no idea how to do that, but at least, Schleya is harmless and safe in the Purple Guest Palace for the time being.ā
As for this Yotan, he had no idea what to do. He didnāt even know her, but she came to know that he was the Emperor of Death, so he couldnāt just let her go, and circumstances deemed that he could not punish Elusivemist at the moment, at least until he fully digested Zealwonderās Peak-Level Emperor Soul Stage Soul Essence.
"... Iāll become your eminenceās slave."
A voice of determination suddenly echoed, causing Davisās eyes to widen with a smile.
"Good. Donāt resist."
He flicked his fingers as he used the Obscure Ghastly Bind Slave Seal on Yotan.
She shuddered as she received his technique, making her feel his deathly aura envelop her. It seamlessly assimilated with her, causing her to feel marvel over this technique, and at the same time, despair seeped in.
At this moment, Yotan was well aware she became a slave and could only hope that she would not become a cultivation cauldron as she heard in the stories.
But on the other hand, Davis satisfactorily nodded as he felt a headache leave his mind.
"As I said before. I have not come to kill or rule, so as long as you remain loyal to me, keeping an eye on Elusivemist, sending periodical reports to my wife here, and acting as though the Soul Palace is functioning well with Zealwonder still alive on the surface, you will receive a Stargaze Soul Radiance Tree Fruit from me, becoming the next Soul Emperor of my Soul Palace."
Evelynn threw her a messaging talisman that Yotan captured. She stared at the messaging talisman while she finished listening to Emperor of Deathās speech, not knowing what to say.
She would become a Soul Empress if she stayed loyal and kept an eye on Elusivemist, periodically reporting on his actions?
Honestly, she didnāt believe it but still nodded.
"You can leave."
Yotan was extremely relieved that she inwardly heaved a sigh of relief. A smile finally appeared on her face as she nodded and left with hasty steps.
"Also, tell my slave Elusivemist to stop playing mind games. He should understand. "
But suddenly, the Emperor of Deathās voice resounded, causing her to freeze in her tracks before she turned around and deeply moved.
"I understand, master."
Turning around, Yotan then took her to leave from this palace tower. When she arrived outside and viewed the night sky that cast a shadow over her future, her expression became frigid.
āElusivemist, Iām taking my revenge on you no matter what.ā
She didnāt blame this slave seal on her soul on Davis but entirely blamed it on her senior brother, Soul Emperor Elusivemist, beginning to hate him to the bones.
How can he do this to her? Fortunately, the Emperor of Death appeared to keep his words after she became enslaved, which made her feel extremely relieved.
After all, with the slave pact on her, he could force her to do all kinds of things that she couldnāt commit suicide as a form of relief even if she wanted to.
Back in the annexed palace tower, Davis hoped that there was no longer a disturbance and descended into cultivation once again. Evelynn appeared satisfied with this result while Nadia had long returned to the Purple Guest Palace.
Therefore, only Davis and Evelynn stayed here as they cultivated side by side.