Divine Emperor of Death

Chapter 4579: Afflicted

Davis escaped from the Tidal Annihilation Ocean Behemoth that was in slumber.

He went further along the coastline, slowly and steadily, while concealing himself using the Hateless Ghost Emperor Steps. It was a concealment-movement technique, so he didn’t have any trouble trying to retain concealment even while moving. Most concealment techniques required one to stay absolutely still, but the Hateless Ghost Emperor Steps didn’t require such a condition.

The concealment only grew stronger if one stayed without any movement.

Naturally, Master Deathseeker brought him the Empyrean Grade version of this technique, so he was much more skillful in it than a decade before. Still, it was a Low-Level Empyrean Grade Concealment-Movement Technique, so although its concealment aspect and ability increased, it still wasn’t comparable to Nadia’s innate concealment technique fueled by her Deathhowl Revenant Wolf Bloodline.

Hence, he was still below Nadia when it came to concealment, but liked to think he wasn’t far off. His prowess made up for the lack of concealment aspect. Considering his prowess was way more than Nadia’s, he wondered if he was truly not far off from her.

But he felt that as long as he could obtain the High-Level Empyrean Grade version of the Hateless Ghost Emperor Steps, he could finally match her concealment ability.

Hence, he guessed it wasn’t that his comprehension was lacking much, but a pipeline that was needed to use energy more efficiently and more skillfully. In other words, a better circulation method that comes with a higher-grade manual.

It was unfortunate that Master Deathseeker couldn’t obtain a higher-grade Hateless Ghost Emperor Steps. He wasn’t the only heir anymore, for there were many, and he was informed that the Founder himself hadn’t developed the Exalt Grade of the Hateless Ghost Emperor Steps, so he supposed that the High-Level Empyrean Grade Hateless Ghost Emperor Steps is the peak of what the Ghost Tear Hall achieved when it comes to movement and concealment techniques.

While traveling, he began to think of many ideas to stand against the Primarch-Level existences. His luck and abilities to traverse could only go so far. If he had moved without thinking and tried to cross the water-metal river, then he would’ve melted before he even knew it.

The dangers were high.

After an hour, two to three ideas stood out to him, of which two of them seemed to be possible with his strength and his wives strength. However, one of two didn’t need the power of his wives absolutely. He felt like he could achieve it by himself, but the danger was also high.

Heck, all ideas were crazy.

The chances of success were not high and could end up catastrophic, but if they succeeded, then they could potentially rival Low Stage Primarch existences in the Shard Continent.

Nonetheless, it wasn’t something he could try immediately.

Soon, night fell.

He decided to camp and take a rest underneath a large tree. The underside of the bark was spacious, even with all the giant roots covering the area. He went into it and closed his eyes, resting. As he rested, his aura went still, and he became no different than a corpse, lifeless and rippleless.

It was as though he was one with the fabric of space itself.

Three hours after midnight, he woke up, feeling groggy in the throat and many areas, even though he was well rested.

He moved, looking over his body as he moved his sleeves back, and as expected, he was afflicted with the Lunar Shadow Bleeding Sickness. There was a patch of gray over his arm, which hurt. It caused a throbbing and stinging pain. It wasn’t only on his arm, but many places.

He walked out of the tree and basked in the lunar lights.

His sickness only worsened, but Davis had his hands spread out, appearing as though he welcomed it.

If anyone saw this scene, they would indeed think he was a madman.

Davis didn’t treat the Lunar Shadow Bleeding Sickness. Instead, he let it fester faster by standing in the lunar light while ignoring the painful experience. Two hours later, the suns started shining brighter, and his sickness was slightly alleviated, and it was less painful. However, the dark patches didn’t decrease.

Davis still did not do anything to cure the Lunar Shadow Bleeding Sickness.

He set out at dawn, making his way further along the coastline. From barren lands, it started transitioning into one of lush forests and prairies.

During early morning, he managed to harvest two more Primarch Grade resources. He ignored the Empyrean Grade ones as they weren’t worth it. There was always the danger of getting caught while harvesting, so he was picky with treasures as long as they weren’t Empyrean Grade resources of rare Greater Laws and Supreme Laws.

He managed to get past two more Primarch Stage existences whom he didn’t recognize, making him think that the human world hadn’t fully seen all the calamities that could threaten the Three Layers.

However, he did think that it was strange that he didn’t see any powerful spirits at the Exalt Stage yet. It seemed like the calamities were the dominant force in the Shard Continent. He started to think spirits were prey here, almost making him think that for the spirits, the Elemental Dimension was like the mortal world. They were the weakest while terrifying calamities that they couldn’t do anything about usually lurked nearly everywhere.

’Or I’m just on the outskirts... can’t deny the existence of a spirit tribe or even a spirit city where the defenses are extremely high...’

Davis thought.

The Shard Continent was incredibly vast, and he had the thought that they hadn’t even explored even one percent of it. Moreover, it was unclear if the Shard Continent was just a world that led to Shard Regions or if it was the entirety of the Elemental Dimension itself, consisting of multiple Shard Continents interconnected, even leading to even higher-level planes.

It was difficult to tell when he hadn’t even explored one percent of it.

He continued to travel, and by the time it was noon, he finally found the water-metal river turning right and left sharply. From the other side, there was a glorious waterfall falling from a height of over a hundred thousand kilometers, splashing and churning below like a mini-tsunami, mixing with the water-metal river.

Clearly, the metal source wasn’t here, so when the river continued in the left and right pathways, metal energy was diluted, and water energy was much more present. Nonetheless, he finally found a way to cross the river.

He figured it was behind the waterfall as he could see jagged pathways.

Davis didn’t want to cross the river. If he got caught, then it would be unlike falling into a simple stream. Instead, it would be like falling into a swamp and quicksand together. The metal energy mixed with water might bury him alive.

Fortunately, there was an arched pathway made from the bones of a strange lifeform. Its pressure made him shudder since he mused that it was Mid-Level Primarch Grade. Regardless, it was eaten clean, only leaving the empty bones whose runes had long evaporated, but the remnant force remained. He used these bones to cross the river straight and appear behind the waterfall.

He smiled, seeing the jagged pathway leading to the other side.

However, his smile froze as he saw a few silhouettes in the distance.

Instantly, he dashed towards them and shouted.

"Isabella! You all... how did you come here!?"

"My Emperor!"

"Big brother!"

Isabella and Tia yelled out, their expressions full of joy.

Davis quickly arrived in front of them like a lightning bolt. They looked so joyful, but their expressions turned quickly worried as they noticed the dark gray patches on him.

On the other hand, Davis’s gaze shook. There was no way they could’ve come here, considering he was still trying to cross the river, and there was no river pathway on the map. This meant that they had made their way from the other side, trying to find him.

He shuddered, turning to look at Tia.

"You- did you use divination?"