Divine Emperor of Death

The armored figure wore an armor that was gold in color, vastly different from the dull grey that the previous ones wore. 

This made him think there was something different about this golden figure. 

'Could it be that it possesses consciousness?' 

Davis shook his head and walked towards the golden armored figure with casual steps, copying the golden armored figure's animated movement patterns.

Seemingly provoked, the golden armored figure swung the sword in its hand at Davis once it neared him.

'As expected, my guess turned out to be right...'

The battle aura unleashed by the sword traveled towards Davis bringing an astonishing amount of force with it, capable of destroying mountains filled with Earth Grade minerals and metals.

Davis clenched his fists, grasping the Scythe as he swung it forward, cutting the battle aura as it dissipated away.

*Boom!~*

Rushing forward with an explosive step, he instantly neared the golden armored figure and slashed.

The golden armored figure took a back step and dodged the slash which was aimed at its neck while retreating to the rear.

Davis didn't allow the golden armored figure to take a breather but instead followed it by the end of its tail, slashing and slicing at it whenever he had the chance.

*Clang!~* 

*Clang!~*

Sword and Scythe clashed, echoing throughout the wide mountain. The Scythe he used let out a crack but it held together, not breaking apart.

The golden armored figure was suppressed and it fell into a disadvantage by just continuously defending against Davis. Its arms trembled from the sheer quantity of attacks it received from all sides.

As Davis trained more with the Dark Crimson Scythe, the more he felt that he could manipulate the direction of the swing of this Peak-Level Earth Grade Scythe which he found before leaving the Loret Empire's Royal Capital with the help of the intelligence department. 

As he danced around it while slashing at it numerous times, it let the defensive golden armored figure fall into a quagmire, making it incapable of even using any techniques to evict itself from the disadvantage it had fallen to by itself.

'Closing in on me was the first mistake it had made...' Davis mused as a smile lit up his face.

The Immortal Grade Immortal Inheritance was as good as in his hands right now!

Suddenly, its right leg flew away as it got severed by Davis's Scythe. Davis saw it lose its balance as well as an opening created from the lack of battle awareness.

It was a crucial mistake on the golden armored figure's part but the Scythe had a long reach compared to the sword it possessed.

With the Tyrant Physique, he could even rival some Low-Level Gold Stage Experts.

Considering his opponent was just a Low-Level Silver Stage Expert, Davis only admired since it managed to last half a minute under his strikes.

If it were any other Low-Level Silver Stage Expert, he figured that it would only be an instant before he severed the head of that expert.

Davis instantly pointed the Scythe above and swung it down as it towered over its head, severing its body into two. The severed body turned into a big speck of light as it disappeared into the void.

"Congratulations!! You have cleared the Immortal Grade Trial as well as the entire Inheritance!" The image of the Earth Dragon appeared as it trembled in excitement.

Davis blinked his eyes and the scenery changed in front of his view.

He was now in front of the so-called Treasury which he heard from Evelynn, the dimly lit cave.

The Earth Dragon's image once again formed in front of him at such a close range.

Davis instantly felt quite intimidated as he felt its remnant soul force. It completely overwhelmed him. His nerves went taut but calmed himself down as well the rapid beating of his heart.

Wondering whether if it would do something to him, he heard the Earth Dragon speak in an excited yet husky voice.

"Trialist, what is your name?"

Davis narrowed his eyes but still replied, "Davis Loret..."

"Davis... Loret... Good! How is your cultivation so high at your age? Especially in this world where the full potential of the heaven and earth energy is locked away..."

Davis's interest piqued when he heard that and instantly posed a question as he feigned absolute ignorance, "What do you mean? There's a higher stage than the Ninth Stage?"

"Yes!" The Earth Dragon's voice boomed out, making him tremble from the soul pressure emanated by the soul remnant. After all, even its voice was something which was born over soul force when it was in this state.

"What is it!?" Davis's eyes glowed. 

Was it the fabled Immortal Stage?

"Lad, even though you are the successor for my Immortal Inheritance, it is too soon for you to know. After all, ignorance and holding knowledge that is not appropriate to your strength can be considered a sin."

Davis's eyes twitched, so it was not going to tell anything about the rumored Immortal Stage.

Why did these existences always like to play mysterious when the answer can be just spoken without being hidden? 

Suddenly, he felt an invasive soul force entering his body.

He froze!

"Hmm? Why can't I feel your soul age? This is strange..."

A few seconds passed but it still muttered the same thing over and over again while the invasive soul force seemed like it was scanning over him repeatedly.

"So what if I'm strange? I clearly passed the trial within the set of rules you established!"

Davis was quite angered as he heard it speak. He instantly demanded the inheritance as he felt it belonged to him but inwardly he felt glad that it wasn't able to find Fallen Heaven residing in his Soul Sea.

"You're clearly strange... You're an anomaly... No... I can't hand over you the complete inheritance as it goes against what I feel..." The Earth Dragon answered as it grunted.

Suddenly, Davis heard Fallen Heaven speak, "Kid, didn't I tell you? These existences entirely decide upon their successor based upon their feelings. The trial is just a way to narrow down the candidates to a vast degree."

Davis inwardly nodded and felt quite wronged.

It was true that he was weird and his so-called soul-age might be quite high because of his previous life but so what!? Didn't he pass the trial set by the Earth Dragon Immortal!?

This was known as clearly being biased. He suppressed his increasing anger and calmed himself down.

Since it didn't want to give him the complete Inheritance then he didn't want it either but how can he let it go without a fight? 

"You're such a disgrace..." Davis suddenly uttered.

The Earth Dragon's eyes widened as it let out a disgruntled roar, "How dare you disrespect me!?"

Davis was very clear on its subtle words as it was clearly convincing itself not to give him the inheritance. In its tone, he discovered it was rather ashamed of itself and hence the backlash at him.

He endured the intimidating soul force and answered, "I followed the rules you set and cleared the trial! Now you're saying that you don't want to give me the inheritance? If your original self heard your words, it would be quite ashamed of itself too!"

*Rghh!~*

The Earth Dragon let out a grunt but kept pressuring him.

"You are the one who said that I completed the trial and you are the one who said that I got the complete inheritance! Even your ancestors might be ashamed if they were to know that they gave birth to a descendant who was this shameless! Not even able to follow its own words and rules that it set up for a successor!"

"Silence!!!" The Earth Dragon roared and fell into silence.

Davis's soul pounded in pain but he knew that it didn't injure him. He knew when to act while he only tried to convince it of his thoughts.

Davis held his head and acted as if he received a huge blow, "Aargh... How about this? You can give me five times the amount of treasures that you would give to the one who completed Emperor Grade Trial..."

The Earth Dragon blinked but then it seemed hesitant as it considered his words for a few seconds.

"With this, you don't need to feel guilty anymore..." Davis manipulated his words and made it feel guilty on purpose 

"Two times..." The Earth Dragon uttered as its eyes flashed.

Davis froze! He didn't think that the Earth Dragon would agree. He tried his best but he thought that it would eventually kick him out in the best-case scenario.

As for the worst-case he considered, he thought that it could've possibly killed him.

'Looks like this Earth Dragon Immortal is upright...' Davis inwardly sighed in joy but still felt that it wasn't enough since he has actually cleared the Immortal Grade Trial after all.

"Four times!" Davis argued back.

"Four times!? That's not possible! The most I can give to a single trialist is three times..." The Earth Dragon narrowed its eyes.

"Alright, three times it is!" Davis was satisfied with the current situation even though he felt wronged but since he knew that he was essentially cheating with his transmigration, he felt content.

Besides, although he was not looking down on it, he felt that it was a miracle that a magical beast type existence engaged in negotiation with him.

Magical Beasts have high pride in their bloodline, especially dragons and the like or so he heard according to myths and legends.

He used this fact to his advantage and half-heartedly believed that he was able to manipulate it into giving more than the normal.

He thought it would have either settled him with Emperor Grade Trial rewards or ruthlessly killed him, but since it believed that it was unfair, it settled him with Emperor Grade Trial rewards.

So all he could was increase the amount that he could gain from it like a greedy merchant.

Davis headed forward once its image dissolved into the air. He followed the narrow path and arrived at the Sky Grade Treasury.

In front of him was that circular diagram but he ignored it once he heard its voice again.

"For the main rewards, head to the Emperor Grade Treasury after collecting nine Sky Grade Treasures from this place... And also don't forget to collect nine King Grade Treasures after you enter the next area..."

Davis felt excited beyond control! Sky Grade Treasures! Okay, not quite tempting...

King Grade Treasures? Definitely tempting!!!

Then what of Emperor Grade Treasures!? Davis licked his lips as he was going to bed a woman who was right in front of him but his expression froze.

Once he realized he lost control of his greed, he quickly calmed down and proceeded to browse the treasury at his own leisurely pace.

Davis recalled Evelynn telling him about her gains after she came out of the trial.

"I gained three Sky Grade Treasures!"

Davis moved to his left for a little while before seeing an empty space in a formation. Below the formation was a description that described the treasure that was kept inside.

[

Gleaming Radiance Pill

A pill that enhances one's soul force and even helps one to breakthrough to the Elder Soul Stage at the moment of breakthrough.

]

Davis smiled as he saw the description. He knew it was difficult to understand about the soul which had been why it had been difficult for the denizens of the Grand Sea Continent to experience a breakthrough in Soul Forging Cultivation, especially in the latter stages.

But now, Davis knew Old Man Garvin's teachings, so he could easily teach people till Elder Soul Stage.

His understanding only reached the Mature Soul Stage, so he felt it wasn't wise to teach them about it.

However, this pill in front of him that Evelynn had taken was a huge boon.

Sky Grade Pills that concerns the soul is quite the rarity in the Tripartite Alliance Territory, so it could be said that Evelynn had an eye for valuable treasures.

With his understanding of the Soul Forging Cultivation and her pill, he was absolutely sure that Evelynn would eventually arrive at the Elder Soul Stage in a few or dozen years.

He turned his head away from it and continued to browse as pondered on what items to take.

During his free browsing session, he coincidentally came within the other two treasures that Evelynn took away from this place.