Divine Emperor of Death

Chapter 4019  Setting Rules

"Ten years is too steep."

The Celestial Transcendent shook his head, "For an Anarchic Divergent, that's enough to cause an extreme amount of calamity when unchecked."

Davis retorted calmly, "It's not like I'm telling all the Heaven's Warriors to stay clear. I'm only asking you to stay clear of me and my family for ten years."

"I know, but I'm saying that it's still not viable, especially since even Elluro couldn't defeat you. Wouldn't you be nearly invincible in the Lower Realms? To let go of you for ten more years, you would only become stronger and form a new dynamic in the Third Layer. The order we achieved would collapse, and anarchy would reign once again, leading to more people suffering. What can you do to remedy that kind of future?"

"…"

Davis pursed his lips. He understood they both wanted to put forth the rules first so they could change them as they pleased to their advantage. The negotiation was becoming challenging to proceed. However, he could see that there was still a chance for the negotiation to succeed.

He heaved a breath and moved his lips, "I will not kill any Heaven's Warriors who want to attack me and my family. I will let them go for these ten years with minimal or appropriate damage as I cannot hold back against tougher foes."

"No," The Celestial Transcendent's voice was firm, his eyes wide, "You will not kill anyone in these ten years, and you will not move a single step outside your hideout after you make it there."

"Can't do that." Davis's voice also increased a notch, "I will have my freedom to move, or this deal isn't happening, forcing me to retaliate in the meanest way possible."

The Celestial Transcendent waved his hand, "Then you will limit your movement to the realm outside your hidden space. You cannot leave that particular realm."

Davis clenched his fists, "It is barely acceptable, but I will retain my rights to kill anyone other than Heaven's Warriors."

"That is not acceptable. You will not kill any Heaven's Warriors and not kill anyone below the Empyrean and Autarch Stage. You also cannot command, influence, or hire anyone to kill them."

"That… is fine." Davis's gaze flickered as he grunted out a reply.

The Celestial Transcendent nodded, but he appeared much more imposing and had a stern expression. "That's not all. You will not enter the Second Layer and the First Layer in the next thousand years."

"No way!" Davis leaned forward, almost slamming his palms on the table, but placed them soundlessly, "I'm not about to cut off my escape path. Whether I escape to the Upper Realms or any other place after the ten years will be under my control. You cannot take that."

"Then the negotiation would fail." A cold voice emerged from the Celestial Transcendent's mouth.

"…" Davis almost clicked his tongue before he looked away and uttered with all the force he could muster, "A hundred years then."

"…"

The Celestial Transcendent didn't reply. He knew that Davis said a hundred years meant that he was fairly confident he could fight with him, the Celestial Transcendent's avatar, in ten years and give him the middle finger for the remaining ninety years with enough buffer. That was dangerous.

There were still many Anarchic Divergents and Divergents who had escaped his grasp in the past few million years, and he could not afford to let a single fledgling go, much less a fledgling who was one of the most dangerous he had ever seen. To beat him in the tribulation was not an ordinary feat. More than anything, it was becoming harder and harder to hunt Divergents.

All this made him think something was going to happen in the future.

Even still, his lips only curled in amusement.

"A hundred years for the Second Layer and five hundred years for the First Layer. Obviously, I'm trying to limit your growth as much as possible so that you can't be a roaming menace. You're not the only one in my eyes that I have to take care of as there are far greater threats, so if I'm going to leave you alone for ten years, then I need insurance that my decision will not be the undoing of what we built so far."

"Are you telling me to put my life as the collateral?" Davis probed.

No, he knew what was being asked, but he was reluctant.

"Of course." The Celestial Transcendent's lips curled, "If you're not going to seal your cultivation, then you must churn out your life as exchange. If you don't like it, then you have to seal your cultivation. You can't have both."

"…"

"But I won't make it unfair for you even if you're an Anarchic Divergent. If I were to bother with you in these ten years— meaning, I face you in battle or block your path in these ten years, then I will let you go for a hundred years as you initially asked."

"It's not a bad deal, right?"

"It's super bad." Davis exhaled, "It's probably the worst deal I ever agreed to, but I can do with it. I agree to use my life as the collateral. I presume that my souls will scatter, and I will be unable to revive?"

"Correct." The Celestial Transcendent exhaled and reclined, "I will then collect your souls and seal you if you're undying."

"Fine with me."

"Dear…" Lea's worried voice emerged as she gazed at Davis.

He held her hand quickly, "This is the only way, Lea."

"Then you can also use my life." She shot a look at the Celestial Transcendent, "Trade my life for another ten years or as many years as you can."

"Lea!" Davis was shaken from the core.

How could he allow it!?

He was about to say otherwise to the Celestial Transcendent, but the latter shook his head.

"Unfortunately, I can't. You are one of his family members, so you're already in our agreement. Perhaps if you give me information about the other Divergents, their powers, and their location, I may give you more time."

"I decline." Davis coldly smiled.

"Not the backstabbing type, huh? That's respectable, but-."

The Celestial Transcendent chuckled before he raised his brows, "Even I if give you a hundred years?"

Davis appeared to be barely moved, and his expression remained amused. "Not even a million years is enough for me to sell them out. If you need that kind of information, you better give us complete immunity from you. Then, I will beat you up thoroughly while enjoying complete immunity while supplying them information so they can escape your grasp."

"Hahaha!"

The Celestial Transcendent burst out laughing as he held his stomach. The chair also looked as though it was going to fall back, but it strangely remained standing diagonally, not falling despite shaking a lot.

Davis and Lea looked at each other. They never knew the Celestial Transcendent laughed so much, so they were a little taken aback.

But soon, the Celestial Transcendent stopped laughing and placed a hand on the table, appearing satisfied.

"That was funny. I bet you're going to try that right after we form the covenant to extend your lifeline to a hundred years."

"Tch~"

Davis clicked his tongue as he felt caught. He was indeed going punch the Celestial Transcendent the moment the covenant was formed, and if the other party as much defended, it would be no different than blocking his path, and if that was not enough, he would also be trying to get past the Celestial Transcendent in his intentions.

However, he should've known that the Celestial Transcendent would've been careful and never let him attack in the first place, dodging with ease.

He was only a Level Four Immortal Emperor's soul body, after all. There was nothing that would aid him in increasing his prowess right now.

"It's fine. You can punch me all you want. I won't defend since I'm going to kill you in ten years anyway."