The battle arena was full of uproar!
The entire space was filled with discussions regarding the legendary Perfect Domain, which the Burning Phoenix Ridge hadn't seen in well over fifty thousand years. However, the disciples had no idea about the significance as they continued to make up Perfect Domain to be something that came from myths as if it could twist heaven and earth.
They made it sound so exaggerated that a few knowledgeable disciples couldn't help but educate them. Various scenes like this could be seen playing out in all directions of the battle arena.
Even a few Elders seem to be ignorant, but they didn't shoot off their mouths and instead patiently listened to others pointing out the significance of a Perfect Domain.
Having a Perfect Domain meant that the cultivator has a ninety-nine percent chance to enter the Law Rune Stage, not to mention that they could make it to the Peak-Level without a doubt.
The Burning Phoenix Ridge had Peak-Level Law Rune Stage Powerhouses in its prime, but with the bloodline thinning-out problem continually wreaking havoc in their prowess, it was no longer the case. The only thing making them secure in this entire Territory were their Peak-Level Emperor Grade Formations placed in various strategic locations to protect the sect from the time the sect was established.
It ensured their survival along with the Karmic Treasures like the Grand Burning Phoenix Crown.
Therefore, one could see the significance of their top disciple forming a Perfect Domain. Not even their Sect Master Lea Weiss was said to have formed a Perfect Domain, so Top Disciple Shirley would undoubtedly become the most important person to the sect, only second to the Sect Master herself!
Top Disciple Verona Stein remained dumbfounded while she kept gazing at Shirley with her dilated crimson pupils. The realization that she had been thoroughly and utterly defeated had welled up in her heart and mind long ago, but she didn't care about that as she stared at Shirley in incredulity, finding it hard to digest that the woman who came not long after her not only surpassed her but had also formed the legendary Perfect Domain.
Even the middle-aged referee who had been calm and poised all this time was unable to maintain his composure. He looked at the beautiful crimson Perfect Domain, admiring its magnificence with all his soul before he inwardly praised its user. He came out of his reverie before his voice echoed out.
"Top Disciple Verona Stein, will you surrender?"
Top Disciple Verona Stein subconsciously nodded her head, whereupon Shirley dissolved her Perfect Domain as it compressed back to her dantian, the small phoenixes disappearing as if they never existed in the first place.
Many people reacted as if their wealth had been taken away. They reached out with their hands, wanting to see the magnificence of the Perfect Domain that they had never laid their eyes on for their entire lives.
As for the elders, they had only seen youths from the large-sized Territories possess such a monstrous domain, but finally, a member of their sect formed a Perfect Domain!
Some of them were even shedding tears of joy!
"Winner of the battle! Top Disciple Shirley!" The referee announced.
*Ding!~*
Shirley's name moved up to the seventh rank while Top Disciple Verona Stein's name dropped to the eighth place.
"!!!"
While the crowd began to become boisterous again, Shirley moved. She was about to leave when a voice echoed.
"Wait!"
Shirley simply turned to look at Top Disciple Verona Stein, waiting for the latter to arrange her chaotic thoughts.
"You... Congratulations..." Top Disciple Verona Stein's face looked complex, "You have far outstripped me in terms of prowess that I don't think I can ever catch up..."
"Of course. I never considered you my rival in the first place, Verona." Shirley haughtily replied.
Top Disciple Verona Stein's face changed as some spectators became silent to hear what they're talking about, with many more following suit. They couldn't believe what Top Disciple Shirley uttered.
"After all," Shirley's entrancing eyes smiled even more, "You were more like an elder sister to me than a rival. I thank you for taking care of me in the mini-realm for a while. It was fun while it lasted."
"...?"
Top Disciple Verona Stein's expression became confused, "You used your Perfect Domain on me but not on anyone else because...?"
"Not because I want to humiliate you..." Shirley shook her head, "But because I want to give the greatest respect senior sister deserves. The ones before were unworthy to face my domain!"
"Ohhhh!!!~"
The crowd let out an abundant sound of realization full of admiration for Shirley.
It was an invisible face slap for Top Disciple Vito Rein and the previous top disciples Shirley fought. Their expressions changed as they sat in their seats, but they didn't seem to say anything about it. Instead, their eyes were rather complex as they probably felt humbled.
Davis looked around and saw the many reactions that the people displayed. They were looking at Shirley as if she were an immortal fairy, and it was clear to him that she was undoubtedly the most important disciple of the sect now!
Looking at their reactions, he saw that their gazes were no longer desirous but were filled with awe and admiration. Indeed, when a person was too much out of their league, their desire turns into one of reverence or respect, further transforming their little bit of confidence to court into inferiority or humbleness.
Even the top disciples looked pretty taken aback as they looked like countryside goons admiring a princess in her castle from afar. However, one top disciple looked at Shirley with even more of a desirous light as he stood up.
'This Azzuren Rein genuinely wants to die by coveting my Shirley... Sigh, he gives me no other choice. Even if I search the deepest depths of my kind heart, I can't find the compassion that could let him live...'
Davis inwardly lamented as if he were sorry, but an odd smile appeared on his lips. He couldn't help but think that it had been a long time since he possessed this much killing intent towards someone but the way he hid it made him scared of himself.
Not a single trace of killing intent oozed out of Davis's eyes. It was so controlled and calm of him that nobody noticed anything disastrous from him.
Davis knew that this was because of Heart Intent.
Not only did it allow him to understand the perspectives of others through learning their emotions, but it also enabled him to remain relatively calm in the face of danger or even anger. It certainly was an advantage, not only making him feel and understand other people's perspectives.
Sometimes, he didn't even have to use Heart Intent but could feel their perspective from just looking at their movements, gestures, expressions, and other notable points. While Heart Intent may be a peculiar advantage, it was also a curse in how it wanted to influence his emotions while learning the emotions of others, making him feel rather sympathetic for them as that was who he was in nature.
However, sympathizing was certainly limited to people he had approved of, not to trash like Azzuren Rein. This was also a part of Heart Intent, meaning that he had to regulate his actions according to the truth of the matter and act accordingly to make progress in Heart Intent.
He had learned many things about Heart Intent in the Alstreim Family's Grand Library, garnering that for him to improve in this law intent, he had to understand more about himself and regulate his actions, understand the perspectives of other people and comprehend the reason for their actions.
However, it wasn't certainly restricted to these requirements as there was much more to Heart Intent than meets the eye.
"..."
Davis came out of his reverie as he saw Shirley returning towards him after all the clamor had died down. But even then, everyone's gaze was still on her, making her the brightly burning star of today. In the dusky night sky, she looked even more dazzling and sumptuous.
She arrived beside him and sat, turning to look at him as she raised her red-colored brows.
"What's wrong...? You didn't praise me this time...?"
Davis couldn't help but blink.
He had already praised her three times already, but she wants a fourth praise? Wasn't she tired of being praised by him?
That was what he thought, but his Heart Intent instantly caught her expectant ruby-like eyes and made him garner that she was craving for it regardless of how many times he may have praised her, further making him understand that it wasn't the praise that she craved but the words he could offer her!
"Shirley, I want to bed you right now..."
"Wha-?!"
Shirley turned her head away as her ears became bright red, and as expected, many people noticed her peculiarity, but even then, they were too entranced to notice that she was speaking with her protector through soul transmission.
Shirley obviously knew that they couldn't do something like that now, especially when he was here in his soul body. However, his blatant and bold words made her heart skip a beat regardless of how she denied that they couldn't do it at this point in time.
Furthermore, it made her deeply realize how much he desired her right now, and she couldn't describe how she felt, but she felt that it was incredibly fulfilling!
"Don't be foolish... I am not satisfied yet. I'm not satisfied with my... Perfect Domain...! It hasn't reached the radius of five kilometers yet!"
Shirley stuttered to form sentences even in her soul transmission.
Davis became utterly flabbergasted at her words that he couldn't help but wryly smile.
"Shirley... forming a Perfect Domain is already enough in terms of prowess and securing growth potential to form even better law seas and runes, but more than that is purely for increasing prowess. It isn't that importa-"
"Hmph! What do you know!?" Shirley looked back at him but slightly lowered her head, not matching gaze with him.
"I'm assured that you will form a five-kilometer radius Perfect Domain! So how can I afford to relax? I need to stay closer to you, or else I'm going to find myself overtaken by you in Essence Gathering Cultivation as well!"
"...!"