Chapter 1733: The Dawn Before Marriage

"There, place it in a way to make it appear more prominent. Yes, a bit to the left... Finally, we're set~"

A golden-robed woman pointed her finger at a brown-robed woman who was carrying a statue around, placing it in a conspicuous location in this wide platform that was built onto the eighteenth floor of the Purple Guest Palace.

It was a thirty-meter tall statue of the person who brought the Alstreim Family to glorious heights in the Fifty-Two Territories.

"How useful... Bylai. I didn't know you could carve sculptures. Its brows are sharp, and the eyes carry the same intent he gazes at with, a bit of hidden confidence and arrogance. This is a marvelous piece of work that I can watch every day and admire it to sleep."

Isabella continuously nodded as she gazed at the statue of Davis with passionate eyes. On the other hand, Bylai Zlatan looked exhausted as she was slaved around all day long for this entire week.

'I still can't believe this palace doesn't have maids nor patrolling guards... What kind of palace is this?'

She couldn't help but inwardly moan.

"How about the altar on the platform? You finished constructing it with the specific phoenix and dragon designs I gave you, right?"

"Yes~"

Bylai Zlatan inwardly cried as she answered. Never in her life did she expect that she would turn into an Architect and a Sculptor. To improve her Earth and Metal Laws, she had trained and became a grandmaster in these two professions, the highest level one could reach.

Her sculptures alone would sell for Peak-Level Spirit Stone Vein Fragments but never did she expect that there would come a day where she would be forced to build and design things for someone else for free of cost.

"Good!"

Isabella nodded, making sure that Davis's marriage with Shirley would be going smooth. The procession would start in the morning, where Shirley will actually be brought from the Burning Phoenix Ridge due to her public identity. However, the palanquin she would be in would be empty as Shirley would be here anyway.

They didn't bother with upholding formalities as they couldn't risk the procession getting attacked en route.

After all, news that the Emperor of Death had successfully courted Burning Phoenix Ridge's Top Disciple Shirley Ashton had already been intentionally spread by them in the past few days with the Burning Phoenix Ridge entering an official alliance with the Emperor of Death's power, the Alstreim Family on the day of marriage.

Many mused that it was because of the Forsaken Phoenix Realm, but to Davis and the others, it didn't matter what the other people thought as they just wanted Shirley to raise her head with honor instead of feeling downcast as getting pregnant before marriage was a taboo for most women, including Shirley.

They didn't need her to tell them that but had already taken steps to ensure that her reputation would not be sullied. After all, Shirley is at the beginning of the second trimester of her pregnancy, which means that she could more or less hide her bump by wearing a robe over a robe, which is common in marriage ceremonies.

Therefore, as long as no one dared to use their soul sense on her, they should not be able to figure out that she was pregnant. Besides, who is brave and reckless enough to probe a woman who's going to be married to the deadly Emperor of Death?

They felt the marriage proceedings would go smoothly.

Moreover, even though they spread the news of their marriage covertly, they didn't bother to invite any power other than the Magical Beast Sanctuary, Thousand Pill Palace, and the Mystic Ice Sect, the latter two who helped them during their crisis. This made so only a few people would be present during the marriage, making it easier for them to guard Shirley and the others from harm's way if at all someone was reckless enough to attack them using death slaves or suicide squads.

"Isabella."

At this moment, Isabella heard Davis's voice as she turned to look at them, her eyes brightening as she saw Nadia and Davis hand-in-hand amidst the shower of moonlight. Their concealing death attributes didn't allow her to notice at all.

"Davis~"

Isabella brightly smiled before she saw his brows twitch.

"Who did this...?"

Hearing Davis's voice, Bylai Zlatan's heart skipped a beat as her eyes shook. Could it be that the Emperor of Death didn't like the sculpture she worked on for two days and two nights?

Isabella simply pointed at Bylai Zlatan, causing the latter's lips to quiver.

"Y-Your eminence. Is this sculpture of you not to your liking...?"

She asked before holding her breath.

Davis shook his head, causing her eyes to slowly widen in panic.

"It's not about liking or not. This sculpture of me is too good that I'm afraid people would want to destroy it. Now how can I let them destroy me even if I'm a sculpture? You've added one more thing to my headaches as I need to protect it day and night to save face, apparently."

Davis sighed as he shook his head while Bylai Zlatan's expression became wry, making her feel that he was hiding his arrogance alright, showing only when demanded. She felt that it was good to know both sides of his face and imbue them into this sculpture she worked hard on, which garnered his praise and satisfied her.

Davis knew that it was Isabella who probably requested this towering sculpture of him to be made, so he didn't blame Bylai Zlatan. He only felt that Bylai Zlatan was finally useful for something, which made it somewhat worthwhile to bring her in as a hostage and slave.

He didn't know if the enslaved Zlatan Family would care about her life, but still, as a person of status and power in the Zlatan Family, many would surely wish her well, or perhaps, selfishly hate her for betraying the Zlatan Family as she revealed their devious plan that led to their downfall instead of killing him.

"Come, let's get you ready. There's only an hour before dawn."

Isabella appeared before him and tidied his disheveled robes from his battle with Nadia.

"Hmm."

Davis nodded as he saw her taking care of him with attention, becoming moved.

Honestly, with the way things were going, he felt like he could start his own family if it weren't for the Calamity Light and the mysterious master of this world. Sudden hate towards them swelled within his heart, but he suppressed it as usual and went along with Isabella to tidy up as the groom.

Time passed.

The sun was almost above the head.

By this time, the procession from the Burning Phoenix Ridge 'carrying' the bride had already arrived while the powers who had been invited had also arrived.

The banquets were being hosted in the other guest palaces a few kilometers away, like the Emerald Guest Palace, which the Silverwinds resided in before. With the Purple Guest Palace being at the center and the most luxurious palace in the Alstreim Family, it looked dazzling in the guests' eyes who sat and enjoyed the festivity on the platforms constructed in the guest palaces amidst the natural breeze.

They were occasionally provided with a few Emperor Grade Magical Beast meat that already satisfied them, but when they heard that the banquet prepared would have the rich Aqua Flood Dragon meat, their eyes rolled, and mouth drooled in desire.

In the Purple Guest Palace huge platform sat the dignitaries like the Ninth Stage Powerhouses and important people like Davis's relatives.

"Cheers!"

A red-robed middle-aged man raised the drink in his hand as he toasted the marvelously garbed, splendid crimson-robed groom with an overjoyed expression on his face.

Davis swallowed the drink as he laughed together with Louis Ashton, Shirley's father. He was brought back by Clara and Isabella, who went through the secret spatial tunnel in the Towering Cloud Hall.

Not only him but also Mark Ruth and the talented youths of the Ruth Family and Ashton Family were here. The youths looked quite dumbfounded, practically displaying the demeanor of a countryside character coming to the city for the first time in their life.

"I really didn't expect you to reach the Ninth Stage in Soul Forging Cultivation before even reaching thirty years of age. This is too miraculous..."

Louis Ashton blurted out with wine muddling his mind while the people who were beside practically went: 'What!?', in their minds, their hearts even skipping a beat, but as for the others who already knew, they possessed proud smiles as if they were the ones who were praised.

"Haha! This is too good! Imagine obtaining both priceless gems of our Grand Sea Continent? This brat is just too lucky!"

A golden-robed man laughed beside them, causing the others to feel their hearts slowly die. However, looking at Davis merely smile at them without saying anything, they couldn't help but wonder who they were.

On the other hand, Davis didn't blame them for revealing his age and Shirley's background, although he knew that the majority wouldn't understand the latter.

These two drunk fathers-in-law, who were at the happiest point in their lives, knew about his strength as a Ninth Stage Powerhouse but didn't know about his prowess or his title as the Emperor of Death, nor did they know about Shirley and Isabella's pregnancy as they have yet to see Shirley while Isabella concealed it from them for some willful or playful reason.

Nevertheless, as Davis looked around and saw that the marriage proceedings were going smoothly, he inwardly nodded. It was as he expected. No one dared to walk themselves in without being invited, afraid that they might be ruthlessly kicked out or even killed.

As he gazed around, he spotted an icy-blue-robed, white-veiled woman seated along with a lot of veiled beauties and moved towards her.