Chapter 1844: Because You're My Friend

After Sophie and the others eliminated the youths they faced before having the Mystic Ice Sect maidens join with them, only ninety-six youths were left in the battle stage as another two groups came into ardent conflict and suffered defeat on both sides while having their numbers decreased as a result.

However, what was so surprising was that the two groups' leaders intermediated and joined together after suffering losses, further strengthening their likeability to win!

The crowd was extremely agitated and excited to look at these kinds of battles as that was what they came for, not short-lived one-hit kills that left them feeling absolutely inferior!

However, due to the spatial formation's area being so big, no battles took place for a period of time, allowing plenty of people outside to go around and make acquaintances.

The sky was dark but beautiful, with a drizzle of stars aligning to form many constellations. It was nighttime already, but the millions of people in the New Era Battle Arena were abuzz, still celebrating by drinking and eating while making alliances and marriage agreements.

"Hmm, how did it go?"

The Four Great Righteous Sect Leaders gathered together at a table as the Mandate Emperor asked.

"Other than the stupid, wicked path trying to put dirt in our special event by creating quite a few instances of trouble, everything is going smooth. But unfortunately, there's no sign of the source."

"My Vast Sky Palace also didn't find anything out of the ordinary."

"My talisman didn't react as well."

The Starnova Emperor, Vast Sky Emperor, and Karmic Guardian Emperor replied one by one as they ate succulent pieces of meat; Peak-Level Emperor Grade Magical Beast Meat freshly delivered from their own hunting grounds surrounded by a defensive and killing formation.

In fact, these pieces of exquisite meat in tons were being delivered to every hegemon as a paltry gift.

"Sigh, this would make it that there are only six days left." The Mandate Emperor shook his head, "Is there any way to find and capture the source without alerting it?"

"We could only activate the battle arena-wide formation and conduct an individual search on the millions of people, but that would completely alert the source if it even has the slightest awareness that it was the reason for the birth of the Calamity Light."

The Karmic Guardian Emperor uttered, causing the Mandate Emperor to shake his head again.

"No, I already said that should be our last resort. Is there any other way?"

"Mhm… I don't think so." The Starnova Emperor denied.

"Perhaps, we could try single out mysterious individuals in the upcoming days and check them all at once?"

The Vast Sky Emperor suggested, but that made the Karmic Guardian Emperor shake his head.

"But that would cause the source to notice that it's being pried, leading it to run."

The Mandate Emperor slowly nodded, "That's fine as we would all corner it, hopefully with the Emperor of Death and Sect Master Lea Weiss aiding us as well. However, what are we looking at? A human? A magical beast? A fey? A spirit? An ancient armament or artifact spirit? Or something else entirely?"

"I think it might be a spirit or an armament spirit. Only they embody phenomenal natures like this than any other being."

"Most likely a spirit..."

"If that is the case, they must be at least near-immortal level, no?"

The three others replied before the Mandate Emperor's looked taken aback.

"Mhm, that remains to be seen. Besides, if it is like that, then the source shouldn't have any trouble revealing itself and causing havoc or whatever it wants to do in this place. The fact it didn't means that it should be weaker than us at the very least."

"I agree."

The other three echoed before they partook in the feast more, not bothering to talk about it anymore.

Inside the spatial formation, it was absolutely dark. The only light was from the artificial moon, an illusion. However, it was blocked by the footprints of clouds all over the skies.

There were trees of light or flames burning in the sandy lands as though they were campfires. Many people could be seen around them, but they were all quite a distance away that those lights didn't seem to be visible from one place to another.

"I've finished setting up the Peak-Level King Grade Killing Formation. With this, when they find themselves walking into the Peak-Level King Grade Concealment Formation that we're in, they'll go poof!"

Drake Blackburn uttered with a deep smile on his face. However, everyone else narrowed their brows, looking at him with scrutiny.

"Why would you do that?" Claire couldn't help but ask, "We're going to storm their bases as the first thing in the morning, aren't we?"

"Well, if someone decides to sneak attack us during this beautiful night, this would teach them a lesson. If you're worried about me defeating you all, then there is no need to worry as I'll give you this."

Drake Blackburn handed over a formation core, causing the others to relax.

Claire looked towards Clara, who then, as the leader of the group, gracefully took the formation core and went back to her tent, looking like she was not in the mood to socialize. On the other hand, Drake Blackburn looked taken aback by her cold personality.

He couldn't believe that she was Davis's little sister as he expected someone like that to be more cheerful and cheeky like Mo Mingzhi was.

Before long, everyone entered their tents along with their couples, seemingly not wanting to bother the others. However, a person sneakily left and entered someone else's tent.

"Ah! Nora, it's you..."

Dalila Leehan sighed as she relaxed and dropped her hands.

"Who else did you think it was going to be? That Drake Blackburn or my husband…?"

Nora raised her brows, causing Dalila Leehan to narrow her eyes.

"Of course not!"

Receiving the look of anger, Nora smiled, "I just wanted to talk to you, see how you were doing as we were out of touch were a long while..."

Dalila Leehan blinked before she sighed, "There's nothing to talk about. In fact, I don't get it. Why are we waiting and going into the night when we can absolutely crush everyone with sheer force even if they are hiding and setting up traps everywhere to increase their chances?"

"To stall as much as possible till our Emperor of Death comes, of course."

Nora smirked, causing Dalila Leehan to raise her brows while there was a glint in her pupils.

"Really?"

"Dalila, everyone knows this..."

Nora appeared amused while Dalila Leehan quickly lowered her head, looking shy from embarrassment.

"I'm quite dumb..."

"I know you're not dumb. You're trying not to think about him, aren't you?"

Dalila Leehan shook ever so lightly and as her cheeks unnaturally twitched.

"… Who?"

"Now you're playing dumb..." Nora shook her head, "I know you have feelings for my son Davis."

"…!"

Dalila Leehan's expressions changed as her cheeks came to possess a red hue.

"He's not your son…!"

"But I get to have dibs on calling him that because I'm his second mother."

Nora looked smug, causing Dalila Leehan to clench her teeth as she took two steps back in retreat before she turned her head away.

"Hmph. Don't slander me. What makes you think so that I have feelings for him?"

"You don't need to act as though you don't, as I caught a glimpse of you looking heartbroken when he almost fell that day."

Dalila Leehan appeared taken aback. Her eyes were trembling as she bit her lips before she closed her eyes, seemingly becoming calm as she took a deep breath and heaved a sigh of relief.

"It… doesn't matter."

"Why not?" Nora still smiled.

"Because… didn't I say that my Thousand Pill Palace paid a heavy price?"

Nora's amused expression left, replaced with a confused yet solemn one.

"What do you mean?"

"…"

Dalila Leehan stayed silent before she caved in from Nora's deadly stare.

"I've been promised to marry Young Master Faus from the Glorious Pill Palace. Shh… don't say anything. Our two powers forming a loose alliance on this foundation is supposed to be a secret. I mean, it would probably be announced today or even six days later at the end of the competition, but still… I am already locked-"

"You freaking think I care about that!?"

Nora almost screamed as she raised and suppressed her voice, seemingly trembling from anger that caused Dalila Leehan to be dumbfounded, especially when Nora grabbed her by the shoulders.

"Nora… what… what do you want?" She looked genuinely shook and scared.

Realizing what she had done, Nora took a deep breath as she calmed herself down.

"You know what kind of experience I had when I fell in love with his father?"

"… What?"

Nora blinked before she began to explain, causing Dalila's mouth to go agape.

She thought Nora was lucky, but she didn't think that she had to go through numerous trials that could be said to be humiliating to come to this point.

"It wasn't all roses and sunshine as it was also filled with thorns where if I made one misstep, I wouldn't have gained the happiness I have today. And you dare try to throw it away without even taking a step forward!?"

"What…?" Dalila Leehan looked confused as her eyes became misty, "What step do I have to take the path ahead that is full of walls instead of thorns? At least, you… you could move forward while my path is blocked because of my unworthiness..."

"I'm his second mother, and you're my beloved friend! That alone makes you worthy…!"

Nora argued while Dalila Leehan looked like she was going to cry as her eyes became misty.

"Nora, stop it… I'm going to get married… and… I should not… I should not be having another man in my heart when the time comes..."

"Oh…" Nora suddenly looked out of it as her anger receded.

She looked towards the side of the tent and spoke.

"Dalila, I still remember the reason why we became friends. It was mostly because our thoughts aligned, and if you're the same as me, it should also be impossible for you to forget the man you first loved..."

"No… no. We are not the same."

Nora suddenly shot a look at her.

"Well, guess what? I don't know if you will marry another man in the future, but as your friend, I will not stand by and watch you be unwillingly married to someone you don't even know because of a piece of resource that got you to this level and tied your fate."

"Nora, you…"

"I'll get you out of this mess even if I have to fall to his knees and plead…!"

Nora's eyes sharply shone before she left the tent, leaving a shaken Dalila Leehan whose mind became chaotic as the emotions she sealed were all coming loose.