Three Peaks Mountain, Sanctuary.

This spot in the sanctuary had already become a gathering place for the characters who possessed the most influence outside the Davis Family. It wasn’t something secretive, but it wasn’t something known widely either.

At this moment, there were quite a few people present before a pavilion, drinking, laughing, and cursing underneath the blue sky.

The rays of the morning sun weren’t scorching but just the right heat, while a cool yet prickly breeze occasionally passed by as changes took place outside, where the desolate air was growing increasingly denser.

"Dammit, he didn’t take me with him."

Drake downed a mouthful of wine and complained, "What a humiliation. All this time I spent cultivating and reached Level Nine Empyrean Stage, thoroughly surpassing his cultivation speed with my Heretic Dream Deity Manual, but he still said I would be useless."

Andiron appeared gloomy, "We all didn’t meet his standards for this mission."

"I know I am useless for this mission." Drake said in a drunken stupor, "I still don’t have the Divine Exalt Grade Cultivation Manual of my Heretic Dream Deity Manual. Otherwise, I would’ve become a Divine Exalt already and at least be able to become a meat shield. But even now, I can server as a meat shield very well, but that bastard said that I’d just die a dog’s death on the battlefield. How cruel of him!" 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

He clenched his teeth and made a sound as though he was crying.

The others didn’t fare any better, taking turns to pour their frustrations out, although it was only Drake, Soaren, and Fenren who made noise while Rocksunder and Zenflame were solemn.

In fact, they even felt somewhat more useless than Drake.

After all, although their prowess could be considered Peak Empyrean, they were still at Level Seven or Level Eight Empyrean Stages. As cultivators who had their cultivations suppressed because of the layer limit of the Lower Realms, their initial gains upon entering the space of the Upper Realms were good, but over time, they decreased, and the increase of their cultivation started to plateau.

It was obvious that they were already saturated with resources and needed to digest them.

Fenren growled, "All we wanted was a chance to repay him. That idiot came flying from so many realms just to save us, even losing his beloved little sister in the process. If only we were a little stronger now, then we might’ve been able to accompany him."

He smashed his cup down on the table, his head bobbing.

"Keep dreaming." King sneered, "We’re all magical beasts at the Grand Saint Magical Beast Rank and inevitably locked out of Exalt Beast Stage by our bloodlines. We’re fated to die at this level unless Lady Everlight decides to evolve us, but that won’t happen without enough contribution points."

"Are you saying that Lady Everlight must evolve us for free?" Zenflame raised his brows.

"I’m not saying that!" King waved his sleeves, "Don’t twist my words! I’m saying that we could be meat shields as a Level One Exalt Beast or even a True Exalt Beast!"

"You? Willing to be a meat shield? That’s a first." Azbel sneered.

"Huh!?" King roared, "I won’t be a meat shield for free, but the Davis Family has looked after us for so long and increased our cultivations to this level without allowing us to encounter any difficulty. I, King, will not let gratitude go unrepaid! I’m just afraid that I won’t be able to repay in this lifetime."

Drake and the others went speechless.

This cunning dragon sure was talking nonsense while being drunk.

Andiron sighed, "If we all become True Exalt Beasts, the karmic burden on Lady Everlight will be significant, hampering her future. Besides, what you’re thinking, Davis can also think. He wouldn’t wish for us to be meat shields. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have made the trip to save us back then. We’ll still end up being a burden for him since his strength is above the Early Exalt Stage easily."

"..."

Everyone grumbled.

Gralex, the Six-Headed Hydra, laughed out like a fool, "What the hell are you all grumbling for? I am a Six-Headed Hydra. Even if I couldn’t be of help using my strength, I wasn’t brought to the Six-Headed Hydra Realm for reconnaissance. This is insane. I don’t understand. Doesn’t the boss even acknowledge me for my brains?"

"When have you ever shown your accomplishments in intelligence?" Alexi looked stupefied, "Did you apply to join Lady Mingzhi’s intelligence organization?"

"Uh, that..." Gralex was at a loss for words.

He thought back, and all he could remember was eating and sleeping in his home.

Lest Mistwalker poured himself a drink, "Don’t lower your heads. There will come a time when we will have to go to the frontlines or stand at the front when he isn’t present, like now. Even though my formations work well, there’s no telling how the outside forces will break through them. The heaven and earth energy thinning out is a natural nemesis for the formations we construct. Without crystals, we wouldn’t be able to sustain any formation."

His tone was somber, knowing that if this Desolate Era persisted, the era where formations are valued less would become a thing.

But that was all the more reason he should’ve gone with Davis in an attempt to reverse the Desolate Era.

However, they were coldly rebuked by Davis and told to stay home, so they were pissed at him and their own uselessness.

Why couldn’t they be as strong as he was?

The more they thought about it, the more ridiculous it became because his cultivation level was lower than theirs.

"Reian!" King called out, "Aren’t you a Void Piercer Rat? Can’t you get us to the Six-Headed Hydra Upper Realm?"

"Don’t ask the impossible of me." Reian Stargazer harrumphed, "Even with my ability, it would take tens of years before we reach that realm, considering the distance. Do you want to head out and come back after the boss sires a few more babies by the time we come back?"

"Pfft!" Everyone laughed out loud.

"Fuck!" King cursed angrily and downed another bottle of wine.

The crowd laughed out even more boisterously.

Some people who were barely drunk noticed that their discussion was just going in circles, but what else could they hear from fellow drunkards? It was fun chatting away anyway. They had nothing to do other than defend this sanctuary.

"Father!"

Someone in the crowd clicked their tongue, causing Drake to turn to look.

His expression grew awkward as he looked at his teenage daughter and son, as though he had been caught doing something wrong.