Emperor’s Domination

The old woman’s stall was surrounded by weeds and grass, nearly making her invisible to potential buyers.

A single item covered by a tattered cloth could be seen in front of her. The occasional wind blew the cloth, revealing something that looked like a bronze bracelet.

Chu Zhu didn’t expect to see this stall and the old woman again. During her previous encounter with the host market, she obtained a treasure that changed her future trajectory. She embarked on a different path, eventually surpassing the paragons of her clan and becoming an apex existence.

She didn’t know if this was the same minor ghost market as before. After all, the locations were always changing. Seeing this old woman confirmed her suspicion - it was indeed the same one as before.

She gazed at the merchant from a different perspective. Nevertheless, the old woman remained mysterious and inscrutable. She could see through any Grand Emperor but not her.

She glanced at Li Qiye, someone else who she couldn’t grasp. The guy had returned to the origin - a mortal yet far more powerful.

This old woman resembled an illusory figure shrouded in fog, clearly hiding her appearance and true power. Anyone capable of doing this to Chu Zhu belonged to the highest echelon.

When she obtained her treasure from the old woman during her youth, she thought she had gotten an amazing deal since the old woman didn’t know the value of her treasure.

Of course, she didn’t know its value either at the start. Intuition told her to buy it then, nothing more. Now, it became apparent the old woman understood what she did fully. The question was why sell a treasure at a low price?

Chu Zhu became cautious for the old woman was not normal.

“Grandma.” She took a deep breath and bowed deeply.

Few in the world were worthy of her showing this level of respect. After all, she was a being above emperors and could command kingdoms and sects.

Nevertheless, she did it to express her gratitude for the gift back then. It had nothing to do with luck but rather, the merchant’s decision.

The old woman didn’t react as if she was deaf, still closing her eyes and sleeping.

“Grandma, may I take a look at this treasure?” Chu Zhu bowed for a second time.

The old woman either heard her this time or was moved by her sincerity and nodded.

“Thank you.” Chu Zhu bowed again before gently removing the cloth.

Inside were bronze bracelets indeed, a total of ten. They looked like mere decorative trinkets and weren’t crafted exquisitely. Inscrutable runes were carved on them, looking like twisting dao laws.

They varied on the bracelets but once left in the same place, it gave the feeling of being connected as if all ten should be together. Missing one or adding one made the whole incomplete.

At first, Chu Zhu didn’t notice anything. Once she took her time looking at them, she seemed to be struck by lightning and an idea surfaced in her mind.

“Can it be… these ten bracelets?” She recalled a certain priceless item, not only to her but to her lineage. They have been searching for it all this time.

“Grandma, how do you want to sell these?” She asked respectfully.

The grandma shook her head, making her intention clear.

The item’s value was unimaginable if her speculation was correct. Few had seen it before, if any. If the ancestors in her sect were to see this, they would be shocked and willing to pay any price.

“Grandma, these bracelets are very important to me and my lineage.” Chu Zhu told the truth because the old woman knew her stuff as well. She had her reason for displaying a supreme treasure for sale. There was no point in trying to buy them for cheap. This would only have an adverse outcome.

The old woman didn’t respond again.

“Do you have a price in mind, Grandma?” She patiently asked: “As long as I or my lineage can do it, we will satisfy your demand.”

Chu Zhu was willing to negotiate. This promise was not empty either. The things her lineage could muster were peerless items as well.

Alas, the old woman did not react. Chu Zhu still didn’t want to give up due to the pivotal nature of the ten bracelets. If it came down to it, they would resort to using force.

“Grandma, if my lineage knows of its existence, they must have it.” Chu Zhu took a deep breath and spoke the truth. Her lineage would do anything to obtain the bracelets.