Emperor’s Domination

“This wasn’t started by Radiant Longevity Monarch, the excavation dated before that.” Li Qiye stared at the old dao platform.

“From what I know, the ancestors of Longevity System performed mass-scale excavation long before the monarch found the mecha.” She didn’t lie to him.

“What did they find?” He asked, looking interested.

“Well, it was so long ago. I just know they left behind a key.” She had no choice but to speak.

“Where is this key?” Li Qiye asked.

She had an awkward expression before answering: “Young Noble, I pawned it to Splendor Square.”

She sighed and said: “Young Noble, we are poor and in need of money. The resources required every one thousand years are too much. We had some wealth in the past but now, we have to pawn things off to Splendor Square including ancestral heirlooms. This is due to my lack of ability, I only see a downward slope for our future.”

She always tried her best but she alone couldn’t stop the inevitable. The sect grew weaker and poorer each year due to the ancestral teachings.

This required her to become shameless and ask others for help. She came to Resting Bull first this time and then Insane Gate. Fortunately, she met Li Qiye and obtained an ancient dragon crystal.

This allowed them to maintain the ancestral teachings and pay off various debts.

“Rise and fall are expected. Tell me more about the earliest excavation.” Li Qiye said.

“From the records, Longevity Ancestor and her three disciples, Ancestor Fan, Ancestor Qin, and Ancestor Mu found something like a seed or a vein and wanted to cultivate it.” She said: “This led to their disappearance and the ancestral teachings started around this time as well.”

“Your monarch knew about it too.” Li Qiye said.

“I believe so, rumor has it he was deeply in love with Ancestor Mu, that’s why he returned and joined the two dao systems together on top of initiating more excavation.” She said: “Two different opinions came from this. One states his purpose is to revitalize the sect while the other is to find Ancestor Mu.”

“Your sect’s history is chaotic and it has no direction, how could it not decline?” Li Qiye said.

“We can keep persevering thanks to your generosity, but I don’t know how it will look in the future.” She smiled wryly before bowing: “I don’t think we can ever repay you, Young Noble.”

“It’s a matter of fate, don’t mind it.” He shook his head.

“Are you here to continue excavating?” She took a deep breath and prepared for this possibility.

Outsiders were not allowed to be here but she made an exception for him.

“I don’t think there’s anything I want here, but I do need to take a look.” He then added: “You can’t go on like this or it will be the end of your sect.”

“Perhaps we need to abandon the ancestral teachings, it will prolong the sect’s survival.” She said softly before trembling and asking: “What do you think, Young Noble? Should we give up?”

This was a tough choice for her. Alas, this particular ancestral teaching was a burden - a gold-devouring beast that could never be satiated.

Once upon a time when they were still Longevity Valley, they sold pills for incredible sums and never worried about money. They spent all of their resources to satisfy the dao platform. Initially, they produced enough materials themselves but this didn’t last long. Instead of making money through alchemy, they had to buy materials.

The fusion between the two systems helped them satisfy the requirement for longer. Under the leadership of the monarch, the resulting liquid was far more precious than before.

Now, the difference in quality was day and night.

“What do you think?” He asked.

“I don’t know the reasoning behind this ancestral teaching but we have followed it for so long. This was the essential requirement before being given the reins.” She said.

Li Qiye didn’t respond, choosing to focus on the dao platform. After a while, he looked away and said: “A single thought can cause endless troubles.”

“What makes you say that?” She replied.

“It applies to your ancestral teachings, the obsession.” He said.

“Right, I’ll be a sinner if I choose to drop it.” She let out a sigh.

Although she didn’t want to let the ancestors down, was there any other choice?