Emperor’s Domination

“Take a look.” The skull handed it to Li Qiye.

Li Qiye held it for a look, finding it to resemble a tube or a lantern. If it were a lantern, it would be one without any decoration.

The whole thing was in one piece with no opening. Li Qiye knew it wasn’t a tube but it was also too simple to be a lantern.

“Hmm…” Li Qiye didn’t sense any reaction. All divine intents were absorbed without feedback.

Unlike others, he had experience with matters such as this. He also knew about the unknown material.

“What is to be stored inside?” He murmured, aware that it was empty.

“I don’t know.” The skull shook: “It was like this when I found it. What I felt was not the content but the previous owner.”

“So he left it behind.” Li Qiye said.

“I’m certain of this but he’s no longer him. There’s no primordial aura.” The skull nodded.

“It’s a metamorphosis.” Li Qiye said: “He found the way out and let go.”

“That’s the problem, what is our limit? We can’t reach the limit, let alone revert to the origin. Maybe he can.” The skull said: “And you’re the second. What should be done if returning to the origin is first and letting go is the second?”

“The self.” Li Qiye smiled.

“What do you mean? I was born in the primordial so the primordial is my self.” The skull said.

“Then what about the primordial I birthed?” Li Qiye asked.

“Hmm…” The skull became speechless momentarily and said: “So when are you letting go?”

“The time will come. This isn’t my limit yet, I have to let go at the right time to surpass.” Li Qiye said: “It’s a matter of time and, I still have matters to take care of.”

“But you’ve prepared sufficiently?” The skull asked.

“Everything inside heaven and earth has matured enough.” Li Qiye smiled.

“There is no going back.” The skull realized something and said: “You’re coming for a full sweep to kill all opposers, the same style as the villainous heaven.”

“Not quite since the villainous heaven would have crushed you already.” Li Qiye shook his head.

“You’ve done it once before, just a different method.” The skull said.

“Since I was born in the mortal world, I returned everything to it instead of starting over via destruction.” Li Qiye smiled.

“Hmm, you’re letting go of yourself and the mortal world, aren’t you afraid of it falling to the darkness?” The skull asked.

“My absence does not doom it.” Li Qiye said.

“The villainous heaven has shackles. When you let go, the world’s destruction, I suppose, becomes meaningless to you.” The skull said.

“The primordial binds you all while this mortal world does not impose itself upon me. I continue to exist, so does it, that’s all.” Li Qiye said.

“The question is still where will you be?” The skull asked.

“Isn’t that interesting? Where do you think he will place himself?” Li Qiye answered with a question.

“Well.” The skull pondered: “I would pick where we were born but the primordial is no more.”

“What about to fulfill a particular goal in mind?” Li Qiye said.

“To be frank, I don’t know his goal. It is most likely replacing the villainous heaven, I just don’t think he can do it.” The skull said.

“The goal’s location coincides with the spot, perhaps he has already revealed it.” Li Qiye said.

“And where is that?” The skull asked.

“I don’t know, finding the answer will take some time.” Li Qiye said.

“I’m still curious about your place.” The skull said.

“It’s a secret.” Li Qiye smiled mysteriously.

“It’s not like I will take advantage of you.” The skull became annoyed: “Forget it, all of you must be conspiring and fooling everyone else.”

“No, this is just an exploration of the dao.” Li Qiye smiled and shook his head.

“Hmph, never met but there must be an implicit understanding. The whole feud is a lie, the same for those who picked a side such as myself and Fiendish Ground.” The skull said.

”What makes you say this?” Li Qiye looked at the skull with a bright smile.

The skull replied grumpily: ”Because that’s simply not the case. If we didn’t stir up trouble, would you even do anything? It was just our own wishful thinking, assuming you were trying to form a faction. We should have realized this long ago. It would have started in ancient times if you two truly wanted to build a faction. He has lived much longer than you, we could even be considered brothers, yet he never tried to bring us into any so-called faction. He walked his path, never intending to be on the same side as us, maybe he just didn’t care.” 

The skull glanced at Li Qiye and continued: ”And you are the same. The so-called faction-building is nothing more than determining whether we should be killed or not.”

“It’s still nice to have a choice.” Li Qiye shrugged.

“So in the end, we were fools toiling for nothing. His disciple thought he could have a faction too and accomplish something with it.” The skull sneered: “Little did he know, his master and you never gave a damn. As long as everyone plays dead instead of causing trouble, you don’t give a damn.”

“Are you going to play dead?” Li Qiye asked.

“I thought about it but others would try to eat me.” The skull said.

“So it’s a matter of the dao heart, not stance.” Li Qiye said.

“Are you sure you will be the same after letting go?” The skull asked.

“Of course. What I deserve will be mine, what the mortal world deserves will be given back to it.” Li Qiye said.

“If only the grand dao is that simple.” The skull remarked.