Emperor’s Domination

“A visitor!” Everyone crowded around him without a hint of caution, only compassion.

“Since you are so frail, you should stay at my house. The young ones are gone and it’s only me, I’ll bulk you up.” The old man said and prompted Li Qiye to smile.

“I plan on taking a good look at this world.” Li Qiye shook his head.

“I see, that’s the passion of youth. I thought about traveling when I was younger but didn’t have the same courage.” The old man prepared some dried food for Li Qiye and said: “Take this, there is food in the villages but once you’re in the wild, you won’t be able to get a good meal. I don’t think you will make it to one hundred the way you are now, not even eighty. You need to recover.”

“It’s okay, eighty is not a bad age to go.” Li Qiye smiled.

“What are you saying?” A younger man said: “You have to appreciate the years and this beautiful world. At the very least, heed the teachings of our Sacred Ancestor.”

“Sacred Ancestor?” Li Qiye asked.

“What, you forgot the teachings? Your seniors didn’t teach you?” The old man was surprised to hear this.

“No seniors in my family, I was an orphan.” Li Qiye said.

“What?!” Everyone was shocked to hear this.

“Where were your parents? An orphan?” They voiced their concern.

“I don’t know.” Li Qiye shook his head.

“What about your neighbors?” One asked.

“I was on the outskirts.” Li Qiye said.

“Poor child, how can such suffering exist in our Sanctified World? A child without love and care, so pitiful.” They stared sympathetically at him.

One townfolk hugged and patted his back, as if telling him it is okay to cry and let out his feelings.

Orphans were rare in their world. In such a tragic situation, they would be taken care of by the neighbors as if they were related by blood.

“Child, you have suffered enough. Stay here with us, we have great, nutritious food. Just a few years and you will be healthy again.” Another old man told him.

“That’s right, stay here with us.” The others persuaded him; some wanted to pull him to their house.

“I still want to see this vast world.” Li Qiye said with a smile.

“But the teachings say we need health to see the world.” An old man said.

“What else does it say?” Li Qiye asked.

“The Sacred Ancestor wishes for us to be reasonable, focus on health, and be in tune with nature.” Everyone hurriedly taught him.

The Sacred Ancestor was a mythical figure in this tiny realm. None had seen the ancestor before but the teachings have been passed down for generations.

It guided this world into prosperity and serenity. They knew little about this figure since too much time had passed.

Wars were no longer a thing because everyone had enough in terms of resources and spirituality. This prolonged their lifespan despite the absence of cultivation. A century was common. Some even lived several centuries.

Legends told of the mythical figure ridding their world of evil and illnesses.

Li Qiye enjoyed the stories. Of course, he knew just teachings alone weren’t enough to guarantee peace.

The cultivator toiled behind the scenes to protect this world, improving it era after era with the utmost patience.

The natural enlightenment brought peace and love to the inhabitants’ hearts.

“The stories are wonderful and make me want to listen more.” Li Qiye smiled.

“Young man, if you want to know more, you should go to Grand City, it’s our largest area. Find the high priest who can tell you more.” One old man said.

“The high priest?” Li Qiye asked.

“High Priest Mu is the oldest among us, the leader of ceremonies, who can solve any problem.” Another answered.

“Yes, maybe he can help you with your malnutrition, he does emphasize health more than anything.” Others joined in.

Rumor has it that this high priest had lived for thousands of years or even longer. Some believed he was the reincarnation of Sacred Ancestor, inheriting the legacy and teachings.

Sacred Ancestor lived in the legends while High Priest Mu was still alive to help everyone.