Emperor’s Domination

By this point, the duo reached Chongming Palace. It hovered above the firmament like a crown, seemingly the main framework holding everything together.

“Young Noble, we need the order to open it.” The monarch said.

“You can’t open it?” Li Qiye asked.

“No, the girl returned in a hurry and sealed it without saying anything.” He said.

“She didn’t give you the order.” Li Qiye said.

“It appears she trusts you.” He said.

“Or that she doesn’t trust you.” Li Qiye smiled.

“Well, that’s understandable.” He sighed.

“She finally knows what you knew, it was only a matter of time.” Li Qiye said.

“Because you woke her up.” He smiled bitterly.

“No, she sought me out because she already had questions. She could have gone to seniors or other divine beasts but chose an outsider instead.” Li Qiye said: “The lord of Divine Firmaments but in the end, no one to trust, does that sound familiar?”

His expression changed.

Li Qiye walked closer and said: “What do you think she left behind?”

“I do not know.” He shook his head.

“If it is something beneficial to Divine Firmament and the divine beasts, will you return it to Skykiller Palace?” Li Qiye asked.

“Young Noble, I wouldn’t dare to take it from you.” He bowed immediately.

“Of course not, but what if I were not here?” Li Qiye asked.

“Well...” He hesitated.

“That’s why your junior doesn’t trust you, because you are not firm.” Li Qiye patted his shoulder.

“In the end, I’m still a member of the divine beasts.” He sighed.

Li Qiye chuckled and placed the order into the keyhole.

“Buzz.” The heavy gate lit up with spreading dao runes. Once they covered the whole palace, the seal dispersed.

“Creak.” The gate opened for the duo to enter.

Swirling mist and a celestial realm of lush trees, cascading springs, and an azure sky greeted them.

However, Li Qiye only paid attention to a linear maelstrom. It looked like a spiral formed by countless particles flowing upward, disappearing into the unknown.

One could mistake it as a decorative phenomenon at first glance. Alas, it was made from the most mysterious runes, serving as a portal to any world.

“This thing...” The monarch stared at it.

“Seen it before?” Li Qiye asked.

“His Majesty back then...” He hesitated.

“Go on.” Li Qiye smiled.

“Life Path, this was in his possession but he never explained it.” He said: “This is what Qing Ji stole.”

“And you know what Qing Ji did.” Li Qiye smiled.

“A little, he had to leave.” He said.

“You said nothing, letting everyone think that Qing Ji had desecrated Phoenix Queen’s corpse.” Li Qiye said.

“It wasn’t my idea.” He sighed.

“Whose idea was it?” Li Qiye asked.

He remained silent.

Li Qiye didn’t push the issue and said: “Since you helped Qing Ji escape, you clearly had a good relationship with him. Why didn’t you speak up for him?”

“I had no proof.” He shook his head.

“Did you meet your king and queen later?” Li Qiye asked.

“No.” He answered right away.

“Then who did you see? Or what form?” Li Qiye frowned.

He didn’t answer again.

“Cat got your tongue? No matter, I’m here anyway, time to reveal the truth.” Li Qiye shrugged and threw Qing Ji’s rune into the maelstrom.

It emanated a faint trembling noise like the vibration of an insect’s wings. The maelstrom immediately returned to the rune. Once they fused, it took the form of a spiral shell, ready to fly anywhere.

However, it did not travel because there was a long thread drifting out at the bottom, looking like a tail. It pointed in a single direction, seemingly guiding it toward a predetermined set of coordinates.

As Li Qiye grabbed it, it shimmered and prepared for activation. Li Qiye glanced at the thread and knew the destination right away.

“The nine worlds.” He let out a sigh.