Dominator Emperor

This grueling era only ended ten years ago.

Thus, before ten years ago, countless geniuses were stuck at the True Realm. Anyone who managed to become an Ancient Saint during that time was a genius who could astound an entire realm. Over those thirty thousand years, who knows how many geniuses lamented being born at the wrong time!

RUMBLE—RUMBLE—RUMBLE— A roar echoed from the horizon. Suddenly, a troop of iron cavalry galloped through the air. They shattered the Void, the Divine Steeds beneath them moving like lightning. Covering hundreds of miles in an instant, they left long afterimages in the Void. This iron cavalry shot across the sky like streaks of light and shadow.

NEIGH— With a long cry, the iron cavalry, like a torrent of steel, came to an instant halt above the cliff. The entire troop numbered nearly a thousand, yet they stopped in a perfectly neat formation, their movements as smooth and graceful as flowing clouds and water.

This troop of iron cavalry was uniformly clad in Iron Armor atop Divine Steeds, resembling a triumphant legion just returned from the battlefield. Every single disciple in the troop was cold and honed for slaughter. As a whole, the unit was frigid and merciless, their soaring killing intent so oppressive it left onlookers breathless.

Seeing such a cavalry, everyone gasped. One could only imagine the heaven-shattering background and immense power of the Sect Territory capable of raising such a legion.

”The Jiangzuo Family—” Seeing their clan emblem, countless onlookers were shaken. This was a truly ancient heritage.

Even the Observatory Lord of the Purple Mist Temple couldn’t help but murmur, ”The Jiangzuo Family is truly aggressive in this generation, but it’s also true that they are brimming with talent.”

Upon seeing such an ancient Noble Family, even the arrogant and untamable Great Demons from Feijiao Lake paled, not daring to provoke such an ancient existence.

”The Jiangzuo Family... an existence even older than the Xiyan Ancient Sect,” a Snake Demon King from Feijiao Lake murmured with deep apprehension.

The iron cavalry of the Jiangzuo Family was led by a young man. He was cold and merciless, his tall, powerful frame encased in Divine Armor, making him as imposing as a mountain of iron or a pillar of jade. And yet, when he dismounted from his Divine Steed, his movements were incomparably light.

”Marquis Jiangzuo. That young man is incredible—already called a Marquis in his early twenties.” Even a legitimately ennobled noble like the Mixed Element Marquis was moved upon seeing this youth.

When the Jiangzuo Family arrived, even Marquis Zhenwei dared not put on airs and went to greet them personally.

”The Jiangzuo Family... what an ancient family. Not only are they older than the Xiyan Ancient Sect, but I’ve heard the Jiangzuo Family once produced an incredible Prince. He was a great rival to Mingren Immortal Emperor in his youth, and rumor has it that the young emperor even lost to him once,” an Old Turtle King from Feijiao Lake murmured.

”Jiangzuo Prince,” the Old Demon King of Feijiao Lake said, also looking moved. ”I heard he was a great rival to the young Mingren Immortal Emperor. What a pity that he was ultimately defeated and failed to inherit the Celestial Mandate!”

The other cultivators’ faces fell upon hearing this; only now did they realize just how terrifying the Jiangzuo Family was. In his youth, Mingren Immortal Emperor was said to have rarely met his match. Despite his humble origins, he swept aside countless powerful enemies. He even entered the Burial Ground to fight on ancient soil. What an invincible youth he was!

And yet, an Elder Ancestor of the Jiangzuo Family had actually defeated the young Mingren Immortal Emperor. What a terrifying being he must have been. In that era, Jiangzuo Prince was indeed a young genius whose name resounded throughout the Human Emperor Realm.

”Marquis Jiangzuo’s bearing rivals that of his ancestor, the Jiangzuo Prince,” an old Daoist from the Purple Mist Temple murmured. ”I hear the Jiangzuo Family has placed great hopes in him, believing he will surely surpass his ancestor! Marquis Jiangzuo had already begun to distinguish himself before the Tough Dao Era even ended. Now, rumors say he already has one foot in the Prince realm.”

After the Jiangzuo Family’s arrival, disciples from many other Great Teaching Territories also appeared. However, none of them had a presence that could match Marquis Jiangzuo. The Jiangzuo Family’s ability to stand tall to this day was indeed due to their astonishing strength.

As waves of disciples from Great Teaching Territories arrived, the clifftop became a veritable sea of people, with numerous Cultivators setting up camp. Some sects had treasure pavilions suspended in the air, with their disciples residing directly inside. Others arrived on huge Ancient Ships that served as both their Flying Treasures and temporary abodes. Still other Cultivators gathered in small groups, deep in spirited discussion...

However, the Cultivators flocking to Demon’s Back Ridge were far from just these. In the sky above, disciples from Great Teaching Territories would arrive from time to time—some on flying swords, some on the backs of giant rocs, and others seated upon massive flying mountains. It was a bizarre and colorful spectacle.

It could even be said that those who arrived on foot were no longer qualified to enter Demon’s Back Ridge. After all, for a Cultivator, reaching the True Fate Realm allowed one to fly on treasures, while reaching the Heavenly Essence Realm allowed one to soar through the sky and Ta Kong!

A Cultivator who couldn’t even fly—it was a clear sign of how low their cultivation realm was. Such low-level Cultivators and their sects simply weren’t qualified to enter Demon’s Back Ridge.

BOOM—BOOM—BOOM— Just as many Cultivators were craning their necks, eager to see which other Great Teaching Territories would attend this Demon’s Back Ridge banquet, the mountains suddenly shook and the earth quaked, as if a great beast was turning over underground. Startled, many Cultivators flew into the sky.

”What’s happening? Is Demon’s Back Ridge about to open?” one Cultivator exclaimed in shock.

But everyone soon realized that wasn’t it at all. At that moment, many people saw a gigantic snail slowly crawling up the cliff—a snail as huge as a mountain.

Many people were dumbfounded at the sight of this gigantic snail. Most Cultivators had probably never seen a snail so enormous in their entire lives. Even more stupefying, a large crowd of people—perhaps as many as a thousand—was sitting on its back.

Seeing the gigantic snail slowly crawling up the cliff, the countless Cultivators on the summit burst into uproarious laughter. They had probably never seen anything so ridiculous.

”Damn, you’ve got legs, don’t you know how to use them? Sitting on a snail’s back... aren’t you going to crush it?” one Cultivator found the scene so hilarious he couldn’t help but laugh and shake his head.

Another Cultivator shouted with a laugh to the people on the snail, ”Your snail is crawling so slowly! You want us to give you a push? Otherwise, it’ll take you forever to get up here!”

These words triggered another wave of laughter. Many who saw the scene of people riding a snail found it utterly absurd.

Of course, the people on the snail’s back were none other than Li Qiye and his group. With Niu Fen’s speed, they could have climbed the cliff in an instant. Li Qiye, however, was simply feeling nostalgic and wanted to slowly admire the scenery.

In the face of the waves of laughter, Elder Cultivators like Tu Buyu and Gu Tieshou remained perfectly composed. As for thin-skinned young disciples like Luo Fenghua, however, they could only force a few dry laughs, feeling rather awkward.

Only Li Qiye remained completely unperturbed, sitting there in contented leisure. With the air of someone on a scenic tour, he paid no mind to the jeers from ahead. For him, riding a snail on a mountain ridge felt as pleasant and relaxing as riding a Divine Steed for a slow stroll through his own backyard garden.

”It’s the people from the Xiyan Ancient Sect.” As the snail crawled onto the clifftop, some Cultivators and sects from the Treasure Sacred Upper Country recognized the Xiyan Ancient Sect’s banner and spoke up.

Seeing that it was the Xiyan Ancient Sect, some people exchanged uncertain glances. Thirty thousand years ago, this was the Xiyan Ancient Sect’s territory. In those days, who would have dared to gather here like this? Today, the Xiyan Ancient Sect had declined. Not only could all the world’s sects gather here, but the Xiyan Ancient Sect, the former masters of this land, had long ago lost the qualification to even enter Demon’s Back Ridge.

In the thirty thousand years since their disastrous defeat at the hands of the Holy Heaven Sect, the Xiyan Ancient Sect had never again entered Demon’s Back Ridge. As the masters of this territory, the Holy Heaven Sect would not permit the Xiyan Ancient Sect to meddle with Demon’s Back Ridge again. In fact, the Xiyan Ancient Sect no longer had the power to do so.

And yet, today, the Xiyan Ancient Sect had come. This caused many Cultivators to exchange glances. Their arrival meant an inevitable conflict with the Holy Heaven Sect and the Treasure Sacred Upper Country.

Some of the Sect Inheritances within the Treasure Sacred Upper Country were especially shocked. Not long ago, the Xiyan Ancient Sect had executed Dong Shenglong and Marquis Liezhan, and had even arrogantly crushed the will of the Human Emperor. This had caused a tremendous uproar, and everyone believed the Xiyan Ancient Sect and the Treasure Sacred Upper Country had completely fallen out.

However, the Nine Saints Demon Gate later intervened, which was the only reason the matter was quelled. Yet, not long after that incident, the Xiyan Ancient Sect had come running to Demon’s Back Ridge. Weren’t they just looking for trouble with the Holy Heaven Sect?

Li Qiye sat perched high on Niu Fen’s back, gazing at the ancient stone gate at the edge of the cliff, overcome with a wave of emotion.

”Halt—” Just then, a stern shout rang out. Marquis Zhenwei and his troops blocked their path. He bellowed, ”Gu Tieshou, you may not pass!”

Marquis Zhenwei was seething with rage, making no effort to conceal his Prince’s aura. It rolled forward, clearly intended to suppress the disciples of the Xiyan Ancient Sect.

”And why not?” Gu Tieshou stood up and stared at Marquis Zhenwei.

Marquis Zhenwei glared, his eyes filled with fury. He and Dong Shenglong had been close friends, yet Dong Shenglong had been executed by the Xiyan Ancient Sect. How could he not despise them for it? If not for an Imperial Decree from the Human Emperor, he would have already sought justice for Dong Shenglong.

”On what grounds? On the grounds that a pathetic little sect like the Xiyan Ancient Sect dares to come here?” Marquis Zhenwei sneered disdainfully. ”Your Xiyan Ancient Sect is not qualified to enter Demon’s Back Ridge!”

”That’s right! Demon’s Back Ridge hasn’t belonged to the Xiyan Ancient Sect for a long time. Scram as far as you can and don’t look for trouble,” sneered someone from the Treasure Sacred Upper Country’s contingent.

Perched atop the snail, Li Qiye didn’t spare Marquis Zhenwei so much as a single glance. He spoke calmly, ”There is no place I wish to go that anyone can bar me from. Elder Gu, make him scram.”