Dominator Emperor

HISS— HISS— HISS— As Li Qiye ventured deeper, the attacking roots and stems grew more numerous and thicker, their assault becoming increasingly ferocious.

Eventually, the stems and roots that appeared were as tough as cast iron, so much so that even Treasure Artifacts struggled to sever them. It was an unbelievable sight.

”What are these?” Li Shuangyan’s expression changed. By now, the roots, as tough as cast iron, had begun to attack her as well.

”The ancient roots of the Pumo Tree. We must be getting close to its lair, which is why they’re attacking so desperately,” Li Qiye said. ”Use the Lotus Ash. Don’t get tangled up with them. Once we find the main root, the others won’t pose a threat.”

With that, Li Qiye scattered the Lotus Ash. Li Shuangyan and Niu Fen quickly followed suit. Sure enough, as soon as the Lotus Ash appeared, the attacking ancient roots immediately recoiled, not daring to approach. They were utterly terrified of it.

In an instant, the tunnel behind Li Qiye and the others was packed with thick, ancient roots. They reared up like vipers, their cold watch making one’s skin crawl.

”How incredible!” Li Shuangyan could hardly believe it. ’To think this inconspicuous Lotus Ash is so miraculous that it keeps the Pumo Tree’s ancient roots at bay.’

”The Six Paths Lotus is the bane of the Pumo Tree. This is authentic ash from an ancient lotus’s bones. The Pumo Tree’s main root hasn’t fully matured yet—it’s no more than thirty thousand years old, so of course it can’t contend with this. If this Lotus Ash even touches it, it’s a death sentence.” As he spoke, Li Qiye flicked a handful of Lotus Ash forward like a shooting arrow.

Seeing the Lotus Ash fly toward them, all the ancient roots instantly recoiled, retreating in a hurry. However, one root was still struck. With a SIZZLE, it writhed on the ground like a snake struck at a vital point. In the blink of an eye, the root shriveled up and died, looking just like a sun-dried snake.

”The Six Paths Lotus!” Li Shuangyan exclaimed, her expression shifting. ”Is that the giant tree from the south?”

”Yes and no,” Li Qiye said. ”To be precise, the Six Paths Lotus is the predecessor of the Osmanthus Lotus Tree. I’m afraid there are no true Six Paths Lotuses left in this world anymore.”

As they spoke, they stepped into a gigantic cavern. The chamber was so immense that they couldn’t see its end at a single glance. It was a natural grotto, with rock walls on all sides.

The chilling part was that the rock here was as crimson as blood. Wisps of a smoke-like blood mist seeped out from the stone, filling the entire cavern and obscuring their vision.

Entering this cavern was a bone-chilling experience; it was like walking into a grotto of blood. Standing inside, they could almost smell the metallic tang of gore, as if a terrifying demon had once dwelled here.

”What is this place?” Even Niu Fen felt a shiver run down his spine as he entered. His entire body felt uneasy, as if the air was thick with Demonic Qi.

”The place where the Pumo Tree’s Primordial Spirit once dwelled,” Li Qiye said grimly, his eyes scanning the surroundings.

Just then, Li Shuangyan gently tugged on Li Qiye’s sleeve. She tilted her chin in another direction and whispered, ”Over there—”

Li Qiye narrowed his eyes and looked. In the deepest part of the cavern, he saw a hazy shadow completely shrouded in the blood mist, making it impossible to see clearly. From a distance, the shadow appeared humanoid, yet not quite human. For a fleeting moment, it even seemed to writhe like a small dragon.

SWOOSH! In an instant, Li Qiye’s two Qimen Sabers flew out, streaking like lightning as they slashed toward the shadow in the mist.

However, the shadow in the mist was incredibly agile. It seemed to sense the sabers’ terrifying power, for the very instant Li Qiye unleashed them, it fled. Its speed was unbelievable!

The Qimen Sabers circled back and returned to Li Qiye’s hand, but they had failed to slay the shadow; it had escaped. Knowing the terror of the sabers, the shadow did not show itself again.

”Was that the Pumo Tree’s main root?” Li Shuangyan asked worriedly, seeing that the attack had missed.

”No—” A sharp glint appeared in Li Qiye’s eyes as he spoke coldly, ”Years ago, someone opened up Demon’s Back Ridge, and something followed them inside.”

”The Pumo Tree’s main root isn’t here?” Niu Fen had also scanned the blood-filled grotto but found nothing else.

”If it’s not here, then it must be somewhere else,” Li Qiye said grimly. ”It must be hiding in another direction. Come on, let’s go!”

Li Shuangyan and Niu Fen hurried to follow. Li Shuangyan didn’t ask any questions, and Niu Fen certainly didn’t dare to. ’Li Qiye knew this place like the back of his hand, even knowing that it was once the dwelling of the Pumo Tree’s Primordial Spirit.’ Naturally, Li Shuangyan was filled with curiosity, but she knew this was not the time to ask.

Meanwhile, in another direction, even Celestial Emperor Qingxuan and his group had run into trouble.

As they ventured deeper in that direction, everyone discovered that the number of tunnels began to dwindle. Like countless streams converging into a single river, the passages merged, leaving fewer and fewer paths forward.

The various sects that had fought their way in began to run into each other, and many Cultivator Strongmen gathered together. However, the roots and stems they faced grew ever stronger. The ancient roots in each tunnel became more numerous and more powerful, until eventually, even the Princes could no longer hold them back.

This situation forced the various sects to join forces. The Princes attacked in unison, but the situation remained dire.

But by now, they had no path of retreat. A tide of roots and stems had blocked the entrance behind them. Amidst a RUSTLING sound, countless more roots flooded the area, overwhelming everything.

”AHHH—” Piercing screams rose and fell. In such a situation, let alone ordinary Cultivator Strongmen, even some of the Princes couldn’t hold on. In a moment of carelessness, one Prince died at the hands of the ancient roots, his blood sucked completely dry.

Of the few remaining tunnels, the two containing the strongest contingents were those led by Celestial Emperor Qingxuan and Sheng Tian Heaven Daoist. For this reason, the largest number of Cultivators had gathered in their tunnels.

In the chaotic battle, Chen Baojiao and her old servant had been separated and ended up in the tunnel with Sheng Tian Heaven Daoist’s group. With no path of retreat, Chen Baojiao had no choice but to follow the main group forward. However, the tide of ancient roots attacking from behind was only growing stronger.

By now, the Cultivators in every tunnel had lost their path of retreat. They all felt as if they had fallen into a trap. Powerful ancient roots blocked their escape, herding them deeper into the earth as if driving them toward the lair. The Pumo Tree’s main root now saw these Cultivators as a meal served on a platter. It was like a spider in its web, waiting for a delicious feast to be delivered.

For some unknown reason, however, no matter where Chen Baojiao went, she seemed to be a magnet for the Pumo Tree’s roots. The number of roots attacking her was far greater than for anyone else.

Of course, Chen Baojiao didn’t know that she possessed the Overlord Fairy Spring Body, a constitution rarely seen in ages. To the Pumo Tree, her Essence Blood was the most delicious delicacy in the world—and the finest tonic. That was why she was being attacked far more relentlessly than anyone else.

At first, Chen Baojiao was able to fend them off. But as time went on, she became overwhelmed. Fortunately, her old servant was there to intervene.

Everyone soon realized that Chen Baojiao was drawing the brunt of the assault, attracting a massive number of roots and stems. This caused many Cultivators from the Great Teaching Territories to steer clear of her, lest they get caught in the crossfire.

Under the Pumo Tree’s frenzied assault, Chen Baojiao and her old servant were forced to retreat into a side tunnel. It was a dead end; there was no escape.

”Watch out—!” Chen Baojiao was nearly impaled by an ancient root, but her old servant intervened, severing it. At that moment, the old servant finally revealed his true strength.

RUSH— RUSH— RUSH— In an instant, all the roots and stems went into a frenzy, cornering Chen Baojiao. To them, a delicious meal was right before their eyes. All at once, they surged into the dead-end tunnel, flooding it like a deluge.

”DIE—!” the old servant roared, the might of a True Master erupting from his body. He instantly severed countless incoming roots, but still more surged forward like an endless tide.

BOOM— BOOM— BOOM! The old servant hacked and slashed time and again, but he still couldn’t break through.

Seeing that the old servant actually possessed the strength of a True Master, the many Cultivators who had retreated into another tunnel were all secretly astonished.

With a sickening SQUELCH, blood sprayed into the air. Though the old servant was powerful, he was burdened with protecting Chen Baojiao while fending off the frenzied attacks. In a moment of distraction, an ancient root pierced through his shoulder.

The old servant severed the root, but the broken piece lodged in his body began to sprout new tendrils, burrowing into his flesh. The old servant’s face fell, and his entire body trembled.

”Elder Shi—!” Chen Baojiao cried out in alarm, about to rush to his aid.

”Get behind me!” the old servant roared, unleashing a heaven-sundering strike. But by now, the frenzied roots had woven themselves into a massive cocoon, preparing to swallow them both. Countless more roots surged in from behind, flooding the entire dead-end tunnel.

Sheng Tian Heaven Daoist, who had retreated to another tunnel, saw this and his expression changed. He started to rush forward, but Master Situ, who was beside him, placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him.

”Young Master, do not be reckless,” Master Situ said gravely.

SHLICK! Just then, inside the dead-end tunnel, two more ancient roots pierced the old servant’s shoulders. Dripping with blood, he staggered, and Chen Baojiao rushed to support him.