Dominator Emperor

In the end, Li Qiye chose a deep pool. The water within was as still as death, unfathomably deep, and exuded a biting chill. Just standing by its edge was enough to make one shiver.

”BOOM!” After Li Qiye completed the trading ceremony, the entire deep pool erupted with a light as black as ink. Streaks of this black radiance shot out like Demon Swords, their Demonic Qi piercing the heavens. It was a terrifying sight that made one tremble in fear, as if a Demon from the depths of the earth was emerging into the world.

”Hehehe...” As all the black rays of light intertwined, a series of sinister laughs echoed. A shadow stepped out from the black radiance, without a coffin. The moment it appeared, it was wreathed in black fog, a fog so thick it was like spilled ink that could never be dispersed. Shrouded within this fog, the shadow’s true form was completely obscured. Hisses and roars emanated from within the black mist as it shifted and churned, as if a Primordial Fierce Beast was about to charge out.

The moment this shadow stepped out, an overwhelming Evil Qi filled the air. Nan Huairun and the others couldn’t help but shiver. This Evil Qi assaulted their very souls, making them feel as if they were being targeted by a Demon.

”Hehehe...” The black shadow laughed sinisterly as it emerged. ”A Celestial Corpse and Earth Envoy... I’ve heard of them, but this is the first time I’ve seen one. Little Ghost, hand over all your Corpse Treasures, and I might just spare your life!”

This Treasure Lord’s very first words made everyone’s expression change. Whether it was Li Shuangyan’s group or the older generation like Niu Fen, none of them had expected this Treasure Lord to suddenly turn hostile, unlike the old Daoist who had traded according to the rules.

”If you want to trade, you’re welcome. If you want to rob me, then get lost!” Only Li Qiye remained completely unbothered, facing the Demonic Qi-wreathed Treasure Lord with utter composure.

”Little thing, in my past life, my title alone would have been enough to scare you to death!” the black shadow said with a sinister laugh.

Li Qiye smiled leisurely. ”Just a remnant of the Dragon Nether Ancient Dynasty, nothing worth mentioning. If you want to trade today, hand over that little legacy of your Dragon Nether Ancient Dynasty. Otherwise, crawl back into your tomb.”

”Little Ghost, who are you—” the black shadow roared like a clap of thunder. In that very instant, it struck. A black hand, like that of a ghost, reached directly for Li Qiye.

This ghostly hand that suddenly appeared could grasp heaven and earth, seize the sun and moon, and capture yin and yang. A single strike from it could make even a Saint Emperor’s soul scatter. Even though this black shadow was already dead and possessed barely any life force, it was still unimaginably terrifying!

”CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!” However, at this critical moment between life and death, Li Qiye began to beat the Corpse-Rousing Gong like a torrential storm. As the gale-like gong sounds rang out, they seemed to pound upon the very earth, startling the Celestial Vault above and shaking the Underworld below.

”Ah—” A bloodcurdling scream rang out. This gave Niu Fen and the others a huge fright, thinking that Li Qiye had been caught by the black shadow. But when they got a clear look at what was happening, they were all dumbfounded.

From beneath the earth, a hand suddenly shot out. It was a large, shriveled hand, like a bird’s claw covered in green hair. It burst from the ground and instantly seized the black shadow. Its razor-sharp claws pierced through the shadow, causing it to let out a shrill, miserable scream.

The black shadow dripped four drops of blood. The blood was incredibly vivid, like four blood diamonds. When the four drops fell to the earth, they instantly vanished, followed by wisps of green smoke rising up.

”One drop of blood for one year. So what if you’ve been buried for millions of years? In the end, it all gets returned to the Ancient Sky Corpse Land,” Li Qiye said with a calm smile as he watched the four drops of blood disappear into the ground.

”PUFF!” With a squeeze from the large, green-haired hand, the black shadow was annihilated, not even leaving ashes behind. Before this hand, even an existence that was once notoriously famous and had dominated all directions was insignificant, crushed as easily as an ant.

”BOOM!” The green-haired hand sank back into the ground, and the Death Pool collapsed along with it. The area subsided and eventually vanished, leaving behind only a low-lying depression.

”When one Fengshui Treasure Land is destroyed, a new one is born,” Li Qiye said with a leisurely smile. ”A dog can’t change its ways. Millions of years have passed, and a mere remnant still thinks the Ancient Netherworld reigns supreme! Sparing your life would have been an insult to myself.”

The juniors were so scared their legs gave out, and they plopped right onto the ground. As for Shi Gandang and Tu Buyu, when they heard Li Qiye’s words, their hearts trembled. Li Qiye never intended to trade from the very beginning; he was planning to slaughter his target. He had set a trap for the Fengshui Treasure Land’s Treasure Lord from the start!

Shi Gandang had once been a fierce man, and Tu Buyu had traveled far and wide; they were both men who had seen the world. Yet at this moment, a cold chill ran down their spines. Plotting against a Treasure Lord... this was something few would ever even dare to imagine!

The sudden appearance of the large, green-haired hand had terrified who knows how many Earth Corpses in the area. At this moment, even the most powerful Earth Corpses were cowering in their lairs, not daring to emerge.

”What was that green-haired hand?” The calmest of them all was Li Shuangyan. She had long since grown used to such strange occurrences and asked coolly.

”A rule, a punishment, an iron law of the Ancient Sky Corpse Land... you can call it whatever you like,” Li Qiye said with a smile. ”I am now an Earth Envoy, conducting trades here. Therefore, anyone who violates the terms of a trade will be punished.”

”That thing just now... it was from the Ancient Netherworld!” Niu Fen couldn’t help but suck in a cold breath. ”He actually came from the legendary Dragon Nether Ancient Dynasty! That... that’s the Ancient Dynasty founded by the Dragon Nether Immortal Emperor!”

”Just a remnant. In the Human Emperor Realm, any member of the Ancient Netherworld who dares to act so wantonly will be killed without mercy!” Li Qiye stated calmly.

The juniors didn’t dare to speak, while Shi Gandang and the others felt a chill in their hearts. They could sense an indescribable killing intent from Li Qiye directed toward the Ancient Netherworld! It was as if he held a deep grudge against them.

Of course, Shi Gandang and the others thought this was impossible. The Ancient Nether Clan hadn’t appeared in the Human Emperor Realm for millions of years. How could a fifteen or sixteen-year-old youth possibly have a feud with the Ancient Nether Race?

”The heavens vast, the earth so wide, let roads be roads and paths divide. The Envoy of the Land is here to trade. Be you god or be you shade, all Earth Corpses, stand aside...” Although the juniors, and even Li Shuangyan, had many questions, Li Qiye didn’t answer. He simply set off once more on his quest to find another Fengshui Treasure Land.

After crossing mountain after mountain, Li Qiye finally chose his third Fengshui Treasure Land and selected his second Treasure Lord.

This location was an Ancient Cave, one so deep it seemed bottomless. After Li Qiye completed the trading ceremony, a series of rumbles echoed. A long time later, the group saw four skeletons emerge from the Ancient Cave, carrying a Giant Coffin on their shoulders.

This Giant Coffin was extraordinary. It was forged from the extremely rare Sinking Star Celestial Gold, a material so precious it was considered a top-grade ingredient for refining Outer Daoist Soldiers.

When the Giant Coffin was set down, a loud rumble sounded, and even the ground shook slightly. An old man stepped out from within. He had a youthful face despite his white hair, and though he wore simple cloth robes, they were spotless. As he emerged from the coffin, he looked just like an old immortal stepping out of a painting. If not for the fact that his eyes were closed and that he had appeared here in the Ancient Sky Corpse Land, it would be truly hard to believe that this immortal-like old man was actually dead.

”A bit interesting. Even a successor of the Immortal Pavilion couldn’t escape the worldly desire for rebirth,” Li Qiye said leisurely, sitting on the ground.

Hearing the name ”Immortal Pavilion,” the juniors had little reaction, but Niu Fen and the others shuddered in their hearts, shocked. The Immortal Pavilion was an extremely mysterious existence that had once been as famous as the War God Hall, yet it was far more discreet. Very few people in the world ever got to see a disciple of the Immortal Pavilion, but every disciple who came from it was a heaven-defying individual!

A former successor of the Immortal Pavilion... just how powerful, how terrifying must he have been?

”Merely an unworthy disciple, a disgrace to the name ’Immortal Pavilion.’” Despite being a dead man buried here, the old man spoke with such an amiable tone that it felt like a spring breeze on one’s face.

Li Qiye chuckled and took out a short rhizome from his Celestial Ancient Treasure Box. The entire rhizome was the color of Red Gold, as if forged from Divine Gold. This Red Gold-like root looked as if it had been gnawed on by insects, as it was covered in tiny holes.

”Since you hail from the Immortal Pavilion, I shouldn’t need to explain where in the Ancient Sky Corpse Land this Red Iron Devouring Insect root grows, should I?” Li Qiye said, placing the item in front of him.

The old man fell silent for a moment, then slowly took out a Stone Tower and placed it before him. The tower wasn’t large and could even be described as crude, yet it was smooth and without any sharp edges, as if it had been polished time and time again.

”The Profound Ancient Tower. A tower that connects to the abyss. It is an Extraordinary Treasure, capable of locking the Great Dao above and suppressing Demons below. I polished it in my hands for eighty thousand years,” the old man said slowly.

”Deal.” Li Qiye immediately took the Profound Ancient Tower and casually tossed it to Shi Gandang behind him. He said slowly, ”Since you are an Honored Guest Elder of the Xiyan Ancient Sect, consider this a greeting gift. As long as you remain loyal to the Xiyan Ancient Sect, you will not be treated unfairly.”

Shi Gandang never expected to receive a share of the treasures. When he came to his senses, he hurriedly bowed three times to Li Qiye, his manner solemn and respectful. This was piety that came from the bottom of his heart!

After accepting the Red Iron Devouring Insect root, the old man pondered for a moment before taking out another item and placing it in front of him.

It was a mirror, ancient and unadorned, forged from some unknown material. Its surface was concave, like the mouth of a fish. The moment this mirror was taken out, the aura of a Great Sage rushed forth!

Although the mirror’s Great Sage aura was already extremely restrained, it still caused heaven and earth to stir. Everyone present felt crushed by this wisp of aura, struggling to breathe.

”The Fish Dragon Hundred Transformations Mirror. It is cast from Fish Dragon Sacred Copper and is a Seven Words Dao Treasure Gold. Although the seven words do not form a phrase or sentence, this Treasure Artifact has accompanied me my entire life. It is a Great Sage Treasure!” the old man said.

These words made the juniors shiver. A Great Sage Treasure! How terrifying, how powerful was that? A Seven-Character Sacred Copper... such a Treasure Artifact was too precious. As far as they knew, the Great Elder of the Xiyan Ancient Sect possessed one!