Dominator Emperor

”Is there really no way to get close to one’s own ancestors?” a cultivator couldn’t help but ask.

Many elders from the Great Ancient Sects could not answer this question. In the end, the Old Turtle King from Feijiao Lake spoke of a method. He said softly, ”Perhaps there is one way to pay respects to one’s ancestors—the legendary ancestral worship ritual.”

”How does one perform this ritual?” the demons around the Old Turtle King couldn’t help but ask.

”I don’t know.” The Old Turtle King shook his head and said, ”I’ve lived for many years, but I’ve only ever heard of this ritual. I’ve never seen it with my own eyes. I’m afraid there’s no one left in this world who knows how to perform it!”

At the Nether River Crossing, a few ancient cultivators recognized some of the Treasure Master Earth Immortals who had appeared.

”Isn’t... isn’t that the last Sect Leader of the Thousand Emperors Sect?” an incredibly ancient Ancient Saint from the Sky Demon Clan of the East Hundred Cities said, his voice filled with emotion as he spotted an Earth Immortal standing coldly on the bank of the Nether River.

”Thousand Emperors Sect—” Hearing this name, many great figures were stirred. Even those from Emperor Immortal Gates had their expressions change. The name was like a curse.

”Is the Thousand Emperors Sect that terrifying?” a junior asked curiously, seeing their master’s expression change.

”One sect, four emperors. Four consecutive generations of emperors!” A True Ancient Saint of the older generation said to his disciple with a grave expression. ”The Thousand Emperors Sect once produced four Immortal Emperors. Moreover, they reigned in consecutive generations. During those four eras, no cultivator from any other sect managed to break through and seize the Celestial Mandate. The Thousand Emperors Sect claimed it every single time!”

The expressions of countless juniors changed drastically upon hearing this. The Qingxuan Ancient Country, with its Twin Emperors from a single lineage, already shook the entire Middle Grand Realm. In the current era, their position was considered unshakeable.

One sect with four emperors was already unimaginable. Even more terrifying was that they were from four consecutive generations! This was simply a miracle for the ages. Such a miracle was likely unprecedented and would never be seen again!

”One sect, four emperors, four consecutive generations... If they were such an invincible Emperor’s Lineage, why did they still perish?” a junior couldn’t help but ask an elder from their sect after hearing such a legend.

The elder sighed and finally said softly, ”After the Thousand Emperors Sect’s fourth-generation Immortal Emperor, an even more incredible figure appeared—Celestial Empress Hongtian! In the end, the Thousand Emperors Sect, which even gods and demons avoided, was destroyed at her hands. Legend has it that the Thousand Emperors Sect was very likely to have cultivated a fifth-generation Immortal Emperor. Unfortunately, they happened to exist in the same era as Celestial Empress Hongtian. Thus, the supremely prosperous and invincible Thousand Emperors Sect ultimately walked the path to ruin!”

”Celestial Empress Hongtian—” Hearing this, the name left an indelible impression on the younger generation. A single Empress who destroyed a lineage of four emperors—how Defying Heaven, how invincible was she!

While the many Great Ancient Sects were all setting off for the Nether River Crossing, Li Qiye was only now leisurely preparing to depart.

”Everyone, just stay here in Celestial Ancient City,” Li Qiye told his group.

For this trip to the Nether River Crossing, Li Qiye wasn’t taking his group. He didn’t even bring Tu Buyu and the others, planning only to take Li Shuangyan and Chen Baojiao.

In truth, Nan Huairun and the others really wanted to go to the Nether River Crossing, but hearing Li Qiye’s words, they had no choice but to give up the idea.

”This time is a bit special. We won’t be digging for treasures. I’m just helping the War God Hall bury an Ancient Coffin.” Li Qiye finally said, ”So, none of you should go this time. Since we aren’t digging for treasures, if you go to the Nether River Crossing and happen to provoke an Earth Corpse, I won’t be able to save you in time.”

Since Li Qiye put it that way, the group said no more. They didn’t dare to cause him any trouble.

In the end, Li Qiye, along with Chen Baojiao and Li Shuangyan, boarded the Four-Battle Copper Vehicle and set out on the ancient road to the Nether River Crossing.

Li Shuangyan, accompanying Li Qiye, watched him closely. ’He has something on his mind,’ she thought. Ever since the Nether River appeared, Li Qiye had gone into seclusion, locking himself away for three whole days. The moment he came out today, he immediately set off for the Nether River Crossing, which she found very strange.

Among those around Li Qiye, no one understood him better. Others couldn’t grasp his emotions, but Li Shuangyan could. That’s why she felt that something was weighing on his mind today.

After the Four-Battle Copper Vehicle was on its way, seeing Li Qiye remain silent, Li Shuangyan asked softly with concern, ”What’s wrong?”

Li Qiye gazed at the Nether River pouring down from the sky and didn’t speak for a long time. After a long while, he glanced at the two of them and said, ”I plan to board the Netherworld Ship.”

The night the Nether River appeared, Chen Baojiao and Li Shuangyan’s words had stirred something within him. During his three days of seclusion, although he told others he was in cultivation, he was in fact pondering and trying to comprehend something!

”Board the Netherworld Ship!” Hearing Li Qiye’s words, both Li Shuangyan and Chen Baojiao’s expressions changed drastically.

Everyone knew that the Netherworld Ship was only for the dead. For a living person to board it—wasn’t that just suicide?

”Young Master, you’re still so young. You don’t need to use the Netherworld Ship to extend your life, much less use it to be reborn and live another life.” Chen Baojiao’s expression changed, and she hastily tried to persuade Li Qiye.

”I’m not boarding the Netherworld Ship to extend my life or to be reborn,” Li Qiye said, shaking his head.

Li Shuangyan’s expression turned grave. Looking at her young master, she couldn’t help but say, ”Boarding the Netherworld Ship is suicide! We only came to the Ancient Sky Corpse Land to send off the War God Hall’s Elder Ancestor. Why must you do this?!” She realized that he must have a purpose, but she still didn’t want him to go; it was a death sentence!

Chen Baojiao quickly chimed in with Li Shuangyan, trying to persuade him. ”Young Master, why do you have to board the Netherworld Ship? You still have a bright future ahead. This gamble isn’t worth it. Why don’t we just call off the deal with the War God Hall and go straight back to the Xiyan Ancient Sect?” Although she had absolute confidence in her young master, once he was on that ship, she feared all that confidence would be for naught!

To anyone, boarding the Netherworld Ship was suicide. Only the dying or the already dead would attempt such a desperate, last-ditch effort. Even someone with only a few decades left to live wouldn’t be willing to throw their life away on the Netherworld Ship. After all, the chances of choosing the right ship were extremely, extremely low!

In response to his two maids’ heartfelt pleas, Li Qiye just smiled carefreely and said, ”Don’t worry, I’ll come back alive.”

Seeing that his mind was made up, Li Shuangyan stopped trying to persuade him. She looked at Li Qiye for a long moment before finally asking softly, ”What do you intend to do by boarding the Netherworld Ship this time?”

Li Qiye couldn’t help but gaze toward the deepest part of the Ancient Sky Corpse Land. He touched a treasure on his person and finally said, ”I plan to go to a certain place. Perhaps, that place can only be reached by taking a Netherworld Ship!”

At this, he became lost in thought. He had been to the deepest part of the Ancient Sky Corpse Land more than once and had visited many places within, but there were some locations he wished to enter that had no gate!

Coincidentally, he had recently figured out some things about an item in his possession. The night the Nether River descended from the sky, Li Shuangyan and Chen Baojiao’s words had stirred some of his memories. There were still some mysteries in the Ancient Sky Corpse Land that he wanted to investigate.

”Be careful. You must come back alive!” In the end, this was all Li Shuangyan could say to him.

In contrast to Li Shuangyan’s and Chen Baojiao’s somber mood, Li Qiye was completely relaxed. He chuckled, ”I have two peerlessly beautiful and charming maids by my side. How could I bear to die so soon? To not properly enjoy such luck with the ladies... that would be a great disservice to myself!”

”In your dreams!” Hearing this, Li Shuangyan, whose lovely face was usually as cold as a proud plum blossom in the snow, couldn’t help but blush. She shot him an irritated glare.

As for Chen Baojiao, she simply pursed her lips and giggled softly. The two peerless beauties—one as cold and proud as a winter plum, the other with an alluring gaze and flirtatious gait—each had her own unique charm, enough to mesmerize anyone who laid eyes on them.

Li Qiye and his group rode the Four-Battle Copper Vehicle onward. They didn’t encounter many cultivators along the way. In fact, one could say they were among the very last group of cultivators to arrive.

Perhaps it was because all the Earth Corpses were flocking to the Nether River Crossing, or perhaps it was because of the Nether River’s appearance itself. For whatever reason, the Corpse Qi on the ancient road leading to the crossing was so faint it was almost negligible. Even someone with shallow Dao Practice could walk this road without being affected by the Corpse Qi. On any other day, they would have long since been corrupted by the qi and turned into an Earth Corpse.

Just as Li Qiye’s group was about to reach the Nether River Crossing, when they could see it in the distance, their path was blocked.

A single person stood blocking the ancient road, clearly targeting Li Qiye’s group. They blocked no one else, only the path of the Four-Battle Copper Vehicle.

It was a young woman of peerless beauty, yet her killing intent soared to the heavens. Anyone who saw her wouldn’t notice her stunning looks, but would instead be struck with awe and fear by the killing intent radiating from her.

The young woman was dressed in black, cradling a Black Sword. Blocking the ancient road, she was like an unsheathed Blood Sword, her monstrous killing intent giving off the feeling of dripping blood! Anyone who saw her would instinctively give her a wide berth.

There were one or two straggling cultivators who had been following behind Li Qiye’s Four-Battle Copper Vehicle, but upon seeing the young woman blocking the path, their expressions changed drastically, and they all scurried far away.

Bai Jianzhen, the successor of the Sword God Holy Land. She possessed a face of peerless beauty, yet no one ever paid attention to her looks!

Bai Jianzhen suddenly blocking Li Qiye’s path drew a lot of attention. Instantly, many of the cultivators lingering at the Nether River Crossing flocked over to watch.

”Bai Jianzhen!” Upon seeing the woman in black, the genius disciples from every lineage and sect all had their expressions change. No one was willing to provoke this female Godslayer!

To many cultivators of the younger generation, Bai Jianzhen might not be the most powerful genius of her peers, but she was absolutely the most terrifying. When her sword was drawn, it was guaranteed to taste blood. Faced with her dreadful killing intent, anyone would give her a wide berth!