Dominator Emperor

Sima Longyun may not have been the most talented or promising descendant of the Nu Xian Sacred Country. Compared to its Eldest Prince, Ba Xia, there was still a considerable gap in both status and talent. However, Sima Longyun had been enfeoffed as a Prince at a young age and possessed a Dao Practice at the Profound Fate Realm. He was undeniably a genius of the Nu Xian Sacred Country, enjoying great fame across the East Hundred Cities. With a bright future ahead of him, many from the younger generation were eager to curry his favor.

”Sister Xiaodie, you are absolutely radiant tonight. One look is enough to make a heart flutter,” Sima Longyun praised her the moment he entered.

Although Chi Xiaodie loathed Sima Longyun, she was hosting this grand event today, so she could only welcome him with a smile and usher him in.

After Sima Longyun was seated, Chi Xiaodie had a disciple from her sect attend to him. Meanwhile, many of the young prodigies nearby immediately crowded around him, all greeting him and trying to build connections.

Like the moon surrounded by stars, Sima Longyun called out to friends and companions. He was basking in the glory, his presence overwhelming. While many of the young prodigies present disliked him, they had to admit it. As a fellow elite, his birth in a massive Jiang Country like the Nu Xian Sacred Country afforded him numerous innate advantages that disciples from ordinary Jiang Countries and sects simply couldn’t compare to.

Sima Longyun chatted and laughed, his gaze sweeping across the crowd with an imposing air. However, when he saw Li Qiye sitting quietly in a corner, his expression instantly froze, and a feeling of displeasure welled up inside him.

At the grave auction not long ago, he had suffered a considerable loss and even lost face. Seeing this nobody, Li Qiye, again today—how could he possibly feel good about it?

”Today, Mei Fairy is giving a lecture. Everyone who can enter this place is a leader of the current generation, an outstanding prodigy. I hope some nobody hasn’t snuck in to take advantage of the situation.” At this moment, Sima Longyun stared coldly at Li Qiye, his voice loud enough for everyone present to hear.

Many eyes turned toward Li Qiye. In truth, he had been sitting quietly in an inconspicuous corner since his arrival, and no one had paid him any mind. It was only now, with Sima Longyun’s provocation, that everyone finally noticed him.

Even if they had noticed him, they wouldn’t have known who he was. The Middle Grand Realm was simply too far from the East Hundred Cities. In the current age, which wasn’t long after the end of the Tough Dao Era, few from the younger generation had ever ventured into the Middle Grand Realm. It was only natural that they didn’t recognize Li Qiye.

Seeing Sima Longyun suddenly provoke Li Qiye, many people were puzzled. Of course, Sima Longyun’s arrogance and conceit were nothing new, so no one was too surprised. However, many among the younger generation were gloating. Someone was about to have a very bad day. To provoke Sima Longyun and dare to make an enemy of the Nu Xian Sacred Country was just asking for trouble. For a nobody, it was practically a death wish.

Li Qiye, who had been pouring and drinking by himself, looked up at this moment. Seeing Sima Longyun’s provocation, his eyes narrowed.

Sikong Toutian, on the other hand, just chuckled. ’This reckless fool, Sima Longyun, is out making trouble again,’ he thought. ’To dare provoke Li Qiye... he really has no idea what kind of death he’s asking for.’

”Everyone listening to the lecture today is a hero of our generation. A mere nobody dares to come here? Can he even understand the Profound Mysteries of the Great Dao? Isn’t he afraid of embarrassing himself?” Sima Longyun said with a smile.

Some of the younger generation who wanted to flatter Sima Longyun also chimed in with a laugh, ”Brother Sima, even if they don’t understand, some people can pretend they do. They just close their eyes and sit down, and even if they’re dozing off, others will think they’re deep in contemplation of the lecture.”

This immediately provoked a round of laughter. As for those of the younger generation who didn’t want to associate with Sima Longyun, they just shook their heads. They all felt that this nameless junior could only blame his own bad luck. Having provoked Sima Longyun, he was destined to be thoroughly humiliated.

Li Qiye narrowed his eyes. Faced with Sima Longyun’s mockery, he chuckled and said, ”Well, well, if it isn’t the moron Sima who spent tens of millions of Essence Jades on some rotten, useless beans? A fool who can’t even tell if Rotting Nether Beans are good or bad actually dares to show up for a lecture. In this world, even a three-year-old can tell the difference. For you, a cretin with an IQ lower than a toddler’s, to come to a lecture—that’s even more disgusting than casting pearls before swine. At least swine might appreciate the pearls. As for you? I bet you can’t even spell the word ’lecture’. For an idiot like you to even show your face...”

”...At your level, you’d probably pull down your pants to show off that tiny, practically non-existent thing between your legs and still act smug about it. Being an idiot isn’t a crime. But running around, afraid that people *don’t* know you’re an idiot and feeling the need to show off just how stupid you are? *That’s* pathetic. Why don’t you go back to your Nu Xian Sacred Country and play in the mud? And be careful not to mistake the shit in the outhouse for mud and cover yourself in stench.”

Li Qiye delivered this tirade in a leisurely and calm manner, without a hint of agitation. This stream of vulgarities, the kind you’d hear from a shrew cursing on the street, sounded almost like he was reciting a profound Celestial Book as it came from his unhurried lips.

Li Qiye’s torrent of profanity left everyone in the audience dumbfounded. Many of the more delicate young women couldn’t help but cover their ears. One of them complained, ”Th-this is too vulgar.”

”Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! I never thought Brother Li could curse someone out as if he were reciting a Celestial Book. So eloquent, so effortless... it truly makes this little brother feel inadequate in comparison.” Sikong Toutian burst out laughing and applauded to cheer Li Qiye on.

Sima Longyun’s face instantly turned beet red. He was so enraged by Li Qiye’s words he could have vomited blood. After that tirade, he was left speechless with fury.

”You... you—” Sima Longyun pointed at Li Qiye, his whole body trembling. His Blood Qi flared as he looked ready to strike down Li Qiye on the spot.

Li Qiye slowly glanced sideways at Sima Longyun. ”Me what? If you’re this much of a moron, you shouldn’t run around in public. You’re stuttering, can’t even get a single sentence out, just trembling all over. Scram back to the Nu Xian Sacred Country and hide. Stop coming out here to embarrass yourself.”

”You court death—” Sima Longyun’s aura surged violently as he moved toward Li Qiye.

”What do you think you’re doing?!” At that moment, Chi Xiaodie snorted coldly. Her beautiful eyes flew open, a golden light pulsing within her pupils. She already loathed Sima Longyun, and now he was causing a scene before the event had even begun. This was a direct attempt to sabotage her gathering, and it made her own anger flare.

Sima Longyun said, ”Sister Xiaodie, it’s not that I want to cause trouble. This Little Ghost has gone too far! He’s courting death. Today, I will teach him a lesson so he doesn’t cause trouble in your palace and learns to remember it.”

As a genius, Sima Longyun still had some cunning. He immediately found a rather excellent excuse.

Chi Xiaodie grew even more annoyed, her disgust for Sima Longyun increasing. If not for her wariness of the Nu Xian Sacred Country, she would have long since thrown someone like him out of the Lion Roar Country’s Imperial Palace.

”Brother Li is an honored guest of our Lion Roar Country,” Chi Xiaodie said. ”He has been in the palace for some time now. How could you accuse him of causing trouble?”

”Sister Xiaodie—” Sima Longyun hurriedly said.

Chi Xiaodie interrupted him, her voice cold. ”I am hosting today’s lecture, and I do not wish for any disturbances. Everyone here today is a guest in the Imperial Palace of my Lion Roar Country, and I welcome you all. However, if there are any grievances, you can settle them outside the Imperial Palace after the event is over!”

Chi Xiaodie had always been wary of the Nu Xian Sacred Country, so her firm attitude today was quite remarkable.

”Fine. I’ll give Sister Xiaodie face today.” Sima Longyun took a deep breath, swallowing his anger. He stared at Li Qiye and said coldly, ”You’d better not leave the Lion Roar Country. Otherwise, you’ll die without a place for burial!”

Li Qiye didn’t even bother to glance at him and simply resumed drinking alone. Sikong Toutian immediately refilled his cup. Even someone like Sikong Toutian didn’t take a character like Sima Longyun seriously.

Chi Xiaodie glanced at Li Qiye in silence and secretly shook her head. ’I know he’s somewhat unfathomable,’ she thought, ’but I just don’t understand where he gets this confidence, daring to provoke the Nu Xian Sacred Country all by himself. In the East Hundred Cities, the Nu Xian Sacred Country is absolutely not to be trifled with. Even the Great Teaching Territories are unwilling to provoke them.’

Chi Xiaodie’s concerns were not unfounded. The Nu Xian Sacred Country was indeed very powerful. Their foundation was definitely stronger than that of a newly risen Great Sect like the Holy Heaven Sect.

Unfortunately, Chi Xiaodie had no idea that Li Qiye didn’t give a damn about the Nu Xian Sacred Country. He was someone who would cut down experts from the Qingxuan Ancient Country without hesitation. As for the Nu Xian Sacred Country, were they even a concern to him?

After that small interlude with Sima Longyun, the atmosphere returned to normal after a short while. The many young prodigies present resumed their cheerful chatter. At the same time, some of them were trying to find out about Li Qiye’s background, but unfortunately, no one present recognized him.

Meanwhile, as the time for the lecture drew nearer, more and more young prodigies arrived. As night fell, the lively atmosphere perfectly complemented the beautiful rear garden.

Chi Xiaodie bustled about, receiving the young prodigies from the various sects and Jiang Countries of the East Hundred Cities. She shouldered all the responsibilities herself, not letting Chi Xiaodao share the burden. She was also trying to create an opportunity for her younger brother; after all, it wasn’t easy for him to spend time with Princess Bao Yun.

And Chi Xiaodao and Princess Bao Yun were getting along very well. They were alone in a quiet area, before a pond, outside a pavilion—a romantic scene under the flowers and the moon. Laughter could be heard from them from time to time; clearly, they were having a very cheerful conversation.

”Hey, Brother Li, that young lady from the Chi Family is actually quite something,” Sikong Toutian said to Li Qiye as he refilled his cup.

Li Qiye shot him a glance and said, ”How old are you?”

”Even if I’m over a hundred, in front of Big Brother, I’m still just a little brother,” Sikong Toutian said immediately with a wide grin.

Li Qiye waved his hand. ”Alright, cut the flattery. What are you getting at?”