Dominator Emperor

Elder Daoist Peng’s expression was grave. ”The Domain God is showing signs of demonic possession. It suddenly became agitated just now, and my Junior Brothers barely managed to pacify it by working together!”

The earth-shattering tremor that just rocked the Celestial Dao Academy was merely a fit of restlessness from the Domain God. If it were to truly go berserk, wouldn’t it be capable of destroying the entire Celestial Dao Academy, or even the whole of the East Hundred Cities!

”Your portal is about to open, and your Domain God is sensing the Void Gate!” Li Qiye said, his gaze sharpening.

The idea that Xiao Niqiu came from the Void Gate was just speculation from the Ten Thousand Forms True God. The Domain God, however, *did* come from the Void Gate. Unfortunately, it was very young when it emerged. Other than the Celestial Dao Academy’s ancestor who carried it out, not even the Domain God itself could explain its true relationship with the Void Gate.

Elder Daoist Peng said, ”That is indeed the case. The Domain God also predicted that the portal was bound to open. However, the portal has opened before, and it was never this agitated in the past. This time, it became so agitated it couldn’t even control itself. Now, the Domain God can only seal itself away to avoid demonic possession and the destruction of the Celestial Dao Academy.”

”For your Celestial Dao Academy, success is due to the Domain God, and perhaps your defeat will be as well.” Li Qiye gently shook his head. He mused for a moment before saying, ”It seems this time is different. Perhaps this is an opportunity to finally understand the secrets of your academy’s portal.”

Elder Daoist Peng sighed softly and said, ”My Junior Brothers have already discussed it and reached a decision. When the portal opens this time, we will open it to the entire world and allow anyone to enter.”

”What, you’ve heard some rumors as well?” Li Qiye couldn’t help but smile. ’There’s a reason the Celestial Dao Academy has survived for so long!’

Elder Daoist Peng grinned. ”Secrets never stay secret for long! It’s no great mystery that some people are plotting against the Celestial Dao Academy. Since they’re coming, we’ll just open our doors and welcome them as guests.”

”Your Celestial Dao Academy isn’t planning to make an example of their juniors, are you?” Li Qiye said, stroking his chin.

”That’s hard to say.” Elder Daoist Peng narrowed his eyes, a grin playing on his lips. ”The Celestial Dao Academy opening its doors to the world is generous enough. If some people still aren’t satisfied, then they shouldn’t blame us for raising the butcher’s blade!”

The Celestial Dao Academy was no assembly of saints, and they were certainly no pushovers. To have survived this long, the academy had fought through countless bloody wars. Though it usually presented itself as a place of learning, recruiting disciples from across the world to teach the Dao and answer their questions, it would not hesitate to unleash a bloodbath in all directions when necessary!

”Some have already gathered several Emperor Artifacts, and even an Immortal Emperor True Artifact has been brought out,” Elder Daoist Peng said with a sly grin. ”Heh, some people truly believe the Celestial Dao Academy is facing a catastrophe, that our doomsday has arrived. I wonder how many people want to take a bite of such a juicy prize! When the time comes, getting in will be easy, but getting out? That won’t be so simple.”

”So what’s your plan?” Li Qiye had already guessed most of it. ’Some of these old foxes have long since sensed that something is in the air. With disaster looming, the Celestial Dao Academy won’t just sit back and wait to be slaughtered.’

”Personally, I hope you don’t enter the portal. If those who covet the Celestial Dao Academy and the portal are unwilling to back down, then the inside of that portal will become an Asura’s slaughterhouse!” Elder Daoist Peng’s eyes turned cold; he was giving Li Qiye an advance warning.

Don’t be fooled by Elder Daoist Peng’s flippant demeanor. A man like him, who had weathered countless storms, was an absolutely decisive and ruthless killer once he took action.

”You intend to unleash a massacre inside the portal!” Li Qiye understood the Celestial Dao Academy’s plan. ’Trap them inside and then slaughter them.’

Li Qiye pondered for a moment, then shook his head. ”Perhaps the one who tied the bell is the one who must untie it. Your Domain God is restless. The true solution might very well lie inside the portal!”

”Trapping them to slaughter them is a measure of last resort,” Elder Daoist Peng said, shaking his head. ”What you say isn’t without reason, but the Domain God’s Lifespan is already dwindling. It would be very bad for it to leave the Time Blood Stone. If it enters the portal, the influence will be even greater. Should it truly fall into a demonic frenzy, no one will be able to help. As long as it remains in the Ancestral Land, the Supreme Divine Spell left by our ancestors can still suppress its Heart Demon!”

”The Domain God is the reason for your success, and it may also be the reason for your downfall,” Li Qiye said, shaking his head. ”You should have let the Domain God return to where it came from or pass away peacefully long ago. Artificially extending its life to this day was not necessarily a good thing!”

Elder Daoist Peng gave a bitter smile and offered a final reminder to Li Qiye. ”Brace yourself. A bloody battle is inevitable. No one who gets caught up in this storm can guarantee they’ll escape unscathed!”

Li Qiye chuckled and said nonchalantly, ”The one who won’t be escaping unscathed certainly won’t be me. But yes, a bloody battle is definitely unavoidable. Tell me, does your Celestial Dao Academy want to catch all your enemies in one net? To slaughter ten thousand foes at once and sweep through countless nations?”

”Slaughter ten thousand foes and sweep through countless nations!” Hearing Li Qiye’s words, Elder Daoist Peng’s gaze sharpened. He stared at Li Qiye, then broke into a grin. ”Now you must be joking. The Celestial Dao Academy has always been a promoter of peace. Why would we ever do something like that?”

”Old Daoist, drop the act. I know more about the Celestial Dao Academy’s true power and its past than you do. If the academy truly loved peace, it wouldn’t have survived to this day!” Li Qiye shot Elder Daoist Peng a sideways glance. ”I’m not messing around. We either solve this problem once and for all, or you can wait until your Domain God truly goes berserk and destroys the academy, and *then* you can try to face those powerful, ill-intentioned enemies...”

”...I know the Celestial Dao Academy has several other Old Undyings like you, but do you really think you can withstand wave after wave of fierce assaults? Especially when your Domain God is on the verge of a demonic rampage! When that happens, even if Ma Gu herself were to intervene, she might not be able to subdue a berserk Domain God. Think about it.”

Li Qiye’s words sent a chill down Elder Daoist Peng’s spine. He was an Old Undying who had lived for an immensely long time. One should never be fooled by his slovenly appearance; his Dao Practice was unfathomably deep, placing him at the Ancestor Level within the Celestial Dao Academy. Anyone else might have dismissed Li Qiye’s words, but he sensed their profound implications.

Elder Daoist Peng took a deep breath. He stared at Li Qiye for a long moment before speaking. ”This is no laughing matter. If we slaughter ten thousand foes, the Celestial Dao Academy will be making an enemy of the entire world!”

Li Qiye replied with utter composure, ”Has the Celestial Dao Academy ever been afraid of making an enemy of the world? Given your current situation, even if you don’t want to be enemies with the world, the world is determined to be your enemy! Your academy occupies this land; who doesn’t covet it? Now that disaster looms over you, everyone wants a piece of the pie! Who wouldn’t want a bite of such a juicy prize? Instead of waiting to slaughter your enemies when disaster is at your doorstep, it’s better to strike first and deal with them now!”

”Some Emperor Dynasty Ancient Countries are not to be trifled with, especially beings like their Guardian Gods!” Elder Daoist Peng said slowly. It was clear he was tempted.

Li Qiye scoffed, ”How many Guardian Gods have you ever seen gallivanting all over the world? And so what if one does come? I know your Domain God can’t fight right now. But if you first slaughter your myriad foes and then solve the Domain God’s problem... well, I don’t think I need to spell out the rest for you.”

Elder Daoist Peng fell silent. Li Qiye smiled and said, ”As for this matter, I can lend the Celestial Dao Academy a hand. First, I’ll need to borrow a few things from you. Second, I’m considering charging a small fee for my troubles. The real question is, do you have the authority to make this decision for the academy, and do you trust my abilities? If you can’t call the shots, then just forget it.”

”What’s your plan?” Elder Daoist Peng finally asked in a deep voice. ”As long as your demands are reasonable, everything is negotiable!” He had clearly accepted Li Qiye’s proposal: it was best to strike first.

”That’s more like it,” Li Qiye said, narrowing his eyes. ”Now, come and put on a show with me.” He flashed a brilliant smile, and beneath that sunny expression, his two rows of teeth seemed exceptionally white and bright.

As Elder Daoist Peng looked at Li Qiye’s dazzlingly white teeth and brilliant, sunny smile, he couldn’t explain why, but even an Old Undying like him, who had lived for ages, felt a bone-deep chill, as if a Fierce Beast had opened its bloody maw, ready to devour its prey.

When Li Qiye returned to the Great World Academy, Chi Xiaodie and her group of friends were still there. Dozens of girls were gathered in the hall, making for a lively scene. The air was filled with their melodious chatter and soft, playful tones. Each girl was dressed to the nines, each with her own unique charm, creating a truly beautiful picture.

The moment Li Qiye returned, the hall full of laughing girls fell silent. As they looked at him, not a single one of them spoke.

Before, Chi Xiaodie’s friends had teased Li Qiye. Back then, they had all thought he was just a cute, sharp-tongued brat. Some had even assumed he was Chi Xiaodie’s younger cousin, and they couldn’t help but poke fun at him.

Now, their impression of Li Qiye was completely different. This young man, who was younger than any of them, was far more terrifying than they could have imagined. Slaying Gui Fushu, provoking Ancestor Emperor Wu—such domineering arrogance! They never would have guessed that this young man possessed such horrifying power.

Without realizing it, the girls had developed a sense of awe toward the young man and no longer dared to tease him as they had before. In fact, after they had returned, the girls had asked Chi Xiaodie about Li Qiye’s background, but she had refused to discuss the matter.

”Xiaodie, we should get going,” the Princess from the neighboring country said to Chi Xiaodie, breaking the silence that had fallen after Li Qiye’s arrival.

Li Qiye didn’t try to make them stay. He simply smiled and said, ”Take care, ladies. Come visit again when you’re free.”

This time, the girls really didn’t dare to tease him. They said their goodbyes to Li Qiye and left, with Chi Xiaodie hurrying to see them out.

”Xiaodie, be honest with me. Is he really not your fiancé?” After the other girls had gone, the last to leave was the Princess from the neighboring country, who was a close friend of Chi Xiaodie.