Dominator Emperor

After Li Qiye took his seat, he got straight to the point. ”I wonder about the purpose of Your Majesty’s visit. Could it be for the gateway of the Celestial Dao Academy? If so, Your Majesty, please take my advice and return. The dangers here are beyond what you can anticipate. This is likely not a fortuitous encounter, but a great calamity. In the end, it’s uncertain who will even leave here alive.”

The Lion Roar Emperor was stunned for a moment. After recovering, he shook his head and said, ”Young Master Li, you’ve misunderstood. Our Lion Roar Country has come in full force this time not for the gateway’s opportunities, but to aid the Celestial Dao Academy.”

”Aid the Celestial Dao Academy?” Li Qiye was actually surprised to hear this.

The Lion Roar Emperor gave a bitter smile and said, ”This is my father’s wish. The Celestial Dao Academy has helped our Lion Roar Sect a great deal. My father received a great favor from the academy when he entered it to search for our ancestor’s legacy. Now that the Celestial Dao Academy is in trouble, my father wishes for us to aid them and do what little we can.”

”The Lion Roar Saint Emperor has come out of seclusion?” Li Qiye was surprised. ”If that’s the case, I’d like to meet him.”

The Lion Roar Emperor said, ”My father came out of seclusion just a few days ago. He is inside the Ancient Pavilion. If Young Master Li wishes to see my father, I’m afraid you’ll have to wait a while. From what he said, he is adjusting his physique’s condition.”

”The Body Technique your father obtained is still incomplete.” The moment Li Qiye heard this, he understood. The Lion Roar Saint Emperor was a descendant of the Overlord Immortal Lion King. Unfortunately, their family’s inherited Immortal Body Technique had been lost. The Lion Roar Saint Emperor had once returned to the Celestial Dao Academy to trace his ancestor’s footsteps, and without a doubt, he must have found something.

The Lion Roar Emperor gave a dry laugh and said, ”Only my father knows the details of that. Once he leaves the pavilion, perhaps Young Master Li could speak with him.”

The Lion Roar Saint Emperor had also come this time, but he had arrived within the Ancient Pavilion and hadn’t met with any outsiders. In fact, aside from the elders, none of the other Lion Roar Sect disciples even knew their Elder Ancestor had come out of seclusion.

Li Qiye nodded. ”However, as for aiding the Celestial Dao Academy... in my opinion, just forget it. You should just be spectators. If the situation turns sour, just hurry back.” ’He didn’t want the Lion Roar Sect to ruin his grand plan. He was just waiting for the fish to take the bait.’

”What do you mean, Young Master Li?” The Lion Roar Emperor couldn’t help but ponder after hearing Li Qiye’s words.

Li Qiye shook his head and said, ”The true depth of the Celestial Dao Academy is beyond Your Majesty’s imagination. Every one of its Elder Ancestors is a being capable of burning the heavens and boiling the seas. The academy is unfathomable. To them, what are Great Sect Ancestors or sealed Old Undyings? Even legendary experts aren’t necessarily a big deal. The academy can even hold its own when facing an Immortal existence...”

”...To put it bluntly, even with the full power of the Lion Roar Country, it would only be a drop in the bucket during this great calamity. Getting involved might bring a sect-destroying disaster upon your Lion Roar Sect. I’m sure the Celestial Dao Academy will remember the Lion Roar Sect’s righteous intentions.”

’Of course, Li Qiye didn’t want the Lion Roar Sect to ruin his and the Celestial Dao Academy’s plans. When the time comes, he wouldn’t have the spare capacity to save them.’

”Well...” The Lion Roar Emperor pondered for a moment, then said to Li Qiye, ”I will relay Young Master Li’s words to my father. He is a reasonable man; he will make his own judgment.”

Although Li Qiye’s words were harsh, they were also true. To this day, no one knew just how powerful the Celestial Dao Academy truly was.

”Reporting, Your Majesty, an Elder from the Nu Xian Sacred Country has arrived with his disciple, Sima Longyun.” Just then, a disciple hurried in to report to the Lion Roar Emperor.

Hearing this news, the Lion Roar Emperor’s heart sank. ”What is it about?” he asked.

The disciple hesitated, glancing at Chi Xiaodie and then at Li Qiye, unable to speak for a moment. The Lion Roar Emperor ordered, ”Speak freely.”

”I’m afraid... I’m afraid they’ve come to propose a marriage. The Elder’s party is large and grand, and they’ve brought lavish gifts,” the disciple stammered.

The Lion Roar Emperor’s heart sank. ’So the day has finally come. This was the one thing he had hoped to avoid. If the two youths were in love, that would be one thing. Marrying into the Nu Xian Sacred Country would be a great honor for the Lion Roar Sect, but as a father, he knew his daughter didn’t want this marriage! He wouldn’t force her, but he also knew this matter was far from simple.’

”Let them in,” Li Qiye said slowly with a smile from his high seat. ”The Nu Xian Sacred Country is certainly enthusiastic. I wonder, are they here for the beauty, or for the Ultimate Skill!”

Chi Xiaodie remained silent, saying nothing. The Lion Roar Emperor sighed inwardly and gave the order, ”Show the Elder and Young Master Sima in.”

Soon, Sima Longyun’s party was shown in. As they entered, they brought in box after box of precious betrothal gifts. This time, Sima Longyun had come with his master. This Elder was an Ancient Saint, and a Great Saint at that. His Blood Qi was vast and profound, and his Lifespan was abundant and vigorous. He was indeed a powerful figure. If no Saint Venerables or Saint Emperors made an appearance, he could stand at the very peak of the current generation.

Box after box of precious betrothal gifts was carried in. As one Treasure Box after another was opened, an immense treasured aura erupted forth, pulsing with Divine Light. The lavishness of the gifts was astonishing: Divine Iron Treasure Gold, Holy Stone Ancient Copper, Spiritual Elixirs and Herbs... they had everything one could possibly wish for.

After Sima Longyun entered and saw Li Qiye was also present, his expression immediately darkened, and he let out a cold snort.

”Brother Chi, your esteemed daughter and my disciple were childhood sweethearts. As the saying goes, a man must marry and a woman must wed when they come of age, and both have reached that age. My disciple is also deeply in love with Miss Chi. Today, I have come brazenly to your door to propose this marriage.” Sima Longyun’s master, the Elder, held a pivotal position in the Nu Xian Sacred Country.

This matter gave the Lion Roar Emperor a headache. The Nu Xian Sacred Country’s desire to marry his daughter was far from simple. Rumors had long circulated that the Nu Xian Sacred Country’s Immortal Body Technique was incomplete and that they were searching for a way to perfect it. The Lion Roar Sect was undoubtedly one of the Nu Xian Saint Sect’s targets.

”A marriage is a lifelong affair for our children, so it should be their decision. It still depends on my daughter’s wishes,” the Lion Roar Emperor said helplessly.

The Elder quickly replied, ”Brother Chi, you are mistaken. A man must marry and a woman must wed. When parents arrange a marriage, how can the children dare to disobey? The two of them were childhood sweethearts and are mutually in love. This matter only requires a single word from you, Brother Chi. Moreover, our Saint Emperor has already said that if the marriage takes place, he and the Elder Ancestor will personally preside over the wedding. This would be a great blessing, not just for the young couple, but also a rare opportunity for the Lion Roar Sect.”

At this point, Sima Longyun also stood up, bowed to the Lion Roar Emperor, and said, ”Uncle, Xiaodie and I are deeply in love. I hope that you will...”

Sima Longyun’s words made Chi Xiaodie tremble with anger. Her face flushed red as she glared, about to rush forward, but Li Qiye stopped her. He said slowly, ”Before you spout any more nonsense, why don’t you go take a piss and look at your own reflection? Someone like you still dares to speak so shamelessly!”

Li Qiye’s words instantly made Sima Longyun’s face flush red with rage. Sima Longyun’s master, the Elder, felt his eyes turn cold as killing intent surged. ”Who are you!” he said coldly.

Li Qiye didn’t even raise an eyelid. He said slowly, ”Who I am is not important. But I can tell you this: your Nu Xian Sacred Country wants a marriage alliance? Not a chance. Whether your Nu Xian Saint Sect came for Xiaodie, the Immortal Body Technique, or something else, you had better give up that notion right now!”

”You insolent junior who doesn’t know your place!” the Elder snorted coldly. ”Since when is a major affair of the Lion Roar Country for a wet-behind-the-ears Little Ghost like you to decide!”

Li Qiye couldn’t even be bothered to glance at him. ”I don’t need to make decisions for the Lion Roar Country,” he said. ”But for the people by my side, I’m the one who calls the shots. Right now, Chi Girl is under my protection, which makes her my person. Don’t you dare get any ideas about her, Nu Xian Sacred Country!”

Chi Xiaodie, who had been seething with rage at Sima Longyun’s nonsensical claims, was stunned for a moment. Her face then turned completely red, and her heart began to pound like a frightened fawn. At that moment, she completely forgot her earlier anger. In that instant, her heart melted. To her, just hearing those words made everything worth it.

Unconsciously, Chi Xiaodie’s face was beet red. She lowered her head, her fingers gently twisting the corner of her robes. It was as if she hadn’t heard anything else that had been said, only his words.

Li Qiye’s words made the expressions of Sima Longyun and the Elder turn extremely sour. The Elder’s face grew cold as he said, ”Brother Chi, are you really going to let a wet-behind-the-ears junior spout such nonsense about your esteemed daughter’s affairs? This concerns her very reputation!”

The Lion Roar Emperor was also getting a major headache. He shook his head and said, ”To be honest with you, Elder, even I, her father, cannot be the one to decide this. It is best to let my daughter decide for herself.” At this, he looked at Chi Xiaodie and said, ”Xiaodie, yes or no, you make the call.”

At this moment, Sima Longyun and the others couldn’t help but look at Chi Xiaodie. Pulled from her moment of private happiness, Chi Xiaodie came back to her senses. She took a deep breath, glanced deeply at Li Qiye, who sat calmly in the main seat, then lifted her head and said in a firm voice, ”I will not marry him. I appreciate the Nu Xian Sacred Country’s offer, but I must decline.”

The moment Chi Xiaodie spoke, Sima Longyun’s expression became utterly foul. He had an extremely high opinion of himself. He hailed from the Nu Xian Sacred Country, was a cultivation genius, and had already achieved great things in the King and Marquis Realm. No matter where he went, he was always the center of attention. And yet today, he had come to propose marriage, only to be flatly rejected.

”On what grounds is this Little Ghost worthy of you?” Sima Longyun couldn’t swallow his pride. He jumped forward and said sharply, ”Don’t be a fool! You’ve been deceived by this little bastard! Xiaodie, you and I are a match made in heaven. Marrying into my Nu Xian Sacred Country would be a glorious honor, and our families are perfectly matched...”