Dominator Emperor

Li Qiye was eating at an inn in Du City. At the table next to him, a group of more than ten people—men and women, old and young—were also dining.

”Ha, if we enter Fengdu City this time, we might just find the legendary Mountain Treasure! If we do, our Snow Shadow Ghost Clan will surely rise!” Among the group, a sturdy-looking young man exclaimed with an excited laugh.

Everyone at the table, regardless of age or gender, shared a distinct feature: their hair was snow-white.

But that wasn’t the strangest part. What was truly bizarre was that when sunlight hit them, the shadows they cast on the ground were also snow-white.

White shadows. Such a sight might make one’s skin crawl, but in the Ghost Sacred Realm, a place teeming with the Ghost Race, it wasn’t considered particularly horrifying.

Clearly, this group of old and young belonged to the same clan: the Snow Shadow Ghost Clan. Just as their name suggested, their shadows were as white as snow.

The Snow Shadow Ghost Clan was a minor clan whose territory was in the Du City area. Their strength was meager, but legend had it that they were once powerful in a long-forgotten era. As for how powerful, not even the current Snow Shadow Ghost Clan knew; too much time had passed.

At the mention of Fengdu City, the youths at the table grew excited and eager. Another young man said, ”Hey, Fengdu City is a land of treasures! Even Immortal Emperors often go there. We might just strike it rich this time.”

The prospect of going to Fengdu City made the group of youths more excited than anyone. However, an elder at the same table poured cold water on their enthusiasm. He looked quite old, but his eyes were exceptionally bright, like morning stars in a dark sky. He shook his head and said, ”Don’t get your hopes up. We’re only going to try our luck. As for so-called treasures, don’t even think about it. Every year, if not a million, then hundreds of thousands of people enter Fengdu City. Forget about legendary Divine Objects; very few people even obtain ordinary treasures. This trip is mainly for you all to gain some experience.”

”Hey, Elder Zhi, can’t you stop pouring cold water on us?” The sturdy young man who had spoken first said with an optimistic laugh. ”Elder Zhi, what if I obtain the legendary Mountain Treasure? From then on, I, Peng Zhuang, will transform into an Immortal Emperor! This era will be my era!”

”With that oafish look of yours, you think you can become an Immortal Emperor?” Elder Zhi mercilessly crushed his optimism. ”And as for the Mountain Treasure, you can forget it. Legend says no one has seen it since the beginning of time, to say nothing of a brat like you.”

The young man named Peng Zhuang just chuckled. Even so, his optimism and enthusiasm were unshaken, and he continued to chat excitedly with the other youths about Fengdu City.

At first, Li Qiye paid them no mind. In the Netherworld, and indeed the entire Ghost Sacred Realm, people entered Fengdu City every day. Every day, people shared the same dream as this young man, Peng Zhuang, all yearning to one day obtain the legendary Mountain Treasure from the city.

The youths at the table chatted on, their conversation eventually shifting from Fengdu City to something that had happened a few days ago: the day the entire Ghost Sacred Realm was suddenly plunged into darkness.

”I heard a Demon was born,” one said. As the youths discussed the event, their theories grew wilder and wilder, covering every possibility.

”It wasn’t a Demon being born. I heard the Celestial Mandate died. Ever since the Black Dragon King tore the Celestial Mandate, Azure Heaven has been on its last breath. That darkness was Azure Heaven finally dying.”

”Tch, what nonsense are you spouting? There’s no such thing as Azure Heaven. I think a Demon being born makes more sense.” The youths began to argue.

”Heh, you’re all wrong,” the sturdy youth, Peng Zhuang, said mysteriously. ”Heh, the way I see it, something invincible came out of the First Evil Tomb. When the sky went dark, I definitely saw a gigantic hand reach out from inside the First Evil Tomb.”

”Peng the Braggart, you’re spinning tales again, aren’t you?” The other youths at his table laughed and shook their heads. ”What giant hand? We were all together that day and saw no such thing. Besides, the First Evil Tomb hasn’t been opened in tens of thousands of years. How could a giant hand possibly come out?”

”It’s true!” Peng Zhuang grew anxious and quickly said, ”The instant the sky went dark, I really did see a giant hand reach out from the First Evil Tomb.”

The moment Li Qiye heard this, his expression changed. ’This is exactly the information I was looking for! If what Peng Zhuang says is true, then my guess was correct.’

”Peng Zhuang, stop talking nonsense.” At that moment, a voice rang out—crisp and pleasant, yet carrying a hint of authority.

The speaker was a woman at the same table. She appeared to be in her thirties, her entire being exuding a mature charm, like a ripe peach ready to be plucked.

At around thirty years of age, she possessed a full-figured, mature allure. Her snow-white hair lent her an air of authority. She was tall, with a high, full bust and a slender waist that one could wrap their hands around.

Her features were beautiful and captivating. While not the kind of beauty that could topple nations, she was as lovely as a spring blossom. When her expression was stern, she radiated an aura of dignified nobility.

The woman had the distinct charm of a young matron, enough to make anyone’s eyes light up. Her mature, alluring presence was enough to make one’s heart skip a beat.

The moment this woman spoke, the young man named Peng Zhuang immediately shut his mouth. He stuck out his tongue and said with a laugh, ”Clan Leader, I was just joking.”

The woman said no more. Her stern expression indeed carried a daunting solemnity. The other youths at the table immediately changed the subject and began chatting about other things.

Hearing their conversation from the side, Li Qiye knew he had found the right people. Now, the only thing he needed to confirm was whether Peng Zhuang’s claim was true.

”Fellow Daoists, this junior pays his respects.” Li Qiye stood up, walked over to their table, and bowed with a wide smile.

As the saying goes, you don’t slap a smiling face. Seeing Li Qiye’s politeness, the members of the Snow Shadow Ghost Clan returned the courtesy. The Snow Shadow Ghost Clan was not a major clan, and they lacked the arrogance often found in larger clans.

”This junior, Li Qiye, is from Nanyao Yun. I came to the Eastern Netherworld to broaden my horizons and travel a bit. I’ve heard legends that Fengdu City is full of mystery, and I happened to overhear you Fellow Daoists discussing it. So, I wanted to ask how one gets there,” Li Qiye said with a cheerful smile. Polite and courteous, he looked like a well-behaved young man.

”What a coincidence, we’re also heading to Fengdu City!” the outspoken Peng Zhuang quickly said. ”Why don’t you come with us? It’ll be livelier with more company.”

”Peng Zhuang…” The quiet Clan Leader, who had been sitting to the side, said in a low voice.

But Li Qiye acted before she could object. He immediately bowed to the female Clan Leader and said with a grin, ”Then this junior will brazenly impose upon the Clan Leader’s group. I am new to the Eastern Netherworld and unfamiliar with the land and its people. I hope the Clan Leader will look after me in the future. This junior would be endlessly grateful.”

The female Clan Leader couldn’t help but frown. As the Clan Leader, she was naturally wary of a member of the Human Race with an unknown background suddenly joining their group.

”This junior is Li Qiye. May I ask how I should address you, my Brother Daos?” Li Qiye said with great enthusiasm, trying his best to ingratiate himself.

Peng Zhuang of the Snow Shadow Ghost Clan was also an outspoken person. Since Li Qiye was polite and enthusiastic, it wasn’t long before he and Li Qiye were calling each other brothers, acting as if they had known each other for a long time.

The other youths weren’t very guarded against Li Qiye either. After all, they were a small clan; making another friend wasn’t a bad thing.

The older generation, like Elder Zhi, didn’t say much. Only the Clan Leader remained cautious, though she showed no open displeasure toward Li Qiye.

After getting familiar with Peng Zhuang and the others, Li Qiye also learned the names of the elders, including the female Clan Leader, whose name was Qiu Rong Wanxue.

Although the Snow Shadow Ghost Clan was just a small clan, it was a clan nonetheless. The fact that Qiu Rong Wanxue had become the Clan Leader at only thirty years of age spoke volumes about her strength. She was considered one of the top experts within the Snow Shadow Ghost Clan.

Despite being a woman who became Clan Leader at thirty, she was deeply loved and respected by the clan’s disciples. Even the older generation fully approved of her, believing she had the potential to become a Saint Emperor in the future.

Before long, Li Qiye had hit it off with Peng Zhuang and the others. When they finished their meal and set off for Fengdu City, Li Qiye shamelessly tagged along.

The younger members like Peng Zhuang were quite happy to have Li Qiye with them. As Clan Leader, however, Qiu Rong Wanxue couldn’t help but remain vigilant. In the end, though, Qiu Rong Wanxue didn’t drive him away and allowed him to accompany their group to Fengdu City.

Standing outside Fengdu City, Peng Zhuang and the other youths were ecstatic, eager to rush in.

”Ha, Fengdu City, here I come! The Mountain Treasure belongs to me!” Peng Zhuang shouted excitedly from outside the city walls.

Li Qiye laughed, pointed to the distant First Evil Tomb, and said with a smile, ”Legend says the First Evil Tomb has even more treasures. It might even have the fabled Immortality Technique.”

”Heh, once I find the key, I’ll definitely go in!” Peng Zhuang said, his excitement reignited.

”I’m afraid that will be difficult,” Li Qiye said, shaking his head. ”I’ve heard that no one has opened the First Evil Tomb for a very long time. For tens of thousands of years, it hasn’t changed at all.”

”Who says it hasn’t changed?” Peng Zhuang retorted, unconvinced. ”I saw it change during the day of darkness! The instant the sky went black, I saw a giant hand reach out from the First Evil Tomb!”

”There goes Peng Zhuang, bragging again,” his companions laughed and shook their heads. ”We were all together that day, how come none of us saw it?”