Dominator Emperor

Chapter 76: The Siege (Part 2)

”Gu Tieshou is in peril. Even if Marquis Liezhan can’t unleash the full power of this Array Map, it’s still more than enough to slay Gu Tieshou.” Someone couldn’t help but shake their head as they spoke.

Seeing Gu Tieshou trapped within the Array Map, everyone in the Xiyan Ancient Sect was shocked. The expressions of the four great elders changed; this situation was not looking good for the sect.

However, everyone had underestimated Gu Tieshou’s strength. The battle lasted for three full days and nights. Although Gu Tieshou was trapped in the Ancient Saint’s Array Map, he borrowed the might of the Kunpeng’s Six Transformations to fight with impunity. While he failed to break out of the Yangshou Mountain and River Painting, it was not so easy for Marquis Liezhan to suppress and kill him within the Array Map either.

For a time, Gu Tieshou and Marquis Liezhan were locked in a stalemate within the Yangshou Mountain and River Painting, neither able to kill the other.

”Gu Tieshou was truly hiding his strength. I always thought he was at the Heroic Hero level, but I never expected him to be an experienced Prince!”

Everyone in the Xiyan Ancient Sect had their hearts in their throats. At this moment, only Gu Tieshou could hold the line for the sect. The Four Great Elders, with their Heroic Hero cultivation, were completely outmatched. Even if the four of them joined forces, it was doubtful they could contend with Marquis Liezhan.

The Xiyan Ancient Sect was facing a great catastrophe, a fact known to all its disciples. Li Qiye, who was being punished by facing a wall in the Ghost Tower, also knew. As the aura of a Prince flooded the sect, Li Qiye simply glanced up at the world outside his confinement.

Outside the Xiyan Ancient Sect, the great battle remained in a stalemate for five days and five nights. Gu Tieshou could not fight his way out of the Array Map, and Marquis Liezhan could not kill Gu Tieshou. Neither could do anything to the other. Gu Tieshou could not surrender, and Marquis Liezhan could not retreat. The two could only continue to wear each other down.

On the fifth night, all was quiet. The atmosphere in the Ghost Tower was particularly eerie. Li Qiye sat cross-legged in the main hall with his eyes closed in meditation, as if the great battle outside the Xiyan Ancient Sect had nothing to do with him.

The Ghost Tower was so silent, it seemed as if it were truly haunted. In the quiet of the night, after an unknown amount of time, a sudden gust of wind blew through. Li Qiye opened his eyes. He didn’t know when, but a person was now standing before him.

Li Qiye looked at the person standing before him, smiled, and said, ”Elder Cao, it’s so late. What are you doing here?”

The person standing before Li Qiye was none other than Cao Xiong, who was supposed to be recuperating from his injuries within the Xiyan Ancient Sect!

Cao Xiong looked at Li Qiye, a cold glint in his eyes, but his face wore a smile. He said cheerfully, ”Worthy Nephew, your talent is extraordinary. I have been entrusted by the elders to come and teach you the Day Heaven Technique.”

”The Day Heaven Technique?” Li Qiye couldn’t help but chuckle upon hearing this. ”Elder Cao, I’ve heard that the Day Heaven Technique is a derivative of our Xiyan Ancient Emperor’s Heavenly Destiny Secret Skill. It’s of great importance. Although it’s only a derivative technique, its status is even higher than Great Sage Techniques. I hear that teaching this technique requires the unanimous approval of all the elders.”

”My coming to teach you the Day Heaven Technique has the unanimous approval of all the elders,” Cao Xiong said hastily. ”The Xiyan Ancient Sect is facing a great catastrophe, and our First Brother is trapped in the Array Map. The elders need a miracle; they need the Heavenly Destiny Secret Skill to save the day. They hope you, Worthy Nephew, can summon the founder in a dream to bestow the Heavenly Destiny Secret Skill upon you.”

”Elder Cao, I’m afraid that won’t work,” Li Qiye said with some hesitation after hearing Cao Xiong’s words. ”Even if the founder imparts the technique in a dream, it might take three to five months.”

Cao Xiong said hurriedly, ”For now, just give it a try. See if you can summon the founder in a dream. If it doesn’t work, we’ll think of another way.”

”Alright, I’ll give it a try. I wonder, did Elder Cao bring the secret manual for the Day Heaven Technique?” Li Qiye also said quickly.

Cao Xiong took out a scroll and said, ”The situation is urgent. I didn’t bring the original secret manual for the Day Heaven Technique, but I brought you an old hand-copied scroll of it.”

Li Qiye took the secret manual and was about to open it, but he hesitated. He put the manual down, looked at Cao Xiong, and said, ”Elder Cao, I may only be a third-generation disciple, but I understand the gravity of the situation. The Heavenly Destiny Secret Skill is the very foundation of our Xiyan Ancient Sect. This matter is of the utmost importance, so I think I should meet with the other elders. It’s not that I doubt you, Elder Cao, but this is just too significant. I need to see the other elders and confirm that they all agree.”

”Worthy Nephew, this is a matter of life and death for the Xiyan Ancient Sect! The elders are outside fighting off a powerful enemy and cannot return for the moment. They could only entrust this task to me,” Cao Xiong said hurriedly, a look of anxiety on his face. Then, his eyes shifted. ”If you really must see the elders, how about this? I’ll take you to them.”

”That would be for the best.” Li Qiye nodded upon hearing this, but then he immediately shook his head. ”Elder Cao, I’m afraid that won’t do. I’m still being punished. I have to face the wall in the Ghost Tower for half a year. I can’t leave.”

”The Xiyan Ancient Sect is on the brink of destruction! The elders have already canceled your punishment. Worthy Nephew, we don’t have much time. Come with me, quickly,” Cao Xiong urged.

Li Qiye hesitated for a moment, but then shook his head again. ”Elder, that still won’t work. Guardian Mo is my overseer. If I am to leave this place, I must inform him first. How about this? Elder, please quickly fetch Guardian Mo, and I will leave with you both.”

”Enough of this nonsense!” Cao Xiong said impatiently. ”I said you’re coming with me, so you will come with me!”

Li Qiye looked at Cao Xiong and asked, ”Elder Cao, what is the meaning of this? I am only following standard procedure. As an Elder of the Xiyan Ancient Sect, you should know the correct procedures!”

”Cut the crap and come with me right now!” Cao Xiong’s gaze turned fierce, his eyes flashing with a vicious light. He said in a low voice, ”Are you going to walk on your own, or do I have to carry you?”

”Elder Cao... you weren’t sent by the other elders.” At this point, Li Qiye looked as if he had just realized something. He took a step back while clutching his guqin and said in feigned surprise.

”Heh, heh, so you’re not completely stupid!” Seeing that Li Qiye was suspicious, Cao Xiong dropped the pretense. He said sinisterly, ”If you know what’s good for you, you’ll come with me right now. Otherwise, I’ll take matters into my own hands and show you a world of hurt!”

At this, Li Qiye seemed to compose himself. He looked at Cao Xiong and said, ”So, Elder Cao, you want to seize the Heavenly Destiny Secret Skill? But even if the founder imparts it to me in a dream, I won’t give it to you.”

”Heh, heh, you don’t need to worry about that. Once I take you to a deserted place and lock you up, I’m not worried about you keeping your mouth shut!” Cao Xiong said with a wicked laugh.

”If I go missing, I’m afraid Guardian Mo will find out very quickly,” Li Qiye said, shaking his head.

Cao Xiong gave a sinister smile. ”And what if he does? Heh, heh, the Xiyan Ancient Sect is facing a disaster right now; everything’s a complete mess. The Ghost Tower area is completely unguarded. People will just think you took advantage of the chaos to escape. Heh, heh, and if a page or two of the hand-copied Day Heaven Technique’s Heart Technique were to be ’found’ here in the Ghost Tower, everyone would suspect you were a spy who infiltrated our sect for the Day Heaven Technique, for our Heavenly Destiny Secret Skill! Heh, at that point, Guardian Mo and the others would be considered your accomplices!”

”Elder Cao, you’re far too confident in your own schemes. Aren’t you afraid the other elders will see through your plot?” Li Qiye said, shaking his head.

”Heh, heh, the elders seeing through it? Heh, perhaps after this disaster, the Xiyan Ancient Sect will have a new Sect Leader. Heh, Gu Tieshou is trapped and will die in that Array Map. The sect needs a powerful elder to lead everyone in fighting back against our strong enemy! The current Sect Leader is weak and incompetent, hiding outside like a coward now that disaster has struck. So, I’m sure everyone in the Xiyan Ancient Sect will make a wise choice!” Thinking about how perfectly his plan was laid out, Cao Xiong couldn’t help but let out another sinister laugh.

”So, Elder Cao will be the new Sect Leader,” Li Qiye said with a small smile. ”Since you’re going to be the new Sect Leader, why the rush to seize the Heavenly Destiny Secret Skill now?”

”Less of your nonsense—” Cao Xiong’s gaze sharpened, and he grew agitated.

Li Qiye looked at Cao Xiong and chuckled. ”I see now. So you’re negotiating with someone. Is it Dong Shenglong, or is it Marquis Liezhan? It seems the person you’re dealing with won’t act without seeing a reward first. If you can’t produce the Heavenly Destiny Secret Skill, are they unwilling to withdraw their troops, or are they unwilling to help you seize power?”

”Nonsense! You’re coming with me!” Cao Xiong became extremely agitated, let out a sharp cry, and reached out to grab Li Qiye.

”Cao Xiong, to think the one betraying the sect was you!” Just then, a furious roar echoed as five people burst in from outside. It was the four great elders of the Xiyan Ancient Sect, along with Guardian Mo!

As Elder Sun and the others rushed in, Cao Xiong’s expression changed drastically. He took a step back, grabbed Li Qiye, and retreated into a corner.

Elder Sun, Elder Qian, Elder Zhou, and Elder Wu immediately surrounded Cao Xiong.

”Cao Xiong, you betrayed the Xiyan Ancient Sect and sold out the sect’s Emperor Technique! How can you face our ancestors?” Elder Qian roared.

Cao Xiong’s face went pale, his expression a mixture of shock and disbelief. ”You... how are you all here? Weren’t you outside the mountain gates?” he stammered in horror.

”Elder Cao, I’ve been watching your every move! Your little act with Marquis Liezhan was quite convincing—you even fooled the other elders. But you didn’t fool me,” Guardian Mo said in a low voice.

Cao Xiong’s expression turned impossibly grim. He had planned to take advantage of the Xiyan Ancient Sect’s undefended interior to abduct Li Qiye. He had intended to do it without a soul knowing, but he never thought Guardian Mo would be watching him.

”Cao Xiong, it’s not too late to surrender,” Elder Wu shouted.

”To the victor go the spoils. There’s nothing more to say. If you know what’s good for you, clear a path for me! Otherwise, I’ll crush your little treasure’s skull. Without him, you’ll never find the Heavenly Destiny Secret Skill again!” Cao Xiong snarled.

Seeing Cao Xiong’s five fingers clamped around Li Qiye’s skull, Elder Sun and the others’ faces fell. They couldn’t help but exchange a look.

”So he’s the key to the Heavenly Destiny Secret Skill!” At that very moment, a calm and steady voice rang out.