Dominator Emperor

”The Treasure of the Gods was left for the descendants of the Human Race. You are but a commoner; how could you possibly covet it all for yourself!” Sheng Tian Heaven Daoist said, his words flowing with sanctimonious grace. ”If you take this treasure for yourself, not only will you bring death upon yourself, but you will also invite the annihilation of your Xiyan Ancient Sect! A wise man knows how to adapt to the circumstances. Take one share of the treasure and leave the rest. Brother Qingxuan and I can guarantee your safe departure!”

”Pah—” Chen Baojiao spat disdainfully. ”So this is a ’favored son of Heaven’? You’re nothing but a hypocritical, cowardly rat. Trying to steal someone’s treasure while dressing it up in such righteous words. Could anyone be more shameless!”

Being called out by Chen Baojiao, Sheng Tian Heaven Daoist’s face alternated between red and pale. However, he just let out a cold snort, his arrogance undiminished.

”My patience is limited. Hand over the Divine King’s Artifact at once, or you will bear the consequences.” Qingxuan Tianzi’s aura turned aggressive, his impatience clear.

Li Qiye started to laugh. Even facing the entire world, he remained relaxed and at ease. ”And what if I don’t hand over the treasure?” he said.

”Die—” Qingxuan Tianzi had only one word. The moment it left his lips, a murderous aura, as sharp and cold as steel, erupted forth.

”If you don’t hand over the treasure, you’ll be making an enemy of the world, and everyone will have the right to kill you!” an expert shouted, fanning the flames.

Who didn’t want a piece of the treasure? Who wasn’t drooling with greed? An Emperor roared, ”Hand over the treasure at once, or you’re courting death! Making an enemy of the world will not end well for you!”

”An enemy of the world? To be killed by all? Oh, I’m so very scared.” Li Qiye laughed and patted his chest. Then, narrowing his eyes, he smiled at the crowd and said, ”An enemy of the world? The world? You think *you* people represent the world? You’re a bunch of nobodies! So what if I become an enemy of the world? Those who oppose me will be killed without mercy!”

”Young man, such arrogant words!” Master Situ stepped forward, a smile on his face that didn’t reach his eyes. ”Don’t think you’re invincible just because you possess a mere Emperor’s Treasure,” he said genially. ”Even the Qingxuan Ancient Country, even Qingxuan Tianzi, could crush you with ease. When it comes to Emperor’s Treasures and Emperor Artifacts, can your Xiyan Ancient Sect even compare to the Qingxuan Ancient Country?”

This old fox, Master Situ, was truly cunning. With a single sentence, he both threatened Li Qiye and roped the Qingxuan Ancient Country into the conflict, leaving them no room to back out.

”I was practically raised on fear,” Li Qiye said with a broad smile. ”So what about the Qingxuan Ancient Country? Are they going to bite me? What if I simply refuse to hand over the treasure?”

”Young people are so impulsive, with no sense of the world’s immensity,” Master Situ said, his lips smiling but his eyes cold. ”It would be a real shame if something... unfortunate... were to happen to you.” As he spoke, he took a step forward, the aura of a True Master erupting from him like a tidal wave.

Without a doubt, Master Situ was threatening Li Qiye. He had made it perfectly clear: if Li Qiye didn’t hand over the treasure, death was his only path.

”Just how many True Masters did your Treasure Sacred Upper Country bring?” Before Li Qiye could act, his old servant let out a cold snort and stepped forward, his Blood Qi surging like a torrential tide! The might of a True Master shot toward the heavens as he stood in front of Li Qiye.

”So it’s Elder Shi of the Chen Family. Elder Shi, you haven’t been seen in the world for so long, why must you get involved in these muddy waters now? Even if you can match me, can you possibly match Elder Guan from the Qingxuan Ancient Country?” Master Situ said with that same cold smile.

As he spoke, Master Situ glanced at the old man in the felt hat standing beside Qingxuan Tianzi. His meaning was obvious: if their two sects were to join forces, Qingxuan needed to show some sincerity!

The moment this old man stepped forward, his presence changed completely. He was as imposing as a Giant Peak, an immovable bulwark like an iron chain across a river or a reef against the tide. Although he was suppressing his aura and sealing his Dao Practice, his mere presence was still suffocatingly oppressive.

As this old man stepped out, even the old servant’s eyes narrowed. He felt an immense threat and knew he was facing an enemy far stronger than himself.

”A suppressed Ancient Saint,” Niu Fen commented, his eyes fixed on the old man as he chuckled.

”An Ancient Saint—” At this, countless people shivered internally. In the Tough Dao Era, countless brilliant prodigies had their cultivation journey halted before the Ancient Saint realm. To become an Ancient Saint in such an age was to be an incredible figure!

”Young Master Li, life is precious. Take a step back, and you will find a vast world before you,” Elder Guan said in a deep voice.

”An Ancient Saint...” Li Qiye said with a wide grin. ”You suppressed your Dao Practice to get in here. Be careful of the Emperor’s Punishment. When it descends, unless you’re an Immortal Emperor, complete annihilation is the only outcome.”

Demon’s Back Ridge had once been refined by Mingren Immortal Emperor. Outsiders who wished to enter had to be below the Ancient Saint realm; otherwise, they would be denied entry. Mingren Immortal Emperor did this to protect the resources within Demon’s Back Ridge, preventing future generations of the Xiyan Ancient Sect from excessively plundering it and leaving nothing for later disciples to hunt.

Although only cultivators below the Ancient Saint Realm could enter Demon’s Back Ridge, some people resorted to trickery. They would use special methods to suppress their Dao Practice to a level below Ancient Saint, allowing them to sneak in.

However, sneaking in this way was also dangerous. If they revealed their true Dao Practice, they would be suppressed by the Ridge’s laws. In severe cases, it would even trigger the Emperor’s Punishment, and when the Emperor’s Punishment descended, it was a terrifying affair.

Elder Guan’s eyes blazed with Divine Light, his aura overwhelming. ”That is no concern for Young Master Li. Heed my advice and hand over the Divine King’s Artifact, lest you make a fatal mistake.”

”A fatal mistake?” Li Qiye looked at everyone, a slow, deliberate smile spreading across his face. ”I have a bad habit. When others want to make an enemy of me, my blood starts to boil, and I can’t help but sharpen my blades. Since you mentioned making a fatal mistake, fine. I happen to enjoy making fatal mistakes.”

With that, Li Qiye called his old servant back to his side. He pointed a finger at Elder Guan. ”You, you, you, and you. And all of you.” He casually pointed to Sheng Tian Heaven Daoist, Qingxuan Tianzi, and everyone else. He then said nonchalantly, ”Who the hell do you think you are? The Divine King’s Artifact? The Treasure of the Gods? Let’s not even talk about whether I have them or not. Even if I did, I wouldn’t give them to you. Make an enemy of the world? That’s exactly the kind of thing I love to do. The Qingxuan Ancient Country? In my eyes, it’s nothing but a pile of scrap metal! Since you all want to steal my treasure, get your asses up here! I’ll take on all of you by myself!”

These words of unparalleled arrogance made everyone laugh. Sheng Tian Heaven Daoist took a step forward and sneered, ”You ignorant little brat, what shameless boasting. Just you? I can kill you with a single hand!”

”Oh? You, the pretty boy? Take a good look at yourself. You didn’t even dare to save your own fiancée when she was in trouble. A cowardly, hypocritical bastard like you has the nerve to call himself a genius of the Great Middle Realm? In my opinion, you’re more like a moron,” Li Qiye said, shooting a disdainful glance at Sheng Tian Heaven Daoist before bursting into laughter.

Li Qiye’s words made Sheng Tian Heaven Daoist’s face turn livid. He roared, ”You little animal, I’ll tear you apart!” With a furious shout, he sent a chopping attack with his bare hand.

”Get lost—” Before Li Qiye could even move, Li Shuangyan struck out with her sword. With a CLANG, a single sword strike forced Sheng Tian Heaven Daoist back. The devastatingly beautiful Li Shuangyan gave him a frosty look and said icily, ”A gutless rat dares to call himself a genius?”

Scorned by Li Shuangyan like this, Sheng Tian Heaven Daoist trembled with rage. His face turned a ghastly shade of purple, an absolutely hideous sight.

”Enough nonsense! Hand over the Divine King’s Artifact, and I’ll spare your life!” Qingxuan Tianzi stepped forward impatiently. Azure energy surged to the heavens, making him look like a young Emperor.

Li Qiye glanced sideways at him. ”Spare my life? Do you really think you’re your ancestor, the Three-blade Immortal Emperor, or the Qingxuan Immortal Emperor? Even if your ancestors, the Three-blade and Qingxuan Immortal Emperors, were to meet me, they wouldn’t dare speak so brazenly to this grandpa!”

”Die—” Qingxuan Tianzi roared. The azure energy around him instantly formed a giant palm that shot toward Li Qiye with an invincible momentum.

”Get lost—” With a sharp cry, a Holy Lotus bloomed. BANG! Li Shuangyan intervened, forcefully blocking Qingxuan Tianzi’s attack. In that instant, her Pure Body manifested. Immortal Light pulsed around her, exuding an unparalleled holiness. She was invulnerable to the Ten Thousand Techniques, impervious to all things! Giant lotus petals unfurled, seemingly propping up the eternal heavens, making her look like a Banished Immortal from the Nine Heavens.

”So what if you’re called the number one genius of the Great Middle Realm? I will fight you!” Li Shuangyan stepped forward, her presence utterly domineering. Icy and cold, she resembled a plum blossom on a snowy peak, her bearing peerless.

”Alright, alright, Shuangyan. I already said I’d take on the world by myself. If we gang up on them, it won’t look good when the story gets out,” Li Qiye said calmly, pulling Li Shuangyan back.

At this point, Li Qiye looked at everyone and said leisurely, ”Since you all want to steal my treasure, I have no choice but to slaughter every last one of you. If we go one-on-one, you’ll just say I’m bullying you, right? So come at me together. Qingxuan Tianzi, Sheng Tian Heaven Daoist... in my eyes, you’re all less than dog shit. This grandpa can slaughter all of you with one hand.”

”This insolent bastard! Let’s charge up there and tear him limb from limb!” Li Qiye’s outrageously arrogant words infuriated everyone. Someone roared in anger.

”That’s right! Tear the little brat to pieces, and we’ll share the treasure!” At this, the cultivators who had been surrounding them from behind all rushed forward, their killing intent and auras soaring.

”Since you’re so eager to die, I shall grant you your wish!” Qingxuan Tianzi’s gaze turned cold. He took a step forward, and his azure energy billowed out, as boundless as a Vast Sea.

It wasn’t just Qingxuan Tianzi who stepped forward. Elder Guan, Master Situ, and Sheng Tian Heaven Daoist all advanced as well. They instantly formed a pincer formation, planning to snatch the treasure first before anyone else could take advantage of the chaos.

At this moment, Qingxuan Tianzi and the others didn’t just plan to seize the treasure; they intended to take down Li Qiye and his entire group, including Li Shuangyan!

”Wait—” Just as Qingxuan Tianzi and the others took another step forward, about to strike and capture Li Qiye’s group, Li Qiye suddenly shouted.

”If you have any last words, now is the time to say them,” Sheng Tian Heaven Daoist said coldly.

Li Qiye smiled and said leisurely, ”No last words. As I said, I’m taking on the world by myself. It wouldn’t be fair for all of us to be up here. To prevent you from saying I’m bullying you with numbers, I’ll have them step back first.” He waved his hand as he spoke.