Dominator Emperor

”Of course. Otherwise, why would I have traded the Nine Ancient Languages for it? If it were just an Emperor’s Treasure, it wouldn’t have been worth the Nine Ancient Languages,” Li Qiye said with a smile.

Chen Baojiao’s expression changed. She couldn’t help but say, ”But Shopkeeper Gu said this was something Jiao Heng Immortal Emperor bestowed upon their ancestors. Could that be a lie?”

Li Qiye shook his head. ”No, that part isn’t a lie. This item was indeed bestowed by Jiao Heng Immortal Emperor, but it’s not an Emperor’s Treasure. It is Immortal Order Paper.”

”What is Immortal Order Paper?” Li Shuangyan couldn’t help but ask. If these three sheets of Yellow Paper weren’t Emperor’s Treasures, then as far as she could tell, there was nothing precious about them whatsoever.

Li Qiye took the three sheets of Yellow Paper in his hands, caressing them lightly. Finally, he spoke, ”When an Immortal Order appears, gods and demons retreat. Nine papers of the Order, a gift from Azure Heaven.”

Hearing Li Qiye say this, Li Shuangyan and Chen Baojiao couldn’t help but glance at each other. No wonder three sheets of paper were more precious than an Emperor’s Treasure. Immortal Order Paper was indeed a grand and imposing name.

”In fact, the Gu Family’s descendants have all misunderstood their ancestors’ intentions,” Li Qiye said with a smile. ”The Gu Family’s ancestor did indeed do Jiao Heng Immortal Emperor a great favor, and in return, he was gifted nine sheets of Immortal Order Paper. In that era, the ancestor used up six of them. You could say that once an Immortal Order Paper was produced, no request was too great. After the remaining three were passed down, the Gu Family’s later generations regarded them as a symbol of glory. They mistakenly believed this was an Emperor Paper from Jiao Heng Immortal Emperor and thought that as long as they presented it, the Immortal Emperor would grant their family any request. It’s a pity the ancestor died a bit too early and didn’t get to explain the Immortal Order Paper clearly. Otherwise, I’m afraid even these last three sheets would have been used up by now.”

’Immortal Order Paper... In a distant era, as the Yin Ya, he had seen it once before. Unfortunately, things were rushed back then, and Jiao Heng Immortal Emperor ended up with it. He never managed to obtain those nine sheets of Immortal Order Paper!’

With a small smile, Li Qiye put away the Immortal Order Paper. To others, they were just three worthless sheets of Yellow Paper, but Li Qiye knew that these three sheets of Immortal Order Paper could save his life.

Li Qiye and his group were staying in a guest courtyard belonging to the Nine Saints Demon Gate. The disciples had already received orders from the Sun Demon Emperor to host Li Qiye’s party with the highest possible courtesy.

On their second day in the courtyard, Li Shuangyan received a message from her master. She told Li Qiye, ”I’m afraid the Elders from the War God Hall won’t be arriving anytime soon. The War God Hall sent word that they’ll only rush over right before the Netherworld Ship appears.”

Li Qiye chuckled. ”That bunch of old men from the War God Hall always has to make a show of things. They’re so incredibly pompous, pedantic, and long-winded!”

Li Shuangyan could only offer a wry smile at his words. This matter was out of the Nine Saints Demon Gate’s hands. Even if the War God Hall was being pompous, there was nothing they could do. After all, the Nine Saints Demon Gate would need to rely on the War God Hall in the future.

”Come on, let’s go do our own thing. We can deal with those old men when they finally arrive.” Li Qiye beckoned to Nan Huairun and the juniors, saying with a smile, ”We’re just idling around here anyway. Instead of sunbathing, why don’t we go into the Ancient Sky Corpse Land and find some treasure?”

”Go into the Ancient Sky Corpse Land and find treasure!” Hearing Li Qiye’s words, the juniors were instantly energized. Nan Huairun, that little money-grubber, was practically drooling. He said excitedly, ”Heh, heh, heh, First Brother, I happen to be in need of a decent weapon.”

Qu Daoli and the others didn’t dare ask Li Qiye for treasures like Nan Huairun. Even so, they couldn’t help but get excited at the thought of entering the Ancient Sky Corpse Land to find treasure. Even if they didn’t get anything, just experiencing the place would be worth it.

”Even if we do get some treasure, you won’t be the first in line!” Li Qiye smacked him on the back of the head, half-annoyed, half-amused.

”No problem, no problem! I can wait. I don’t mind being last,” Nan Huairun said, not the least bit offended as he shamelessly persisted.

Li Qiye just smiled and shook his head. ’Even so, I won’t treat my followers poorly!’

”Can the few of us really manage?” the usually taciturn Tu Buyu couldn’t help but ask worriedly. ”The Earth Corpses in the Ancient Sky Corpse Land are not to be trifled with.”

”We’re just going to retrieve some treasure, not pick a fight. The few of us will be more than enough.” Li Qiye laughed and told Li Shuangyan to bring out the box.

Li Shuangyan brought out the box from Shopkeeper Gu. Inside was a set of tattered clothes, a sealed box, a Copper Hammer, and a Copper Gong.

After bathing and burning incense, Li Qiye changed into the tattered clothes, slung the sealed box over his back, and took the Copper Hammer in one hand and the Copper Gong in the other.

Not only Nan Huairun and the juniors, but even Li Shuangyan and the others were dumbfounded by Li Qiye’s sudden new attire.

”You look like a traveling merchant from the countryside.” Chen Baojiao, standing beside Li Qiye, couldn’t help but want to laugh at his appearance. A woman whose smile could topple nations, she quickly covered her mouth to stifle her giggles, but the mirth still danced in her eyes.

Now that Chen Baojiao mentioned it, everyone looked at Li Qiye and agreed. He really did look like a country peddler. Anyone who didn’t know him would mistake him for one!

Everyone wanted to laugh at Li Qiye’s getup, but they didn’t dare. Even a senior figure like Shi Gandang had to struggle to hold back a chuckle.

”Er, First Brother, why... why are you dressed like a merchant?” Nan Huairun couldn’t help but ask, grinning.

”Business,” Li Qiye replied, his expression surprisingly solemn. ”We are going into the Ancient Sky Corpse Land to make a trade with the dead.”

”Make a trade with the dead!” The juniors’ blood ran cold. Trading with the dead—the idea was utterly preposterous.

”First Brother, can the dead... make trades?” asked the more timid Xu Pei, her face turning pale.

Li Qiye smiled and said, ”That depends on what kind of dead people we’re talking about, and it also depends on who is doing the trading. Someone who knows the ropes can make a deal. Someone who doesn’t is just asking to die. Let’s go. We’re heading to the Ancient Sky Corpse Land. Today, I’ll open your eyes and show you what it really means to trade with the dead!”

As absurd and chilling as it sounded, the juniors were both terrified and uncontrollably excited. They had never witnessed anything as outrageous as making a trade with the dead.

”Trading with the dead...” Even Niu Fen muttered to himself in disbelief.

Celestial Ancient City was built right next to the Ancient Sky Corpse Land. Although the two were very close, there was a strange phenomenon. The Ancient Sky Corpse Land contained countless corpses and buried an innumerable number of dead, but throughout the ages, no one had ever heard of an Earth Corpse leaving the land or entering Celestial Ancient City. It was an unsolvable mystery.

Standing at the edge of the Ancient Sky Corpse Land, Nan Huairun and the others were momentarily stunned. They had imagined a place filled with white bones as far as the eye could see. In their minds, the Ancient Sky Corpse Land was supposed to be a desolate Red Land, perhaps even choked with soaring Ghost Qi.

However, the Ancient Sky Corpse Land before them was a world of green mountains and clear waters. As far as the eye could see, mountains undulated, with a Giant Peak shaped like a resting ox and a range that coiled like a dragon. Mist permeated the air. Across this endless, rolling landscape were colossal trees that seemed to prop up the heavens and waterfalls that cascaded down sheer cliffs...

If it weren’t for the occasional coffin, one would truly mistake this for a place of stunning natural beauty.

Although the land was filled with rolling mountains, colossal trees, and cascading waterfalls, one could indeed spot many coffins. When a powerful Cultivator opened their Celestial Eye and gazed into the distance, they could see many unbelievable sights. One after another, coffins hung from sheer cliffs—some were Copper Coffins, some were Stone Coffins, and there were even Golden Coffins...

Some coffins rested atop solitary peaks, exuding a majestic and powerful aura. A single peak for a single coffin, as if it were being presented directly to the heavens.

Other Copper Coffins floated on the surface of a Death Pool in absolute silence. The occasional venomous snake slithering past was a hair-raising sight.

”This... This is the Ancient Sky Corpse Land?” Qu Daoli was in disbelief. He couldn’t accept that this was the same Ancient Sky Corpse Land that made people pale at its very mention. He had expected to see mountains of bones.

”Aren’t there supposed to be Earth Corpses everywhere in the Ancient Sky Corpse Land? Why don’t I see any?” Luo Fenghua asked in confusion.

”Watch that group of cultivators,” Shi Gandang said, pointing to a group that had just charged into the Ancient Sky Corpse Land.

From where Li Qiye’s group stood among the rolling hills, they watched as a group of cultivators from a sect charged into the mountain range. They seemed to have a clear objective, targeting the entrance to a canyon where they suspected treasure might be hidden. They rushed inside without hesitation.

However, the moment they charged into the canyon, shadows suddenly emerged from the surrounding jungle, from within the gorge, and from inside stone caves. They were all corpses, dressed in different attire, evidently from all corners of the world and various sects. These corpses appeared and charged toward the group of cultivators with incredible speed.

”Kill—!” The disciples from that sect were already prepared for a fight. With a great roar, they charged at the corpses.

The corpses, however, made no sound. They silently lunged at the cultivators. Eerily, each corpse brandished a Treasure Artifact—a Divine Sword here, a Yin Banner there, a Fury Spear... Treasure Artifacts and True Artifacts alike were unleashed, carrying a whistling, sinister aura as they struck at the living.

The sound of Laws rang out. Not only could these corpses brandish Treasure Artifacts, but they could even execute Cultivation Techniques!

”AARGH—!” A cultivator was cleaved in two by a single slash from a corpse. Crimson flames billowed from the blade, like a roaring Fire Dragon!

”That’s the Red Flame Sect’s Dragon Flame Saber Technique!” Shi Gandang’s expression shifted as he watched. ”That Earth Corpse must have been an Elder-level figure when it was alive.”

Everyone was so enthusiastic with their votes yesterday. Although we didn’t quite reach our goal, we managed to hold steady in second place, which is an incredible achievement.

These past three days haven’t been easy for any of you, and they haven’t been easy for me, Xiao Sheng, either. Each day has felt like a year, filled with unease and anxiety.

This has been a war without gunpowder, and I’ve been under a lot of pressure. Thankfully, I’ve had all of you by my side these past three days, fighting alongside me.

For that, I am endlessly grateful. We wouldn’t have today’s results without our combined efforts!!

This is a war of attrition, and we will fight to the very end. No one can stop us!