Dominator Emperor

Li Qiye’s words immediately drew countless angry glares. What kind of joke was this? Great Sage True Artifacts and Great Sage Longevity Treasures were beneath his notice! He was boasting way too much.

”Hmph, what a big talker.” A cultivator who knew of Li Qiye’s background couldn’t help but remark sarcastically, ”Thirty thousand years ago, the Xiyan Ancient Sect might have been able to make such boasts. Today, they’re nothing but a third-tier sect. I doubt they could produce even one Great Sage True Artifact even if they poured all their resources into it. For a mere junior from the Xiyan Ancient Sect to spout such nonsense, to look down on Great Sage True Artifacts... It’s utterly absurd!”

Li Qiye completely ignored the sarcastic comment. He picked out the Six Beasts Array Painting from the three treasures and said, ”This array map is acceptable. However, if you want me to open the Stone Box, this map alone isn’t enough. You’ll have to add one more thing.”

”What do you want?” The old man’s gaze sharpened as he stared directly at Li Qiye.

Li Qiye replied nonchalantly, ”What I want is simple. If you have the Stellar Celestial Disc on you, give it to me, and I’ll open the Stone Box for you!”

The moment Li Qiye spoke, the old man’s expression changed. Instantly, his eyes transformed into cosmic vortices, dazzling beyond compare. They seemed capable of containing the universe, refining the Nine Realms, and giving birth to Divine Spirits.

The sudden brilliance in the old man’s eyes made everyone’s face pale. Even Ancient Saints gasped and involuntarily took a step back. At that moment, everyone understood: this old man was not to be trifled with. He was unfathomable!

But just as quickly, the old man’s gaze dimmed again, and he resumed his bleary-eyed appearance. Squinting at Li Qiye, he said slowly, ”Quite an appetite you have there, young man.”

Li Qiye remained perfectly at ease. He smiled and said, ”My appetite has always been large. But don’t bother getting any other ideas. There’s nothing in this world I can’t handle. You can take your time to consider it. I don’t believe in forcing a transaction.”

The old man squinted, clearly hesitating. No one present knew what this ”Stellar Celestial Disc” was, but for an old man who casually offered Great Sage True Artifacts and Great Sage Longevity Treasures to hesitate... that was enough to prove the disc was something absolutely extraordinary.

Li Qiye gently patted the Stone Box and said languidly, ”How can you expect to get what’s inside without paying a price? Miss this opportunity, and I’m afraid you won’t find another.”

The old man fell silent. Finally, he steeled his resolve. ”Fine, kid! I’ll take a loss this one time! As long as you can open the Stone Box, the Six Beasts Array Painting and the Stellar Celestial Disc are both yours!” With that, he took an Ancient Box from his robes and placed it on the ground.

Li Qiye flicked open the Ancient Box. Instantly, endless starlight burst forth, splashing across the sky and transforming it into a boundless, starry expanse. A Star River meandered, the sun and moon rose and set—the phenomena were endless!

The moment the Ancient Box was closed, the phenomena vanished. Although no one got a clear look at the Stellar Celestial Disc itself, seeing such a spectacle made everyone understand that it was an absolutely incredible treasure.

”It really is the Stellar Celestial Disc,” Li Qiye said, nodding slowly in satisfaction.

The old man squinted at Li Qiye and said slowly, ”Your turn, young man. You’d better not be all talk. If you can’t open that Stone Box, watch out. I’ll beat you so hard you’ll be searching for your teeth on the ground!”

”What’s so difficult about it?” Li Qiye chuckled. He reached out and gently stroked the Stone Box, his touch as soft and tender as if he were caressing a lover’s shoulder.

”Hmph. You could stroke it ten thousand times and you still wouldn’t open it,” someone sneered, annoyed at Li Qiye’s actions.

Li Qiye, however, paid him no mind. He crouched down and whispered beside the Stone Box, as if murmuring sweet nothings into a lover’s ear. No one could make out his words.

CLICK! A crisp sound echoed. Just as Li Qiye stood up, the unthinkable happened—the Stone Box had opened.

The entire area fell silent. Everyone stared, wide-eyed in disbelief. The Stone Box that couldn’t be opened even with Emperor’s Text had just been opened so easily?

”What is that?” A sharp-eyed observer spotted a Golden Small Coffin lying inside. People froze for a second. Everyone had assumed the box contained some earth-shattering treasure, but instead, it was a small coffin!

The old man, with his sharp eyes and quick hands, immediately snatched the Golden Small Coffin and tucked it into his robes. He clutched it tightly like a miser hoarding his gold, terrified someone might steal it.

Most people hadn’t gotten a clear look at the Golden Small Coffin, but now that the old man had it, no one dared ask him to take it out for another look.

For a moment, countless hearts were itching with curiosity. They were all desperate to know what was inside the Golden Small Coffin. But since the old man wasn’t talking, there was no way for them to find out.

After a good while, the old man finally secured his Golden Small Coffin. His old eyes widened as he stared at Li Qiye and said in disbelief, ”How is that possible?”

By now, Li Qiye was weighing the Six Beasts Array Painting and the Ancient Box in his hands. He glanced at the old man and said with utter composure, ”Nothing is impossible. Because I am Li Qiye.”

This simple sentence made even Li Shuangyan and Chen Baojiao exchange a glance. It was perhaps the most confident statement in the world. All the grand boasts and heroic declarations in existence paled in comparison to the simple words: ”Because I am Li Qiye.”

In fact, it wasn’t just the old man; everyone found it unbelievable and couldn’t help but stare at Li Qiye. A Stone Box that even Emperor’s Text couldn’t open had been opened by him with ease. It should have been impossible! But the truth was right before their eyes. Even if they didn’t believe it, they had to accept it. The whole affair was just too bizarre.

Li Qiye smiled and stepped back. He weighed the two items in his hands, quite pleased. He hadn’t expected such a haul. But when he thought of the Golden Small Coffin, he let out a soft sigh.

”Fellow Daoist, how about selling the Stellar Celestial Disc to me?” Ji Kongjian asked in a low voice as soon as Li Qiye returned.

Li Qiye didn’t even raise an eyelid. ”It’s a personal item. Not for sale.”

Ji Kongjian persisted, ”Fellow Daoist, just name your price. There’s nothing my Takong Mountain can’t afford. As long as you’re willing to sell, I guarantee the price will satisfy you!”

”Not for sale!” Li Qiye couldn’t be bothered to waste any more words on Ji Kongjian and simply handed the Six Beasts Array Painting and the Stellar Celestial Disc to Li Shuangyan.

”Fellow Daoist, why refuse so quickly? Why not consider it!” Ji Kongjian said in a low voice. ”Forming a good relationship with my Takong Mountain would be greatly beneficial for your future!”

Only then did Li Qiye look up. He gave Ji Kongjian a sidelong glance and said slowly, ”So what about Takong Mountain? I don’t want to sell. Forget Takong Mountain, I wouldn’t give face even to Qi Bamboo Mountain. What are you going to do, bite me?”

Li Qiye’s words instantly made Ji Kongjian’s face darken. Many people in the crowd exchanged glances. This kid was too damn arrogant, daring to offend even Takong Mountain!

”Hmph!” In the end, Ji Kongjian just snorted coldly and left. Though he was burning with rage, as someone from an Emperor Immortal Gate, he couldn’t resort to robbery in public. After all, the Takong Mountain had a reputation to uphold.

”Ah, what a shame...” Seeing the windfall picked up by someone else, many people sighed and began to disperse. Some, however, had a cold glint flash in their eyes as they started to get other ideas. Still, no one dared to openly rob anyone in the Ancient Street. It was a taboo among all cultivators. To rob someone in a place of trade was to break the unspoken rules, making an enemy of every major power that did business there.

”Let’s go look around somewhere else,” Li Qiye said with a smile.

Before Li Qiye could leave, however, the old man hurriedly beckoned him over. Li Qiye smiled, walked up to him, and said calmly, ”What is it? Do you have more treasures you want to give me?”

The old man was all smiles. ”Treasures? That’s not a problem,” he chuckled. ”Hee hee, little brother, I can see your constitution is extraordinary. You must have an Immortal Body and an Immortal Destiny, a rare prodigy seen only once in millions of years! This old man, though untalented, possesses endless Supreme Divine Techniques and has taken a liking to your talent. Why don’t you consider becoming my disciple? I will pass on my Supreme Divine Techniques to you. In the future, shouldering the Celestial Mandate and sweeping through the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands will be an easy feat.”

The old man’s words made Li Qiye burst out laughing. He looked at the old man and said, ”You sound just like a con man. I have a Mortal Body, Mortal Fate, and Mortal Wheel. Where is this talk of an Immortal Body and Immortal Destiny coming from? If you want to fool a child, find a dumber one next time.”

”Mortal Body and Mortal Fate are no problem!” the old man said hurriedly. ”Throughout the eons, how many Elder Sages began with a Mortal Body and Mortal Fate, only to reach the peak and become invincible? The number of those who became an Immortal Emperor with a Mortal Body is not small. As long as you have the heart for Cultivation, little brother, your body and Life Palace are not an issue! I will pass on my Supreme Divine Techniques to you and shatter the shackles of your physique...”

”Your sales pitch is truly spectacular and incredibly tempting, but unfortunately, I’m not interested.” Li Qiye turned to leave.

This time, the old man grew genuinely anxious. ”Wait, wait, little brother!” he said hurriedly. ”This old man truly cherishes talent! I sincerely want to take you as my disciple! I’m not a swindler. If you’re worried I’m trying to trick you, how about this... Hee! Take these two Great Sage’s Treasures as a meeting gift between master and disciple!” As he spoke, he snatched the Great Sage True Artifact and Great Sage Longevity Treasure from the ground and shoved them into Li Qiye’s arms.

This scene left Li Shuangyan and the others dumbfounded. Any other cultivator would be dying for the chance to take such an expert as their master. Receiving guidance from such a powerful figure would guarantee a limitless future and make their cultivation path twice as effective with half the effort.