Dominator Emperor

Li Qiye remained silent, his gaze fixed on the Netherworld Ships floating out one by one. Before long, the last Sect Leader of the Thousand Emperors Sect finally made his move. He instantly set foot on a Netherworld Ship. As he struck, the crisp sound of shattering bones was audible to all. The person vying with him for the ship was instantly crushed into a meat paste. Witnessing such a tyrannical display, many people felt a chill in their hearts.

”As expected of someone from the Thousand Emperors Sect!” Even the Elder Ancestor of the War God Hall was visibly moved, murmuring to himself.

As the Netherworld Ships drifted out one by one, more and more people boarded them to float downstream. However, with so many Earth Corpses around, even though tens of thousands of Netherworld Ships had already appeared, every single vessel was still fiercely contested.

In truth, no one who boarded a Netherworld Ship knew if they would live or die. Of the tens of thousands of ships that appeared in every era, most were vessels of death. Legend held that there were never more than three true Lifeboats. Furthermore, the lifespan granted by each Lifeboat varied. Some extended a life by several decades, others by several centuries or even millennia. It was even rumored that a Netherworld Ship capable of granting a whole new life had once emerged from the Underworld!

”That one—” Finally, Li Qiye selected a Netherworld Ship for the ancestor from the War God Hall and shouted to the person inside the Wooden Coffin.

The moment Li Qiye’s words fell, with a WHOOSH, the Wooden Coffin shot out, rushing toward the chosen Netherworld Ship. This ship was also being fought over by a hundred people, most of whom were Earth Corpses.

CLANG— A sword hummed. The person inside the Wooden Coffin didn’t emerge. Only a flash of sword light slashed out, so brilliant it illuminated the Nine Provinces. With a SWISH, the light swept past. Whether they were Earth Corpses, Treasure Lords, or Old Undyings, all were slain by that single strike. The Wooden Coffin immediately flew into the Netherworld Ship.

”One Sword Across the Starry Heavens!” As the sword light swept out, a great personage recognized its origin. An Elder Saint Lord’s expression changed drastically as he exclaimed, ”War God Hall!”

Upon hearing the name ”War God Hall,” everyone felt a chill. The War God Hall was one of the most ancient existences in the Human Emperor Realm. Established in the Desolate Era, it had stood tall to this day. It had close ties with numerous Immortal Emperors, and it was mysterious and powerful. Few in this world could challenge it!

At this moment, many eyes turned to the group of black-robed men behind Li Qiye. Only now did everyone realize that Li Qiye was burying an Ancient Coffin for the War God Hall! At the same time, the War God Hall’s low-profile approach made some of the wiser observers shudder. ’Just who is this person from the War God Hall being sent off on a Netherworld Ship?’

As the Netherworld Ships continued to drift out, slowly floating downstream, Li Qiye finally turned to Li Shuangyan and Chen Baojiao. ”It’s my turn to board,” he said. ”You two go back with the Nine Saints Demon Gate and this group of old men. With them around, no one will dare to cause trouble. If I’m not back within half a month, you, Niu Fen, and the others should lead everyone back to the Xiyan Ancient Sect. Don’t worry about me.”

”But...” Chen Baojiao and Li Shuangyan had a thousand things to say. In their hearts, they desperately didn’t want their Young Master to board a Netherworld Ship, but they had no way to dissuade him.

”You’re going to board a Netherworld Ship?” Even the Elder Ancestor of the War God Hall was stunned. ’Has this kid gone mad?’ Only those on the verge of death were forced to board a Netherworld Ship. Everyone understood that boarding one was practically a death sentence. The chances of extending one’s life were incredibly small—one in ten thousand! And yet, this young kid, in the prime of his life, wanted to board a Netherworld Ship. This was sheer madness.

”It’s time for me to go,” Li Qiye said, seeing the last Netherworld Ship drift out.

Chen Baojiao and Li Shuangyan were reluctant to see him go. They wanted desperately to persuade Li Qiye, but the words wouldn’t come out. They knew they couldn’t change their Young Master’s mind.

”If I die, you’ll both be free. The whole world will be yours,” seeing the two women’s reluctant expressions, Li Qiye said jokingly.

”Don’t jinx it!” Chen Baojiao couldn’t help but scold. ”You will definitely come back alive!” As she said this, her eyes grew moist without her realizing.

The cold and proud Li Shuangyan, as aloof as frost, condensed her countless words into a single sentence, saying softly, ”I will wait for you to come back!”

”I’m off! Wait for this master’s triumphant return!” In stark contrast to the women’s sorrowful reluctance, Li Qiye was nonchalant. With a loud cry, he charged toward the last Netherworld Ship aboard his Four-Battle Copper Vehicle.

At this moment, even the very last Netherworld Ship was being fought over. But the Four-Battle Copper Vehicle leaped forward as the sound of horses neighing rang out. Li Qiye bellowed, ”Get lost—”

The four Copper Horses leaped up, their hooves lashing out, kicking away all the opponents vying for the Netherworld Ship. Li Qiye brought the vehicle to a halt on the ship’s bow.

”Go on back. I will return.” Standing on the bow, Li Qiye waved farewell to Li Shuangyan and the others with a loud laugh.

”Bon voyage—” In the end, both Li Shuangyan’s and Chen Baojiao’s beautiful eyes filled with mist, their noses tingling, as they waved goodbye to Li Qiye.

Li Qiye laughed heartily, steered his War Chariot into the ship, and the ship’s doors slowly closed behind him.

When Li Qiye entered the Netherworld Ship, everyone was dumbfounded. It was simply an unimaginable sight. The people who boarded the Netherworld Ships were all on the brink of death. They had already consumed vast amounts of Longevity Medicine, Heavenly Treasures, and Immortal Elixir True Pills. They were people beyond saving, with no choice but to wait for death. Only such people were forced to board a Netherworld Ship. If there was any other choice, who would be willing to do so? After all, boarding a Netherworld Ship was almost the same as marching to one’s death!

Yet Li Qiye was so young, only fifteen or sixteen. He was in the prime of his life, his journey just beginning. For this kid to board a Netherworld Ship... it was just insane.

”Is this kid out of his mind? He’s perfectly healthy, yet he’s running off to his death!” Many were stupefied as they watched the last Netherworld Ship drift downstream into the thick fog.

More than a few found it unbelievable, murmuring, ”This kid must have a death wish. Only someone tired of living would board a Netherworld Ship!”

At that moment, no one could understand it. It made sense for a dying person to want to board a Netherworld Ship, but for someone in the prime of their youth to do so was simply suicidal!

At this, a cold glint flashed in Saint Child Bao Zhu’s eyes, and he couldn’t help but rejoice inwardly. ’Li Qiye boarding a Netherworld Ship on his own is him seeking his own demise! If he never comes back, I’ll have one less powerful enemy. The only pity is that the kid is taking the Supreme Immortal Body Technique with him to the grave!’

As the heir of the Sword God Holy Land, Bai Jianzhen remained as cold and emotionless as ever. Watching the last Netherworld Ship drift downstream, she couldn’t help but ponder the matter. ’This whole affair is incredibly strange, utterly bizarre.’

Li Shuangyan and Chen Baojiao sighed sorrowfully. In their hearts, they silently prayed for their Young Master, hoping he would return safely. He had created one miracle after another; they believed their Young Master would definitely come back alive.

In truth, Li Shuangyan and Chen Baojiao felt a bottomless unease. No one knew where the Nether River ultimately flowed. Once aboard a Netherworld Ship, unless one was on a Lifeboat, no one else could ever return alive.

Once all the Netherworld Ships had passed, the spectacle was over and the crowd began to disperse. Many started to retreat, because it wouldn’t be long before the Ancient Sky Corpse Land recovered its former Primordial Qi. If they didn’t leave then, they might die within the Ancient Sky Corpse Land.

Of course, as they retreated, quite a few experts indulged in one last frenzy, beginning to excavate and seize the treasures of the Ancient Sky Corpse Land. They took advantage of the period before its Primordial Qi was restored to engage in a final round of plunder.

Naturally, many experts still died in the perilous areas of the Ancient Sky Corpse Land. Even before its Primordial Qi had recovered and the Earth Corpses had returned, the Ancient Sky Corpse Land was still a treacherous place.

Some even more unlucky Great Sects and Jiang Countries dug up treasures on a Treasure Lord’s territory. The consequences were predictable. Some Treasure Lords crawled out from underground and annihilated everyone on the spot, causing entire powers to be wiped out and suffer devastating losses.

As for Li Shuangyan and Chen Baojiao, they followed the Elders of the Nine Saints Demon Gate and the War God Hall in retreating from the Ancient Sky Corpse Land. They returned to Celestial Ancient City to wait for Li Qiye’s return.

The Netherworld Ship drifted along in absolute silence. Inside, not a sound could be heard. There was no telling where it was heading. Even if one opened the ship’s door, it was impossible to see the scenery outside. There was only a vast emptiness; nothing was visible, not even the other Netherworld Ships.

It seemed as if only this single Netherworld Ship was drifting on the Nether River between heaven and earth. It was as if on this vast, endless river, only this one ship existed, and all the others had vanished.

Inside the Netherworld Ship, besides the ship’s hull itself, there was nothing else. Li Qiye sat there, calm and at ease, as if he were sitting in his own home.

Sitting inside the ship, Li Qiye retrieved an item from his Life Palace. It was a stone tablet. The tablet wasn’t large, but it was incredibly heavy. Its surface was pitted and uneven, inscribed with patterns that were so intricate and complex that it was impossible for anyone to comprehend their Mystical Meaning.

This was the very stone tablet Li Qiye had obtained from the Treasure Pavilion of the Xiyan Ancient Sect. None of the sect’s Elders knew what it was used for. In fact, throughout the history of the Xiyan Ancient Sect, no one had ever known its specific purpose. It was no longer possible to determine where it had come from or who had found it.

After obtaining this tablet, Li Qiye knew its origins were heaven-shattering! Ever since he got it, he had been constantly pondering and studying this very stone tablet.

One had to understand, he had lived for endless eons. He had even cultivated Immortal Emperors. The Twelve Burial Lands, the Six Great Ancient Immortal Lands—places others in the world dared not tread—he had ventured into their deepest parts! One could say, what in this world had he not seen? Yet, this was one stone tablet he had never seen before.

Recently, his research on the stone tablet had yielded some insights, and he had an idea.

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