Dominator Emperor

As Li Qiye traveled through the East Hundred Cities, he cultivated along the way while also tempering his Treasure Artifact.

Inside his second Life Palace, the Heaven and Earth Origin Gold had undergone a process of self-refinement, unexpectedly forging itself into a bow. Li Qiye was stirred by this transformation, and the speed at which the bow formed was far beyond his expectations.

Li Qiye nurtured this divine bow, formed from the self-refinement of the Heaven and Earth Origin Gold, inside his second Life Palace. From that moment on, it became his very first Treasure Artifact—one he had nurtured himself.

In fact, Li Qiye had originally intended to nurture Little Confusion’s Dao Bone in his second Life Palace. Unfortunately, the Heaven and Earth Origin Gold was incredibly overbearing and had occupied it instead.

Li Qiye gave the bow a name: the Nine-Word True Bow. It was a True Bow forged from the Supreme True Words between heaven and earth.

Before forming into a bow, the Heaven and Earth Origin Gold had been insufferably arrogant. But after being viciously smashed by the Stone Egg, it seemed to have been knocked to its senses. Once it became a True Bow, Li Qiye continuously worked on attuning himself to it. The Nine-Word True Bow, in turn, acknowledged Li Qiye, and the process of it accepting him as its master went surprisingly smoothly.

One must understand that the Nine-Word True Bow was formed from the self-refinement of the Heaven and Earth Origin Gold and had already gained sentience. This was a supreme True Bow possessing the perfect Nine-Character True Words. A weapon like this, regardless of its level, was brimming with spirituality. Forcing such a weapon to accept a master was easier said than done.

However, it seemed the Nine-Word True Bow had been knocked to its senses by the Stone Egg earlier, so it obediently accepted him as its master.

As he traveled east, Li Qiye not only trained hard in his Dao Practice but also contemplated the mysteries of the Nine-Word True Bow. After testing its power time and again, he couldn’t help but be impressed. He had, after all, wielded even an Evil Weapon like the Immortal Blood Spear; few things in this world could still stir his excitement.

But the Nine-Word True Bow truly astonished Li Qiye. In the future, once he bore the Celestial Mandate and became an Immortal Emperor, it would surely become the greatest bow in existence!

Li Qiye traveled east, cultivating and reminiscing along the way. One day, he came to a region of steep mountains where, in a sparsely populated area, he happened upon an ancient ancestral hall.

The hall was hidden among a grove of cypress trees, making it rather inconspicuous. However, looking at the lay of the land from a distance, one could tell this place had once been prosperous; this hall had once belonged to ancestors of overwhelming power and influence.

With its green tiles and ancient bricks, the old hall’s carved pillars and engraved walls had all become mottled with age. Outside, weeds grew rampant, a clear sign that the hall had not been tended to in a very long time.

CREAK. Li Qiye pushed open the doors and stepped inside. An incredibly imposing stone statue was enshrined in the main hall. It depicted an old man, and though the statue was neglected, one could still perceive the awe-inspiring, world-defying presence he must have had in life.

”The Chi Family has fallen into decline, too.” Li Qiye looked at the incense burner in front of the statue, seeing that no one had offered incense in who knows how long, and remarked with a sigh.

’This is the ancestral hall of the Chi Family. The Chi Ancestor enshrined here was once one of the most powerful War Generals under my command. The Immortal Slaying Campaign was too cruel. In that war, countless people perished. The Elder Sages of the Human Race threw themselves into the fray, one after another, until blood flowed like rivers and bones piled up like mountains. So many of those by my side died in that campaign.’

’The Chi Ancestor was one of my strongest War Generals, a truly powerful existence. During the Immortal Slaying Campaign, in order to hold the rearguard and protect my Four-Battle Copper Vehicle as it charged into the heart of the battlefield, the Chi Ancestor fought a bloody war against ten thousand foes. He blocked round after round of frenzied assaults, ultimately allowing me to reach the center.’

’In the end, we won the Immortal Slaying Campaign, ensuring the sacrifices of the Human Race’s Elder Sages were not in vain! The Chi Ancestor’s contributions were immeasurable. He fell in battle on the Immortal Slaying Battlefield!’

’As the Chi Ancestor lay dying, I, as the Yin Ya, promised to protect his Chi Family and grant them three generations of prosperity. I later returned his remains to the Chi Family’s Ancestral Land and, for the next three generations, they received my protection as the Yin Ya. Three generations of prosperity.’

Millions of years later, returning here to see this decrepit old hall, Li Qiye knew that the Chi Family he had protected for three generations had also fallen into decline. Time was cruel. Just like the Xiyan Ancient Sect, even an Emperor’s Lineage would one day face its downfall.

”Time is truly without mercy,” Li Qiye finally remarked with a sigh, gazing at the stone statue. ’He was one of my most powerful War Generals, one who rendered immense meritorious service in the Immortal Slaying Campaign!’

Li Qiye glanced at the statue one last time, then exited the hall. He walked slowly through the cypress forest and, before he knew it, found himself before an Ancient Pool.

”AAAAAH—” A great roar suddenly echoed. Even before Li Qiye reached the Ancient Pool, he heard the shout from a distance.

A young man stood before the Ancient Pool, a Life Palace suspended above his head. The palace was open, revealing the shadow of a turtle. At the same time, a brilliant light erupted from his body, taking the shape of a furious lion. It pounced on the turtle shadow emerging from the Life Palace and bit down hard!

The young man let out a final roar. The light around him faded, and his Life Palace retreated into his Mud Palace Acupoint. In that instant, both the turtle and the furious lion vanished. The youth looked as if he had just endured a grueling battle; completely drenched, he collapsed onto the ground in exhaustion.

Li Qiye watched this from a distance, surprised. ”It’s been a long time since I’ve seen someone with a Life Vein like this,” he murmured to himself as he walked toward the Ancient Pool.

”Who’s there?” Li Qiye’s footsteps had immediately startled the youth by the pool. He leaped to his feet, turned to stare at Li Qiye, and demanded, ”Who are you?”

”Just passing through.” Li Qiye looked at the young man with a smile. He appeared to be a bit older than Li Qiye and had a forthright demeanor. Dressed in green robes, he seemed especially spirited, with eyes that shone with a resolute and unyielding light.

”What brings you here? This isn’t exactly a scenic spot.” The youth was a bit wary upon seeing a stranger like Li Qiye.

Li Qiye couldn’t help but smile. ”I’ve read many of the ancient texts of the East Hundred Cities. As the saying goes, ten years of reading can’t compare to a thousand miles of travel. I’m journeying through the East Hundred Cities to see some legendary ruins for myself. I read a record that mentioned the Chi Family’s ancestral hall was here, so I came to see if it was true.”

”Oh, you’re looking for the ancestral hall! I can take you,” the youth said, relaxing his guard. Li Qiye didn’t look like a bad person, and the youth started to take a liking to him.

The youth was quite enthusiastic and immediately led Li Qiye toward the hall. ”My name is Chi Xiaodao,” he said as they walked. ”What about you?”

”So, a descendant of the Chi Family.” Li Qiye couldn’t help but smile. ’I never thought I’d actually meet a descendant of the Chi Family here.’ After a moment, Li Qiye told the youth his name.

”Where are you from?” Chi Xiaodao was clearly a talkative and cheerful person, and he immediately struck up a conversation with the newcomer.

”The Great Middle Realm. It’s very far away,” Li Qiye said with a carefree smile. ”I came out this time to broaden my horizons and see the world.”

”The Great Middle Realm!” Chi Xiaodao was surprised and became even more enthusiastic as he continued to chat with Li Qiye.

A short while later, Li Qiye followed Chi Xiaodao back into the ancestral hall. Gazing at the stone statue, Li Qiye glanced at Chi Xiaodao and said with a smile, ”The Chi Ancestor. So this really is the Chi Family’s ancestral hall.”

”Yes. The one enshrined here is our maternal ancestor,” Chi Xiaodao said, looking at the statue with a sigh.

Li Qiye paused, startled by this. He looked at Chi Xiaodao and asked, ”Your maternal ancestor? But your surname is Chi, isn’t it?”

”That’s right,” Chi Xiaodao said with a smile. ”My grandfather married into the Chi Family. His original surname wasn’t Chi, but we all took our grandmother’s surname.”

”Speaking of which, my grandfather’s family was on par with our Chi Family long ago. His paternal ancestor was an incredible figure. Legend says he was known as the Overlord Immortal Lion King! They say he was an invincible existence, and some tales even claim he achieved the Great Success of the Immortal Body!” Chi Xiaodao was quite the conversationalist and began recounting his family’s history to Li Qiye.

”The Overlord Immortal Lion King!” Li Qiye froze for a moment upon hearing the name. ’What a small world. Back in the Ancient Sky Corpse Land, I swindled the Overlord Immortal Saber from him, forming a karmic connection. I never thought I’d meet his descendant now. And to top it all off, a descendant of the Overlord Immortal Lion King married a descendant of my own War General!’

”You’ve heard of my grandfather’s paternal ancestor?” Chi Xiaodao asked, pleased.

Li Qiye nodded. ”I have. The Overlord Immortal Lion King was a prominent figure during the era of Immortal Emperor Tun Ri. Even when the emperor was still alive, the Lion King was an incredible character.”

Now that he knew Chi Xiaodao’s paternal ancestor was the Overlord Immortal Lion King, Li Qiye had a much clearer understanding of what he had witnessed earlier. ’It’s a clash between a legendary Life Vein and a legendary physique.’

Chi Xiaodao grew even more excited hearing this. ”No wonder you like reading the ancient texts of the East Hundred Cities! You know so much about history. My grandfather’s paternal ancestor, the Overlord Immortal Lion King, was incredible, but in truth, my maternal ancestor was even more amazing! Legend says he was an invincible figure who took part in a heaven-shattering war that saved the Human Race. His name has been praised for countless generations!”

Speaking of his ancestors’ glorious deeds, Chi Xiaodao became visibly excited, as if he could imagine the era when they swept across the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands.

”Yes,” Li Qiye said with a soft sigh. ”The Immortal Slaying Campaign.”

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