Dominator Emperor

After the news spread that Mei Suyao was entering the Lion Roar Country to give a Dao sermon, the country’s Imperial City became incredibly lively. The crowds swelled to ten times their usual size. It seemed anyone who had ever heard Mei Suyao’s name wanted to witness the Fairy’s supreme grace for themselves. Even if they couldn’t get close, a single glance from afar would be more than enough.

”Mei Suyao is here in the Lion Roar Country! Not long ago, rumors said she had gone to the Southern Red Land. I can’t believe she’s back so soon.” At once, the Imperial City of the Lion Roar Country was abuzz. Everyone in the city was talking about it; in fact, the entire Lion Roar Country was discussing Mei Suyao.

”That’s right. I heard that after Mei Fairy went to the Southern Red Land, she paid a visit to Qi Bamboo Mountain,” a well-informed cultivator immediately spread the news he had dug up.

Upon hearing this, the older generation of True Ancient Saints were not surprised. One Ancient Saint couldn’t help but say, ”The Long River Sect in the east, Qi Bamboo Mountain in the south. They are the strongest legacies in the current Human Emperor Realm, and both sects have produced Three Emperors. Legend says their successors have a tradition of sparring that goes back generations. It’s only normal for Mei Fairy to visit Qi Bamboo Mountain during her trip to the Southern Red Land.”

”The successor of Qi Bamboo Mountain is incredible as well,” a Youshi from the Southern Red Land, who knew more, added. ”Now that Mei Fairy has visited Qi Bamboo Mountain, I wonder who won and who lost their spar.”

”When Mei Fairy gives a Dao sermon, it’s like heavenly flowers falling from the sky—utterly captivating, making one forget their very surroundings. Afterward, the sound lingers for days, its echo never fading. Three years ago, I was fortunate enough to hear her sermon in the Long River Sect’s Imperial City. The benefits were immense; I’ll never forget it as long as I live.” Hearing that Mei Suyao was giving a sermon, some talented youths traveled millions of miles to attend. Those who had heard her speak before were particularly mesmerized, becoming completely entranced at the mere memory of it.

The Lion Roar Country was a small nation with very few Great Sects to its name. Most of its factions were minor sects with a limited number of cultivators. However, ever since the news of Mei Suyao’s Dao sermon spread, cultivators from all over the East Hundred Cities had flooded the Lion Roar Country’s Imperial City, packing it to the point of bursting.

To maintain order in the Imperial City, the disciples of the Lion Roar Sect were mobilized in full force. The entire sect, from the highest to the lowest-ranking members, poured all their energy into managing the event.

In fact, the Emperor of the Lion Roar Country had gone to great lengths to persuade Mei Suyao to choose his Imperial City as the venue for her Dao sermon.

For the occasion, the Lion Roar Country even offered up the rear garden of the Imperial Palace as the venue for her sermon.

Upon hearing the news of Mei Suyao’s sermon, countless cultivators scrambled to get into the Lion Roar Country’s Imperial City. However, gaining entry to hear her speak was no easy task.

If everyone were allowed into the Imperial Palace to hear her, the palace itself would likely be crushed by the crowd. Thus, all cultivators wishing to attend were strictly screened. First, older cultivators were turned away. Mei Suyao’s sermon focused on the principles of the Dao, which were most beneficial to the younger generation; the older generation was asked not to take up these valuable spots. Second, those with insufficient Dao Practice were filtered out. After all, even if they were to listen, they would not be able to comprehend the profound principles, making it a case of casting pearls before swine. Third...

As the host, and particularly as the one presiding over this grand event, Chi Xiaodie was endlessly busy organizing Mei Suyao’s sermon. Even Chi Xiaodao was running back and forth, working himself to the bone.

Of course, despite his exhaustion, Chi Xiaodao was all smiles. The reason for his cheerful, radiant mood was simple: his beloved, Princess Bao Yun, had personally come to attend the sermon.

Having swept away his previous gloom, Chi Xiaodao was more cheerful than ever. After receiving Li Qiye’s encouragement, he had resolved to pursue Princess Bao Yun. Now, he couldn’t wait for the day to arrive, eager to see her as soon as possible.

Back at the Lion Roar Sect, the only person with any free time was Li Qiye. He remained there, focused on his Cultivation in seclusion and paying no mind to the events outside. In his leisure time, he would stroll through the sect grounds, admire the scenery, and enjoy a comfortable, carefree life.

Not until the day before the sermon was scheduled to begin did Li Qiye finally enter the Imperial City. Seeing the sea of people packing the streets, he couldn’t help but smile and shake his head. ’This is a bit over the top. As famous as Mei Suyao is now, she can’t possibly surpass the Long River Sect’s own Primordial Ancestor, Sleeve Water Immortal Emperor.’

He recalled the distant past, when Sleeve Water Immortal Emperor’s beauty was the talk of the Celestial Universe. At that time, never mind just the Human Emperor Realm—even cultivators and Kings from across all nine realms flocked to see her, drawn by her reputation. And this was all before she had even become an Invincible Immortal Emperor.

The thought of those distant, endless eons, of those vibrant and passionate years, made Li Qiye sigh with emotion. ’In that era, I didn’t yet have enough power to personally groom an Immortal Emperor.’ In those days, Sleeve Water Immortal Emperor had indeed taken the world by storm. She was breathtaking, and the many Kings of the Nine Realms were utterly captivated by her.

Sleeve Water Immortal Emperor—the Primordial Ancestor of the Long River Sect, the one who laid its unshakeable Emperor Foundation! Li Qiye sighed again, his gaze drifting toward the direction of the Long River Sect. ’Our first meeting... Thinking back on it is rather nostalgic.’

The Long River Sect had produced Three Emperors. Sleeve Water Immortal Emperor was its Primordial Ancestor and also one of the very few Female Immortal Emperors in history.

The Long River Sect had a total of three Immortal Emperors: Sleeve Water Immortal Emperor, Furious Battle Immortal Emperor, and Guan Feng Immortal Emperor. In fact, despite being called one of the most powerful legacies of the Human Race, only one of its three Immortal Emperors—Furious Battle Immortal Emperor—was actually human. Its Primordial Ancestor, Sleeve Water Immortal Emperor, was from the Charm Spirit race.

The Charm Spirits were the darlings of the heavens, considered the most precious and talented among the Ten Thousand Races. Some even believed they were directly blessed by the heavens.

As a Charm Spirit, Sleeve Water Immortal Emperor once swept across the Nine Realms, ultimately shouldering the Celestial Mandate to become an Invincible Immortal Emperor. Her life was one of unparalleled splendor in the Desolate Era. Even now, countless eons later, people still speak of her legendary deeds with great enthusiasm.

’Sleeve Water Immortal Emperor... Ah, Sleeve Water.’ Thinking of these distant, dust-covered memories from an ancient past, Li Qiye couldn’t help but feel a wave of emotion.

”Mei Fairy is here!” While Li Qiye was lost in his memories, a sudden commotion erupted in the Imperial City. Someone shrieked, and the crowd surged forward like a tidal wave. Caught in a daze, Li Qiye was instantly shoved to the very edge of the throng.

”Mei Fairy’s here! Quick, come look!” Shouts and screams rose and fell throughout the crowd. Everyone, male and female alike, was overcome with excitement. This was especially true for the younger generation; the young male cultivators, in particular, looked completely lovestruck.

Seeing the group of infatuated young men, Li Qiye just smiled and shook his head. ’What a familiar sight. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen something like this over the countless ages.’

RUMBLE— RUMBLE— RUMBLE— A horse-drawn carriage slowly meandered closer. It trailed a faint, green mist that hung in the air like a rainbow. Wherever the carriage passed, the world seemed to transform into an Immortal Realm, as if flowers were bursting into bloom, grass was sprouting from the earth, and streams were beginning to babble.

Before anyone had even laid eyes on her, her transcendent aura washed over the crowd. At once, the impossibly raucous Imperial City fell completely silent. Moments before, the city had been packed to bursting with shoulder-to-shoulder cultivators, creating a suffocating and irritable atmosphere.

But as the carriage drew near, its presence was like a cool breeze on a sweltering summer day. A refreshing, comforting sensation seemed to seep into everyone’s very bones.

An old man drove the carriage. The successor of the Long River Sect, Mei Suyao, was not visible. All the crowd could see was a graceful, indistinct silhouette inside, a figure that seemed like a fairy descending to the mortal world, utterly peerless.

The mere sight of this indistinct silhouette was enough to captivate the countless cultivators in the Imperial City. Everyone held their breath, their eyes glued to the faint shadow within the carriage.

”It’s Mei Fairy—” someone whispered excitedly, but even in their exhilaration, they dared not raise their voice.

Li Qiye glanced at the scene from a distance, smiled, and gently shook his head. ’This is quite the exaggeration,’ he thought. ’Still, the Long River Sect certainly has its methods. Raising a successor like this is truly remarkable.’ Without a second look, he turned and entered the Imperial Palace.

After Mei Suyao’s carriage had passed, a new contingent arrived in its wake. They were an impressive sight, for their mounts were all Exotic Beasts: Celestial Horses, Winged Tigers, Jiao Horses, and more.

At the head of the group was a young man. He was tall and imposing, dressed in silver robes with a matching silver Long Spear slung across his back. He radiated a vigorous spirit and stood out wherever he went, like a crane among a flock of chickens.

”It’s Saint Child Qianyue,” someone in the crowd recognized.

Another cultivator from the East Hundred Cities remarked emotionally, ”Saint Child Qianyue is truly devoted. Rumor has it he was completely smitten the first time he saw Mei Fairy. He even wished to follow her and serve her faithfully, but alas, I heard she turned him down.”

”That’s right,” another cultivator added. ”They say when Mei Fairy went to the Southern Red Land for her sermon, Saint Child Qianyue followed her there as well.”

”Saint Child Qianyue used to be the heartthrob of our East Hundred Cities,” a young woman said with a touch of regret. ”Countless girls fell for him. I never thought he’d be willing to give it all up just to follow Mei Fairy and pledge his service to her.”

An older Ancient Saint shook his head. ”Joining the Long River Sect is easier said than done,” he said. ”Especially their worldly lineage—that’s harder than ascending to the heavens. The worldly lineage represents the entire Long River Sect, and only geniuses of a generation can join its ranks. It’s rumored that both Furious Battle Immortal Emperor and Guan Feng Immortal Emperor came from this very lineage! Saint Child Qianyue may be a dragon among men here in the East Hundred Cities, but it’s fundamentally impossible for him to join the worldly lineage of the Long River Sect. If it were that easy, who knows how many talented youths from our cities would be lining up to follow Mei Fairy.”

Even a distant glimpse of Mei Suyao—or even just her indistinct silhouette—was enough to leave countless people utterly captivated and mesmerized.