Dominator Emperor

So, how could Li Qiye possibly be unaware of the changes in this grand vein of heaven and earth?

”Sigh, what a great place. If I’d known, I should’ve gotten myself exiled here. Entering the Zero Realm from a place like this would be pure bliss. With the nourishment of this kind of natural creation, it’d be hard *not* to become a True God.” Following Li Qiye and sensing the Heaven and Earth Essence Qi of the Celestial Dao Academy, which was so dense it was almost tangible, Xiao Niqiu couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration, practically drooling.

”At the Ancestral God Temple, you were protected by the residual might of the Hundred Battles Divine Emperor and the Ten Thousand Forms True God. Later, I sent you to the Longevity Academy, where Ma Gu herself protected you. Plus, the Ancestral God Temple was just a stone’s throw away, so their power could still shield you. What place could be safer? Besides, who would even notice such an unremarkable location?” Li Qiye gave him a sidelong glance. ”Getting you into the Celestial Dao Academy wouldn’t be difficult, but leaving would be. Didn’t the Domain God end up stuck here too? The shackles of heaven and earth can be shattered, but a debt of gratitude is not so easily repaid. You don’t want to be trapped in the Celestial Dao Academy forever like the Domain God, do you?”

”Heh, just kidding, just kidding! If I stayed in the Celestial Dao Academy forever, I’d probably go stir-crazy.” Xiao Niqiu immediately began to brown-nose. ”I’m your shadow, Young Master. Wherever you go, I follow. As you cross the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands and sweep through the Eight Desolations, surely you can’t do without me by your side, right?”

Li Qiye gave him a sidelong glance and said slowly, ”Enough with the flattery. This time, I need you to give it your all and unearth the Void Gate. I want to see the true face of one of the Nine Great Heavenly Treasures for myself and find out where it really leads!”

The Void Gate, one of the Nine Great Heavenly Treasures. Legends about it were countless, and most of the world believed it to be nothing more than a myth. However, Li Qiye was certain that the Void Gate truly existed, just like the other Eight Treasures!

The question was, what was the Void Gate’s ultimate mystical meaning? This was what he had been trying to figure out all this time. Rumor had it that the Void Gate could lead to the future. Other rumors claimed it could return one to the past. Still others said it could reach a Tenth Realm beyond the Nine Realms! But as for the truth, no one knew. In fact, the very existence of a Tenth Realm was as much a mystery as the Void Gate itself.

”You can count on me, Young Master! It’ll be no problem at all,” Xiao Niqiu said, puffing out his chest.

Li Qiye shot him a sidelong glance. ”Is that so? You botched the affair with the Ten Thousand Forms True God back then. You were just supposed to be an observer, but you ended up getting trapped right alongside him.”

”You can’t pin all the blame on me for that.” Xiao Niqiu’s confidence faltered, and he added defensively, ”I was indeed too careless regarding our old master’s situation back then. But he was completely lucid at the time! He knew exactly what he was doing. I figured he didn’t need any reminders from me.”

”One wrong step, and you lose everything.” Li Qiye couldn’t help but sigh softly. ”That is the most terrifying part of the Buddha Burial Plateau. Its influence is subtle and imperceptible. Countless members of the invincible generation thought they had everything under control, only to end up as devout followers, all while believing they had paved a new Great Dao for themselves.”

”Son of a bitch! It was all that damn chamber pot’s fault!” Xiao Niqiu cursed. Despite his harsh words, a chill ran down his spine. That thing was just too damn sinister.

”When you get right down to it, it had nothing to do with that pot. The choice between ’One Thought Becomes Demon’ and ’One Thought Becoming Divine’ lies within one’s own heart. The only shame is that, a long time ago, Emperor Shi got there first. If he hadn’t beaten me to it, I might have been able to retrieve that thing myself.” As he spoke, Li Qiye’s eyes narrowed.

The world had no idea that the Buddha Burial Plateau housed something truly world-shattering—an object that even Immortal Emperors had coveted for ages. Unfortunately, it could not be retrieved. Over the millennia, Li Qiye had tried several times, but he had failed on every occasion.

”Sigh, that damn pot is just too powerful. Even Immortal Emperors couldn’t handle it. Legend says Emperor Shi emerged straight from the age of myths and seized the initiative,” Xiao Niqiu said, shaking his head.

Li Qiye said, ”Never mind the Buddha Burial Plateau for now. Let’s secure the Void Gate first. Once we have control of it, and after the Buddhist Sect opens its gates, I’ll get my hands on the Void Book. As long as both the Void Book and the Void Gate are in my grasp, dealing with that pot will only be a matter of time. And one day, I will charge into the Immortal Demon Cave again.” His eyes narrowed at the thought.

”Rest assured, Young Master! I will do everything in my power to help you obtain the Void Gate!” Xiao Niqiu’s blood boiled with excitement. Having both the Void Gate and the Void Book would be an unparalleled, heaven-defying combination. With those, they would have nothing to fear, not even the arrival of an Immortal Emperor!

Li Qiye spent his time surveying the grand vein of heaven and earth beneath the Celestial Dao Academy. After more than ten days, he finally pinpointed the entrance. He instructed Xiao Niqiu, ”Go down, but don’t be hasty. Traverse through the Void to bypass the Celestial Dao Academy’s suppression grand array. Sense the origin of the gateway this time and see if you can find any clues. Be wary of the Domain God, but as long as you follow my method and don’t get careless, you should be able to evade it. It’s in an unstable state right now and is too preoccupied to notice.”

”Don’t worry, Young Master. I’ll be the first one to find that gateway. As long as I can sense the origin of the Void Gate from within the grand vein, I’ll definitely be able to track it down if it’s really inside.” After receiving Li Qiye’s guidance, Xiao Niqiu crossed into his personal Zero Realm and vanished in an instant.

With that matter settled, Li Qiye planned to head back to the Great World Academy, but he ran into someone unexpected.

”I never expected to run into Brother Li here.” Approaching him was Bing Yuxia, the successor of the Bingyu Palace. She was flanked on both sides by stunning beauties, each a peerless woman whose looks could topple kingdoms.

Seeing Bing Yuxia still dressed as a man left Li Qiye speechless. ’This girl never changes,’ he thought.

Li Qiye gave her a sidelong glance and said, ”Hey, girlie. Stop spending all your time pretending to be a man. Watch out, or you’ll get stuck that way.”

”Brother Li, you’re such a kidder,” Bing Yuxia said with a charming smile. ”I wonder which academy you’re in? Perhaps I could pay you a visit?”

Bing Yuxia’s words surprised the beauties with her. Though she dressed as a man and had a devil-may-care attitude, she was an incredibly proud person. There were very few people she would treat with such courtesy. They wondered about the background of this unremarkable young man before them.

”No need,” Li Qiye flatly refused, his expression calm. ”You should stay here and continue hitting on girls. Don’t come bother me.”

”Now, Brother Li, I must disagree.” Bing Yuxia smiled, her grace peerless. ”Good things should be shared among friends, of course. Since it’s not convenient for you now, you must come to the Leisure World Academy next time. I’ll introduce you to some peerless beauties. I’m sure you’ll find one you like.”

Li Qiye was at a loss for words when it came to this tomboy. The girl was as sharp as a whip, yet she insisted on imitating the mannerisms of the Bingyu Immortal Emperor. He sometimes felt the urge to teach her a lesson, but seeing that she shared the same spirited bearing as the Bingyu Immortal Emperor, he could only sigh softly to himself.

”It seems Brother Li is tempted. Remember to come to the Leisure World Academy! I’ll be sure to treat you well and introduce you to a few princesses and saintesses.” Bing Yuxia laughed, and even dressed as a man, her smile was breathtakingly beautiful.

Li Qiye didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. This girl was certainly interesting, different from the successors of the other Ancient Great Teachings Countries!

After Bing Yuxia left, another person suddenly popped out from a corner, grinning. ”So, the Young Master has come to the Celestial Dao Academy as well. What a pleasant surprise.”

He was a sturdy-looking young man and a student of the Celestial Dao Academy. His face was completely unfamiliar, and no outsider would have any clue as to his origins.

”What, have you set your sights on the Celestial Dao Academy now?” Li Qiye said, eyeing the unfamiliar student. Others might not recognize this fellow, but he couldn’t escape Li Qiye’s Dharma Eye. It was none other than that brat, Sikong Toutian.

Sikong Toutian grinned, rubbing his hands together. ”Heh, I ran into an old rival back at the Imperial Palace of Lion Roar Country, so I had to take my leave without saying goodbye.”

Li Qiye said nothing. The guy had likely made more enemies than he could count, and Li Qiye couldn’t be bothered to ask for details.

”So, what winds have brought you here this time, Young Master?” Sikong Toutian asked curiously after glancing around to make sure they were alone.

Li Qiye gave him a sidelong glance. ”What winds? I’m just here to casually browse the Great World Academy.”

Sikong Toutian chuckled. He obviously didn’t believe him but didn’t dare press the matter. He lowered his voice and said, ”Well, I’ve managed to dig up a little something myself. I’d be happy to share it with you, Young Master.”

”What is it?” Li Qiye asked, sounding uninterested. He was here for the Void Gate and had little curiosity about anything else.

Sikong Toutian glanced around again. Once he was certain they were truly alone, he said in a grave and careful tone, ”The Celestial Dao Academy is in grave danger.”

”I’m listening.” Li Qiye’s eyes narrowed. Now *this* piqued his interest.

Sikong Toutian whispered, ”I got my hands on some classified intelligence—the kind of secret that could shake the heavens. Someone’s looking to take advantage of the Celestial Dao Academy. They’re planning to destroy it.”

”Destroy the Celestial Dao Academy.” Li Qiye’s eyes narrowed. ’That’s not exactly surprising,’ he thought. For eons, countless heritages and dynasties had dreamed of destroying the academy. It possessed resources beyond measure; the number of Immortal Treasures and divine artifacts in its Treasure Vault was simply incalculable. Any single item, if taken out, would incite a bloodbath. From the Desolate Era to the present day, the academy had amassed innumerable Cultivation Technique Secret Manuals. Even more coveted was its priceless territory, especially the grand vein of heaven and earth running beneath it. Establishing a sect upon that grand vein would be the foundation of an eternal legacy.

Throughout the ages, far too many powers had wanted to destroy the Celestial Dao Academy. And yet, in the end, it always remained standing.

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