Dominator Emperor

When the Starry Universe Water dripped onto the World Tree’s Young Leaves, the leaves actually began to melt. Before long, they had slowly dissolved into the solution.

SPLOOSH! At that very moment, the Treasure Alms Bowl held in Elder Daoist Peng’s hands suddenly erupted like a fountain, spouting a tall plume of Immortal Dew.

SPLASH— SPLASH— SPLASH— The medicinal solution gushing from the Treasure Alms Bowl rained down upon the Domain God in its pine tree form.

Just then, waves of dao chimes echoed from the scorched-black pine tree. From its seemingly dead branches, strands of Order Divine Chains unexpectedly descended, creating a vast curtain that resembled a small waterfall. These hanging chains immediately began siphoning up the gushing solution.

As the pine tree’s Order Divine Chains siphoned the solution, its scorched-black bark began to peel away, much like an old snake shedding its skin. A slow transformation was taking place.

The more solution the tree absorbed, the faster the transformation became. At last, the pine tree shed all of its charred blackness. Pine needles began to grow, and its old branches radiated with renewed Life Force.

Eventually, the Domain God absorbed all of the solution. A verdant old pine now stood before Li Qiye and the others. It was hard to imagine that this ancient pine was the invincible Domain God.

WHOOSH! In that instant, the pine tree erupted with an endless green light brimming with Life Force. Like an ocean of life, the green light instantly submerged the entire Celestial Dao Academy.

As the green light soared to the heavens, countless people were left shaken. Those within the Celestial Dao Academy found themselves submerged in it, feeling as if they were in a boundless ocean—and they, a single, insignificant drop within it.

Outside the Celestial Dao Academy, and even across the vast expanse of the East Hundred Cities, countless people felt that endless Life Force in that instant.

In that single moment, deep beneath the many Great Teaching Territories of the East Hundred Cities, countless pairs of eyes opened. Even some of the Old Undying, long sealed and buried underground, were abruptly awakened and sat bolt upright.

In that instant, everyone, no matter how powerful, felt the endless Life Force. It seemed to be overflowing from the Celestial Dao Academy, enough to submerge the entire East Hundred Cities.

”The Domain God—” At this moment, across the East Hundred Cities, countless people were stirred and horrified. Even the most powerful of existences couldn’t help but pale!

The Domain God’s invincibility was no empty boast. He and the Xiyan Ancient Sect’s Snail God of old were known as the two great gods of the Human Emperor Realm. They needed no conferment from others; they were worthy of being called True Gods!

”Is this... a rebirth?” Sensing such an endless wellspring of Life Force, even the Old Undying buried underground turned pale with horror and murmured to themselves.

’If the Domain God has been reborn, who in this world could possibly shake the Celestial Dao Academy? Even if an Immortal Emperor came in person, success would not be guaranteed!’ The legends were clear: as long as the Domain God guarded the Celestial Dao Academy, it was unshakeable!

RUMBLE— RUMBLE— RUMBLE— At this time, earth-shattering changes were unfolding within the Celestial Dao Academy. The fractured earth and sky began to knit back together, severed rivers began to flow once more, and collapsed mountains rose from their rubble...

It was like reshaping the heavens and remaking the earth. Such an invincible power was utterly terrifying. Any expert who witnessed this scene would feel their legs turn to jelly.

Shattering mountains and rivers might not be difficult for truly great figures. However, reshaping heaven and earth, recreating the world itself—that was something that, according to legend, only a Divine Emperor, a True God, or an Immortal Emperor could accomplish!

In the Domain God’s residence, everything had changed. The land that had been reduced to a thousand miles of scorched earth now saw its mountains reformed and its rivers flowing again. Trees began to sprout from the ground once more...

Witnessing this, Li Qiye couldn’t help but remark with feeling, ”This isn’t just due to the Domain God’s power, but also the peerless nature of this underground Ancestral Vein. This Ancestral Vein possesses Heaven and Earth Essence Qi capable of nurturing gods and birthing heavens. Who wouldn’t want to possess a vein like this?”

The claim that the Domain God could defend the Celestial Dao Academy even from an Immortal Emperor’s personal attack was no empty boast. Beyond the Domain God’s own invincibility, it was also thanks to the miraculous nature of this Ancestral Vein.

The Domain God was rooted in the Ancestral Vein. As long as its true form remained within the Celestial Dao Academy, it was unlikely that even a direct attack from an Immortal Emperor could destroy the academy.

For this very reason, countless people throughout the eons have coveted the Ancestral Vein lying beneath the Celestial Dao Academy. This vein had gathered an immense amount of the Human Emperor Realm’s Heaven and Earth Essence Qi. Any sect built upon it would ensure prosperity for its descendants for ten thousand generations!

Seeing that the matter had come to a satisfactory end, Li Qiye said to Elder Daoist Peng, ”Alright, let’s go. Let the Domain God recuperate.”

Elder Daoist Peng rubbed his hands together and said with a sheepish grin, ”Um, hehe, about those Karma Fire Scissors... shouldn’t they be returned to the Celestial Dao Academy now?”

Li Qiye glanced at him and said nonchalantly, ”What, you can’t bear to part with them? You could say you’ve made out like bandits this time. The Domain God absorbed so much Life Force from the World Tree; he definitely can’t handle it all alone. I’m sure some of it will feed back into your Celestial Dao Academy’s Ancestral Vein. And that’s not even mentioning the fact that your Domain God was saved.”

”Heh, heh, well, about that... The Celestial Dao Academy is endlessly grateful to Young Master Li.” Elder Daoist Peng rubbed his hands, looking quite conflicted despite his grin. ”But, business is business, and a deal is a deal, wouldn’t you agree, Young Master Li? This old Daoist personally guaranteed it to my fellow elders...”

Seeing Elder Daoist Peng’s expression, Li Qiye couldn’t help but laugh. He casually tossed the Treasure Box containing the Karma Fire Scissors to the old Daoist. ”Take them,” he said, still laughing. ”I was just messing with you. If I truly coveted the treasures of your Celestial Dao Academy, I wouldn’t be interested in a mere pair of Karma Fire Scissors...”

”...If I were to seize one of your treasures by force, I’d have to start with something like your Primordial Furnace. Or, say, the Emperor World Academy—casually taking something like that, *that* would qualify as seizure. A mere pair of Karma Fire Scissors isn’t worth me going back on my word. It’s beneath my status.” As he spoke, Li Qiye stroked his chin, looking as if he were seriously mulling it over.

These words caused the color to drain from Elder Daoist Peng’s face. He gave a dry laugh. ”Heh, heh, heh, Young Master Li, you certainly have a sense of humor. Our Celestial Dao Academy is but a humble institution, hardly worthy of Lord Li’s notice.”

Li Qiye gave him a calm, sidelong glance and said with unruffled ease, ”Who knows. Perhaps one day when the Void Gate opens again, I’ll borrow a few of your Celestial Dao Academy’s most prized possessions to use for a while.”

These words made Elder Daoist Peng’s scalp tingle. Though the Celestial Dao Academy was powerful, Li Qiye gave him an unnervingly bizarre feeling—as if even the academy itself wouldn’t be able to suppress him.

”Relax,” Li Qiye laughed. ”If I really do borrow a treasure, I’ll be sure to return it. A loan repaid makes future borrowing easy, after all.”

Elder Daoist Peng hurriedly put on a broad grin. ”Right, right! A loan repaid makes future borrowing easy. Should such a day come, our Celestial Dao Academy will surely offer its full support. Hehe, Young Master Li, speaking of the Void Gate, this old Daoist actually has a few questions. I hope Young Master Li might enlighten me.” He adopted a look of earnest thirst for knowledge.

Li Qiye laughed and shook his head. ”You really know how to press your advantage. Let’s talk about it when that day actually comes. For now, I know nothing.” He then turned and walked away.

Elder Daoist Peng could do nothing but give a dry laugh. He knew Li Qiye definitely knew something about the Void Gate; he just wasn’t willing to share.

In truth, not just Elder Daoist Peng but the entire Celestial Dao Academy wanted to understand the matter of the Void Gate. It was one of the Nine Great Heavenly Treasures—something even Immortal Emperors couldn’t ignore. How could the Celestial Dao Academy not be tempted? Many of the academy’s past Elder Sages had researched the matter, but all had returned empty-handed.

With the collapse of the Eternal Gate, the great feast came to a close. At the same time, the disaster at the Celestial Dao Academy ended, and it began welcoming back the students who had been sent away.

The many young Cultivators from all over the world began to depart with the Elders of their respective sects. Even a number of Celestial Dao Academy students started to leave, as they had come only for the Eternal Gate and not for true dao cultivation. Now that the feast was over, they were heading home.

However, many disciples from the Great Teaching Territories chose to remain at the Celestial Dao Academy to continue their studies.

Now that the feast of the Eternal Gate was over, some were joyous while others were sorrowful; some were triumphant, while others were dejected. Regardless, many had reaped great rewards. This event had changed the lives of countless people, especially the younger Cultivators of ordinary talent or humble origins. After seizing their own fortuitous Creation, their destinies were altered forever. Some would even go on to walk the long path of the Supreme Dao!

In truth, this was not surprising. The Celestial Dao Academy’s Eternal Gate had opened across countless eras, and it had changed the destinies of many people in the past.

Although the feast of the Eternal Gate had concluded, some matters were far from over.

Take the Void Gate, for example. Very few among the younger generation knew of it. However, when disciples from the Emperor Immortal Gates and Great Teaching Territories reported what happened to the great figures and Elder Ancestors of their sects, even those who only knew bits and pieces of the legend were deeply moved and began making inquiries.

For countless people, the Void Gate had always been the stuff of legend. The possibility that it had now appeared—how could these great figures not be stirred to action?

At the time, only four people had entered the pocket dimension where the Void Gate was located: Li Qiye, Mei Suyao, Ji Kong Wudi, and Zi Cui Ning. However, Ji Kong Wudi and Zi Cui Ning had fought a decisive battle just outside it.