Dominator Emperor

”Senior Brother is incredible! He already possesses a Dragon Soul.” Seeing Yan Long manifest a Giant Fire Dragon, the disciples of the Qianli River couldn’t help but be stirred.

Yan Long possessed a Fire Python bloodline and followed the Demon Dao. If he could consistently wield Dragon Flame and generate a Dragon Soul, he could one day transform into a True Dragon. When that happened, his bloodline would undergo a true metamorphosis, turning him into a powerful Divine Beast. Reaching that step would be a truly Heaven-Defying feat.

”Senior Brother, teach him a lesson!” Seeing Yan Long make his move, a junior brother cheered ecstatically. Many other disciples joined in, roaring their support for Yan Long.

Just as the fire dragon’s giant claw swiped down, Li Qiye moved. The instant he did, the space around him trembled with a soft BUZZ. It was a faint tremor, as if Li Qiye had simply flapped a pair of wings.

BANG! A loud explosion echoed. Everyone assumed Li Qiye had been flattened into paste by the fire dragon’s giant claw. However, when they managed to focus their eyes, they saw Yan Long—still wrapped in his coiling dragon—being sent flying high into the air, his blood staining the sky crimson.

BANG! Another huge impact sounded. Yan Long, still reeling from being launched into the air, was struck again and sent plummeting back toward the earth.

BANG! BANG! BANG! Three more thunderous impacts followed. Before the falling Yan Long could even reach the ground, he was hit three consecutive times. The force of the blows instantly accumulated, and in a flash, the Giant Fire Dragon coiled around him was completely shattered!

BOOM! Finally, a massive explosion shook the entire arena as Yan Long crashed heavily onto the dueling stage, gouging a large crater into its reinforced surface.

Inside the crater, Yan Long lay covered in wounds and drenched in blood, completely motionless. If not for the shallow breaths he was taking, everyone would have assumed he was dead.

And Li Qiye? He was still standing in his original position, utterly still. It was as if he had never moved, as if he had been standing there the entire time without making a single move.

For a long moment, everyone stared with their mouths hanging wide open. The cheers of the disciples who had been rooting for Yan Long died in their throats. In that instant, all sound abruptly vanished.

Even the expressions of the Qianli River elders changed drastically. Everything had happened too quickly, in less than the blink of an eye. The entire exchange was over in an instant. In that moment, Yan Long’s powerful defenses had been as effective as no defense at all.

The other disciples might not have been able to see Li Qiye’s moves, but the Qianli River elders did. Even so, all they saw was a series of afterimages. If their Dao Practice hadn’t already reached the level of Saint Venerable or even Saint Emperor, they would have been completely unable to keep up with his speed.

It was simply too fast. Not even a peak Saint Venerable or a powerful Saint Emperor necessarily possessed such frightening speed.

Even Lan Yunzhu, who had been watching Li Qiye intently, found her expression shifting. She understood him better than any outsider. An Ancient Saint with Six Palaces and Nine Stars would hold an advantage even against a Saint Venerable.

In Lan Yunzhu’s mind, her Senior Brother Yan Long’s defeat was a certainty, a mere matter of when. But for him to be defeated so quickly was still a great shock to her. Li Qiye hadn’t even unleashed the might of his Six Palaces and Nine Stars, and Yan Long had already fallen. ’How terrifying is he?’

Lan Yunzhu was a rare talent, a prodigy who could be called a monster in her own right. She was confident enough in her own Dao Practice to challenge the heir of any Emperor Immortal Gate. But seeing Li Qiye fight today, she couldn’t help but feel a chill.

”What kind of Secret Technique is that?!” an elder from the Qianli River exclaimed, his face pale. Such incredible speed! In their minds, Li Qiye must have cultivated some world-shaking Secret Technique.

The Flying Immortal Body and the Prison Suppressing Divine Body. What kind of power would be unleashed when two great Immortal Bodies were used at once? The result was right before their eyes. And this was while Li Qiye’s Flying Immortal Body hadn’t even reached the Minor Achievement stage!

Two physiques in a single body—it was something the world could scarcely imagine. Today was the first time Li Qiye had unleashed them together, a mere prelude, yet their power was already terrifying.

Absolute speed and absolute weight. At such extreme velocities, an incredibly heavy body becomes the ultimate weapon, possessing unparalleled destructive power.

”Long’er—!” Elder Lin cried out in alarm and rushed down from the stands. He breathed a sigh of relief when he found Yan Long was still alive, then immediately turned to glare furiously at Li Qiye.

”You vicious Little Ghost!” Elder Lin snarled, his face cold and his eyes glinting with murderous intent as he stared at Li Qiye.

Li Qiye shot him a lazy glance. ”Vicious? Who was it that boasted about killing me within three moves? The fact that I spared his life is already an act of mercy!”

”Enough. Step down. Saving him is what’s important right now,” Treasure Turtle Daoist said, intervening. ”Li Qiye has passed the first trial. The event for the second trial will be his to decide. What do you choose for the next challenge? Naturally, whatever you propose, the Qianli River is ready to accept.”

”I get to pick?” Li Qiye rubbed his chin and smiled. ”Since it’s my choice, then how about a contest of Catching the Immortal Sunflower? Whoever catches the most, wins.”

”Catching the Immortal Sunflower?” Treasure Turtle Daoist looked at Li Qiye. ”Do you understand what that challenge entails?”

”I don’t need a reminder from you, Sect Leader,” Li Qiye said with a smile. ”Everyone knows that the Yin Yang Immortal Sunflower from the Qianli River’s Yin Yang Pool is one of the greatest Immortal Objects in all of Nanyao Yun.”

”Very well. Since that is your choice, we will see you at the Yin Yang Pool in three days to settle the matter.” Treasure Turtle Daoist didn’t question Li Qiye’s request further and agreed on the spot.

As for the Qianli River disciples in the audience, they were rendered speechless for a long time. Many fell silent. Though they couldn’t stand Li Qiye, he had defeated Yan Long with his own genuine strength. No matter how much they disliked him, they had no choice but to accept the outcome.

”Alright, let’s go.” Li Qiye grinned at Lan Yunzhu. ”I believe no one can keep the two of us apart. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Words like that from Li Qiye were easily misinterpreted. In the eyes of the Qianli River disciples, Li Qiye and Lan Yunzhu now looked like a pair of star-crossed lovers facing adversity together, while their Qianli River sect was the cruel villain trying to tear them apart.

Lan Yunzhu shot him an exasperated glare but ultimately said nothing, simply turning and walking away with him.

The Qianli River disciples were left with a bitter taste in their mouths, their chests tight with frustration. Before the battle, so many of them had been ecstatic, arriving with absolute certainty of victory. They had believed this duel would hold no surprises. In their eyes, their Senior Brother was guaranteed to teach this arrogant brat who didn’t know his own limits a severe lesson.

It would make a toad like Li Qiye, who was lusting after a swan, understand that the Princess of their Qianli River was not someone just anyone could aspire to have.

All the disciples had thought victory was certain. They never imagined their Senior Brother would be taken down in a single exchange. This was an utter humiliation for the Qianli River sect, but there was nothing they could do. Li Qiye had defeated Yan Long with his own genuine ability, leaving them with a bellyful of anger they had no way to vent.

”Hmph. So what if he passed this trial? There’s no way he can pass the second one. Not just anyone can go down into the Yin Yang Pool,” one of the Qianli River disciples finally muttered with a defiant snort.

「Back in their private courtyard」

Lan Yunzhu glanced at Li Qiye. ”Going down into the Yin Yang Pool to catch Immortal Sunflowers is a task that requires two people. Can you really do it by yourself?”

Li Qiye smiled, then glanced at Lu Baiqiu, who stood nearby. ”If you’re not willing to help me, then I’ll just have Bai Qiu go down with me.”

”Me?” Lu Baiqiu jumped in alarm and quickly shook her head. ”I can’t. Young Master, do you truly understand what it means to go into the Yin Yang Pool to catch an Immortal Sunflower?”

Li Qiye smiled. ”If I didn’t know, I wouldn’t have chosen this challenge.” As he spoke, a faint, knowing smile touched his lips.

”But, Young Master, you have to understand, the Yin Yang Pool is an incredibly dangerous place,” Lu Baiqiu hurriedly explained. ”Its waters are divided into Extreme Yin Water and Extreme Yang Water. Even though they’re in the same pool, the two are completely different. The Extreme Yin Water is said to be the coldest water in existence; a single drop is enough to freeze and extinguish a True Destiny Primordial Spirit. And the deeper you go, the colder it becomes...”

”...And the Extreme Yang Water is said to be the hottest water in the world, capable of melting iron and bronze. Even Heroic Heroes and Princes wouldn’t dare touch it recklessly,” Lu Baiqiu continued. ”It’s not that I’m unwilling to lend you a hand, Young Master, but my Dao Practice is far too shallow. If I went into the Yin Yang Pool, I’m afraid I would only hold you back.”

”It’s fine, no need to be nervous,” Li Qiye said with unruffled confidence. ”If you can’t do it, we’ll just have Yunzhu come along. The two of us can go down, and you can just watch from the side.”

”Who said I was going to help you?” Lan Yunzhu shot him an irritated glare. ”You brought this on yourself; I didn’t tell you to choose this challenge. Besides, I’m a disciple of the Qianli River. Why would I ever help an outsider?”

”Is that so?” Li Qiye gave her a leisurely glance. ”Tell me, what bond is closer? The one between fellow disciples, or the one between a husband and wife? I am your husband, don’t forget.”

”Stop spouting nonsense!” Lan Yunzhu retorted, her face flushing with a mixture of embarrassment and anger. ”You want to be my fiancé? Hmph, maybe in your next life! No, not even then! You don’t stand a chance!”

”Oh? Hearing you say that, maybe I should consider withdrawing,” Li Qiye said with a beaming smile. ”If I were to back out now, I’m sure your Qianli River sect would be delighted to send me off with a few treasures as a parting gift. As for the grand matter of your marriage... well, you can take your sweet time figuring that out on your own.”

”You dare—!” Lan Yunzhu’s face flushed bright red with anger. She planted her hands on her hips, looking like she was about to erupt.