Dominator Emperor

The thought of having to find the one correct spot in the vast, endless Void made Suan Tian Daoist’s legs go soft. He was terrified. ‘If there’s really only one Secret Realm, that’s beyond frightening.’ Had their luck been just a fraction worse, they would have missed the jump and been done for. The thought alone made him break out in a cold sweat.

“What, you don’t trust me?” Li Qiye gave him a cold glance and said, “Besides, I’m not afraid of death, so what the hell are you afraid of? You think your life is more valuable than mine?”

“Heh, heh. It’s an old habit of mine,” Suan Tian Daoist said with a dry laugh. “The better one is at divination, the more one fears death. Heh, when I was a child, I would perform a divination for myself every single day before leaving the house, just to check for danger! Hee, hee, hee… But, I know you are my great benefactor, My Lord! I’m certain that as long as I follow you, good fortune will shine upon me!”

Li Qiye merely gave a leisurely smile at Suan Tian Daoist’s flattery, clearly enjoying it.

“Alright, stop being so smug.” Seeing his expression, Lan Yunzhu rolled her eyes at him in exasperation. “In this vast Void, how did you know the Secret Realm was here?”

To be honest, she had been given a huge scare when Li Qiye said the First Evil Tomb might only have one Secret Realm. She was frightened just thinking about it; one wrong jump meant certain death.

In fact, as Lan Yunzhu recalled the journey now, she couldn’t remember anything special. Even if she were to retrace their steps, there was no way she could pick the right location. In this vast Void, there were absolutely no landmarks to indicate the Secret Realm’s location!

At Lan Yunzhu’s question, Li Qiye paused, staring absently at the great lake before them. When he came to, he gave a mysterious smile and said, “That’s a secret. It is enough that I alone know it.”

Of course, he couldn’t possibly tell Lan Yunzhu that he had been here before. Someone had told him about the Secret Realm, but it was only after his own countless attempts that he finally figured out how to find it. In truth, his success was only possible thanks to his eternal, undying nature.

Just as the Ancestor Flow Master had said, as the Yin Ya, it was precisely because of his eternal, undying nature that he dared to try so boldly. Of course, this also came at a price—a kind of pain that not just anyone could endure.

“Alright, a Creation is right in front of you. Choose for yourselves,” Li Qiye said with a smile. As he spoke, he stood up and walked toward the great lake ahead.

Lan Yunzhu and Suan Tian Daoist immediately followed behind Li Qiye. As they walked across the field of jumbled stones, neither of them realized they were stepping on the round rocks.

When they stepped on the round rocks, the rocks suddenly threw them both off. At that moment, the two rocks they had stepped on actually stood up.

“OUCH! Who’s so blind they’d step right on me?!” the two rocks shouted as they stood up.

Two round stones suddenly standing up like people and even speaking—how could this not give Lan Yunzhu and Suan Tian Daoist a huge fright?

They stared in disbelief at the two stones before them. No, these weren’t stones at all. They were clearly two people—two dwarves. These dwarves were short and stout, with long, pointed ears, green skin, and sharp noses. They had a comical and bizarre appearance.

“My heavens, what in the world are these things?!” Although cultivators grew accustomed to strange sights, this sudden event would startle even the boldest person. Suan Tian Daoist stared in disbelief at the two dwarves; he had never seen creatures like them before.

“You’re the ‘thing’!” one of the dwarves grumbled upon hearing Suan Tian Daoist. “We’re Secret Realm Elves! What does a brat like you know?”

Lan Yunzhu and Suan Tian Daoist were dumbstruck. ‘Secret Realm Elves? It sounds like such a beautiful name.’ But these creatures were nothing like the elves of their imagination. If they told anyone these dwarves were elves, absolutely no one would believe it.

“Please forgive them. They’re new here and didn’t know you were sleeping,” Li Qiye said with a beaming smile.

“Hmph. If you’re not here for a transaction or a choice, then don’t disturb us.” The two Secret Realm Elves were clearly displeased. They snorted, grumbled a bit, then curled up on the ground, once again looking just like round rocks.

Seeing this, Lan Yunzhu and Suan Tian Daoist finally understood. The field of jumbled stones before them wasn’t a stone field at all—every single round rock lying here was a Secret Realm Elf!

“Alright, come on over. Watch your step. Don’t go stepping on the Secret Realm Elves. It’s very rude to disturb their slumber,” Li Qiye said with a grin.

Lan Yunzhu shot him an exasperated glare. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you? You deliberately didn’t warn us so we’d step on the Secret Realm Elves.” “Well now,” Li Qiye chuckled leisurely, “it just slipped my mind.”

Lan Yunzhu glared fiercely at Li Qiye, but her spirited expression held a captivating charm one could never tire of seeing. She was a true beauty, and her looks were in no way inferior to the Shen Ran Phoenix Lady.

Lan Yunzhu and Suan Tian Daoist carefully made their way through the slumbering grounds of the Secret Realm Elves and followed Li Qiye to the lakeside.

At the lakeside, Li Qiye sat down. He fell silent as he gazed at the water, seemingly lost in remembrance.

‘Back then, I came here. In fact, it was only after countless attempts that I finally found this Secret Realm. Later, I brought someone with me, but alas, we still failed to obtain the greatest Creation.’

‘Those were nostalgic times. This place was once filled with laughter. Even though I was only the Yin Ya back then, I loved to stand here quietly, just listening to the joyful sounds.’

“What’s wrong?” Seeing Li Qiye sitting by the lake and staring vacantly at the water, Lan Yunzhu sat down beside him and asked. For a moment, it seemed to her that he had something on his mind.

‘The Li Qiye I know has always been calm and collected, as if nothing could ever shake his Dao Heart. It’s always been as tranquil as a placid well. But now… he seems almost melancholic.’ The word “melancholic” didn’t seem to suit someone as domineering and fierce as him.

‘If I didn’t see that something was weighing on him, I’d think my eyes were playing tricks on me. I never would have taken Li Qiye for a sentimental person.’

“Is your Qianli River’s Exquisite Pearl still around?” Li Qiye withdrew his gaze, looked at Lan Yunzhu, and said with a smile.

“The Exquisite Pearl?” Lan Yunzhu said. “It’s our Qianli River’s Emperor Artifact, so of course it is. The Exquisite Pearl is an unbeatable Extraordinary Treasure left behind by our founder, personally refined by him.”

Lan Yunzhu found it strange. She didn’t understand why Li Qiye would suddenly ask about their Qianli River’s Emperor Artifact.

“Yes, personally refined by your Qianli Immortal Emperor. An incredible Extraordinary Treasure. That pearl is truly the stuff of dreams. Its mysteries are not something just anyone can fully comprehend,” Li Qiye sighed with emotion.

Lan Yunzhu knew this, of course. The Exquisite Pearl had been studied by generations of the Qianli River’s most talented geniuses, who had all gained much from it. She herself had also studied the Exquisite Pearl and benefited greatly.

However, that wasn’t what she found strange. The strange part was Li Qiye’s sudden mention of the Exquisite Pearl. After all, their founder had left behind more than just one Immortal Emperor’s Treasure, yet Li Qiye had singled out the pearl. This made her suspect there was more to the story.

“Why did you specifically bring up the Exquisite Pearl?” Lan Yunzhu asked, eyeing Li Qiye. “Is there something special about this place?” ‘My intuition tells me that Li Qiye knows more about our Qianli River than I do—more than anyone in the sect, even. Just like with the Yin Yang Pool and the Golden Divine Willow!’

“Can’t a man be curious?” Li Qiye said with a smile. “I’ve long heard of the wonders of your Qianli River’s Exquisite Pearl, so I couldn’t help but ask. It’s only natural to be curious.”

“Hmph,” Lan Yunzhu rolled her eyes at him. “Mister, do you really think I don’t know what kind of person you are by now? Stop telling such clumsy lies. Anyone can see right through them.”

“In that case, I’m absolutely delighted,” Li Qiye laughed. “It means we’re like a husband and wife, perfectly in sync. Or maybe you’re the roundworm in my stomach, knowing all my thoughts!”

“You’re the roundworm! Disgusting!” Furious, Lan Yunzhu kicked him hard and ground her teeth, looking like she wanted to give him a thorough beating.

As for Suan Tian Daoist, he stood to one side, pretending he hadn’t seen a thing. They were in the middle of their flirtatious banter; of course, an outsider like him had to make himself invisible.

“Alright, since we’re here, let’s not waste any more time,” Li Qiye said to them with a laugh. “You should each choose your own Creation. Remember, you only get one chance. What you end up with will depend on your own luck.”

“The Creation is in this lake?” Suan Tian Daoist finally spoke up. He couldn’t help but stare at the great lake. He was from the Heart Demon Clan and was skilled in divination.

“Of course. There is also a great Creation in this lake—the greatest Creation in the entire Secret Realm. Don’t tell me you want it?” Li Qiye asked, noticing Suan Tian Daoist’s eager expression as he stared at the lake.

“I wonder if I have the good fortune for it.” Suan Tian Daoist was indeed eager to try. He understood just how heaven-defying and unparalleled the great Creation Li Qiye mentioned truly was.

He understood that simply being able to follow Li Qiye here was an incredible opportunity in itself. If he could obtain the great Creation Li Qiye spoke of, his journey to the First Evil Tomb could end right then and there. He was one who understood fate and was not overly greedy.

“Fine,” Li Qiye said with a smile. “If you have what it takes, I’ll let you have this great Creation. You go first. If you can obtain it, it’s yours.”

“Thank you, My Lord!” Suan Tian Daoist was overjoyed and bowed deeply to Li Qiye. Li Qiye’s words made it clear that he had this great Creation in the bag. Letting him go first was a true gift of opportunity.