Emperor’s Domination

The entire shrine exuded an emerald glow. With a peeling sound, space seemed to be opening, and strands of light bloomed forth.

Two lotus flowers miraculously bloomed on the trees. Their light flickered like gemstones as they emitted a delicate and refreshing fragrance.

After breathing in, the trio felt the fragrance filling their nostrils and invigorating their health. A clear spring seemingly washed away any impurities within them, allowing their grand dao to harmonize. Illnesses and diseases disappeared; dao bottlenecks were broken.

The daoist and the old woman took advantage of this and breathed in deeply. These night lotuses were especially useful for curing those with internal injuries or dao issues.

The lotus pods and seeds could finally be seen. The seeds looked like translucent white jade and shimmered with a warm glow.

“Those seeds are immensely beneficial.” The daoist and the old woman were amazed. Eating one seed could prevent qi deviation.

“The flowers bloom for the return of the night.” Li Qiye gently touched the flowers and said.

With that, he entered the inner corridor to reach the king’s hall. At first glance, it was too simple and made people wonder if the king had truly stayed here before.

Sunlight streamed down from the roof and illuminated the center of the hall. They saw a meditation mat with a worn cushion and an altar with an unmarked tablet.

This could have been the goal of the king’s seclusion - praying to bring long life and fortune to the unknown person.

“This was where the king spent her time, reciting sutras and cultivating the dao.” The daoist said.

“Why is there no name on the tablet?” The old demon asked.

“As I said, it might be that person who is a forbidden existence. His name cannot be uttered recklessly.” The daoist whispered.

“She secluded herself here to pray for him, her love was strong.” She let out a sigh.

“Yes, until her passing. Was she waiting for his return?” He said softly.

As the two conversed, Li Qiye sat down on the cushion and waved his hand, gesturing for them to leave.

They exchanged glances and decided to stand guard outside the shrine.

“How pitiful, unable to let go of the past.” Li Qiye sighed softly while looking at the tablet on the altar.

“Buzz.” He closed his eyes and temporal rays appeared around him, dancing like joyful spirits.

They filled up the room and time started reversing back to the past when she was still around.

Here, she chanted the heart sutra and focused on longevity. One name echoed in her mind as she channeled everything into the tablet.

Time flowed slowly as she focused on longevity. Among the radiance was a figure captivating her attention.

She became a fossil with only one purpose - praying for him to be eternal. Just like that, she secluded herself in this inner hall, chanting day after day.

This unwavering devotion and affection transcended life itself for the prayers continued until her last day. Her very last thoughts were still of the long-awaited one.

Li Qiye could see everything and raised his hand, conjuring the river of time and opening a temporal window.

While on the brink of death, she saw the window and through it, the person she had been thinking about day and night for eras. This was not an illusion or imagination.

She trembled and tears streamed down her cheeks. Her longing and longevity wishes weren’t in vain so she smiled, satisfied with exchanging those years for this single moment.

“Buzz.” Her time finally came but she had no regrets. After all, her mission was a resounding success.

Her body disintegrated into rays and these rays transformed into countless particles. They carried her emotions and devotion toward the tablet like a stream.

As everything merged, the light in the main hall and Virtuous King disappeared. Only the altar and the tablet were left.

The latter flicked with light, having gained a permanent engraving of a soaring dark crow. It could fly above the firmaments and cover the three thousand worlds beneath the shadow of its wings. This magnificent crow was eternal and the lord of all things.