Emperor’s Domination

“Sacred ground? Your place got annihilated.” Li Qiye stared at the skull and said.

“Don’t you know who I am? I still got some resources left unlike you who lost everything after exploding.” The skull smiled.

Li Qiye chuckled and scanned the dreams before speaking: “This thing you left behind...”

“I was bored and made three springs, they somehow became full. The other two are useless but this everlasting spring is different.” The skull said.

“If it’s everlasting, you wouldn’t have needed to bury yourself underground.” Li Qiye said.

“Hehe, just a bit of primordial essence, I suppose.” The skull let out a dry laugh and said: “It’s still everlasting in the mortal world, I use it sometimes to take a bath since it’s comfortable.”

“I suppose.” Li Qiye nodded.

The spring was far from being everlasting for the two of them, only good enough to be used as water for broth. However, primal ancestors and heaven-slayers would view this as a supreme holy spring.

“Who dirtied my three springs with these dreams? If I still have my cultivation, I would surely flay him.” The skull said.

“Someone planted them.” Li Qiye said.

“Who has the power to do this in Three Immortals? The little girl on your side, the brat, and those two geezers.” The skull replied: “Not any of them, so an immortal from outside, that can’t be right either since he’s long gone.”

“We’ll find out soon.” Li Qiye smiled and entered the dream world.

***

No one had an answer for why Sea of Heavenly Sin was being engulfed in dreams. The source was unknown even for North Kun God’s group.

Nevertheless, they knew there must be a great fortune there, hence their journey within. Unfortunately, the real source was located in reality and took root in the dream world.

Li Qiye pierced through the dreams and entered a room in a sealed area located in Splendor City - the largest in Old World.

He stared at the bed occupied by a middle-aged man. His cultivation didn’t look particularly special but his riches far surpassed primal ancestors.

The robe was made from Transcendent Cloud Garment while his crest was known as Crown of the Fallen World. He had jeweled rings on each finger, each representing a different power - time, space, karma, reincarnation...

With the imbued powers within the rings, his punch could match any primal ancestor or heaven-slayer.

In addition, the blanket covering him was woven from the fabrics of grand momentums. Everything near him was priceless.

He had lived a life of luxury and comfort, judging by his appearance. He exuded an air of restrained elegance, living extravagantly without abandoning the mind and arts. He surely knew the classics and was full of talent.

Thus, the duality defied convention. How could scholarly grace and outrageous materialism exist in the same man?

Two men crouched at the bedside, resting their chin on their hands and staring silently at him. They were none other than the two idiots next to the well in Sea of Heavenly Sin.

They glanced at Li Qiye for a second before turning back to stare at the sleeping man.

“Who are you?” The skull asked. The magnificent treasures weren’t much in his eyes, only things flaunted by the nouveau riche.

The two idiots were different and surprised him with their presence. A single one shouldn’t be in Three Immortals yet there were two.

“Who are you?” They stared at each other and asked in unison.

“You’re Left Splendor.” One pointed.

“You’re Right Splendor.” The other did the same.

Then they stared at the sleeping man and said: “This is our boss, Splendor Monarch.”

“Left and Right Splendor? Unfamiliar.” The skull frowned and shook.

“He never heard of us.” Left told Right.

“Of course, we don’t recognize him either.” Right said.

“You two are from Heavenrealm? How can this be?” The skull said.

“Why not? That’s exactly where we’re from.” The two answered.

“Wait, how does he know? Did you tell others?” Right then asked Left.

“No, only to the boss.” Left was surprised and asked the skull: “How do you know where we are from?”

“I can smell the stench of Heavenrealm on you two.” The skull said impolitely.

“Stench?” The two sniffed themselves first then the other: “Are you stinky?”

“No.” Both answered: “You’re just lying now.”

“Wait, he’s the stinky one.” Right said.

Left sniffed the skull and said: “What is it?”

“You forgot already? We were there for 80 million years, it’s that smell.” Right said.

Left became afraid and staggered backward: “You’re right, that stench.”

“No, it’s a little different.” Right said: “The smell there has a faint and indescribable odor, always there since the womb.”

“The smell of the high heaven?” Left asked.

“The scent of shadow. Where?” The skull’s expression changed.