Emperor’s Domination

“What are you getting at?” The skull asked.

“Nothing.” Li Qiye shrugged with a smile.

“You were talking about others being above us.” The skull insisted.

“Am I not one? And him?” Li Qiye said.

“Must you show off every day?” The skull became annoyed.

“Just speaking the truth.” Li Qiye shook his head.

“Hmph, as if we are that weak. There are rankings among us, you know?” The skull said.

“Indeed, and where do you rank among the top ten?” Li Qiye asked.

“Asshole.” The skull cursed and gritted his teeth: “I should have taught you a lesson back then so I don’t have to suffer your smug face right now.”

“The past is the past, now is now.” Li Qiye tapped the skull and said: “Forget it, I’m just playing. You primordial immortals have gone quite far. The issue is that the primordial also accounts for your failure.”

“True.” The skull paused before agreeing: “We were children running around absorbing worldly essences. You ants weren’t around then.”

“Then you found out how useful the primordial can be.” Li Qiye said: “But in the end, you only wanted one thing.”

“If you were born immortal, you would be bored with other matters as well.” The skull said.

“So you just ate and ate?” Li Qiye smiled.

“Not quite, we were without emotions and only gained them after lingering in your world for so long. Everything was possible back then.” The skull said.

“What about the villainous heaven?” Li Qiye asked.

“He was born before us and started crawling first. I suppose it’s a good and bad thing to be born in the primordial.” The skull said.

“It’s a marsh but you all had no idea, never thought about getting out.” Li Qiye said.

“Once we did, we only wanted to lie around and not walk. Either way, I respect the villainous heaven for being to first to leave.” The skull said sentimentally.

“And then the second.” Li Qiye smiled.

“Yes, and the third, the fourth.” The skull said: “The heaven was so far ahead of us, already gone once we became aware.”

“Right, he aimed for the shore way earlier.” Li Qiye said.

“Sword Immortal was the second among us to awaken.” The skull said.

“But he didn’t go.” Li Qiye said.

“It was interesting since we didn’t have emotions, only competition. Sword Immortal somehow had something like brotherly love and woke us up as well. However, we preferred to stay.” The skull said.

“Remarkable.” Li Qiye nodded.

“Although it didn’t work out, we came to realize that he might have had a chance if he hadn’t stuck around to wake us up. Nevertheless, it gave us more time to run. Otherwise, the heaven would have returned and killed us all.” The skull said.

“What about the old man?” Li Qiye smiled.

“Which one? The one who considered himself the second greatest?” The skull said: “He was awakened as well but preferred to linger and brought us everywhere in the marsh instead.”

“So there were two camps.” Li Qiye smiled.

“Not quite.” The skull said: “This only solidified once people started fighting. It’s a shame that Sword Immortal died earlier. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have needed to flee like dogs.”

“So Sword Immortal made it to the shore but still wanted to bring you all along. That’s why he challenged him. The difference is verified now.” Li Qiye smiled.

“We don’t count the heaven since we never saw him. With that in mind, he is number one, the closest to whatever gap you mentioned regarding us and the heaven. Sword Immortal and the old man can be second, I lean toward Sword Immortal.”

“Yes, those who make it to the shore are different.” Li Qiye nodded.

“The old man could have done it too but he wanted to stay in the marsh, hence his final form.” The skull said.

“To be born in the primordial and still have the strength to restrain oneself, to struggle and potentially make it ashore. That truly was an extraordinary feat.” Li Qiye said.

“Still can’t compare to you.” The skull glanced at Li Qiye and said: “At least we were born in the primordial. You were born in the chaos of the mortal world with a mortal body and a common frame yet you still walked ahead of us. That’s even more remarkable.”

“I will accept the compliment.” Li Qiye smiled.

“Then tell me, who else is below the villainous heaven when not counting you and him, or us?” The skull asked: “The others might be daydreaming about become the heaven but you two have a chance. Is it fifty-fifty or sixty-forty?”

“Talking about him or me?” Li Qiye smiled.

“What do you mean?” The skull’s expression changed.

“I’ve never wanted to replace the heaven, that would be far easier.” Li Qiye patted the skull.

“Not this again…” The skull complained.

“I’m just saying, destroying three thousand worlds is easy but returning them to themselves is harder.” Li Qiye smiled.

“Not only that, you want to eliminate the pests too.” The skull said: “The villainous heaven tried before.”

“Yes, but he couldn’t descend and the infestation was too much. Striking the worlds back to the chaos wasn’t enough to remove them.” Li Qiye said.

“Right, burning the field doesn’t work when they’re deep in the soil.” The skull understood.

“Nevertheless, it is still easier being him.” Li Qiye smiled.

“So you won’t be destroying everything?” The skull asked.

“Why would I? I’m not a savior with a majestic goal of creating a perfect world.” Li Qiye said.

“How many pests do you think are hiding?” The skull asked.

“Hard to say, many should be around from the failed attempts.” Li Qiye shook his head.

“I don’t know what he wants since I’ve never seen his true form before.” The skull said: “But I’ve seen the one who delivers the tribulations.”

“That guy?” Li Qiye smiled.

“The auctioneer.” The skull said.