Dominator Emperor

As Li Qiye’s thoughts turned to the Treasure Box left behind by the Overlord Immortal Lion King, the Lion Roar Emperor fell into a contemplative silence, looking as if he wanted to speak but was holding back.

"If you have something to say, Your Majesty, just say it. There’s no need to beat around the bush," Li Qiye said, noticing the Lion Roar Emperor’s hesitation.

The Lion Roar Emperor gave a dry laugh, hesitated for a moment, and finally said, "My son told me that you, Fellow Daoist, are from the Xiyan Ancient Sect and have not yet been enfeoffed as a Prince. Heh, my Lion Roar Country is but a small nation. I wonder if we might have the honor of enfeoffing you as a Marquis?"

The criteria for enfeoffing a Prince varied between Jiang Countries. Some were exceedingly particular, even strict—especially the Ancient Countries. Generally, a Cultivator had to be a master of the Profound Fate Realm to be granted such a title, which is why masters of this realm were commonly referred to as Princes.

However, not everyone enfeoffed as a Prince was a Profound Fate Realm master. Some smaller countries, unable to retain powerful figures, would lower their standards. Still, for the great majority of Jiang Countries, reaching the Profound Fate Realm remained the primary requirement.

For a small, weak nation like the Lion Roar Country, retaining talented individuals wasn’t easy. Thus, they would lower the requirements for their nobility. They didn’t dare to claim they were enfeoffing a Prince, only a Marquis. While this might seem like a minor distinction, it was an important observance of tradition that they dared not overstep.

Li Qiye merely smiled at the Lion Roar Emperor’s words. The Emperor quickly added, "Even if you accept the title of Marquis in our Lion Roar Country, Fellow Daoist, you can still be enfeoffed as a Prince in another nation. Furthermore, you would not be a vassal to our country and would not need to observe the formalities between a ruler and his subject. We only hope that if our nation faces a crisis in the future, you might lend us some aid. If you are willing, you may choose any piece of land within the Lion Roar Country’s territory."

The conditions the Lion Roar Emperor offered were incredibly generous, practically without restriction—something rarely seen. In truth, he was desperate to keep Li Qiye. The actual strength of Li Qiye’s Dao Practice was secondary. A Pharmacist who could alter a person’s destiny—even if he wasn’t a Legendary Pharmacist of myths—was already a Heaven-Defying existence. If word of such a person got out, it wouldn’t just be the Lion Roar Country; every Great Teaching Territory in the world would be fighting over him! He was an absolutely priceless talent.

Li Qiye narrowed his eyes, thought for a moment, and then said, "I recall that your Lion Roar Country once had a territory called Zushen County. I wonder, does it still exist?"

"It does, it does! That is a fiefdom in the northernmost part of the Lion Roar Country," the Lion Roar Emperor hurriedly replied upon hearing Li Qiye’s words.

Li Qiye smiled. "Very well, I’ll accept the title of Marquis. I don’t particularly care about owning the land, but I’ll reside in Zushen County for the time being. And as you said, if your nation faces a crisis in the future, I will lend you a hand."

Li Qiye’s request left the Lion Roar Emperor stunned, and Chi Xiaodie was equally taken aback. They had both assumed that if Li Qiye were to accept a title, he would choose the most fertile lands in the Lion Roar Country, a region teeming with Treasure Gold Spiritual Medicine, as his fiefdom. They never imagined he would pick Zushen County.

Zushen County was located in the far northern reaches of the Lion Roar Country, a place so remote you could say ’the mountains are high and the emperor is far away.’ It was sparsely populated, neither fertile nor resource-rich. Yet, Li Qiye had specifically chosen this barren land. How could this not leave both the Lion Roar Emperor and Chi Xiaodie utterly dumbfounded?

"Yes, yes, of course! As long as that is your wish, Fellow Daoist, it’s absolutely no problem." The Lion Roar Emperor, snapping out of his daze, nodded vigorously. This was an outcome he couldn’t have even dared to hope for.

Li Qiye said leisurely, "Zushen County is a desolate place, and I could use someone to run errands. How about this: Xiaodie will come with me."

The moment these words left Li Qiye’s mouth, the Lion Roar Emperor’s expression changed drastically. The Lion Roar Country may be a small nation, but his daughter was the apple of his eye. Things had not yet reached a point where he would allow his daughter to become someone’s servant!

"Relax," Li Qiye said with a smile. "I’m just in need of an attendant. I won’t do anything to her."

Hearing this, Chi Xiaodie couldn’t help but seethe with anger. ’He says it like I’m some hideous hag!’ The thought infuriated her. Li Qiye’s demand that she become his servant was far less infuriating than the dismissive way he said it.

"Father, I’ll go with him!" Just as the Lion Roar Emperor was about to refuse Li Qiye’s demand, Chi Xiaodie stepped forward, shot Li Qiye a look, and spoke in a cold voice.

"This..." The Lion Roar Emperor was the one who hesitated now. He glanced back and forth between Li Qiye and Chi Xiaodie, feeling the situation was utterly preposterous. His daughter was, after all, the apple of his eye, a princess of noble birth—a Golden Branch and Jade Leaf of the Lion Roar Country. He was naturally unwilling to let her serve anyone! But now, his own daughter had readily agreed.

Sima Longyun from the Nu Xian Sacred Country had once come to their door to propose marriage. Although his daughter hadn’t openly defied it, he knew as her father that she was against it. Yet now, she was willing to become Li Qiye’s attendant. The whole thing left him completely baffled.

"Fine. You can decide for yourself," the Lion Roar Emperor finally sighed, which counted as his consent.

In the end, Li Qiye accepted the Lion Roar Emperor’s conferment. After making his pledge before the Jinluan Hall, the Lion Roar Emperor bestowed upon him the Great Seal, which symbolized authority over Zushen County. With that, Li Qiye became the highest Ruler of Zushen County, and the land became his personal territory.

Li Qiye did not dawdle. The very next day after the ceremony, he set off for Zushen County with Chi Xiaodie in tow. The Lion Roar Emperor, of course, was loath to part with his daughter and tried to persuade her to change her mind right up until their departure.

But, for reasons unknown, Chi Xiaodie was as if possessed. She was dead set on going, and in the capacity of a servant no less. In the end, the Lion Roar Emperor could only let out a soft sigh and see his daughter and Li Qiye off on their journey.

Unfortunately, Chi Xiaodao was not there to see them off. The previous evening, he had escorted Princess Bao Yun back to the Bao Yun Family, acting as her Flower Guardian.

Li Qiye didn’t want to get in the way of Chi Xiaodao’s romantic endeavor, so he hadn’t informed him. Meanwhile, Sikong Toutian had vanished. Sometime after the grand banquet that night, the little rascal had slipped away to parts unknown. Even Chi Xiaodie, who had hosted the event, hadn’t noticed when he disappeared.

Li Qiye paid these matters no mind. The opportunity was in Sikong Toutian’s own hands to grasp. It was the same for Chi Xiaodie; the opportunity was hers for the taking. If she let it slip by, Li Qiye certainly wasn’t going to hold it for her.

Li Qiye departed the Imperial City and entered Zushen County of the Lion Roar Country. However, instead of heading to the County Capital, the seat of power for the region’s ruler, he continued traveling north.

"Aren’t we going to the County Capital?" Chi Xiaodie asked, surprised to see that Li Qiye had no intention of stopping there.

"We’re not going to the County Capital." Li Qiye casually tossed the Great Seal, the symbol of authority over Zushen County, to Chi Xiaodie. "As for the administration of Zushen County, you can manage it, or your father the Emperor can manage it. I couldn’t care less. I’m only staying here for a little while. The title of Marquis... that’s just to settle a bit of karma I have with your Chi Family."

Chi Xiaodie caught the Great Seal, stunned. As the reality of his words sank in, she sighed inwardly. His words were unbelievably arrogant and dismissive, but this time, she said nothing.

Eventually, Li Qiye led Chi Xiaodie into a flat river plain that stretched for a thousand li. As far as the eye could see, there was only a vast, unending expanse.

Chi Xiaodie followed Li Qiye, having no idea where he was leading her. Even though she was a Princess of the Lion Roar Country, she knew very little about this particular landscape.

At the far end of the river plain stood a ridge of moderate height. Beyond it, a majestic mountain range stretched into the distance, its peaks rising and falling, perpetually shrouded in clouds and mist—a magnificent vista.

Chi Xiaodie studied the vista before them. "Those rolling mountains ahead must be the territory of the Celestial Dao Academy," she said. After examining the area more closely, she added, "This looks like its western edge, the Western Border of its territory. We’re a long, long way from the academy’s ancestral land and main entrance."

"Correct," Li Qiye said with a nod, gazing at the ridge. "Cross that, and you’ll be in the Celestial Dao Academy’s territory."

Chi Xiaodie was momentarily confused. She had no idea why Li Qiye had brought them here. To get to the Celestial Dao Academy, one should travel east, as its ancestral grounds and main gate were in the far east. Even though the land before them belonged to the academy, none of its disciples ever ventured to this remote Western Border.

Li Qiye led Chi Xiaodie up the moderately-sized ridge. When they reached the summit, she was surprised to find a ruined temple. It was neither large nor small, just a dilapidated structure on a lonely peak.

Who knew how many ages had passed since the temple was last inhabited. It was ancient and decrepit; the paint had long since peeled from its walls and carved beams. Weeds grew wild all around, thick old vines clung to the structure, and it had become a haven for rats, snakes, and other small creatures.

Upon entering, they found the interior thick with dust and draped in cobwebs. Standing inside the gloom, the only distinguishable features were two statues.

"The Ancestral God Temple," Li Qiye murmured, a wave of emotion washing over him as he stood amidst the cobwebs. He let out a soft sigh.

Chi Xiaodie stood there, utterly baffled. She couldn’t fathom why Li Qiye would come to a place like this. He had turned down the prosperous County Capital only to hole up in this ruined temple.

"Tidy this place up. We’ll be living here for a while, I’m afraid," Li Qiye instructed Chi Xiaodie after a brief inspection.

Chi Xiaodie was taken aback. Dust and cobwebs were everywhere. She had never done this kind of cleaning before. Such lowly, coarse work was not something a princess—a Golden Branch and Jade Leaf—was ever expected to do.

Chi Xiaodie took a deep breath, channeled her Blood Qi, and with a flick of her sleeves, sent a gust of wind sweeping through the temple. A gale erupted, and dust filled the air! In an instant, they were both completely enveloped in a thick cloud of dust.

"Don’t be disrespectful to those who came before. Clean it by hand." Li Qiye casually tossed her a Qiankun Pouch. "There are daily necessities inside. Get this place cleaned up. I’m going for a walk."

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