Dominator Emperor

Celestial Empress Hongtian... Li Qiye was lost in a daze. As the Yin Ya, he had drifted through endless eons, and of all the Immortal Emperors he had personally groomed, Mingren Immortal Emperor was not the most dazzlingly talented.

However, while Celestial Empress Hongtian didn’t have the best innate talent, she had once been one of the most dazzlingly talented Immortal Emperors!

Once, they had swept across heaven and earth. When she ascended to the absolute apex, she had wept with joy. In times of hardship, she had sobbed in sorrow. Whether sweeping through the world or faltering upon the Great Dao, there had always been an unknown shadow by her side, sharing in her laughter and her grief!

Once, all the laughter, joy, tears, and heartbreak were etched into their shared memories!

Unfortunately, they eventually parted ways, nearly becoming sworn enemies. In an instant, everything from the past vanished like smoke and clouds, reduced to nothing but ash!

The most heartbreaking thing in the world, perhaps, isn’t watching the people by your side die one by one, but the schism between those who have gone through life and death together.

Thinking of the past, of distant events, of that Chapter sealed away for countless ages, Li Qiye fell into a daze, unable to snap out of it for a long time.

’Celestial Empress Hongtian! Millions of years had passed. Then or now, he didn’t blame her. But some things were not what he wanted, and some choices he had to make. Whether in the most difficult eras or the most trying times, he always had a bottom line—one he had never crossed, no matter what!’

’Celestial Empress Hongtian! A distant memory. Their falling-out was still as clear as day. Even after millions of years, Li Qiye’s heart couldn’t help but darken at the thought.’

"Young Master, what’s wrong?" As Li Qiye spaced out, both Chen Baojiao and Li Shuangyan found it strange, feeling that their Young Master’s expression was odd.

Li Qiye came back to his senses, smiled, and shook his head. "It’s nothing," he said, then fell silent.

Chen Baojiao and Li Shuangyan exchanged a glance. They both felt their Young Master had something heavy on his mind, but it didn’t seem like he was worried about boarding the Netherworld Ship.

For the next two or three days, no Netherworld Ships appeared on the Nether River. During that time, very few new Great Teaching Territories arrived. The sects that were going to come had already arrived; any that hadn’t would likely not make it in time.

However, over these few days, more than ten Treasure Lords and two or three Earth Immortals did arrive. These were all terrifyingly powerful beings who, in their own eras, had been part of the Invincible Generation that swept through the Eight Desolations.

In the end, even these Treasure Lords and Earth Immortals couldn’t resist the temptation of the Netherworld Ship, rushing over after a long hesitation. For beings like them, leaving their Fengshui Treasure Lands and Earth Vein Dragon Caves meant they were already expending the Lifespan accumulated over countless ages. They had no path of retreat. Either they would succeed in extending their lives and leave the Ancient Sky Corpse Land, or they would become eternal Earth Corpses!

Unlike Earth Corpses, Treasure Lords and Earth Immortals still possessed their own intelligence and consciousness. Although some Treasure Master Earth Immortals had been buried in the Ancient Sky Corpse Land only after death, they could now, for all intents and purposes, be considered living.

All the Earth Corpses huddled together, keeping their distance from the living. Like true corpses, they lacked consciousness and intelligence. They had only a single instinct: to board the Netherworld Ship!

After arriving at the Nether River Crossing, the Treasure Lords and Earth Immortals each occupied their own territory. They didn’t communicate or interact with anyone, but all wore grim expressions. This was their final gamble. If they succeeded, they could gain hundreds, even thousands, of years of Lifespan and escape the shackles of the Ancient Sky Corpse Land. If they failed, they would become eternal Earth Corpses—a fate more terrifying than death. Legend says that people can undergo Reincarnation after death, but an eternal Earth Corpse never can!

The atmosphere at the Nether River Crossing was incredibly oppressive. Everyone waited in silence, their eyes fixed on the silently flowing water of the Nether River.

Finally, on the fifth day, the Netherworld Ships emerged! From the dense fog veiling the vast Nether River, the first Netherworld Ship drifted into view.

"The Netherworld Ship!" The moment the first one drifted into view, the entire Nether River Crossing erupted. No one could remain seated; everyone, living and dead alike, shot to their feet. At the same time, countless pairs of eyes opened within the Ancient Coffins. The Old Undyings, sealed within their coffins and Time Blood Stones—all but those who were truly dead—opened their eyes to gaze upon the emerging ships.

A Netherworld Ship drifted out from the layers of fog, utterly silent. It was pitch-black from top to bottom—both sails and hull. As it emerged so silently from the mist, it gave the distinct impression of being a Ghost Ship!

One ship, two, three, four... After the first appeared, more and more Netherworld Ships drifted out from the dense fog.

"It’s starting—" The moment the first Netherworld Ship appeared, Li Qiye shot to his feet. His eyes locked onto the vessels, blazing like torches. It was as if his gaze could illuminate each ship, allowing him to scrutinize every last detail.

In that instant, the flaps of the War God Hall’s camp were flung open. The War God Hall Elders, dressed in black robes and large hats, immediately lifted the Ancient Coffin and positioned themselves behind Li Qiye. Their movements were silent and as swift as lightning.

As the first Netherworld Ship appeared, everyone at the Nether River Crossing—including the Earth Corpses—had gotten to their feet.

At this moment, it wasn’t just the Great Teaching Territories hoping to get their Ancient Coffins onto a ship; even the Cultivators who had come merely to watch the spectacle grew tense.

One by one, the Netherworld Ships drifted silently out of the fog. The scene was incredibly eerie.

SPLASH— The first to move were the Earth Corpses. In the blink of an eye, like dumplings being dropped into a boiling pot, countless Earth Corpses plunged into the Nether River.

The Nether River Water was extremely harmful to most Cultivators, especially those with ordinary physiques, as it could destroy their life force. However, its effect on the Earth Corpses was minuscule!

BOOM— BOOM— BOOM— In that instant, all the Earth Corpses charged into the Nether River, desperate to board the Netherworld Ships. The scramble began immediately. Some Earth Corpses unleashed Treasure Artifacts, blasting away at any rival competing for a ship, whether they were living or dead!

The Earth Corpses operated without strategy or schemes; everything they did was pure instinct. They had only a single thought: board a Netherworld Ship. Anyone who tried to stop them would be annihilated!

In an instant, Treasure Artifacts and Exotic Weapons filled the sky. The Earth Corpses had been the first to act, and they were the first to start tearing each other apart.

The first Earth Corpses to successfully fight their way onto a ship drifted away with it, disappearing into the vast, fog-shrouded Nether River downstream.

"Board the ships—" Next, the Great Teaching Territories from all corners of the world could no longer sit still. Their experts personally cleared paths while disciples carried the coffins, charging toward the Netherworld Ships to contend with the Earth Corpses.

Other Ancient Coffins took to the air on their own, shooting straight for one of the Netherworld Ships on the river.

BOOM— BOOM— BOOM— A series of massive explosions rang out, and amidst the blasts were bloodcurdling screams and the sickening crunch of bone. The light from artifacts lit up the heavens as an incredibly powerful aura swept across the surface of the Nether River.

Then, the Treasure Lords made their move. They had been watching each ship closely since they appeared. Finally, one Treasure Lord decided it was time and charged forward to attack. A moment later, even the Earth Immortals could no longer hold back.

In an instant, the Treasure Lords and Earth Immortals all opened their eyes, a terrifying, bloody light pulsing within their pupils.

CLANG— A Divine Saber cleaved the heavens with incomparable dominance. In a single strike, it slaughtered over a hundred Earth Corpses, split three Ancient Coffins, and even cut down a Treasure Lord.

One should never underestimate Earth Corpses or assume they are the weakest of the undead. In fact, some were powerful beyond imagination. The Earth Corpse now wielding that Divine Saber was a prime example, its Divine Power immense and its Corpse Qi surging to the heavens. With one slash, it had not only killed other Earth Corpses, but also a Treasure Lord. The Ancient Coffins of three Elder Ancestors from different Great Teaching Territories were split open, and the three still-living patriarchs inside were slain on the spot.

"KILL—" In that instant, the lids flew off the Ancient Coffins that had charged into the Nether River. From within emerged one legendary, supposedly long-dead figure after another. These Old Undyings burst from their coffins and immediately began slaughtering their rivals to seize a Netherworld Ship.

"Is-is-isn’t that the Eighth-Generation Saint Buddha of the Tiancong Sect?" someone cried out as a coffin opened and an Ancient Buddha charged out. Taking on a Fu Mo stance, the Ancient Buddha slew all his opponents and boarded a Netherworld Ship.

"That’s the Fushi Demon of the Celestial Blood Pool! Legend says he died eighty thousand years ago!" A blood-red shadow burst from another coffin. Its appearance sent a chill down everyone’s spine; it was simply too terrifying.

"AHH—" However, this once-unbelievably powerful existence failed to board a ship. A Treasure Lord descended from the sky and cleaved him in two. With an air of tyrannical invincibility, the Treasure Lord boarded a Netherworld Ship and drifted away down the vast Nether River.

BANG— Above the Nether River, an old crone and a Treasure Lord were locked in a world-shattering battle, both vying for the same Netherworld Ship. When they unleashed their Treasure Artifacts, the power swept across the world, making all living things tremble.

"That’s the guardian crone of River God Mountain! I can’t believe she’s still alive! And her opponent is the legendary Emperor Jun Shengbao from the era of Tun Ri Immortal Emperor! Both of them were invincible in their own time!" someone who recognized them exclaimed in horror as they watched the earth-shattering battle.

In the end, the old crone slew the Treasure Lord with tyrannical, invincible might and boarded the Netherworld Ship.