Dominator Emperor

After returning, Treasure Turtle Daoist immediately convened a meeting that very night. All the elders and grand elders were in attendance, and the atmosphere was exceptionally grave and tense.

At the meeting, Treasure Turtle Daoist detailed the situation and voiced his own concerns.

"Hmph. If that Li fellow is unwilling, all the better," Elder Lin, who had long wanted to take Li Qiye down, sneered. "Since he refuses to cooperate, then he can’t blame our Qianli River for not giving him a chance. Let’s capture him and interrogate him harshly. I’d like to see him refuse to talk then!"

"Sect Leader, a mere junior dares to spout such shameless nonsense within our Qianli River. He clearly has no respect for us at all! If we don’t show him what we’re made of, he’ll really think the Qianli River is all bark and no bite," another elder added with a nod.

Previously, some elders had advocated against using force, hoping for a peaceful resolution. But now, Li Qiye’s attitude had even these peace-advocating elders fuming with indignation. In their eyes, Li Qiye was choosing the hard way!

"Sect Leader, a junior has bullied us right on our doorstep! What are we waiting for? Let’s capture him immediately," the hardline Grand Elder Wang, who was also Elder Lin’s master, said gravely.

"Let’s allow Li Qiye to reconsider. Give him one last chance. How about we set a deadline for tomorrow?" In the end, it was Elder Yang who spoke up, trying to persuade the other Elders.

Although Elder Yang wanted to lend Li Qiye a hand, he was powerless to defend him in this situation. Li Qiye’s attitude had offended the entire Qianli River Sect.

Elder Yang couldn’t fathom Li Qiye’s plan. ’Does he truly intend to take on the entire Qianli River by himself? Even a Great Sage couldn’t accomplish such a feat, to say nothing of a member of the younger generation.’

Elder Yang understood in his heart that the Dream Tree must have had its reasons for choosing Li Qiye. However, faced with Li Qiye’s current arrogance, he was helpless and unable to protect him.

"Let us do as Elder Yang suggests. We will give Li Qiye one last chance. I will speak with him again tomorrow," Treasure Turtle Daoist said gravely. This was his final attempt to mediate; it was all he could do. For anything else, he was powerless.

Unlike the other furious elders, Treasure Turtle Daoist, as the Sect Leader, still harbored a deep apprehension. The others hadn’t spoken with Li Qiye, so they didn’t have the same visceral feeling he did. His intuition screamed at him not to make an enemy of Li Qiye, or the outcome would be disastrous.

But now, the elders and grand elders of the Qianli River Sect were all seething with rage. Even as the Sect Leader, he couldn’t sway the majority opinion toward peace talks. If not for the support from Elder Yang and a few others, the Elders would have likely taken action already.

"One day. He has one day." In the end, through Treasure Turtle Daoist’s mediation, the Elders of the Qianli River Sect relented, agreeing to give Li Qiye a final deadline. They allowed the Daoist one day to persuade Li Qiye; otherwise, the sect would move to arrest him.

Of course, those like Elder Lin, who wished to eliminate Li Qiye immediately, were growing impatient. They were extremely displeased with Treasure Turtle Daoist’s efforts to delay.

Treasure Turtle Daoist sighed to himself. He had bought Li Qiye a day, but he knew with certainty that Li Qiye would never compromise. This predicament left him, the Sect Leader, trapped between a rock and a hard place. He couldn’t persuade the Elders, and if Li Qiye refused to yield, he would be forced to order his arrest.

When that time came, it would surely be a fight to the bitter end. Against anyone else, Treasure Turtle Daoist would have absolute confidence in capturing them. After all, the Qianli River’s reputation as an Emperor Immortal Gate was well-earned.

But when faced with an unknown junior like Li Qiye, Treasure Turtle Daoist suddenly felt completely devoid of confidence. To him, the whole situation had become shrouded in mystery. ’Why is it that the very foundation of our sect, a place inaccessible even to our own disciples and heirs, allowed an outsider like Li Qiye to enter?’

’What exactly is the relationship between Li Qiye and the Qianli River Sect? He even claims the Golden Divine Willow is his, and the Divine Willow seems willing to leave with him. Why? What secrets are hidden here?’ These questions sent Treasure Turtle Daoist deep into thought.

’If what Li Qiye said is true... if we become enemies and the Golden Divine Willow actually leaves with him... what would that mean for the Qianli River Sect?’

The thought of these consequences made Treasure Turtle Daoist shudder. Without the Golden Divine Willow, the Thousand Carp Lake would no longer be a blessed land; it would revert to an ordinary lake. Then, the Qianli River’s countless Divine Medicines would wither, and innumerable spirit creatures would lose their path to the Dao!

Treasure Turtle Daoist felt an immense weight on his shoulders. He was completely unable to persuade the Elders. At this point, the only way to change their minds might be to implore an Elder Ancestor to emerge from seclusion.

However, Treasure Turtle Daoist knew he couldn’t convince an Elder Ancestor with mere speculation, much less ask one to emerge from seclusion to protect Li Qiye.

For Treasure Turtle Daoist, it was a sleepless night. An endlessly long night.

That same night, Lan Yunzhu hurried over in a panic. Even this Heavenly Pride Girl, normally unflappable, looked frantic. As soon as she saw Li Qiye, she blurted out, "You have to escape! Escape tonight!"

"Escape? From what?" In stark contrast to Lan Yunzhu’s panic, Li Qiye was completely composed. He glanced at her frantic expression and asked calmly.

"The Elders have already decided to arrest you! The Sect Leader managed to buy you one day, but if you don’t talk, they’ll arrest you. All the Elders are pushing for it now, especially Elder Wang’s faction. They can’t wait to get their hands on you. If the Sect Leader and the others weren’t holding them back, they would have captured you by now!" Lan Yunzhu said urgently.

Li Qiye smiled leisurely. "If they want to play rough, I welcome it. I’m ready for them anytime. It’s been a while since I’ve gotten my hands dirty; my bones are starting to itch. If they insist, I might just consider a massacre."

"Are you insane?" Lan Yunzhu shot him a furious glare and snapped, "I know you’re strong, but this isn’t the time to act tough! Our Qianli River’s elders are Saint Venerables, some even at the peak of that realm! And if a fight breaks out, the grand elders will intervene. We have a reclusive grand elder who is a Peak Saint Emperor! If he makes a move, ten of your lives wouldn’t be enough to save you!"

"Little girl, that’s where you’re wrong," Li Qiye said with a laugh. "In any other place, I might be a bit wary of a Peak Saint Emperor. But this is the Qianli River. Here, even if a Great Sage were to arrive, I would remain enthroned in the Nine Heavens."

Lan Yunzhu was so angry she was speechless. She glared at him resentfully. "You’re unbelievably arrogant! Don’t forget, this is the Qianli River, an Emperor Immortal Gate! It’s a place that not even a Great Sage could shake! Do you really think you alone can challenge the entire sect? Your Six Palaces and Nine Stars might be incredible, but it’s nothing here! Don’t you get it?"

At this point, Lan Yunzhu couldn’t help but feel genuinely worried for Li Qiye; otherwise, she wouldn’t have come to warn him to flee in the middle of the night.

Li Qiye gave a placid smile and spoke in a slow, deliberate tone. "Little girl, you are absolutely right about one thing. This is the Qianli River. And this is my domain. In the Qianli River, in the Thousand Carp Lake, I am the Sovereign. Do you understand now?"

"You really think you can take on the Elders? Hmph! Even if you could, the moment you become a true threat to the Qianli River Sect, a sealed Elder Ancestor will surely emerge. Once an Elder Ancestor appears, everything will be over. You should know what the appearance of a Qianli River Elder Ancestor signifies," Lan Yunzhu said resentfully. She desperately wanted to crack open his skull and see what could possibly be inside to make him so conceited.

"Little girl, you have it all backward," Li Qiye said, shaking his head and speaking with a gentle voice. "Do you know why I’m here? It’s because I’m giving your Qianli River Sect a chance. If I weren’t giving face to your founder, the Qianli Immortal Emperor, I could topple your entire sect right now. Saint Emperor? Great Sage? So what? If I truly wanted to start a massacre, it would be a trivial matter. For now, I simply don’t wish to stain my hands with the blood of the Qianli Immortal Emperor’s descendants. That is all. Otherwise, do you really think I would bother with your Qianli River’s little ’test’ over such a trifle?"

Lan Yunzhu stared at Li Qiye as if he were a monster. Finally, she said sullenly, "Mister, isn’t your boasting a bit much? You talk as if you knew our Immortal Emperor personally. As if our Immortal Emperor would have to give *you* face!"

"You’re right about that," Li Qiye said with a relaxed laugh. "If your Qianli Immortal Emperor were still alive, he would indeed have to give me some face."

He stopped short of saying that he actually knew the Qianli Immortal Emperor.

"Tch," Lan Yunzhu retorted irritably. "You don’t even think before you brag, do you? Why don’t you take a good look in the mirror and see who you are? Our founder, the Qianli Immortal Emperor, was unrivaled throughout the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands! As if a nameless junior like you is worthy of his respect! You really think you’re somebody, don’t you?"

"I may be a nameless junior," Li Qiye said slowly and seriously, "but that doesn’t mean your founder would be as blind to quality as you all are."

"I’m done with you! If you want to get yourself killed, then be my guest!" Finally, Lan Yunzhu was filled to the brim with anger. She said resentfully, "Do whatever you want, you megalomaniac! By the time you realize you need to escape, it’ll be too late!"

At that, she stomped her foot fiercely. This arrogant fool was infuriating her to no end.