Dominator Emperor

From a high mountain, Li Qiye gazed at the massive tombstone of the First Evil Tomb piercing the Celestial Vault. He couldn't help but let out a soft sigh.

To enter the First Evil Tomb, he needed its key. His gaze shifted to another place—the endless, undulating mountain ranges outside the tomb.

Beyond the First Evil Tomb lay a vast expanse of undulating terrain, with high mountains, steep ridges, sprawling plains, and great rivers. This vast land had a name: Ghost City!

Standing outside this vast land, one would discover an impossibly tall, dilapidated city wall that snaked for countless miles, enclosing the entire landscape. It formed an ancient, ruined city. Above its equally ancient and ruined gates were carved two words: "Fengdu City."

Fengdu City was a renowned place in the Eastern Netherworld, and even across the entire Ghost Sacred Realm. Most people, however, preferred to call it Ghost City.

Fengdu City was a colossal city built around the First Evil Tomb. From its walls, one could gaze out at the undulating landscape within. Buildings and cityscapes were everywhere. Serried rows of halls and pavilions were built on the plains, forming towns. Ancient halls were nestled among high mountains and steep ridges. One could even see signs of habitation in the gorges and along the rivers.

Gazing at Fengdu City from a distance, one would find the landscape to be incredibly prosperous. It seemed to be a place where people lived and worked in peace and contentment. The towns were brightly lit, and during the day, the streets were filled with the cries of hawkers.

However, if you thought Fengdu City was a peaceful home and gathering place for all races, you would be gravely mistaken.

The local residents of Fengdu City, whether they appeared to be Cultivators or commoners, were not among the living. They were ghosts!

Speaking of ghosts in the Ghost Sacred Realm seemed rather absurd, as this realm was the domain of the Ghost Race, perhaps even their place of origin. To outsiders, the Ghost Race *were* the real ghosts.

In truth, the Ghost Race were not ghosts. They were beings of flesh and blood, just like the Human Race. They were simply another race.

But the inhabitants of Fengdu City were not beings of flesh and blood! They were lifeless things, lingering obsessions. If there were truly such a thing as ghosts in the world, the residents of Fengdu City would certainly qualify.

Fengdu City was less a city and more a kingdom. The land it occupied outside the First Evil Tomb was vast. Countless residents lived here, but they were not living people. They were lifeless, lingering obsessions—or what mortals would simply call ghosts.

No one knew in which era Fengdu City originated. In any case, it had existed since ancient times. The ghosts residing within looked just like people from the outside world: Humans, Demons, Ghosts... There were Cultivators, commoners, and even established Daoist Lineages.

On the surface, its residents seemed no different from people on the outside. In reality, they were all lifeless beings, nothing more than lingering obsessions that could not dissipate.

The residents of Fengdu City, however, didn't know they were dead. They still believed they were alive—and living lives no different from anyone else!

Day and night, Fengdu City was extraordinarily lively. By day, hawkers bustled through the streets, crying their wares. By night, every corner was brightly lit and thronged with people. It was just like the Mortal World; it bore no resemblance to a Ghost City.

But if you knew that the hawkers crying their wares, the Cultivators from established lineages, and even the babbling infants were not living people—that they were all lingering obsessions formed from the dead—it would surely frighten you half to death.

No one knew why Fengdu City had so many lingering obsessions that lived just like real people, nor did they know why those who died here left behind obsessions so difficult to disperse.

In short, Fengdu City was an enigma. It was a place for the dead. Some people, when on the verge of death, would even choose to die in Fengdu City for a chance to "live on" in another form. Of course, the lingering obsession left behind would have no connection to the original person, not even retaining their memories.

If someone died in Fengdu City and left behind a wisp of lingering obsession that took on their form, that wisp would no longer be them. It would have none of their memories, none of their personal imprint. It would be an entirely different person.

The living people of Fengdu City—or rather, its living ghosts—never left the city. They lived there until the day they finally vanished.

In truth, everyone knew that the "living ghosts" of Fengdu City were not ghosts in the traditional sense. They were merely lingering obsessions that refused to dissipate. They were not true ghosts!

Though the world knew it as a Ghost City, many Cultivators still flocked to Fengdu City. Many were even willing to die here, hoping to leave behind a lingering obsession that would allow them to continue "living" within its walls.

Of course, there were reasons why countless Cultivators had flocked to Fengdu City over millions of years. First, it was said to hide countless treasures: legendary Divine Artifacts, world-renowned Medicine Kings, ancient Secret Manuals... Second, it hid something everyone coveted: the key to the First Evil Tomb! Third, legend told of a Mountain Treasure hidden within the city, a treasure that could grant immortality.

For millions of years, these three reasons have drawn countless people to Fengdu City. However, whether they sought the city's treasures or entry to the First Evil Tomb, those who succeeded throughout the ages were few and far between. As for the legendary Mountain Treasure, no one had ever even seen it.

Every year, many young people came to Fengdu City to seek their fortunes, but one rarely heard of anyone obtaining a true Divine Artifact or a world-renowned Medicine King. While some did find valuable treasures, they were a far cry from the legendary artifacts of lore.

However, the key to the First Evil Tomb had been found before. Because of this, the tomb had been opened several times over the millennia. The most celebrated of these occasions involved Earth Fool Immortal Emperor.

Legend claimed that when he was young, Earth Fool Immortal Emperor found the key within Fengdu City and successfully entered the First Evil Tomb. Another version of the tale, however, said that he never found the key. Instead, someone else did, and the Immortal Emperor simply entered along with everyone else. Nevertheless, it was Earth Fool Immortal Emperor who obtained the greatest fortune inside.

Regardless of which legend was true, future generations were certain of one thing: across several different eras, someone had always found the key in Fengdu City and opened the First Evil Tomb.

For this reason, countless people had entered Fengdu City over the millennia, all searching for the key to the First Evil Tomb.

Li Qiye gazed at Fengdu City from afar and sighed softly. 'The key to the First Evil Tomb is indeed hidden in Fengdu City,' he thought. 'But getting it is no easy task. Otherwise, countless people wouldn't have come searching for it over the millennia only to return empty-handed.'

But now, Li Qiye faced a dilemma. 'If the Lost Divine Island isn't inside the First Evil Tomb,' he reasoned, 'then I have no need to search for this key.'

Li Qiye pondered for a moment before finally leaving. He needed to gather information. Only after confirming that the Lost Divine Island was indeed inside the First Evil Tomb would he search for the key.

Thousands of miles from Fengdu City stood an ancient town named Du City. Cultivators from all races gathered here, but since this was the Netherworld, the majority were from the Ghost Race.

This was hardly surprising. In the Ghost Sacred Realm, with the exception of Nanyao Yun, most territories belonged to the Ghost Race. Both commoners and Cultivators were predominantly Ghosts.

As a member of the Human Race, Li Qiye kept a low profile after entering Du City. He only wanted to ask about the First Evil Tomb.

Within Du City, one could spot a few Human and Demon Race Cultivators, but the vast majority were from the Ghost Race.

Although called a single race, the Ghost Race was, in fact, comprised of many clans. "Ghost Race," or "Ghost Immortal Race," was merely an umbrella term for its many branches.

While many members of the Ghost Race did exude a bit of Ghost Qi, giving them a somber feel, this wasn't true for all of them. Some branches even appeared incredibly radiant. The Sun Demon Race, for example, had members who glowed with sunlight, looking more like descendants of a Sun God. Based on appearance alone, it was hard to associate them with the Ghost Race.

However, regardless of the outward appearance of its various branches, one trait remained constant: the blood of the Ghost Race was purple. This was the one thing they all had in common.

For several days, Li Qiye asked around Du City for news about the First Evil Tomb, but he learned nothing. The First Evil Tomb hadn't shown any recent changes. In fact, it never changed, unless it was being opened.

After several days of fruitless inquiries, Li Qiye couldn't help but feel disappointed. 'Could it be that the Lost Divine Island isn't in the First Evil Tomb after all?'

This led Li Qiye to consider another possibility. 'If the Lost Divine Island isn't in the First Evil Tomb, that's not good news at all.'

Just as Li Qiye was about to give up in disappointment, he happened to overhear a conversation while eating at an inn, hoping to catch some news.