Chapter 873: Entering The Swamp
The woman in the carriage was peerless, as if she was a fairy lost in the mortal realm, unstained by its mundanity. No matter how beautiful a girl might be, she would appear inelegant before this woman's presence.
"Fairy Ming…" Someone recognized this woman and their mind fluttered after seeing her supreme beauty and unmatched elegance.
"The number one beauty of the Stone Medicine World…" Another marveled at her sight.
The new arrival was Ming Yexue, the Alchemy Kingdom's descendant. She attracted countless eyes and enchanted many souls.
Ming Yexue came down from her carriage in the spotlight and went before Li Qiye to speak softly: "I'm late."
She was always elegant and charming no matter the occasion. In terms of features, Long Jingxian was no worse than her. However, Long Jingxian would always seem to be missing something in comparison. If Long Jingxian was an elf, then Ming Yexue was a fairy bathing in moonlight.
Li Qiye gently nodded and stroked her hair while saying: "Come in. This day has been long overdue. Keep going forward without fear, this is a homecoming for you. Once you reach the end, you will understand the truth."
Countless were both jealous and envious after seeing the intimate action between the two. Even a peerless genius wouldn't have the chance to be so close to her.
She gently nodded and looked at Li Qiye with her bright eyes: "You said that you will tell me a few things."
"Girl, I won't lie to you. The answer is before your very eyes." Li Qiye revealed a smile full of tolerance and love as he said: "Follow your heart and feelings to find the answer."
She took a deep breath before nodding her head with decisiveness, then she started to head towards the master mansion.
The moment she stood before it, the heavy gates opened and allowed her entry.
Everyone that watched this scene wanted nothing more than to rush forward into the mansion. However, no one dared to act recklessly when Li Qiye was standing there.
After the gates closed completely, Li Qiye stared into the far horizon. Mei Aonan still didn't appear. However, Li Qiye wasn't going to wait for her since he already made the arrangements with the golem. When she arrived, she would be able to enter as well.
Eventually, he entered his carriage and the bull carried him out of Bi'an City, disappearing under everyone's eyes.
After confirming that Li Qiye was gone, the majority of the crowd immediately rushed to the front of the master mansion. They wanted to open the gates, but no matter what they tried, the gates remained shut. Even paragons and incomparable geniuses couldn't open them.
Li Qiye went northbound after leaving the city. The bull was actually moving at a speed so incredible that it was downright frightening. If one saw this scene, they wouldn't think that it was a bull dragging a carriage but rather an imperial dragon soaring across the world — as fast as lightning!
With regards to speed alone, even Li Qiye's Tetra-War Bronze Chariot couldn't compare to the bull. It could be said that the bull was one of the fastest mounts in the world with virtually no peers.
Li Qiye eventually arrived at the edge of the beastworld thanks to the bull's incredible speed. Very few people had set foot in this place ever since the beastworld had first opened.
One could only see an endless swamp in the near horizon. Moreover, it had an evil aura that restricted one's movement. Even the strongest beings wouldn't be able to fly in this place. Moreover, they would be infected by this evil energy and might die at any given moment.
Without access to flight, one would also be vulnerable to drowning in this horrible swamp; like quicksand, they would be unable to escape.
This was a dangerous location in the beastworld. Li Qiye had undergone an adventure in this place a very long time ago. Back then, when Mei Aonan's master lost his position, he was also exiled here.
He had two choices at that time; either leave the beastworld forever or accept being exiled to this place.
For a golem from Bi'an City, leaving the beastworld was akin to seeking death! In the end, her master chose to be exiled.
Later on, Li Qiye brought the young Immortal Emperor Tun Ri to this place. At that moment, Mei Aonan's master attempted to bewitch the young emperor, so Li Qiye nailed him into this swamp.
It wasn't until later when Immortal Emperor Tun Ri interceded on the golem's behalf that Li Qiye released him, allowing him to live.
This swamp was extremely dangerous. Even a Godking wouldn't recklessly come to this place. However, Li Qiye rushed inside on his carriage without any hesitation and disappeared into the thick and evil aura in the blink of an eye.
The bull was not only fast but also adept in risky adventures. It was able to avoid dangers and remove poisons as well as predict future ominous events. Because of this, it was the best mount to enter any ominous ground and also the reason why Li Qiye went to the Celestial Peak to find it again.
In a distant era, the tetra chariot was Li Qiye's war vehicle while the bull was the mount for him to enter the forbidden grounds and other ominous locations.
"Why did this happen?!" When the news of the prince's death in battle arrived at the ravine, the whole place was sent into turmoil. For instance, a scream echoed across the place right at this moment.
The ravine couldn't swallow this anger, especially the experts from the Golden Crow Tribe. Even the other elders couldn't let this go. They wanted to mobilize their army to kill Li Qiye for vengeance.
The ravine master, on the other hand, did not agree to this approach and rejected the elders' decision. Thus, the meeting became quite interesting. Under the anger of the elders, the entire ravine seemed to be shaking, causing many disciples to be frightened.
"I agree with Miao Chan's logic. We have been too arrogant in the past few generations. Golden Crow took the vanguard for Ye Qingcheng and represented the world to reinstate the Bi'an Agreement — this made many people angry. Even though we are a sect with two emperors, above us are behemoths like the Alchemy Kingdom and the Jianlong Clan… When we mobilize against others, what will these sects think of us?" The master did not want to mobilize their troops.
Meanwhile, some elders and high elders and even a few ancestors, especially the big shots from the Golden Crow Tribe, swore to seek revenge!
In fact, the master was in a weak position at this time. Although their Miao Clan had a pivotal position in the ravine, the Golden Crow Tribe had an even greater influence!
"Hmph, Master, don't forget, if it wasn't for your refusal to let my grandchild borrow the emperor's true weapon, he wouldn't have died to that little animal!" A great character from the Golden Crow Tribe spoke coldly. 1
"We only have two imperial fate weapons, so the decision wasn't made lightly. They are our defining treasures meant for the sect's survival. If we lose an imperial fate weapon during my reign, then I will become a sinner of the ravine, a sinner towards our forefathers!" The master raised his voice.
In fact, the master had no affection for the prince. In the beginning, he actually wanted him to marry his daughter, but towards the end, he no longer held such thoughts!
"Regardless of what happened, our descendant definitely cannot die in vain. If we don't mobilize and kill Li Qiye, how can we deter the world? How can we establish our eternal prestige?!" One ancestor uttered in all seriousness.
Although the master had a high-ranking position and was well respected, the majority of the high elders and even ancestors were in support of the Golden Crow's branch.
The meeting became very rowdy. Some supported the master's decision, but more approved of the Golden Crow Tribe's choice.
On a peak inside the ravine, Miao Chan could be found seated there, stupefied. The tears in the corners of her eyes had yet to dry from her quiet weeping.
As a character that had made decisions for the ravine, she had never missed a meeting before. But today, she did not participate. At this moment, everything became meaningless in her eyes.
Everything she did was for the prince, but he was now dead so everything became mere smoke. Strength and strategies were no longer important in her mind.
She sat there in silence with no one else to help shoulder her grief. Her expression carried a tinge of coldness and sadness.
After some time, the ravine master came along and sat down next to her. It was obvious that he was furious.
Miao Chan composed herself after a long period and looked at her father to softly ask: "Are we mobilizing?"
"Ignore them." The master was clearly livid. He struggled to suppress his anger and looked at his daughter. He couldn't help but feel hurt as he gently placed his hand over her shoulder: "Child, do you want to get revenge for that bastard as well?"
"Revenge?" Miao Chan bitterly smiled with a touch of helplessness, disappointment, and some despair: "Against whom? Li Qiye? Or perhaps Ye Qingcheng? Although Li Qiye killed him, he died in Ye Qingcheng’s palm!"
The ravine master indignantly stated: "Hmph, that bastard didn't listen to good advice. Look at him now, he threw his life away! But that doesn't matter. What’s most unforgivable is that he made my daughter suffer as well!"
873 TeaserThe woman in the carriage was peerless, as if she was a fairy lost in the mortal realm, unstained by its mundanity. No matter how beautiful a girl might be, she would appear inelegant before this woman's presence.
"Fairy Ming…" Someone recognized this woman and their mind fluttered after seeing her supreme beauty and unmatched elegance.
"The number one beauty of the Stone Medicine World…" Another marveled at her sight.
The new arrival was Ming Yexue, the Alchemy Kingdom's descendant. She attracted countless eyes and enchanted many souls.
Ming Yexue came down from her carriage in the spotlight and went before Li Qiye to speak softly: "I'm late."
[collapse] Not sure if it is grandchild here, could be great grandchild or something else due to the age of these characters. ↩Chapter 874: Ye Qingcheng's Might
After a good while, Miao Chan closed her eyes with teary lashes and softly spoke: "Father, revenge, to me, no longer has any meaning. He is already dead, so what can we do? If we mobilize our troops, it would be playing right into the hands of Ye Qingcheng! He dreams about us sending troops to the rest of the world to become his pawns. I don't want to seek revenge if it means the ravine will become his cannon fodder!"
Miao Chan softly said: "His killer is not Li Qiye, but Ye Qingcheng! He had always viewed him as a brother while Ye Qingcheng only used him as a pawn!"
"Hmph, if that bastard had you in his heart, then this wouldn't have happened as he would have listened to you! Kindness lost to ill intents, treating a villain as a brother. Now, he died without a grave and even dragged the ravine down with him into this mess." The master hatefully voiced his thoughts.
"I knew that he wouldn't have a good end when he went to find Ye Qingcheng last time, he just didn't listen to me." Miao Chan's eyelashes fluttered a bit as she murmured: "I don't blame others but only myself for my lack of determination. I gave him the illusion and made him think that he was truly the number one genius in the ravine!"
"Child, it is not your fault. You can only blame that bastard!" The master responded: "If he listened to you, then he wouldn't have become Ye Qingcheng's dog! But now, the only thing he accomplished was making you heartbroken."
Miao Chan stayed quiet for a very long time. She eventually sighed bitterly and spoke with a tone full of sadness: "I have chosen the wrong person. I thought I could make him change his mind and wake up, but I was wrong…"
The master was in pain as well to see the tears in his daughter's eyes: "Child, forget him. We'll leave the ravine together. The edges of the world are endless, surely there is a location for you to have peace of mind."
"Father, you are the ravine master…" Miao Chan uttered.
The master interrupted her and shook his head: "Child, nothing is more important than you. Plus, I am no longer the ravine master!"
"The elders impeached you?" Miao Chao looked at her father with some surprise, but this was still within her calculations.
"Well, they have made up their minds. The majority of the high elders supported the Golden Crow Prince. I don't have any sentiment for this ravine master position either, so I quit on the spot. It's good to leave the ravine for a bit. Our Miao Clan is a great clan. Even without the ravine, we still have our clan!" The master said.
The Miao Clan consisted of the descendants of the ravine's progenitor, Immortal Emperor Qilin. Later on, their Miao Clan declined, causing their influence within the ravine to be far inferior compared to the Golden Crow Tribe. However, the Miao Clan was still quite sizable with their own forces outside of the ravine.
Miao Chan became silent. After a while, she bitterly said: "I have caused trouble to Father and the Miao Clan."
If she didn't concede back then, the prince wouldn’t have become the main descendant of the ravine. At that time, many ancestors were supporting her clan. If she became the descendant, her clan's influence in the ravine would have risen to a whole level. However, she gifted the position to the prince, causing the Golden Crow Tribe to rise once more!
"No, it is not your fault, it is all because of that bastard! He truly let you down." The master bitterly spoke.
Miao Chan pondered for a long time before nodding gently: "Father, I am willing to leave the Heavenhoof Ravine to take a trip outside."
"Good, I'll take you away tomorrow. After all, I am free now." The ravine master nodded.
"Where are you, Li Qiye! Come out and fight!" A voice that pierced through time itself echoed across the beastworld. When this voice appeared, it was as if a divine bell had been rung in resonance with the grand dao.
It reverberated and pounded the hearts of all listeners in the area, causing them to palpitate with shock. In the direction of this voice was a person flying in the sky. He trod across the eons and was protected by the power of saints as if he was predestined to be extraordinary upon birth as the ruler of the nine heavens. Sages were protecting him while saints preached their scriptures to him.
The majestic grand dao paved a path below him. No matter where he went, this dao would come into light for he was the tyrant of this world that continued to mold itself according to his whims.
"Ye Qingcheng…" Many were alarmed to see this person in the sky! Even when he came alone, it was still shocking. The majority of experts and lineages quickly avoided him.
"Could it be that Imperial Edge's Mei Aonan lost?" Those who knew about the fight between them were astonished.
For many people, if even Mei Aonan lost, then no one could oppose him in this generation. No one else could reach Immortal Emperor besides him!
Eventually, someone from the previous generation brought news from space and coldly stated: "No, Ye Qingcheng and Mei Aonan fought and eventually entered an ancient battlefield in space. There, they were caught in a temporal distortion. Ye Qingcheng came out unscathed while news of Mei Aonan has yet to be heard."
All the old cultivators who came back had cold expressions, so no one knew what was going on.
"Li Qiye, come out and fight!" Ye Qingcheng quickly arrived and floated above Bi'an City. His profound glare swept by as if he could see through all of it.
However, Li Qiye had already left. No one would come out to answer his challenge.
"Li Qiye, listen well. You have slain my brothers and massacred my friends. I will seek vengeance until one of us dies! No matter where you may be, this world is only big enough for one of us!"
Ye Qingcheng stood up high and heroically proclaimed before everyone. He swore to have revenge for the dead lion emperor and Golden Crow Prince.
"To have a good friend like this… one cannot ask for more in life!" Someone said with emotions after listening to these grand words. The younger generation was especially moved; they were enchanted by the brotherhood. To jump into fire and die for a friend without fear of tyrants, there would be no more regrets in life to have such sworn brothers.
Of course, there were also those indifferent to such a grand rhetoric, especially the wily old generation. They didn't comment on his proclamation.
The lack of response from Li Qiye to Ye Qingcheng's challenge made some cultivators who liked Ye Qingcheng sneer: "Hmph, Li Qiye only picks on the weak. Before the celestial being, isn't he just running with his tail tucked between his legs? He doesn't even dare to let out a fart!"
Naturally, there were some experts who liked Li Qiye as well. One of them stood out and defended him: "Since when is Fiercest afraid of anyone? He doesn't care for Ye Qingcheng since he even dared to shake the Alchemy Kingdom and killed God-Monarchs. Someone like that would be afraid of Ye Qingcheng?"
"Hmph, that was because he had the Phoenix as his backing. The bird isn't here now, so he can only obediently run away like a dog." Ye Qingcheng's supporter immediately cursed.
After seeing no response from Li Qiye, Ye Qingcheng landed before the master mansion to stare at the gates that had been shut for a while.
At this time, countless eyes fell on him as people watched with bated breaths.
Outside of Li Qiye opening the gates and Ming Yexue going inside, no one else was able to open them. Even the powerful ancestors and brilliant geniuses failed to do so.
So now, everyone wanted to see if Ye Qingcheng could open the gates. The entire Stone Medicine World knew that his talents were supreme; he was the number one of the younger generation! If even he couldn't do it, then others could only mope in despair.
Ye Qingcheng placed his palm on the gates and chanted a mantra. He derived new laws and, in this very instant, his entire body lit up as various grand dao emerged around him.
However, no matter what kind of amazing law he created or what mantra he chanted, the gates remained motionless and shut.
He did not give up and continued to create extremely mysterious dao. The appearance of these laws resulted in a golden dragon coiling around his body with phoenixes flying above. All kinds of strange images emerged.
As his laws became more abstruse, the visual phenomena became more stunning. Wise sages began to knock on the gates as saints communicated with the dao. There were even immortals descending with divine beasts emitting their auras…
A terrifyingly invincible aura engulfed the entire city as it was affected by Ye Qingcheng's supreme grand dao. The worldly power of the city erupted as its own laws emerged with dao hymns. One could faintly hear the sighs of the dao while the great deities were listening quietly…
The entire city lit up and many doors from the buildings here fluctuated. Without a doubt, Ye Qingcheng was opening many doors at this moment. He was free to enter any of them.
"So powerful, worthy of being the unbeatable genius in our time. Such supreme aptitudes have no equals!" Both old and young were shocked to see the entire city being affected.
Even the most arrogant genius would have to bow their head before Ye Qingcheng's means and unparalleled talents.
However, as he derived myriad laws with boundless images coming together, the gates remained shut without any signs of opening.
"This, this can't be real." Many didn't believe this scene. All assumed that he would be able to open the main gates instead of failing to do so like this. No one would believe such a thing.
He was number one; there was nothing he couldn't do. In fact, ever since he showed himself to the world, he had never failed before. It seemed that the goddess of victory was always on his side.
But now, he was defeated by Bi'an City! This was tasting defeat for the first time since his debut!
Someone from the previous generation murmured in disbelief: "This, this is so irrational. The celestial being has incredible talents and his supreme dao is enough to shake the entire city, but the main gates are still closed. This is impossible, this is nothing like the legends…"
A few happily thought to themselves as well: "Fiercest is still the most amazing, opening the door like eating a meal. Haha, even the number one loses sometimes!"
Ye Qingcheng had a cold expression, but he simply sat on the roof of the master mansion. A plethora of phenomena continued to emerge and, in a short amount of time, dao runes belonging to him filled the entire city!