Chapter 940: Su Zhen
Li Qiye sat there in silence. Although he didn't say anything about marrying this Empress, this hole that Immortal Emperor Mu Tian had intentionally dug for him came to the same end.
"Emperor, so, what do you think about this matter? What do you want to do?" Forheaven courageously asked despite his nervousness.
Li Qiye looked at the sect master and said: "My words are worth a thousand gold. If I have agreed, then so be it! I will marry her!"
Forheaven couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief after hearing this. He wiped away the cold sweat dripping down his forehead. If the Emperor didn't agree, then there was nothing that they could do since no one knew what exactly had happened back then.
Moreover, they were merely disciples, unqualified to demand or force the Emperor to do something.
"However, the position of Heavenly Empress does not belong to her." Li Qiye gently shook his head: "If she is willing, I can give her the position of a concubine."
"…" The sect master didn't know what to do. This wasn't something that he could take command of, so he didn't know what to say in this situation.
"I accept!" During Forheaven's moment of loss, a sweet and clear voice came about as someone walked inside.
Forheaven was scared out of his mind after seeing this intruder and quickly stopped her: "Su Zhen, you, you shouldn't have come in here!"
The intruder spoke: "Sect Master, this is the biggest event in my life, I have the right to know." Just her pleasant voice alone was an indescribable pleasure. It was enough to make others think that she was a beauty. The clearness in her soft voice was very relaxing.
"Let her in." Li Qiye told the sect master who was stopping the girl: "That's right, this is an important event in her life, she has the right to take charge of it."
Forheaven had to let the girl inside. He felt a flinch in his stomach because he was afraid the Emperor would become angry after seeing her face.
The girl walked to the front of Li Qiye and looked straight at him. She was very bold and lacked hesitation despite knowing his identity.
Li Qiye observed the girl before him. She wore a completely white outfit with a jade hanging on her waist. It was a very simple style, yet it gave her a noble air since she was the one wearing it.
One could still see her perfect curves beneath the loose silk dress. It could not hide her supple body. She was thin and tall with long brows and straight shoulders. It could be said that one would be hardpressed to point out a flaw in this girl's figure.
From just her figure, it was more than apparent that this was a supreme beauty.
The only thing that remained a mystery was her facial features. She had a silk veil, revealing only her bright and watery eyes!
"Heavenguard disciple, Su Zhen greets the Emperor." She bowed before him with her pleasing voice that would make minds of others drift.
Li Qiye slowly spoke: "Take off your veil so that I can see."
Forheaven's heart was hanging on a thread after hearing Li Qiye's words. He almost said something, but he bit his tongue.
Su Zhen obeyed and slowly took off her veil before looking straight at Li Qiye.
Anyone would think that she was a great beauty after hearing her voice and seeing her figure. However, after seeing her face, they would gasp or even involuntarily scream out in fear.
Her face was disproportionate to her figure. The proportions of her facial features were perfect. However, there were many strange, runic lines growing on her face. They resembled wrinkles, but they weren't actually wrinkles. It was as if she had suffered the most terrifying curse in this world.
It was frankly hideous and caused people to shiver without being cold. No one would want to take a second glance at Su Zhen's face.
Forheaven couldn't bear to look either. He was not afraid of looking at her face, it was just that he didn't want to see her being hurt.
He gently sighed as he knew that this day would come. It was a bit too unreasonable to make the Emperor marry a disciple from their sect. No one would want to marry someone like Su Zhen, let alone the supreme Emperor.
She calmly spoke: "If Emperor does not want to marry Su Zhen, then I won't blame you. I was fated to be the Empress from birth. I was born to be yours and I shall die as yours!" Su Zhen was not self-conscious at all after revealing her face.
"Emperor, she is not to be blamed. She was born with that face." Forheaven quickly spoke: "The runes on her face are permanent. We can't remove them, we…"
Li Qiye gently waved his sleeve to interrupt Forheaven. He stared seriously at the runic lines on her face before speaking: "What type of person have I not seen after so many eras? For me, beauty of the flesh is meaningless — unable to reach the apex. Being pretty or not is not important to me."
"Emperor is saying…" Forheaven couldn't help but become happy after hearing this.
Li Qiye gazed at Su Zhen and slowly announced: "My promise can be carried out at any time. If I promised Mu Tian, then I shall do it! If you are willing, then I can marry you, but the position of my wife is not for you! This is not because of your looks. I'm afraid no one in this world can be my wife. I can give you two options: one, be my concubine, two, be my confidant. You already know a lot about me, so you are qualified to stay by my side!"
"I agree!" Su Zhen didn't need to think at all: "No matter what they may be, I am ready to follow your orders!"
"Very good." Li Qiye nodded and signaled to her: "Come here, let me see your face."
She stepped forward without any embarrassment or unnaturalness; she was still as calm as before.
They were only inches apart. Li Qiye gently caressed her face and felt her smooth skin. He kept on touching it for a while.
Su Zhen comfortably stood there without saying anything. She had an indescribable serenity and grace ingrained in her.
Forheaven stood there with bated breath. He didn't dare to comment either.
"Impossible." After feeling her face many times, Li Qiye was startled. He spoke: "This is impossible, you have the bloodline of Qi Zhen's direct branch!"
"Emperor actually noticed it too." Forheaven added with surprise: "You are right, she is our progenitor's descendant."
"No." Li Qiye waved his hand dismissively: "I know full well whether or not Qi Zhen has descendants. If Qi Zhen did, then this bloodline would have been passed down from long ago."
"What did Mu Tian do back then?!" Li Qiye thought of another possibility and asked while glaring at Forheaven.
"I, I, really don't know about this matter." Forheaven explained: "Forefather Mu Tian didn't tell his juniors about the details. Even my master doesn’t have a clear understanding."
"I only heard that Su Zhen's branch appeared in Heavenguard after Forefather Mu Tian's generation. He was the one who specified that this branch were the descendants of the progenitor. However, a bloodline like Su Zhen's only appeared in this generation, and she is the only one." Forheaven told Li Qiye everything that he knew.
Li Qiye contemplated for a moment after hearing this. If this was indeed Immortal Emperor Qi Zhen's bloodline, then there was another possibility!
Li Qiye looked back at Su Zhen and slowly spoke: "To be precise, you have the bloodline of Qi Zhen, but you are not Qi Zhen's descendant."
With that, he stared at the runic lines on her face and continued: "No matter how you think of your face, there's no need to feel inferior. It should be said that you should be proud instead, this is an honor! It is extremely rare for something like this to happen to your branch! This is a very valuable sign within your bloodline."
"What are we? Are we still human?" Su Zhen couldn't help but ask.
In fact, Forheaven curiously stared at Li Qiye as well. Although everyone knew that Immortal Emperor Qi Zhen was their progenitor, the emperor had always been a mystery. No one knew the emperor's background or even their gender.
In fact, it had been said that Immortal Emperor Qi Zhen was the emperor who stayed in this world the shortest. Rumor has it that after becoming emperor, Qi Zhen disappeared right away.
No one knew the specific details of this, not even the Worldguard True God.
"Well, you don't need to know for now." Li Qiye shook his head: "If you keep working hard, I will tell you the secret one day."
Su Zhen couldn't help but ask: "What is the criteria for this eventual 'one day'?"
"The day when you reach atavism." Li Qiye gently touched her face again and said: "Remember, this is not a burden or a reason for low self-esteem. These lines are not ugly, you have yet to know the reason for its existence. The secrets inside are beyond your imagination."
940 TeaserLi Qiye sat there in silence. Although he didn't say anything about marrying this Empress, this hole that Immortal Emperor Mu Tian had intentionally dug for him came to the same result.
"Emperor, so, what do you think about this matter? What do you want to do?" Forheaven courageously asked despite his nervousness.
Li Qiye looked at the sect master and said: "My words are worth a thousand gold. If I have agreed, then so be it! I will marry her!"
Forheaven couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief after hearing this. He wiped away the cold sweat dripping down his forehead. If the Emperor didn't agree, then there was nothing that they could do since no one knew what exactly had happened back then.
Moreover, they were disciples who weren't qualified to demand or force the Emperor to do something.
"However, the position of Heavenly Empress does not belong to her." Li Qiye gently shook his head: "If she is willing, I can give her the position of a concubine."
[collapse]Chapter 941: Su Zhen's Background
Su Zhen looked back at Li Qiye and asked: "What will count as atavism?"
Li Qiye stared back at her while still stroking her dao lines. These dense dao lines made him think about many things. Certain past events buried in his mind resurfaced.
Li Qiye withdrew his hand and told her: "What do you know about your background and ancestors?"
"What is my clan then?" She responded with a question.
He looked at her bright eyes and noticed the trace of doubt within. It seemed like she herself didn't know about a few matters.
Li Qiye looked at Forheaven instead. Forheaven only nervously rubbed his palms together and coughed: "This disciple doesn't know about this matter either. Although Su Zhen's branch has been thriving from one generation to the next, we don't know their exact origin. Only Forefather Mu Tian would know this, but the writings he left behind did not touch on this subject."
"Does Emperor think I am Immortal Emperor Qi Zhen's descendant?" Su Zhen asked Li Qiye. It seemed that she wanted to know the answer as well.
Li Qiye pondered for a moment before slightly nodding his head in response: "Generally speaking, you are indeed Qi Zhen's descendant since Qi Zhen's bloodline flows through your veins. In fact, your blood right now is already very pure and is even catching up to Qi Zhen's. Because of this, you have signs of atavism."
Su Zhen quietly nodded her head. Not to mention her, even her branch’s old ancestors didn't know the origin of their own bloodline. Only Immortal Emperor Mu Tian knew the true story! At this moment, their Emperor also confirmed their bloodline!
Of course, even as descendants of Immortal Emperor Qi Zhen, they knew very little about the emperor due to the emperor's always-mysterious nature. The traces left behind by the emperor in this world were not many. The only thing people knew was that the emperor had created the Heavenguard Sect. However, some even said that this might not be the case. In short, the real stories of the emperor were up for debate. Because the emperor quickly disappeared after winning the throne, very few were able to see the emperor's invincible style.
"Although you are showing signs of atavism, it won't be an easy matter." Li Qiye told Su Zhen.
"What must I do to truly reach atavism? Please guide me, Emperor." Su Zhen asked for guidance.
Li Qiye gently sighed. Both Qi Zhen and himself had thought about this situation back then. He looked at Forheaven: "If I remember correctly, there is a steel box inside the Highfloor Treasury, go take a look and see if it is still there."
Forheaven quickly answered while slightly surprised: "Please wait, Emperor. I will go search right away." He went on his way immediately afterward.
After he left, Li Qiye told Su Zhen: "Keep working hard. When the time is right, I will take you back."
"Take me back?" Su Zhen became curious and asked: "Back to where? Our land of origin?"
Li Qiye smiled and shook his head: "You don't need to know for now. Just wait until that day."
Su Zhen stopped inquiring after hearing this. She looked at Li Qiye for a bit before wondering: "Will Emperor stay at Heavenguard?"
"No, I will leave after grabbing a certain item." Li Qiye shook his head. He didn't want to disturb the serenity of the sect.
"How about I serve by your side?" Su Zhen boldly requested with sincerity.
"No." Li Qiye refused her request.
Su Zhen remained expressionless and asked: "Is it because I am ugly? Will staying by your side be a detriment to your prestige?"
Li Qiye couldn't help but laugh. He shook his head in response: "If you know that I am the Emperor, then you should know some of my legends. One's beauty is merely external and doesn't amount to anything. I have seen both pretty and ugly women alike; beauty does not matter to me."
Su Zhen gently said: "Since Emperor is taking me in as a concubine, I should be staying by your side to fulfill my duties." 1
Li Qiye nodded: "I know, but for now, you being by my side is not as important as your cultivation."
"Emperor dislikes my shallow cultivation…" Su Zhen softly sighed.
Li Qiye smiled and said: "Nobody is weak in Heavenguard. Your current cultivation can allow you to look down on any genius among the younger generation. However, my requirements are far more than that, understand? You are Qi Zhen's descendant, so I hope that you won't shame your ancestor in the future."
"I will definitely live up to your expectations." Su Zhen took a deep breath and nodded wholeheartedly.
After a while, Forheaven finally returned while holding a steel box. He excitedly spoke: "I did not disgrace your holy order, Emperor. The steel box is still here." He respectfully offered the steel box to Li Qiye.
Li Qiye took it and gently rubbed it. A clicking sound came about, followed by the box opening. Li Qiye took out a veil as thin as a cicada's wing and placed it on Su Zhen's face. It was just like the one hiding her face. However, when it made contact, it slowly melted and merged with her face.
Afterward, her face became blurry and her features grew barely discernible. Even heavenly gazes couldn't see through it, resulting in a very bizarre scene.
Li Qiye nodded after seeing her ethereal face and said: "This is all I can do, the rest is up to you."
Su Zhen also felt something extraordinary, as if something was waking up within her blood, giving her endless strength. She was jubilated and quickly bowed towards Li Qiye.
He gave the box back to Forheaven and said: "It is time for you to take me to that item."
Forheaven prostrated on the ground in response: "Emperor's words are wasted. How could this disciple dare to stop you from taking the item? I will bring you there right away."
In fact, even if Li Qiye didn't follow the ancestral teachings left behind by Immortal Emperor Mu Tian, Forheaven wouldn't dare to stop him from taking the item.
"Rise, devoted one. I do not blame you." Li Qiye gently waved his hand.
Forheaven quickly led Li Qiye to take that legendary treasure.
Meanwhile, Ye Chuyun was waiting outside of Heavenguard for Li Qiye. There were no visible signs after such a long time, so she became quite worried.
Everyone knew that Heavenguard was one of the most powerful lineages in the contemporary times. It was ancient and mysterious, so no one in this world would dare to come bluster at their door.
She thought about Li Qiye's arrogant nature that was bound to cause trouble anywhere and became uneasy. She was afraid that his aggressive style would result in a conflict with Heavenguard. She kept on waiting with her heart hanging on a thread and only wished to see Li Qiye walking out from the entrance.
Eventually, he finally appeared in her sight. He took his time and was completely unscathed, so she finally sighed with relief.
Next, she was startled because there was someone accompanying him, the renowned Sect Master Forheaven.
Keep in mind that he was not just famous, he was an infamous monster that threatened the entire Mortal Emperor World! However, he was walking behind Li Qiye with reverence. She realized that she couldn't see through Li Qiye, that she didn't know anything about him at all.
At the entrance, Li Qiye gently waved his sleeve and told Forheaven: "Return, there's no need to see me off."
The ancestors wanted to see him off as well, but Li Qiye refused since he didn't want to make a big scene.
Forheaven opened his mouth, wishing to say something. However, he didn't want to be seen as too talkative and held it in.
Li Qiye looked at him and sighed: "I know that the entire Heavenguard is full of devotion. Very well, I will call for you when I need the sect in the future."
"We will rush into the fire with Emperor's order!" Forheaven excitedly prostrated on the ground.
Li Qiye gently sighed. He didn't wish to bring Heavenguard to war again. This was not his purpose.
Li Qiye eventually said: "Go back for now." Forheaven bowed one more time and went back inside.
Li Qiye left with Ye Chuyun. Along the way, the questions she had only continued to increase. Heavenguard's attitude towards Li Qiye was truly unfathomable. This made her very curious, but she was not in a position to ask.
At this point, Su Zhen is referring to herself with the pronoun for "concubine/wife" ↩Chapter 942: Meeting An Old Friend
Li Qiye noticed that Ye Chuyun's curiosity was beyond containment. He smiled and said: "Chuyun, you can say what's on your mind, there's no need to hold it in."
"Brother Li is a disciple from the Cleansing Incense Ancient Sect." She stated.
This was something everyone knew and also the thing that puzzled her the most. She curiously continued: "Brother Li, I really didn't try to peek into your past, but I heard that you didn't grow up in that sect and instead joined it later on."
"This is not a secret. Anyone who wants to know my background would know this. Yes, I was lucky and joined the sect to become its disciple." Li Qiye nodded.
This made her even more curious and inquisitive: "Why did Brother Li pick the Cleansing Incense Ancient Sect? In my opinion, you are a brilliant talent with exceptional abilities. There is nothing that you can't do and nothing you don't know."
"And?" Li Qiye chuckled after hearing this.
"In my shallow view, if I were you, if it was between the Cleansing Incense Ancient Sect and Heavenguard… I am only a human so I would pick Heavenguard." She revealed what was on her mind.
She had a certain perception of him at this moment. Since he could make Forheaven act so respectfully, it wouldn't have been difficult for him to join Heavenguard in the past.
Even a fool could make the easy choice between Cleansing Incense and Heavenguard. Although Cleansing Incense was once an imperial lineage, it had fallen to a third-rate sect, if it could even be considered that. Meanwhile, Heavenguard had three emperors and loomed over the world. Such a choice was very simple. Anyone would close their eyes and pick Heavenguard.
Li Qiye looked at Ye Chuyun and smiled: "Chuyun, backgrounds don't matter to me. It doesn't matter if it's Heavenguard or the most humble and lowly of backgrounds, I can still head for the apex and cause myriad worlds to lose their lights as I reign supreme!"
With that, Li Qiye stared towards the far horizon with a serious expression: "I picked Cleansing Incense because of a very simple reason — we are connected by fate."
Ye Chuyun turned silent. She couldn't help but wryly smile afterward. Perhaps, only Li Qiye could utter such words with confidence!
"Come, we'll head for the Holy City." Li Qiye looked at the stunned girl and spoke with a smile.
She calmed down and quickly chased after Li Qiye. The two of them left Heavenguard.
Because Li Qiye was not in a rush to reach the Holy City, he took his time enjoying the beautiful sceneries while setting their boat eastbound through the streams.
The Southern Barren Earth was a wondrous land. Despite its name, rivers extending to all directions could be found everywhere. In this region, one could reach any location by water.
Li Qiye continued to enjoy the beautiful scenes while growing sentimental at a few locations due to recalling people of the past…
Along the way, Ye Chuyun did a good job taking care of him as if she was a maid. Today, she was the ruler of a country, a genius Virtuous Paragon. However, she didn't act prideful or dignified before Li Qiye.
Li Qiye liked her as well. While watching her row the boat, he asked with a smile: "Chuyun, if you are willing, I can take you in."
Ye Chuyun revealed a gentle smile upon hearing this and answered: "I appreciate your adoration." 1
"Nevermind, I suppose you and I are not meant to be." Li Qiye understood her implication and didn't force the issue.
Ye Chuyun gently shook her head and explained: "Brother Li misunderstood my intention. I really do appreciate your sentiment — these words come from my heart." With that, she stared at him and gently sighed: "Your talents are peerless and I trust that one day, myriad worlds will tremble because of you. I am weak and won't amount to much by staying at your side. You already have great people like Shuangyan and Baojiao, so me staying by your side is akin to embroidering flowers already on fine silk."
"My presence is not necessary." She continued on: "So it is better to stay at my school and be friends with you. In the future, I will be content if you come visit me whenever you are at the Barren Earth."
Having said that, she sighed again with an inexplicable melancholic expression. She understood that she was giving up many things with this choice. However, she stood by it.
"Everyone has their own wishes. I will not force the issue." Li Qiye nodded: "It is also my honor to have known you."
Ye Chuyun smiled warmly. She was the snow melting in spring and quietly soothed the heart.
As they traveled on their boat, there was a lot of fun along the way. This particular day, the tiny waves swayed the tiny ship. Li Qiye was seated at the bow to savor the view. Meanwhile, Ye Chuyun sat to the side and controlled the fire nearby to brew him tea.
No matter the high winds or strong tides, the two of them sat on the boat as if they were within their own comfy room.
Suddenly, Li Qiye's eyes narrowed before speaking: "Since you are already here, show yourself!"
"Brother Li is unbeatable, please excuse Suyao." A very pleasant voice that could cause the souls of others to flutter rang out. This voice was like a fine wine; people would become lost within the taste.
A woman drifted onto the small boat. The sun and moon became listless and the flowers lost their colors upon her arrival. She was as transcendent as an immortal and would cause people to wonder if she was a fairy lost in the mortal world.
However, despite her supreme style, Li Qiye only glanced at her once without caring too much.
She landed on the boat and slightly bowed towards Ye Chuyun: "Miss Ye, please excuse my sudden visit."
Ye Chuyun looked at the woman ahead who was capable of inciting inferiority in all other girls in this world and responded: "You are too polite, Goddess Mei. Welcome to our humble vessel."
The newcomer was world-renowned. It was the enchanting Mei Suyao who was called Goddess Mei by others — the goddess in many young men’s minds!
Ye Chuyun invited her down as the host and seated her opposite to Li Qiye.
Her glistening eyes were like flowing water, causing the world to calm. The winds stopped and the tides receded. It was as if she had a peerless charm that was harmonious with the rhythm of the world.
This scene meant that Mei Suyao was already powerful to a fearful level. Although she was not showing her aura, the ones who were more discerning would be shocked from seeing this!
"Brother Li, I was out of line earlier, please forgive me." Mei Suyao was a goddess. Her words could immediately win people over: "I was not trying to gauge you and am only here to avoid chaos."
Li Qiye was indifferent to Mei Suyao. He had met all kinds of supreme women, so she couldn't charm him. He looked her up and down as if he was enjoying each of her curves.
Such an action could be said to be extremely rude and frivolously perverted. Any outsider would yell at Li Qiye.
However, Mei Suyao did not become angry. She calmly met his gaze and let him enjoy looking at her in such a meticulous manner.
Keep in mind that Mei Suyao was very famous right now. Her cultivation had reached an unfathomable level. Her beauty was kingdom-toppling; countless young geniuses were in love with her in the Mortal Emperor World.
They would treat her with utmost respect and wouldn't act in such a callous manner.
"It has been a while and you have become much more beautiful. Even I have to like you." Li Qiye judged her and gently nodded.
No matter how calm she was, her face contained a faint hint of red upon hearing these words, but it quickly passed away.
"Don't get me wrong, I am not praising your beauty." Li Qiye stared at her and smiled: "It looks like you are no longer running around as a saintess. Good, this is an improvement."
She was indeed different from before. Back then, no matter where she went, there would be countless visions accompanying her steps. However, there was nothing this time, as if she has returned to the origin.
"Thank you for your kind words." Mei Suyao bowed with her soft figure and spoke: "It is all thanks to you that I have reached this level. Your words woke me up from my dream, and I have greatly benefited from them."
"Enlightenment is good so that you won't put the Alaya Fragrance Dao to waste." Li Qiye nodded and leisurely accepted her gesture.
With that, he stared at her and asked: "You didn't run all around the world for no reason, right? Why are you here at the Barren Earth?"
In the Mortal Emperor World, Mei Suyao's status was extremely noble. No one would dare to question her in such a rude manner!
This is a polite no. ↩