Chapter 397 - 395: The Storm Begins

In truth, King Jingxi hadn’t intended to make an enemy of Li Qiye from the start. As a Sovereign, it was natural for him to put on airs. He just never expected Li Qiye to be such a ruthless man, one who would kill at the slightest disagreement.

King Jingxi was even more wary of such a ruthless man. Once someone like that made a move, they did so without any scruples!

Li Qiye glanced at King Jingxi. "Fine," he said. "You’re a smart man who knows when to back down. I won’t make things difficult for you."

Hearing Li Qiye’s words, King Jingxi breathed a secret sigh of relief. ’I can’t help but regret listening to Xuan Young Monarch’s instigation. If I’d just listened to Lu Baiqiu’s advice from the start, things never would have gotten to this point.’

"I came here to ask about the Lost Divine Island," King Jingxi said quickly. "Master Lu mentioned that you were the one who discovered it, Fellow Daoist. I was wondering if you could tell me a bit about it."

Li Qiye shook his head gently. "The Lost Divine Island... This is not something your Jingxi Country can afford to get involved with. One wrong move, and you’ll bring annihilation upon your kingdom."

King Jingxi couldn’t help but feel disappointed at Li Qiye’s words, but he didn’t dare press the issue.

"However..." Li Qiye glanced at King Jingxi as an idea suddenly struck him. He then said, "How about this: you do something for me. Your Jingxi Country won’t have to get directly involved in this storm, and if there are benefits to be had in the future, I’ll give you a cut."

"What is it you need?" King Jingxi’s spirits lifted at the offer. ’For Jingxi Country, being able to establish a connection with an Emperor Immortal Gate would be a wonderful thing.’

’Although Jingxi Country is a vassal of the Qianli River, we are far from the only Inheritance Sect in Yao Yun to be so. What’s more, our kingdom is located at the far southern edge of Qianli River’s territory; they don’t place much importance on us. If we could get on good terms with another Emperor Immortal Gate, it would be a mutually beneficial arrangement for Jingxi Country.’

"What you need to do is simple," Li Qiye said to King Jingxi with a smile. "Spread the news of the Lost Divine Island. Announce that an Immortal Elixir has been unearthed there, and that a miracle from the Mythical Era is imminent!"

"An Immortal Elixir has been unearthed?" Hearing this, King Jingxi was visibly moved. He took a deep breath.

"Go on, now. There will be benefits for you in the future," Li Qiye said, waving his hand dismissively.

King Jingxi stood, bowed to Li Qiye, and turned to leave with Lu Baiqiu. Just then, Li Qiye spoke up. "Master Lu, you stay."

"Me?" Lu Baiqiu froze, looking from Li Qiye to King Jingxi.

Li Qiye nodded. "You are worth my effort to train. If you are willing to stay, I will grant you a great Creation in the future."

Hearing this, King Jingxi was overjoyed. He quickly said to Lu Baiqiu, "Master Lu, stay behind and act as our liaison." He was eager to foster a connection with Li Qiye. ’If Lu Baiqiu can join an Emperor Immortal Gate in the future, it would be a wonderful thing for Jingxi Country.’

Lu Baiqiu looked at her sovereign, then at Li Qiye. Finally, she nodded. "As Your Majesty commands, I will stay."

After quickly giving Lu Baiqiu a few instructions, King Jingxi left with his retinue.

After King Jingxi left, Lu Baiqiu sat down beside Li Qiye. She sized him up, unable to restrain her curiosity. "Brother Li, which Emperor Immortal Gate are you from?" ’When I first met him,’ she recalled, ’I thought he was from some minor sect, or maybe just a Loose Cultivator. I certainly don’t think that anymore.’

Li Qiye chuckled at their assumptions. He shook his head. "Does it really matter which Emperor Immortal Gate I come from?"

Still curious, Lu Baiqiu ventured a guess. "There are only two Emperor Immortal Gates in Yao Yun that recruit members of the Human Race: the Qianli River and the Yu Shan Old Immortal Kingdom. If you were from the Qianli River, Brother Li, we would have surely heard of your fame by now. Does that mean... you’re from the Yu Shan Old Immortal Kingdom?"

"Neither," Li Qiye said, shaking his head. "None of that matters for you. What’s important is to settle your heart and commit to your Cultivation. That’s what you should be focused on."

"So, Brother Li is going to guide my Cultivation?" Lu Baiqiu couldn’t resist joking. "I wonder what kind of Creation this Brother Dao is capable of giving me?"

Lu Baiqiu was mature and steady in her work, but she was still a young woman at heart, and sometimes her lively, playful side came out.

"That depends on your choice," Li Qiye said with a smile, glancing at Lu Baiqiu. "If you’re willing to stay and work for me, I’ll give you a decent Creation. If you’d rather stay with Jingxi Country, I can still point you toward a good path."

Li Qiye truly did intend to foster Lu Baiqiu’s growth. Compared to the other women around him, her talent was admittedly quite average. She couldn’t compare to the likes of Li Shuangyan, and she was even a step below Chi Xiaodie.

However, what Li Qiye valued in Lu Baiqiu was her character. She was broad-minded, sensible, and knew her limits. At the same time, she was a very pragmatic Cultivator.

"Are you suggesting I join your esteemed sect, Brother Li?" Lu Baiqiu asked with a smile. "Even if I were to join your sect, Brother Li, I doubt my path would take me any further than my current one."

Coming from a humble background, Lu Baiqiu was self-aware and knew her own limitations. ’My talent is nothing compared to a true genius. If I joined another sect, I’d have to start over from scratch in so many areas. And with my level of talent, joining a new sect midway through my training... I’d never get the attention I need to advance.’

’In an Emperor Immortal Gate, the hierarchy is ironclad. For a disciple who isn’t considered important, wanting to cultivate an Emperor Technique or gain access to more resources... that’s more difficult than ascending to the heavens.’

"That won’t be necessary," Li Qiye said with a smile. "I happen to be short a Groom. If you’re willing to stay, you can take charge of my mount."

"Brother Li, that’s not a very funny joke." Lu Baiqiu was taken aback for a moment before shaking her head. Even for a broad-minded person like her, his words made her uncomfortable.

’I know I’m no genius,’ she thought, ’but I have a decent future in Jingxi Country. I have confidence in myself.’ For Li Qiye to now ask her to be a Groom... anyone would find that insulting. If she weren’t so broad-minded, she would have flown into a rage, assuming he was trying to humiliate her.

Li Qiye glanced at her and said matter-of-factly, "Don’t think that being my groom is an insult to you. Across the Nine Realms, not just anyone is qualified to tend my mount! The people I deem unworthy have no right to this position, no matter how great their talent or how illustrious their background!"

This was no idle boast. In a distant age, the appearance of his mount would make gods retreat in deference and Immortal Emperors come out to greet him! And the one who drove for him was a Great Sage, a being who could found kingdoms and achieve Divine Enthronement!

Lu Baiqiu was stunned. The words had left Li Qiye’s lips so casually, yet they held an indescribable confidence, as if everything he stated was simply a matter of fact.

If anyone else had said such things, Lu Baiqiu would have dismissed them as outrageous boasts. Yet, hearing them spoken so nonchalantly by Li Qiye, she didn’t feel he was being arrogant in the slightest. It was as if what he said was simply the natural order of things.

Once she finally came to her senses, Lu Baiqiu blinked and offered a playful smile. "Even if I were willing to be your groom, Brother Li... do you even have a mount?" As she spoke, she intentionally looked him up and down, as if searching for this supposed mount.

Lu Baiqiu was a straightforward and spirited young woman. This hint of playfulness, a departure from her usual composure, was a refreshing sight. In that moment, her charming, pretty expression was undeniably captivating.

"A mount will be acquired," Li Qiye stated with unhurried confidence. "Consider my offer carefully. An opportunity like this is rare."

Li Qiye’s words sent Lu Baiqiu into a thoughtful silence. If anyone else had offered her a job as a Groom and told her to "consider it carefully," she would have dismissed them as a lunatic. But hearing it from Li Qiye... she found herself actually considering it.

At the deliberate behest of Jingxi Country, news of the Lost Divine Island’s appearance quickly swept through Yao Yun. From there, it spread with incredible speed to the domains of Shuicang, Ze Di, the Netherworld, and beyond.

"The Lost Divine Island? Isn’t that just a legend?" When the news began to circulate, many Cultivators from the Great Teaching Territories were skeptical.

However, a number of Great Teaching Territories closer to Jingxi Country immediately sent people to investigate. Sure enough, they discovered the fog-shrouded Lost Divine Island off the coast.

Once numerous Great Teaching Territories had come and confirmed the island’s existence, the many powers in Yao Yun who had been skeptical finally started to believe the news.

For a time, the topic dominated discussions within the various Great Teaching Territories. Some powers even convened special meetings dedicated solely to the matter of the Lost Divine Island.

"The Lost Divine Island has always been nothing but a legend. No one has seen it for eons, and now it suddenly appears without any warning? This is too suspicious." Many of the major figures within the Great Teaching Territories decided to adopt a wait-and-see attitude.

One Sect Leader from a Great Teaching Territory commented, "Legend says the Lost Divine Island is a remnant from the Mythical Era. As for what exactly is inside... I’m afraid no one yet knows."

This cautiousness was reinforced when powerful experts who tried to cross the sea of mist and land on the island were devoured. So, even though many Great Teaching Territories now knew the island was real, they continued to watch from a distance.

However, the next piece of news that spread began to make people restless. A rumor, from an unknown source, began to circulate: an Immortal Elixir had appeared on the Lost Divine Island.

***