Chapter 414 - 412: Qianli Immortal Emperor

At this time, a shadow could be faintly seen within the chaos. However, this shadow was wreathed in chaos, making it impossible to tell if it was male or female; only a hazy silhouette was visible.

If the elders of the Qianli River saw this shadow, they would be scared out of their wits. This shadow was identical to that of their founder, the Qianli Immortal Emperor.

Staring at the shadow in the chaos, Li Qiye fell silent. The shadow, however, spoke up, "Congratulations. You’ve finally reclaimed your body. It’s just a pity that I couldn’t wait until this day."

"Eons have passed, Qianli, yet you are still here." Li Qiye finally said with a soft sigh. "You know you no longer exist in this world."

"I know," said the shadow in the chaos. Its voice was rhythmic, like the Great Dao Sound, making it impossible to tell if it was male or female.

"I was waiting for your return," said the shadow in the chaos. "Here. Although I am already gone, my will persists, and my lingering attachment to this land remains."

"Or perhaps, you were waiting here hoping I wouldn’t come to take these things away," Li Qiye said with a smile, simply sitting down.

The shadow in the chaos was silent for a long time. Finally, it spoke softly, "When you and I created this miracle, what was our original purpose?"

"It’s precisely because we created the Qianli River that I never came back. If I had wanted to take them before, I would have done so long ago. However," Li Qiye said, "when your descendants are no longer worthy of these things, then I should take back what is mine."

"Then do you think the current Qianli River is still worthy of you leaving them behind? Without these things, the countless creatures of this land will no longer be able to achieve the Dao," said the shadow in the chaos.

Li Qiye fell silent. After an unknown amount of time, he too spoke softly, "I knew you would leave a lingering attachment here. I also wanted to see an old friend on this trip back." At this, he couldn’t help but sigh with melancholy.

"If you can continue to leave these things here, it would be a great fortune for the Qianli River, a blessing for all living beings in this land," said the shadow in the chaos. "This landscape... holds my cherished memories."

"Then let them stay here." Li Qiye was silent for a long time. Finally, with a hint of resignation, he gave a wry smile and said, "It seems I can’t refuse your request."

"But you refused back then," the shadow in the chaos said softly at last, its voice exceptionally quiet.

Mentioning the events of the past, Li Qiye gently shook his head. "Though you were an Immortal Emperor, you should have known that you would have had a difficult time succeeding in obtaining the Undying from the Immortal Demon Cave. Even if you had succeeded, you would have sacrificed your own life. It’s just as when I cultivated Mingren and the others; my original intention was not for them to die for me..."

"...and it was the same for you. It isn’t easy for an Immortal Emperor to emerge in each generation. The existence of an Immortal Emperor isn’t just about being unbeatable across the Nine Realms; it’s also about safeguarding the world. You should understand this. Trading an Immortal Emperor’s life for mine—that was never my intention. In this world, there are still many joyful things, many things for us to do. Whether I’m a crow or an Imperial Tutor, to me, the people I’ve cultivated are not tools, and they are certainly not sacrificial pawns."

Speaking to this point, Li Qiye let out a melancholic sigh.

"Are you lonely?" the shadow in the chaos asked softly after a long time.

Li Qiye smiled. "When you get used to it, you no longer feel lonely. For millions of years, I’ve had people like Mingren, Tun Ri, and you to accompany me. I should be happy, really."

After a long time, the shadow in the chaos let out a soft sigh, one that seemed filled with melancholy.

"I found something for you," the shadow in the chaos said after a while. Then, an object flew out of the chaos and landed in front of Li Qiye.

Li Qiye’s expression changed the moment he saw the object. "The Celestial Treasure Bottle!" he said, unable to stop himself from reaching out to gently caress the Ancient Bottle.

"I know you were looking for this for a very long time. After you fell into slumber, I once sundered the heavens and earth, and my efforts finally paid off. I found it," said the shadow in the chaos.

Li Qiye gently put away the Celestial Treasure Bottle, then smiled and said, "If you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten. Back then, I was indeed very interested in this item and wanted to study the legendary Tianzang Mountain, but I ended up putting the matter aside."

"That’s because you’re such a busy man," the shadow in the chaos said with a laugh, its laughter exceptionally pleasant to the ear.

Li Qiye couldn’t help but smile as well. The events of the past were as clear as day, but alas, too much time had passed. Everything had been sealed deep within his memory, and today, those memories were stirred once more.

"Let me see you," the shadow in the chaos said after a long time.

Li Qiye looked at the shadow in the chaos and fell silent for a long time. Finally, with a soft sigh, he slowly walked into the chaos, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Above the Golden Divine Hall, as Lan Yunzhu looked up at the Golden Divine Willow, she was surprised to see anemone-like sprites drifting around it.

No, those weren’t sea anemones; they were Yin Yang Immortal Sunflowers, and Yin Yang Immortal Sunflower Emperors at that! Seeing so many Yin Yang Immortal Sunflower Emperors, even Lan Yunzhu was stunned.

One had to know that a single Yin Yang Immortal Sunflower Emperor was comparable in value to an Eight Transformations Soul Grass or a Medicine King two to three million years old. Moreover, there were even some that had turned Red Gold, which were even more precious than a three-million-year-old Medicine King.

People from their Qianli River would always go down to the Yin Yang Pool for Catching the Immortal Sunflower, but they rarely caught a Yin Yang Immortal Sunflower Emperor, let alone one that was Red Gold.

Seeing so many Yin Yang Immortal Sunflower Emperors left Lan Yunzhu stunned. She wanted to catch a few to take back, but no matter what Divine Techniques she used, she couldn’t capture any of the Yin Yang Immortal Sunflower Emperors drifting beneath the Golden Divine Tree.

"It’s impossible for you to catch a Yin Yang Immortal Sunflower Emperor under the Golden Divine Willow." Just as Lan Yunzhu was trying to figure out a way to catch one, Li Qiye’s laughter rang out by her ear.

Lan Yunzhu turned her head and saw that Li Qiye was standing beside her, though she had no idea when he’d appeared.

"You damn Little Ghost, how dare you leave me outside!" The moment she saw Li Qiye, Lan Yunzhu flew into a rage. Baring her teeth and brandishing her claws at him, she said hatefully, "Just see if I don’t beat you to a pulp!"

"Girl, it’s not that I wanted to leave you outside; you just couldn’t get in," Li Qiye said with a smile. "Not just anyone can enter the Golden Divine Hall."

Lan Yunzhu was seething. With a cold snort, she came to her senses and immediately stared at Li Qiye, demanding, "What did you take from inside?"

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Li Qiye glanced at her. "Even if I did take something, I’d only be taking what belongs to me. But, your Qianli River is in luck. Forget it. For your founder’s sake, I decided to leave those things behind."

"Really?" Lan Yunzhu stared at Li Qiye skeptically, as if trying to see whether he had hidden some treasure on his person.

Li Qiye shot her an irritated glare. "If I wanted to take the things here, what could your Qianli River possibly do to stop me? I suppose you could say my destiny with your Qianli River isn’t over yet." At this, he couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh.

Lan Yunzhu was stunned for a moment. In a daze, she thought she saw a look of deep sorrow on Li Qiye’s face, but it definitely wasn’t over some treasure. From the moment she’d met him, he had always been calm and elegant, full of laughter and conversation. She had never seen him look so dejected.

In that daze, Lan Yunzhu wasn’t entirely sure, even suspecting her eyes were playing tricks on her. ’What on earth could make Li Qiye look so sorrowful?’ This made her extremely curious.

Just as Lan Yunzhu was wondering, Li Qiye let out a long whistle. At that moment, something incredible happened. A Yin Yang Immortal Sunflower Emperor actually floated down slowly onto his palm. Li Qiye had caught it with utmost ease.

"No way." Lan Yunzhu’s beautiful eyes went wide when she saw this. She tried to imitate Li Qiye and let out a long whistle, but the Yin Yang Immortal Sunflower Emperors completely ignored her.

"How did you do that?" Lan Yunzhu found it incredible and stared at Li Qiye.

Li Qiye gave her a mysterious smile. "That’s a secret, and not one you’re privy to. Of course, if we consummate our marriage tonight, I might consider telling you."

"Go to hell—" Lan Yunzhu’s face instantly turned beet red, and she aimed a vicious kick at Li Qiye.

Li Qiye laughed, then leaped up and vanished among the willow leaves. A moment later, he dropped back down, now holding a crown in his hand. It was a crown woven from golden willow branches. From each branch hung Law Divine Chains as fine as Golden Threads, a sight that could mesmerize any who saw it.

"What’s that?" Lan Yunzhu asked, seeing the crown woven from willow branches in Li Qiye’s hand.

"The Golden Willow Crown," Li Qiye said with a smile. "Too bad it’s not for you. You’re far too derelict in your duties as a fiancée, so I can’t give it to you."

"As if I’d want it!" Lan Yunzhu shot Li Qiye an irritated glare, seething with anger again.

"Let’s go. With one Yin Yang Immortal Sunflower Emperor, we have more than enough to beat your Guardian," Li Qiye said, taking one last look at the Golden Divine Hall and sighing softly to himself.

Lan Yunzhu looked at Li Qiye, hesitated for a moment, and finally said, "I have to report what happened here to the Sect Leader."

After all, she was a disciple of the Qianli River. The Golden Divine Willow was far too important to the sect; she had to explain the situation to them.