Dominator Emperor

Chapter 152: Chapter 151: Emergence of the Netherworld Ship (Part 1)

In the Human Emperor Realm, the Ancient Sky Corpse Land was known as the Great Middle Realm’s largest graveyard! Countless great figures were buried here, not to mention the innumerable nameless ones.

Legend had it that far too many cultivators were buried in the Ancient Sky Corpse Land, from nameless cultivators all the way up to Saint Emperor Great Sages. There were even rumors that an Immortal Emperor might be buried there!

No one knew if this legend was true. However, as one of the Twelve Burial Lands, the Ancient Sky Corpse Land was indeed the largest graveyard in the Great Middle Realm. Many cultivators whose lifespans were at their end wished to enter the Ancient Sky Corpse Land before they died, find a Fengshui Treasure Land, and bury themselves there.

There were many legends about the Ancient Sky Corpse Land, but the most enticing was the one about rebirth, about living for another lifetime!

A legend circulated in the Human Emperor Realm: if one could bury themselves in a Fengshui Treasure Land within the Ancient Sky Corpse Land, they would have a chance at rebirth, or even a chance to live for another lifetime.

As for these so-called Fengshui Treasure Lands, no one could say for sure which ones could grant rebirth; it was all a matter of luck. In truth, over millions of years, countless great figures had been buried in the Ancient Sky Corpse Land. Even if such rebirth-granting Fengshui Treasure Lands existed, they would have all been taken by now.

However, for the people of every generation, the Ancient Sky Corpse Land still offered one hope: the legendary Netherworld Ship!

Legend told that in every era, the fabled Nether River would surge up from beneath the Ancient Sky Corpse Land. When the Nether Sea appeared, Netherworld Ships would emerge one by one, sailing along the Nether River into the deepest part of the Ancient Sky Corpse Land!

If a dying person could climb aboard a Netherworld Ship and entomb themselves within, and if they chose the right ship, they might be able to extend their lifespan, or even be reborn and live for another lifetime!

It sounded absurd, but in reality, throughout the ages, there had indeed been people who boarded a Netherworld Ship and succeeded in extending their lifespan, or were even reborn to live another life!

For this very reason, the Ancient Sky Corpse Land and the Netherworld Ship held an irresistible allure for the dying. Even cultivators—be they as powerful as Saint Emperors or as Wudi as Great Sages—feared death in the end. They all feared the day they would turn to dust. And so, for those at death’s door, the Ancient Sky Corpse Land and the Netherworld Ship offered a glimmer of hope. This was especially true for the Defying Heaven Old Undying from the Great Teaching Territories; they desperately hoped to board a Netherworld Ship and obtain a new life!

"I’m betting on rebirth this time!" An Old Undying who had sealed their blood and halted their lifespan for era after era finally emerged, speaking with immense excitement.

In an instant, the Great Middle Realm, and even the entire Human Emperor Realm, erupted in a frenzy. The Ancient Sky Corpse Land and the Netherworld Ship became the topic of every cultivator’s conversation. At the same time, all across the world, one Dao Platform after another was opened, and numerous experts embarked on the path to the Ancient Sky Corpse Land.

Soon, news about the Ancient Sky Corpse Land and the Netherworld Ship reached the Xiyan Ancient Sect.

The most excited person to hear this news was Nan Huairun. He couldn’t contain his excitement as he said to Li Qiye, "First Brother, I heard that countless Great Sages are buried in the Ancient Sky Corpse Land, and their burial goods are Heaven and Earth Immortal Treasures! Heh, all the big shots from around the world are rushing to the Ancient Sky Corpse Land. Should we follow behind them and see if we can pick up one or two Heaven and Earth Immortal Treasures?"

"The Netherworld Ships are appearing..." Li Qiye murmured, his eyes narrowing as he ignored Nan Huairun’s words. "The time for rebirth is here. I wonder who will achieve it in this generation?"

The life extension, and even rebirth, granted by the Netherworld Ship wasn’t just a baseless rumor. It was real. Li Qiye himself had once personally witnessed someone be reborn and live another life!

"Heh, First Brother, should we mobilize and head into the Ancient Sky Corpse Land to hunt for treasure?" Nan Huairun asked Li Qiye excitedly.

Only then did Li Qiye slowly glance sideways at Nan Huairun. "Treasure hunting? With your skills? A single Earth Corpse could tear you to shreds!"

"Heh, with you here, First Brother, I wouldn’t even be afraid of a Wudi Earth Corpse." Nan Huairun said shamelessly, his faith in Li Qiye utterly blind!

"Even if I go, I’m not taking you along just to tag along!" Li Qiye said irritably.

Nan Huairun gave a dry laugh. "Heh, First Brother, you wouldn’t mind bringing one more person, right? Heh, if you really go, please take me with you."

Li Qiye glanced at him and shook his head gently. "Even if I do go, I’m not taking you. The Ancient Sky Corpse Land is far more terrifying than Demon’s Back Ridge. It’s not a place just anyone can go! Your Dao Practice is decent, but with your constitution, if you get tainted by the Corpse Qi, you’ll be bedridden for several years at best. At worst, I’m afraid you’ll turn into an Earth Corpse."

"Turn into an Earth Corpse—" Hearing Li Qiye’s words, Nan Huairun felt a chill run down his spine. He instinctively shrank back, a cold draft seemingly prickling the back of his neck. His face paled as he said, "I heard Earth Corpses are pretty much the same as zombies—monsters that don’t need to eat or drink."

"There’s a difference. Earth Corpses are alive," Li Qiye said with a smile. "If you’re lucky, you might even retain a sliver of consciousness, find a Fengshui Treasure Land, bury yourself, and wait millions of years for a chance to be reborn."

"Oh my god, no way! I’m living a perfectly good life right now. I don’t want to bury myself in a place full of corpses." Nan Huairun’s expression changed, and he didn’t dare bring up the Ancient Sky Corpse Land again before scurrying away.

After Nan Huairun left, Li Qiye gazed toward the distant horizon, his eyes fixed on the direction of the Ancient Sky Corpse Land, silent for a long time.

’The Ancient Sky Corpse Land...’ Li Qiye sighed inwardly. ’One of the Twelve Burial Lands, a place for burying corpses, a paradise for the dead. So many dying cultivators flock to a place like this.’

As the Yin Ya, he had entered the Ancient Sky Corpse Land more than once over the past millions of years. In fact, he had entered so many times that he himself had lost count.

The Ancient Sky Corpse Land... to say it was dangerous, yet it wasn’t; to say it wasn’t dangerous, yet it was incomparably so. Even an Immortal Emperor in person wouldn’t dare claim they could easily breach its deepest reaches!

Entering the Ancient Sky Corpse Land was a delicate matter, and it all depended on one’s purpose. In its deepest parts, forget about Great Sages—even an Immortal Emperor wouldn’t dare enter rashly. For a Great Sage, to enter that place was to die. For every one that went in, one would perish!

"Thinking of going?" While Li Qiye was lost in thought, Chen Baojiao had come to his side. She had also heard the news about the Ancient Sky Corpse Land, and seeing him staring blankly in its direction, she couldn’t help but ask.

Having been by Li Qiye’s side for some time, Chen Baojiao had gradually grown accustomed to his way of thinking and his actions.

"Yes, I’m going," Li Qiye finally said with a nod. "’The Celestial Road appears, the Divine Stone opens!’ I have to make a trip to that place." The Ancient Sky Corpse Land held something he needed!

In fact, there was something there he had coveted for a very long time. He had sent people to retrieve it before, but unfortunately, they had all failed. This time, he planned to go himself.

"There’s something there suitable for you, too," Li Qiye added, glancing at Chen Baojiao beside him.

Although Chen Baojiao’s talent wasn’t on par with Li Shuangyan’s, and her temperament was fiery and fierce, she was an incredibly resolute girl. Her diligence and effort in cultivation were second to none; even Li Shuangyan admitted she couldn’t compare. This was a quality Li Qiye greatly appreciated.

"The Ancient Sky Corpse Land... I hear it’s ravaged by Corpse Qi and crawling with countless Earth Corpses. The Overlords occupying the Fengshui Treasure Lands are said to be terrifying beyond belief. It’s a place of no return; one careless mistake, and you become an Earth Corpse," Chen Baojiao said, her expression changing. "Can we really do it?"

"That’s where technique comes in," Li Qiye said with a smile. "Unless you are incomparably powerful, trying to force your way in and advance ten thousand miles would be harder than ascending to the heavens, let alone stepping into the Fengshui Treasure Lands where Overlords and titans are buried."

Seeing Li Qiye’s confidence, Chen Baojiao said no more. As his maid, she would naturally follow his decision.

Just as Li Qiye was contemplating how to enter the Ancient Sky Corpse Land, Li Shuangyan came to find him.

"The Nine Saints Demon Gate has received a business proposal. I wonder if you’d be interested in taking it?" Li Shuangyan asked, getting straight to the point.

"What kind of business? Is it related to the Ancient Sky Corpse Land?" Li Qiye asked, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Li Shuangyan.

Li Shuangyan nodded. "Yes. Someone wants to be buried in a Netherworld Ship. My master wants to take this job, as it’s extremely important to the Nine Saints Demon Gate. However, my master can’t handle this kind of task, so he thought of you. He believes you can create miracles."

"You must have had a hand in this," Li Qiye said, eyeing Li Shuangyan. "If you hadn’t recommended me, I doubt your Nine Saints Demon Gate would have been so proactive."

Li Shuangyan didn’t hide it. She admitted frankly, "I mentioned to my master that if anyone could accomplish such a task, it would have to be you. So, my master wanted to ask if you would be willing to take on this job."

"Who wants to be buried in a Netherworld Ship?" Li Qiye’s eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke slowly.

"Someone from the War God Hall," Li Shuangyan answered truthfully. "This person is extremely important to our Nine Saints Demon Gate. If we succeed in burying them in a Netherworld Ship, there will be great benefits for you and the Xiyan Ancient Sect as well."

"So that bunch of old men from the War God Hall still haven’t given up," Li Qiye said with a leisurely smile. "Back then, that one Old Ghost succeeded in his burial, and a bunch of other old men wanted to follow suit. A pity they never succeeded again."

"Someone from the War God Hall successfully buried themselves in the Ancient Sky Corpse Land?" Hearing this, Li Shuangyan’s expression changed as she spoke.

"To be precise, one of their Old Ghosts once successfully achieved rebirth. After being buried, he truly lived for another lifetime," Li Qiye said calmly. "It’s just a pity that old man’s luck was a bit off. Otherwise, he really might have become an Immortal Emperor in his second life!"

"The Ancient Sky Corpse Land can really resurrect someone and grant them rebirth?" Li Shuangyan couldn’t help but gasp. Although she had heard many legends about the place, she had always assumed that resurrection and rebirth were just that—legends, mere exaggerations.