Dominator Emperor

Chapter 174: Chapter 173: Stellar Celestial Disc (Part 1)

After the successor of the Divine Sword Holy Land stepped aside, no other cultivator present dared to step forward and try. Even an Ancient Saint had failed to open this Stone Box; it was a hopeless endeavor for anyone else.

"Anyone else?" the old man asked, sitting there with narrowed eyes as he gazed at the crowd.

At this point, the many cultivators present were speechless. They were finally realizing that there was no such thing as a free lunch. ’If he treats items like a Great Sage True Artifact and a Great Sage Longevity Treasure like garbage, one can only imagine how powerful he must be!’ ’If even he can’t open it and has to offer such a grand reward to find someone who can, what chance do we have?’

"I’ll give it a try!" Just when everyone was at a loss, a resonant voice rang out. A young man approached with the confident stride of a dragon and the gait of a tiger, his aura magnificent.

The young man strode forward with an extraordinary aura. His gaze was spirited and proud, carrying an air of looking down upon the world. He carried a Divine Saber on his back. Though it remained sheathed, it faintly emitted the cries of a dragon and a phoenix. The scabbard itself seemed to depict a coiling dragon and a soaring phoenix. With this Divine Saber on his back, the young man appeared even more transcendent, as if accompanied by mythical beasts, ready to soar through the Celestial Universe!

"A disciple from Takong Mountain!" A cultivator spotted the young man’s emblem, his expression changing drastically as he cried out in alarm.

Takong Mountain. Upon hearing this name, countless people’s expressions shifted as they drew in a sharp breath. In the present age, Takong Mountain was an illustrious name, a lineage that made all other powers wary.

Takong Mountain was the lineage founded by the Ta Kong Immortal Emperor. As the most recent Immortal Emperor, his influence in the present age was arguably even greater than that of the more ancient ones.

In the world today, the very mention of Takong Mountain would stir anyone’s emotions. Fifty thousand years ago, the Ta Kong Immortal Emperor shouldered the Celestial Mandate and achieved invincibility. Thirty thousand years ago, he fought a cataclysmic battle against the Black Dragon King that nearly shattered the Nine Realms!

Although the Ta Kong Immortal Emperor was long gone, his reputation in the present age was so great that even Divine Spirits would pale at the mention of his name and keep a wide berth.

So for a disciple of the Ta Kong Immortal Emperor to appear in the Ancient Street today, how could it not cause a stir? In everyone’s mind, Takong Mountain was an existence that stood above the Nine Heavens—unfathomable, with endless Emperor’s Power and abundant Emperor Essence. It possessed a might that no one dared to challenge!

"Ji Kongjian, a disciple from Takong Mountain." A Prince who recognized the young man couldn’t help but pale as he whispered the name.

Ji Kongjian of Takong Mountain stepped forward. He looked at the Stone Box, snorted softly, and took out an item with a grave and cautious expression.

Ji Kongjian held a Stone Inkstone in his palm. It wasn’t large and resembled a coiling dragon. Yet, as he held this small Stone Inkstone, it felt like a supreme Divine Mountain, propping up the Celestial Vault and suppressing the Nine Netherworld, inspiring deep awe. It was clearly a Divine Object.

Very little ink remained within the Stone Inkstone. But even this small amount churned and roiled as if it were about to evolve into a new world, producing all sorts of astonishing phenomena.

"An Emperor’s Treasure..." Seeing the faint Emperor’s Power emanating from the Stone Inkstone, a True Master’s expression changed as he gasped.

Upon hearing the words "Emperor’s Treasure," the expressions of many cultivators present changed. Some even subconsciously took a step back. An item belonging to an Immortal Emperor was something that could suppress the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands!

Seeing everyone’s reaction, Ji Kongjian couldn’t help but look smug as he held the Stone Inkstone. He said slowly, "This is the Stone Inkstone used by my Elder Ancestor. He once ground ink here to write an Imperial Decree, commanding the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands and ruling over the Ten Thousand Races!"

It was no wonder Ji Kongjian was so proud. The Ta Kong Immortal Emperor hadn’t merely used this Stone Inkstone; he had used it to grind ink and write an Imperial Decree to command the world. The Emperor’s Immortal Power it contained was truly immense.

"Open—!" At that moment, Ji Kongjian roared. He presented the Stone Inkstone, and the ink inside roiled like a True Dragon in motion. A single drop of the scarce ink floated up and transformed into an Emperor’s Text: the character for "Open." As the character formed, silken strands of an Immortal Emperor’s Law chimed into existence.

Although the strands of the Immortal Emperor’s Law were as fine as silk, the Emperor’s Immortal Power erupted in that instant, surging toward the heavens. Everyone present shivered, overcome with an urge to prostrate themselves in submission.

However, just when everyone thought the Stone Box would finally open, the Emperor’s Text landed on it with a mere "THUD." It didn’t open! The Stone Box remained completely motionless, as if nothing in the world could shake it.

"Impossible—!" Ji Kongjian couldn’t help but cry out. He couldn’t believe it. ’This is absolutely impossible!’

Everyone stared with wide eyes, unable to believe what they were seeing. ’This is absolutely impossible!’ An Emperor’s Treasure was a Defying Heaven item; even a single wisp of its Emperor Essence could slay an Ancient Saint! Yet, a complete Emperor’s Text had failed to open the Stone Box. It was simply unbelievable.

"How can this be possible...?" Ji Kongjian sucked in a cold breath. While an Emperor’s Treasure couldn’t be called absolutely invincible, the power of an Emperor’s Text was still beyond imagination.

And yet, a single Emperor’s Text had failed to open the Stone Box. This was the first time Ji Kongjian had ever encountered something so inconceivable. In his eyes, an Emperor’s Treasure was supposed to be omnipotent!

"That Emperor’s Treasure of yours isn’t bad," the old man said with a smile, his eyes narrowed. "But it’s a far cry from that girl’s Black Sword. Her blade was used by the Yeti Immortal Emperor in his youth. It once created a monstrous Sea of Blood, slaughtering gods above and slaying fiends below. Of course, if you want to try again, go ahead. You still have two more chances."

The old man’s words sent a chill down everyone’s spines. Their gazes immediately shot to the Black Sword cradled by the woman in black. At the sight of it, a coldness gripped their hearts, and they couldn’t help but take another step back. No one could have imagined that this Black Sword was a Divine Sword once wielded by the Yeti Immortal Emperor. Even if he only used it in his youth, it was still terrifying beyond measure—something anyone would treat with extreme caution.

With the origin of her Black Sword exposed by the old man in the paper hat, the woman’s eyes turned icy. Her killing intent flared like a blade sharp enough to pierce the Celestial Vault.

"Girl, you’ve still got a long way to go. Even if your Elder Ancestor were here, he’d have to toe the line in front of me!" The old man remained completely unperturbed, paying no mind to her murderous aura. When her killing intent fell upon him, it felt like nothing more than a spring breeze on his cheek—utterly insignificant.

Although the woman’s killing intent was overwhelming and her aura lethally ferocious, she knew she had encountered a true master and didn’t dare to act rashly.

"Are you going to try again or not?" The old man withdrew his gaze and looked at Ji Kongjian, who stood frozen before the Stone Box.

Ji Kongjian stomped his foot and put away his Stone Inkstone. Though he was unwilling, he stepped to the side. His Stone Inkstone was a Defying Heaven item, but as an Emperor’s Treasure, it had very little ink left and couldn’t be used many more times. He naturally cherished it and wouldn’t use it lightly. In a moment of crisis, a treasure like this could save his life!

"Anyone else want to give it a shot?" The old man said slowly, smiling at the crowd. "This old man will be keeping this stall open until the Ancient Street closes. Anyone who wants to try is welcome anytime. Of course, you’re all welcome to call your friends and bring your elders. Spread the good news. It doesn’t matter who you are. As long as you can open this Stone Box, you can pick any one of these three treasures."

The old man’s words left everyone speechless. Some even felt the urge to jump up and curse him. ’Isn’t this just a scam?’ ’Even an Emperor’s Text couldn’t open the Stone Box, so who else could possibly do it?’ ’Unless someone brings an Immortal Emperor’s Treasure or an Immortal Emperor True Artifact, what else in the world could possibly open this thing?’

While any one of the three treasures was enough to make one’s eyes burn with greed, if even an Emperor’s Text couldn’t open the Stone Box, it was hopeless for anyone else. Trying to open it was nothing but a daydream.

Everyone present was speechless. They had thought this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but now they had all given up hope. Opening this Stone Box seemed harder than ascending to the heavens.

"Opening the Stone Box? That’s not hard at all. It’s a piece of cake." Just as the crowd fell into a dejected silence, a carefree voice suddenly spoke up.

As soon as the words were spoken, everyone immediately turned to look. They saw that the speaker was just an ordinary, unremarkable brat, which instantly annoyed many in the crowd. When they then noticed that this unremarkable brat was accompanied by two peerless beauties, their annoyance turned to irritation. Even Ji Kongjian let out a cold snort.

"You sound quite sure of yourself, little brother." The old man immediately looked up, his eyes narrowing as he studied the unremarkable-looking youth.

Li Qiye, who had been watching the spectacle from the sidelines, smiled. He slowly walked forward, glanced at the Stone Box, and said with unhurried confidence, "For me, opening this box is as easy as eating a meal."

"Hmph, talk is cheap!" Li Qiye’s words instantly soured the mood of many in the crowd. There were Princes, True Masters, and even a universally feared Ancient Saint present! None of them had been able to open the Stone Box, yet this fifteen-or-sixteen-year-old Little Ghost had the gall to make such an outrageous claim.

"What arrogance!" Even Ji Kongjian couldn’t help but snort coldly. He had just used an Emperor’s Treasure to form an Emperor’s Text, and even that failed to open the box. Now, this nameless junior dared to claim opening it was as easy as eating a meal. How could he not be furious?

Li Qiye paid the crowd no mind, simply smiling as he looked at the Stone Box.

The old man narrowed his eyes at Li Qiye and said, "Well, little brother, since you’re so confident, hurry up and open it. If you succeed, you can pick any one of these three treasures. What are you waiting for?"

Li Qiye glanced at the three treasures and said with unruffled composure, "These three treasures... To be honest, while they’re decent, they’re not yet worthy of my attention."

Five Chapters today. Sweet dreams, everyone. Good night. (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to vote for it at qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users can read at m.qidian.com.)