2.The mysterious emperor

"Where am I?"

Ye Changkong's consciousness was trapped in a dim, gray void.

"Little one, you are in the Time Dream Realm of the Dream Pearl..."

A voice suddenly sounded in the vast space.

It was a woman's voice, extremely pleasant, carrying a magical power that made one's heart throbbing with fascination.

"Who are you?"

Startled, Ye Changkong turned his gaze abruptly to the source of the voice.

He saw a blurry female figure appearing in the gray void at the end of his vision.

Ye Changkong was stunned and filled with fear of the unknown. This scene was completely beyond his comprehension.

"Never mind who I am for now, little one. I won't harm you. Oh, by the way, you're really lousy, taking three years to awaken me after having obtained the Heavenly Martial Fruit. I suffered so much waiting for you, dear brother."

The soul figure floated towards Ye Changkong slowly.

Only when the figure approached could Ye Changkong see her appearance clearly.

The woman was extremely beautiful, with a particularly hot figure, especially her slender waist and full, proud breasts, which were enough to make all men drool.

However, this seductive woman had a strange blue light radiating around her figure, giving a sense of unreal illusion.

"Who exactly are you?"

But Ye Changkong was not charmed by her mesmerizing voice; he stared at her cautiously.

"Hehe, little brother, you have kept sister inside your body for three years and now you pretend not to recognize me? Are you afraid of being held responsible for sister?" The woman smiled at Ye Changkong, exuding alluring charm.

Inside my body for three years?

Ye Changkong widened his eyes in shock: "Are you the spirit of the mysterious pearl in my body?"

"Sister is not the spirit, just inhabiting the Dream Pearl."

The woman sighed softly: "Three years ago, sister was framed during the Tribulation and her flesh was destroyed. Her soul was almost extinguished, so she had to forcefully merge her remaining soul into the Dream Pearl. Who would have thought that it would be a benefit for you, little one."

"Tribulation!"

Ye Changkong shook all over and was shocked: "I have only reached the Qi Gathering Realm now. There are still four major realms after the Qi Opening Realm, including the Core Formation Realm, Foundation Establishment Realm, Nascent Soul Realm, and Human Emperor Realm. It is said that there are even higher realms beyond the Human Emperor Realm. To break through this realm and enter the legendary realm, one must provoke the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation. Only by successfully transcending the Tribulation can one reach the peak of the Human Emperor Realm!"

Human Emperor Realm!

This knowledge was the highest existence he knew of. Throughout history, any Human Emperor was a super tyrant who dominated one side.

According to legend, anyone who reaches a realm beyond the Human Emperor Realm could call on the wind and rain, wander in the sky, move mountains and seas, and crush the void at will.

But legends are just legends, and no one has ever seen such realms firsthand.

Even the current Patriarch of Qingyun Sect is only a Core Formation Realm cultivator.

And now, the woman standing in front of him in this strange space is a remnant of the pinnacle existence of the Human Emperor Realm!

This made Ye Changkong extremely shocked!

"So, little brother, you are lucky."

When she resided in the Dream Pearl, she carried the Heavenly Martial Fruit with her last bit of energy and fled to this remote place, hoping to lure warriors with the fruit, hiding in the body of warriors to escape the pursuit of her enemies.

Hearing the woman's words, Ye Changkong suddenly realized.

Three years ago, the true opportunity he gained was not the Heavenly Martial Fruit, but the mysterious pearl in his body and the remnant soul of this pinnacle Human Emperor Realm cultivator!

"I said that I am a person with great opportunities, and I will never be mediocre!"

"Chu Yifan, you took my Heavenly Martial Fruit, but it was just a small part of the opportunities I have obtained."

Although he didn't yet know the ability of the Dream Pearl, Ye Changkong was very clear that just carrying the remnant soul of a pinnacle Human Emperor Realm cultivator could bring him immense benefits.

"Although I have awakened, my soul is still too weak to leave the Dream Pearl. Even if I leave, I will soon disperse in this world."

The woman looked at Ye Changkong with a seductive expression: "So, little brother, sister needs your help now. If you can help me leave the Dream Pearl and rebuild my flesh body, I promise to reward you well."

"What can I do to help you?"

Ye Changkong gulped hard. This creature was definitely a full-blown seductress who possessed not only a fascinating voice but also a posture that made people's minds wander, devoid of the might and majesty expected from a pinnacle Human Emperor Realm cultivator.

As such, Ye Changkong relaxed in front of her and felt free from the previous feeling of constraints.

"You are still too weak now. When you become stronger, I will naturally tell you. But before that, sister will give you an opportunity."

The woman nodded in satisfaction, her voice becoming less enchanting but more friendly and sincere: "Remember, my name is Qin Yaorao, and you can call me Sister Yao in the future."

As she finished speaking, Qin Yaorao pointed her finger at Ye Changkong, and a tremendous soul force burst forth from her fingertip.

The blue energy beam instantly penetrated Ye Changkong's body, and his mind and soul began to merge with the soul force.

"Ah!"

Ye Changkong tumbled on the ground, every inch of his flesh and blood feeling like it was being punctured by countless silver needles, so painful that he felt his consciousness would shatter.

It was the pain of the conflict between his physical body and his soul, forcibly integrating with the spiritual power of another person!

Once the two merged completely, everything became calm...

Phew!

Ye Changkong breathed a sigh of relief. But before he could catch his breath, an unusual sensation emerged in his dantian.

A vortex had formed in his dantian, self-rotating and absorbing the spiritual energy between heaven and earth.

Within that vortex was a gray-black bead, hanging silently in mid-air.

"This... is Qi Sea..."

Three years had passed, but finally, his stagnant progress had taken a giant leap forward!

In this world, cultivation for martial artists began with gathering Qi, using a special breathing method to inhale the spiritual energy between heaven and earth, purifying the impurities in the physical body, and gathering Qi at the dantian to form Qi Sea.

The formation of Qi Sea signified the breakthrough from the initial stage, into the second realm of martial artists - Pulse Condensation Stage.

"This is simply incredible!"

Ye Changkong opened his eyes, jumped up from the ground, and information flooded his mind.

"Flesh does not perish, soul does not die, only I am the Undying Emperor..."

The messages in his mind were instructions for practicing a technique named "Undying Emperor's Scripture" and its corresponding training methods.

The scripture promised that if one perfected the technique, their physical body and soul would not perish, reaching a certain form of immortality.

"My older sister Yaoyao practices this same technique, and even the heavenly tribulation couldn't completely erase her soul..."

Ye Changkong's face lit up with ecstasy. He immediately sat cross-legged, using the cultivation route of the "Undying Emperor's Scripture" to train.

The next morning, the horizon barely started shining with light.

The various servant disciples in each peak began their daily chores.

Deep in thought, Ye Changkong had lost track of time while cultivating the Undying Emperor's Scripture.

"The sky is already bright, yet how could this guy still not be working? If Zhang steward sees him, he'll definitely regret it."

"It's no wonder he has made no progress in three years, and with this kind of attitude, he won't have any success in his life."

"Hush, don't wake him up. When Zhang steward comes, he'll get what he deserves. This lazy worm does not deserve to stay at Qingyunzong."

Many disciples passed by and cast judgmental looks at Ye Changkong who sat under a large tree.

Everyone thought Ye Changkong had stolen more sleep after getting up, but in fact, he was concentrating on gathering Qi.

This was exactly what they believed, and no one volunteered to wake Ye Changkong up, waiting for him to make a fool of himself.

Sure enough, it didn't take long for Zhang Fan, the steward, to appear not far away.

He only checked on the work proceedings of his subordinates as usual.

He walked leisurely, cracking his whip in his hand. When he turned his gaze to Ye Changkong, his expression immediately became grim.

"Ye Changkong, get up!"

Zhang Fan shouted, striding towards him.

"Hmm?"

Ye Changkong startled awake, opening his eyes.

Looking around at the servant disciples who pointed and talked about him, and Zhang Fan seething with anger, he immediately understood everything.

"I'm sorry Steward Zhang, I got too engrossed in training."

Scratching his head apologetically, he realized he was at fault.

"Tsk!~"

Such words brought a sound of disdain all around, as no one believed Ye Changkong.

"This lazy guy, I'm sure he just slept here after gathering his Qi last night."

"Enough already. This is not the first time. Every time he uses this excuse. Can't he think of something new?"

"I believe him that he was practicing. It's possible that he meditated here for half the night, but got too sleepy and decided to take a nap. How can people be so lazy?"

The scornful gazes from the servant disciples present were even more intense.

Ye Changkong looked at their expressions and sneered inwardly.

He had grown accustomed to these expressions over the past three years.

Whether he had worked hard or not, only he knew.

Indeed, he had overslept often, but not always like they had said. Rather, he genuinely stayed up all night gathering Qi and could not resist sleeping until dawn.

However, no one saw his efforts. All viewed him simply as an indolent and slippery bug of Qingyunzong!

"How dare you still act dumb with me, Ye Changkong!"

The surroundings' chatter made Zhang Fan's face darken: "I let it pass yesterday, and today you're still slacking off under my watch. Do you think I don't exist as a steward?"

"In the past, it was Lin Yueqi who protected you, so I couldn't punish you too severely."

"Now that Lin Yueqi is no longer at Qingyunzong, let's see who can save you!"

Zhang Fan didn't accept Ye Changkong's apology at all. He lifted his whip and lashed fiercely towards Ye Changkong.

Having learned a lesson from yesterday, he used spiritual power in his attack this time.

The whip immediately produced terrifying shadows and made piercing sounds as it slashed through the air, its momentum quite intimidating. (To be continued)