Volume One: The Emperor’s Command Chapter Seventy-Two: See Not What Should Not Be Seen

Around the stone platform where the Fire Seal was placed, countless sharp stone spikes hovered, gently swaying in the wind. It was certain that anyone who dared to rush into the formation would be mercilessly pierced by them. The shattered stones lying on the path that Xiao Qingzhu had taken were the best evidence of this; her strength was unfathomable, so much so that Liu Xiaoyi hadn’t even managed to catch sight of her movements before her hands were securely bound with fiery ropes.

“Little rascal, hurry up and save me! This place is about to burn me to ashes!” Xiao Qingzhu’s clothes dissolved at a visible speed under the scorching heat, and though she struggled, she couldn’t break free from the rope.

“I’m coming, I’m coming, stop rushing me.” As soon as Liu Xiaoyi dashed inside, stone spikes from every direction shot toward him. Just as he was about to dodge, the last piece of clothing covering Xiao Qingzhu vanished from sight.

Liu Xiaoyi’s gaze froze. He hadn’t expected that, though she was petite, her figure was anything but modest. Her snowy skin glowed with a hint of pink; every curve and contour was perfectly formed, reminiscent of a young cow in its prime.

Feeling the searing gaze upon her, Xiao Qingzhu finally realized what had happened. She quickly crouched down to cover herself as best as she could. “You lecher! Where are you looking?”

Awakened by her shout, the stone spikes still stabbed toward him. Liu Xiaoyi was startled, formed hand signs, and shouted loudly. The spikes were pushed outward by two inches. Seizing the moment, he ducked and slipped out of the encirclement.

The rushing wind tangled his long hair, and his bony frame staggered, nearly tilting his head back into the spikes. Clawing at the ground, he lunged forward five steps, rolled across the floor, and could hear the relentless clangs as the spikes chased behind him. A moment’s hesitation would have meant being impaled.

“Be careful! Behind you!” Xiao Qingzhu crouched, raising her head to watch Liu Xiaoyi struggle against the spikes, recalling the vast difference in their cultivation.

She could easily shatter these obstacles with a wave of her hand, but for Liu Xiaoyi, they were deadly weapons—a single slip would make him a ghost in this place.

Most disciples who entered the formation chose to stand outside the spike array, silently gazing at the Fire Seal. The intricate patterns on the great seal’s surface offered some enlightenment to those who came, and what the Heavenly King Path provided was both a challenge and a moment of insight for martial artists.

It all seemed rather bland and flavorless. The Heavenly King Path, so highly praised in the martial world, was unexpectedly dull? According to the records of the founding ancestor, many secrets lay hidden within, but currently, all that was known was that the Fire Seal was kept here.

Having evaded the first encirclement, Liu Xiaoyi’s movements shifted from stiffness to fluidity. Like a fish darting among underwater rocks, he changed his form with the wind. His feet landed precisely, avoiding the spikes head-on.

Advancing fifteen steps further, the wind suddenly picked up, nearly blowing him away, making it even harder to avoid the spikes.

Drawing the Frostblade Sword, Liu Xiaoyi held his breath and focused. He swung the blade, its tip meeting the spikes in quick succession, each collision propelling him forward.

That wandering swordsman elder had never cultivated true energy nor mastered any complete sword technique, yet he achieved a level unreachable for most sword masters, relying solely on the purest, most extreme sword intent.

Sword masters wield the blade; outsiders practice sword techniques; insiders cultivate sword energy; and those who enter the realm generate sword intent. Under the wandering swordsman’s guidance, Liu Xiaoyi had already sensed the terrifying power of sword intent.

No matter where the spikes attacked from, his sword met them naturally, shattering them with ease.

His mind clear, gripping the sword, he closed the remaining ten steps in a blink, raising the blade to cut at the fiery ropes.

“The founding emperor of the Iron Dynasty is impressive—the Fire Seal melted my sword!”

The Frostblade Sword, upon touching the fiery rope, emitted billows of white smoke. The blade began to melt slowly, until he could no longer grip its hilt. At last, the rope was severed.

“You…turn around! Don’t look!” Freed from the bindings, Xiao Qingzhu immediately covered herself, her face blazing red with shame.

She had been trapped for a hundred years, never expecting such an accident, and had no spare clothing.

Liu Xiaoyi hurriedly pulled a clean robe from his universe pouch and waited for her to dress before daring to open his eyes.

The aura Xiao Qingzhu had just released slowed the air’s flow nearby; he couldn’t fathom what manner of immortal she was, her cultivation so profound.

“It looks pretty nice, especially these!” Liu Xiaoyi pointed at the front of the robe, where two peach-shaped bumps stood out.

“You filthy rogue!” Xiao Qingzhu raised her hand to strike, her green true energy sweeping down. Just as it was about to land on Liu Xiaoyi’s head, the Fire Seal unleashed a torrent of flames, rolling back toward Xiao Qingzhu.

“Ah, ah, ah, stop it!” Xiao Qingzhu hastily summoned energy to shield herself, but the scorching heat threatened to burn away the robe once more.

Liu Xiaoyi, puzzled, silently wished for the Fire Seal to stop, and to his surprise, it obediently withdrew the flames.

“You always bully me! Wait until we return to my clan—my brothers will teach you a lesson!” Xiao Qingzhu was drenched in sweat, her robe soaked, and Liu Xiaoyi enjoyed the sight.

Knowing that she'd already been fully exposed, Xiao Qingzhu crossed her arms, blushing but saying no more.

“I never agreed to go back with you. Now that everything’s settled, let’s part ways.” Liu Xiaoyi beckoned the Fire Seal, which revealed an ancient character—“Arrival”—among its base engravings.

“No way! You think you can just eat your fill and leave? I won’t allow it! You’ve seen everything; you have to marry me!”

“It’s not like I wanted to look! Had I known, I’d have let you burn to death!”

Liu Xiaoyi activated the mechanism of the Heavenly King Path, sending himself back to the Hall of the Four Sacred Beasts, where the Grand Elder was smiling at him.

Just as he was about to speak, the elder’s gaze fell on Xiao Qingzhu hiding behind him, his expression changing briefly before returning to normal. “You’ve borrowed the Fire Seal?”

“Thank you, Grand Elder,” Liu Xiaoyi bowed. “I hope you can provide me with a quiet chamber to repair my soul.”

The Grand Elder nodded, summoned a young attendant, instructed him, and the attendant signaled Liu Xiaoyi to follow.

“Um, Grand Elder, could you also provide her with suitable clothing?” Liu Xiaoyi stammered.

Once the attendant led them away, the Grand Elder finally lowered his right hand, revealing a small golden dagger. His back was drenched in sweat, lips pale, trembling as he returned to the hall.

“You filthy rogue, are you going to watch me change? Come and see, why don’t you dare now?”

The chamber given by the Grand Elder was built with sound-absorbing stones on all four walls, ensuring no sound could pass in or out. It was fully furnished with tables, chairs, screens, and a step platform. After the attendant brought a new white robe and left, Xiao Qingzhu saw Liu Xiaoyi’s nervous demeanor and became more relaxed herself, teasing him by occasionally showing her arm or leg from behind the screen.

As she played, a streak of sword energy pierced through the screen, slicing it cleanly in half, and Xiao Qingzhu, bouncing behind it, was once again fully exposed to Liu Xiaoyi.

“If you’re going to get dressed, do it quickly. Don’t interfere with me!” Liu Xiaoyi said irritably.

The moment his palm touched the Fire Seal, the Golden Dragon Soul began to stir restlessly within him, attempting several times to break free from his consciousness, only to be restrained by Daoist Huang He’s spells. The struggle left Liu Xiaoyi’s blood and energy surging, nearly losing control of his true energy.

Daoist Huang He had never taught him how to repair his soul, but the Fire Seal evidently knew. Holding the seal in both hands, Liu Xiaoyi focused, and from the Fire Seal emerged a Qilin, its auspicious beast form flying straight into his mind.

Upon seeing the Golden Dragon Soul, it opened its mouth and spewed flames, engaging the dragon in a magical battle. The Golden Dragon Soul retaliated, swinging its tail in challenge.

Their fight caused Liu Xiaoyi agony—his head felt as if it would split, eyes tightly shut, teeth clenched as he worked his energy. Scorching flames and sharp sword energy rampaged through his meridians, disrupting his internal circulation.

The spiritual root in his dantian emitted a gentle light, shielding a small patch of purity. The Fire Qilin and Golden Dragon Soul seemed to have a tacit understanding, never venturing near the dantian.

Unable to overcome the dragon with flames, the Fire Qilin suddenly spat out a pearl, which struck the dragon’s head and left it dizzy. The Qilin then opened its enormous mouth and swallowed the Golden Dragon Soul whole.

Liu Xiaoyi’s face flushed bright red, his hair and beard engulfed in flames. Xiao Qingzhu tried to help several times but was driven back by the fire.

“The old grandmaster has been dead for years—how is this fire spirit still alive? The filthy rogue isn’t going to be burned to death, is he?” Unable to approach, Xiao Qingzhu could only silently cheer him on.

Minute by minute, the Fire Qilin exhaled golden streams from its nostrils, infusing Liu Xiaoyi’s fragmented soul, gradually repairing the cracks. The persistent headache faded away.

The Sovereign Sword lying nearby was covered with cracks. Suddenly, with two sharp snaps, fractures split along the blade, and the treasured sword was ruined.

Xiao Qingzhu watched closely, fascinated by whatever was inside Liu Xiaoyi. It was the overwhelming energy that had drawn her at their first meeting. She didn’t realize it was energy from the Emperor’s Token—had she known, she would certainly have tried to kill him.

As the flames diminished, revealing Liu Xiaoyi’s shining forehead, Xiao Qingzhu couldn’t resist reaching out to touch it. Her hand, however, was bitten by a little tiger that suddenly appeared.

“Oh! What a cute little creature!” Xiao Qingzhu withdrew her hand, but the tiger clung stubbornly, and she scooped it into her arms, squeezing its furry head, making the golden-eyed tiger snarl and protest.

“Little Gold! She’s one of us, don’t be naughty.”

Liu Xiaoyi opened his eyes, golden light flashing in his gaze. The little tiger tried to jump back to Liu Xiaoyi’s side but couldn’t escape her grasp.