Imperial God Emperor

Ye Qingyu ran into Bai Yuqing in Storm City. 

He already knew that Bai Yuqing was the famous White Jade Capital's successor, but he didn't expect her to vanish for such a long period of time. To his surprise, he realized that Bai Yuqing had also attained the Martial Emperor realm, but she had yet to fully convert her yuan qi into Emperor qi; this meant that it hadn't been long since she became a Martial Emperor. 

Ye Qingyu saw Bai Yuqing the moment he arrived at Storm City. 

"It's been a while," Bai Yuqing greeted him first and elusive Emperor qi swirled around her, making her seem even more otherworldly than usual, like a moon fairy who was not of this world. Her astounding charm and beauty would put anyone else to shame. 

Ye Qingyu nodded with a smile as he said, "White Jade Capital clearly has deep resources, but you must have become an Emperor in the Dark Realm, right?" Although the Dao laws had become more well-rounded at the Vast Thousand Domains, they were still not in a perfect state. Empress Shui Xiu from the Seven Fingers Race had already obtained the chance to become Emperor first, so there couldn't possibly be a second Empress. 

"You're as all-knowing as a god," Bai Yuqing said with a smile. 

There were only a handful of people in the world who had witnessed Bai Yuqing smile and Ye Qingyu was part of this special group. This was not only because he was now the Immortal God Emperor, who single-handedly reigned over the Vast Thousand Domains and the Dark Realm, but because she once had feelings for him. 

They walked along the streets of Storm City like old friends. 

However, no one seemed particularly surprised as this exceptional couple walked along the streets while everyone carried on with their daily activities—no one could actually see them. 

The street hawkers continued to hawk their wares loudly. 

Various races were walking in and out of the shops that lined both sides of the road. 

The city was more lively and bustling than when he had first arrived in Storm City. As the Heaven Wasteland Empire and Ye Qingyu rose to power, the political situation in the Vast Thousand Domains had gradually stabilized, so businesses flourished and everything ran in an orderly manner. It wasn't just Storm City that was flourishing; all nineteen cities of the Chaotic Ruins Domain were also thriving. 

They fell silent as they walked along the street. 

"What brings you here to Storm City?" Ye Qingyu said with a smile as he searched for a topic to break the awkward atmosphere. 

Bai Yuqing also breathed a sigh of relief in her heart and said softly, "I'm here to hunt down the nemesis of my sect. I heard that she had once been sighted in Storm City." 

Ye Qingyu understood who she was referring to and said, "Do you mean Jiang Xiaohan?" 

Bai Yuqing nodded and said, "It is. The three of us shared the same master and we were once friends at the White Deer Academy, but we went our separate paths as time passed. I was recommended by the divine nun and managed to enter the Ancient Immortal City, White Jade Capital, while I guess Jiang Xiaohan must have become the successor of the Demonic Sect of All Things. I didn't expect her to be of the rare [All Energy-Absorption Body] that could continually absorb all divine and saintly forms in this world." 

The Demonic Sect of All Things. 

The [All Energy-Absorption Body]? 

This was the first time Ye Qingyu had heard someone give such a detailed explanation on the possible origins of Jiang Xiaohan. 

He finally started to understand why Jiang Xiaohan's strength had skyrocketed so quickly, after she left the Heaven Wasteland Domain. It was probably because she had the [All Energy-Absorption Body]. 

He remembered that Jiang Xiaohan had unleashed terrifying power during the battle at the Fallen God Abyss and that her physical strength was comparable to his. If it hadn't been for the fiendgod from an alternate space-time hiding underground, the Three-Eyed White-Boned Giant who released a terrifying murderous qi at the crucial moment, it would be hard to predict the victor of that battle. 

Now that he thought about it, he could also sense how terrifying the [All Energy-Absorption Body] was. 

"The [All Energy-Absorption Body] is like an oven. The terrifying part about it is the ability to absorb and refine any energy from the universe. She can even absorb usually conflicting energies like fire and water and merge them within her body, transforming them into demonic energy. This is probably the most terrifying type of body in this world. The millions of techniques that are cultivated in the world can be easily dissolved at her touch, and even several ancient divine or saintly bodies from the Emperor Race may not be able to resist the absorption effect from her body. Jiang Xiaohan has cultivated the [Demonic Technique of All Things] and each time she absorbs another rare body type in the world, her strength soars considerably. Furthermore, she can also absorb the new energies that others have painstakingly cultivated to transform them into her own power," Bai Yuqing said. 

This was the information that she had gleaned from the White Jade Capital's library. 

White Jade Capital, the Immortal city and the Demonic Sect of All Things have been mortal enemies since ancient times, so they knew each other very well. 

"This means that the [All Energy-Absorption Body] also has some kind of devouring power, right?" Ye Qingyu mused in contemplation. 

She could devour, absorb, and finally transform anything into her own strength. 

This was the most frightening part of her body. 

Ye Qingyu had a strange feeling about it. 

Why did he feel like he had come across that body type before? 

Didn't Little Nine also have the same body type? 

Little Nine didn't even need to cultivate and it would only spend the entire time eating. It was definitely a foodie and it would eat anything. Moreover, it could transform whatever it ate into its own energy; ultimately, its combat strength had been constantly rising as it continued to gobble and scarf down food. 

Could Little Nine also be of the [All Energy-Absorption Body]? 

A flash of worry crossed Bai Yuqing's face as she said, "Since the battle with the Four Stars Sect, Jiang Xiaohan has appeared and disappeared mysteriously, secretly absorbing many titans and rare body types. Thus, she has become even more terrifying than before. Although I have also improved, I might not be her match any longer." 

Ye Qingyu understood the underlying intent behind Bai Yuqing's words. 

"There's also some enmity between Jiang Xiaohan and myself that will need to be resolved. If you don't mind, I'm willing to join you on your quest," he said. There was indeed some enmity between them and not only because of how she had schemed and plotted against him on multiple occasions. It was mainly because of her involvement in secretly ordering several forces from the nineteen cities of chaos, just to make things difficult for the Heaven Wasteland envoy mission, resulting in many of its members perishing on the way to the assessment, never to return home. 

Bai Yuqing nodded and said, "Many thanks, Your Highness." 

The only person in the entire world who would be able to bring down Jiang Xiaohan was probably Ye Qingyu. She didn't even know when she started to think that way, but to her, Ye Qingyu seemed to be the symbol of invincibility. 

"However, I didn't come this time to invite you to join forces with me," Bai Yuqing continued. 

Ye Qingyu looked at her. 

Was his guess wrong? 

Bai Yuqing smiled calmly. 

She turned to look at Ye Qingyu, this man for whom she had once given up her girlish pride and was secretly infatuated with. He had now grown to be an extremely handsome man, while he was still as easygoing and otherworldly as always. The gap between them was also still as vast as ever. Although she was now an Empress, she still felt inferior to him whenever she saw him. 

There was a ripple of emotion in her clear eyes. 

For an instant, she seemed a little captivated as the sunlight splashed across his handsome face. 

However, she quickly pulled herself out of her reverie. 

Her expression seemed a little inscrutable when she looked away from his face. 

"White Jade Capital and the Demonic Sect of All Things have been mortal enemies since ancient times and the enmity has only deepened as generations pass. No one can actually tell who is right or wrong by this point in time. As the current successor of the White Jade Capital, I have no fear even if I have to battle the successor of the Demonic Sect of All Things to the death. However, if I die in battle, then no one else will actually know how terrifying Jiang Xiaohan is. If one isn't careful, Jiang Xiaohan might secretly manage to attain the true [All Energy-Absorption Body]. If she succeeds, no one in the entire world would be able to stop her. I've only told you this much because I wanted to stress how frightening the [All Energy-Absorption Body] is, so that you'd be on your guard against her. I wouldn't direct nor interfere in the methods you choose to eventually take her down. You're so wise and clever that I'm sure you've already formulated your own plan after listening to what I had to say earlier," she said calmly. 

At that moment, she seemed to have returned to the aloof and haughty academy goddess that she had been, back at the White Deer Academy. She would never put aside her pride, even in the face of life and death; she still went in search of Jiang Xiaohan despite knowing that she could possibly not be a match for her. 

She wasn't there to ask for help; she wanted to warn him. 

Ye Qingyu was silent for a moment before he finally nodded and said, "Alright, I agree." 

His haughty senior at the academy, who was also the perfect goddess of the academy back then, had always held fiercely onto her pride. Thus, Ye Qingyu knew that it would be an insult to her if he insisted on joining forces with her to take Jiang Xiaohan down. 

"I'll take my leave," Bai Yuqing said as she clasped her hands together. 

Ye Qingyu fell silent. 

He was able to see the underlying feelings for him. 

He also knew that it was possible that the main reason why Bai Yuqing had been waiting for him in Storm City was to bid him farewell. She claimed that she wanted to deliver a word of warning to give herself a convincing excuse to see him. 

She was prepared to die as she went ahead to challenge Jiang Xiaohan to a final battle. 

After parting that day, It was possible that he might never see this beautiful and ethereal senior from White Deer Academy again. 

However, he couldn't promise her anything. His heart already belonged to someone else and he could no longer commit to any other. It would be cruel of him to give her any false hopes or promises that he would not be able to fulfill. 

"Goodbye. I look forward to you rebuilding the White Jade Capital upon your return," Ye Qingyu finally said. 

Bai Yuqing smiled and looked calm as she drifted away. 

Her figure vanished in the void as she moved in the distance. 

Ye Qingyu stood on the spot. He was overcome with mixed feelings while he watched her leave. 

People change while things still remain the same. 

Was this a farewell to his youth and the people he used to know? 

Life was constantly filled with many things that couldn't be helped. As time passed and as one matured, one would no longer be blessed by fate but instead, things would start to be taken away. For some people, it would truly be farewell after they left, and some things would fade as time went by. 

'I hope fate will continue to bless you, young and haughty lady.' 

Ye Qingyu finally left and went to the City Lord's residence of Storm City.