The Corruption Dragon God: Lust System Chapter 433 The Emperor

"What motivates you, Long Qingyi? I find it hard to believe you truly wish to convert to the faith of Auranys," the bishop remarked, strolling alongside the young man.

Following closely behind them in silence were Aeryn and Sapphire.

"Why do you ask that?" Qingyi inquired, glancing back. This time, the bishop’s explanation arrived via a private sound transmission.

[Lucien and the other sister are members of the church, so their path as heroes is natural. Aeryn is an elven princess, present for duty and political intelligence. Sapphire follows for similar reasons.

You, however, are merely a foreigner of extraordinary talent. You lack the gift of light, leaving you with no clear reason to join this quest.]

'Hmm...' Qingyi mused, scratching his chin thoughtfully.

To be honest, he didn't have a singular, concrete motivation.

He simply couldn't remain in the Kingdom of Valemont any longer.

He sought a domain where he could evolve, encounter true challenges, and test the absolute limits of his Cultivation.

Excluding the territories of the Elves and Beasts, only the Rose Empire and the Illuminated Sky Empire offered the growth he required.

'What am I supposed to say? That I plan on stealing all the heroines, plucking those ripe virgin flowers, and eventually pressing my cock against his goddess’s chest?' Qingyi thought, quickly suppressing the scandalous idea.

He was bold, but he wasn't a fool.

"My reasons aren't exactly noble," Qingyi finally answered. He raised a hand, manifesting his light spiritual root as a golden radiance enveloped his frame. "I simply wish to surpass my own boundaries."

The bishop halted abruptly, sensing the luminous aura radiating from Qingyi.

It wasn't divine power or mana, yet it felt incredibly untainted and pure... How was such a thing possible? Was it a side effect of the pendant?

"No..." the bishop muttered, shaking his head. This power originated from within Qingyi himself.

Swallowing his surprise, he resumed walking. "Is this what Easterners refer to as a spiritual root?"

"It is," Qingyi confirmed, causing the bishop to let out a weary sigh.

Despite living for tens of thousands of years, the bishop had only clashed with cultivators a few times, having slain only two whose power rivaled his own.

He realized there was still much he didn't understand about these specific warriors.

After a short walk, the bishop stopped once more.

They had reached a massive subterranean chamber, situated dozens of meters beneath the cathedral.

The dark interior was lavishly decorated with gold, white marble, and priceless gems.

However, the grandeur of the room was ignored; everyone’s focus was fixed on the man kneeling in silent prayer before a towering statue.

He was a man of imposing height, and even from the rear, his physical might was palpable to Qingyi.

His massive shoulders and powerful musculature were evident despite the black cloak draped over him.

His aura was incredibly faint and restrained, reminiscent of Aeryn’s, yet fundamentally different.

While her presence was like a soft breeze, this man’s aura felt like a predatory beast pacing within a cage, forced into silence.

"Your Majesty!" the bishop cried out, dropping to his knees. Aeryn and Sapphire followed his lead immediately, with Qingyi being the last to kneel.

Before them stood the Emperor of the Rose Empire, an ancient sovereign who had ruled for generations and was counted among the five strongest beings in the Immortal Heaven.

Qingyi had heard many tales of this man, particularly regarding his rivalry with the Emperor of the Illuminated Heaven Empire.

Rumor had it that they only refrained from killing one another because their conflict would shatter the very foundation of the Immortal Heaven.

Though they were just stories, Qingyi knew that those in the Ancestral Body Realm possessed enough power to make a continent tremble.

He had encountered such terrifying power once before.

"Are you aware the Sword Saint has come back from the Immortal Graveyard? Once again, his duel with the Sword Saint of that distant land resulted in a stalemate." The Emperor turned around.

A steel mask concealed his features, though a jagged, dark scar was visible, stretching from his chin down to his throat.

With a casual wave, he signaled for them to rise.

"Yes, my Emperor. He visited me personally. The reports from the west are quite concerning."

"Indeed... Does the goddess still insist that her heroes handle this?" the Emperor asked. He stopped just a step away from Qingyi, his cold blue eyes scanning him with a hint of hidden malice.

His eyes were the same color as Sapphire’s, but where hers were playful, his were filled with cruelty.

Qingyi was tall, and his refined lineage had pushed him to one hundred and ninety centimeters, yet the Emperor still loomed a full head over him.

"They are this era's heroes, chosen by destiny... The goddess would not deploy them if she doubted their success," the bishop insisted, earning a low, icy grunt from the sovereign.

"I only desire a swift resolution. The danger grows daily, and eventually, we will be forced to step in. If that happens, there will be a massacre.

You will be on the front lines, so you should be more concerned than anyone," the Emperor whispered, his words sounding more like a threat than advice.

The bishop trembled but could only offer a sigh in response.

'Goddess... where is your guidance in this mess?' he wondered.

A journey to the Divine Kingdom would soon be necessary. Ignoring the bishop, the Emperor continued walking until he stood before Sapphire, who had moved away from Aeryn.

"Father..." Sapphire whispered, bowing her head. Though she lacked permission to use the title, she spoke it anyway.

The Emperor showed no emotion.

He reached a hand toward her face but stopped short. Without a word, he simply walked away, his form vanishing into the air.