“Greeting the Night Emperor (Li Shang Junior)!” After seeing the white-robed man seated at the floral platform, one excited seafarer after another immediately paid their respects, some composed with clasped hands, some kneeling deeply, some awkward, others trembling with nervousness. In the midst, Meng Qi observed this highly legendary “Night Emperor.”
According to his previous guess, the gardener outside should have been the real “Night Emperor,” while the one inside was merely a decoy. Yet now, this assumption seemed flawed. At the very least, this young white-robed man possessed a profound and restrained aura, exuding dignified grace and the casual charm described in rumors. He appeared particularly refreshing, cheerful, and pleasure-seeking. Without the gardener’s contrast, Meng Qi might not have doubted his identity as the “Night Emperor.”
The Night Emperor, Huoli Shang, waved his hand slightly, his lips curving into a smile that was remarkably clean: “I was just lamenting having no companions to drink joyfully through the night, when you all arrived. Regardless of your origins, at this moment, we are all drinking companions. Why be so restrained?”
Behind him stood a woman of breathtaking beauty and striking figure, her expression tender as she allowed him to lean against her bosom. Her breath was enchanting, like a spring breeze, exuding a unique warmth. She was a rare combination of beauty and strength, undoubtedly a top-tier expert. With delicate fingers, she peeled the crimson longan and gently fed the flesh into the Night Emperor’s mouth, her eyes overflowing with affection, every movement graceful and deliberate.
Huoli Shang’s gaze at the woman also showed no restraint in his affection, as though he were admiring a rare treasure in the world.
Beside them, a green-robed girl poured tea, her appearance as delicate as a painting, a person blessed with the essence of heaven and earth, seemingly untouched by worldly dust. Additionally, there was a charming sword-bearing woman and a wine-pouring girl with puffed cheeks. The former seemed to exude seduction from head to toe, her every move stirring deep desires in men’s hearts. The latter was playful, sweet, and lively, both rare beauties with formidable strength, matching the gentle woman in prowess. The Night Emperor’s eyes toward them were equally filled with affection, open and free-spirited.
The seafarers, including Meng Qi, took their seats one by one, with flower-like attendants serving them eagerly, their fragrance wafting delicately like threads, as if luring the greedy.
The Night Emperor raised his wine cup and smiled: “Dragon Blood Solar Wine, a formula passed down from ancient times. I happened upon a jar of dragon blood, then combined it with 365 kinds of rare flowers and herbs, fermenting it for nine years and aging it for another nine in an icy cellar to remove the fiery nature. Finally, it is drinkable. It can expel all cold ailments that penetrate the bones, invigorate blood and essence, aid in opening acupoints, and assist in cultivating corresponding Dharmakaya. It is quite a fine wine, but as it is highly nourishing, dear friends, please do not overindulge.”
He spoke calmly, without a trace of boasting, simply introducing it truthfully.
Such a spiritual wine was truly rare and precious! The seafarers had only heard of such wines in legends before. Their eyes burned with desire as they raised their cups:
“To the host of this joyful feast!”
The blood-red wine slid down their throats, smooth and non-irritating at first, but soon a fiery heat surged from their throats to their stomachs and spread throughout their bodies. Even Meng Qi, at the level of a Dharmakaya, felt a slight benefit, proving its rarity. Moreover, it left a sweet aftertaste and a unique fragrance, making it undeniably excellent wine!
The Night Emperor, still smiling, turned his head and casually sipped tea offered by the graceful girl. He pointed at a dish of white, vein-like crab meat: “This crab grew against nature for a hundred years, wreaking havoc, until I sent someone to capture it. Its meat is tender and chewy, rarely seen in ordinary times.”
…
Like any hospitable host, he introduced each dish to the guests, his tone calm and relaxed, making many seafarers secretly admire him. Rumors did not do him justice; the Night Emperor’s demeanor was truly unparalleled in the world.
Meng Qi tasted the delicacies without hesitation, secretly lamenting that the little glutton couldn’t be here.
Nine different wines were served, each with unique effects. Many seafarers began to feel tipsy, and the banquet atmosphere gradually reached its peak. Their expectations grew stronger: would the Night Emperor casually grant them a chance encounter? Would he fulfill a wish?
After a breathtaking dance, the Night Emperor, Huoli Shang, clapped his hands, signaling the dancers to withdraw. Under the crowd’s expectant yet anxious gazes, he smiled gently: “Thanks to all of you, I’ve had a wonderful night. Now, in this pleasant state of slight intoxication, I wish to randomly choose one person to fulfill his wish.”
In an instant, the hall fell into extreme silence, so quiet that a pin drop could be heard, with only the pounding of hearts echoing. Except for Meng Qi, everyone was eagerly anticipating being chosen by the Night Emperor for an extraordinary encounter!
“This one,” Huoli Shang pointed to a seafarer beside Meng Qi.
The man was plump and pale, showing no signs of seafaring hardship. Joy flooded his face as he stumbled past the table, bowing deeply before the Night Emperor:
“Please, Lord Shang, help me seek justice. Master Heigu of Wufang Island wants to destroy my business.”
The Night Emperor’s smile never wavered as he turned to the sweet girl: “Yunyue, write a letter and send someone to deliver it to Heigu.”
“This trivial matter can be resolved with a message. How dare Heigu defy you, my lord?” Yunyue pouted.
This was the majesty of a Dharmakaya expert, an authority to be revered from afar!
Huoli Shang chuckled: “You just want to be lazy, little girl. Fine, do as you please, as long as this friend’s matter is settled.”
The seafarer was overwhelmed with excitement, repeatedly bowing. Yet upon returning to his seat, he suddenly froze. Meng Qi could hear his turbulent inner thoughts:
“I’m so foolish, so foolish. Why didn’t I directly ask the Night Emperor to take my son as a disciple? Would Heigu dare harm the Night Emperor’s disciple?”
“And with this connection, there will be endless future benefits.”
“I’m so foolish, so foolish…”
At this moment, Huoli Shang seemed slightly weary and turned to the graceful girl: “Youhu, show our guests out.”
The elegant girl, Youhu, set down her teapot, stood up, her gaze pure and serene, and instructed the servants to escort the guests out. Thus, the unexpected feast ended, leaving many feeling as if they had dreamed, though the benefits were very real.
Meng Qi stepped out of the hall with the seafarers, re-entering the sea of flowers. Somehow, the gardener, whose eyes always brimmed with passion for life, had appeared beside him.
“How was it?” the gardener’s voice was soft, as if passing through layers of mist.
Meng Qi chuckled: “The false Night Emperor can never match the real one.”
The gardener’s face lit up with a childlike, proud, and pure smile: “How did you figure it out?”
He denied and concealed nothing, openly admitting he was the true “Night Emperor” Huoli Shang!
“The one inside struggled to project an imposing demeanor, even feigning affection, but his emotions resembled mundane romantic love—devoid of genuine yearning for beauty and vibrant life, lacking that transcendent passion beyond superficial appearances, and the relentless pursuit to seize fleeting brilliance,” remarked Meng Qi, who did not glance at the gardener but instead marveled at the myriad blossoms, each symbolizing a vivid, exquisite life that adorned the ship in resplendent glory.
The true Night Emperor’s eyes gleamed with passion as he gazed at Youhu, who was now escorting guests out. He wore a clean, unrestrained smile: “Youhu is naturally gifted, like that nine-petaled orchid over there, quietly blooming, rare and pure. Her every glance and smile are breathtakingly beautiful, just watching her brings satisfaction.”
He pointed at the gentle woman leaning on the false Night Emperor, his smile tinged with affection: “Liushang’s outward demeanor and temperament are as gentle as water, always soothing fatigue and impatience in those around her. But that’s not her most beautiful aspect. Beneath her gentleness lies a heart full of jealousy and cunning. Every time she devises schemes to outwit sisters like Yunyue, she shines like sunlight breaking through clouds, captivating all who see her. That is her most beautiful moment.”
“Xiapi, outwardly charming, inwardly shy and conservative, gradually opening her heart and revealing herself, becoming most beautiful…”
“Yunyue, sweet and playful, brings joy and forgets sorrow when with her, her little tantrums like blooming flowers…”
He described each one, his eyes filled with passion and enjoyment, a deep appreciation for life: “Life is as fragile as an egg, separated from the great Dao and homeland. Only by appreciating and enjoying these fleeting moments of beauty and brilliance can one forget sorrow.”
Meng Qi had never encountered such a person and attitude before, finding it both fascinating and strange. He deliberately asked: “Lord Shang, why create a false Night Emperor?”
Inside, the false Night Emperor was enjoying the company of the four women, touching and caressing without hesitation, fully embracing his role without any sense of being a substitute.
The “gardener” Huoli Shang bathed in moonlight, smiling faintly: “Appreciating and enjoying life’s beauty is my attitude toward people and matters. That’s why I invite chance encounters to feasts, fulfill their wishes, and casually grant different people extraordinary encounters, watching their lives blossom beautifully.”
“A few years ago, I suddenly had an idea: why not experience someone else’s life? Someone else’s beauty? So, I found a suitable person and asked if he was willing to switch identities with me and be the Night Emperor for a while.”
“This ‘Night Emperor’ was once a gardener on Chixia Island, with parents, wife, and children, living an ordinary life. Honest and simple, he never let greed cloud his judgment in the face of unjust wealth, understanding when to advance or retreat. I was curious about ordinary life, so I invited him to switch identities with me.”
“The gardener’s life was indeed ordinary but full of beauty: making flowers bloom, a father who was serious and unsmiling yet secretly caring, a mother who doted on her son but schemed with her daughter-in-law, a wife who wasn’t particularly pretty or gentle but had a fiery charm, children who babbled, cried, and were both adorable and troublesome, a life of careful calculations and constant squabbles at work… All of it was interesting, filled with a certain beauty to be enjoyed. Even after being an ordinary person for half a year, I never felt the slightest boredom.”
Meng Qi slightly frowned. This Night Emperor’s philosophy and actions carried a hint of heresy, defying convention: “You changed from the gardener of Chixia Island to the gardener of the Night Emperor. Are you planning to switch back after this voyage?”
The “gardener” Huoli Shang nodded gently: “Though I never tired of beauty, I fear he might become completely immersed in the ‘Night Emperor’ identity, unable to return. So, I plan to switch back after reaching the Frost Sea Beichen Realm and send him back to Chixia Island. Unfortunately, I met you here, and he had to end prematurely.”
“Met me? What kind of reason is that?” As Meng Qi pondered, the “gardener” Huoli Shang shook his robe, his features shifting, clean and refreshing, no longer an ordinary person. He strode leisurely into the hall.
The false Night Emperor, enjoying Liushang and Xiapi’s company, was suddenly startled, staring at the gardener like a monster. His right hand shot out, pointing at the other, stammering: “You, you, you…”
Huoli Shang smiled: “The game is over.”
He reached out, grabbing a shifting, transparent mask from the false Night Emperor’s face, the profound and restrained aura vanishing instantly.
The false Night Emperor, who had casually helped others fulfill their wishes moments ago, instantly reverted to an ordinary appearance, dazed and filled with loss, despair, and resistance: “I am the Night Emperor. I am the real Night Emperor!”
He turned to Liushang and Xiapi, urgently exclaiming: “Liushang, Xiapi, I am the Night Emperor!”
Liushang and Xiapi no longer looked at him, treating him like thin air. Smiling, they approached and held the real Night Emperor’s arms, whispering sweetly, chatting happily.
“Liushang! Xiapi! One night as husband and wife brings a hundred days of affection. How can you treat me like this? Let go of me! I am the Night Emperor!” The false Night Emperor was dragged away by servants, screaming desperately, unwilling to awaken from this dream and return to his mundane life.
The “gardener” Huoli Shang was supported by the gentle Liushang and charming Xiapi back to the floral platform, turning to sit, his eyes bright, filled with longing for all beauty.
At this moment, he was no longer a gardener but the “Night Emperor” who dominated the world!
Looking at the false Night Emperor’s retreating figure, he sighed: “Initially, he firmly refused my request. But when I showed him what it meant to be the ‘Night Emperor’ and let him experience a few days of that life, he chose to accept.”
“The identity switch wasn’t just superficial; it was a true exchange. During these six months, all my concubines, subordinates, and disciples treated him as the real Night Emperor. Every decision he made equaled mine, and everything he enjoyed was no different from what I would have. The only difference was that I could only use this ‘Thousand Illusion Mask’ to provide him with power to deal with enemies, so he couldn’t provoke other Dharmakaya experts too much.”
So the previous aura came from this “Thousand Illusion Mask”… Meng Qi suddenly realized.
The Night Emperor Huoli Shang, his smile pure and fervent, went on: “Since it was a genuine exchange of identities, he could undoubtedly jest and frolic with Liushang, Xiapi, and the others—even selecting one or all of them to share in his intimate pleasures. They treated him with the same warmth and reverence as they did me. He could also freely spend my riches and treasures, wield absolute authority over the life and death of my subordinates, issue commands across the Seven Seas, and with a single word in his missives, resolve conflicts, quell storms, and manipulate the fates of others. I bear full responsibility for all consequences, without a trace of regret.”
Only in this way can one truly possess the identity of the “Night Emperor.”
Meng Qi raised his head and glanced at Liushang’s gentle demeanor and Xiapi’s enchanting grace, noticing their flushed cheeks, too embarrassed to lift their faces.
This guy has truly reached an extreme… Meng Qi couldn’t help but sigh. Those who reach extremes are often described as “perverted,” and even though he deeply respected Master Lu, he still felt that the latter’s single-minded devotion could definitely be called “perverted.”
“Do you enjoy other pleasures, but have you ever considered Liushang’s feelings? Considered your subordinates’ feelings?” Facing the Night Emperor, Meng Qi naturally lacked the deep-rooted fear others had, so he spoke up boldly on their behalf.
The Night Emperor laughed heartily, turned his head to look at Liushang and Xiapi, his eyes bright and passionate, appreciating that heart-pleasing beauty: “They are also willing. Always facing me, facing the same person, things inevitably become monotonous, dull, and stale, like someone on their deathbed, losing novelty, curiosity, and the joy of anticipation. Therefore, feeling someone who is not the Night Emperor gradually transform into the Night Emperor, slowly succumbing beneath their silken skirts, naturally brings a different kind of beauty.”
“Master, how could we be like that!” Liushang said tearfully.
Xiapi’s eyes misted over as she gently bit her lip: “We only did it to fulfill your true wish of exchanging identities with us, to experience each other’s beauty. How could we be enjoying ourselves!”
Huolishang laughed and comforted them: “Yes, yes, it’s all my fault, forcing you to accept it.”
“For the master, I, I am willing.” Liushang softly murmured. Seemingly thinking of something, her face suddenly turned bright red as she lowered her head.
Xiapi twisted her hands together, her expression changing a few times before finally murmuring like a mosquito: “If the master thinks we enjoy it, then we do enjoy it.”
The Night Emperor said no more, his eyes filled with passion for life as he smiled at Meng Qi: “Rare beauties in the world, possessing both beauty and strength, each with their own personalities and charms, suitable for dual cultivation and energy absorption; subordinates spread across the seven seas, some powerful, some intelligent, ready to be commanded without a single complaint; a treasure trove rivaling the combined wealth of numerous islands, with all kinds of divine pills and materials for free use; top-tier status and power in the world, making island lords and sect leaders who were once looked up to now tremble with fear and bow their heads in worship, making female immortals who were only admired from afar now flatter and please, and being able to chat casually with elders like the Five Elders Immortal…”
“This is the identity of the Night Emperor. Not only was the flower gardener just now intoxicated, even a clear-minded master who knew he would eventually return to his original self almost couldn’t extricate himself. In recent years, not a single person who exchanged identities with me was willing to give it up.”
“Master Lishang, why are you saying this?” Meng Qi’s heart stirred, feigning confusion.
The Night Emperor Huolishang’s smile was warm, his eyes filled with affection: “You can see through my uniqueness, so your strength must be quite formidable. For such a powerful person, I should have heard of you before. Moreover, you’re hiding your abilities aboard a sea vessel without being injured, not roaming the heavens, undoubtedly harboring some hidden purpose.”
“That sea vessel was traveling from Chonghua Island to Shijue Island, and recently, the lord of Chonghua Island, Qu Baimei, was tragically killed, while Yin Feilong, the inspector of the Heavenly Dao Alliance stationed at Shijue Island, had visited Qu Baimei before the massacre.”
At this, he wore a fox-like smile: “More importantly, I happen to know a secret—I know that Qu Baimei was related to a mysterious organization that occasionally appeared in the past.”
“So, you are a member sent by this mysterious organization to investigate Qu Baimei’s death?”
Despite merely meeting by chance on the road, Huolishang was able to perceive subtle clues and deduce a conclusion nearly accurate, although his knowledge of the secret played a role, his insight was still impressive, truly worthy of the title “Night Emperor”… Meng Qi was quite moved but remained calm as he said: “Master Lishang is overthinking.”
“I don’t think so,” Huolishang confidently replied, “I’m very interested in the identity of a mysterious organization member, wanting to experience this lifestyle, and help you investigate the true cause of Qu Baimei’s death, uncover who acted, and their motives.”
He gazed intently at Meng Qi, eyes shining with passion for life’s beauty: “And you will exchange identities with me, becoming the true Night Emperor!”
“Rare beauties in the world, subordinates spread across the seven seas, a treasure trove rivaling numerous islands combined, top-tier status and power in the world—all of these will belong to you, letting you experience a completely different, wonderful life!”
“You mean exchanging identities?” Meng Qi controlled the twitching at the corner of his mouth and asked.
Let me become the “Night Emperor”?
But thinking carefully, this could truly conceal my identity and utilize his vast power, helping me investigate Qu Baimei and Golden Turtle Island. Who would ever suspect that the “Night Emperor” Huolishang is actually the “Primordial Lord” of the Immortal Trace?
Moreover, any trouble or consequences I cause would be borne by Huolishang. Of course, I wonder if he can truly shoulder them—I’ve always been known as a troublemaker and scapegoat expert…
Another concern: is Huolishang genuinely so eccentric, enjoying exchanging identities for life experiences, or does he harbor other intentions?
Huolishang nodded with a smile:
“Yes, exchanging identities. You wear this ‘Thousand-Changing Mask,’ and I will provide you with power, allowing you to become the true Night Emperor, enjoying everything the Night Emperor possesses, tasting the status and power of a Dharma Body expert!”
His tone was firm, as if he believed Meng Qi couldn’t resist. In fact, except for Dharma Body experts, few could resist such a temptation. After all, there are men who don’t love beauty, some who don’t love wealth, and others who don’t care for power and status, but those who care for none of the three are extremely rare!
Most importantly, there’s no need to worry about returning completely to your original state afterward. As long as you retain a bit of clarity, while being the Night Emperor, you can fully prepare “gifts” for your future self.
Meng Qi hesitated for a moment before nodding: “Alright, let’s exchange identities.”
Huolishang laughed heartily, delighted beyond measure, handing the Thousand-Changing Mask to Meng Qi:
“From this moment on, you are the Night Emperor!”
“And me?”
Meng Qi smiled slightly: “I am ‘Taiyi Heavenly Venerable’ Han Guang.”
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