Before Li Cheng's grand appearance...
During the time the Domain Battle was happening, Li Cheng was not only trying to absorb as much experience as he could, he was also figuring out ways how he could help because it was clear that Kuan Yin was on the losing end.
When he took a deeper look at his inventory, he realised that he didn't seem to be as overpowered as he thought. There were certainly many things in his inventory that could play an interesting role in the battle, but the problem was it required perfect preparation and his schemes to go right.
Li Cheng surprisingly did not have anything that could help him 1 shot the enemy let alone deal a fatal blow.
Almost all of his resources, disregarding his ability to wield them, they were utterly useless mainly because of one thing—cultivation level.
With the enemy's cultivation level as well as being struck with the Exalted one's technique, any dodgy action partaken by Li Cheng would soon be sensed.
Of course, he could invoke another Deity… but that was the same as summoning a tiger to deal with a lion. The tiger he managed to invoke happened to be friendly, but would the next tiger he calls be as friendly as her?
Thus, the only advantage he could make use of was his current illusions and talismans. The best case scenario was perhaps to provide a weapon for the Deity to fight with, thereby discarding his image, but the issue with that is the situation did not allow that. Moreover, when he checked the 'Weapons' section again, none of the items really suited Kuan Yin.
Nevertheless, Li Cheng was the only one who could salvage the situation.
What were the old monsters and the Sect Master doing?
He had no idea.
But from reading all those cultivation novels, he knew these old foxes were all generally selfish pricks. If he had to guess, they were lying in wait to let these two powerhouses tire themselves out and then swoop in to reap the rewards.
This was another reason as to why he couldn't do anything suspicious regardless of his image.
So, Li Cheng decided to further be bold with his misunderstood image. He will maintain it!
Not only for the glory, but also as a form of strength!
And also to kill his enemies!
Since he had a few talismans that would work wonders on evil, he was going to use them as his trump card.
But how was he going to approach? That was the hardest hurdle.
Teleportation talisman? The enemy was in the bloody air! He did not have a flying sword he could use for the current moment, and he was nowhere near at least in the Sky-Seeking Realm!
Well, Li Cheng did have one 'special' pill that could grant him the miraculous ability to fly, but when he read the description, he discarded the thought immediately. It was not worth the risk.
Throw the talisman? Somehow shoot it? That was stupid and won't be explained.
Just by getting into the range of the enemy's aura Li Cheng would be obliterated. If it weren't for his robe, he wouldn't be able to even approach at all and would be dead by now by the residue power emitting from those powerhouses.
So Li Cheng concluded that he had to cooperate with the Kuan Yin effectively as they were on the same boat.
"Dear mortal, your boldness is admirable, and your courage is noted. Yet, it seems you may be underestimating the significant gap between cultivation levels. The proposed plan may not yield the desired results. Although the robe can indeed withstand the Qi, your mortal frame may not endure prolonged strikes.
"Contemplating the use of talismans for teleportation and blending with the surroundings is a thoughtful approach. However, such strategies, though intriguing, may prove ineffectual. A single focused strike has the power to render you immobile, making it challenging to even lift a finger or employ your talisman.
"It would be wiser for me to conceal those talismans within the bodies of my creations. I might launch a coordinated assault when least expected. That way, that evil would undoubtedly sustain severe injuries!"
Li Cheng was nodding his head. She was right. It sounded good but there were some issues with her adaptations. "If you pile those talismans together, wouldn't he be able to sense the threat? Would they be able to all reach him? Also, if you did it through occasional intervals, wouldn't he be already prepared for it?"
"Umm…." Kuan Yin's shoulders reflexively slumped a little. She understood that this wasn't exactly reliable either and could easily go awry. "What should we do then…?"
It may seem that she really had to give up the Domain, but if she did that then he knew evil beings like the Exalted one could easily threaten her as she had already shown how much she cared for the people. Sacrificing the people's lives for the greater good was a last resort for Kuan Yin. She was already very sad that she, a Deity, had already failed to protect some people in such a low plane.
"Hmm well… we have to drop his guard and increase the reliability. Your ideas are workable, we just need to make them feasible," Li Cheng replied and then knuckled his chest with pride though she probably wouldn't be able to see it. "You will need to use me!"
"By chance are you offering yourself as bait? But it's too dangerous… when he figures out that you're just playing tricks with him, he would immediately be able to kill you. Regrettably, I might not intervene swiftly enough to save you.
"You wish to use the powers of your eyes right? Your eyes do appear a little mysterious, but I cannot seem to perceive any hidden power behind them. Though it seems like everyone else is scared of looking you in the eyes. Hmm... are your eyes so scary? Now I seem to feel a trace of unexplainable fear. I heard that even the wicked evil we are facing is afraid. But that's why he will definitely be on his guard and watching you like a hawk."
Li Cheng was speechless. Li Cheng did technically have eye powers from his Sect Master Skill, but that killing move by his eyes from before was something out of his control. The potion he applied turned everyone to become delusional about him. Now, even Kuan Yin was starting to be afraid of him!
The absurdity brought laughter to erupt from his lips.
In response, Kuan Yi blinked her eyes, perplexed. For a fleeting moment, she entertained the notion that he might have gone crazy from the dire circumstances. Yet, as she observed Li Cheng's confident demeanor, a peculiar sense of anticipation welled within her.
Could he have a good plan?
Ending his laughter, Li Cheng let loose one last chuckle and casually said, "Then all we need to do is make a situation that will force him to look at my 'powerful' eyes. Did you know, these idiots everywhere call me the 'Son of Heaven'?"
"...You're not?"
"..."
"..."
"Young Miss?"
"I was just teasing, hehe. I understand you're not him, especially since, as far as I know, there's only a daughter at the moment. However, based on what others have said, you do share a striking resemblance in some aspects."
"Wait what?"
"Anyway, my apologies. Please continue."
Li Cheng really wanted to inquire, but time was of essence. "Young Miss, can you create a really large dragon?"
"I have never tried, and my Domain is a little special. Hence, I don't believe I could do so."
"This junior is quite ignorant of your level of prowess so I'm not sure how you are able to create those creatures, but is it possible to combine them to shape them into a form you like?"
"I can, but it's a challenging task. It's akin to conjuring a creature out of thin air, without any tangible references. The outcome and its effectiveness remain uncertain. Besides, a dragon is..."
"The components of a dragon. The belief of the people. Don't we have that all here? Don't worry too much on making it perfect, I will add in the special effects and do all the post editing." Li Cheng smiled, his confidence undiminished, and he shook a unique perfume bottle.
"I do not really understand what you're saying, Mortal. Nevertheless, may I place my trust in your intentions?" That strange anticipation in her heart grew stronger as she felt the brimming confidence of him through her connection using her Domain.
"Indeed you may. And can I, too, put my trust in you?
After a slight pause, she answered with an inexplicable confidence.
"Yes!"
***
300 metres.
Li Cheng was rippling through the air and quickly bridging the gap between him and the enemy.
Li Cheng did his utmost best to not close his eyelids. He felt the pores of skin go cold from the high altitude. The winds hurled viciously in an attempt to send him whirling back down to the mortal land.
The occasional lightning flashed in the sky, creating a terrifying spectacle to the entrance of an Emperor riding a dragon. While this helped dramatise the show, to Li Cheng this was an unwanted double-edged sword.
He did not plan for this to happen and wondered if this was something that Kuan Yin did. It wouldn't be strange if she did so, albeit it contrasted the peaceful nature of her Domain. Regardless, Li Cheng in his heart could only beg so.
He had never been so close to touching lightning. Heavenly Tribulation what was that? Had he reached the Golden Core? No? Then what was this proximity? If it weren't for the winds, then anyone would be able to notice he was soaked in sweat head to toe from the fear as there was a chance he may just be struck down.
Low cultivation aside, how many times has he angered the Heavens already through introducing godly treasures that shouldn't exist in this place?! And he was boldly wearing a robe that the Heavens once adored as a sacred treasure, which is now a straight up taboo blasphemy object. And he was a so-called 'Son of Heaven'.
Isn't his actions right now equivalent to slapping the Jade Emperor himself in the face and putting salt over his deep wound?
And thus, despite Li Cheng's confidence from earlier, he was seriously fucking afraid that he was going to finally receive his divine punishment and die any moment now. The Exalted one had already almost left his mind. One shouldn't also forget the blood-pumping adrenaline of this extraordinary experience.
Once again he wanted to curse: How did fucking things escalate to this point? This was beyond high key.
Fortunately, being scared stiff had his pros. He had become an immaculate, chiselled statue that was unmoving even in such tumultuous conditions, completely fooling and rooting the Exalted one.
In the eyes of the world he was an unfathomable, godly Son of Heaven. In Li Chengs' eyes, he viewed himself as just an arrogant, hot-blooded idiot courting death. Sounds like a typical cultivation protagonist.
He already swore that the moment this shitstorm is over, he was going to seriously reflect on himself.
150 metres.
'Focus! Focus! Focus! Stare! Stare! Stare!'
Mustering up all his willpower and courage, eyes beseeching to blink, Li Cheng stared as hard as he could. His sharpened eyebrows knitted so harsh that it turned his cold expression to wrinkle as though he was going to blow up in absolute fury. As though a calm man had finally had the chance to avenge a man who slaughtered his whole family.
Perhaps this exuding pressure had been transmitted to the Exalted One, as he unknowingly had trembled a few steps back.
When Li Cheng saw this, he tensed in fright. At any moment his enemy was going to gain his awareness soon.
'Fuck!'
Blood had begun to pour out of his bloodshot eyes from excessive staring and the blistering winds.
'It's painful!!'
Immediately he sucked in a deep breath, barely keeping his expression the same, he uttered out an ancient-like voice:
"Look into my eyes—
and tell me:
What do you see?"
KIRIRUAAAAAAAA!!!!!
BOOOM!!!
In the mind and gaze of the Exalted one, he saw the Emperor, the Son of Heaven who had always been cold and indifferent, suddenly break out in a fit of furious outrage. His rage was so intense that blood seeped from his eyes, and its fury had dyed the Heavens red and the dragon to turn blood red.
The whole world had turned blood-red.
The four chains and willows pulling down the Emperor were decorations as they melted into the scenery. It appeared as though the Emperor was only chained down in the first place to stop the bursting rage that was prepared just for this moment.
The Exalted one's malefic Qi in the air was quivering, seemingly lost. It should've had some sort of resistance against his foe, but instead the energy was engulfed into wisps, fading into nothingness.
The dragon roar shrieked the eardrums of the Exalted one; the Emperor's lodged, bottled howl was vented by the dragon.
The ringing reverberating in his ears echoed—
the end of everything.
This man was no longer the Son of Heaven.
He had fallen to become the Son of Hell.
Maybe this distinction was why the exquisite black robe and the Heavens' lightning retained their same colour.
Right before the end, he saw the Emperor tap the dragon's head gently, flutter into the gale winds, and vanish into thin air.
Then, the last thing he saw was the gigantic jaws of a bloody red dragon mouth enlarge and crunch down.
The Exalted one had failed to answer the Emperor.
His mind was too mumbled and engrossed to notice the Qi fluctuations or the fact that Li Cheng's skill 'Strongest Sect Master Li Cheng' had already worn off ages ago, so his cultivation base was completely exposed.
But it seemed the Exalted one had a very strong belief that the enemy who had killed him couldn't possibly be in the Qi Condensation level.
Perhaps the perfume was too potent.
Perhaps the Exalted one was denying the reality before him.
It didn't matter though.
As dead men tell no tales.
It went as the Emperor decreed.
The Exalted one would DIE.
>>Please read author thought<<
EDIT: Besides some groundwork, the point of this fast paced event was to intentionally throw you in what you can expect in the future instead of a boring slow exploration narrative. There is a summarised rundown for what occurred in chapter 20 for those confused.