Chapter 24: Nine Saints Princess (Part 2)
If this were to be exposed, the consequence would be the fate of one who defies their master and betrays their sect! Only a madman or an idiot would do such a thing. Guardian Mo felt that he, too, had gone mad. But his intuition told him that if he followed the thirteen-year-old boy before him, his future would be limitless! It was purely intuition.
Nan Huairun's heart trembled. This was an incredibly momentous choice in his life. He knew what it meant for his master to say such a thing.
"Just say the word, Senior Brother, and I will go through fire and water!" Nan Huairun declared in a heavy voice, taking a deep breath.
Before, he had called Li Qiye "Senior Brother" out of obligation to the sect's rules. But today, calling him "Senior Brother" carried a completely different meaning!
A mere thirteen-year-old boy dared to challenge the Nine Saints Demon Gate. He dared to scorn one of their elders—a man who could be made a Prince—and even treated a Demon Emperor with casual indifference! In anyone else, this would be ignorance, arrogance, and hubris. But Li Qiye had passed through the Chaotic Heart Forest and killed Guardian Xu. This made Nan Huairun understand that Li Qiye was not ignorant or arrogant in the slightest. He wasn't overreaching at all!
A thirteen-year-old boy from the Xiyan Ancient Sect, who had killed a Guardian from the Nine Saints Demon Gate and demoted their Princess to a handmaiden... what immense boldness! From the moment he stepped into the Nine Saints Demon Gate, he already had a plan. He knew all along that he would be able to leave in one piece.
Nan Huairun was an astute man. In that instant, countless thoughts raced through his mind. 'At the Xiyan Ancient Sect, even if I work hard my entire life and reach the very top, I'll only ever make it to the Elder Level. But perhaps... Li Qiye's appearance is my breakthrough!'
In response to Guardian Mo and Nan Huairun pledging their allegiance, Li Qiye simply nodded. "One day," he said, "you will understand that your choice today was the best decision you've ever made."
"How should I report this when we get back?" Guardian Mo wondered aloud. This marriage trial involved far too much. At this point, even he felt that the situation was beyond his control.
Li Qiye looked at Guardian Mo and smiled. "Since Elder Yun already spoke with you, Guardian Mo, I'm sure you already have a plan in mind."
Li Qiye's words sent a jolt through Guardian Mo. It was true. Before they left, the Great Elder of the Nine Saints Demon Gate had spoken with him. In fact, the Nine Saints Demon Gate didn't want word of their Guardian God getting out, either. However, Guardian Mo hadn't explicitly agreed to Elder Yun's request.
'In the past, as a mere Guardian of the Xiyan Ancient Sect, I would never have had the chance to meet an elder from the Nine Saints Demon Gate, let alone their Great Elder. In fact, if one of our own elders visited, they would probably only be received by one of their Guardians!'
"I understand," Guardian Mo finally said. A complete story had formed in his mind—one that would benefit both Li Qiye and himself…
Ultimately, Li Qiye and his two companions left the Nine Saints Demon Gate, with Yu He himself seeing them off. As the Chief Guardian, Yu He was one of the most powerful Princes of the era. For him to personally escort them was an almost unheard-of honor for the Xiyan Ancient Sect.
The Dao Platform was activated and a Daoist Door erected, connecting the Nine Saints Demon Gate to the Xiyan Ancient Sect. Finally, Li Qiye and his companions stepped onto the path home. When they emerged from the Daoist Door and set foot upon the Sect Territory of the Xiyan Ancient Sect, both Guardian Mo and Nan Huairun took a deep breath. Inhaling the Heaven and Earth Essence Qi of their home, they felt as if waking from a dream.
The events of the last few days felt like a fleeting dream, too incredible to be real. But it wasn't a dream. It was all real!
Upon their return to the Xiyan Ancient Sect, Guardian Mo, as the one in charge of the marriage alliance, immediately went to report to the Six Great Elders. Li Qiye, on the other hand, returned to the Solitary Peak.
Standing atop the Solitary Peak, he gazed out across the entire Sect Territory of the Xiyan Ancient Sect, silent for a long, long time. In fact, back in the era of the Mingren Immortal Emperor, the sect's territory spanned a million li wide! The Heaven and Earth Essence Qi had been like a Vast Ocean.
Unfortunately, the Xiyan Ancient Sect had declined. It no longer had the power to garrison its immense Sect Territory, which had been shrinking ever since. The Heaven and Earth Essence Qi seemed to have been exhausted. Anyone standing within the Sect Territory could feel how incredibly thin it had become.
Today, the Xiyan Ancient Sect was like a candle in the wind, a dying old man who could breathe his last at any moment.
Li Qiye sighed softly to himself. 'I didn't choose Heavenly Sea City, or the War God Hall, or even the Nine Saints Demon Gate. Instead, I chose the declining Xiyan Ancient Sect!'
'I never did like the successive Sect Leaders and Rulers of the Xiyan Ancient Sect. Back then, as the Yin Ya, I had hoped one of Mingren Immortal Emperor's other disciples would take charge. His talent wasn't as great as the eldest disciple's, but I much preferred his character. Unfortunately, by the time I woke from my slumber, Mingren's eldest disciple was in control. From that point on, the Xiyan Ancient Sect styled itself as the orthodox path of the Great Dao, and its culture became utterly sanctimonious.'
'I've never had any patience for these self-proclaimed orthodox Defenders of the Dao. That's why I never returned to the Xiyan Ancient Sect, and never again concerned myself with its fate!'
'In this life, I have reclaimed my body and returned to the Xiyan Ancient Sect! In the past, I personally groomed the Mingren Immortal Emperor and founded this sect with my own hands. Today, I will raise it up once again. One day, under my guidance, the Xiyan Ancient Sect will sweep across the heavens and earth and reign supreme over the Nine Realms!'
Li Qiye stood atop the Solitary Peak, lost in his thoughts for a long time, so much so that he didn't even notice Nan Huairun's arrival.
"Senior Brother, the elders wish to see you," Nan Huairun said quickly once Li Qiye seemed to notice him.
Li Qiye nodded and followed Nan Huairun to the Ancestral Hall. Inside, all Six Great Elders were present, their eyes fixed on Li Qiye.
The atmosphere in the Ancestral Hall instantly grew strange and tense. Guardian Mo had already reported the results of the marriage alliance to them.
Guardian Mo's report had been ambiguous. He only mentioned that Li Qiye had passed the trial, going into detail about his passage through the Chaotic Heart Forest. As for the duel with Xu Hui, he had only glossed over it, not even mentioning the Snake-Beating Staff or the Four Symbols Stone Man. His conclusion was that Li Qiye's victory over Xu Hui was a matter of coincidence and luck!
"You passed the trial?" the Great Elder asked, his voice grave as he stared at Li Qiye. In truth, the Six Great Elders had held out no hope for this marriage alliance. But incredibly, Li Qiye had passed. Even more incredibly, he had managed to cross the Chaotic Heart Forest.
"Yes, Elder. I believe it's time for my reward," Li Qiye answered, calm and composed, completely unbothered by the strange, tense atmosphere.
"There is a reward, but first, there are some things you need to explain," the Great Elder said grimly. "From what I understand, Xu Hui is a top disciple of the Nine Saints Demon Gate's younger generation. His Dao Practice is comparable to our own Hall Masters. You just joined our sect and haven't even begun practicing Daoist Techniques. How could you possibly defeat him?"
"Elder, Daoist Techniques are complex, while Martial Techniques are direct. I cultivate the Qimen Saber Technique, which follows an unorthodox path. As long as there is the slightest flaw, I can land a fatal blow. In a battle of life and death, victory belongs to the brave," Li Qiye said nonchalantly.
"Absurd!" Elder Xiong, one of the Six Great Elders, snapped. "For a mere Mortal to claim he killed a master of the True Fate Realm is the height of ignorant arrogance!"
This same Elder Xiong had been one of Li Qiye's supporters before, but his cold rebuke today showed his clear displeasure. The change was stark.
Li Qiye glanced at Elder Xiong. "Elder, I spoke the truth. Just because others can't do something doesn't mean I can't." He then looked at all six elders and continued coolly, "Venerable Elders, today I am a hero to the Xiyan Ancient Sect. You may suspect me of cheating, but Guardian Mo witnessed everything, as did the members of the Nine Saints Demon Gate!"
"You all know in your hearts that this marriage alliance was fraught with peril. My trip to the Nine Saints Demon Gate was practically a suicide mission. But for the reputation of the Xiyan Ancient Sect, I went anyway, knowing full well I might die! Now I return a hero, and you elders... you doubt me? Is this how the Xiyan Ancient Sect treats its heroes? If it is, then that is truly disheartening. Who else will be willing to serve the sect in the future? Who else will be willing to die for it?"
Li Qiye spoke slowly, each word deliberate and heavy. "Before this alliance, you elders and I had an agreement. Are you going to renege on it today? If so, then I can only conclude that joining this sect was a mistake. Our Xiyan Ancient Sect is an Ancient Emperor's Immortal Sect. If its elders cannot be trusted to keep their promises, what credibility does our sect have left to speak of?"
"The sect's credibility is not for you to question!" an elder snapped coldly.
Unfazed by the elder's anger, Li Qiye calmly faced the Six Great Elders. "I risked my life to enter the Nine Saints Demon Gate and achieved Perfection. If you elders honor your promise, do not doubt a hero, and give me the reward I deserve, then there will be no need for me to question anything. If not, then I have every right to. This is something I earned with my life." As he spoke, he stared coldly at the Six Great Elders.
"Such words are too harsh!" an elder coughed, looking somewhat awkward.
The Great Elder spoke up as well. "Qiye, we are not doubting you, it's just that this whole affair is rather strange. The incident with Xu Hui is plausible enough, but we would like to hear your account of what happened in the Chaotic Heart Forest." As he spoke, his gaze sharpened, boring into Li Qiye as if to see right through him.