The elders of the Nine Saint Demon Gate stared at Li Qiye in stifled silence.
A mortal body, a mortal wheel, a mortal life—
and yet he had spoken directly to their Guardian God.
It was beyond reason.
Had he been born of their sect, perhaps they could accept it.
But he was an outsider.
Their own guardian had slain Protector Xu and wounded Yu He and even the Grand Elder—to shield him.
How could they not burn with anger?
"Might the Young Lord tell us how he communed with our Guardians?"
The voice of the DemonEmperoroftheBurningSun filled the hall.
Li Qiye smiled lightly.
"A method? There was none. They're your guardians; surely you should know them better than I."
He had no intention of speaking truth.
### The Hidden Past
In the Desolate Era, as the Dark Crow, he had spent ages and blood to escape the Abyss of Demon Immortals.
Endless pain taught him one lesson — tomasterfate,onemustmasterstrength.
When his soul was bound within the Crow form and he could no longer cultivate,
he turned to other paths to preserve himself.
In ancient ruins, he had unearthed four armored figures of stone—
the FourElephantStoneMen—
that once marched at his side in wars long buried by time.
The Nine Saint Founder had later coveted them.
That man had served the Immortal Emperor Mingren and rendered great merit,
and Li Qiye, acknowledging his loyalty, had lent him the guardians to watch over his sect's descendants.
They had sealed a vow:
Unlessdoomitselffallsandthesectfacesannihilation,theFourshallneverstrike.
For millennia, prosperity had kept them silent.
The Nine Saint thrived; no true calamity had come—
until today.
Thus he alone knew their tongue; their awakening was his will.
When he had once sat upon the statue's shoulder with a casual smile,
he had not merely rested—he had spoken to old companions.
"If the Young Lord would share that secret, our sect would not forget the favor,"
said the Demon Emperor, voice resonant through the hall.
Every elder's gaze fixed upon him.
One guardian alone had crushed a True Saint; four together could reshape the world.
If they could learn his way to command them, their power would be limitless.
"There is no secret," Li Qiye said with a lazy grin. "I just talk. A bit of gossip, old times recalled."
It was true, but only in the barest sense.
The elders and the Emperor did not believe, yet neither dared press him.
### The Blood Oath
"However," Li Qiye continued, "there is one thing I require. I must bind blood with the guardians."
The hall shivered.
Blood‑bonding a Guardian God — such a rite had never been uttered.
"They are our sect's foundation," the Emperor replied, voice hard.
Li Qiye lifted a hand in indifference.
"And they will remain so. I seek only their aid when I call—nothing more."
"The Four are the root of our lineage!" an elder snapped. "Would we let an outsider stain them with blood? Never!"
Li Qiye's glance cut the air, calm as a knife.
"That's not your decision. If you object, ask your guardians to reason with me."
Had he not promised ages ago, he could have taken them already—
and none would stop him.
### The Emperor's Concession
"Enough."
The Emperor's tone grew measured.
"If the Young Lord can converse with them and win their favor, perhaps this is fate."
He had no other path.
Even he feared those stone hands that had sent their Grand Elder flying.
"Now you're speaking sense," Li Qiye smiled.
"Don't think I mean your sect harm. If I wished, you'd not have the breath to argue.
If I chose to level Nine Saint, only your founder reborn could stop me."
The words fell like blades.
The elders' faces darkened, rage swelling—
but none dared act.
"Very well," the Emperor finally said. "The Young Lord may make his bond."
Inwardly, he sighed. To refuse was to risk losing the guardians entirely.
Why they favored a mortal boy, he could not fathom—
but there was purpose in it.
"Follow your law, and I'll follow mine," Li Qiye smiled.
"They remain your guardians, as promised."
The resolution bittered each elder's heart.
None had the strength to defy him—
not when even their Grand Elder had been swept aside like dust.
If all four moved at once? No one would survive.
### The Invitation
"Young Lord Li," the Emperor spoke again after a long pause,
"our sect holds a Sanctum that has never been opened. Would you care to see it?"
"Your Majesty, this cannot be—" an elder began.
"It can," the Emperor cut him off, his authority undeniable.
Li Qiye's eyes brightened, a soft laugh forming.
"Ah, the Holy Cavern — the one your founder left behind for the Emperor Mingren, is it not?"
He remembered the conversation: the Old Rooster had once mentioned it during Mingren's ascension, half in jest. He had paid it no mind then.
Gasps rippled through the hall. Few knew of that place.
"Indeed," said the Emperor, excited now.
"If the Young Lord can open it, Nine Saint will owe you a great debt."
Li Qiye tapped a finger on the armrest, thinking of ancient words.
Then he nodded.
"I can try. But when it opens, one item within is mine by right; the rest you may keep."
The hall stirred.
Even the Emperor hesitated, elders murmuring uneasily.
"Your Majesty," one advised, "this matter demands caution—"
And the air hung heavy, for something ancient was about to wake.