At that moment, not only the Grand Elder but the other five elders all fixed their piercing gazes on Li Qiye.
If slaying Xu Hui could still be dismissed as a "lucky miracle" — perhaps Xu Hui's arrogance had made him sloppy enough to be caught off‑guard — then crossing the Heart‑Disrupting Forest was another matter entirely.
For millions of years, not one among the Nine Saint Demon Gate's younger generation had ever passed through it alive — save those of Grand Sage level or higher.
Six pairs of eyes shone coldly, and both Mo and Nan Huairen secretly broke into a sweat.
Li Qiye remained composed.
"Honored Elders," he said slowly, "the Heart‑Disrupting Forest — as its name implies — tests the heart, not the Dao. Only those whose minds are resolute can walk through it. Cultivation has nothing to do with it."
Elder Cao Xiong snorted in derision.
"And you, a mere mortal body — your heart firmer than a Marquis's Dao Heart?"
Li Qiye lifted his eyes, voice flat but unyielding.
"Dao Heart and Dao Power are not the same. Many a True Lord and Sacred Emperor has perished by their own wavering hearts. Strength alone does not forge resolve."
"Insolence! Do you take the title of Sacred Emperor so lightly?" Elder Cao Xiong barked.
Li Qiye did not even bother to answer.
"I speak plain truth," he murmured. "If you doubt me, go ask the Nine Saint Demon Gate yourself."
His tone was calm, yet a sharp edge lay beneath it. Cao Xiong's eyes flashed with cold anger, but before he could exploded, the Grand Elder cleared his throat, defusing the tension.
"Leave that matter for now," he said lightly. "What of your marriage proposal with the Princess of Nine Saint?"
### The Elders' True Concern
In truth, what weighed most on the six elders was not Xu Hui's death nor the forest itself — but the alliance marriage with the Nine Saint Demon Gate.
The sect was weak and in decline; they needed that towering giant as their pillar.
"Ask Nine Saint about that. It has nothing to do with me," Li Qiye replied dismissively.
The Grand Elder sighed helplessly.
Washing‑Dust no longer had the right to negotiate with Demon Saints.
"You've done your part," he said finally. "As promised, the rewards are yours. Listen well:
(1) When you reach the Condensed Body Realm, you'll receive one portion of Royal Body Ointment.
(2) From our sect's arts, you may choose up to three techniques — one each in Fate, Body, and Life methods.
Are these terms acceptable?"
"Satisfactory," Li Qiye nodded, then added, "I have one condition. The sect once promised me three requests."
"Speak," the Grand Elder said with a thin smile.
"I need a weapon for protection — I'll choose one from the sect's treasury."
"From the lower three tiers you may choose a Treasure or True Weapon — or a Longevity Artifact."
"My thanks," Li Qiye bowed slightly and turned to leave.
"Huairen, go with him," the Grand Elder ordered.
### Suspicions in the Hall
As soon as Li Qiye was gone, Elder Cao Xiong's voice growled from the side.
"Brother Gu, I say the boy is suspect — perhaps a spy from the Nine Saint Demon Gate!"
"What basis do you have for that?" Elder Sun shook his head.
"The Nine Saint Demon Gate rules the Ancient Ox Kingdom itself — why would it need to plant a spy in our failing sect?"
"Agreed," another elder sighed. "What could they possibly want from Washing‑Dust?"
"Our Imperial Arts," Cao Xiong retorted coldly, "especially the Secret of Destiny."
At that, all faces changed. The Imperial Art was the sect's sole inheritance of transcendent power.
"Brother Cao," Elder Sun said again, "if that's truly their aim, he could simply present the Ancient Washing Order and demand it. Whether we yield or not, the Demon Emperor himself could take it by force. Could we resist?"
The room fell silent — none dared imagine facing the Demon Emperor's might.
"Caution first," Cao Xiong growled nevertheless.
"This matter goes to the Sect Lord for judgment," the Grand Elder said evenly, ending the exchange.
Cao Xiong's snort echoed through the hall.
### After the Hall
Outside, Nan Huairen leaned closer to Li Qiye and whispered,
"Senior Brother, the elders suspect you're a Nine Saint spy."
Ever sensitive to moods, he had read their faces clearly.
Li Qiye smiled and shook his head.
"Let them. There's a reason the sect declines — its elders sit high on their chairs, yet lack both power to command and presence to inspire."
Then he asked casually,
"What of Elder Cao Xiong himself? He once supported me as Chief Disciple. Why the sudden change?"
Nan lowered his voice.
"Be cautious, Senior Brother. Cao Xiong's ambition never fades. He's tried to seize the Sect Lord's seat many times. When that failed, he pushed his disciple, He Yingjian, to become Chief Disciple — the Sect Lord refused. Since then, he's nursed resentment. Now he's backed by a powerful guest elder."
Li Qiye smiled thinly.
"I see. If I'm a waste, he could ignore me; if I married Li Shuangyan, I'd threaten his path to power."
Nan nodded.
"Exactly. The Sect Lord has not taken any new disciples for years, leaving the Chief position open. Cao Xiong's pet candidate was rejected repeatedly."
"Where is the Sect Lord now?" Li Qiye frowned. Since joining the sect, he had never seen Sovereign Su Yong‑huang — as if the name were only a story.
"He's rarely on sect grounds, travels constantly," Nan said.
"To be frank, I've barely met him myself."
He lowered his voice further:
"Rumor has it the elders forced him out. No one dares speak details, only that he left with a small group of Protectors and Hall Lords."
Li Qiye touched his chin, thoughtfully.
"Then our sect must already be split into factions."
"Indeed," Nan replied. "There are roughly four — one still loyal to the Sect Lord, one to Cao Xiong; a third under the Grand Elder's lineage; and the rest are neutral scattered elders."
"And the Grand Elder — has he ever vied for leadership?" Li Qiye asked.
"No one knows." Nan shook his head. "He claims no ambition yet wields the disciplinary corps. He's notoriously strict — his authority alone keeps the sect from open fracture."
Li Qiye listened quietly and smiled once — a small, enigmatic smile — but said no more.
### The Forbidden Peak
DivineRavenPeak — the most sacred ground of the Washing‑Dust Ancient Sect, and its greatest taboo.
Without consent of the Sect Lord or elders, no disciple may set foot there.
The peak was the highest and widest mountain of the sect. At its summit stood a triangular ancient hall that held the sect's entire treasury — the manuals, secrets, sacred weapons, mystic metals, and divine stones of the sect.
Guards were posted every few steps; even a mosquito would find it difficult to pass.
Among the disciples, only the finest served there, watched over day and night by two elders at all times.
To the Washing‑Dust Sect, Divine Raven Peak was not just a mountain — it was the symbol of its fate and foundation.
Legend said that before Immortal Emperor Mingren had received his Heavenly Mandate, a celestial raven descended upon this very summit, bestowing divine omens.
He built his sect there, naming it the Washing‑Dust Ancient Sect — and thus its legacy began.