Chapter 8: Nine Saints Demon Gate (Part 2)
A mysterious and powerful force permeated the dueling grounds. The entire open arena was paved with black rock. Great Sage inscriptions flowed across each stone, and the power that filled the air emanated from these very same rocks. This force enveloped the entire dueling grounds, preventing it from being shattered during combat.
"A Great Sage Level dueling ground!" Even though it wasn't his first time here, Nan Huairun was once again struck by the vast and solemn atmosphere.
The disciple named Zhang couldn't help but feel a little smug. He said, "Our sect's founder personally crafted this dueling ground. It can withstand the force of a battle between Great Sages!"
A Great Sage Level dueling ground was indeed a testament to the profound heritage of the Nine Saints Demon Gate. For many sects, this was certainly a matter of great pride.
"The Xiyan Ancient Sect once had a dueling ground from the Mythical Era—" Nan Huairun couldn't help but mutter. His voice was low, and he trailed off, unwilling to say more.
Indeed, the Xiyan Ancient Sect did have a dueling ground far superior to this Great Sage Level one. Legend had it that the Mingren Immortal Emperor had moved it here from the unfathomably distant depths of the starry sky. It was said that this dueling ground could even withstand the suppressive might of an invincible being like an Immortal Emperor!
Unfortunately, for some unknown reason, that dueling ground was sealed away. Since then, no one from the Xiyan Ancient Sect had ever been able to open it again.
"The Four Symbols Stone Men." Standing to the side, Li Qiye hadn't heard a word they said. His gaze was fixed on the giant stone statues at the four corners of the dueling grounds.
At each of the four corners stood an immense stone statue. Each one was a staggering hundred zhang tall, like a Giant. The four statues had different expressions, but every one of them was incredibly lifelike, as if crafted by a master. The workmanship was flawless and natural!
This was what Li Qiye had most wanted to see. He hadn't returned to the Nine Saints Demon Gate since the Nine Saints Great Sage passed away, nor had he cared to. He hadn't expected that after countless years, these four Stone People would still be here!
While Nan Huairun was chatting with his friend, he didn't notice Li Qiye for a moment. But after a short while, the disciple named Zhang couldn't help but frown and say, "What is that idiot doing!"
Nan Huairun couldn't help but look over. He saw Li Qiye actually trying to climb the giant stone statue on the eastern corner. However, with Li Qiye's limited strength and the statue being a hundred zhang tall, he failed after several attempts.
By now, quite a few disciples had gathered outside the dueling grounds. Seeing Li Qiye acting like a country bumpkin—pinching and patting the giant statue, even whispering and muttering to it incessantly, as if he'd never seen such a large statue in his life—many of the disciples standing by burst into laughter.
The scene was incredibly awkward for Nan Huairun. Although the four stone statues weren't some Sacred Object of the Nine Saints Demon Gate, Li Qiye was acting like a total hick, patting this and pinching that, even trying to climb on top of it. He was caught in a dilemma, not knowing whether he should tell Li Qiye to stop or not.
Just as Nan Huairun was feeling mortified, Li Qiye waved him over. Under the gazes of so many, Nan Huairun was trapped; he couldn't go, but he couldn't stay either. Left with no choice, he finally had to walk over to Li Qiye.
"This statue is a bit high. Give me a lift," Li Qiye ordered Nan Huairun, remaining perfectly composed despite being the center of attention.
"Uh—" Nan Huairun was speechless. He truly wondered if Li Qiye was just thick-skinned or a complete idiot. To still want to climb this giant statue like a country bumpkin while being watched by so many disciples of the Nine Saints Demon Gate—wasn't this just dragging the Xiyan Ancient Sect's reputation through the mud?
"Are you going to give me a lift, or are you going to let everyone keep watching the monkey show?" Li Qiye, on the other hand, didn't seem to care at all. With a nonchalant expression, he appeared calm and unbothered, as if he were the real spectator here.
Under the scrutiny of so many eyes, what else could Nan Huairun do? He could only bite the bullet, grab Li Qiye, and leap up onto the giant statue in one go.
As for Li Qiye, he settled himself comfortably on the huge statue's shoulder, looking as serene as an old god. He gazed out at the Nine Saints Demon Gate, taking in the vast mountains and rivers.
Nan Huairun wasn't nearly as thick-skinned as Li Qiye. He jumped back down and stood to the side. He wanted to just walk away, but he couldn't leave Li Qiye there alone. If Li Qiye couldn't get down and was left stranded up there, it would be an even greater humiliation for the Xiyan Ancient Sect.
As for Nan Huairun's friend, the disciple named Zhang, he was even less willing to be embarrassed by association. Without so much as a word, he turned and left.
"Hmph, the people from the Xiyan Ancient Sect are just rude and boorish country bumpkins!" some of the Nine Saints Demon Gate disciples said with disdain as they watched Li Qiye sitting on the statue.
A disciple from the Nine Saints Demon Gate snorted coldly, "Pah! Does he really think he's some big shot, daring to sit up there? He should take a piss and look at his own reflection!"
Many of the Nine Saints Demon Gate's disciples were deeply displeased by Li Qiye's outrageous behavior! But Li Qiye couldn't care less. He sat on the Stone Person's shoulder, leisurely swinging his feet and muttering nonstop, as if he were chatting with the statue.
In the eyes of others, Li Qiye's actions marked him as an idiot, a reckless fool who didn't know his place.
This scene made Nan Huairun, who was standing to the side, extremely uncomfortable. He wished he could leave right then and there, but he couldn't just strand Li Qiye up there alone.
Meanwhile, Li Qiye, sitting up there, showed no awareness of the shame he was supposedly causing. He remained carefree, even chatting away with the Stone Person as if they were having a conversation.
The time dragged on torturously, leaving Nan Huairun feeling like he was on pins and needles. Finally, after a long while, Li Qiye seemed to have had his fill of sitting. He waved to Nan Huairun.
As if relieved of a heavy burden, Nan Huairun immediately leaped up and brought Li Qiye down. The moment they landed, Nan Huairun hurriedly said, "Senior Brother, it's getting late. Let's head back." He didn't want to wander around with Li Qiye anymore; he was genuinely afraid of what other outrageous things Li Qiye might do.
In response to Nan Huairun's attitude, Li Qiye just chuckled and gave a slight nod.
"Pah—" Seeing Li Qiye still so composed, one of the Nine Saints Demon Gate disciples couldn't take it anymore. He sneered at Li Qiye, "The Xiyan Ancient Sect is just a third-rate minor sect. A scumbag like you wants to be a toad eating swan meat? Pah! A useless idiot like you wants to marry our Senior Sister!"
Challenged so openly, Li Qiye slowly turned his head. He looked at the disciple and said unhurriedly, "Marry your Senior Sister? You're giving her too much credit. Even if a Heavenly Maiden Fairy wanted to marry me, I'd have to consider whether I'd even accept her! Let alone your Senior Sister!"
"You reckless fool—" Li Qiye's words instantly drew the collective fury of the crowd. Many of the male disciples from the Nine Saints Demon Gate present were admirers of Li Shuangyan, and countless furious glares immediately focused on Li Qiye.
"Peace is paramount, peace is paramount." The scene sent a chill down Nan Huairun's spine. He immediately grabbed Li Qiye and turned to leave. He couldn't let Li Qiye stay here any longer!
"Coward, don't run if you have any guts!" a disciple of the Nine Saints Demon Gate shouted in indignation. If Li Qiye and Nan Huairun weren't guests, they would have immediately given chase and beaten Li Qiye to a pulp!
Half-dragging, half-pulling, Nan Huairun managed to get Li Qiye back to their courtyard. Having escaped in one breath, Nan Huairun let out a sigh of relief. A lingering fear crept up on him. At that moment, he began to suspect that Li Qiye was just an arrogant, ignorant, and fearless fool.
"Senior Brother, the Nine Saints Demon Gate is not an existence we can afford to provoke. Sometimes it's best to take a step back. If you just bear with it, it'll pass." Nan Huairun couldn't help but try to persuade Li Qiye. This wasn't just for Li Qiye's sake; he didn't want to lose his own life at the Nine Saints Demon Gate.
"What is there to bear?" Li Qiye smiled calmly. "We'll deal with whatever comes our way."
Nan Huairun was instantly speechless. Being stuck with a master like this was just asking for trouble. At that moment, he couldn't help but regret accepting this assignment.
In truth, many of the younger generation disciples of the Nine Saints Demon Gate were extremely dissatisfied with the marriage alliance between the Xiyan Ancient Sect and their sect. Li Shuangyan was the Heavenly Pride Girl of the Nine Saints Demon Gate, lofty and revered. Countless young male disciples admired her. Now, the possibility that she might be betrothed to the Chief Disciple of the Xiyan Ancient Sect naturally enraged them.
In the eyes of the Nine Saints Demon Gate's younger disciples, the Xiyan Ancient Sect was already a declining, third-rate minor sect, completely unworthy of a marriage alliance with them. What's more, the Chief Disciple of the Xiyan Ancient Sect was a good-for-nothing with a Mortal Body!
This marriage alliance was an insult to the dream lover in the hearts of many young disciples. It was unknown how many of them wished they could just crush Li Qiye to death.
Du Yuanguang was one of the disciples who found Li Qiye particularly displeasing. Du Yuanguang was an Outer Disciple of the Nine Saints Demon Gate. His innate talent was excellent, earning him the title of a "little genius" within the sect. Only five years after joining, he was already at the peak of the Palace Breaking Realm. If he passed this year's assessment, he would become one of the disciples the Nine Saints Demon Gate focused on nurturing!
Within the Nine Saints Demon Gate, Du Yuanguang was definitely one of the disciples who admired the Divine Maiden Li Shuangyan the most. This was because when the Nine Saints Demon Gate was recruiting disciples, Li Shuangyan herself had been the one presiding over the selection when Du Yuanguang joined.
Upon first seeing Li Shuangyan, Du Yuanguang was stunned by her celestial beauty. Having been chosen by her to enter the Nine Saints Demon Gate, he believed that Li Shuangyan showed him some favor.
With his excellent talent, Du Yuanguang was very confident. He hoped that one day, he could walk the path of Cultivation alongside Li Shuangyan and become her dao companion.
Now, this inexplicable marriage alliance with the Xiyan Ancient Sect had appeared, filling Du Yuanguang's heart with hatred for a Li Qiye he had never even met. Li Qiye's dismissive words about Li Shuangyan at the dueling grounds today, in particular, sent Du Yuanguang into a towering rage.
'That damn little bastard! A mere Mortal trash daring to speak so shamelessly! That arrogant, ignorant fool! If I don't teach him a lesson, he'll never know his place!' After hearing the news, Du Yuanguang's eyes turned cold, and his killing intent surged.