Chapter 7: The Nine Saints Demon Gate (Part 1)
Hall Lord Fu led Guardian Mo and the other two into a moderately-sized courtyard. By the standards of the Nine Saints Demon Gate, this was merely a residence for entertaining common guests.
For the marriage alliance, the Nine Saints Demon Gate had only sent a Hall Master to preside over the matter. Moreover, they were hosting Guardian Mo's group with the standards reserved for common guests. It was safe to say they didn't take this matter seriously at all.
After settling Guardian Mo's group in, Hall Lord Fu offered a few polite but empty words before leaving. His attitude could only be described as exceedingly cold. As for Guardian Mo, having taken on this task, he was already mentally prepared for humiliation. Thus, there was no anger, only silence.
Once Hall Lord Fu had settled Guardian Mo and his companions, he hurried deep into the Sect Territory of the Nine Saints Demon Gate. Inside an Ancient Hall, he met with an elder of the Nine Saints Demon Gate. This elder sat high up in the Void, with halos of Divine Light pulsing behind his head. All around him, Law Divine Chains weaved through the air, exuding an immense Divine Power. He was like a Divine Being from a bygone era!
"What of the Chief Disciple of the Xiyan Ancient Sect?" the elder's voice boomed like thunder, but this frightening, thunderous sound was confined within the Ancient Hall.
Hall Lord Fu, who was imposing enough on the outside to be considered a Heroic Hero, was now nothing but a trembling subordinate. He bowed his head and reported, "Elder, he is but an ant. A mere Mortal, an ignorant and arrogant junior. Not worth mentioning!"
"Understood. You may leave." The elder's voice was deep and powerful, rolling like thunder and causing one to tremble. Even with his eyes closed, his presence was terrifying.
Hall Lord Fu did not dare to act presumptuously and cautiously withdrew. After exiting the Ancient Hall, he was drenched in sweat. As a Hall Master, it was a rare privilege for him to have an audience with an elder. Even someone with the status of a Prince might not necessarily be granted a meeting!
"To choose a common fool with a Mortal Body, a Mortal Wheel, and a Mortal Life as their Chief Disciple... the Xiyan Ancient Sect is truly beyond saving." After Hall Lord Fu withdrew, the elder seemed to be speaking to someone else.
"A pity about Mingren Immortal Emperor's Emperor Techniques. Legend has it that Mingren Immortal Emperor's Heavenly Destiny Secret Skill might still be in the Xiyan Ancient Sect." At that moment, a mysterious and majestic voice sounded out.
The elder said, "Your Majesty the Demon Emperor, as long as Mingren Immortal Emperor's Emperor Techniques are still in the Xiyan Ancient Sect, given time, we can seize them in one fell swoop! A common brute from a place like the Xiyan Ancient Sect is not worthy of our Nine Saints Demon Gate's successor!"
The mysterious voice did not speak again, and the elder also fell silent. If any outsider had been present, they would have been secretly astonished. One must understand that the Demon Emperor of the Nine Saints Demon Gate was an incomparably terrifying figure.
According to legend, the Demon Emperor of the Nine Saints Demon Gate had an extraordinary background. Under his leadership, the Nine Saints Demon Gate was as radiant as the midday sun. The Nine Saints Demon Gate's control over the vast Ancient Ox Territory was unshakeable by any other sect. This was not only due to the Nine Saints Demon Gate's own power; the Demon Emperor's contributions were also indispensable! Within the Ancient Ox Territory, it was feared that no one dared to challenge the Demon Emperor's Divine Power!
After the three of them were settled in the small courtyard, Guardian Mo immediately shut himself in his room and refused to come out. Meanwhile, the ever-sociable Nan Huairun had slipped off to who-knows-where.
After settling in, Li Qiye did not waste a single moment. He immediately began to train arduously in the "Qimen Saber." He understood that the Nine Saints Demon Gate would definitely not let him off easily. He had to be prepared.
Li Qiye practiced the Swordsmanship over and over again. For every single move and stance, he demanded absolute perfection, not allowing for the slightest error!
Li Qiye practiced again and again. His clothes were soaked with sweat, then dried, then soaked anew. In the end, his very nerves were growing numb, but still, he continued to train without stopping.
Having lived for countless years, Li Qiye understood better than anyone that grasping the Mystical Meaning of a technique was one thing, but executing it to perfection was another matter entirely. Even a peerless genius who could comprehend a world-shaking Immortal Technique in an instant would still be unable to execute it flawlessly without practicing it time and time again!
Countless torments, countless hardships, and weathering countless storms had forged within Li Qiye a mentality of pursuing perfection, of endlessly striving!
"SHHH, SHHH, SHHH..." The short blades in Li Qiye's hands flew out, dancing gracefully like butterflies. The two Curved Sabers crisscrossed with an unpredictable, ghost-like momentum.
He had no idea how many times he had practiced this same move. But when the two Curved Sabers flew back into his hands, Li Qiye still let out a soft sigh. Although he had already grasped the Mystical Meaning of the "Qimen Saber," he still couldn't execute it to a state of perfection. For instance, in his eyes, this move was still off by a hair's breadth from the precise position he desired!
"What fine Swordsmanship! Senior Brother, you are truly diligent. Compared to your efforts, I feel ashamed of my own inadequacy." Just then, Nan Huairun came in from outside, a young man at his side.
Seeing Li Qiye training so diligently, Nan Huairun couldn't help but say this with genuine emotion. His words were truly from the heart. Although he hadn't been optimistic about Li Qiye's aptitude before, seeing him work so hard had considerably improved his impression of him.
"Diligence can make up for a lack of talent, that's all." Li Qiye retracted his short blades. Despite being covered in foul-smelling sweat, he was incomparably composed.
Nan Huairun couldn't help but smile. "Senior Brother, I will remember those words and use them to encourage myself." As he spoke, he introduced the young man beside him to Li Qiye. "This is Brother Zhang from the Nine Saints Demon Gate. He's a good friend of mine."
In terms of aptitude, Nan Huairun couldn't be called a genius; he could only be considered average. However, he was the complete opposite of his master, Guardian Mo. Guardian Mo was a man of few words and not skilled at socializing. Nan Huairun, on the contrary, was sophisticated and a smooth operator, with a wide circle of friends.
As a Hall Envoy of the Outer Hall, Nan Huairun had delivered messages for the elders to the Nine Saints Demon Gate several times in the past. Thus, he had made quite a few friends there. Of course, they weren't any major figures, just ordinary disciples.
This disciple with the surname Zhang was no big shot in the Nine Saints Demon Gate either. But in his eyes, a Mortal like Li Qiye was not worth his time. Even an ordinary disciple of the Nine Saints Demon Gate like himself couldn't be bothered to give him a second glance. He only nodded at Li Qiye out of respect for Nan Huairun. In his view, someone who practiced mere Martial Techniques like Li Qiye was insignificant.
"Since this is your first time at the Nine Saints Demon Gate, Senior Brother, why don't you walk around with us and get familiar with the surroundings?" Nan Huairun said, extending the invitation to Li Qiye with good intentions.
Hearing Nan Huairun's words, Li Qiye thought of a few things and smiled. "Alright."
Nan Huairun quickly said to the disciple surnamed Zhang, "Brother Zhang, we'll have to trouble you to be our guide this time."
"Brother Nan, you're too polite," the disciple had no choice but to nod and say. He couldn't be bothered to spare Li Qiye another glance. If it weren't for his respect for Nan Huairun, he wouldn't even want to be seen walking with Li Qiye!
In fact, as the host, the Nine Saints Demon Gate should have fulfilled their duties by showing Li Qiye around. However, the Nine Saints Demon Gate didn't take Li Qiye seriously at all, even forgoing the most basic of courtesies.
If it weren't for the promise made by the Nine Saints Great Sage back then, the Nine Saints Demon Gate today would likely not even acknowledge this marriage alliance. It was precisely because the Nine Saints Demon Gate was unwilling to go through with it that they proposed the requirement of testing Li Qiye. This was their way of dispelling any thoughts the Xiyan Ancient Sect had about the marriage!
Acting as the host, the disciple surnamed Zhang led Nan Huairun and Li Qiye on a tour of the Nine Saints Demon Gate's grounds. Of course, this disciple had no desire to talk to Li Qiye. He only spoke with Nan Huairun occasionally, treating Li Qiye as if he were invisible.
However, as they walked along the mountain paths of the Nine Saints Demon Gate, they attracted the attention of many disciples, who pointed and whispered amongst themselves.
"Is that the Chief Disciple of the Xiyan Ancient Sect?" one disciple asked, looking at Li Qiye from a distance. Seeing that Li Qiye was just a Mortal, he couldn't help but frown.
Another disciple from the Nine Saints Demon Gate sneered contemptuously. "The Xiyan Ancient Sect is already a third-rate sect. For a common brute to become their Chief Disciple, that title of theirs must be completely worthless."
"Pah! A piece of trash like him is worthy of marrying Senior Sister Li? That's a toad lusting after a swan's flesh! He should take a piss and look at his own pathetic reflection," a disciple from the Nine Saints Demon Gate said with disdain.
The successor of the Nine Saints Demon Gate, Li Shuangyan, was not only peerlessly talented but also unparalleled in beauty. Within the Nine Saints Demon Gate, countless young disciples adored her. In fact, looking across the entire Ancient Ox Territory, the line of young geniuses hoping to pursue Li Shuangyan could stretch from east to west!
"Hmph! A Mortal like him is qualified to be called Senior Sister Li's fiancé? He's daydreaming!" one disciple said indignantly. Some even looked like they wanted to rush up and spit in Li Qiye's face.
As their guide, Disciple Zhang was even more embarrassed. He could, of course, see the expressions on his fellow disciples' faces. So, he walked faster and faster, leaving Li Qiye far behind, adopting an air that said, 'This person has nothing to do with me.'
As for Li Qiye, he remained perfectly at ease and unconcerned. He didn't pay these people any mind at all, instead leisurely taking in every mountain and stream of the Nine Saints Demon Gate.
"Senior Brother, you should be careful. The successor of the Nine Saints Demon Gate has countless suitors. Be careful they don't try to cause trouble for you," Nan Huairun kindly reminded Li Qiye in a low voice.
"She's just a woman. Is it that big of a deal?" Li Qiye glanced at Nan Huairun and said flatly. He had seen women more stunning and more peerless than anyone could imagine. He didn't give a second thought to his so-called fiancée; it was an utterly trivial matter to him.
Li Qiye's words startled Nan Huairun, who quickly whispered, "Senior Brother, this is the Nine Saints Demon Gate! You can't speak so recklessly."
Li Qiye just smiled, not bothering to say anything more. 'Since the people of the Nine Saints Demon Gate want to test me, then I'll just have to see how much foundation the Nine Saints Demon Gate truly has left!'
Before they knew it, Li Qiye and the others had arrived at the Nine Saints Demon Gate's dueling grounds, a place that anyone in the sect could visit. The moment one stepped onto the dueling grounds, a feeling of insignificance washed over them!
The dueling grounds were immense. Standing alone in this vast arena, one felt an incredible sense of emptiness, like an ant on a boundless plain.