Sacred Cave (Part 2)

Sacred Cave (Part 2)

That was right. Nine Sacred Great Sage had indeed cultivated from a mountain pheasant, and had become one of the most powerful Great Sages of that era. He had once swept across the eight desolations, glorious and overbearing for a time, but in the end, he had still fallen into Li Qiye's hands and finally agreed to leave the mountains to protect Immortal Emperor Mingren's path!

"Heavenly Demon, Only I" was Nine Sacred Great Sage's slogan, while "chicken feathers all over the ground" had been Li Qiye's mockery back then. The secret within was something the world simply did not know!

Such an outrageous scene left the Elders of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate unable to believe it. The sect masters and geniuses of every generation had pondered the ultimate profundity of the four words "Heavenly Demon, Only I," yet who would have thought that its ultimate meaning was "chicken feathers all over the ground"!

Li Qiye calling their progenitor a chicken spirit was deeply disrespectful, but now that the Elders thought it over carefully, it truly made sense. Their progenitor, Nine Sacred Great Sage, had indeed attained the Dao as a mountain pheasant!

"Let's see what good things your ancestor left for you." Li Qiye smiled leisurely and comfortably. Without caring about the reactions of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate's Elders, he walked into the Sacred Cave.

The Elders of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate came back to their senses and immediately followed him into the Sacred Cave!

There was only one treasure chamber within the Sacred Cave. The moment they stepped inside, divine light surged and receded, immortal radiance stretched vast and boundless, and the chamber shone brilliantly enough to dazzle the eyes.

Treasure artifacts hung within the chamber, immortal iron was stored there, divine stones had been left behind, and ancient boxes held treasured manuals... For a time, the chamber's riot of colors left everyone feeling dazed and dreamlike.

"That old chicken spirit had quite a lot of treasures." Li Qiye swept his gaze over the room and muttered. Nine Sacred Great Sage truly deserved to be one of the strongest Great Sages of his age; the treasures he had gathered in his lifetime were indeed astonishing.

"What did you say?" The Grand Elder, who stood closest to Li Qiye, could not help asking when he heard him.

Li Qiye shook his head and said, "Nothing. I was just talking to myself." His answer made the Grand Elder look at him suspiciously. He felt that this boy of around thirteen was simply far too strange!

"The Purple Dragon Twin Swords—" An Elder saw the treasure artifacts floating in the chamber and went blank for a moment. "The Demon Extermination Pagoda, the Nine Star River Ladle, the Sacred Sky Wooden Boat... These, these are all treasures recorded in the sect's records!"

"This, this is the Ancient Green Wood Secret..." Another Elder saw the secret manuals on the shelves and said in shock.

At this moment, the Elders of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate all fell into a daze. Back then, their patriarch had probably passed down only half of his treasures and cultivation arts!

In truth, Nine Sacred Great Sage had indeed possessed many treasures. Aside from those he obtained throughout his life, after Immortal Emperor Mingren bore the Heaven's Will, he remembered Nine Sacred Great Sage's efforts in protecting his path and rewarded him with many treasures as well!

"An... Immortal Emperor Artifact!" At this moment, the Grand Elder's gaze fell upon the jade table in the very center of the treasure chamber. An ancient box rested upon it. Although the box was locked, it still could not seal the Immortal Emperor aura surging from within.

Although the Immortal Emperor Artifact inside revealed only a wisp of Immortal Emperor aura, that single wisp was loftier than the heavens. As it drifted out, it was like the nine heavens pressing down from above; Heaven's Will rose and fell, myriad realms returned to the fold, and all living beings of heaven and earth bowed beneath that wisp of Immortal Emperor aura!

"An Immortal Emperor Artifact—" At this moment, the Elders of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate could not help trembling inwardly, utterly stirred. An Immortal Emperor Artifact! This was a treasure left behind by an Immortal Emperor, personally forged by Immortal Emperor Mingren!

"Don't forget, I get to take one treasure first." While the Elders of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate were thrilled, Li Qiye spoke leisurely. His words were like a basin of cold water poured over their heads.

The Elders of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate all fixed their blazing eyes on Li Qiye. If Li Qiye truly chose the Immortal Emperor Artifact, then would they not be left with nothing but an empty dream?

Faced with the Elders' fiery stares, Li Qiye remained calmly standing there. He was not afraid that the Nine Sacred Demon Gate would go back on its word. Even if all the Elders of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate were present, he would still remain utterly at ease.

In the end, the Grand Elder took a deep breath and said, "My Nine Sacred Demon Gate keeps its word. Since His Majesty has agreed, our Nine Sacred Demon Gate will absolutely not break its promise!" His words were filled with bitterness. This was an Immortal Emperor Artifact, after all! But the Sun-Turning Demon Emperor had already given his word, so they could not renege on it!

"At least you have some backbone." Li Qiye remained as still as an ancient well, calm and composed as he said unhurriedly, "I'm starting to admire your Sun-Turning Demon Emperor a little."

Li Qiye's arrogant words immediately left the Elders of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate speechless. Their Demon Emperor was a peerless tyrannical genius, blessed with extraordinary talent. Let alone across the Middle Grand Territory, even in the entire Imperial Border, their Sun-Turning Demon Emperor was a remarkable figure.

Yet today, a thirteen-year-old boy had spoken such nonsense, saying that he admired their Demon Emperor. If outsiders heard it, they would laugh their teeth out.

This was not the first time the Elders of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate had witnessed Li Qiye's arrogance. Besides falling silent in the face of such words, what else could they do?

Clap! Clap! Clap! While the Elders of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate were speechless, Li Qiye clapped three times. As his applause fell, an ancient box actually flew up within the treasure chamber and landed in his hand.

Without even sparing it another glance, Li Qiye tucked the ancient box into his robes and said casually, "It's only an Immortal Emperor Artifact. Is there any need to be so nervous?" With that, he turned and left.

For a moment, the Elders of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate could not react. There were two reasons for this. First, Li Qiye had clapped three times, and the ancient box had actually flown into his hand. It was far too strange, and they were also curious what exactly lay inside that box. Second, in Li Qiye's mouth, an Immortal Emperor Artifact seemed to have become something unimportant. Anyone with even a bit of common sense knew what an Immortal Emperor Artifact meant, yet Li Qiye spoke of it as lightly as wind and clouds. Wasn't that far too wild?

By the time the Elders of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate came back to their senses, Li Qiye had already left. Once they recovered, they hurriedly catalogued the treasures and ancient secrets in the chamber, storing each treasure and divine metal in the Nine Sacred Demon Gate's treasury...

By the time the Elders of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate finished handling everything, three days had passed. During those three days, the Nine Sacred Demon Gate had entertained Li Qiye and his two companions with the highest standards.

Three days later, Yu He came once more to invite Li Qiye. As the Chief Protector, Yu He again carried Li Qiye upon his back to the Heavenly Hall. Yu He, who could have been granted a title of king or marquis, had now become a coachman and laborer, yet he had no complaints. Today, he understood Li Qiye's importance to the Nine Sacred Demon Gate.

All the Elders of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate were in the Heavenly Hall, but the Sun-Turning Demon Emperor still did not show himself. Today, the Elders all looked at Li Qiye with strange expressions. They could only say that he was far too strange!

Once Li Qiye had taken his seat, the Sun-Turning Demon Emperor's voice rang out again. "I have remained in seclusion and have not emerged, so I was unable to meet Young Master Li. That is truly regrettable."

What kind of person was the Sun-Turning Demon Emperor? In this age, he could be called a hegemon who looked down upon the Middle Grand Territory. Yet today, he spoke so politely to a thirteen-year-old boy. If such a matter spread, it would absolutely shake the entire Imperial Border!

"There will be plenty of time in the future. There's no hurry." Even when facing a Demon Emperor of an era, Li Qiye remained calm and unruffled, sitting there leisurely without the slightest trace of timidity.

The Sun-Turning Demon Emperor fell silent for a long while before his voice sounded again. "How about Young Master Li remaining in my Nine Sacred Demon Gate? Whatever the Washing Yan Ancient Sect can give you, my Nine Sacred Demon Gate can give you as well!"

When the Sun-Turning Demon Emperor said this, the Elders of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate remained very calm. Without question, the Sun-Turning Demon Emperor had already discussed this matter with them.

The Sun-Turning Demon Emperor's words made Li Qiye fall silent for a moment. Without question, compared to the Washing Yan Ancient Sect, the Nine Sacred Demon Gate held far greater advantages. The Nine Sacred Demon Gate of today was countless times stronger than the Washing Yan Ancient Sect! For any cultivator, especially a disciple of the younger generation, if forced to choose between the Nine Sacred Demon Gate and the Washing Yan Ancient Sect, they would certainly choose the Nine Sacred Demon Gate.

In the end, Li Qiye smiled and gently shook his head. "I appreciate the Demon Emperor's kind intentions. I have a bond with the Washing Yan Ancient Sect. Since I am its Chief Disciple, then I shall remain a disciple of the Washing Yan Ancient Sect for life!"

Li Qiye held far too many feelings for the Washing Yan Ancient Sect. Though he had later come to dislike the successive sect masters who controlled it, especially Immortal Emperor Mingren's eldest disciple, and though after Immortal Emperor Mingren departed he had never returned to the Washing Yan Ancient Sect, it had ultimately been built by his own hands!

Though the Nine Sacred Demon Gate was far stronger than the Washing Yan Ancient Sect today, each had its advantages and disadvantages. Besides, he did not mind rebuilding the Washing Yan Ancient Sect!

He had not chosen to remain in Town Heaven Sea City, so it was even more impossible for him to choose to remain in the Nine Sacred Demon Gate. He had his reasons for choosing the Washing Yan Ancient Sect.

"Hmph, how can a mere Washing Yan Ancient Sect compare to my Nine Sacred Demon Gate!" An Elder snorted in dissatisfaction.

The Nine Sacred Demon Gate's Elders could not truly be blamed for their displeasure. Today, their Nine Sacred Demon Gate controlled the Ancient Niu Jiang Kingdom, commanded a hundred sects, divided territories and enfeoffed kings. Countless people wished to join the Nine Sacred Demon Gate, yet their Sun-Turning Demon Emperor had personally asked Li Qiye to stay, and Li Qiye still refused. That was simply too disrespectful!

Li Qiye merely curled his lips at the Elder's words and said calmly, "A true powerhouse does not care whether his sect is strong or weak. True invincibility does not care whether one was born among kings and marquises or in the grass and wilds!"

The moment these words came out, the Elders of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate could not help choking. Spoken in a calm manner and an indifferent tone, they nevertheless carried the most domineering confidence!

Yet these words had come from a thirteen-year-old boy. Still, Li Qiye's composure and calmness made him seem nothing like someone speaking wild boasts out of arrogant ignorance!

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