The Saint Princess (Part 2)

The Nine Sacred Princess (Part 2)

Once it was exposed, the consequence would be betraying one's master and sect! Only madmen or fools would dare do such a thing. Protector Mo also felt that he had gone mad, but his intuition told him that if he followed the thirteen-year-old boy before him, his future would be boundless! It was merely intuition.

Nan Huairen could not help but shudder inwardly. This was an incomparably crucial choice in life. Since his master had spoken such words, he knew what they meant.

"As long as Senior Brother gives the order, I will brave boiling water and tread through fire!" Nan Huairen took a deep breath and said solemnly.

If he had once called Li Qiye "Senior Brother" because of sect rules, then today, the meaning behind that title was completely different!

A boy of around thirteen dared to challenge the Nine Sacred Demon Gate, dared to look down on its Elders who could be made marquises, and even treated the Demon Emperor with casual indifference! If it were anyone else, that would have been ignorance, arrogance, wild conceit, and overestimating oneself. Yet Li Qiye had crossed the Chaos Heart Forest and killed Protector Xu. Nan Huairen understood that Li Qiye was not ignorant or arrogant at all, nor was he overestimating himself!

A thirteen-year-old boy from the Washing Yan Ancient Sect had killed a Protector of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate and demoted its princess to a maid. What tremendous bearing that was! From the moment he stepped into the Nine Sacred Demon Gate, he had already had a plan in his heart. He had known from the start that he could retreat unscathed.

Nan Huairen was slick and worldly-wise. In that instant, countless thoughts flashed through his mind. If he spent his entire life striving in the Washing Yan Ancient Sect, even if he reached the peak, he would only become an Elder. Perhaps Li Qiye's appearance would be a breakthrough!

Li Qiye merely nodded lightly at Protector Mo and Nan Huairen's allegiance. "One day, you will understand that today's choice was the most correct decision of your lives!"

"How should we report this when we return?" Protector Mo muttered pensively. This marriage alliance assessment involved far too much. At this moment, even he felt unable to control his own course.

Li Qiye looked at Protector Mo and smiled. "Since Elder Yun already spoke with Protector Mo, I presume Protector Mo has a plan in his heart."

Li Qiye's words made Protector Mo's heart tremble. Indeed, before he departed, the Grand Elder of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate had spoken to him. In truth, the Nine Sacred Demon Gate did not wish for the matter of the guardian deity to spread. However, Protector Mo had not directly agreed to Elder Yun's request.

In the past, as a Protector of the Washing Yan Ancient Sect, he would not even have been able to meet an Elder of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate, much less its Grand Elder. In fact, even if an Elder of the Washing Yan Ancient Sect came in person, a Protector of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate would likely be the only one to receive them!

"I understand." In the end, Protector Mo had a complete explanation in mind. Such an explanation would benefit both Li Qiye and himself...

In the end, Li Qiye and the other two left the Nine Sacred Demon Gate, with Yu He personally seeing all three of them off. As the chief Grand Protector, Yu He was one of the strongest marquises of the present age. For him to personally escort Li Qiye's group was something rarely seen for the Washing Yan Ancient Sect.

The Dao Platform was activated and the Dao Gate erected, connecting the Nine Sacred Demon Gate and the Washing Yan Ancient Sect. Finally, Li Qiye's group stepped onto the road home. When they emerged from the Dao Gate and set foot upon the land of the Washing Yan Ancient Sect, Protector Mo and Nan Huairen both drew deep breaths. Breathing in the Heaven and Earth Essence of the Washing Yan Ancient Sect, they could not help but feel dazed.

What had happened over the past few days was simply like a dream—a dream of yellow millet. It was utterly unbelievable, yet it was no dream. These were facts that had truly happened!

After returning to the Washing Yan Ancient Sect, Protector Mo, as the person responsible for this marriage alliance, immediately went to report to the six Elders, while Li Qiye returned to Lone Peak.

Standing atop Lone Peak and gazing over the entire sect territory of the Washing Yan Ancient Sect, he fell silent for a long time. In truth, back when Immortal Emperor Mingren was still alive, the Washing Yan Ancient Sect's territory spanned a million miles! Its Heaven and Earth Essence had been as vast as an ocean.

Unfortunately, today's Washing Yan Ancient Sect had already declined. It lacked the strength to guard such boundless sect territory, so its lands had continuously shrunk. Moreover, its Heaven and Earth Essence seemed to have dried up. Standing upon these lands, anyone could feel that the Heaven and Earth Essence here had become exceedingly thin.

Today's Washing Yan Ancient Sect was like a dying candle in the wind, like an old man in his twilight years, ready to reach its end at any moment.

Li Qiye could not help but sigh softly in his heart. He had not chosen Town Heaven Sea City, had not chosen the War God Temple, and had not even chosen the Nine Sacred Demon Gate. Instead, he had chosen the fallen Washing Yan Ancient Sect!

Li Qiye, who had become the Shadow Crow, had never thought highly of the successive sect masters and rulers of the Washing Yan Ancient Sect. Back then, he had hoped that another disciple of Immortal Emperor Mingren would take charge of the Washing Yan Ancient Sect. Though that disciple's talent was inferior to the eldest disciple's, Li Qiye thought more highly of his disposition. Unfortunately, after Li Qiye emerged from slumber, the Washing Yan Ancient Sect was controlled by Immortal Emperor Mingren's eldest disciple. From then on, the Washing Yan Ancient Sect regarded itself as the orthodox lineage of the Great Dao, and its conduct became sanctimonious.

Li Qiye had always disliked such defenders of orthodoxy who considered themselves the true orthodox line. Thus, from that day onward, Li Qiye never returned to the Washing Yan Ancient Sect, nor did he ever concern himself with its rise and fall!

In this life, he had reclaimed his body and returned to the Washing Yan Ancient Sect! Back then, he had personally nurtured Immortal Emperor Mingren and personally established the Washing Yan Ancient Sect. Today, he would build the Washing Yan Ancient Sect once more. One day, under his hand, the Washing Yan Ancient Sect would sweep across heaven and earth and rule over the Nine Worlds!

Li Qiye stood atop Lone Peak in a daze for a long time, thinking of countless things. He did not even notice Nan Huairen's arrival.

"Senior Brother, the Elders wish to see you." Once Li Qiye came back to himself, Nan Huairen hurriedly said.

Li Qiye nodded and followed Nan Huairen to the Ancestral Hall. All six Elders were present within the Ancestral Hall, and they were all staring at Li Qiye.

For a moment, the atmosphere inside the Ancestral Hall became strange and heavy. Protector Mo had already reported the events of this marriage alliance to the six Elders.

Protector Mo's report was ambiguous. He only mentioned that Li Qiye had passed this assessment, focusing on Li Qiye's passage through the Chaos Heart Forest. As for Li Qiye's duel with Xu Hui, he merely glossed over it. He did not even mention the Snake-Beating Cudgel or the Four Symbols Stone Men. In the end, he claimed that Li Qiye's victory over Xu Hui had been a matter of coincidence and luck!

"You have already passed the assessment?" The Grand Elder stared at Li Qiye and spoke in a deep voice. In truth, the six Elders had not held any hope for this marriage alliance. Yet incredibly, Li Qiye had passed the assessment. Even more incredibly, he had crossed the Chaos Heart Forest.

"In reply to Elder, yes. I believe I should receive my reward now, shouldn't I?" Li Qiye answered calmly and unhurriedly, paying no heed to the strange, oppressive atmosphere.

"There will be a reward, but there are some matters you must explain." The Grand Elder said in a deep voice, "As far as I know, Xu Hui is outstanding among the younger generation of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate. His cultivation can even rival our Hall Masters. You have only just entered our sect and have not yet cultivated Dao techniques, so how could you possibly defeat him?"

"In reply to Elder, Dao techniques are intricate and numerous, while martial techniques are simple and direct. I cultivate the Mystic Gate Saber Technique and walk an unpredictable path. So long as there is the slightest flaw, I can deal the enemy a fatal blow. In a life-and-death struggle, the brave prevail." Li Qiye said lightly.

"Absurd!" Elder Xiong, one of the six Elders, shouted coldly. "A mortal daring to claim he killed an expert of the True Fate Realm—such words are arrogant ignorance!"

Before this, Elder Xiong had appeared to support Li Qiye all along. Yet today, he rebuked Li Qiye coldly and was clearly dissatisfied with his performance. The contrast was immense.

Li Qiye glanced at Elder Xiong. "Elder, what I said is the truth. What others cannot accomplish does not mean I cannot." With that, he looked at the six Elders present and said calmly, "Elders, today I am a meritorious servant of the Washing Yan Ancient Sect. If you suspect me of cheating, Protector Mo witnessed everything firsthand, and the people of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate witnessed it firsthand as well!"

"The Elders all know perfectly well that this marriage alliance was fraught with danger. Going to the Nine Sacred Demon Gate was the same as going to my death. Yet for the honor of the Washing Yan Ancient Sect, though I knew I was walking into death, I still went! Today, I have returned as a meritorious servant, yet the Elders doubt me? Is this how the Washing Yan Ancient Sect treats those who have rendered merit? If so, it truly chills the heart. In the future, who would still be willing to serve the sect or die for it?"

Li Qiye spoke unhurriedly, his voice grave and weighty. "Before this marriage alliance, the Elders made an agreement with me. Could it be that the Elders are regretting it today? If that is the case, then I can only say that joining this sect was a mistake. Our Washing Yan Ancient Sect is an immortal sect with an imperial lineage that has stood for eternity. If the Elders cannot keep their word, then what credibility does our sect have left to speak of?"

"The sect's credibility does not require your accusations!" An Elder shouted angrily in a deep voice.

Li Qiye remained composed in the face of the Elder's anger. Looking at the six Elders, he said, "I risked my life to enter the Nine Sacred Demon Gate and returned with my mission accomplished. If the Elders fulfill the promise made that day, do not doubt a meritorious servant, and give me all the rewards I deserve, then there is no need for me to accuse anyone! If not, then I should accuse you. I traded my life for this." With that, he stared coldly and directly at the six Elders.

"Those words are too severe!" An Elder coughed and said awkwardly.

The Grand Elder also spoke. "Qiye, we do not doubt you. It is merely that this matter is rather strange. Xu Hui's matter can be explained, but regarding the Chaos Heart Forest, we would like to hear your thoughts." As he spoke, his gaze surged as he fixed it upon Li Qiye, as if he wished to see through him.