The Princess Arrives (Part 1)

The Princess Arrives (Part 1)

Li Qiye took Nan Huairen's words for granted. "Of course. Since the words have already left my mouth, why would I change them?"

Nan Huairen and Protector Mo exchanged glances. Nan Huairen even began to stammer. "B-but, she is the successor of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate, the princess of the Ancient Niu Jiang Kingdom."

"So what?" Li Qiye remained calm and unruffled, like an ancient well without a ripple, as though what Nan Huairen had said was not worth mentioning.

Nan Huairen and Protector Mo were speechless for a long while. "So what?" It was easy enough to say, but what kind of arrogance and confidence did that require?

Li Shuangyan, successor of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate, princess of the Ancient Niu Jiang Kingdom, one of the geniuses of this generation—an Imperial Physique, Imperial Wheel, and Sage Fate! What astonishing talent.

Whether in talent or beauty, Li Shuangyan was incomparably outstanding in the present Great Central Region, even throughout the entire Human Emperor Realm! The people in the Great Central Region who wished to marry Li Shuangyan could line up from the east of the Ancient Niu Jiang Kingdom all the way to the south.

Yet Li Qiye did not take such a woman seriously at all. At most, she could only become the Sword Servant by his side. If all the young talents learned of this, who knew how many men would want to kill Li Qiye.

In the end, Nan Huairen and Protector Mo were completely speechless. This was not the first time they had seen Li Qiye's arrogance and confidence. They could only sigh softly. Fortunately, they had not told the six Elders about this, or those six Elders would have been frightened senseless by such words.

"Do the Elders know?" Li Qiye asked Nan Huairen.

Protector Mo shook his head. "We have not reported it to the Elders yet. After notifying you, we will report to them." By now, master and disciple had made their choice. Between the six Elders and Li Qiye, they had chosen Li Qiye!

To outsiders, such a choice would have been utterly inconceivable, but Protector Mo had thought it through.

"Then report it to the Elders." Li Qiye merely nodded, not caring much. In the countless ages he had lived through, such a matter was nothing.

Although everyone valued the Nine Sacred Demon Gate and Li Shuangyan, to Li Qiye, none of it amounted to much. Li Shuangyan might be outstanding, but could she surpass the Ice Feather Immortal Emperor of old?

After leaving Solitary Peak, Protector Mo immediately reported the news to the Grand Elder. Elder Gu, the Grand Elder, could no longer sit still upon hearing it.

"What? Princess Li is coming?" Unlike Li Qiye's calmness, the Grand Elder reacted intensely. The moment he heard the news, he jumped to his feet in excitement!

After receiving Protector Mo's confirmation, the Grand Elder paced back and forth across the room. Clearly, he was inwardly thrilled beyond measure.

Protector Mo secretly sighed. This was the difference. Li Qiye had not taken the news seriously at all, while the Grand Elder treated it with utmost gravity and excitement. Without question, the Elders greatly valued the marriage alliance with the Nine Sacred Demon Gate.

Only after a long while did the Grand Elder finally calm down. He instructed, "Deliver an order to Li Qiye. Tell him to prepare himself and welcome Princess Li in his finest state!"

"Yes." Protector Mo answered, but did not mention that he had already informed Li Qiye beforehand.

"Pass down my order. Notify all Elders, Protectors, and every disciple in the sect to welcome Princess Li with the grandest ceremony. During this time, no one is to make any mistake. Do you understand?" the Grand Elder said gravely.

Protector Mo accepted the order without saying anything. In truth, it was only natural for the Washing Yan Ancient Sect to value its relationship with the Nine Sacred Demon Gate. In the past, Protector Mo would have viewed it the same way.

However, Li Qiye's influence in recent days had changed Protector Mo's views on such matters. Just as Li Qiye saw it, relying on the Nine Sacred Demon Gate could never be a long-term plan! Only strengthening themselves was the true foundation.

Of course, Protector Mo also understood that the current Washing Yan Ancient Sect lacked high-ranking figures capable of standing alone and reviving the sect.

"Did Princess Li mention the marriage alliance between our two sects when she said she was coming?" After arranging all these matters, the Grand Elder could not help asking. He knew that the Washing Yan Ancient Sect had already grown weak over the years. Once the new era began, if it wished to survive, it needed the protection of a powerful existence such as the Nine Sacred Demon Gate!

Therefore, the Grand Elder placed great importance on this marriage alliance. If it succeeded, the Washing Yan Ancient Sect would at least gain another layer of security.

"This..." Protector Mo did not know where to begin. In truth, he had heard some hints from the Elders of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate. If Li Qiye had remained in the Nine Sacred Demon Gate that day, then his matter with Princess Li would certainly have been as sure as nails driven into a board!

"I fear only Her Highness the Princess and the Sun-Turning Demon Emperor know." Protector Mo could only say this. There were some things he could not say too much about.

The Grand Elder took a deep breath and solemnly told Protector Mo, "Pass my order to Li Qiye. During the princess's stay in our sect, he must take excellent care of Her Highness. He absolutely must not let her suffer even the slightest displeasure. Do his utmost to win the princess's favor! If the time is right, have Li Qiye propose to Her Highness! If he can marry the princess, the sect will reward him richly!"

For a moment, Protector Mo did not know how to respond to such instructions. In truth, Li Qiye did not want to marry Li Shuangyan at all. If Li Shuangyan were willing, at most she could only become his Sword Servant! Naturally, he could not tell the Grand Elder this. If the Grand Elder learned what Li Qiye was thinking, he would surely go mad!

"Yes." In the end, Protector Mo could only obey. He would certainly relay the Grand Elder's instructions to Li Qiye, but he knew Li Qiye would definitely dismiss them with a smile.

Overnight, news that Li Shuangyan would be arriving at the Washing Yan Ancient Sect spread throughout the entire sect. For a time, everyone in the Washing Yan Ancient Sect was incomparably excited.

The younger male disciples in particular were beside themselves with excitement. The princess of the Ancient Niu Jiang Kingdom, the successor of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate, peerless in talent and stunning in beauty—even though many younger disciples had never seen Li Shuangyan's true appearance, they had heard her great name.

Even within the Washing Yan Ancient Sect, countless young male disciples had fallen for Li Shuangyan. In the hearts of many, she was a goddess they thought of day and night!

Upon hearing that Li Shuangyan was coming, countless male disciples were set ablaze with excitement. One senior brother muttered fervently, "Fairy Li is truly a peerless beauty of our Great Central Region. Five years ago, I served as an envoy to the Ancient Niu Jiang Kingdom. I only caught a hurried glimpse of her, but Fairy Li was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen!"

"Princess Li's arrival might give me a chance to win her favor!" A junior brother was daydreaming. "In talent and appearance, I am also well-known within the Washing Yan Ancient Sect. If I can win Princess Li's favor, I will soar high and rise in the world from then on. Taking over the Washing Yan Ancient Sect in the future will be no problem!"

For a time, many male disciples became animated. Some even dressed themselves up with great care. In particular, those disciples who had already been considered outstanding in the Washing Yan Ancient Sect dressed themselves splendidly, putting on treasured garments and hanging precious artifacts from their bodies, hoping Princess Li would spare them another glance.

The next day, all the disciples of the Washing Yan Ancient Sect gathered outside the Dao Platform. All six Elders attended in person. Besides them, there were also Protectors and hall masters. So long as they remained within the sect, every Protector and hall master attended this grand occasion!

All the disciples attending the gathering were dressed in their finest. Even the female disciples were adorned as brilliantly as blossoming branches.

Naturally, those able to stand atop the Dao Platform were all high-ranking members of the Washing Yan Ancient Sect. However, besides the upper echelons, two others were qualified to stand upon the Dao Platform as part of the party personally welcoming Li Shuangyan.

One was Li Qiye, one of today's central figures. The other was He Yingjian, hailed as the genius of the Washing Yan Ancient Sect!

He Yingjian was a little over twenty years old. Handsome and spirited, with a lean frame and a confident smile, he indeed carried the bearing of a genius!

He Yingjian was Cao Xiong, the Second Elder's, final disciple. It could be said that he was also Cao Xiong's most talented disciple. He was reputed to be the foremost genius among the third-generation disciples of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate, and the reputation was not undeserved.

He Yingjian had studied under Cao Xiong for twenty years, and he had already entered the Canopy Realm. At his age, reaching the Canopy Realm truly qualified him as a genius within the declining Washing Yan Ancient Sect.

Back then, Cao Xiong, as the Second Elder, had harbored ambitions to contend for the position of sect master. Yet Su Yonghuang had emerged halfway through and denied him the chance to become sect master. Cao Xiong had always held a grudge over this matter.

Now, Su Yonghuang had no successor, and Cao Xiong was putting all his effort into nurturing He Yingjian. He hoped that He Yingjian would ascend to the sect master's throne. Cao Xiong had always wanted He Yingjian to become the Chief Disciple, but Su Yonghuang had refused, and the Grand Elder did not support him either. This had become another hatred lodged in his heart.

Although Li Qiye had now become the Chief Disciple, Cao Xiong did not regard trash with a Mortal Physique, Mortal Meridians, and Mortal Fate as worthy of notice. At Li Qiye's level, he was simply unqualified to contend with Cao Xiong's disciple He Yingjian for the position of sect master!

Therefore, when Li Shuangyan came to the Washing Yan Ancient Sect this time, Cao Xiong had especially instructed his disciple He Yingjian to seize this once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity. If he could win Li Shuangyan's favor, becoming the sect master of the Washing Yan Ancient Sect would be no problem at all. When that time came, neither the Grand Elder nor Su Yonghuang could stop him from ascending to the sect master's position!

Thus, He Yingjian had dressed up especially well today. He wore a treasured robe that exhaled radiant clouds, cloud mist swirling around his flowing-cloud boots. An Eight-Treasure Pendant hung at his waist, faintly ringing with the sound of the Grand Dao. Other precious artifacts also hung from his belt, their imposing light surging skyward.