Sacred Demon Gate (Part One)

Nine Sacred Demon Gate (Part One)

Hall Master Fu led Protector Mo and the other two into a courtyard of middling size. By the standards of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate, it was merely lodging used to receive ordinary guests.

For this marriage alliance, the Nine Sacred Demon Gate had sent only a single hall master to oversee matters, and they had received Protector Mo's group of three according to the standards for ordinary guests. Clearly, they had not taken this matter seriously at all.

After settling Protector Mo's group in, Hall Master Fu exchanged only a few polite words before leaving. His attitude was exceedingly cold. As for Protector Mo, when he had accepted this errand, he had already prepared himself to lose face. There was no anger left in him, only silence.

After Hall Master Fu of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate had settled Protector Mo's group of three, he hurried into the depths of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate's ancestral grounds. Within an ancient hall, he met one of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate's Elders. This Elder sat high in the void, rings of divine light pulsing behind his head. Divine chains of laws wove around his body, his divine might boundless, like a god of an age!

"How is the Washing Yan Ancient Sect's Chief Disciple?" the Elder asked, his voice like thunder. Yet this trembling thunder was confined solely within the ancient hall.

Hall Master Fu, who was quite imposing outside and could have been called a mighty hero, was now merely trembling in fear. Bowing low, he said, "In reply to Elder, he is nothing but an ant—a mere mortal, an ignorant and arrogant junior, not worth mentioning!"

"I understand. Withdraw." The Elder's voice was deep and resounding, thunder rolling through the hall and making people tremble. Even with his eyes closed, he still inspired dread in the heart.

Hall Master Fu did not dare act recklessly. He carefully withdrew, and by the time he left the ancient hall, his entire body was drenched in sweat. As a hall master, he rarely even had the qualifications to seek an audience with an Elder. Even those with the standing of kings and marquises might not be granted a meeting with one!

"To choose a common man with a Mortal Physique, Mortal Meridians, and Mortal Fate as Chief Disciple—the Washing Yan Ancient Sect is beyond saving." After Hall Master Fu departed, the Elder seemed to be speaking to someone.

"What a pity about Immortal Emperor Mingren's Imperial Techniques. It is said that Immortal Emperor Mingren's Heavenly Mandate Secret Arts may still remain within the Washing Yan Ancient Sect." At that moment, a mysterious and imposing voice sounded.

The Elder said, "In reply to Your Majesty the Demon Emperor, so long as Immortal Emperor Mingren's Imperial Techniques remain in the Washing Yan Ancient Sect, given time, we can seize them in one stroke! A bunch of common mortals like those from the Washing Yan Ancient Sect are unworthy of the successor of our Nine Sacred Demon Gate!"

The mysterious voice did not sound again, nor did the Elder speak further. Had outsiders been present, they would likely have been secretly shocked. The Demon Emperor of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate was an incomparably terrifying figure.

Legend had it that the Demon Emperor of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate possessed an extraordinary origin. Under his command, the Nine Sacred Demon Gate shone like the sun at its zenith. The Nine Sacred Demon Gate controlled the vast realm of the Ancient Niu Jiang Kingdom, and no sect dared shake its rule. This was not merely because the Nine Sacred Demon Gate was powerful; its Demon Emperor's contributions were equally indispensable! Within the Ancient Niu Jiang Kingdom, perhaps no one dared challenge the Demon Emperor's divine might!

After Protector Mo's group of three was settled in the small courtyard, Protector Mo shut himself indoors, staying alone in his room, while the smooth and sociable Nan Huairen had no idea where he had slipped off to.

After Li Qiye settled in, he did not waste a single moment. He immediately began rigorously practicing the "Mystic Gate Saber." He understood that the Nine Sacred Demon Gate would absolutely not let him off easily. He had to be prepared.

Li Qiye practiced the saber arts again and again. Every move and every stance had to be executed to the finest possible degree, without the slightest error!

Li Qiye continued practicing over and over. His clothes were soaked through with sweat, then dried, then soaked again. In the end, even his nerves were nearly numb, yet he still continued his arduous training without pause.

Having lived through countless ages, Li Qiye understood better than anyone that comprehending profound truths was one thing, while bringing them to the finest degree was another. Even an unrivaled genius might grasp a peerless immortal art at once, but without repeated, grueling practice, they would still be unable to wield it to the finest degree!

Countless torments, countless hardships, and countless storms had forged in Li Qiye a mindset that pursued perfection and sought the endless!

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh..." The short blades in Li Qiye's hands flew free, dancing gracefully like butterflies. The two curved sabers crossed and flashed with an elusive, ghostly momentum.

Li Qiye had no idea how many times he had practiced this same move. Yet when the two curved sabers flew back into his hands, he ultimately let out a soft sigh. Though the profound truths of the "Mystic Gate Saber" were already clear in his heart, he still could not bring them to the realm of perfection. In his eyes, this move was still short by the slightest fraction of the precise position he desired!

"Excellent saber arts. Senior Brother is truly diligent. Compared to your efforts, I am ashamed of myself." Nan Huairen happened to enter through the door, with a young man beside him.

Seeing Li Qiye train so diligently, Nan Huairen could not help sighing with emotion. His words were indeed sincere. Though he had not thought highly of Li Qiye's aptitude before, seeing Li Qiye work so hard and diligently greatly increased his favorable impression of him.

"Diligence makes up for clumsiness, that is all." Li Qiye retrieved his short sabers. Though drenched in foul-smelling sweat, he remained entirely calm and composed.

Nan Huairen could not help laughing. "I will remember those words, Senior Brother, and take them as encouragement for myself." As he spoke, he introduced the young man beside him to Li Qiye. "This is Senior Brother Zhang of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate, a good friend of mine."

Nan Huairen could not be called a genius in terms of aptitude; he possessed only average talent. Yet unlike his master, Protector Mo, who was taciturn and poor at socializing, Nan Huairen was the exact opposite. He was smooth in all directions, skilled at social graces, and widely connected.

As an outer hall envoy, Nan Huairen had come to the Nine Sacred Demon Gate several times to deliver letters for Elders. Thus, he knew quite a few friends in the Nine Sacred Demon Gate. Naturally, they were no important figures, merely ordinary disciples.

This disciple surnamed Zhang was no important figure in the Nine Sacred Demon Gate either. Yet in his eyes, a mortal like Li Qiye was not worth mentioning. He could not even be bothered to give Li Qiye, an ordinary disciple of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate, a second glance. He merely nodded to Li Qiye out of consideration for Nan Huairen's sake. In his eyes, someone like Li Qiye, who cultivated martial techniques, was utterly insignificant.

"Since this is Senior Brother's first time at the Nine Sacred Demon Gate, why not come take a walk around with us and familiarize yourself with the surroundings?" Nan Huairen invited Li Qiye out of kindness.

Hearing Nan Huairen's words, Li Qiye could not help thinking of certain matters. He smiled. "Very well."

Nan Huairen hurriedly said to the disciple surnamed Zhang, "Brother Zhang, I'll have to trouble you to be our guide this time."

"You are too polite, Brother Nan." The disciple had no choice but to nod. He could not be bothered to give Li Qiye another look. If not for Nan Huairen's sake, he would not even have wanted to walk with Li Qiye!

In truth, as the host, the Nine Sacred Demon Gate should have fulfilled the duties of a host and shown Li Qiye around to familiarize him with the place. Yet the Nine Sacred Demon Gate did not take Li Qiye seriously at all, even dispensing with the most basic courtesies.

If not for the promise made by the Nine Sacred Great Sage in those years, the Nine Sacred Demon Gate would never have acknowledged this marriage alliance today. It was precisely because the Nine Sacred Demon Gate did not wish to form this alliance that they had demanded Li Qiye be tested, hoping to extinguish the Washing Yan Ancient Sect's thoughts of marriage!

As the host, the disciple surnamed Zhang led Nan Huairen and Li Qiye around the various parts of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate! Of course, he had no desire to speak with Li Qiye. He only occasionally chatted with Nan Huairen, treating Li Qiye as though he were transparent.

However, as they walked along the mountain paths of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate, they drew the attention and comments of quite a few disciples. Many disciples of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate cast sidelong glances and whispered among themselves.

"Is that the Washing Yan Ancient Sect's Chief Disciple?" A disciple glanced at Li Qiye from afar. Seeing that he was merely a mortal, the disciple could not help frowning.

Some disciples of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate sneered disdainfully. "The Washing Yan Ancient Sect has already become a third-rate sect. Even an ordinary mortal can become their Chief Disciple—their Chief Disciple must be dirt cheap indeed."

"Pah! A vulgar thing like him thinks he is worthy of marrying Senior Sister Li? That is a toad lusting after swan meat! Why doesn't he piss into a puddle and take a good look at that ugly mug of his?" Another disciple said disdainfully.

The successor of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate, Li Shuangyan, not only possessed peerless talent but unmatched beauty as well. Within the Nine Sacred Demon Gate, no one knew how many young disciples adored her. Looking across the entire Ancient Niu Jiang Kingdom, the outstanding young men wishing to pursue Li Shuangyan could line up from east to west!

"Hmph, a mortal like him thinks he is qualified to call himself Senior Sister Li's fiancé? He is simply dreaming in broad daylight!" Some disciples were filled with indignation, and some even wished they could rush up and spit in Li Qiye's face.

The disciple Zhang, serving as their guide, felt even more awkward. He naturally saw the expressions on his fellow disciples' faces, so he walked faster and faster, leaving Li Qiye far behind as though to declare that this person had nothing to do with him.

As for Li Qiye, he remained as steady as an old god, tranquil and unhurried. He paid no mind to these people at all, carefully taking in every mountain and stream of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate.

"Senior Brother, you should be careful. The successor of the Nine Sacred Demon Gate has countless admirers. Be careful that they do not make trouble for you." Nan Huairen kindly reminded Li Qiye in a low voice.

"It is only a woman. Is it really necessary?" Li Qiye glanced at Nan Huairen and said flatly. He had seen women more stunning and peerless than this; he did not take this so-called fiancée to heart at all. This was merely a trivial matter.

Li Qiye's words frightened Nan Huairen. He hurriedly lowered his voice and said, "Senior Brother, this is the Nine Sacred Demon Gate. Do not act recklessly."

Li Qiye smiled and could not be bothered to say anything else. Since the Nine Sacred Demon Gate intended to test him, then he would also take a look at just how much foundation the Nine Sacred Demon Gate had left!

Before they realized it, Li Qiye's group arrived at the Nine Sacred Demon Gate's dueling grounds, a place that anyone in the sect could enter. The moment they stepped into the dueling grounds, they immediately felt tiny!

The dueling grounds were enormous. Standing in these vast grounds, a person felt incomparably insignificant, like an ant standing upon the boundless earth.

Today's third update is here. While you enjoy reading, please move your mouse and cast the author a precious vote.

For the fastest updates, please bookmark this site to read the latest novels!