Chapter 23: The Nine Saints Princess (Part 1)
As the elders of the Nine Saints Demon Gate were left breathless, Li Qiye said nonchalantly, "Since this matter is settled, have your successor come out and see me. In my eyes, no matter how heaven-defying a genius is, there's no need to be pretentious!"
The elders exchanged glances. A thirteen-year-old boy was speaking such arrogant words. The problem was, when the most arrogant of words came from his mouth, they somehow sounded perfectly natural. It left them speechless.
"Shuang'Er, come meet Young Master Li." Finally, the Sun Demon Emperor issued the imperial command.
When Li Shuangyan, the successor of the Nine Saints Demon Gate, appeared in the Celestial Hall, she was a breathtaking sight—a peerless beauty of her generation who drew endless praise.
She was a young woman of eighteen summers. Her face was a masterpiece, with dark brows like distant mountains and bright eyes like the moon. Her crimson lips were bewitching and utterly captivating. Yet, for a woman with such city-toppling beauty, she was as cold as ice and snow. A hint of frosty arrogance lay between her brows, and her white robes made her resemble a winter plum blossom standing proudly in the snow, her aura pressingly intense.
Li Shuangyan: her name was as frosty as her demeanor. As the successor of the Nine Saints Demon Gate, she could be called the number one beauty of the Ancient Ox Territory. At the same time, Li Shuangyan's talent and Dao Practice were in no way inferior to her looks!
Innate Emperor Body, an Emperor Level Life Wheel, and what was even more moving, a Saint Level Life Palace, also known as a Holy Destiny! A young cultivator with an Emperor Body, Imperial Wheel, and Holy Destiny could be considered a remarkable genius of her generation. Whether it was her physique, innate talent, or comprehension, she was nearly impossible to fault.
For such a Heavenly Pride Girl to be unwilling to marry Li Qiye—the Chief Disciple of the Xiyan Ancient Sect who possessed a mere Mortal Body, Mortal Wheel, and Mortal Life—was only natural. What's more, the Xiyan Ancient Sect of today had already fallen into decline.
Li Qiye showed little surprise at Li Shuangyan's peerless beauty and proud talent. Having drifted through millions of years and experienced endless ages, he had seen far too many beautiful women. In terms of talent and looks, since the dawn of time, how many women could ever compare to the likes of Sleeve Water Immortal Emperor or Bingyu Immortal Emperor?
"Not bad." Li Qiye gave a slight nod after looking at Li Shuangyan.
Li Qiye's first words had actually given Li Shuangyan a sliver of a good impression. His next words, however, sent her into a rage. After that single glance, Li Qiye didn't bother with a second. He calmly said, "You're not quite good enough to be my wife. A Holy Destiny is indeed decent aptitude. I happen to be missing a Sword Attendant. You can be my Sword Attendant!"
"You—!" At Li Qiye's words, it wasn't just Li Shuangyan who was about to erupt; even the other elders of the Nine Saints Demon Gate couldn't keep a straight face. Li Shuangyan wasn't just their successor, she was the pride of their sect. The entire Nine Saints Demon Gate had immense expectations for her! And now, Li Qiye had the audacity to suggest she become his maid? This was an utter insult.
Before the elders and Li Shuangyan could explode, Li Qiye spoke again, unhurriedly. "I won't force you. Give it some thought. If you're willing, come find me at the Xiyan Ancient Sect." He glanced at Li Shuangyan one more time as he finished.
Li Shuangyan trembled with rage. She was a Heavenly Pride Girl, a favored daughter of the heavens with every right to be proud. With her looks and strength, she was the center of attention wherever she went, surrounded by admirers. The young, talented men who wished to marry her could form a line from the eastern to the western border of the Ancient Ox Territory.
And today, a thirteen-year-old brat who hadn't even finished puberty dared to make such an outrageous proposal—that she become his maid? A thirteen-year-old boy might seem cute to some, but right now, in Li Shuangyan's eyes, Li Qiye was as detestable as could be. He was utterly repulsive!
"You are too impudent!" an elder from the Nine Saints Demon Gate roared in a low voice. Their successor was only fit to be a maid for a thirteen-year-old brat? This was too arrogant! It was a slap in the face to the Nine Saints Demon Gate!
"Opportunities must be earned. I have given you this chance. Whether you can seize this fortune is up to your own creation." Li Qiye didn't even seem to hear the elder's words. He gave Li Shuangyan one last look, then turned and walked away.
Li Shuangyan's frosty face flushed red with anger, her chest heaving. She had met arrogant people before, but she had never met anyone as arrogant as Li Qiye. What was worse, he was just a thirteen-year-old brat! She was a full five years older than him, yet this little pipsqueak was speaking to her with the condescending air of an elder! It was infuriating! Everyone said children were cute, but to Li Shuangyan today, Li Qiye was the most detestable child in the world!
"Your Majesty, he has humiliated our Nine Saints Demon Gate! We absolutely cannot let him off lightly!" an elder said indignantly.
However, the Sun Demon Emperor remained silent for a long time before his voice finally rang out, "A True Dragon will eventually soar through the Nine Heavens, and a Divine Phoenix will one day sweep across the Eight Desolations! Whether he is a dragon or a phoenix, we shall wait and see."
When Li Qiye returned to his quarters, Nan Huairun scurried over and asked anxiously, "Senior Brother, you... how did it go with Princess Li's marriage?"
In fact, even Guardian Mo was staring intently at Li Qiye. Seeing how seriously the Nine Saints Demon Gate was taking Li Qiye, and now that he had passed their test, they both felt there was still a chance for the marriage between him and Li Shuangyan.
They believed the Nine Saints Demon Gate's solemn invitation today was to discuss the marriage to Li Shuangyan.
"Marriage?" Li Qiye glanced leisurely at Nan Huairun. "I never said I would marry her. If she's willing, I can take her as a maid."
"A... a... a—a maid!" Nan Huairun stammered, unable to form a complete sentence. In the end, he was simply stunned speechless by those words.
It wasn't just Nan Huairun; even Guardian Mo was struck dumb.
Who was Li Shuangyan? She was the successor of the Nine Saints Demon Gate, a Heavenly Pride Girl of her generation, and a princess of the Ancient Ox Territory! Though young, she was famous throughout the Great Middle Realm, with countless suitors.
A Heavenly Pride Girl like her... countless young, talented heroes dreamed of marrying her and couldn't. Yet today, Li Qiye had the audacity to say he would take her as a maid. No one else would even dare to think of such a thing!
"You... you haven't lost your mind, have you?" In the past, Guardian Mo would have certainly reprimanded Li Qiye. But now, he felt he'd lost all seniority before this thirteen-year-old boy. The youth was just too uncanny. Thus, Guardian Mo didn't dare to scold him with the authority of an elder.
"She's just a woman. What's all the fuss about?" Li Qiye didn't care in the slightest, offering only that one sentence. 'Li Shuangyan may be worth cultivating,' he thought, 'but she's a far cry from the Bingyu Immortal Emperor of old!'
Li Qiye's arrogant words left Nan Huairun and Guardian Mo speechless for a long time. Nan Huairun was completely dumbfounded. Li Shuangyan, the Divine Maiden of countless people's dreams, was only fit to be a maid in Li Qiye's eyes.
Nan Huairun couldn't help but stare at Li Qiye as if he were a monster. He couldn't see through him at all. Where did a thirteen-year-old boy, so much younger than himself, get this kind of confidence!
In the end, Li Qiye performed the blood pact with the Four Symbols Stone Man. With this matter concluded, his trip could be considered a perfect success, so he began the journey back to the Xiyan Ancient Sect.
During this time, neither the elders of the Nine Saints Demon Gate nor their successor, Li Shuangyan, made another appearance. As for what she planned to do, Li Qiye couldn't care less.
"When we go back... wh-what should I report?" As they were about to depart for the Xiyan Ancient Sect, Guardian Mo hesitated before asking Li Qiye.
Li Qiye looked at Guardian Mo and smiled leisurely. "That depends on the choice you make. Will you stand with me, or will you stand with the elders?"
Li Qiye's words sent a jolt through Guardian Mo's heart. Though spoken calmly, their meaning was profound. Guardian Mo was no idiot; one doesn't become a Guardian without seeing a thing or two.
At this, Nan Huairun couldn't help but look at his master. As for Nan Huairun, he was even more perceptive. He was resourceful and socially adept, far better than his master at reading people's intentions.
In that instant, Nan Huairun understood. It wasn't just him; he and his master were both standing at a crossroads. Li Qiye's words meant one of two things: either they pledge their allegiance to him, or they remain on the side of the Six Great Elders.
One was a Hall Envoy of the Outer Hall, the other a Guardian. Neither held a low rank or status in the Xiyan Ancient Sect. This was especially true for Guardian Mo; his position was self-evident as one of the twelve Guardians, second only to the Six Great Elders! For a Guardian to pledge allegiance to a newly initiated disciple... it sounded utterly absurd.
Guardian Mo remained silent, but in that moment, Nan Huairun felt as if he had grasped a sliver of light. It was as if a door had suddenly swung open before his eyes.
"Master." Nan Huairun took a deep breath and quietly called out to Guardian Mo.
Guardian Mo's heart trembled. Nan Huairun was his disciple; how could he not understand him? But this whole affair sounded so unreliable. He, a dignified Guardian, pledging himself to a new disciple? It was too ridiculous. He would have to be crazy!
"Just say the word, and I will do as you ask!" Finally, Guardian Mo took a deep breath. He had made the most important choice of his life—a choice of extraordinary significance!
At this moment, Guardian Mo felt he really had gone mad. He was a dignified Guardian whose own master was one of the Six Great Elders, yet he was siding with a new disciple and concealing what had happened here…
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