Chapter 27: Moon Vortex Sun Wheel Technique (Part 1)
"Pah! To think our Xiyan Ancient Sect would let a shameless, degenerate waste like him become the Chief Disciple. It's an utter disgrace to our sect!" a disciple said resentfully.
Another disciple couldn't help but ask, puzzled, "Didn't he go to the Nine Saints Demon Gate for their assessment? Why is he back so soon?"
"Heh, he must have failed the assessment. A good-for-nothing like him trying to pass the Nine Saints Demon Gate's trial? In his dreams! Him, marry Princess Li of the Ancient Ox Territory? That's a classic case of a toad lusting after a swan's flesh," another disciple sneered.
Of course, the Six Great Elders had yet to announce that Li Qiye had passed the assessment. They were still uncertain of the Nine Saints Demon Gate's stance on the matter. Without the Demon Gate's explicit approval, the elders would never dare announce Li Qiye's betrothal to Li Shuangyan. If Li Shuangyan refused the marriage, it would tarnish her reputation and infuriate the Sun Demon Emperor—an offense that could lead to their sect's utter destruction.
Nan Huairun could, of course, hear the hushed whispers of his fellow disciples. He felt rather awkward, but he couldn't reveal what had truly happened at the Nine Saints Demon Gate.
Li Qiye, on the other hand, the very subject of their gossip, strolled about as if he were in a peaceful courtyard. He seemed completely oblivious to their words, leisurely browsing the Cultivation Technique Secret Manuals on the shelves one by one.
Tiger Roar Technique, Celestial Silkworm Longevity Technique, Fiery Sun Wheel Technique, Iron Bull Emperor Body Technique... The secret manuals were lined up on the shelves. These Cultivation Technique Secret Manuals came in all forms: originals, handwritten scrolls, duplicated copies, and even stone rubbings. There was a wide variety, from Body Techniques to cultivate one's physique, to Longevity Techniques for invigorating one's Blood Qi, and even Life Techniques for attack and defense.
The collection of Cultivation Technique Secret Manuals here was vast and eclectic. The sheer number and variety of these techniques were enough to tell anyone that the Xiyan Ancient Sect once had an incomparably glorious past.
"Some of these Cultivation Technique Secret Manuals were created by the past Elder Sages and Ancestor Masters of our Xiyan Ancient Sect, while others were seized from other sects and lineages," Nan Huairun explained to Li Qiye. "Senior Brother, if you're looking for a Cultivation Technique related to Emperor Techniques, you'll have to go up to the third floor. The techniques on the first floor are the most common ones in the sect; many ordinary disciples can practice them. Only Hall Masters or disciples who have made significant contributions are allowed to practice the techniques on the second floor and above."
Li Qiye was in no hurry to choose a Cultivation Technique. He simply continued to browse through them one by one, for he already had a specific target in mind.
Li Qiye browsed from the first floor all the way to the third. By the time he reached the third floor, he could spot one or two Emperor Techniques, but they were all peripheral variations, not a Core Emperor Technique.
As Li Qiye browsed, he noticed something: the higher the floor, the fewer techniques there were on the shelves. In fact, many shelves were completely empty. Some only bore a nameplate, indicating that a certain Cultivation Technique had once been stored there, but the Secret Manual itself was now gone.
"Surely not all of these missing Cultivation Technique Secret Manuals have been checked out," Li Qiye commented after finishing his survey of the third floor.
Nan Huairun shook his head. "I've heard that our Xiyan Ancient Sect has lost a great many Cultivation Technique Secret Manuals." He glanced around, and seeing that they were the only two on the third floor, he lowered his voice. "My master told me that, in truth, our sect has very, very few Emperor Techniques left. If we have any Core Emperor Techniques at all, there are no more than three. And if those exist, they're probably on the top three floors. If even those floors are empty... then our Xiyan Ancient Sect is an Emperor Immortal Gate in name only."
When Mingren Immortal Emperor bore the Celestial Mandate, he created countless Cultivation Techniques in his lifetime. After becoming an Immortal Emperor, he went on to create Immortal Emperor's Techniques that could commune with heaven and earth, and even authored Heavenly Destiny Secret Skills!
"Were they stolen?" Li Qiye asked. He knew perfectly well how many Emperor Techniques the Xiyan Ancient Sect was supposed to have. Its collection of Cultivation Technique Secret Manuals went far beyond just the Emperor Techniques created by Mingren Immortal Emperor. It also included Emperor Techniques from other lineages that he himself had led raids to plunder back in the day, as well as even older Ancient Techniques. These Ancient Techniques originated from the Desolate Era, some even being Secret Techniques from the Celestial Demon, Blood Race, Stone People, Charm Spirit, and Ancient Netherworld races—from all of the Ten Thousand Races!
"I don't know the specifics," Nan Huairun said in a low voice. "I've heard that fifty thousand years ago, our Xiyan Ancient Sect's invincible genius, an Ancestor Master, was defeated, and a great calamity befell our sect. Then, I heard another story that thirty thousand years ago, a world-shaking event occurred, causing our sect to suffer disastrous losses. There are two main rumors in the sect. One says our Emperor Techniques were sealed away on the top three floors by Shepherd Ancestor. The other claims that thirty thousand years ago, our Xiyan Ancient Sect lost a war against the Holy Heaven Sect, and they plundered a vast number of our Emperor Techniques!"
'Young Emperor Mu?' Hearing Nan Huairun's words, Li Qiye recalled the genius the Xiyan Ancient Sect had produced fifty thousand years ago. 'At the time, something was wrong with my own condition, so I didn't pay close attention to the situation back then.'
"Yes, that's Shepherd Ancestor." At the mention of Young Emperor Mu, Nan Huairun's blood boiled with excitement. He said, "Legend has it that fifty thousand years ago, Shepherd Ancestor was the person from our Xiyan Ancient Sect with the greatest chance of becoming an Immortal Emperor since our founder, Immortal Emperor Ancestor Master Mingren! He was the strongest rival Ta Kong Immortal Emperor faced in his entire life! I heard that..."
"...back when Ancestor Master Mu fought Ta Kong Immortal Emperor for the Celestial Mandate, their record was three wins and three losses! Even a Heaven-Defying prodigy of unparalleled talent like Ta Kong Immortal Emperor was defeated by Ancestor Master Mu's hand three times. In those days, our Xiyan Ancient Sect had arguably reached its most powerful peak since Ancestor Mingren. We swept across the world! Forget the Great Middle Realm, in the entire Human Emperor Realm, no one dared to provoke us..." Nan Huairun was gushing. Young Emperor Mu was the Xiyan Ancient Sect's greatest pride after Mingren Immortal Emperor.
"But in the end, it was Ta Kong Immortal Emperor who bore the Celestial Mandate," Li Qiye stated flatly, unmoved by Nan Huairun's excitement.
Li Qiye's words were like a bucket of cold water dumped on Nan Huairun's head. The gushing disciple instantly deflated. He finally said, his voice full of sorrow, "I heard... I heard that after Ancestor Master Mu's final battle with Ta Kong Immortal Emperor, he was never seen again. Some say he died in battle, others say he passed away in meditation within our sect. Some elders even speculate that Ancestor Master Mu took a large number of the sect's Emperor Techniques and sealed them away on the top three floors."
"Are there no Emperor Techniques on the middle three floors, then?" Li Qiye asked, glancing upwards. The permission he'd received from the elders only allowed him access to the bottom three floors.
Nan Huairun also glanced at the upper floors and shook his head. "My master said he's been up there twice, but you can count the number of Secret Manuals on those floors on two hands."
Li Qiye said nothing, only shaking his head gently. 'The Xiyan Ancient Sect has become unworthy of its name. For an Emperor Immortal Gate to possess so few Emperor Techniques... it can't be called an Emperor Immortal Gate at all. No wonder the sect has fallen into decline.'
In the end, Li Qiye selected a secret manual for attacking enemies and protecting his life from the third floor. Then, from the second floor, he picked one for extending longevity and nourishing his blood. Finally, upon reaching an inconspicuous corner on the bottom floor, Li Qiye pulled out a huge stack of Secret Manuals.
When Nan Huairun saw the pile of Secret Manuals Li Qiye had pulled out from the bottom floor, he counted them—a total of one hundred and twenty volumes. He was left speechless and couldn't help but whisper, "Senior Brother, th-these are Martial Techniques. They're not worth mentioning! Anyone in the sect can read these. Don't you want to choose some other Secret Manuals?"
"I have my own plans," Li Qiye said, shaking his head with an air of complete confidence.
Seeing Li Qiye's confident expression, Nan Huairun said no more and busied himself with helping Li Qiye carry the Secret Manuals to the registration desk.
Before, Nan Huairun would have certainly thought Li Qiye was simply ignorant. For a Cultivator to choose hundreds of volumes of Martial Techniques was to focus on the branches instead of the root. Now, however, Nan Huairun no longer thought that way.
As Li Qiye and Nan Huairun carried the one hundred and twenty volumes of Martial Arts Secret Manuals to the registration desk, all the other disciples present stared at him as if he were an idiot. Even the second-generation disciple in charge of registration looked at Li Qiye like he was some kind of freak.
"The elders' orders state you can choose three Secret Manuals," said a disciple at the desk after examining Li Qiye's Hand Order.
Li Qiye replied in a slow, deliberate manner, "I am aware. I chose one Life Technique and one Longevity Technique. I will not be choosing a third. Huairun mentioned that any disciple of the sect can peruse these Martial Techniques, so I should be able to borrow them, correct?"
The disciples at the desk exchanged glances, then looked to the presiding Guardian. After the Guardian gave his assent, the disciples said nothing more.
One of the disciples at the desk began cataloging the one hundred and twenty manuals Li Qiye had brought over. "Martial Arts General Outline, forty-four volumes. Martial Arts and Miscellaneous Techniques, thirty-six volumes. Iron Skin and Copper Tendons, forty volumes."
As he spoke, the disciple looked at Li Qiye as if he were an idiot. All of these were inferior techniques. Not only could they not compare to proper Daoist Techniques, but even among Martial Techniques, these one hundred and twenty volumes were considered utter trash.
The thick layer of dust covering the one hundred and twenty Martial Arts Secret Manuals made it obvious that no one had bothered to look at them for a very, very long time.
Upon hearing that Li Qiye had actually chosen over one hundred volumes of Martial Techniques, the other disciples in the hall who were borrowing Cultivation Technique Secret Manuals all burst into uproarious laughter.
"What a clueless fool! Even if you mastered every Martial Technique in the world, you'd still be a third-rate nobody!" one disciple said with a scoff.
Another disciple sneered, "Brother Wang, it's called knowing your own limits. For a waste with a Mortal Body, Mortal Wheel, and Mortal Fate, cultivating Daoist Techniques is easier said than done. He probably couldn't even master the most basic Foundation Establishment Heart Method in ten years. So, knowing he can't succeed in Cultivation, he's settling for the next best thing—Martial Techniques!"