Ad copy

Chapter 1: Three Ghosts Master (Part 1) SPLASH— With a sound, Li Qiye, who had been floating in the river, was fished out. "Ah!" Li Qiye cried out as he was jolted awake by a sharp pinch to his philtrum. His first reaction upon waking was to leap up. The sudden movement made him feel unaccustomed to his own body; he staggered and nearly fell. "My… my body!" Looking down, he saw his body was completely intact. Li Qiye was both shocked and overjoyed. After being the Yin Ya for millions of years, he had finally reclaimed his own body. Even for someone like him, who had endured countless hardships and weathered infinite storms, the excitement of the moment was overwhelming. Finally, Li Qiye took a deep breath. Looking up, he saw an old man standing before him. "Hee, hee, hee. It was I, this old man, who pulled you from the river," the old man said with a grin. As he spoke, he revealed a set of large, yellowed teeth—with only three remaining. His smile was as lecherous as a smile could be. Li Qiye's gaze followed the river, and in the distance, he could faintly make out the silhouette of the Immortal Demon Cave. At the sight of the Immortal Demon Cave, the expression on his thirteen-year-old face instantly turned cold. An aura that belied his years faintly radiated from him. Li Qiye took another deep breath and looked at the old man. After a long moment, he asked, "What should I call you?" "Three Ghosts Master, of the Xiyan Ancient Sect," the old man said with a lecherous grin, his mouth hanging open to reveal his three yellowed teeth as drool trickled down. "The Xiyan Ancient Sect…" Li Qiye murmured, the name stirring up his dust-covered memories. He had been trapped in the body of the Yin Ya for millions of years. "Who holds the Celestial Mandate now?" Li Qiye asked, snapping back to the present. "Celestial Mandate? No one has been able to carry the Celestial Mandate yet," Three Ghosts Master said with a grin. "What about Immortal Emperor Ta Kong?" Hearing this, Li Qiye's expression changed slightly. 'Did my slumber this time last for hundreds of thousands of years?' "Immortal Emperor Ta Kong went missing thirty thousand years ago," Three Ghosts Master said, still grinning lecherously as he showed off his three yellowed teeth. "And the Black Dragon King of Heavenly Sea City?" Li Qiye asked again. Three Ghosts Master shook his head. "No one knows. The Black Dragon King also disappeared thirty thousand years ago." Hearing this, Li Qiye's expression changed drastically. He looked up again at the distant, hazy silhouette of the Immortal Demon Cave. At that moment, he understood why he had gotten his body back. "We're leaving." Li Qiye's face darkened. He turned and walked away, not caring if Three Ghosts Master followed. Having lived for countless eons and experienced endless suffering, he already knew what he had to do. Heavenly Sea City was the most powerful and invincible lineage of the current era. Back when the Black Dragon King was still alive, he had looked down upon the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, unrivaled by all! Respected by three generations! Although the Black Dragon King had been missing for thirty thousand years, Heavenly Sea City still stood proudly between heaven and earth like a colossal behemoth. Outside Heavenly Sea City, there was a boy who looked to be about thirteen and an incredibly lecherous-looking old man who revealed three yellowed teeth every time he opened his mouth. Outside the city gates, Li Qiye silently burned paper money, saying quietly in his heart, 'Little Black, you can rest in peace. In this life, you helped me get my body back. One day, I will stomp out the Evil Realm and avenge you!' Finally, Li Qiye raised his head and gazed at the behemoth that was Heavenly Sea City. The scenery was the same, but the people were gone; everything had become unfamiliar. He recalled how, back in the day, the rise of this Sea City was the result of his and Little Black's efforts, year after year! Unfortunately, after thirty thousand years, who would know of the Yin Ya who once hid behind the curtains? "Hee, let's go back to the Xiyan Ancient Sect." At this moment, Three Ghosts Master popped up again, his three yellowed teeth filling Li Qiye's vision. "Let's go," Li Qiye said, nodding calmly. No matter how mysteriously Three Ghosts Master appeared and disappeared, and no matter his origins, it wasn't enough to surprise Li Qiye. After enduring endless hardships, being trapped inside the Yin Ya's body for millions of years, living through one era after another, accompanying Immortal Emperors, and journeying with the Medicine God—what else could possibly surprise him? Not long after Li Qiye and the old man left, a peerlessly elegant woman emerged from Heavenly Sea City, appearing like a Bi Bo Fairy, a Hanhai Goddess. As she stepped out of the city gates to begin a long journey, her eyes happened to catch a corner of a burnt piece of paper money near the city wall. On this corner, a symbol was faintly visible. Upon seeing this symbol, the Divine Maiden's expression changed drastically. She asked in a low voice, "Who was just burning paper money here?" An old servant by her side quickly found the answer and reported, "According to the guards, an old man and a boy of thirteen or fourteen were burning paper money here a short while ago." "Find them for me!" the Divine Maiden immediately ordered in a deep voice. "Your Highness, but what about your trip to the Divine Mountain?" the old servant couldn't help but ask. "Pursue them!" As the word left the Divine Maiden's lips, she herself had already shot across the sky in pursuit. In the end, the Divine Maiden failed to find the people who burned the paper money. Back in Heavenly Sea City, she remained silent for a long time. That symbol hadn't appeared in Heavenly Sea City for a very, very long time. Why had it reappeared after tens of thousands of years? Was it friend or foe? "Reporting to Your Highness, we could not find the ones who were burning the paper money," the loyal old servant finally reported. "Pass down my orders. Have everyone keep an eye out for these two. Do it discreetly. Report to me immediately the moment you have news," the Divine Maiden said in a low voice. Her words startled the old servant. Their Heavenly Sea City held sway over the entire era, and their Highness, the Sea Suppressing Goddess, was a world-renowned figure. It was rare to see her with such a grave expression. "The Divine Mountain…" the old servant began, hesitating. "Cancel it," the Divine Maiden said in a low, firm voice. "I need to look through the ancient records left by our ancestors. There is something strange about this matter!" With that, she entered the deepest Forbidden Land of Heavenly Sea City. The Xiyan Ancient Sect was located within the territory of the Treasure Sacred Upper Country. It was a lineage with a long and storied history, an Immortal Sect Emperor Lineage. In the early years of the Age of Emperors, the great Mingren Immortal Emperor, who looked down upon the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, founded the sect here, naming it the Xiyan Ancient Sect. Unfortunately, millions of years had passed, and times had changed. The Xiyan Ancient Sect was no longer the Immortal Sect Emperor Lineage that had dominated the Eight Desolations. After countless years, the Xiyan Ancient Sect had begun to decline. Although it had seen periods of resurgence, it was still unable to reverse its downward spiral. "Elder, this is bad! A mortal has come to the sect, demanding to be our prime disciple!" One day, just as the Great Elder of the Xiyan Ancient Sect was starting his morning, a disciple rushed in to report. "Throw him off the mountain!" the Great Elder said without even a glance. "Do you need to report such a trivial matter?" A mortal, wanting to be the prime disciple of the Xiyan Ancient Sect? What kind of joke was this? The position of prime disciple held a special significance; it was another name for the Sect Leader's successor. The prime disciple would often become the next Sect Leader. Although the Sect Leader was not in the sect at the moment, this was still a decision the elders could make. "B-but… he… he was recommended by Three Ghosts Master," the disciple stammered. "Three Ghosts Master?" The Great Elder shot him a sidelong glance. "Don't tell me he scrounged a drink off someone and promised them a favor in return, did he?" Three Ghosts Master. Yes, he was indeed a member of the Xiyan Ancient Sect, but the sect was more than unwilling to admit it. The name Three Ghosts Master might sound impressive, but it brought no honor to the elders of the Xiyan Ancient Sect. The "Three" in his name referred to his three great vices: greed, gambling, and whoring. Since he styled himself as a "Master," people had mockingly given him the title. Three Ghosts Master had barely cultivated any techniques in his life, yet he had a significant background in the Xiyan Ancient Sect. Rumor had it that he was the illegitimate son of the previous Sect Leader. That was why, on his deathbed, the previous Sect Leader had instructed the current one to take good care of Three Ghosts Master. Other rumors suggested that Three Ghosts Master was actually the illegitimate son of the Sect Leader from two generations ago. Because that Sect Leader had done a great service for the previous one, the previous Sect Leader took the fall and looked after Three Ghosts Master his whole life. When the previous Sect Leader passed away, he also instructed the current Sect Leader to take care of him. Regardless of whose illegitimate son he was, his ignominious origin was a topic the upper echelons of the Xiyan Ancient Sect were unwilling to investigate deeply or speak of to outsiders. Thus, for a man so greedy, prone to gambling, and lecherous, yet possessing so little Dao Practice, neither the elders nor the disciples of the Xiyan Ancient Sect had any fondness for him. "So what if Three Ghosts Master recommended him? Throw him off the mountain!" The Great Elder was in no mood; hearing that name so early in the morning had already ruined his day. "B-b-but… he… he… he has Three Ghosts Master's Xiyan Ancient Order," the disciple stammered. "The Xiyan Ancient Order!" Upon hearing these words, the Great Elder's expression changed. He pondered for a good while before giving his command, "Summon the other elders. Have the mortal wait in the Grand Hall!" The Xiyan Ancient Sect had a total of six elders. When the other five heard the words "Xiyan Ancient Order," their expressions all changed, and they had no choice but to attend. The Xiyan Ancient Order was one of three such Ancient Orders left behind by the Primordial Ancestor of the Xiyan Ancient Sect, Mingren Immortal Emperor. The other two had been recovered long ago, but for some unknown reason, the final one had fallen into the hands of Three Ghosts Master. Besides the previous Sect Leader's dying wish, there was another reason why Three Ghosts Master could remain at the Xiyan Ancient Sect and why the elders were powerless against him: he held a Xiyan Ancient Order in his hand. The bearer of this order was to be treated as if Mingren Immortal Emperor himself had arrived. The bearer of this order could make one request of the Xiyan Ancient Sect. Sitting in the Grand Hall of the Xiyan Ancient Sect, Li Qiye gazed at the ancient hall and the statue at its head, which was blurred by eons of incense smoke. Once again, he found himself lost in dust-covered memories of the past. The statue enshrined at the head of the Grand Hall was that of Mingren Immortal Emperor. Despite the passage of countless years, the hazy sculpture still radiated an ancient, divine power that soared to the Nine Heavens, spontaneously inspiring a desire to worship. Looking at the statue, Li Qiye was filled with a mixture of emotions. So many years had passed. Mingren Immortal Emperor was no longer in this world, yet he himself had lived through one era after another. Today, he had finally reclaimed his body as he had wished, but how many legendary figures had vanished into the mists of time? Chapter 2: Three Ghosts Master (Part 2) Back in those days, when the Ancient Nether Era ended and the Age of Emperors had just begun, his soul was trapped within the Yin Ya. After countless years of effort, he had managed to temporarily escape the control of the Immortal Demon Cave. Back in those days, when he first met Mingren Immortal Emperor, Mingren was just a young man who had yet to come into contact with the Great Dao—a kind-hearted and chivalrous boy who loved martial arts! Back in those days, it was he who had led Mingren Immortal Emperor into the world of Cultivators. Alas, millions of years had passed in a flash, and the invincible figures of that era had long since vanished like smoke. When Li Qiye's gaze fell upon a charcoal-black wooden stick beside the incense burner at the foot of the statue, he couldn't help but be surprised. A smile then curled his lips. After all this time, he never thought this stick would still be here. He recalled how he used to beat that group of youngsters until they howled in pain. How full of vigor and ambition those boys had been back then... At that moment, the Six Great Elders of the Xiyan Ancient Sect filed in. Though they were no longer young, their Blood Qi surged like rainbows. Each elder exuded a sharp and imposing aura, their bodies shimmering with the glow of treasures. Although the Xiyan Ancient Sect had declined, it was, after all, an Immortal Sect Emperor Lineage. If its elders were willing to accept a title from the Treasure Sacred Upper Country, they could likely be ennobled as Heroic Heroes! The Six Great Elders fixed their piercing gazes on Li Qiye. Yet, faced with their astonishing auras and sharp stares, Li Qiye remained perfectly calm and composed, sitting there peacefully. "Where is the Xiyan Ancient Order?" the Great Elder finally asked, his voice deep and cold. For the Xiyan Ancient Sect, the Xiyan Ancient Order was a matter of utmost importance. It was an artifact left behind by their founder, Mingren Immortal Emperor. Li Qiye slowly opened his palm, revealing a simple, ancient token. When the Three Ghosts Master had dropped him off at the town below the Xiyan Ancient Sect, Li Qiye never imagined the man would immediately dive headfirst into the Cuihong House. Just before leaving, the Three Ghosts Master had tossed him a Xiyan Ancient Order. In truth, Li Qiye hadn't expected the Three Ghosts Master to possess a Xiyan Ancient Order at all. Back then, after Mingren Immortal Emperor shouldered the Celestial Mandate, even though Li Qiye was still just the Yin Ya, the emperor had gifted him three Xiyan Ancient Orders. Later, Li Qiye had given those three Ancient Orders away to others! Seeing this order again after millions of years filled Li Qiye with emotion. He hadn't needed it back then, yet today, he found himself having to use this Xiyan Ancient Order. The Six Great Elders examined the Xiyan Ancient Order carefully. After confirming that it was indeed authentic, the six elders couldn't help but exchange a glance. In fact, the Xiyan Ancient Sect had long wanted to retrieve this Ancient Order. They had tried numerous methods to get it back from the Three Ghosts Master, but he knew the order was his protective talisman and refused to return it. To think that today, the Three Ghosts Master would give this Ancient Order to a nameless mortal. "Where is the Three Ghosts Master?" the Great Elder asked coldly. He had never looked kindly upon this money-loving, gambling, whoring Three Ghosts Master. Even if he really was the previous Sect Leader's illegitimate son, the Great Elder held nothing but contempt for him! "He went to Cuihong House," Li Qiye replied calmly. His words made the Six Great Elders flush with embarrassment. Although they refused to acknowledge the Three Ghosts Master as a member of the Xiyan Ancient Sect, he was, in fact, one of their own. Of course, the Six Great Elders knew what kind of place Cuihong House was—it was the most famous and largest brothel for a thousand miles around! This wasn't the first time something like this had happened, nor was it the Three Ghosts Master's first visit to Cuihong House! The Six Great Elders were utterly frustrated; they wished the Xiyan Ancient Sect could be rid of such a libertine whoremonger! "What is your demand!" another elder said in a low voice. They didn't know how Li Qiye had convinced the Three Ghosts Master to give him the Xiyan Ancient Order, but the token before them was undeniably authentic. "I hear the position of Chief Disciple of the Xiyan Ancient Sect is still vacant. The Three Ghosts Master also strongly recommended me for the role. Therefore, I wish to become the Chief Disciple of the Xiyan Ancient Sect," Li Qiye said slowly. His words instantly darkened the expressions of the Six Great Elders. 'Since when is a whoremonger like the Three Ghosts Master qualified to recommend a Chief Disciple for the Xiyan Ancient Sect? Besides, the selection of the Chief Disciple has always been an extremely cautious process; otherwise, the position wouldn't have remained vacant for so long.' "The position of Chief Disciple is no laughing matter!" one of the elders said coldly. "I know," Li Qiye said calmly. "But the holder of the Xiyan Ancient Order is entitled to one request. This was a rule established by your founder, Mingren Immortal Emperor." "The origins of that Ancient Order in your hands may not be legitimate," the Great Elder said coldly. 'The position of Chief Disciple is a matter of great importance; how can it be treated so lightly?' Li Qiye was not surprised. He said unhurriedly, "I understand. You elders fear I might have stolen it from the Three Ghosts Master. If you don't believe me, you can send someone to Cuihong House to confirm." Hearing the two words "Cuihong House," the six elders' faces immediately darkened, but they still sent a disciple to verify his story. Soon, the disciple returned and confirmed that the Three Ghosts Master had indeed given the Xiyan Ancient Order to Li Qiye voluntarily. Of course, the disciple omitted the details of the Three Ghosts Master's merry-making at Cuihong House; otherwise, the Six Great Elders' expressions would have become even fouler. The Six Great Elders were extremely reluctant to acknowledge the Xiyan Ancient Order in Li Qiye's hands. However, the ancestor's decree could not be defied. The Xiyan Ancient Sect was, after all, an Immortal Sect Emperor Lineage; even in decline, they could not afford such a loss of face. "Bring the True Mirror." The Xiyan Ancient Order was genuine, leaving the Six Great Elders no recourse. The Great Elder had no choice but to say coldly, Soon, a disciple brought the True Mirror and aimed its light at Li Qiye. Any mortal wishing to join a sect for cultivation must be illuminated by the sect's True Mirror to observe their physique, Life Wheel, and Life Palace. Within the True Mirror, Li Qiye's reflection appeared. It was hazy and flickering, like a candle flame that could be extinguished at any moment. Behind the reflection's head was a faint halo of blood-colored light, and within its forehead was a faint ball of light, but both the blood-light and the ball of light were blurry and indistinct. "Physique: Mortal Body. Life Wheel: Mortal Wheel. Life Palace: Mortal Life." After inspecting Li Qiye's physique, Life Wheel, and Life Palace, the disciple announced the results. Every person possesses a physique, a Life Wheel, and a Life Palace. The physique directly relates to the body's strength, the Life Wheel determines the length of one's lifespan, and the Life Palace is linked to the quality of one's talent! Seeing that Li Qiye had a Mortal Body, a Mortal Wheel, and a Mortal Life left the Six Great Elders speechless. Such a physique, such a Life Wheel, and such a Life Palace were a dime a dozen in the mortal world. Any random person would have these same qualities! "The Chief Disciple of the Xiyan Ancient Sect, let alone someone with an Emperor Body or a Sacred Body, must at the very least possess an Innate Body. The same goes for the Life Wheel. Your qualifications are not suitable for becoming the Chief Disciple," the Great Elder said coldly. "I know," Li Qiye said, not at all surprised. He continued unhurriedly, "My condition is to become the Chief Disciple!" "You—!" Li Qiye's words instantly enraged the other elders. 'Someone with his kind of physique can't possibly become the Chief Disciple! He doesn't even meet the minimum requirements to join the Xiyan Ancient Sect, yet now he wants to be the Chief Disciple? How could they not be furious?' "I trust that the descendants of Mingren Immortal Emperor would not dare to defy their ancestor's decree and commit such a treacherous act, would they?" Li Qiye said slowly, holding out the Xiyan Ancient Order. "If this order were to fall into someone else's hands, the consequences would be unimaginable." The faces of the Six Great Elders turned ugly. The Great Elder said coldly, "Even so, the Chief Disciple of the Xiyan Ancient Sect, regardless of origin or background, must undergo a thorough investigation! Otherwise, it is impossible to become the Chief Disciple!" "That is your business," Li Qiye said calmly, looking at the Six Great Elders. "Besides, if you think I was sent by another sect to steal your Immortal Emperor's legacy, then I wouldn't need to become the Chief Disciple. With this order, I could directly demand your secret manuals. You should know this better than I do! With this order in hand, if I truly wished to harm the Xiyan Ancient Sect, it would not be difficult!" Li Qiye's words made the Six Great Elders exchange another glance, but in their hearts, they still didn't trust him. "He has a point," Elder Xiong, one of the Six Great Elders, mused. "Leaving the Xiyan Ancient Order out in the world is a hidden danger to our sect. We cannot refuse the holder's request. Why don't we just settle this now?" "Hmph! This matter cannot be taken lightly!" the Great Elder said coldly. "Historically, the Chief Disciple has always been the Sect Leader's Direct Disciple. Whether this goes forward or not, perhaps we should ask for the Sect Leader's opinion," another elder mused. "That makes sense. After all, the position is for the Sect Leader's Direct Disciple," another elder agreed. "Send a message to the Sect Leader." After a brief discussion, the Great Elder finally commanded in a cold voice. The Six Great Elders sent a message to the Sect Leader, Su Yonghuang, who was currently away. They didn't expect a reply so quickly, but what they expected even less was that the Sect Leader would actually agree to let Li Qiye become the Chief Disciple. "The Sect Leader is muddled! This is absurd!" The Great Elder read the message three times to be certain. He was extremely displeased and couldn't help but shout in a low voice. "Brother Gu, since the Sect Leader has already agreed, what more can we say? After all, the Chief Disciple is the Sect Leader's Direct Disciple. You could say it's the Sect Leader's decision to make," Elder Xiong reasoned. "The Sect Leader must be confused," an elder sighed and shook his head. Elder Xiong gave a wry smile and shook his head. "What other choice do we have? At least we can retrieve the Xiyan Ancient Order. That in itself is a great service to the sect!" Chapter 3: The Xiyan Ancient Sect (Part 1) "In three days, you will pay respects to the patriarchs. After that, you will be the Xiyan Ancient Sect's Chief Disciple," the Great Elder finally announced, his voice cold and dripping with dissatisfaction. Li Qiye, who was seated, showed no surprise at this outcome. He simply smiled calmly and said, "Since I am the Chief Disciple, shouldn't I have a weapon or two for self-defense?" Another elder found Li Qiye's composure odd. The boy was only about thirteen, yet he was as calm and composed as a lord governing his domain. This aura didn't seem feigned, yet it was impossible for a Mortal like him to possess such a commanding presence. The elder glanced at Li Qiye, then shook his head. "Though you are now the Chief Disciple, we can give you an ordinary weapon or two. But if you're thinking of treasures, you're dreaming. If you want powerful Treasure Artifacts or Immortal Emperor's Techniques, you must first make sufficient contributions to the Xiyan Ancient Sect. That is the rule of our sect." Li Qiye chuckled. His targets were certainly not Immortal Emperor's Techniques or World-Extinct Ancient Techniques. His gaze fell upon a charcoal-black wooden stick beside the incense burner. "Very well," he said. "How about I take that stick?" "That stick?" Hearing Li Qiye's request, the other elders were stunned. The stick beside the incense burner was just a poker, used to stir the ashes when burning paper money for the sect's patriarchs. It seemed like it had always been there, and being just a stick, no one had ever been interested in it. The elders present had assumed Li Qiye would leverage his status as Chief Disciple to demand some valuable treasure or an Emperor Technique. They never imagined he would actually ask for a stick. This was completely beyond their expectations! Li Qiye spoke in a leisurely tone. "As the Chief Disciple, my identity and status within the Xiyan Ancient Sect carry significant weight, representing excellence and a long, venerable history. This wooden stick comes from within this Grand Hall, which is our Xiyan Ancient Sect's Ancestral Hall, a place of extraordinary meaning. By that logic, the origin of this stick is also nothing short of extraordinary. It represents the authority of our sect and is thus perfectly suited to my status as Chief Disciple…" Li Qiye went on and on, spewing a torrent of grand pronouncements. Elder Xiong and the others simply stared at him as if he were an idiot. At that moment, they shared a single thought: 'Perhaps only a gambling degenerate like Three Ghosts Master could stand the company of an idiot like Li Qiye. Birds of a feather, indeed!' "Fine, the stick is yours," the Great Elder cut in impatiently. To him, it was just a Fire-Burning Staff, hardly worth mentioning. He couldn't be bothered to listen to another second of Li Qiye's foolish, incessant rambling. "Excellent. My thanks to the elder for this gift." These were the words Li Qiye had been waiting for. He snatched up the stick and tucked it into his belt. To the elders watching, this action made him look like a complete fool. "Huairun, take him to his quarters!" one of the elders finally snapped, impatiently ordering a nearby disciple to get Li Qiye out of his sight. For the six elders, the day's events couldn't have been more infuriating. A good-for-nothing had somehow become the Chief Disciple of the Xiyan Ancient Sect. Although their sect was no longer what it once was, it hadn't fallen so far as to let a useless fool become its Chief Disciple! A disciple from the Xiyan Ancient Sect led Li Qiye to a solitary peak. The peak was not particularly small—its summit spanned more than a dozen mu of land, upon which sat a small courtyard. The small courtyard was clearly in a state of disrepair, overgrown with weeds and tangled vines. Though this solitary peak was in a relatively remote part of the Xiyan Ancient Sect, it was still within the Sect Territory. Opening the gate to the courtyard, the disciple said to Li Qiye, "Junior Bro— no, Senior Brother, you will be living here from now on." The disciple was quite quick to correct himself. In terms of time spent in the sect, Li Qiye couldn't compare to him. However, Li Qiye was now the Chief Disciple. Therefore, according to the hierarchy, all third-generation disciples, regardless of age, had to address Li Qiye as "Senior Brother." Li Qiye glanced at the disciple who had corrected himself so quickly, then surveyed the surroundings. He wasn't picky. "A solitary mountain with a distant view," he nodded, "this is a good place as well." "Coincidentally, this peak is named Solitary Peak," the disciple said with a smile. He couldn't help but steal a few more glances at Li Qiye before giving a dry laugh. "Senior Brother will move to one of the main peaks in the future." In reality, according to the rules of the Xiyan Ancient Sect, the Chief Disciple was, of course, qualified to live on a main peak. The sect had many main peaks, and the Chief Disciple was entitled to choose any one of them as their residence. However, all the major peaks of the Xiyan Ancient Sect were currently occupied. Furthermore, the Six Great Elders were deeply dissatisfied with a Chief Disciple like Li Qiye, who they felt had undeservedly stumbled into the position. Naturally, they wouldn't let him reside on a main peak. Residing on a main peak offered many benefits, the greatest of which was that the Heaven and Earth Essence Qi was far denser there than on the lesser, subsidiary peaks. "This place will do," Li Qiye said with composure. He was not one to be picky about such matters, his expression as placid as an untouched well. "I've already brought the items you'll need, Senior Brother." The disciple handled matters with practiced ease and thoughtfulness. He gave Li Qiye the daily necessities and said, "If you need anything, Senior Brother, you can come find me at the Outer Hall." "What's your name?" Li Qiye asked casually, stopping the disciple just as he was about to leave. The disciple was taken aback for a moment. Frankly, he didn't think much of Li Qiye. With such poor aptitude, Li Qiye wasn't even qualified to join the Xiyan Ancient Sect, to say nothing of becoming its Chief Disciple. Back in the Grand Hall, Li Qiye had acted like a fool, but his current calm and collected demeanor made the disciple wonder. Was Li Qiye just incredibly thick-skinned, or was he truly self-assured? "Replying to Senior Brother, my name is Nan Huairun, an emissary of the Outer Hall," the disciple replied, finally snapping out of his daze. "I am Li Qiye," he said with a simple, light nod. After millions of years of rising and falling through the river of time, those who knew his true origin and name were few and far between. After Nan Huairun left, Li Qiye did not remain idle. He set about sweeping the small courtyard and tidying the area around Solitary Peak. After his efforts, the long-uninhabited peak finally had a touch of life to it. Li Qiye worked in a methodical, orderly manner. Any outsider watching would have found it hard to believe he was only a boy of about thirteen. His calm and mature way of doing things was completely at odds with his age and appearance. After the strenuous work, dusk began to settle. Li Qiye, both tired and hungry, plopped down at his doorstep. After catching his breath for a while, he took out the Fire-Burning Staff tucked at his waist. Gazing at the charcoal-black stick that people had used simply to poke paper money, distant and dusty memories surfaced in his mind. In the end, he could only offer a bitter smile. 'It was rumored throughout the world that an Immortal Emperor who shouldered the Celestial Mandate could achieve eternal life. But now, where were invincible beings like Mingren Immortal Emperor or Tun Ri Immortal Emperor?' Snapping out of his reverie, Li Qiye slowly scraped the ash from the Fire-Burning Staff, revealing its true form. It was a wooden stick, a little over three feet long and dark-greenish black in color. Although it had been used as a poker for countless ages, it hadn't been burned in the slightest. Other than that, however, the stick had no other miraculous qualities. Li Qiye gently caressed the stick and murmured, "The Snake-Beating Staff!" With a soft sigh, memories of the past rose to the surface. Holding this staff again today brought with it a wave of complex emotions. Back then, before Mingren Immortal Emperor had shouldered the Celestial Mandate, he, as Mingren's guide, had cultivated a group of young men to serve as a reserve force. In order to properly teach those brats a lesson, he had specially brought this Snake-Beating Staff back from the Ghost Forest. In time, every one of those young men, who would later become world-renowned and awe-inspiring figures, was brutally beaten by this Snake-Beating Staff until their skin split and their flesh was torn. After their training was complete, he had casually tossed the staff aside in the Xiyan Ancient Sect, never imagining that it would remain in the Ancestral Hall. Gripping the Snake-Beating Staff, Li Qiye fell into a long, deep silence. After lifetimes of struggle, he had finally reclaimed his own body. His soul had at last escaped from the Yin Ya. Yet, so many had faded away, one by one… his kin, his former friends, the Medicine God, Blood Seal Immortal Emperor, Mingren Immortal Emperor… even the Black Dragon King, who had lived for three full lifetimes, had eventually passed on. In a distant, desolate era, he had been just an ordinary thirteen-year-old shepherd boy. But while searching for a lost sheep, he had fallen into the Immortal Demon Cave. From that day on, his soul was trapped in the immortal body of the Yin Ya, lifetime after lifetime. Terrified and lost at first, his body no longer his own, he was transformed into the Yin Ya. He could only fly endlessly between heaven and earth, following a path laid out by the Immortal Demon Cave. He had entered the Burial Ground, crossed ancient lands, and soared over the Nine Realms... In every life, he was forced to return to the Immortal Demon Cave once more. Although he had become the Yin Ya, by entering and exiting the mysterious and dangerous Burial Land Old Soil—a place from which even Great Sages recoiled—lifetime after lifetime, he came to learn innumerable secrets. After countless tribulations, his Dao Heart was forged. Later, unwilling to remain an undying puppet Yin Ya for all eternity, he hatched a world-shattering scheme and severed the path the Immortal Demon Cave had imprinted upon his soul. To escape from the Yin Ya, to reclaim his body, he made one attempt after another. He guided countless promising youths onto the path of Cultivation, even leading them down the road to invincibility and helping them shoulder the Celestial Mandate! And now, today, he had finally succeeded. He had reclaimed his body and could be human again. But how many people were now gone? In the end, Li Qiye could only let out a soft sigh. But a moment later, he took a deep breath and clenched his fists. 'In this life, no matter what, I must reach the absolute peak, a place where none can stand against me. One day, I will stand as sovereign over the Immortal Demon Cave!' A new book needs your care and support, so please cast your precious votes. I, Xiao Sheng, am new to this platform, and there's much I still have to learn. If any readers have questions, please raise them in the discussion forums. Chapter 4: Xiyan Ancient Sect (Part 2) The news that Li Qiye had become the Chief Disciple of the Xiyan Ancient Sect spread like wildfire throughout the sect. The middle and upper echelons didn't have many complaints about it. Faced with the Xiyan Ancient Order, the sect had no choice. They could only say that this good-for-nothing, Li Qiye, was simply too lucky. However, it was a different story for the young, third-generation disciples. The reason was simple: by the Xiyan Ancient Sect's tradition, the position of Chief Disciple had almost always been filled by one of their own. Historically, most Chief Disciples had to pass the elders' assessments and make illustrious contributions to the sect before earning the title. Becoming the Chief Disciple meant not only being personally taught Cultivation Techniques by the Sect Leader and having the chance to learn Emperor Techniques, but more importantly, the Chief Disciple historically had an extremely high chance of becoming the next Sect Leader. In the current generation, the Xiyan Ancient Sect had not selected a Chief Disciple from its second-generation members, which meant the position was destined for a disciple from the third generation. The greatest backlash against Li Qiye becoming the Chief Disciple naturally came from the talented disciples—those with excellent aptitude, high innate talent, and significant contributions to their names. Thus, after Li Qiye was appointed, the Xiyan Ancient Sect was in an uproar. "A mere mortal with a Mortal Body, Mortal Wheel, and Mortal Life—what right does he have to be the Chief Disciple!" one of the geniuses said resentfully. "For someone like him to become Chief Disciple is a disgrace to our Xiyan Ancient Sect!" Some of the older, more level-headed geniuses, though still bitter, simply lamented, "What can you do? The guy got lucky and had the Xiyan Ancient Order. Faced with the Ancient Order, even the elders had no choice." "He's just the Chief Disciple. A good-for-nothing with a Mortal Body, Mortal Wheel, and Mortal Life has no power to compete with me for the position of Sect Leader. It's not like being the Chief Disciple guarantees you'll become the next Sect Leader!" another genius said, full of confidence, and sneered. "If this good-for-nothing Chief Disciple doesn't know his place, I wouldn't mind teaching him a lesson!" To these geniuses, even if Li Qiye wasn't qualified to compete with them for the Sect Leader's seat, they were still deeply annoyed. After all, a good-for-nothing like Li Qiye had just become their senior brother—the Eldest Brother of the entire third generation! "The Xiyan Ancient Order... wasn't the one and only Ancient Order in Three Ghosts Master's possession? How did it end up in this kid's hands?" another disciple wondered aloud. It had never been a huge secret that Three Ghosts Master held a Xiyan Ancient Order. The Xiyan Ancient Sect had always wanted to reclaim it, but Three Ghosts Master had consistently refused. For it to now be in Li Qiye's hands was naturally perplexing. "Heh, I hear the kid has a few tricks up his sleeve. Who knows how he managed to swindle that old lecher," a disciple sneered. "They say that when the elders sent someone to verify the order, Three Ghosts Master was living it up at Cuihong House. Hmph. It seems highly likely this kid paid for his fun." At the thought, some disciples snorted in disdain, even feeling nauseated. "So he and that old lecher are birds of a feather!" Hearing this, other disciples chimed in with scorn. Legend had it that Three Ghosts Master was the illegitimate son of the previous Sect Leader. Regardless, as a lecher and a money-grubber, he had always been looked down upon within the Xiyan Ancient Sect. Even the young third-generation disciples had no respect for him. If it weren't for the current Sect Leader's protection, someone would have kicked Three Ghosts Master out of the sect long ago. Now that Li Qiye was seen as being in the same boat as Three Ghosts Master, the younger disciples couldn't help but look down on him as well. However, before three days had passed and before Li Qiye had a chance to formally pay respects to the founder, the Six Great Elders of the Xiyan Ancient Sect received a message from the Nine Saints Demon Gate. "What? The Nine Saints Demon Gate wants to conduct an assessment!" Upon receiving the message, all Six Great Elders were taken aback. One of the elders was displeased by this news. He snorted coldly and said, "The Nine Saints Demon Gate moves a bit too fast, don't they? Li Qiye just became the Chief Disciple, and they're already impatient to hold the assessment!" Another elder added, "The Nine Saints Demon Gate wants to renege on the old pact. Li Qiye just joined the sect. A good-for-nothing like him has no chance of passing their assessment! That's why they couldn't wait to demand it the moment they heard a Chief Disciple had been named." "We have no choice," the Great Elder said helplessly after a moment of silence. "The Nine Saints Demon Gate is now the leading power in the Jiang Country. These are not the old days. What right do we have to negotiate terms with them?" The Great Elder's words plunged the others into silence. In the early years of the Age of Emperors, their Xiyan Ancient Sect had been glorious and unrivaled. It had awed the Nine Realms and swept through the Eight Desolations. They were an unshakeable force in the vast Middle Grand Realm, ruling an Ancient Country to which all other sects paid homage. However, millions of years had passed. The Xiyan Ancient Sect had declined, and its glory days were long gone. Now, forget ruling an Ancient Country, they lacked the power to even control a Jiang Country, let alone enfeoff others as Heroic Heroes and Princes! "What do we do now?" an elder asked. They all knew full well that a newly-recruited good-for-nothing like Li Qiye, with his Mortal Body, Mortal Wheel, and Mortal Life, had absolutely no chance of passing the Nine Saints Demon Gate's assessment. "It's a desperate gamble, but we have to take it!" an elder finally said. "If this actually works, we'll be joined with the Nine Saints Demon Gate by marriage. If that happens, neither the Celestial Saint Sect nor the Treasure Sacred Upper Country would dare to provoke us lightly!" The other elders could only force a bitter smile at his words. It was a matter with virtually no chance of success, but even so, they still wanted to try. On Solitary Peak, before the day of the ancestral veneration ceremony arrived, Li Qiye received a visitor: Nan Huairun. "Senior Brother, the elders have summoned you to the Ancestral Hall," Nan Huairun said upon seeing the completely unconcerned Li Qiye. "Something important?" Li Qiye glanced at Nan Huairun's expression and asked casually, looking as if he couldn't care less. Nan Huairun was surprised, but he didn't hide anything. He nodded. "To be honest with you, Senior Brother, a message has arrived from the Nine Saints Demon Gate." He gave Li Qiye a strange look and added, "I hear... your fiancée wants to assess you." 'Nine Saints Demon Gate.' Hearing the name stirred some dust-covered memories for Li Qiye. Fearing that Li Qiye might not know of them, Nan Huairun explained, "The Nine Saints Demon Gate is a very famous Major Sect in the Middle Grand Realm today. They rule over the Ancient Ox Territory, appointing nobles and kings. Speaking of which, the Nine Saints Demon Gate has a deep connection with our Xiyan Ancient Sect. Their founder, the Nine Saints Great Sage, was once the First War General under our own founder, the Mingren Immortal Emperor. He followed our founder as he swept through the Nine Realms. Back when our Xiyan Ancient Sect ruled an Ancient Country, the Nine Saints Demon Gate would come to pay homage to us." "I've heard of the Nine Saints Demon Gate," Li Qiye said with a calm, composed smile. 'Of course I'm familiar with the Nine Saints Demon Gate. And of course I knew the Nine Saints Great Sage.' 'In the early years of the Age of Emperors, I was the one who guided the Mingren Kid onto the path of Cultivation. I spent a great deal of effort on him, even using a scheme to subdue that Old Demon, the Nine Saints Great Sage, just to serve as the kid's protector!' "And what's this about a fiancée?" Li Qiye asked, looking at Nan Huairun. Nan Huairun explained, "Legend says that when our founder, Mingren, shouldered the Celestial Mandate and became an Immortal Emperor, the Nine Saints Great Sage made an agreement with our Xiyan Ancient Sect. If the successor of the Nine Saints Demon Gate was a female disciple, she would be wed to the Chief Disciple of our Xiyan Ancient Sect." He then added in a quiet voice, "Back then, for them to marry into our sect was considered marrying up." 'Old Rooster Head did seem to have a female disciple back then,' Li Qiye recalled upon hearing Nan Huairun's story. 'In my memory, the Nine Saints Great Sage did take on a female disciple later on. But I entered my slumber after that and never bothered with such minor details.' "What was that, Senior Brother?" Nan Huairun asked, having heard him mumble. Li Qiye snapped out of his thoughts and shook his head. "Nothing. So, you're saying the current successor of the Nine Saints Demon Gate is a female disciple?" "Yes. I heard that the Xiyan Ancient Sect and the Nine Saints Demon Gate haven't had a marriage alliance in a very long time. It just so happens that their successor in this generation is female." At this, he glanced at Li Qiye and added, "And I'm told their successor, Li Shuangyan, even possesses an Innate Emperor Body!" As soon as Nan Huairun said this, Li Qiye understood everything. 'The Xiyan Ancient Sect has fallen into decline. Of course the Nine Saints Demon Gate would be unwilling to marry off such a promising successor with a brilliant future to our sect!' "How interesting," Li Qiye chuckled, instantly grasping all the implications. Nan Huairun was astonished. 'Li Qiye's composure... no matter how I look at him, he doesn't seem like a good-for-nothing. What's even stranger is that he's clearly only about thirteen, yet his serene confidence gives the impression of a battle-hardened Prince who has seen it all!' 'Anyone else,' Nan Huairun thought, 'would be panicking after hearing such news. But Li Qiye doesn't seem to care at all.' This struck him as incredibly odd. "Has Huairun explained the situation to you?" When Li Qiye arrived at the Ancestral Hall, all Six Great Elders were present. The Great Elder spoke in a cold tone. Truth be told, the Six Great Elders looked down on a good-for-nothing like Li Qiye. Today, however, a small part of them hoped he wasn't a complete waste. They hoped he could pass the Nine Saints Demon Gate's assessment. The Xiyan Ancient Sect desperately needed an alliance with a behemoth like the Nine Saints Demon Gate. Of course, the elders knew the chances of this were practically zero, but they couldn't help but cling to that sliver of hope and give it a try. "I understand, Great Elder," Li Qiye said with a nod. "Very good. As long as you can pass the Nine Saints Demon Gate's assessment, the sect will reward you handsomely," the Great Elder said coldly. Li Qiye smiled and said in a slow, deliberate tone, "I am willing to undergo the assessment. However, I have three conditions." "Insolence!" another elder barked. "You dare negotiate terms with the elders?" A new chapter, a new beginning! Everyone will meet Li Qiye's fiancée soon. Please vote to show your support! 🔥Click Here To Read On👉