Dominator Emperor

Chapter 169: Ancient Street (Part 1)

When Lei She saw Li Qiye firmly seated in the place of honor, his expression frosted over. He looked down on him and said coldly, ”Your Majesty is getting more and more confused. To let an ignorant brat who doesn’t know his own limits preside over such a monumental matter! The pitiful Xiyan Ancient Sect has already fallen. How could a junior possibly turn the tide...”

Only then did Li Qiye lift an eyelid, speaking slowly, ”And who the hell do you think you are, coming here to boss me around? If you’ve got a problem, go take it up with that group of old men from the War God Hall. Go on, you take this job. I won’t fight you for it. But if you don’t have the ability to handle it, then don’t you dare stand in front of me and run your mouth! If you can’t cut it, then get the hell out of my sight and go cool off somewhere!”

”You ignorant brat—” Li Qiye’s words made Lei She’s expression turn utterly foul. His eyes flew open in rage as his saintly might erupted. A cold glint flickered in his gaze, giving him the air of a beast ready to pounce and devour someone.

This gave Elder Yun quite a shock. He rushed to play mediator, grabbing hold of the fuming Lei She and saying, ”Martial Uncle, please, be the bigger person. Young Master Li is young and impulsive, his words were a bit blunt...”

”Elder Yun, ’young and impulsive’? Hmph. A minor figure from the pitiful Xiyan Ancient Sect dares to insult a Supreme Elder of my Nine Saints Demon Gate? This is showing blatant disrespect for our entire sect...” Leng Chengfeng interjected coldly from the side. He was fanning the flames; with his grand-master’s support, he spoke to Elder Yun with much more bravado.

”And who the hell do you think you are!” Li Qiye cut Leng Chengfeng off, shooting him a cold, sidelong glance. ”If you’ve got a problem, go cry to the Sun Demon Emperor. Stop spewing crap in front of me! Right now, it’s your Nine Saints Demon Gate that’s begging me for help, not the other way around! Those with no authority to speak should get the hell to the side!”

”Little Ghost who doesn’t know life from death!” Lei She’s gaze turned sharp as he took a step forward. His eyes widened as killing intent surged around him. ”How dare you speak so wildly,” he said grimly. ”Today, I shall teach you a lesson on behalf of your Xiyan Ancient Sect!”

Li Qiye remained seated, replying languidly, ”Teach me a lesson? Are you even qualified?”

”Little Ghost—” The comment made Lei She tremble with rage, his fury skyrocketing. As the word left his lips, a massive hand shot out toward Li Qiye, its five fingers like mountains, instantly enveloping him.

”Junior Brother Lei—” Just then, a voice boomed like thunder. A man strode in with a single step, his arm shooting out horizontally like a True Dragon to instantly block Lei She’s massive hand.

”Junior Brother Lei, this ends now. He is our guest!” the newly arrived elder said in a deep voice, his hand firmly holding back Lei She’s.

The elder who stepped inside had a stalwart frame, and a saintly might rolled off him in waves. He was, without a doubt, an Ancient Saint! He had a head of fiery red hair, from which sprouted a pair of horns—Jiao Snake horns.

Upon seeing the red-haired elder, Elder Yun was visibly pleased and immediately stepped forward to call out, ”Master.”

”So, Senior Brother Chi Yun has come out of seclusion as well,” Lei She said, retracting his hand. He gave a cold snort and spoke in a frigid tone.

So, the elder was Chi Yun, one of the four Supreme Elders of the Nine Saints Demon Gate and Elder Yun’s master. He was a Jiao Snake who had attained the Dao, and he had lived for a very, very long time.

”This is a matter of great importance. His Majesty wishes to see the Elders of the War God Hall, so I had to make the trip myself. I didn’t expect to see you here, Junior Brother Lei. I’d heard you were enjoying a carefree, unfettered life these days. To think you would also come to Celestial Ancient City,” Chi Yun Supreme Elder said slowly.

The conversation between the martial brothers was thick with tension. Lei She merely snorted and said nothing more.

”There’s nothing for me here, you all can chat,” Li Qiye said, showing no interest in the brothers’ scheming. Thoroughly bored, he stored his Qiankun Pouch and turned to leave.

”Young Master Li, please forgive us if our hospitality has been lacking,” Elder Chi Yun said, making an effort to get on Li Qiye’s good side.

As for Lei She, he was still seething. He desperately wanted to lash out and teach this arrogant junior who didn’t know his place a lesson! He only refrained because Chi Yun was present, making it inconvenient to act.

”Shuangyan, you are the successor of the Nine Saints Demon Gate, a genius nurtured by our sect. Instead of focusing on your cultivation, you’re wasting your time messing around with a third-tier sect. You are ruining your own future—” With a stomach full of pent-up rage, Lei She couldn’t help but turn and coldly lecture Li Shuangyan, who was his junior.

Li Shuangyan, who had been about to follow Li Qiye out, heard his words. She showed no anger, simply replying with a cool detachment, ”This matter pertains to the ancestral teachings and, more importantly, was decided by the Sword Elder. If Elder Lei has any objections, he can raise them with the Sword Elder. I am merely a junior, Elder Lei. There is no need to direct this at me.”

Thus, Li Shuangyan gave the Supreme Elder a perfectly measured retort, neither too soft nor too hard.

Li Shuangyan’s words made Lei She’s expression even more unsightly. He snorted heavily. He could barely contain his rage, but he had no choice but to swallow it.

The Sword Elder Li Shuangyan mentioned was Jian Chen, another of the Nine Saints Demon Gate’s Supreme Elders. Although Jian Chen was one of the four, his status was far higher than the other three, and his Dao Practice was considered unfathomable.

In the end, Lei She could only bottle up his fury and watch as Li Qiye swaggered away.

After they returned to their residence, Li Shuangyan felt compelled to remind Li Qiye, ”Be careful of Elder Lei. Of everyone in the Nine Saints Demon Gate, he’s the one most opposed to you. Elder Lei She’s faction is not an easy one to deal with.”

”He’s just an Ancient Saint. If he’s unhappy, he can come and bite me,” Li Qiye said with airy nonchalance.

Li Shuangyan sighed softly and continued to patiently advise him, ”An open spear is easy to dodge, but a hidden arrow is difficult to defend against. I’ve heard that Elder Lei She’s faction has been growing very close to the Qingxuan Ancient Country lately. Word from my master is that not long ago, Senior Brother Leng paid a visit to Qingxuan. There are even whispers that Elder Lei intends for Senior Brother Leng to become a disciple there.”

”I’m surprised disciples of the Nine Saints Demon Gate are allowed to join other sects,” Li Qiye said, glancing at Li Shuangyan.

Li Shuangyan explained, ”It depends on the circumstances. If two nations form an alliance, an expert from our sect can be sent as an emissary, be enfeoffed by the allied Jiang Country’s Emperor, and serve as a Prince. This has happened many times in the history of the Nine Saints Demon Gate. If conditions permit, it is possible for our disciples to join another sect.”

”Searching for more powerful allies,” Li Qiye said with a smile, understanding the Nine Saints Demon Gate’s strategy.

”Sometimes, it can’t be helped.” At this, Li Shuangyan glanced at Li Qiye. ”After the Xiyan Ancient Sect’s decline, our Nine Saints Demon Gate, as its staunchest ally, suffered a huge blow. Without sufficiently powerful allies, it would be difficult for us to maintain our standing. That is why, if the conditions are right and an agreement is in place, our geniuses are allowed to join other sects.”

”Like the War God Hall,” Li Qiye nodded, understanding the web of interests involved. The Nine Saints Demon Gate was certainly powerful, but lineages like the Qingxuan Ancient Country and some Emperor Immortal Gates were even stronger.

Li Shuangyan nodded. ”Our Nine Saints Demon Gate has indeed had several of its most exceptional geniuses join the War God Hall. This is one of the reasons the War God Hall supports our sect so strongly.”

This sort of thing didn’t surprise Li Qiye. It was common among the various Great Teaching Territories, Ancient Sect Holy Sects, and even Emperor Immortal Gates. Exchanging disciples, or sending one’s own best and most talented to a more powerful lineage—it was all a transactional exchange of benefits between allies.

Li Qiye just smiled. These were the internal affairs of the Nine Saints Demon Gate, and he couldn’t be bothered to meddle.

”In any case, Elder Lei’s faction has always wanted to use the Qingxuan Ancient Country to advance their own position, especially Senior Brother Leng. After he failed to become the successor of the Nine Saints Demon Gate, he grew even closer to them. And Elder Lei isn’t just any Ancient Saint; he is an Eight-star Ancient Saint. Some even suspect he has a chance of breaking through to the Nine Stars. You must be on your guard against him,” Li Shuangyan earnestly advised Li Qiye.

The True Master realm is divided into seven stars; cultivating to a new level is referred to as gaining a star. Seven-Star True Master is the highest level of the True Realm. After reaching Seven-Star True Master Perfection, one steps into the Ancient Saint Realm.

However, there were always cultivators with extraordinary talent who could break past the limit of the seven stars to condense an eighth, or even a ninth! An Eight-Star True Master was considered an existence that defied Heaven. As for a Nine-Star True Master, one who reached the absolute limit and shattered the shackles of the Great Dao, they were even more extraordinary, because of the Nine Stars Eternal Seal. Once you became a Nine-Star True Master, that title would stay with you for life. Throughout all of history, very few cultivators had ever truly achieved nine stars.

In response to Li Shuangyan’s heartfelt reminder, Li Qiye just chuckled. He shot her a look and said with a lazy smile, ”My dear Shuangyan, you’re my Sword Attendant, not my nanny. There’s no need to be so thorough.”

”Go die—” His words made Li Shuangyan’s face flush crimson with anger. She gnashed her teeth and, casting aside all semblance of a proper lady, aimed a rough kick at him.

”It was just a joke! Do you have to get so worked up?” Li Qiye said with a laugh as he leaped aside.

Li Shuangyan’s face was flushed, her chest heaving with anger. This girlish display, like a peach blossom in full bloom, was utterly captivating. She shot Li Qiye a vicious glare. She was clearly much older than him, yet this fifteen-or-sixteen-year-old Little Ghost was calling her ”my dear Shuangyan.” How could she not be trembling with anger?

”Be careful, or you’ll make yourself sick,” Li Qiye said with a smile before turning to go. ”I’m going to refine a batch of pills. Don’t disturb me.”

Li Qiye left, leaving a fuming Li Shuangyan behind. After a long moment, her anger finally subsided. Thinking about Li Qiye’s sheer arrogance, she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. In the end, all she could do was break into a wry smile.

Inside his room, Li Qiye summoned the Ten Thousand Furnace God and activated its fire. The flames transformed into a series of Medicine Cauldrons, and Li Qiye began tossing the Spiritual Medicines prepared by the Nine Saints Demon Gate into them one by one.