Chapter 9

Chapter 8: Nine Holy Demon Sect (Part 2)

The dueling arena was permeated with a mysterious and powerful force. The entire spacious arena was paved with black rocks, each of which flowed with the inscriptions of the Great Sages. The force that permeated the arena emanated from these black rocks, enveloping the entire arena to prevent it from being shattered during battles.

"A dueling arena of the Great Sage level!" Although it wasn't the first time he had come to this arena, Nan Huairen was still once again awed by the vast and solemn atmosphere.

The disciple surnamed Zhang couldn't help but feel a bit proud and said, "This dueling arena was personally crafted by our founding master, capable of withstanding the power of a Great Sage's battle!"

A dueling arena of the Great Sage level indeed demonstrated the profound heritage of the Nine Holy Demon Sect. For many sects, this was indeed something to be proud of.

"Our Ancient Wash Face Sect once had a dueling arena from the Mythical Era," Nan Huairen couldn't help but say, but his voice was very low, and he stopped speaking, unwilling to continue.

Indeed, the Ancient Wash Face Sect had a dueling arena that surpassed the current Great Sage level of the Nine Holy Demon Sect. Legend had it that this dueling arena was directly moved from the depths of the distant stars by the Immortal Emperor Mingren. It was said that this dueling arena could even withstand the invincible power of an Immortal Emperor!

Unfortunately, for some unknown reason, this dueling arena was later sealed, and no one from the Ancient Wash Face Sect could ever open it again!

"Four Elemental Stone Statues." Li Qiyi, standing beside them, didn't hear their conversation. His gaze fell on the four massive stone statues at the corners of the dueling arena.

At each corner of the dueling arena stood a towering stone statue, each over a hundred feet tall, like giants. These four stone statues had different expressions, but each was incredibly lifelike, as if crafted by a master, with a natural and seamless technique.

This was what Li Qiyi most wanted to see. Since the Great Sage of the Nine Holy Demon Sect had passed away, he hadn't come here again, and he was too lazy to come. He never expected that after countless years, these four stone statues were still here!

While Nan Huairen and his friend were chatting, they didn't notice Li Qiyi for a moment. But soon, the disciple surnamed Zhang couldn't help but frown and say, "What is that idiot doing!"

Nan Huairen couldn't help but look over and saw Li Qiyi trying to climb one of the massive stone statues at the eastern corner. However, Li Qiyi's strength was limited, and the stone statue was over a hundred feet tall. He tried several times to climb it but failed each time.

By this time, quite a few disciples had gathered outside the dueling arena. Seeing Li Qiyi, who seemed like a country bumpkin, touching and feeling the massive stone statue, even whispering to it as if he had never seen such a large statue before, many of the disciples standing nearby burst into laughter.

This scene made Nan Huairen feel very awkward. Although these four stone statues were not holy relics of the Nine Holy Demon Sect, Li Qiyi's behavior, like a country bumpkin, touching and feeling them, and even trying to climb them, made him unsure whether to stop Li Qiyi or not.

Just as Nan Huairen was feeling awkward, Li Qiyi waved to him, beckoning him to come over. Under the gaze of so many people, Nan Huairen didn't know whether to go or not. He had no choice but to walk over to Li Qiyi.

"This stone statue is quite tall, help me get up there," Li Qiyi said calmly, as if it were a simple request.

"Uh—" Nan Huairen was speechless. He really doubted whether Li Qiyi was thick-skinned or just an idiot. In front of so many disciples of the Nine Holy Demon Sect, he was acting like a country bumpkin, trying to climb the massive stone statue. Wasn't this just embarrassing the Ancient Wash Face Sect?

"Are you going to help me up, or let everyone watch a monkey show?" Li Qiyi didn't seem to care, looking calm and composed, as if he were the one watching the show.

Under the gaze of so many people, what could Nan Huairen do? He could only grit his teeth, pull Li Qiyi up, and leap onto the massive stone statue in one breath.

Li Qiyi, however, was completely at ease, sitting on the shoulder of the massive stone statue, gazing far into the Nine Holy Demon Sect, taking in the vast landscape.

Nan Huairen, on the other hand, didn't have Li Qiyi's thick skin. He jumped down and stood to the side. At this moment, he wanted to leave, but he couldn't leave Li Qiyi alone. If Li Qiyi couldn't get down, it would be even more embarrassing for the Ancient Wash Face Sect.

As for Nan Huairen's friend surnamed Zhang, he didn't want to stay and be embarrassed. He left without even saying goodbye.

"Hmph, the people from the Ancient Wash Face Sect are just rude and uncouth country bumpkins!" Some disciples of the Nine Holy Demon Sect sneered at Li Qiyi, who was sitting on the stone statue.

A disciple of the Nine Holy Demon Sect snorted and said, "Pah, he really thinks he's something, sitting up there. He should take a look at himself in a puddle of urine!"

Many disciples of the Nine Holy Demon Sect were very dissatisfied with Li Qiyi's outrageous behavior. However, Li Qiyi didn't care at all. He sat on the shoulder of the stone statue, swinging his legs leisurely and muttering to himself, as if he were talking to the stone statue.

In the eyes of others, Li Qiyi was a complete idiot, a reckless fool!

This scene made Nan Huairen, who was standing nearby, feel extremely awkward. He wished he could leave right away, but he couldn't leave Li Qiyi alone.

Li Qiyi, sitting up there, showed no sign of embarrassment. He was completely at ease, chatting with the stone statue as if he were having a conversation with it.

The time seemed to drag on, making Nan Huairen feel as if he were sitting on pins and needles. After a long time, Li Qiyi finally seemed to get tired of sitting and waved to Nan Huairen.

Nan Huairen felt a great relief and immediately leaped up to bring Li Qiyi down. Once down, Nan Huairen quickly said, "Senior Brother, it's getting late. Let's go back." He didn't want to continue wandering around with Li Qiyi, fearing that Li Qiyi might do something even more outrageous.

Li Qiyi just laughed and nodded lightly at Nan Huairen's attitude.

"Pah—" Seeing Li Qiyi still so calm, a disciple of the Nine Holy Demon Sect couldn't help but sneer and say, "The Ancient Wash Face Sect is just a minor, insignificant sect. A lowly scoundrel like you thinks he can marry our senior sister. Pah, you're just a useless idiot, dreaming of marrying our senior sister!"

Provoked on the spot, Li Qiyi slowly turned his head and looked at the disciple, saying calmly, "Marry your senior sister? That's too much flattery. Even if a celestial maiden wanted to marry me, I would still have to consider it. Let alone your senior sister!"

"Reckless fool—" Li Qiyi's words immediately provoked the anger of the crowd. Many male disciples of the Nine Holy Demon Sect, who were admirers of Li Shuangyan, glared at Li Qiyi with fury.

"Peace is precious, peace is precious." The scene made Nan Huairen's back chill with fear. He immediately pulled Li Qiyi and turned to leave, not wanting him to stay any longer!

"Rats, if you have the guts, don't run!" The disciples of the Nine Holy Demon Sect couldn't help but feel indignant and shouted angrily. If Li Qiyi and his companions weren't guests, they would have immediately chased after them and beaten Li Qiyi to a pulp!

Nan Huairen dragged Li Qiyi back to the small courtyard, escaping with a sigh of relief. He couldn't help but feel a bit fearful, wondering if Li Qiyi was arrogant and ignorant, a reckless fool.

"Senior Brother, the Nine Holy Demon Sect is not a force we can provoke. Take a step back, and the sky will be clear. Endure it, and it will pass," Nan Huairen couldn't help but advise Li Qiyi. This was not just for Li Qiyi; he didn't want to lose his life in the Nine Holy Demon Sect.

"What's there to endure?" Li Qiyi smiled calmly and said, "When the soldiers come, we will meet them; when the water comes, we will dam it!"

Nan Huairen was speechless. Dealing with such a person was just asking for trouble. At this moment, he couldn't help but regret taking on this task.

The marriage alliance between the Ancient Wash Face Sect and the Nine Holy Demon Sect was, in fact, a source of great dissatisfaction among many young disciples of the Nine Holy Demon Sect. Li Shuangyan was the pride of the Nine Holy Demon Sect, high above, and countless young male disciples admired her. Now, Li Shuangyan might be betrothed to the chief disciple of the Ancient Wash Face Sect, which naturally made countless young male disciples furious.

In the eyes of the young disciples of the Nine Holy Demon Sect, the Ancient Wash Face Sect was already a fallen, insignificant minor sect, with no qualifications to form a marriage alliance with the Nine Holy Demon Sect, let alone the chief disciple of the Ancient Wash Face Sect, who was a mere mortal and a waste of talent!

The marriage alliance was a disgrace to the dreams of many young disciples. Countless young male disciples wished to crush Li Qiyi.

Du Yuan Guang was one of the disciples who particularly disliked Li Qiyi. Du Yuan Guang was an outer disciple of the Nine Holy Demon Sect, with excellent talent, known as a young genius of the Nine Holy Demon Sect. He had reached the peak of the Palace Opening realm in just five years since joining the sect. After passing this year's assessment, he would become a key disciple of the Nine Holy Demon Sect!

Du Yuan Guang was one of the disciples in the Nine Holy Demon Sect who most admired the divine maiden Li Shuangyan. When the Nine Holy Demon Sect selected disciples, Du Yuan Guang was chosen by Li Shuangyan herself.

Upon first meeting Li Shuangyan, Du Yuan Guang was struck by her beauty, believing that Li Shuangyan favored him. With his excellent talent, he was very confident and hoped that one day he could