Free Web NovelChapter 80: Chapter 80: Purple Mountain Marquis (Part 2)
Li Qiye smiled, his composure unwavering. "The Holy Heaven Sect? To me, it’s just a matter of whether I feel like destroying it or not," he said calmly. "If I don’t mind expending a little effort and energy, crushing the Holy Heaven Sect would be nothing remarkable."
Hearing Li Qiye’s words, Li Shuangyan was speechless. Anyone else would have thought Li Qiye was arrogant and ignorant, boasting to high heaven. But Li Shuangyan didn’t think so. She could see no hint that he was joking or bluffing.
"I don’t understand where you get this confidence," Li Shuangyan couldn’t help but say. "The Holy Heaven Sect may have only established the Treasure Sacred Upper Country thirty thousand years ago, but you must know, their Elder Ancestor is an extraordinary figure! Even our Nine Saints Demon Gate would have to be extremely cautious if we made an enemy of the Holy Heaven Sect."
Li Qiye glanced at Li Shuangyan and said, "Because I am Li Qiye!"
Because I am Li Qiye. Such a simple phrase, spoken in the most matter-of-fact tone, yet from Li Qiye’s lips, it sounded utterly domineering. An aura of looking down on the entire world spontaneously arose.
Li Shuangyan stared at Li Qiye, silent for a long moment. The young man before her was not like a young man at all. He was a master strategist, radiating an overwhelming aura of command. ’This is more like a Human Emperor!’
After a while, Li Shuangyan looked at Li Qiye and said slowly, "A matter of this magnitude... I need to inform my master."
"As you wish." Li Qiye glanced at her and smiled. He was, without a doubt, quite satisfied with her attitude.
There was no doubt that Li Shuangyan, this Heavenly Pride Girl, had changed considerably during her days by Li Qiye’s side. At least in his presence, she had lost her typical arrogance. Compared to others, she was still a Heavenly Pride Girl, but when compared to Li Qiye, she no longer felt superior in any way.
「Three days passed in the blink of an eye.」 During these three days, countless eyes watched the Xiyan Ancient Sect from the shadows. Without a doubt, many of the great sects and lineages of the Treasure Sacred Upper Country wanted to witness how this storm would end. Within the Treasure Sacred Upper Country, countless major figures and Princes hoped to get the latest news.
Since the Holy Heaven Sect established the Treasure Sacred Upper Country thirty thousand years ago, it had swept across this land. In the last ten thousand years, few people and few sects had dared to challenge the Divine Power of the Treasure Sacred Upper Country. For the Xiyan Ancient Sect to execute Dong Shenglong and Marquis Liezhan today... where did they get such confidence?
Once the three days were over, Cultivators from all over the Treasure Sacred Upper Country gathered at a distance to watch the Xiyan Ancient Sect. When the gates of the Xiyan Ancient Sect opened, Dong Shenglong and Marquis Liezhan were seen being escorted out by disciples.
Dong Shenglong was a Prince enfeoffed by the Human Emperor of the Treasure Sacred Upper Country. Among the Princes of the Treasure Sacred Upper Country, he could be considered a veteran.
As for Marquis Liezhan, that went without saying. He was a notoriously fierce general of the Treasure Sacred Upper Country. Although not as old as Dong Shenglong, his brutal reputation was even greater. Countless smaller sects within the Treasure Sacred Upper Country had been annihilated by his hand.
But now, whether a veteran Prince or a fierce general, both were prisoners on death row. What was even more terrifying was that their Dao Practice had been destroyed. For a Cultivator, especially one who had practiced for over a thousand years, having their Dao Practice destroyed was a fate worse than death.
At this moment, Dong Shenglong and Marquis Liezhan were withered and weak. They were tied up outside the gates of the Xiyan Ancient Sect, with no strength left to resist. Today, they were weaker than even a Mortal, more like two dying old men. How could they have the energy to struggle?
Seeing this, many of the distant Cultivators—including regional lords and sect leaders—couldn’t help but sigh and fall silent. Just think, a man like Marquis Liezhan was once so tyrannical, his ferocious aura so rampant. He had brought slaughter wherever he went, a paragon of viciousness and savagery. Yet today, he was merely a man on the verge of death.
The victor is crowned a king, the loser condemned a villain. That alone said it all.
At the time of the execution, security at the Xiyan Ancient Sect was airtight. Every single disciple had entered a state of combat readiness. The Hall Masters and Guardians were all firmly defending their respective strongholds and checkpoints.
The Five Great Elders of the Xiyan Ancient Sect were personally present at the mountain gate, overseeing the execution. Besides the Five Great Elders, Li Qiye was also there, with Li Shuangyan following by his side.
"Who is that disciple of the Xiyan Ancient Sect?" Li Qiye, an ordinary and unknown disciple, was now sitting as an equal with the Five Great Elders. This sight astonished many of the observing Cultivators.
"That disciple is actually walking alongside Gu Tieshou and the others. Could he have some astonishing background?" many Cultivators speculated in surprise.
The sight of Li Shuangyan accompanying them gave some of the Sect Leaders pause. "Li Shuangyan, the successor of the Nine Saints Demon Gate and the Princess of the Ancient Ox Territory," one said, visibly moved. "She’s the Heavenly Pride Girl of the Great Middle Realm! Could it be that the Xiyan Ancient Sect is joining forces with the Nine Saints Demon Gate?"
Li Shuangyan’s appearance at the Xiyan Ancient Sect, walking with Li Qiye and the elders, stirred many of the spectating Cultivators.
In the heavy atmosphere, time ticked by. Finally, the hour of execution arrived. Gu Tieshou looked up at the sky and said in a deep voice, "Begin the execution!"
At that moment, not only the disciples of the Xiyan Ancient Sect, but also all the Cultivators watching from afar, held their breath, waiting to see what would happen next.
"Spare them!" Just then, a fierce roar echoed. A rumbling sound followed as a Jiao Horse was seen arriving via Ta Kong, its rolling Princely aura suppressing the Xiyan Ancient Sect disciples who were about to carry out the execution.
The Jiao Horse arrived via Ta Kong. Seated upon it was an old man dressed in purple robes with a purple crown. His shoulders were broad, as if he carried a Giant Peak upon them.
"Purple Mountain Marquis—" Upon seeing this old man, many of the distant Cultivators were visibly moved.
"The Purple Mountain Marquis is here," a Sect Leader murmured upon seeing the old man. "A Prince of the older generation. His Fire Control is pure and perfected. The Purple Mountain Marquis has long been famous, one of the peak Princes of the Treasure Sacred Upper Country."
"So, it is the Purple Mountain Marquis who has graced us with his presence." Seeing the old man on the Jiao Horse, Gu Tieshou’s gaze hardened, his expression growing grave. The Purple Mountain Marquis might not have a reputation as fearsome as Marquis Liezhan’s, but his strength was definitely superior. A Prince of the older generation, one of the peak Princes of the Treasure Sacred Upper Country!
"Elder Gu, do not bring disaster upon yourself. Marquis Liezhan is a vital official of the Treasure Sacred Upper Country. Release him and Brother Dong at once, and follow me to the capital to beg His Majesty for forgiveness!" the Purple Mountain Marquis said in a deep voice from his seat atop the Jiao Horse.
Gu Tieshou started to speak, but Li Qiye held up a hand to stop him. He smiled leisurely and said, "Forgiveness? That word isn’t in my dictionary. Before I decide to kill you, get the hell out of my sight. Scram as far away as you possibly can!"
"Who is this brat? What arrogance!" Hearing Li Qiye’s words, many of the watching Cultivators looked at each other in dismay. Who was the Purple Mountain Marquis? He was a Prince of the older generation, a peak Prince, a vital official of the Treasure Sacred Upper Country. Yet today, a junior like Li Qiye dared to speak so outrageously to him.
"Where did this brat come from? This Seat will teach you a lesson on behalf of your elders!" The Purple Mountain Marquis’s eyes turned cold. His large hand, like a millstone, slapped toward Li Qiye!
SHING! A sword hummed, its cry reaching the high heavens. Li Qiye didn’t move, but Li Shuangyan at his side had already acted. Her sword thrust toward the sky, powerful enough to slash down the stars. The cry of a phoenix echoed around her as her Sword Radiance fanned out like feathers. With this one sword strike, the mountains and rivers seemed to lose their color.
"A worthy successor of the Nine Saints Demon Gate!" Seeing Li Shuangyan’s sword, the Purple Mountain Marquis snorted coldly. He formed a seal with his hands, pressing down like a Giant Peak.
"Get back!" At this moment, Gu Tieshou also attacked. A Kunpeng shot across the sky. The massive Kunpeng swung its tail down viciously, a strike powerful enough to shatter the earth, its momentum ferocious.
Seeing the Kunpeng’s tail whipping toward him, the Purple Mountain Marquis’s expression sank. Not daring to be careless, he flipped his hand, and a True Artifact appeared in the air to block Gu Tieshou’s Kunpeng strike.
BOOM! With a tremendous explosion, the Purple Mountain Marquis managed to block Gu Tieshou’s attack, but the Jiao Horse beneath him could not withstand the force. It let out a mournful cry and collapsed to the ground, unable to get back up.
Li Qiye didn’t even spare the battle a glance. He just shook his head and remarked, "Elder Gu’s Six Transformations... your learning is too mixed and impure."
To anyone else, such words would sound unbelievably arrogant. But Gu Tieshou, who had witnessed Li Qiye’s "Kunpeng Six Transformations," did not think so.
"Then you shall witness the complete Six Transformations," Gu Tieshou said. He also wanted to show Li Qiye his own "Kunpeng Six Transformations," hoping to use Li Qiye’s version as a reference for his own.
Therefore, as soon as his words fell, Gu Tieshou pressed his attack on the Purple Mountain Marquis.
The Purple Mountain Marquis’s expression turned extremely ugly. As a Prince of the older generation, he had failed to gain any advantage against Gu Tieshou today. An Immortal Emperor’s Technique truly was terrifying!
"Gu Tieshou, I won’t bicker with you today!" the Purple Mountain Marquis shouted. "This Seat has come bearing His Majesty’s personal edict! Whether your Xiyan Ancient Sect is willing or not, you must release them. Otherwise, you will bear the consequences!"
"The Human Emperor’s personal edict!" Gu Tieshou’s gaze sharpened. The Human Emperor of the Treasure Sacred Upper Country was a formidable figure of great talent and ambition. His Dao Practice was profound, and under his rule, the Treasure Sacred Upper Country flourished. One could say the Human Emperor of the Treasure Sacred Upper Country was an ambitious man who wished to build his nation into an Ancient Country that would stand for all eternity!
At this, the Purple Mountain Marquis raised his hand, revealing an unfurled Holy Decree. On the Holy Decree was a single word: "Pardon." The moment this word was displayed, Imperial Power surged for ten thousand miles. From within this single word, an overwhelmingly powerful Imperial Power erupted, as if a supreme Human Emperor stood right before them, forcing all to submit.
Even a Prince like Gu Tieshou was suppressed the moment the word "Pardon" appeared. His Blood Qi roiled. The single word felt like an insurmountable mountain pressing down on his heart, making him feel so unwell he wanted to vomit blood.
A Holy Decree with just one word, "Pardon." But that single word was more than enough. That one word represented the will of a supreme Human Emperor. On the strength of this one word alone, he could intimidate a Prince!
