Free Web NovelChapter 96: Chapter 96: Emperor Zhou’s Holy Body (Part 2)
"What did you say?" Su Yonghuang asked, looking at Li Qiye strangely.
Li Qiye shook his head, keeping his mouth shut. "It’s nothing," he said. He had almost blurted out that she greatly resembled her ancestor, Su Woman. It wasn’t just that her eyes were like Su Woman’s, but more so that her spirit of dedication was a perfect match.
A thirteen-year-old girl from the Tianya Su Family, serving as the Sect Leader of the Xiyan Ancient Sect... how incredibly difficult that must have been. The Xiyan Ancient Sect had fallen into decline, while the Tianya Su Family was countless times more prosperous.
Back when the Xiyan Ancient Sect’s power soared, reigning over the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, that glory, that splendor, that authority had nothing to do with the Su Family. They were merely a reclusive family hidden away in a remote corner.
Yet now that the Xiyan Ancient Sect had declined, she, the heir of the Tianya Su Family, had stepped up to shoulder the responsibility of its revitalization. As a thirteen-year-old girl, she hadn’t been well-received by the sect’s elders, but she had chosen to stand up regardless.
All because the Xiyan Ancient Sect was built by her ancestor, Mingren Immortal Emperor!
Li Qiye couldn’t help but sigh softly in his heart. ’The memories of the past are too heavy.’ This was a matter he was reluctant to speak of.
"I will make it clear to Elder Gu and the others. The position can be transferred to you tomorrow." Su Yonghuang was decisive and straightforward, showing no attachment to the title of Sect Leader of the Xiyan Ancient Sect.
Tu Buyu, who had been standing behind her this whole time, could only let out a soft sigh and said nothing more.
Li Qiye smiled and shook his head. "You’re wrong about that. You’re a descendant of Mingren Immortal Emperor; no one is more suited for this position than you. Besides, since you are his descendant, revitalizing the Xiyan Ancient Sect is not my responsibility, but yours. Wouldn’t you agree? Therefore, you will remain the Sect Leader of the Xiyan Ancient Sect, and I will remain its disciple. As for Elder Gu and the others, I believe they’ll come to trust you sooner or later."
Su Yonghuang stared at Li Qiye for a long time. In the end, she said nothing, simply rising to her feet and leaving. She had, without a doubt, agreed to stay.
"On the day of the Dragon Head-Raising, does your Su Family still hold the grand sacrificial ceremony?" Li Qiye couldn’t help but ask as Su Yonghuang was leaving.
Su Yonghuang, who was just about to leave, visibly stiffened at his words. She turned back, stared at Li Qiye, and said in a low voice, "How do you know about that?"
"I divined it," Li Qiye said with a soft sigh. Su Yonghuang didn’t answer, but he already knew the truth.
The Day of the Dragon Head-Raising. The descendants of the Su Family might not have known it, but that day was Mingren Immortal Emperor’s birthday. Although Su Woman had gone far away and never saw Mingren Immortal Emperor again, she had always loved him.
This was a point of constant guilt for Li Qiye. He was the one who had persuaded Su Woman to follow Mingren Immortal Emperor all those years ago. It was a shame things had ended so tragically.
Su Yonghuang stared at Li Qiye without a word for a long time. Finally, she turned to leave. However, just as she reached the door, she suddenly turned back. "I don’t know what your background is," she said to Li Qiye, "but since you’re the one who made me stay, don’t you forget one thing: you are my disciple!" With that, she drifted away.
After Su Yonghuang had drifted away, Li Qiye couldn’t help but laugh. ’At least in that regard, she’s nothing like her ancestor, Su Woman!’
"Senior Brother, may I take my leave now?" Tu Buyu asked with an amiable smile after Su Yonghuang was gone. It was truly admirable how this thousand-year-old monster could call Li Qiye "Senior Brother" without the slightest bit of awkwardness.
Li Qiye shot him a sidelong glance. "You stir up this mess, and in the end, you expect me to clean it up. Since you’re my junior brother, from now on, if I tell you to go east, you’d better not go west!"
However, Tu Buyu didn’t get angry at all. He just smiled amiably and said, "Senior Brother, you can’t blame me for this. To be precise, this is a mess created by the previous Sect Leader and the others. As a mere disciple, I’m just running errands. Everything I do is a thankless job."
Li Qiye glared at the old fox, but there was nothing he could do about him.
Not long after Tu Buyu left, Gu Tieshou and the others arrived, unable to wait any longer. The moment he saw Li Qiye, Elder Sun asked anxiously, "How did it go? How did the discussion go?"
"What is there to discuss?" Li Qiye said unhurriedly. "We can discuss the matter of Demon’s Back Ridge later."
"The matter of Demon’s Back Ridge can wait," Elder Qian said in a low voice. "However, in my opinion, we should first discuss the matter of the Sect Leader’s position. I believe you should take over now and become the Sect Leader of the Xiyan Ancient Sect. In this time of reform, you must first stabilize the disciples’ confidence and boost morale!"
"I agree, that makes sense," said Elder Wu. "The Sect Leader has always been away. Her prestige within the sect is low, and she does not have the hearts of the people. Our Xiyan Ancient Sect needs to undergo drastic reforms, so we must stabilize the ranks. If the Sect Leader were to abdicate in your favor at this time, it would be for the best. Your ascension to the seat of Sect Leader would be perfectly justifiable."
"Even if the Sect Leader abdicates, she could take up a position as an elder. We happen to be short one elder, after all," Elder Zhou added, also trying to persuade Li Qiye. "If that’s not possible, should the Sect Leader be willing to step down, we could make her a Grand Elder. The Xiyan Ancient Sect doesn’t have a Grand Elder right now."
This wasn’t to say that Elder Wu and the others were eager to seize power. But given the Xiyan Ancient Sect’s current situation—with troubles both internal and external—the long-weakened sect needed to reform and rise. To do so, they needed someone who could work miracles to take the helm. Without a doubt, Li Qiye was the most suitable candidate.
Although Su Yonghuang had been the Sect Leader for a long time, she had always resided elsewhere, giving her a very weak presence within the sect.
"And what is Elder Gu’s opinion?" Li Qiye asked, looking at Gu Tieshou with a calm and composed expression.
Gu Tieshou glanced at the other elders and gave a bitter smile. "What can I do? I was the one who supported her ascension to Sect Leader. Now, if I’m the one to demand her abdication, wouldn’t I just be their tool? Back then, my master and the others used me as their blade, and now you want to do the same. It seems I’m always cast as the villain."
"Brother Gu, there’s no other way," Elder Sun said with resignation. "Within the sect, considering prestige and status, you are the only one who can personally handle this matter."
Gu Tieshou fell silent for a long time before finally saying with a helpless sigh, "If it’s truly for the sake of the sect, then I suppose I can bear the infamy once more." He then turned to Li Qiye. "What are your thoughts, Qiye?"
"Let’s do this. Elders, you may all return for now. We will discuss this matter tomorrow in the Ancestral Hall," Li Qiye said. "And didn’t one of you mention there was still a Founder’s Portrait in the sect? Bring that tomorrow as well."
Li Qiye’s words made the elders exchange glances. Ultimately, the Five Great Elders nodded and departed one after another. Only the Great Elder, Gu Tieshou, remained behind.
"How is the old site?" Gu Tieshou cared more than anyone about the fate of the Xiyan Ancient Sect. He hadn’t had a chance to ask about it since Li Qiye’s return.
"For now, it’s difficult. We need time," Li Qiye said. "Given the Xiyan Ancient Sect’s current situation, we have to put the matter of the old site aside for now. First, we need to deal with Demon’s Back Ridge. It’s extremely important to us."
Gu Tieshou hesitated before finally saying, "But Demon’s Back Ridge no longer belongs to the Xiyan Ancient Sect. You could say it belongs to the whole world now. Once it opens, I’m afraid all the notable sects and kingdoms from the Great Middle Realm will come. Will we even have a chance to enter?"
As an elder of the Xiyan Ancient Sect, of course Gu Tieshou wanted to reclaim Demon’s Back Ridge, but the sect no longer possessed the strength to do so.
"From what I can see, once Demon’s Back Ridge opens, the Holy Heaven Sect and the Treasure Sacred Upper Country are certain to come. Powerful legacies like the Jiangzuo Family and Nantian Country will come as well. It’s even possible that an invincible behemoth like the Qingxuan Ancient Country will show up," Gu Tieshou said, his worry palpable. "What can we possibly use to compete with them?"
"You don’t need to worry about that, Elder," Li Qiye said with unruffled confidence. "This time, I will personally lead the expedition to Demon’s Back Ridge. Since it belongs to the Xiyan Ancient Sect, reclaiming it is only a matter of time. On this trip, anyone who dares block my path will be shown no mercy!"
Gu Tieshou knew Li Qiye wasn’t one for empty boasts, but he couldn’t understand what kind of trump card Li Qiye possessed that would allow him to contend with behemoths like the Jiangzuo Family, Nantian Country, or even an invincible power like the Qingxuan Ancient Country.
"Very well. Our trip to Demon’s Back Ridge is settled. Once it opens, no matter what, the Xiyan Ancient Sect must go!" Gu Tieshou finally agreed with Li Qiye’s plan.
「The next day.」
The Five Great Elders gathered in the Ancestral Hall. Also present were Li Qiye, Su Yonghuang, and Tu Buyu, who stood as Su Yonghuang’s attendant.
"Today, we will discuss the matter of the Sect Leader’s position." As everyone gathered, the atmosphere grew tense. Li Qiye was the one to break the silence.
In this situation, even Elder Zhou and the others kept their mouths shut. It wasn’t their place to speak up, as forcing an abdication was not an honorable affair. Even though Su Yonghuang’s appointment as Sect Leader had not been popular, her claim to the position was, in the end, legitimate.
"I know that you elders, and even the sect’s Guardians and Hall Masters, harbor reservations about our Sect Leader," Li Qiye said slowly. "However, today is the day she should formally return to the sect and acknowledge her ancestry."
"Return to the sect and acknowledge her ancestry?" The elders were stunned. They had thought today’s meeting about the Sect Leader’s position was to force Su Yonghuang’s abdication.
"That’s right. It is indeed time for the Sect Leader to return to the sect and acknowledge her ancestry." Li Qiye stood up and declared slowly and solemnly, "Our Sect Leader, Su Yonghuang, is a descendant of our founder, Mingren Immortal Emperor!"
"What—" The news sent a shockwave through the assembled elders.
