Wang Dong Suk no longer wanted to look at Sectional Leader Fu and Xu Hui, so he stepped outside. It was as if he were taking a stroll through an empty street. From outside the room, he calmly declared, "I don't care who the current master of the Nine Saint Demon Gate is—Demon King or Virtuous Paragon, whatever. If you want to follow general courtesy, fine. If not, then don't. I'll gladly return the favor. Today, I will massacre the entire Nine Saint Demon Gate. I'll send all of you down to meet that old chicken head."
"Good! Good! How courageous! I'll rip out your ligaments and flay your skin! Then we'll see how you plan to destroy our sect," Xu Hui growled. He was at a loss for words. This was the most absurd thing he had ever witnessed. Never before had he seen someone so arrogantly ignorant.
At that moment, Protector Mo and Nan Huairen wished they could dig a hole and hide. A mere mortal claiming he would destroy the Nine Saint Demon Gate? This sect was a powerhouse, even when measured against the entire Grand Middle Territory. As a sect that ruled over an entire nation, who could possibly massacre them?
Wang Dong Suk ignored Xu Hui and continued walking outside without a trace of grace.
"Bastard! Die!" Xu Hui soared into the air and unleashed his sword energy toward Wang Dong Suk.
"Stand down!" A thunderous voice echoed across the entire sect. No one could resist the authority it carried—it struck directly into the soul.
Because of this voice, even Xu Hui and Sectional Leader Fu couldn't help but tremble as their limbs went limp.
"First Elder..." Sectional Leader Fu recognized the voice and began trembling in fear. He couldn't believe that such a minor incident had drawn the attention of the First Elder.
The voice roared again across the sky: "It was a fair competition. If one is killed, they can only blame their own lack of skill."
According to legend, the First Elder was an Enlightened Being—someone whose power was second only to the Demon King himself. His sudden appearance today made everyone begin to wonder if this so-called mortal was far more than he appeared.
"Our marriage alliance between the Nine Saint Demon Gate and the Cleansing Incense Ancient Sect is a long-standing tradition of our sect," the First Elder declared, his thunderous voice booming once again, ignoring the death of Du Yuanguang. "However, marriage is not a trivial matter. If the Cleansing Incense Ancient Sect wishes to marry our prime descendant, he must first prove himself worthy."
Upon hearing the First Elder's words, Wang Dong Suk regained his calm and replied, "At last, someone from the Nine Saint Demon Gate is willing to take responsibility. If you wish to follow tradition, then I shall do the same. You want to test me? So be it—I accept. There's no need to wait for another day. Let's do it now. Marrying your descendant is my decision. If anyone dares to show me disrespect, I will personally teach them a lesson."
With those words, Wang Dong Suk walked straight outside.
"It will be today," came the final statement, and with it, the sky returned to calm.
Everyone began to disperse, as no one dared defy the First Elder's command. Still, the general opinion was that Wang Dong Suk didn't know his place. His arrogance seemed to stretch beyond the heavens.
Protector Mo no longer cared about his image. He grabbed Wang Dong Suk and dragged him back into the room.
"You fool! If you want to die, fine—but don't drag our sect down with you!"
"Protector Mo, must you be so afraid?" Wang Dong Suk, unwilling to be hauled back, shoved Protector Mo's hands away.
"You… You… You…" Protector Mo was so flustered he could barely speak and began to hyperventilate.
Nan Huairen cried out like a wronged bride: "Senior, do you have any idea how powerful the Nine Saint Demon Gate is right now? Forget their elders and the Demon King—even their protectors are qualified to become Royal Nobles. Demon King Lun Ri could destroy our entire sect with a mere wave of his sleeve! When the First Elder stepped in to resolve the conflict, you should have used that opportunity to de-escalate the situation!"
Wang Dong Suk replied coldly, "Is that so? Well, it's too late now. Besides, I prefer to speak with my fists."
Of course, Wang Dong Suk could not reveal his secrets. If the Nine Saint Demon Gate wanted to stir up trouble, he would use the opportunity to test the true nature of their sect. Although he had once promised the Nine Saint Virtuous Paragon that he would look after his descendants, if they failed to know their rightful place, Wang Dong Suk would gladly cure them of their arrogance and corruption.
This would also give him a justified reason to claim the treasures of the Nine Saint Demon Gate.
Nan Huairen gave up. He no longer wanted to speak to or even look at Wang Dong Suk. He felt as if he were playing music for an ox—completely pointless and exhausting.[2. An expression meaning that reasoning with someone foolish is as useless as playing music for an animal that can't appreciate it.]
Protector Mo eventually regained his voice, but could only say scornfully, "You'd better follow the rules and attend the trial. If you keep stirring up trouble, you won't need to worry about returning to the sect—no one will be able to save you then."
***
The trial was held in an ancient pavilion, with two protectors acting as mediators. One was Protector Hua, the master of Xu Hui, and the other was Grand Protector Yu He—the strongest protector in the Nine Saint Demon Gate.
A visible aura surrounded Protector Hua, making it seem as if his body were forged from golden metal. In contrast, the Grand Protector's presence was far more intimidating. His Royal Noble-level aura radiated in a deep sanguine hue rather than gold, exuding an oppressive pressure.
Crowds of disciples gathered around the pavilion. Cultivation could often be lonely and monotonous, so they eagerly seized any chance to witness an exciting spectacle. So many people were present that not even a fly could pass through the crowd.
The group most opposed to the marriage consisted largely of male disciples. They all hoped Wang Dong Suk would fail the trial, firmly believing he was unworthy of becoming the husband of their revered goddess.
The trial was held in an ancient pavilion, with two protectors acting as mediators. One was Protector Hua, the master of Xu Hui, and the other was Grand Protector Yu He—the strongest protector in the Nine Saint Demon Gate.
A visible aura surrounded Protector Hua, making it seem as if his body were forged from golden metal. In contrast, the Grand Protector's presence was far more intimidating. His Royal Noble-level aura radiated in a deep sanguine hue rather than gold, exuding an oppressive pressure.
Crowds of disciples gathered around the pavilion. Cultivation could often be lonely and monotonous, so they eagerly seized any chance to witness an exciting spectacle. So many people were present that not even a fly could pass through the crowd.
The group most opposed to the marriage consisted largely of male disciples. They all hoped Wang Dong Suk would fail the trial, firmly believing he was unworthy of becoming the husband of their revered goddess.