I just cleared level 9. Before I move on, I wanted to know if I missed something. It seems to me that the Outer Sanctum had no real purpose. I used the ornate key to get in, followed the portal order (3 2 1 3), got past the pit part, and picked up...another ornate key. It seemed like a pointless endeavor.

Was there something else I could grab? I already got the armor in the pit.

You may need several ornate keys (probably 3 all in all, I guess).

How did you get past the pit part? I close the first pit, time second pit and teleporter, but the lever on the right side doesn't seem to have any effect.

SPOILERS below.

As far as 'treasures' on this level.

Pit fighter gloves? (bonus strength, bonus attack power for unarmed characters)
Circlet of War? (lying near the lizard spawn point).
Norja? (utterly useless axe... like all axes)
Armor of Valor (you mentioned having this)
Lurker hood

The whole point of level 9 is to funnel you through tests. The level surrounds a central square room with treasures on each side that you must remove from their alcoves to reveal the exit.

A spell scroll (lever in the ice lizards zone opens the door), an ornate key (the fire guardians & the teleporter puzzle that requires both levers be pulled), a book of infinite wisdom (the hall of pillars puzzle).

Removing the third treasure causes the way to the save crystal and the exit to reveal itself. The level has two keys for a reason.

One of the ice lizards will drop the golden treasury key for this level, which contains the 3rd and final book of infinite wisdom in the game... this level has 2, which is a whopping 10 skill points.