Chapter 1159: This Is a War
Back then, when Yue Yao was punished and sealed within the pill array, Celestial Venerable Bi Ying didn’t even give it a thought.
After all these years, he nearly forgot about it himself.
At that time, he wouldn’t have dreamed that this matter would escalate to the point where Second-Grade Immortal Officials would intervene.
Now, he finally had a sense of impending trouble.
Amidst the rumbling, beams of golden light scattered, and the pill array was finally opened.
The crowd looked intently, and at first glance, they saw five figures within, scattered and positioned.
These five individuals were entirely bound with illusory chains of restriction, either standing or sitting, unable to move.
On the surface, they appeared emaciated, their complexion withered and exhausted, akin to those severely ill.
The most severe of them, a young man from the Emperor Realm Ninth Layer, oozed pus all over, exuding a pungent stench.
After the pill array was opened, only two of the five could barely open their eyes.
Their expressions were dazed, and their gaze towards the crowd was filled with deep bewilderment.
Bear in mind, they transcended True Immortal by countless Great Realms long ago.
At such a level, their Immortal Bodies should be free from illness, only approaching the decline near their lifespan’s end, not in such a state akin to the Celestial Five Declines.
The reason they became this way was clearly because of being suppressed beneath, severely damaging their foundation!
Even Jiang Cheng, not to mention Emperor Pill Masters like Liuyuan and Qing Huan familiar with the style of the Yidan Stream, were deeply pained.
"Bi Ying! You are utterly unworthy as a person!"
"Sister..."
As soon as Yue Zhi saw Yue Yao, her tears uncontrollably flowed.
She couldn’t care less about the presence of High-tier Immortal Officials, crying sorrowfully as she rushed like a falling leaf into the pill array.
"Sister, we’ve come to rescue you!"
Bai Yan’s eyes were also red with tears.
"Yue Yao, we’re here for you, you’re safe now!"
Yue Yao, tightly embraced by them, had been in the array for twenty million years, yet was the latest among the five.
Therefore, her condition was comparatively better.
Still, it took several minutes before she could finally catch her breath.
"Yue Zhi, Bai Yan... is this a dream... or am I already dead?"
Seeing the group of people before her, her pale face revealed confusion.
Until she saw Celestial Venerable Bi Ying, she suddenly shivered, fear instantly replacing all emotions.
"Celestial, Celestial Venerable... I, I..."
Celestial Venerable Bi Ying remained there with a cold expression, full of arrogant malice.
Even Taiheng Daoist Venerable couldn’t stand it.
His eyes as sharp as lightning, he fiercely scanned the high ranks across like Venerable Jinpi and Venerable Zhengxu.
"Is this the kind of person your Yidan Stream nurtures?"
Not a trace of shame could be seen on Venerable Jinpi’s face across.
Instead, he replied in a sly manner, "Our Yidan Stream has always operated this way, this is considered many times more restrained."
Venerable Zhengxu also responded indifferently, "We’ve released them now, we admit defeat in this matter, isn’t it unnecessary to keep nagging?"
Implying that, at least these individuals were still alive, no?
You should be content!
Taihung Daoist Venerable, who spent a lifetime on alchemy, was truly unable to contain his anger at this moment.
Pointing at the group across, his pulsing blood vessels trembled fiercely.
"To be an Emperor Pill Master alongside you, under the Celestial Pill Department’s banner, it’s nothing short of our disgrace!"
As his words fell, a cold laugh echoed from above.
"Hmph! Taiheng, quite startling you are!"
Immediately, a mass of gray fog rapidly condensed, transforming into a withered figure of a gray-robed elder.
His appearance brought a renewed pressure like thorns on the back for everyone present, a suppression from tiers!
Another Daoist Venerable!
"Old Ancestor, you’ve arrived!"
Venerable Jinpi and others were ecstatic.
"Greetings, Yi Yuan Daoist Venerable!"
Straightaway, they knelt down, knocking their heads thrice.
"Greetings, Ancestral Master!"
"Haha, now that the Old Ancestor is here, let’s see how arrogant the Ancient Pill Stream can still be!"
Their response was swift.
In no time, they rushed forward, blocking the pill array at the rear.
Thus, not only Yue Yao, but Yue Zhi and Bai Yan were also stuck on that side, unable to return.
Meanwhile, Taiheng Daoist Venerable and Liuyuan frowned simultaneously.
"Troubles are brewing."
"This Yi Yuan Daoist Venerable is one of the founding Ancestral Master figures of the Yidan Stream, and also an Eighth-Grade Imperial Pill Master, Second-Grade Immortal Monarch!"
"This matter is bound to cause complications again..."
Listening to their discussion, Brother Cheng’s mouth twitched, unable to resist a quip.
Left one, right one, one moment this side has the upper hand, then the other side acts dominant, are you doing this on purpose?
When will it end? Can’t everyone just arrive at once?
"Ancestral Master, they are too overreaching, bullying our Yidan Stream, it’s a slap in your face..."
This time, it was Venerable Jinpi and Venerable Zhengxu’s turn to come forward with grievances.
Adding fuel to the fire, Taiheng Daoist Venerable listened with a deep frown.
"Yi Yuan Daoist Venerable, do you wish to intervene in this matter too?"
Across, Yi Yuan Daoist Venerable, stroking a few remaining whiskers on his chin, sneered coldly.
"Taiheng scoundrel, if you can intervene, why can’t an old ancestor like me?"
He cast an indifferent glance at the three trembling women behind, as if looking down on three ants.
"I will leave it here, this matter now concerns the dignity of our Yidan Stream."
By rights, Yue Yao was merely a Ninth-grade Immortal Official, her alchemical skills not high, possessing nothing special.
To such high ranks as them, she held no value whatsoever.
Release would mean release.
But the issue was a matter of pride for the people.
In Yi Yuan Daoist Venerable’s eyes, this situation already evolved into a ’war’ between the Yidan Stream and Ancient Pill Stream.
As long as they persist in not releasing them, it means the Yidan Stream beated Ancient Pill Stream.
Releasing them would signify Yidan Stream’s submission.
Significance is immense!
"So, as long as this old ancestor is here for a day, don’t expect them to be released."
He added faintly, "Perhaps one day, we might return their corpses to you."
With these words, the Yidan Stream high ranks like Jin Pi and Zhengxu clamored in unison.
"Hahaha, Ancestral Master speaks truly!"
"Want us to release them? Dream on!"
Having been ’shaken’ earlier, Celestial Venerable Bi Ying now had the support of the Old Ancestor, immediately feeling empowered.
With his hands on his waist, he directly confronted Taiheng and Liuyuan and other High-tier Immortal Officials, scornfully saying.
"Had I known that wretched Yue Yao belonged to you, I would’ve given special attention earlier."
Beside him, a few Yidan Stream Fifth-Grade Immortal Officials replied sarcastically, "No harm in giving attention now..."
"Hahaha!"
Bi Ying laughed hysterically.
"Indeed, there’s now two more too!"
"Of course, we’ll keep them to slowly torture, what can you do?"
"If you’re displeased, you can file a complaint with the Divine Monarch, if desperate, seek the Celestial Emperor."
"Let’s see whether the Celestial Emperor would come to punish our Old Ancestor over a few lowly maids!"