The Great Elder looked at Xiao Ze, his tone softening a little. "Since you've been elected an elder of the Little Pill Tower, come with me to the council hall. The matter of the Alliance must be settled in front of the ten elders."
Xiao Ze and Yao Lao followed close behind him into the ancient council hall, its walls carved all over with Pill Patterns.
The ten elders sat on stone chairs along both sides. The atmosphere was so solemn that even their breathing sounded clear.
The Great Elder took the seat of honor, swept his gaze over the others, and spoke slowly. "The Pill Tower has remained neutral for hundreds of years. We cannot defy our ancestors' instructions. But the Soul Hall has grown more and more brazen. They even dare secretly abduct alchemists from the Little Pill Tower. If we cling to the old rules now, we'll be digging our own graves."
"Xiao Ze, tell us: what concrete benefits would an Alliance bring the Pill Tower?"
Xiao Ze rose to his feet. His voice was steady, yet carried through the hall. "The Alliance wouldn't leave the Pill Tower to face the Soul Hall alone. It would unite five sides: the Xiao Tribe, Starfall Pavilion, Burning Flame Valley, Flower Sect, and Pill Tower."
"If the Soul Hall dares lay a finger on the Pill Tower, the other four sides will immediately send troops to help. But if the Pill Tower stands by while the other forces are defeated one by one, it will lose its shield. Sooner or later, it will become the Hun Clan's next target for gathering souls."
"Surely none of you have forgotten how the Soul Hall ambushed the contestants at the Pill Gathering?"
His words struck a sore spot among the elders. One elder,