Chapter 610: The Strength of the Pill Alliance
Inside the towering black building of the Pill Alliance, everyone gathered together. Once all were seated, the room was filled with Dou Saints, each turning their gaze toward Xiao Ze. Although Xiao Ze held no official position of power within the Pill Alliance, and no one was technically under his command, he was undeniably one of the most powerful individuals there, second only to the ever-absent Pill Tower Ancestor. His prowess in pill concoction made him a central figure in the alliance, attracting many to join for his renown. Despite his lack of formal authority, his high status was uncontested.
Having been away for a long time, Xiao Ze's return sparked curiosity among the crowd about what brought him back to the Pill Alliance.
"Perhaps everyone is curious about my return to the Pill Alliance," Xiao Ze began, smiling as he caught the inquisitive looks. "Considering the timing, the emergence of the Pure Lotus Demonic Flame is less than a month away. Many forces across Zhongzhou who are privy to this information are probably eager to try and tame the demonic flame once again."
The room stirred at the mention of the Pure Lotus Demonic Flame. Yao Lao, his complexion changing slightly, was all too aware of his disciple's possession of several fragmented maps related to the flame, though one remained elusive, much to their regret. Not all the Dou Saints present were as well-informed; some, lacking the deep-rooted affiliations that chronicled such knowledge, listened intently to others who quietly explained the significance.
"It's astonishing that this concerns the Pure Lotus Demonic Saint, one of the ancient era's most formidable beings on the Dou Qi continent. And I've heard that the Demonic Saint met his end through the backlash of the Pure Lotus Demonic Flame, leading to all his legacy and treasures falling into its possession!"
Even among a room full of Dou Saints, the atmosphere tensed with accelerated breathing and faster heartbeats at the thought of the legendary Demonic Saint's relics.
Xiao Ze, hearing the discussions, smiled slightly. "Such legends are why, through the ages, every emergence of the Pure Lotus Demonic Flame has attracted countless strong individuals attempting to subdue it."
Leaning forward, hands pressing against the table, Xiao Ze continued, "I expect this time will be no exception."
Huo Yun Ancestor looked surprised. "Does Master Xiao Ze intend to use the Pill Alliance's strength to vie for the Pure Lotus Demonic Flame?"
Xiao Ze shook his head. "The Pure Lotus Demonic Flame is a marvel of nature; it belongs to whoever is capable and fortunate. Anyone in the Pill Alliance is welcome to try their luck at claiming it. It would be a great boon for the Alliance, provided it does not fall into the hands of the Soul Hall."
"On my way back, I even encountered the Ancestor, who instructed that under no circumstances should the Soul Hall seize the flame, as it would spell disaster for our Alliance."
"You met the Ancestor!?" the Grand Elder of the Pill Tower exclaimed, surprised. The Pill Tower Ancestor was elusive, seldom seen even by his own people; Xiao Ze's encounter was truly unexpected.
"In any case, our primary task this time around is to thwart the Soul Hall from obtaining the Pure Lotus Demonic Flame," Xiao Ze declared. "Anyone within the Pill Alliance who wishes to contest for the flame may do so. However, I must warn everyone: the fame of the Pure Lotus Demonic Flame is formidable, and even the ancient pinnacle powerhouse, the Demonic Saint, perished by its hand. Without absolute preparation, I advise against rash actions. Failing to secure the flame could not only result in a loss of your cultivated powers but potentially lead to your demise."
The room's mood grew somber, the initial excitement tempered by the gravity of Xiao Ze's warnings.
"By the way, having been away from the Pill Alliance for some time, I'm unfamiliar with the current strengths of our upper echelons. I would appreciate an update on our capabilities to effectively counter the Soul Hall."
Yao Chen, sitting at the head of the table, responded with a chuckle. "The Pill Alliance has grown significantly since your last visit. We now boast over ten Dou Saints, with others on missions away from the tower. You may review the detailed information at your leisure."
Passing a jade slip to Xiao Ze, who promptly scanned it with his soul force, his eyes widened slightly at the documented power within the Alliance.
"As expected, war is a harsh yet effective means to amass power. Although we do not resort to the soul-draining extremities of the Soul Hall, our continuous victories have significantly enriched our resources."
These resources, transformed into potent pills by our skilled alchemists, have strengthened our members considerably, encouraging their loyalty and further fueling our war efforts. In turn, this cycle of merit through conquest and resource acquisition has bolstered our ranks with ever more powerful adherents, turning the Pill Alliance into the formidable force detailed in this jade slip.
Contemplating this, Xiao Ze realized, "The current strength of the Pill Alliance is partly due to the war's plunder. The other part lies in our foundation of alchemists, maximizing the potential of these resources."
This revelation also highlighted a potential danger: the finite nature of resources gained from warfare. Once these resources could no longer sustain the Alliance's needs, who would control the war machine then?