Chapter 1871: Altercation
In the northern hemisphere of the New Era Battle Arena, the Mandate Emperor felt like he wanted to hit his head on the wall again. The Emperor of Death arrived at the competition as everyone feared, but after a short while, he was already up to no good but for entirely a different reason, offending the Glorious Pill Palace.
The others also shook their head while the crowd's heads were shaking in excitement, wanting to see drama.
Even Esvele Zelte and Verona Stein, who remained frustrated because of their loss and were apologizing to Sect Master Lea Weiss and Ancestor Cornelia for their feebleness, forgot about it as they viewed the brewing animosity in the Thousand Pill Palace's seating area.
"Nora Alstreim, you should return to the battle stage, or you'll be disqualified."
At this moment, Honorable Elder Julian Kruse's voice echoed like a windy breeze passing through space without sound. It could only be felt but not heard. However, his expression appeared wry, as though his words were partly uttered as a joke. Clearly, he didn't want to offend her or the person behind her, to be precise.
"Claire, I'm sorry."
Nora turned to look at the battle stage and uttered as she bit her lips. She was gazing at Claire with an apologetic expression. However, Claire smilingly shook her head.
"No problem. We're not here to win the competition but gain some kind of experience. This is way more important to you. Besides, I can survive on my own, but I think I'll go back and play with Evan and Laura."
"Claire…"
Their opponents' expressions twitched, but Claire and Nora seemed to be in their own world, caring for each other.
"Yeah, you heard us both. We give up."
Claire turned to look at the two arbitrators who appeared stumped, unable to cry or laugh. If they didn't need the rewards, why bother participating? However, on second thought, there was still Clara, who looked as though she was going to win the Seventh Stage Segment due to her overwhelming prowess of having two five-kilometer Perfect Domains.
Other than her, only Tanya Frostblight seemed to have two domains, but one of them was a five-kilometer Perfect Domain, and the other one was a one thousand and nine hundred meters Supreme Domain. It could in no way compare to Clara's, so it became easier for everyone to tell who was going to prevail in the end.
However, would Clara also give up just like that? The Alstreim Family seemed to be giving up in droves whenever they wanted…
Claire returned to the Alstreim Family amidst the gaze of millions of people, looking rather proud for giving up. It was a sight they wouldn't be able to see in competitions, especially competitions that are way too grand like the one they're sitting on.
Nonetheless, the chaotic atmosphere didn't die but only grew as, during this time, the Ancestor-level characters of the Glorious Pill Palace ended up arriving at the Thousand Pill Palace's seating area.
Two old men were wearing red robes of similar pattern and appeared to have a nonagon, a nine-sided image of a polygon embedded on their arm sleeves. Their eyes appeared sharp. Their white hair and long beard made them look wise while they possessed kind expressions on their faces, but their presence brought the Thousand Pill Palace to a standstill, even making all the three Thousand Pill Palace Ancestors appear reverent towards them.
"Grand Pill Emperors…" Ancestor Krane Parazen gulped.
Lost… everything was going to shatter and end in ruins. The deal they had made for the future of the Thousand Pill Palace was going to be struck off. It would be fine if it were just that, but it would be like offending them now if they refused to hand Dalila Leehan over.
They were addressed as the Grand Pill Emperors, having the cultivation of Peak-Level Law Rune Stage and being able to make pills higher than their level even though their prowess didn't quite match up. This spoke volumes of their control over the fires and the knowledge they possessed in the vast fields of alchemy.
"What's going on?"
One of them spoke, causing a few people to quickly fill them in. It was as though they weren't paying attention to all that had happened before.
Meanwhile, Davis stood there confused.
Why were they acting so pompous?
Do they not see the difference between their strengths? He was fine with them looking indifferent, but to act like they were superior, he found their behavior funny instead. However, considering the respect these two old foggies commanded all these thousands of years, he could see why they weren't humbled yet like the Four Great Righteous Sect Leaders who have had a glimpse of his strength with their own eyes.
"Emperor of Death." One of the Grand Pill Emperors with free-falling white hair spoke, "We understand that you are young and want to help a person you have previously acknowledged, and that's endearing, to say the least. However, it's not like we forced her in the beginning. She got herself into this agreement by agreeing to marry Young Master Faus but now, she says that she will back out of it arbitrarily? This doesn't make sense, nor does it say seem like an action an honorable woman would take. Is she even worthy of your acknowledgment?"
Dalila Leehan's heart skipped a beat.
This was what she was precisely worried for, her character being brought into question. She knew this would happen as she had made a conflicting decision after taking one. She was just about to make a stand for herself, that she belonged to no one, at least, not yet, when suddenly his voice echoed.
"If I remember correctly, your title is Venerated Sunrise Pill Emperor, right?"
Davis couldn't help but smile at that Grand Pill Emperor who spoke.
"Indeed, I am Venerated Sunrise Pill Emperor."
The old man smilingly nodded, causing Davis to nod.
"Alright. Let's say that Dalila doesn't have any integrity. Why do you still want her as the bride then? Is that not harmful to your power?"
The Venerated Sunrise Pill Emperor's smiling expression faded. Dalila Leehan initially felt down but couldn't help but revere Davis for instantly reversing the tide, even seemingly gaining the flow of the conversation.
If she was garbage, why did they still want her then?
"Young man, the reputation of our Glorious Pill Palace is at stake, and you're asking why we still want this woman with a dubious character?"
The other old man whom Davis recognized to be as the Venerated Twilight Pill Emperor spoke with a sharp voice.
"So let me get this straight." Davis's eyes narrowed at him, "You don't care what happens to Dalila Leehan and only want her as a tool to fulfill your purpose and protect your reputation?"
"Of course not. Can't you see that our little palace master is panicked? You're taking away his bride that we all and the Thousand Pill Palace promised him. You care for the woman, which is fine, but what about the man's reputation? We're only explaining this to you since you're young and could see the truth. Krane Parazen, bring Dalila Leehan to our place. We'll take it from here."
The Venerated Twilight Pill Emperor spoke with sharpness as he gestured.
"Young man, it's not wise to make a scene here, so let's go to the resting-"
"No, we'll settle this here."
Davis visibly sighed before he pursed his lips, "Look, I'm tired after cultivating and have far important things to do. Don't waste my time. I don't want to make much tro-"
"What? We're wasting your time when you're trying to steal our bride? How can this injustice be- "
*Paah!~*
The Venerated Twilight Pill Emperor appeared furious, no longer able to keep his calm when suddenly his head swiveled towards the right before the teeth he possessed all came flying out one by one from his mouth as they struck the seating area and even created small dents over the surface.
A searing pain instantly emerged in the left cheek of the Venerated Twilight Pill Emperor. However, the only thing he managed to see was Davis's hand moving ever so slightly before his scalp turned numb, simultaneously experiencing a slap to his face that was actually conjured by soul force.
He didn't even see it coming, but from the rage swelling in his heart and mind, he turned to look at the Emperor of Death, his expression becoming livid!
"You…!"
"It's Emperor of Death to you, old fart."
Davis's expression was utterly cold, his eyes wide as they exuded sharpness. His chin was slightly inclined upwards as he condescendingly looked down on the Venerated Twilight Pill Emperor who pointed at him.
The expressions of the Four Great Righteous Sect Leaders also fell! Every mind present became alarmed while the heart became panicked, afraid that chaos was going to ensue!