Doupo: Marry a Young Doctor and Be Rewarded with Douhuang Cultivation

196: The Xiao clan held a meeting, and the Nine Heavens Alliance was established!The Grand Elder looked at Xiao Ze, his tone softening a bit: ”Since you have been elected as an Elder of the Little Pill Tower, follow me to the council hall. Matters of the Alliance should be settled in front of the ten Elders.”

Xiao Ze and Yao Lao followed closely, stepping into the ancient council hall carved with pill patterns.

The ten Elders sat on stone chairs on both sides, the atmosphere so solemn that even breathing was clearly audible.

The Grand Elder sat at the head, his gaze sweeping over everyone as he slowly began: ”The Pill Tower has been neutral for hundreds of years, and the ancestral teachings cannot be violated. However, the Hall of Souls is becoming increasingly rampant, daring to abduct Alchemists from even the Little Pill Tower in secret. Clinging to old rules now would be self-destruction.”

”Xiao Ze, tell us, what are the tangible benefits of the Alliance to the Pill Tower?”

Xiao Ze stood up, his voice steady yet penetrating: ”The Alliance is not about the Pill Tower resisting the Hall of Souls alone, but a joint effort of five parties: the Xiao Clan, Starfall Pavilion, Burning Flame Valley, Flower Sect, and the Pill Tower.”

”If the Hall of Souls dares to harm the Pill Tower in the slightest, the other four parties will immediately send troops to assist; conversely, if the Pill Tower stands by, waiting for other forces to be defeated one by one by the Hall of Souls, the Pill Tower will lose its protective screen and sooner or later become the next target for the Hun Clan to collect Souls.”

”Surely, the Elders haven’t forgotten the incident at the Pill Gathering when the Hall of Souls ambushed the competing Disciples, have they?”

These words struck a raw nerve with the Elders. The Elder who had lost his Personal Disciple to the Hall of Souls immediately slammed the table: ”Xiao Ze is right! Instead of waiting for death, it’s better to fight back proactively! I vote in favor!”

Another Elder, who had an old grudge with the Hall of Souls, also nodded: ”I also support the Alliance! We can’t let the Hall of Souls act so recklessly anymore!”

Seeing that five Elders already supported him, the Grand Elder finally nodded: ”Good, the Pill Tower will join the Alliance. In three days, I will personally lead Xuan Kongzi and Xuan Yi to the Xiao Clan to participate in the Alliance ceremony.”

After resolving the Pill Tower matter, Xiao Ze and Yao Lao returned to the Xiao Clan and Starfall Pavilion without delay.

For the next three days, the Xiao Clan was on high alert.

The Xiao Clan’s ancestral ”Myriad Dragons Devouring Heaven Formation” was set up at the mountain gate, five seats were arranged in the guest hall, and elite Disciples from the clan were stationed in the square outside the hall. Even the air was filled with a tense yet expectant Aura.

This was the first time the Xiao Clan had led the Formation of a cross-force Alliance after many years of silence.

Yao Lao, meanwhile, brought the core strength of the Starfall Pavilion to the Xiao Clan, almost emptying their entire resources.

Clearly, to counter the Hall of Souls and the Hun Clan behind it, the Starfall Pavilion had prepared for a tough battle.

On the morning of the fourth day, the Flower Sect arrived first.

Fairy Qing and Fairy Hua, dressed in emerald palace attire, led more than ten Core Disciples of the sect to the square. Fairy Qing looked at Xiao Ze, who was coming to greet them, and smiled as she cupped her hands.

”Clan Chief Xiao, the Flower Sect has arrived as promised. In this Alliance, our Flower Sect will provide full assistance.”

Xiao Ze quickly returned the greeting, leading them into the guest hall and serving them spiritual tea.

Before long, a scorching Aura emanated from the direction of the Burning Flame Valley. Fire Cloud Old Ancestor, accompanied by Tang Zhen and Tang Huo’er, appeared atop a crimson cloud of fire.

His red hair flew, and his laughter shook the surrounding leaves: ”Little Xiao, I’m here to support you! Those things from the Hall of Souls, those rats in the gutter, should have been dealt with properly long ago!”

As he spoke, he patted Xiao Ze’s shoulder, and the pressure of a one-star Dou Sheng expert in the Middle Stage made the surrounding Xiao Clan Disciples subconsciously hold their breath.

Xiao Ze smiled and led him to his seat, while Tang Huo’er curiously surveyed the Xiao Clan’s halls, her eyes full of novelty.

Finally, the Pill Tower entourage arrived. The Grand Elder, dressed in linen, walked side by side with Xuan Kongzi and Xuan Yi, followed by three Elders of the Little Pill Tower.

”Elder Lin, you must have had a tiring journey.”

Xiao Ze stepped forward and exchanged pleasantries with the Grand Elder for a moment, noticing a flicker of approval in the Grand Elder’s eyes as he scanned the Formation outside the hall.

He had clearly recognized the power of the ”Myriad Dragons Devouring Heaven Formation.”

Once everyone was seated, Yao Lao was the first to stand up, his gaze sweeping across the hall: ”Today, we have gathered to formally establish the Alliance.”

”The Hall of Souls has grievances with all five of us: the Pill Tower has lost many Alchemists, the sect was secretly targeted by the Hall of Souls, the Fire Cloud Old Ancestor of the Burning Flame Valley was nearly ambushed by the Hall of Souls years ago, and the Xiao Clan and Starfall Pavilion are in an endless struggle with the Hall of Souls. Now, the Hun Clan’s ambition is becoming apparent, and a single force cannot contend with it. Only by joining hands can we protect the Central Plains.”

Fire Cloud Old Ancestor, toying with the flames in his palm, was the first to ask: ”The Alliance must have rules. Equality among all parties is natural, but there must be a leader, right? Otherwise, if everyone has their own opinion when something happens, you say east and I say west, wouldn’t that be chaos?”

The hall instantly fell silent. Fairy Qing pondered for a moment, then slowly spoke: ”The leader needs to possess strength, prestige, and decisiveness. Grand Elder Lin is advanced in age and is more suited to overseeing the Pill Tower.”

”Although Yao Lao has prestige, he currently mainly manages the Starfall Pavilion; Xiao Ze is the Clan Chief of the Xiao Clan, and he is also a Ninth-Grade Alchemist and a Dou Sheng expert. He initiated and facilitated this Alliance, and he also thwarted the Hall of Souls’ forces at the Pill Gathering. It is most fitting for him to be the leader.”

The Grand Elder nodded in agreement: ”Xiao Ze’s strength and Heart-Nature displayed at the Pill Gathering are enough to convince everyone. I support him.”

Xuan Kongzi, Tang Zhen, and others also expressed their agreement.

Xiao Ze stood up, cupped his hands, and said: ”Thank you all for your trust. I am willing to temporarily serve as the leader. But I have a suggestion.”

”The Alliance will establish three Deputy Leaders, with one person from the Pill Tower, Flower Sect, and Burning Flame Valley each. Yao Lao of the Starfall Pavilion will assist me in handling affairs.”

”If the three Deputy Leaders are in unanimous agreement, they can overrule the leader’s decision, ensuring that no single party dominates the Alliance and that the interests of all parties are equal.”

Everyone had no objection. Fire Cloud Old Ancestor then eagerly pressed on: ”The leader is decided, the Alliance needs a resounding name! I think ’Burning Heaven Alliance’ sounds like it could burn down the Hall of Souls’ lair!”

Fairy Qing chuckled: ”That’s too ostentatious. How about ’Central Plains Guardian Alliance’, signifying the protection of the Central Plains.”

Xiao Ze pondered for a moment and said: ”The Hall of Souls seeks to dominate the world. Our Alliance should have the ambition to encompass the Nine Heavens and deter all directions. How about ’Nine Heavens Alliance’? It not only displays the majestic Aura of the Alliance but also implicitly means ’Under the Nine Heavens, united against evil from the Hun Clan’.”

”Good! Let’s call it the Nine Heavens Alliance!” Fire Cloud Old Ancestor was the first to clap the table in agreement, and the Grand Elder also slowly nodded: ”Nine Heavens as supreme, this name is both grand and can unite people’s hearts.”

Yao Lao raised the wine glass on the table and loudly declared: ”Today, the Nine Heavens Alliance is officially established! From now on, the Xiao Clan, Pill Tower, Sect, Burning Flame Valley, and Starfall Pavilion will form an offensive and defensive Alliance to jointly resist the Hall of Souls!”

Everyone raised their glasses, just about to drink, when the space in the center of the hall suddenly distorted. Dense black mist seeped out like a tide, and a cold, emotionless voice boomed through the hall:

”Nine Heavens Alliance? What big words. I, this Hall, want to see if your newly formed Alliance can survive today!”

Within the black mist, five black figures slowly appeared. The leader, dressed in a black robe, revealed a pair of glowing eyes beneath his hood. A Dou Sheng Aura emanated from him, his gaze fixed on Xiao Ze.

”Remnant of the Xiao Clan, at the Pill Gathering years ago, you ruined the Hall of Souls’ plans. Today, your life will serve as a ’good start’ for the Nine Heavens Alliance!”

Xiao Ze’s expression darkened. He slowly stood up, his Dou Qi instantly surging. A purple-gold alien flame rose in his palm, transforming into a coiling Fire Dragon: ”The Hall of Souls dares to invade the Xiao Clan, to step on the mountain gate of my Nine Heavens Alliance. Today, I will ensure you have no return!”

Yao Lao, Fire Cloud Old Ancestor, the Grand Elder, and others also stood up, each releasing their Aura. The atmosphere in the hall instantly became tense, and a great battle was on the verge of breaking out.