Chapter 384: Insubordination, a Capital Offense

Chapter 384: Chapter 384: Insubordination, a Capital Offense

Yi Xiaoyao’s words plunged the great hall into silence once again. The elders all exchanged glances.

"So you’re not as dense as you appear, boy," said an elder with a red brow and a crimson beard. "Since you can see through this, why refuse the opportunity the Grand Elder gave you?"

Just as the man said, the Grand Elder was indeed offering Yi Lu’s hand to Yi Xiaoyao for the sake of the Alchemy Dao inheritance. But it was also a way to bring Yi Xiaoyao into the fold, to make him family. It was an opportunity countless people would kill for.

If Yi Xiaoyao were to marry Yi Lu, he would naturally be unable to keep the Alchemy Dao inheritance for himself. The Grand Elder would likely even demand it as a betrothal gift.

In short, the main reason was the Alchemy Dao inheritance.

After all, in the entire Great Yu Dynasty, the Red Butterfly Saint Witch was the only one capable of refining Seven-Pattern Elixirs.

If one could master the method for refining Seven-Pattern Elixirs through this inheritance, their status and prestige would inevitably soar above all other Alchemists.

Otherwise, with Yi Lu’s family background and Alchemy Mastery, she could easily marry into a powerful and noble family. Why else would the Grand Elder choose someone like Yi Xiaoyao, a man with no background to speak of?

Yi Xiaoyao had seen through this scheme back when Yi Lu first came to him. He had decided to play along, just to see what these elders were really like.

Now that he had torn down the pretense, he intended to lay everything bare.

"I will not marry Yi Lu. This isn’t about comparing her to anyone else. It’s simply because I don’t like her. In fact, I despise her."

Yi Xiaoyao’s words made Yi Lu’s face turn pale, and the Grand Elder’s old face flushed red with rage.

Before the Grand Elder could explode, Yi Xiaoyao continued, "As for the Alchemy Dao inheritance... could it be that you elders have developed some greedy ideas?"

"Insolence!"

With a furious roar, the Grand Elder pointed at Yi Xiaoyao. "You are a disciple of our Holy Pill Academy! You should be grateful for the Academy’s guidance! You should share the Alchemy Dao inheritance to strengthen the Academy’s mastery! How dare you call such a selfless act greedy?"

The Grand Elder’s tone was self-righteous, his face showing no hint of shame. It was as if Yi Xiaoyao’s refusal to share the Alchemy Dao inheritance was an act of selfish ingratitude, and sharing it was the only correct and noble path.

Yi Xiaoyao was stunned by the Grand Elder’s shamelessness and couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh.

"The Alchemy Dao inheritance is something I bled for, something I risked my life and paid a heavy price to obtain. The whole world knows it’s mine. How I choose to deal with it is my business and mine alone."

Yi Xiaoyao continued, asking, "If Yi Lu had obtained the Alchemy Dao inheritance, would you have made her share it?"

"Of course, I would!" the Grand Elder declared righteously.

Yi Xiaoyao’s perception of the Grand Elder’s shamelessness reached a new level.

"If that’s the case, then why doesn’t the Grand Elder share the contents of his Storage Pouch? First, let me witness this ’selfless spirit’ you speak of," Yi Xiaoyao retorted, turning the man’s own words against him.

"You have no respect for your elders!"

The Grand Elder was left speechless. With an enraged roar, he lunged toward Yi Xiaoyao.

Just then, several other elders hurried forward to block the enraged Grand Elder. They smiled at Yi Xiaoyao. "Yi Xiaoyao, we elders are merely concerned that you might not be able to comprehend the Alchemy Dao inheritance on your own. We only wish to help you interpret it. How can you spurn our good intentions and misunderstand us so?"

"Exactly. This would be mutually beneficial, so why not agree? In return, the Holy Pill Academy will guarantee your safety. That seems fair enough."

"Every person you killed in the Alchemy Dao Arena was a genius from a prominent Alchemy Family. Those Alchemy Families now consider you a mortal enemy they must eliminate. Without the Holy Pill Academy’s protection, you likely won’t live to see another day!"

The elders’ words, while pretending to be reasonable, were nothing but sophistry, and even used Yi Xiaoyao’s life as a threat.

"’Fair enough’? ’Good intentions’? So this is the true face of the Holy Pill Academy. I see it now."

Yi Xiaoyao’s cold laughter didn’t stop. "Whether or not I can comprehend the inheritance is my business. As for my life, what need is there for you to concern yourselves with it?"

With that said, Yi Xiaoyao turned to leave.

"Stop!"

The Grand Elder bellowed, "Since you don’t value your own life, I might as well end it for you! It’s better than letting the Alchemy Dao inheritance fall into someone else’s hands!"

The moment he finished speaking, the Grand Elder erupted with a terrifying aura from his Cultivation, intent on executing Yi Xiaoyao.

"Grandfather!" Yi Lu cried out in alarm, quickly grabbing hold of the Grand Elder.

The Grand Elder glanced at Yi Lu. For this session of the Alchemy Dao Arena, he had paid a great price, coercing and bribing numerous other Alchemy Families, all to ensure Yi Lu could obtain the Alchemy Dao inheritance and make it to the final stage. Yet, in the end, the inheritance had fallen into Yi Xiaoyao’s hands.

So how could the Grand Elder possibly let Yi Xiaoyao leave now?

"Lu’Er, this boy has damaged your reputation by rejecting our proposal! Do you have any feelings for him? If you do, Grandfather will imprison him until he repents. If not, I will execute him where he stands and take back the inheritance for you!"

Hearing this, a complex expression washed over Yi Lu’s pretty face. Regardless of her feelings, she had no personal grudge against Yi Xiaoyao.

Yi Lu quickly turned to Yi Xiaoyao. "Young Master Yi, just share the Alchemy Dao inheritance! Otherwise, my grandfather will really kill you."

Yi Xiaoyao looked back at her coldly. "I already gave you a chance. I was willing to share the inheritance with you. Since you refused then, why would you expect me to offer you a second chance?"

Seeing Yi Xiaoyao’s heartless response to Yi Lu, Killing Intent flared in the Grand Elder’s heart, and he immediately strode forward.

Sensing the man’s Killing Intent, Yi Xiaoyao immediately asked the eight elders around him, "Is there any elder willing to save me?"

The eight elders exchanged dismayed glances. If they were to stand up for him now, wouldn’t they be offending the Grand Elder?

However, the red-browed elder sighed softly. He had watched Yi Xiaoyao’s performance in the Alchemy Dao Arena and greatly admired his talent. He couldn’t bear to see such a promising young man killed.

"Grand Elder, don’t be rash. There are other ways to resolve this," Elder Hongmei advised.

"Killing him is the simplest solution!"

The Grand Elder ignored the advice completely, advancing step by step and raising his palm, preparing to strike.

But just then, Yi Xiaoyao let out a cold snort and held up the Pill Child Order for all to see.

"I am the Pill Child of the Holy Pill Hall. You dare to touch me?"

At these words, the elders all shot up from their seats in shock. The Grand Elder’s raised palm trembled violently.

Yi Xiaoyao, holder of the Pill Child Order, was the Pill Child of the Holy Pill Hall.

This meant he was the Young Master to everyone in this room!

And yet, someone had tried to seize the Young Master’s inheritance and was even prepared to kill him.

The great hall fell deathly silent. The elders’ faces showed a mixture of expressions, and Yi Lu’s mouth hung open in disbelief. All of them seemed to be waiting for Yi Xiaoyao to speak.

Yi Xiaoyao pointed a finger at the Grand Elder and bellowed, "You, as the Grand Elder of the Holy Pill Academy, failed to seize my inheritance and then moved to kill me! This is insubordination of the highest order, a crime punishable by death!"

Insubordination, a crime punishable by death!

Now, Yi Xiaoyao wanted to kill the Grand Elder!

...