Chapter 1143: Is Pill City Easy to Pick On?

“Susu is our Black Ice Sect’s sect member, my personal disciple. Even the Infinity Sect’s sect leader brought wedding gifts and personally proposed. Pill King Ye, do you think that because you’re from Pill City, you can forcefully take away my Black Ice Sect member?” the old female cultivator demanded. She looked around and saluted with her fists. “Our Black Ice Sect may not be as powerful as Pill City, but we’re still a 9-star sect. No one abuses us. I don’t care about Susu’s past; she’s my disciple now. She will marry whomever I choose. No one can force me. Otherwise, I will uphold the Black Ice Sect’s authority, even if it costs me my life.”

Everyone understood Fan Lianzhu's implication: she accepted Susu's relationship with Ye Mo but insisted he had no right to take her from the Black Ice Sect. Ye Mo, who initially held a favorable impression of Susu’s master, was now furious. He rose, speaking coldly, “I addressed you with respect because you are Susu’s master; don’t presume it grants you special status. Susu is your disciple, and I appreciate your care, but she didn’t sell herself to you. You have no right to decide her future. That decision rests solely with Susu.”

“You…” Fan Lianzhu’s face turned a shade of furious green. In the cultivation realm, respect for masters was paramount. Ye Mo's words, despite his claim of being Susu’s husband, were an affront. She nearly spat blood.

Yan Guan quickly rose, interjecting, “City Lord Ye, I believe we should hear Beiwei’s account; then we shall know. But you're aware that when Susu joined our sect, she lacked foundation cultivation. She was simply with several mortal girls. Our cultivation realm’s rules dictate that upon entering, ties to the mortal realm are severed. Her past is irrelevant.”

Ye Mo’s face hardened. He said coldly, “So, Sect Leader Yan, Susu is now nothing to me? And her own feelings are inconsequential, is that it?”

Yan Guan stammered. He would have retorted, “So what?” to anyone else, but not to Ye Mo. Ye Mo had Lu Wuhu at his side, Pill City's support, and apparent backing from the Abstruse Sound Sect and Clear Dream Mosque.

However, Lightning Cloud Sect’s Sect Leader Wang Chuanhe rose, saying, “City Lord Ye, cultivation realm rules state that after Luo Susu entered the Black Ice Sect, her mortal ties were severed. Any prior relationship with you is in the past. For cultivators, respecting one's master is paramount. Elder Fan, as Luo Susu’s master, does have the right to direct her. Do you believe you can simply alter cultivation realm rules because you’re Pill City’s honorary city lord?”

Wang Chuanhe's words were a thinly veiled mockery. Even Pill City’s city lords couldn't change that rule. Though largely ignored—many disciples returned home after cultivation with no repercussions—the rule existed.

Ye Mo’s fury flared; their audacity stemmed from his relative weakness. A Truth Realization cultivator would silence such insolence. Lu Wuhu could offer protection, but wouldn't challenge 9-star sects. Pill City supported him, but the rule, however nonsensical, provided his opponents with a semblance of justification.

Forcing the issue would leave Pill City without a suitable defense. Lu Wuhu remained unconcerned. His relationship with Ye Mo was less profound than others perceived; he merely repaid a debt, his own cultivation advancement at stake. He remained silent.

Luo Fei was anxious, but her power was insufficient to intervene. Ji Ling, too honest, was speechless. Ye Mo stood alone, his heart sinking. He needed a justification to take Susu. Sufficient power would let him declare, “I break this rule. What then?” But he lacked that power.

A stalemate ensued, until a middle-aged woman spoke, “Elder Fan and Sect Leader Wang are correct, but if Sect Leader Yang could propose to the Black Ice Sect, so can Sect Leader Ye.”

This broke the deadlock. Ye Mo felt gratitude toward this woman. Mi Zhenjie's sound transmission identified her as Elder Le Yao of the 9-star Heaven Demon Sect, a Cauldron Filling state cultivator. Ye Mo offered a grateful glance. Before he could speak, Fan Lianzhu’s next words nearly provoked an immediate attack.

“Heaven Demon Sect’s Elder Le is right. Given Sect Leader Yang’s generous proposal, I’ve decided to marry my disciple, Luo Susu, into the Infinity Sect.”

“Bullshit!” Ye Mo exploded, cursing Fan Lianzhu.

“What? Will you take Susu by force, City Lord Ye? Sect Leader Yang’s gifts are unparalleled. You’re a Pill King, but can you concoct a Truth Realization Pill? Give it up,” Wang Chuanhe said calmly.

He aimed to further enrage Ye Mo, but instead, the Pill King calmed. He knew his weaknesses: outwardly glorious, his only leverage was Lu Wuhu’s twice-rendered aid.

Ye Mo sat, speaking calmly, “Sect Leader Wang and Elder Fan, by your logic, Susu has no autonomy, only adhering to the Black Ice Sect?”

“Of course. Cultivators respect their masters. Disciples obey their masters,” Wang Chuanhe reiterated.

Unexpectedly, Ye Mo turned to Lu Wuhu. “Brother Lu, did you deceive me?”

Lu Wuhu looked confused. “How so?”

Ye Mo explained calmly, “You said Goddess Wen, unhappy with her arranged marriage within the Infinity Sect, would choose a husband through competition. Yet, Sect Leader Wang claims she has no such right. Even if the Infinity Sect forces her to marry a dog, she must comply. You gave a different account. Was that a deception?”

Lu Wuhu understood instantly, glaring at Yang Feicheng and Yan Guan. He said coldly, “So, both sect leaders played a joke on me? Your invitation clearly stated Goddess Wen would choose her husband. Now she has no choice? Do you think I'm easily manipulated?”

Yan Guan hastily saluted, “Lu qian bei, you misunderstand. We would never deceive you. Goddess Wen can choose her husband.”

He had to speak; angering Lu Wuhu could lead to widespread carnage.

“Oh, I overreacted,” Lu Wuhu nodded, his purpose served.

Ye Mo sneered. “Goddess Wen can choose, but Luo Susu cannot? Is it because the Black Ice Sect is weaker than the Infinity Sect, or Goddess Wen is prettier? Or is it because Susu is my wife, I am Pill City’s vice city lord, and the Black Ice Sect disdains Pill City?”

Sect leaders supporting Ye Mo applauded his retort. Yan Guan and Fan Lianzhu’s faces darkened.

After a long silence, Ye Mo slammed the table. “So the Black Ice Sect thinks Pill City is easily abused? Such nonsense! Brother Lu, lend me a messenger flying sword. I must inform City Lord Yue; our Pill City has fallen to this!”