143: Chapter 143 We'll find him even if we have to dig three feet into the ground.

"These Demonic Sect remnants are truly audacious! They even dared to kidnap the little princess of the Guyue Sect!"

"Hmph!" another Elder snorted coldly. "They are even capable of kidnapping for ransom, so why wouldn't they dare to kidnap a Disciple?"

In the crowd, only Envoy Zhang remained silent, his brow furrowed.

He felt that something was not quite right.

Others might not know, but as an old rival, how could Tiansha Valley not know the background of the Guyue Sect and Mystic Ice Palace?

Those were not ordinary powers within the Hundred Sect Alliance, but behemoths that dominated their own regions, operating independently and never participating in external conflicts.

A contest between junior Disciples was one thing, but if the old fogies of those Sects were provoked into taking action personally, it would be equivalent to breaking the unspoken rules of the Eastern Territory.

Tiansha Valley already had the Hundred Sect Alliance as a mortal enemy; how could they dare to offend those two behemoths as well?

Isn't that just asking for death?

"Envoy Zhang, what should we do now? Should we immediately notify the Guyue Sect and Mystic Ice Palace and have them send someone over to negotiate?"

Someone couldn't help but ask.

Hearing this, Envoy Zhang's face darkened even further.

It was he who had pushed aside all opposition and solemnly invited the Geniuses of those Sects to participate in this trial, only for them to be kidnapped on his own turf!

And now you want him to notify them to come and demand their people back?

Where would he hide his old face?

Where would the Hundred Sect Alliance's face go?

Where would the Alliance Leader's face go then?

Envoy Zhang felt a surge of blood and Qi, his insides nearly cramping up.

"Don't panic yet!" He suppressed his anger and said in a low voice, "If Tiansha Valley really kidnapped them, news should arrive soon."

Hearing this, everyone could only nod.

Now, with only a day and a half left until the end of the half-month trial, the trial would conclude completely by tomorrow evening.

If the kidnappers were truly after ransom, there should be news today.

...

On the other side, aboard Tiansha Valley's Flying Vessel, the atmosphere was so heavy it felt like it could be wrung out like water.

A group of old fogies gathered together, their faces as dark as the bottom of a pot.

According to their investigation, a total of three Sect Second-Generation Disciples who entered Wanling Mountain had gone missing.

One of them was the Sect Master's youngest darling, Ye Liuli, whom they had only managed to trick into coming after much persuasion!

If she were killed by those Righteous Alliance Disciples for points, every single one of these leading Elders would have hell to pay!

But on second thought, it seemed impossible.

Although Ye Liuli was young, her talent was extraordinary; none of that rabble from the Righteous Alliance was her match.

Even if she were swarmed, her superb Spear Techniques would be enough to carve out a bloody path and escape calmly.

"Search! Find her even if you have to dig three feet deep!"

The Grand Elder roared.

Just then, an Elder leaned in and asked in a low voice.

"Grand Elder, do you think... could Liuli have been captured alive by the Righteous Alliance?"

The Grand Elder was stunned for a moment, then shook his head decisively.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

He had considered this at first, but he knew Ye Liuli's temperament best—she was unyielding and upright!

If she truly reached a point where she couldn't win, she would definitely choose to end her own life immediately rather than give the enemy any chance to capture her alive.

He looked around at everyone and said in a low voice, "Among that rabble of the Righteous Alliance, is there anyone capable of capturing Liuli?"

Once he said this, the old fogies present thought about it and realized it made sense.

Ye Liuli's talent was such that she was qualified to be on the heavenly pride list among the entire younger generation of the Eastern Territory.

Relying on those so-called Core Disciples of the Hundred Sect Alliance, even if they banded together, they might not be her match.

However, just then, a short Elder in the crowd whispered.

"What if... those old fogies disregarded martial ethics and took action themselves to capture her?"

Huh???

Everyone's heads whipped around simultaneously, staring intently at the short Elder.

Meeting everyone's knife-like gazes, the Elder's neck shrank in fear: "No... it wasn't me, I was just guessing, just guessing..."

"Wait!" The Grand Elder suddenly raised a hand, a sharp light flashing in his eyes.

"Those old fogies are even capable of kidnapping and extortion; ambushing a junior... actually, it really is possible!"

What?!

As soon as these words were spoken, the Elders immediately exploded!

"They dare!"

"Do they want to tear off all pretenses and start a War of a Thousand Sects?!"

Although Tiansha Valley hadn't joined any Alliance, it had many vassal Sects, and among its friendly Sects, there were many whose strength approached that of super Sects.

If it really came to blows, the Hundred Sect Alliance would definitely have hell to pay!

"No! Whether it is or not, we have to go and demand a clear explanation!"

"Right, right, right!" The Elders nodded one after another.

Ye Liuli was the Sect Master's darling, the apple of his eye!

Usually, she was held in the palm for fear of dropping her, and kept in the mouth for fear of her melting!

If anything happened to this precious darling, the entire Tiansha Valley would be turned upside down!

However, just as they were preparing to send an Elder to negotiate, a Disciple came running over joyfully.

"Elder! Grand Elder! There's news! I have news of Senior Brother Wang, Senior Brother Liu, and Senior Sister Ye!"

What?!

Hearing this, the old Elders present were instantly delighted.

"Hurry up and speak! Where are they?"

However, when the Disciple excitedly pulled out three image-recording stones from his robe, the joy on the Elders' faces instantly froze, and they immediately sensed something was wrong.

Because these things... they had just seen them not long ago, handling them for a whole day until their hands nearly blistered.

And the anger from being extorted hadn't even subsided yet!

Grand Elder Zheng Tianyuan snatched the image-recording stones and swept them with his Divine Sense.

Sure enough, they were exactly like the previous extortionate image-recording stones!

In the images, several Core Disciples were black and blue, beaten so badly he could hardly recognize them.

Fortunately, there were no injuries on Ye Liuli's face, but the image-recording stone only showed her face; everything below her neck was covered.

"Is it because she has knife or sword wounds on her body that are inconvenient to show?"

Aside from this footage, there was no other information.

The Grand Elder looked up, staring intently at the Disciple who brought the news.

"And then?"

"And then?" The Disciple looked bewildered. "There... there's no more."

He had simply run into a Junior Brother from Xiangshan Valley halfway, who handed him these three image-recording stones, saying they were messages from Senior Brother Wang, Senior Brother Liu, and Senior Sister Ye to be passed on to the Elders.

He recounted the whole story in detail.

The Elders present turned pale with rage, and finally, they all roared impatiently, "Who did it? Who on earth did it?!"

Through the footage, the Grand Elder could see that these Disciples had all been captured alive.

"Grand Elder, could it be those hypocrites from the Hundred Sect Alliance?" an Elder guessed indignantly.