Chapter 3014: You guys are playing like this, right?

Although there are no concrete results yet, the Heavenly Palace can let these Xiāntiān rénzú temporarily reside outside the city, and even have star ships sent over for them.

Obviously the negotiations should be going fairly smoothly; otherwise the Heavenly Palace would not possibly allow these Xiāntiān rénzú to stay outside the city.

For now we only need to wait for the Dao One Immortal Sect to bring the dead prisoners, then we can proceed with the oath ceremony.

Many people in the Immortal City Beyond the Heavens think this way, even including those inside the Heavenly Palace.

Some Heavenly Officials, although they have eaten Ye Zhangqing's food, are especially fond of him.

However, on such a major matter, their stance remains clear.

"Public is public, private is private; the Xiāntiān rénzú are too important, those dead prisoners will definitely be our Heavenly Palace's responsibility; I suppose Young Master Ye can understand that."

"Yes, Young Master Ye is not someone who doesn't understand reason."

These Heavenly Officials are not trying to target the Dao One Immortal Sect; the sole reason is that the bigger picture comes first.

After all, this matter cannot allow the slightest leak; not only the Dao One Immortal Sect, but if any other power in the Immortal Realm were in this situation, the Heavenly Palace would treat them the same way.

Under the anticipation of everyone in the Immortal City Beyond the Heavens, the people of the Dao One Immortal Sect finally returned, neither hurried nor slow.

As the Dao One Immortal Sect's people passed through the spatial channel and returned to the Immortal City Beyond the Heavens, upon appearing they attracted much attention.

After all, at present, saying that everyone in the Immortal City Beyond the Heavens is waiting for the Dao One Immortal Sect is not an exaggeration.

We are just waiting for them to bring the dead prisoners, then we can begin the oath ceremony.

But as the Dao One Immortal Sect's people walked out of the spatial channel one after another, those who had been paying attention gradually became bewildered.

At first everything was normal: Hong Zun, Qing Shi, Qin Shan Hai, Yun Xiantai, Bai Hua Xianzi, and the other core members of the Dao One Immortal Sect.

But then came many disciples of the Dao One Immortal Sect, many of whom were visiting the Beyond the Heavens for the first time, so the city's populace naturally did not know them.

But this isn't a matter of recognition or not; where are the damned dead prisoners?

Seeing that thousands of people have already passed through the spatial channel, yet among the Dao One Immortal Sect's contingent, not a single dead prisoner was seen.

This is just absurd.

What is the Dao One Immortal Sect doing by returning to the Immortal Realm? Everyone knows it's just to pick out dead prisoners, right?

But after this round trip, where are the dead prisoners you selected? Not a single dead prisoner in sight—what's the point of bringing so many disciples?

Disciples?

Upon thinking this, someone suddenly realized, and their expression instantly turned extremely complicated.

"You say these disciples might not be the ones the Dao One Immortal Sect selected, huh?"

Huh???

As soon as that was said, the people nearby also froze, staring oddly at those groups of Dao One Immortal Sect disciples, as if it really were the case; if not, why bring so many disciples?

But the more they thought about it, the worse everyone felt.

"You were told to pick dead prisoners, yet you ended up picking a batch of disciples—this is your Dao One Immortal Sect's chosen people."

This is clearly a suicide mission, yet you still let your own disciples come?

At first no one caught on, but soon, following the train of thought, someone realized.

Those who can come to the Beyond the Heavens and survive there naturally are not fools.

The Dao One Immortal Sect went to the Beyond the Heavens, did not select a single dead prisoner, but instead brought back a group of disciples; this certainly isn't without reason.

Could it be that the Dao One Immortal Sect deliberately did this?

As for the dead prisoners, the Heavenly Palace could simply confiscate them with an excuse—after all, they're just a bunch of people about to die, having nothing to do with your Dao One Immortal Sect; confiscating them would be no loss.

That would be justified and proper.

But if they were someone else's disciples, that would be completely different.

Just as the Dao One Immortal Sect would think, our disciples fear no danger and have made great contributions to the Human Race; for the Heavenly Palace to still detain people? That really doesn't hold water.

Upon thinking this, many people's gazes toward the Dao One Immortal Sect changed.

What a bunch of deceitful lot—apparently they had anticipated this all along, determined to grasp those Xiāntiān rénzú firmly in their own hands.

Letting the Dao One Immortal Sect take control of that batch of Xiāntiān rénzú is something most people do not want to see.

Human nature being like that is not surprising.

I never expected the Dao One Immortal Sect to pull such a move, and most importantly, many of its disciples come from the great immortal clans of the Immortal Realm.

Just the Heavenly Family alone has many.

Well, the squad had just returned to the Heavenly Family's residence in the Immortal City Beyond the Heavens, when dozens of Heavenly Family juniors were summoned.

A Heavenly Family elder looked at these younger clan members before him, his expression complex, and said:

"What do you guys come here to do? You don't know this is a life‑or‑death matter."

Back when we sent these people into the Dao One Immortal Sect, it was simply to draw closer to that sect.

But now, with this life‑or‑death affair, how come every single one of them has shown up?

I originally thought it was the Dao One Immortal Sect's intention, and hadn't informed everyone of the actual situation; if that were the case, he would certainly have to step forward and negotiate with the Dao One Immortal Sect.

Even if they have joined your Dao One Immortal Sect, you can't use your own disciples as cannon fodder.

But upon hearing this, the dozens of Heavenly Family juniors below each shook their heads and said:

"Elder, you've misunderstood; the sect has repeatedly advised us against it and explained the situation—we are volunteers."

"Yes, we are all volunteers."

"Originally, to devote our liver and brains to the sect."

"Willing to devote our liver and brains to the sect."

Hearing those dozens of juniors shout loudly one after another, the leading Heavenly Family elder was dumbfounded—"No, you're serious?"

The Dao One Immortal Sect didn't deceive them; these fellows came voluntarily—how could that sound so awkward?

Knowing it's a suicide mission, you still insist on coming—what's wrong with you?

That Heavenly Family elder wore a doubtful expression, utterly at a loss, really not knowing what to say.

Especially seeing the fiery look in these disciples' eyes, they only felt their scalp go numb.

Our disciples are like this, so the people of the other immortal race are probably the same.

So, there really is nothing wrong with this matter.

If the Dao One Immortal Sect were forcibly demanding this, or intentionally concealing it and letting these disciples come, then there would still be something to say, after all the disciples don't know the truth.

But now the disciples know everything, and the Dao One Immortal Sect hasn't forced them either.

Even after inquiring, they were repeatedly dissuaded, but in the end they simply couldn't stop them, so these disciples ended up like this after competing among themselves.

Put bluntly, this quota of sending people to their deaths was fucking snatched by these guys themselves.

You say the Dao One Immortal Sect has already done this much—what else could you say? They've done everything they should have.

The disciples volunteered, wanting to devote themselves to the sect and to the Human Race.

For a moment, after hearing these disciples' accounts, the Heavenly Family Elder silently closed their eyes.

He just couldn't understand how these clan descendants, who were fine when they left, could become like this after staying a few years in the Dao One Immortal Sect—so much so that they aren't even afraid of death.