"Our Taixu Gate simply lacks the chips. If we had them, we would’ve laid out our game long ago."
"What’s more, history tends to judge the merits and faults of a gamble after the fact."
"If the Tai’a Sect and the Rushing Void Sect win, it will be praised as foresight and strategic brilliance."
"If they lose, it will be derided as greed and overreach."
"For now, the dust has not settled, the outcome remains undetermined. How can you judge whether their actions are ’strategic brilliance’ or ’overreach’?"
"And who’s to say they will lose?"
"What if they win?"
Elder Master Xun’s gaze burned with intensity, piercing through.
Xun Ziyou froze, rendered speechless by the elder’s questions.
Only now did he realize how easy it was to presume clarity when looking at matters unrelated to oneself.
But when faced with solving the challenges directly, the fog thickened, the links became unfathomable, and decisions turned extraordinarily difficult.
Xun Ziyou let out a deep sigh, unable to utter another word.
After a moment, he softly asked, "Then, elder, what should our Taixu Gate..."
Elder Master Xun replied, "Given the shallow foundations of our Taixu Gate, we should remain docile, observe the shifting tides, and adapt accordingly..."
Xun Ziyou sighed inwardly.
It was no surprise—such sage words from the elder made perfect sense yet also gave no clearer direction when examined in detail.
Elder Master Xun fell into silence for a moment before sighing again:
"The Tai’a Sect seeks to advance boldly, while the Rushing Void Sect hopes to maintain stability through progress. On the surface, they seem far stronger than our Taixu Gate."
"But in truth, we’re all just grasshoppers tied to the same rope—none of us fares much better than the others."
"This sect restructuring may appear as mere waves on the surface, but beneath lies a surging tide of blood and chaos..."
"Our Taixu Gate struggles to protect itself, and they can only seek their own fortunes. Whether they can win their gamble will depend on their own providence."
...
Xun Ziyou furrowed his brows tightly, a weight pressing on his heart.
The matters the elder had to contemplate far surpassed those of the sect elders like him...
Though Elder Master Xun’s expression remained placid, his heart carried its own weight of concern.
For all they spoke of seeking their own fortunes, the Taixu, Tai’a, and Rushing Void Sects shared a lineage. In the eyes of elders with such extended lifespans, they remained bound by blood and kinship.
With storm clouds brewing, he couldn’t bear the thought of seeing any among the three sects falter or meet calamity.
But such significant affairs were beyond his control...
Elder Master Xun’s thoughts were heavy as he raised his gaze and saw the troubled expression on Xun Ziyou’s face. Shaking his head slightly, he said:
"Don’t concern yourself too much. Just remember my instructions—take good care of Mo Hua; leave the rest alone."
Xun Ziyou sighed in resignation, cupping his hands, "Understood."
Elder Master Xun nodded slightly and, as if recalling something, asked, "You mentioned that Mo Hua has connections with disciples from both the Tai’a Sect and the Rushing Void Sect?"
"Yes." Xun Ziyou nodded. "Their relationships seem quite good."
"The sword prodigy from the Rushing Void Sect and Mo Hua became acquainted in a rather unconventional way. Though it was their first meeting, they conversed quite a bit afterward."
"As for the Tai’a Sect, the Ouyang family’s young disciple has an even closer relationship with Mo Hua. He’s been helping Mo Hua craft swords daily and even greets Mo Hua as ’senior brother’ whenever they meet..."
"Senior brother?" Elder Master Xun was momentarily taken aback.
"Senior brother," Xun Ziyou confirmed.
Elder Master Xun nodded.
Mo Hua, that child, truly had a knack for forging connections—even a disciple from the Ouyang family in the Tai’a Sect called him ’senior brother’...
Elder Master Xun pondered for a moment before pausing abruptly.
An audacious idea suddenly surfaced in Elder Master Xun’s mind.
So daring, even Elder Master Xun involuntarily drew in a sharp breath.
Calming himself, he thought carefully, his feelings an ocean of turbulence. Inwardly, he muttered:
"It seems our Taixu Gate might not be entirely without ’chips’..."
"What if we... place an even bigger bet?!"
His gaze flickered with astonishment, then slowly deepened in resolve.