No One Can Guard Against Thieves for a Thousand Days

"Lan Continent's current great powers are the three Martial Arts Holy Lands—Cloud Sword Palace, Heavenly Star Valley, and Ice Frost City—standing like three legs of a tripod. The three cooperate to suppress demonic heretics across the land and maintain overall social order, while also competing with one another."

"However, because of Heng'er's emergence, Cloud Sword Palace now holds an enormous advantage. In less than a year since Heng'er became a Great Grandmaster, several Neutral Forces have already pledged themselves to us, allowing us to grow much stronger."

"The influence of an unparalleled prodigy is this great. If a genius like Heng'er had emerged in Heavenly Star Valley or Ice Frost City while Cloud Sword Palace had none, I imagine we would also find a way to make some moves against them in the shadows."

Xiao Rang explained why he believed Heavenly Star Valley and Ice Frost City would take action.

After a pause, Xiao Rang continued, "Assuming Heavenly Star Valley and Ice Frost City are the masterminds behind the scenes, they are using this series of events to draw away some of Cloud Sword Palace's experts. More disturbances may follow, allowing them to lure away even more experts."

"Once the number of experts guarding the mountain gate falls below a critical threshold, they will choose the right moment to launch a surprise attack on the Cloud Sword Palace Mountain Gate and kill Heng'er."

"With the smallest possible cost, they would snuff out Cloud Sword Palace's future. If all goes smoothly, they might as well wipe out the Cloud Sword Palace Mountain Gate in passing."

The other Elders all fell into thoughtful silence after hearing Xiao Rang's speculation.

"They're targeting the Young Sect Master?"

If Xiao Rang's guess was true, then everything made sense.

"Would Heavenly Star Valley and Ice Frost City dare act this way without fearing Cloud Sword Palace's retaliation in the future?"

Zhang Ya asked in confusion.

"They are not afraid."

Knowing Zhang Ya was not skilled at such scheming, Xiao Rang explained, "Our three Martial Arts Holy Lands rose to prominence in Lan Continent around the same era. Since our three Base Camps were far apart and had no conflicts of interest, we formed an alliance and developed separately."

"Now, over five hundred years have passed. We have all become the unquestioned overlords of our respective regions. But Lan Continent is only so large. If we wish to raise our Sects to an even higher level, we must inevitably defeat and swallow one another, despite being allies."

"In the past, the three sides kept one another in check. The moment any one of us intended to attack and annex another, the other two would join forces against it."

"But now, Heng'er's appearance has shattered that balance, giving Heavenly Star Valley and Ice Frost City a reason to join hands. They cannot possibly allow Heng'er to become a Heavenly Being."

"The first objective of this surprise attack is to kill Heng'er. If they succeed, the three of us can maintain the balance of power. If they achieve a great victory and take the chance to slaughter all of Cloud Sword Palace's experts, they can divide the world in two."

"If they fail, then once Heng'er becomes a Heavenly Being, it will be Cloud Sword Palace's turn to do the same."

"My original plan was to use Heng'er's Legendary Level strength to levy taxes upon Ice Frost City and Heavenly Star Valley, while using his reputation as invincible under heaven to draw all of Lan Continent's geniuses to us, weakening their development from both directions while strengthening ourselves."

"As one side wanes and the other waxes, we will eventually become the strongest under heaven and earth, while their legacies gradually decline and ultimately vanish."

"Since we are bound to face each other sooner or later, why would they fear offending us?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Ya nodded in understanding and had no further questions.

The other Elders' expressions also turned solemn. They all knew that Cloud Sword Palace had reached an exceptionally critical moment.

"Since we already know there is a mastermind behind the scenes, we should temporarily ignore the turmoil outside. We should even concentrate our strength on guarding the mountain gate, endure this period of growing pains, and wait for Heng'er to fully mature. Then everything will be resolved with ease."

Law Enforcement Elder Li Yan proposed.

Though doing so would mean allowing demonic heretics to harm the innocent, and the Sect would suffer considerable losses in interest as a result.

But if one wished to show great mercy and compassion, one first had to ensure one's own survival. Only when one was safe and had room to spare could one have the strength to look after others.

If caring for others placed oneself in danger, luck might carry one through once or twice, but what about afterward?

Only by living longer without harming others could a good person benefit more people.

"How can anyone guard against thieves for a thousand days?"

Xiao Rang shook his head, disagreeing with Li Yan's proposal.

After pondering for a moment, he said, "Perhaps the best solution is to let Heng'er leave and avoid disaster for a while."

If Lin Heng continued to remain in the Sect, he would inevitably attract formidable enemies. Even if Cloud Sword Palace won, its strength would be severely depleted, which would not benefit its future ambition of becoming Lan Continent's strongest.

If they failed and Lin Heng perished, that would be the end of Cloud Sword Palace's future.

Under such circumstances, it would be better to step aside for now.

With Lin Heng's strength as a Great Grandmaster, Xiao Rang only needed to keep the many Elders within the Sect occupied for a quarter hour for Lin Heng to vanish without a trace, beyond the ability of even experts of the same level who specialized in tracking to follow his trail.

In any case, Lin Heng had already read through all the Hundred Schools Martial Arts recorded within Cloud Sword Palace. Whether he remained in the Sect to cultivate no longer made much difference.

As long as he concealed his identity and cultivated outside for a time, then returned after reaching the realm of a Supreme Great Grandmaster.

Heavenly Star Valley and Ice Frost City might still have thoughts of taking a gamble now, but once Lin Heng became a Supreme Great Grandmaster, everything would be settled like dust.

No matter how many schemes Heavenly Star Valley and Ice Frost City had then, if they did not wish to have the Nine Clans Stripping Technique used on them by the strongest, they could only obediently lower their heads and allow Cloud Sword Palace to suck their blood dry on its path to becoming Lan Continent's strongest.

"Everything is only speculation right now. What if these demonic heretics are merely jumping clowns, yet we send the Young Sect Master out? If someone discovers him outside, draws attackers to him, and leaves him isolated with no aid, would that not be exactly what the enemy wants?"

Wei Xuan voiced his disagreement.

"Heng'er has a steady temperament. As long as we instruct him carefully, he will certainly not make such a mistake."

"Besides, becoming a Heavenly Being cannot be achieved by shutting oneself away and building a cart behind closed doors. To read ten thousand books and travel ten thousand miles—letting him go out and see the world would not be a bad thing."

Xiao Rang knew his disciple's temperament well and stood by his view.

If Cloud Sword Palace disciples did not wish to remain at the mountain gate in quiet cultivation, then once they reached the Xiantian Realm and passed the Sect's examination on common knowledge for traveling the Jianghu, they could complete their apprenticeship, descend the mountain, and roam the Jianghu.

If Lin Heng had not been his disciple, then when he reached the Xiantian Realm at seven years old, he would already have qualified to complete his apprenticeship and travel the Jianghu in terms of both knowledge and martial arts.

And now, Lin Heng had grown much older, possessed greater knowledge, and had already attained Great Grandmaster cultivation. There would certainly be no problem with him traveling the Jianghu alone.

"Why not ask the Young Sect Master himself what he thinks?"

Zhang Ya suggested from the side.

They had discussed this for so long, but what if Lin Heng had ideas of his own?

Though Lin Heng was still young, he was already a Great Grandmaster. No one could disregard his opinion.

"Very well."

Xiao Rang agreed.

Afterward, this meeting that would decide the future was put on hold. Xiao Rang went underground to meet Lin Heng, who was in secluded cultivation there, and ask for his opinion.