The atmosphere suddenly froze.
Xu Xiaoshou was somewhat taken aback. The phrase "crossed the line" had come far too abruptly.
He did not even know exactly how Dao Qiongchang defined that "line" in his heart.
"The Grey Palace of the Xu Moon is an ally of my First Pavilion Under Heaven."
Xu Xiaoshou did not say much. He knew Dao Qiongchang should understand what he meant.
If I, Xu Xiaoshou, could casually abandon even my allies, then I would be a man with no sense of loyalty.
And if even you, Dao Qiongchang, could accept that, then could this "friend" of mine, somewhat closer than an ally, also be discarded and abandoned at any time in the future? "I know."
"But they are only allies, right?"
"And only half of the Grey Palace of the Xu Moon are allies—the Conservative Faction alone, not including the Militant Faction?"
"The higher-ups of your First Pavilion Under Heaven and the higher-ups of the Grey Palace of the Xu Moon have not even held a single meeting. It is merely a verbal alliance. Am I right?"
Dao Qiongchang casually countered, as though he had never left the scene. His response remained calm.
In truth, multitasking was no difficult feat for him. He had merely taken a stroll through the depths of his own memories just now.
After speaking, he did not stop. Instead, he bent down and gathered a large handful of pebbles from the ground, more than a dozen in all.
Squatting down, he piled the pebbles beside his feet, then nudged the first one over to Xu Xiaoshou's feet.
"Wuxiu."
He nudged another over.
"Water Ghost."
Then another.
"Cen Qiaofu."
And another.
"Sealing-Heaven Saint Emperor."
At this point, he paused. Pointing at the pebbles beneath Xu Xiaoshou's feet, he said, "Anyone even