Life Is Like a Game of Chess, No Regrets After a Move

What do you intend to do?!

Fourth Elder Gu Heng's words were like a heavy hammer blow, striking Yang Wei, the elder of the Great Hall, and the Seven Elders and Peak Master who had previously echoed him.

This made them grit their teeth, but they didn't know how to refute it.

Seeing this, Zhou Tianjian felt a sense of relief.

After a long while, Yang Wei snorted coldly and looked at Gu Heng with a sharp gaze.

He questioned, "Hmph!"

Fourth Elder, do you mean that our Nine Splendor Sword Sect is demanding that Luo Lingshuang return to the sect?

In your heart, is my Nine Splendor Sword Sect so insignificant that it needs an outsider to prosper?

Luo Lingshuang's backing is indeed powerful, but should my Nine Splendor Sword Sect be subservient to her?

If that's truly the case, then where is our sword-like spirit?

How could the Nine Splendor Sword Sect possibly stand at the pinnacle of the Heavenly Dragon Sea Domain!

Is the Fourth Elder's behavior an attempt to destroy the sect's foundation?

"Heh, what a big compliment." Gu Heng sneered. "Great Elder, when did I ever say that the sect should grovel and beg Luo Lingshuang to return?"

This old man cannot bear such a crime.

"I only wish to preserve a trace of karmic connection between the sect and Luo Lingshuang."

The future is unpredictable; who can say for sure whether it will bring good or bad fortune?

Even a powerful Horizon Pavilion like Horizon Restaurant, often befriends some young Heavenly Talent.

Does establishing a relationship with it create a causal relationship?

Can my Nine Splendor Sword Sect, no matter how strong, be stronger than the Horizon Pavilion?

Don't deceive yourself, Great Elder.

Whether it's the power behind Luo Lingshuang or Luo Lingshuang herself, it's worth the sect preserving a trace of their connection.

"Young Sect Master, Luo Lingshuang's wedding is in thirteen days. I would like to lead a group to Xuanxiao Mountain to celebrate."

Although the distance is not short, if one travels on Fourth-grade Low-tier Mysterious Boat, the journey will be completed in time.

"It'll also be a good opportunity to see just what kind of charm Zhang Xuanchen possesses that could make a proud and beautiful woman like Luo Lingshuang fall for him."

As he spoke, Gu Heng bowed slightly to Zhou Tianjian.

Although he is not yet the Sect Leader, once he sits on the Sect Leader's throne, all the elders and Peak Master should pay their respects.

Gu Heng's words left Yang Wei and the others speechless.

Because everything Gu Heng said was true.

They had no way to refute it.

Seeing this, Zhou Tianjian nodded in satisfaction and said, "I also think that we should go to the Zhang Family, both morally and logically."

If the Zhang Family has unlimited potential, and there are also young Heavenly Talent within the clan.

I would like to make an exception and accept a Zhang Family Disciple to train at my Nine Splendor Sword Sect.

In this way, my Nine Splendor Sword Sect will have one more layer of protection.

As he finished speaking, a shrewd glint flashed in Zhou Tianjian's eyes.

Fifth-Rank Spirit Tool with an Artifact Spirit must have originated from a top-tier power in the Central Land Immortal Continent.

They are definitely not someone the Nine Splendor Sword Sect can afford to offend.

If the Zhang Family was secretly cultivated by a top power in Central Province, then when the Nine Splendor Sword Sect re-emerges a hundred years later, it will no longer claim to be the overlord of the Heavenly Dragon Sea Domain.

Instead, they chose to befriend the Zhang Family.

In this way, having members of the Zhang Family practicing in the sect can bring relationships much closer.

Even if the Zhang Family's strength surpasses that of the Nine Splendor Sword Sect, as long as the sect doesn't do anything outrageous, it won't face repercussions.

"Saying this might make people think that I, Zhou Tianjian, am spineless, afraid of death, and unworthy of being a sword cultivator."

"Actually, that's not the case. I'm not afraid of death. Otherwise, given my status, I certainly wouldn't have been the first to fight when the Soul Devouring Cult invaded."

As he spoke, Zhou Tianjian sighed, looked around, and sighed with emotion:

"I'm afraid that the Nine Splendor Sword Sect will disappear from the annals of history in the future."

During my trip to the Sky Dragon Secret Realm years ago, I witnessed the power of Uncle Luo's Fifth-Rank Spirit Tool.

At the Foundation Establishment Peak, he was able to suppress Fourth Stage Demon Lord for a short time using that Spirit Artifact.

From that moment on, I knew that my status as the Young Sect Master of the Nine Splendor Sword Sect was utterly insignificant in front of Luo Lingshuang.

This is also why I no longer harbored hatred towards Uncle Luo when I returned to the sect; in fact, I treated him with utmost respect.

"Is the Nine Splendor Sword Sect a force capable of producing such a Spirit Artifact and gifting it to a junior?"

"If the Zhang Family is secretly supported by such a terrifying force."

Unifying the South Sea Immortal Continent wouldn't be difficult at all, would it?

What do you all think?

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Tianjian's gaze fell on everyone in the Main Hall.

It is meaningful and puzzling.

"This..."

Yang Wei's expression was complicated. He opened his mouth, but in the end, he could only let out a long sigh.

Just as the Main Hall fell silent.

A deep, slightly hoarse, authoritative voice rang in everyone's ears:

"Hahaha, Tian Jian."

You have indeed not disappointed your master, nor have you disappointed me.

As soon as the voice fell, a slightly thin man dressed in a blue robe with a sword at his waist silently appeared in front of Zhou Tianjian in the Main Hall.

His face was no different from that of a young man, but his eyes were as deep as an abyss.

Simply by standing there, all the Golden Core Peak cultivators in the hall felt immense pressure.

Upon seeing the visitor, everyone in the hall bowed and greeted him in unison:

We pay our respects to Ancestor Qingming!

Not only them, but Zhou Tianjian, who was sitting on the Sect Leader's throne, also hurriedly stood up and respectfully bowed, "Grand-disciple Zhou Tianjian greets Grandmaster."

The newcomer was none other than the only Nascent Soul of the Nine Splendor Sword Sect.

Qingming True Lord Hua Shisan.

If Long Xuan, the Dragon Court Lord, were here, he would certainly be surprised.

At this moment, Hua Shisan suddenly overcame the bottleneck that had plagued him for hundreds of years.

Successfully broke through to the Nascent Soul Middle Stage.

At this moment, Hua Shisan ignored the people in the hall.

He reached out and patted Zhou Tianjian on the shoulder, saying with satisfaction:

"Tian Jian, you are very good."

However, my master has a question.

If the Zhang Family is truly as you say, they will surely become the overlords of the Heavenly Dragon Sea Domain in the future.

At that time, the Nine Splendor Sword Sect will be subject to the constraints of others.

Do you regret not eliminating the Zhang Family sooner?

Eliminate the Zhang Family!

Zhou Tianjian was startled.

Then things calmed down again.

When he learned that Luo Lingshuang was going to marry Zhang Xuanchen of the Zhang Family, he did indeed have the idea of eliminating the Zhang Family to prevent future troubles.

But if that were to happen, the Nine Splendor Sword Sect would definitely face annihilation.

They were essentially doing all the work for the benefit of the Eastern Lan Wei Family, the Qingyun Sect, and the other four major powers.

This is inevitable.

He took a deep breath, looked at Hua Shisan with a firm gaze, and slowly said, "Grandmaster."

I don't know if choosing to befriend the Zhang Family was the right path.

There is indeed an element of gambling involved.

But life is like a game of chess; once a move is made, there's no going back.

"If I, Zhou Tianjian, become the Sect Leader of the Nine Splendor Sword Sect in the future, I will definitely choose this path."

What I seek is not temporary prosperity, but lasting glory for all ages.

Even if I am shattered to pieces in the future, I will... have no regrets!

After saying that, he knelt on the ground, but his head did not touch the ground; he continued to look at Hua Shisan.

He knew that if Hua Shisan disagreed with him on political matters this time, his position as the Young Sect Master would be over.

But he did it anyway.

Because he didn't want the Nine Splendor Sword Sect to be destroyed because of Luo Lingshuang.

The elders and Peak Master in the hall all showed shocked expressions.

When it came to matters of life and death, Zhou Tianjian was surprisingly decisive.

Yang Wei looked at Zhou Tianjian, his eyes filled with admiration.

The last glimmer of hope in my heart vanished.

He thought to himself, "Perhaps the Nine Splendor Sword Sect would be better off in his hands."

I... am getting old after all.