The True Lords did not see their control over Fourth Realm slots as control at all. They considered it only natural. In summary, there was an ideological chasm between the True Lords and their Disciples, yet no deep communication existed between them.
This problem did not exist only among them. It also existed in the lives of ordinary people, though nowhere near as severely divided as between the True Lords and their Disciples.
The discussion over the slots went on for a long time, with the topics sounding more like idle chatter. Throughout that chatter, True Monarch Bai Yan appeared aloof, yet he spoke more than anyone else, as though he had gone too long without speaking and had suddenly found someone to confide in.
In Yulian's words: "These lofty True Lords, worshipped in temples by others, are really just lonely old men. They normally do not even have anyone to talk to. How pitiful."
As usual, Wang Ping remained silent for most of their conversation. Only when the topic turned to him did he exchange a few words with them.
An hour later.
Xuanqing left on the grounds that he was not in good enough condition and needed to enter meditation. Tiangong and Lieyang followed. Wang Ping and Bai Yan were the last to leave. As a junior, Wang Ping naturally had to be somewhat modest, while Bai Yan clearly had something he wanted to say to Wang Ping. Yet in the end, he left without saying anything.
After withdrawing from the projection space, Wang Ping pondered for a long while before saying to Yulian, "There seems to be a strange sense of separation between the True Lords, yet they are also trying hard to erase that separation. It is contradictory."
Meeting Wang Ping's gaze, Yulian tilted her head