After Chong Tingzhi had conferred with Zhong Tingzhi and Changsun Tingzhi for a while, they ended the discussion and withdrew their qi and intent from the jade wall.
Yet after pondering for a moment, he took two steps through the hall, then swept his sleeve and once more stirred the spiritual light upon the jade wall. This time, however, he did not seek out Zhong Tingzhi. Only Changsun Qian's figure appeared.
He asked, "Changsun Tingzhi, how far has the matter of those Creation cultivators progressed?"
Changsun Qian said evenly, "Although the matter in Qingyang failed last time, the record of that Creation Daoist was still delivered intact. At present, it appears they have only reached the stage of Primordial Spirit Shadow Reflection and have yet to attain the realm of the Primordial Spirit."
Chong Tingzhi frowned. "So this matter has not succeeded?"
Changsun Qian said, "Nothing can be achieved in a single leap. But judging from that record, they are already very close. All that is lacking is an opportunity."
After thinking it over carefully, Chong Tingzhi said, "Changsun Tingzhi means that if we make another attempt, this matter may succeed?"
Changsun Qian said, "If you and I take action, it is possible."
Chong Tingzhi shook his head. "The circumstances are now entirely different from before. Never mind that this may still fail—even if it can succeed, you and I are Tingzhi. We cannot personally involve ourselves in such a matter."
Over the past hundred-odd years, the Turbid Tide's ravages had severed connections between the various prefectures, and communication with the Profound Court had likewise become intermittent. Each prefecture could almost be called an isolated island. At the same time, the Profound Court had to resist invasions from the Outer Layer, leaving it with far too little power to restrain