After saying this, Lin Tingzhi addressed everyone again. "For now, Lin has only a preliminary notion regarding this matter. I must return and discuss it in detail with several fellow Daoists before I can reach a conclusion. I fear we will have to wait a while."
Chen Tingzhi spoke up then. "If Lin Tingzhi cannot find an answer, then we must still devise a countermeasure with the full strength of Celestial Xia. That hidden place must also be thoroughly investigated."
All the Tingzhi agreed with this view.
Although Zhang Yu had just said that he could not be entirely certain that place was connected to the Turbid Tide, in everyone's eyes, given Zhang Yu's cultivation and attainments, some of his deductions were already close to a Dao-sense. If he thought so, then matters were very likely as such. Still, an investigation had to be carried out.
Dai Tingzhi said at this point, "This shows that, when it comes to guarding the world, it is better to reinforce the various garrisons of the Guardian of Rectitude Palace. If we focus solely on those creations, it is hard to say what may happen in the future. Yet for now, all they can do is defend; they cannot detect the enemy or understand the enemy, and can only respond passively. Defense cannot last forever—there has never been a fortress that could withstand siege without breaking. Thus, such a method is not advisable at present!"
Chong Tingzhi immediately argued back, "Dai Tingzhi, your words are mistaken! Zhang Tingzhi can perceive the subtle and see the manifest, observe the divine and distinguish the strange because his Dao cultivation is profound and his attainments exceptional. If it were someone else—even if you or I sat in this position—could we truly have found this place? I fear