Dai Xuanzun fell silent for a while, then said, "When did you begin to suspect?"
Daoist Long said leisurely, "In truth, we never truly trusted you. Though you had always been restrained, never revealing any flaw, and seldom associated with others, what you did was not born of your true intent. That alone was your greatest weakness."
Dai Xuanzun said slowly, "So that was it." He raised his head and looked at Daoist Long. "I suspected many people, but never thought it would be you. Have you defected to Upper Firmament Heaven, or to Nether City?"
Daoist Long stood with his hands behind his back. "Strictly speaking, neither. As far as my true feelings are concerned, I do not think much of them either."
Dai Xuanzun stared at him. "Then why are you doing this? You are not a Turbid Canon cultivator, nor can you gain any benefit from the Turbid Tide."
"You ask why I am doing this?"
Daoist Long looked over and let out a cold laugh. "Because I have long had enough."
As though recalling something, disgust appeared on his face. "Over these years, the Profound Court has erected countless rules, every one of them meant to bind us. Look at those fellow cultivators now—each and every one proceeds with excessive caution, terrified of violating some rule or regulation.
"We cultivators should have been unrestrained, transcending heaven and earth. What boundless ease and freedom that would be—so why must we abase ourselves before mere mortals?"
Dai Xuanzun was silent for a moment before saying, "If that is how you think, then you are no different from those people of Upper Firmament Heaven and Nether City."
Daoist Long snorted and looked into the distance. "Do you know Fellow Cultivator Li? He cultivated for nearly a thousand years and