"But... it would be one thing if other fellow disciples came, but if the elders of Heavenly Capital intervened, I'm afraid..."
Yin Qingxue's face was clouded with worry, but she did not continue.
Su Shi'er remained calm. "Su does not claim to know much about Heavenly Capital's situation. But one thing is certain: if Heavenly Capital's other elders intended to act, I fear neither you nor I could have made it this far."
"Hm? Fellow Daoist Su, you mean..." Yin Qingxue froze for a moment before quickly understanding.
Su Shi'er nodded and continued, "When all is said and done, our actions are merely an extension of the struggle between your father and the current Prefect Lord. If Heavenly Capital's elders intended to interfere, then even if your father controlled Heavenly Capital's formations, he would likely stand no chance at all."
"Your father must have understood this perfectly from the very beginning. Otherwise, why would he have been willing to let Fellow Daoist Yin, his only daughter, risk coming here? Am I right?"
Yin Qingxue fell into thought, though confusion still lingered in his eyes. "Then why did Heavenly Capital's elders choose to remain neutral?"
Su Shi'er smiled faintly. "First, both your father and the current Prefect Lord are people of Heavenly Capital. No matter who becomes Prefect Lord, neither would damage Heavenly Capital's interests. Second, perhaps in their eyes, only a true powerhouse can lead Heavenly Capital farther down its path. As for whether there are other reasons, Su does not know."
As he spoke, Su Shi'er's aura continued to rise.
Surging True Yuan gathered before him. Under his command, it condensed into a sword radiance as solid as substance, smashing apart the Radiant Light cast by the treasure mirror and shooting straight toward it.
The instant the Radiant Light