A term had recently become popular in the Capital City.
It was called sunk cost.
He felt those words made a great deal of sense. Just how had he embarked upon this road of no return in the first place?
The Heavenward Sect's sect master let out a long sigh. Staring dazedly into the distant horizon, his thoughts gradually drifted away.
Being a sect master was too exhausting. He somewhat missed those happy days when he had first entered the sect and was still an Outer Disciple.
Meanwhile, at Heaven-Question Market not far from Windward City.
Beneath a dead tree at the edge of a cliff thousands of zhang high.
An elderly man with a head full of white hair sat on one side of a chessboard. Casually pinching a white chess piece between his fingers, he tossed it onto the board and chuckled. "Under-Heaven Strife is about to arrive. His Majesty seems rather anxious. It is only a Devil Invasion, yet he dispatched the two of us at once."
"It is plain to see that His Majesty truly is anxious, as though he fears something might go wrong."
"Enough."
The sharp-featured middle-aged man seated on the other side of the chessboard shook his head. Only after carefully placing a black chess piece did he say helplessly, "Qiu Lao, you should refrain from discussing His Majesty behind his back. His Majesty surely has his own considerations."
"What considerations?"
The white-haired elder casually cast a sidelong glance toward Windward City. His gaze seemed to pierce through the black mist and take in everything happening there, and a trace of disdain flashed through his eyes. "The world may not know, but could you possibly not know?"
"Wasn't the Great Xia Kingdom's predecessor a group of Heavenly Dao Prisoners who fought their way