"What? You're going to the West Sea, while I hold the North Sea?"
"That's right. Right now, the sect needs you more than it needs me."
Nie Yingzhi did not hesitate for long before making his decision.
In the cultivation world, the sect master never came first. The strong were the true jade pillars holding up the heavens, the golden beams spanning the seas!
But as the master of a sect, he could amply demonstrate their regard for Grand Elder Pei. He could also mobilize substantial forces under the pretext of providing an escort, and even summon experts from the Heavenly Court, serving as the central coordinator.
Going to the West Sea himself would also give Elder Pei a satisfactory answer.
When Chi Yingting learned of this, he hesitated. "But what if... what if you..."
"If anything happens to me, arrange for Zhan Li to take over immediately. You'll serve as Grand Elder and help him defend the sect!"
Knowing what Chi Yingting meant, Nie Yingzhi spoke decisively.
"Listen to me. We have to send someone to the West Sea, but we also need someone to defend our mountain gate. Either way, we face a dilemma.
"But when you examine it closely, it's simply a matter of 'appearance' versus 'substance.'
"As sect master, I represent the sect's prestige, while you, as the inheritor of its tradition, represent its tangible strength. It's the difference between the face we show and what lies beneath.
"Ordinarily, the face I present is more splendid and more valuable. But in times of danger and turmoil, keeping up appearances no longer matters so much. That's when you must shoulder the main beam.
"The more critical the moment, the more you must keep your composure. You cannot leave lightly.
"If the enemy's true intention is to attack