"Especially before the Priest Temple has a younger generation truly capable of taking up our mantle..." Ling Xiao raised his head and looked Elder Ling straight in the eye. "Grandfather, I don't know what the other temples are thinking, but if Yue Chen really does obtain the Temple Alliance's approval and come to Zhennan Pass to find Xue Meng and rebuild his squad, I hope you'll step in and help me refuse his request. We can have him find another priest from our temple instead..."
"Ling Xiao, your outlook is far too shortsighted." Before Ling Xiao could finish explaining his plans, Elder Ling shook his head. "And not just shortsighted. Your thinking is far too selfish."
"...But as the master of the Priest Temple, shouldn't I put the temple above everything else?"
Ling Xiao fell silent for a long moment before venturing, "Grandfather, since you don't want to play the villain, I'll handle it myself when the time comes..."
"You still haven't understood what I mean." Elder Ling shook his head helplessly. "And you still can't see the situation clearly."
Without waiting for Ling Xiao to argue, Elder Ling continued, "As the temple master, I'm sure you know that humanity has next to no chance of winning this Holy War."
"This Holy War will determine whether the demons can remain rooted in this land. You've seen how they've acted. They're willing to commit their entire race's strength to seize Yue Chen and that magical beast capable of destroying Demon God Pillars from us."
"But that's precisely why we can't..."
"You're wrong." Disappointment flickered in Elder Ling's eyes. "You mentioned yourself that the children born in our temple in recent years have been growing less and less gifted. A person's talent for cultivation is largely determined by their parents and the