"Marshal Yuan, you've been across the river for a year and a half now. What do you make of the situation in the North?"
Cheng Xinzhan asked.
At this, contempt and disdain immediately showed in Marshal Yuan's eyes. Without hesitation, he said, "The Righteous Path north of the river is weak and divided, far inferior to the sects south of it."
Cheng Xinzhan smiled at that. These words truly could only be spoken behind closed doors. If outsiders heard them, they would invite trouble.
"Of course, I'm only talking about the situation these past few decades. The last time I awoke, the sects south of the river weren't much better. Everyone swept the snow from their own doorstep and ignored the frost on their neighbors' roofs. Fortunately, Dragon-Tiger Mountain came along and cooked up that business of seal-imprinting. Instead, it encouraged communication and exchanges among the immortal sects of our Yu Zhang. And with someone as capable as you emerging from our own ranks, linking together all five great Manifest Dao powers south of the river, including the Shangqing Sect, we finally began pulling in the same direction. Naturally, whatever we attempted succeeded."
As Marshal Yuan spoke, he began laughing to himself again.
"By that reasoning, we ought to thank Dragon-Tiger Mountain."
Cheng Xinzhan laughed along with him.
"Ah, you know, we really should. I've managed the Thunder Department's pivotal affairs for years, and I understood this principle long ago.
"Sometimes, no amount of outside assistance can compare to cutting out the fools and malignant growths within, especially when that malignant growth is openly perched on your forehead, issuing orders. Think about it. If nothing had ever happened to Dragon-Tiger Mountain, this Eastern Path alliance against the demons would certainly still be flying the Orthodox Unity Alliance's banner, and its