"All right." Tuo Ba Xiong finally nodded. "From today onward, terminate all plans to recruit Lin Jin to the Tuoba Clan. Withdraw the informants we previously sent to Jiangcheng as well, and retain only our regular information channels."
"Also, you insisted on challenging Lin Jin earlier. Did you gain anything from it?"
"My Tyrant Blade has already reached the threshold of blade force. Once I master blade force, I won't have any opponents in the Domain Realm."
A trace of satisfaction flashed through Tuo Ba Xiong's eyes. "Then focus on your breakthrough in seclusion. That cultivation chamber of yours has been empty for a long time."
"When I emerge, I, Tuoba Zhan, will rise!"
Tuoba Zhan grinned, stood, and bowed to Tuoba Hong before turning and striding out of the council hall.
Tuo Ba Xiong watched his son's retreating figure disappear through the doorway. Only after a long silence did he speak. "Brother Hong, what do you think?"
Tuoba Hong lifted his tea and took a sip, then said slowly, "Zhan is right. A twenty-three-year-old at the peak of the Transcendent Stage Realm, an inheritor of a top-tier bloodline, with sword intent at least at the Force Realm-someone like that isn't someone even our Tuoba Clan can afford to provoke lightly."
"Never mind us. Even any one of the Four Great Top Clans might not be able to afford to offend him. Fortunately, we have no conflict of interest with him yet. Zhan even crossed blades with him, establishing something of a friendly connection."
"That friendly connection may turn out to be worth more than any alliance in the future. Besides, Zhan has clearly become much steadier since returning. Lin Jin not only guided him in sword intent, but probably helped him understand a few things as well."
Tuo Ba