"Shut up. Not a chance."
Ke Ding answered without the slightest hesitation. Standing in the street with his usual devil-may-care air, he scoffed. "Tianjizi, do you mean to make decisions for your master now?"
"Master, the Heavenly Dao has fallen silent, and cultivators across the world are gradually descending into disorder. We have calculated tens of millions of possible futures across ten thousand ages. None bode well."
It was Tianjizi's voice, cold yet respectful. "From every perspective, we must revive the Heavenly Dao. Even if it targets our Eternal Antiquity, that would still be better than our present situation."
As for the Heavenly Dao...
They had countless ways to bring pressure to bear on it, but when it came to the future of this world, they could not account for all things as the Heavenly Dao could.
"Tianjizi, you're looking too far ahead." Ke Ding's gaze sharpened slightly. "I once taught you that cultivators should live in the present, free and unfettered."
"But Master, you also taught me to plan not for the common people, but for heaven and earth."
"Do you still acknowledge me as your master?"
"Master..."
"Hmm?"
"Yes."
Tianjizi forced the word out, not daring to defy him, though he clearly disagreed with Ke Ding.
"I have my own considerations regarding this matter."
"I shall abide by your wishes, Master. Your disciple takes his leave."
Tianjizi sighed softly and said no more. His voice from the heavens faded away.
Ke Ding stopped and pondered for a long time.
"This Dao Lord has long had a fallback plan. If Chen Xun doesn't return, I'll become the Heavenly Dao myself. Those disciples are all getting on in years, yet not one has their master's dashing flair from back in the day. Hahaha..."
He suddenly burst out laughing in