It had to be said that when Su Huanzhen dug her heels in, not even ten oxen could drag her back.
Today, these high-ranking figures had come to see her, Su Huanzhen, for no other reason than this same matter. Su Huanzhen knew it perfectly well, which was why her face wore nothing but a placid smile throughout.
"Grand Headmaster, you really ought to give us an answer. Even if we don't form an alliance with the Heavenly Sword Sect, we still need some sort of plan. The world outside has gone mad. Keeping to ourselves like this — we're truly at a disadvantage," one of the elders sighed.
Su Huanzhen glanced at Headmaster Xia. "Headmaster Xia, what's your view?"
Headmaster Xia held Su Huanzhen in considerable respect and replied earnestly, "The Grand Headmaster has her reasons for acting as she has. However, given the current state of affairs, it's only natural that everyone is growing restless."
It was a diplomatic answer — one that offended neither side.
Su Huanzhen smiled leisurely. "Earlier today, while I was in my cave dwelling, I heard the early cry of a magpie on a branch. Perhaps something good is about to happen for our Celestial Cicada Ancient Academy. I've kept this to myself until now because I wanted everyone to cool down and think things through on their own."
"But since you all still believe expansion is the better course, I suppose I ought to say a few more words."
The crowd perked up the moment they realized Su Huanzhen was about to state her position clearly. Whether the Grand Headmaster favored expansion or not, at least there would finally be a definitive stance.
"In these past ten years, have any of you heard the Glazed Palace express an opinion on the matter?" Su Huanzhen asked with a smile.
"None… The Glazed Palace never seems to take a position. It's almost as though they're tacitly approving the expansion. Once the forces of the Human Domain are consolidated, they should be able to unite more effectively against the Demon Race, shouldn't they?" An elder seemed to be muttering to himself as much as answering Su Huanzhen's question.
Headmaster Xia added, "The Glazed Palace's ambiguous stance has, to a certain degree, enabled those forces to expand recklessly."
An amused smile appeared on Su Huanzhen's face. "Then tell me — which forces do you believe enjoy a close relationship with the Glazed Palace?"
"Dangqian Palace would be one, I suppose? The Heavenly Sword Sect seems to as well, and our Celestial Cicada Ancient Academy appears to have decent relations. The Lunar Goddess Cult to the north — on account of Xu Qingxuan — should count as one too?"
When one tallied them up, it seemed relationships were decent with all of them?
Su Huanzhen shook her head. "The Heavenly Sword Sect's connection to Jiang Chen can at best be described as proximity born of circumstance — not exactly a deep bond. Our Celestial Cicada Ancient Academy is really no better off than the Heavenly Sword Sect in that regard. As for the Lunar Goddess Cult, the rift between them and Jiang Chen's birth father is plain for all to see. They can't possibly be close. Otherwise, they wouldn't be expanding so brazenly."
Everyone stared in astonishment.
"The forces that truly have close ties are Peacock Sacred Mountain, the Coiling Dragon Lineage, Dangqian Palace — those great powers. And have any of them expanded?"
Su Huanzhen's question left every person in the room stunned.
Indeed — it seemed none of those forces had expanded at all. Peacock Sacred Mountain, the Coiling Dragon Lineage, even the Extinction Great Emperor's lineage — not one had made any move to expand. Logic dictated that as branch factions of the Glazed Palace, with the Palace's backing, they had ample capital to do so.
As for Dangqian Palace, back in its original territory of the Myriad Phenomena Domain, there had been no news of proactive expansion either. Rather, it was the surrounding smaller factions that had been flocking to join Dangqian Palace in greater numbers.
Because of the well-known relationship between Dangqian Palace and the Glazed Palace, nobody dared provoke them. And on top of that, Dangqian Palace was simply not someone you wanted to cross these days.
When you added it all up, none of those forces had made any move toward expansion at all.
Headmaster Xia exclaimed in surprise, "Grand Headmaster, are you saying that these forces close to the Glazed Palace are reflecting the Palace's true stance on this matter?"
"I can't say for certain," Su Huanzhen shook her head. "I haven't tried to read into anyone's intentions. But my instinct tells me that with the current balance of power, no matter how much territory you seize within the Human Domain, it's ultimately meaningless. The Young Master Jiang Chen could overturn the entire order with a single flick of his finger, turning all their frenzied plundering into a hollow farce. If that's the case, why should we engage in something so arduous and unlikely to win us any favor?"