The doors of the Main Hall closed, and though the tall and narrow windows of the hall with high ceilings had the same pale light, the atmosphere was a little more welcoming due to the lanterns that gave off the warm light of fire.

The now empty room seemed even vaster than it was before, as Qiu Yilan had even the Sect Protectors and Sect Retainers leave since the topic of the conversation was sensitive.

Qiu Yilao went up to her seat and moved her hand over one of the throne hand rests. A formation circle appeared in front of the platform with the throne at the end of the hall, the stone slabs of the floor rising up to form crude but rather grand seats, as smaller arrays activated on top of them to clean away any impurities on the surfaces and slightly warm them up.

Wu Long and Grand Elder Gan took their seats while Xue Bing and Beng Mao took a position standing near their sect’s seniors, even though there were enough chairs for everyone.

Qiu Yilao looked at her disciple and shook her head with a wry smile realizing that she would not be persuaded to take a seat while Grand Elder Gan audibly grumbled that his sect’s Prime Disciple was too straight-laced and stubborn again.

“Daoist Wu seems to recognize the legacy of our Brilliant Sun Temple…”

He then shifted his gaze to Wu Long and went directly to the point while Qiu Yilao rolled her eyes since there was no warm-up or conversation softener. He simply jumped straight into it.

“Indeed, after all the Eternal Sun Temple your sect’s cultivation comes from, along with the Eternal Moon Garden that Palace Master Qiu’s sect takes it roots from are two of the most widely recognized, as well as oldest sects in the entire Seven Boundless World, with many branches and sub-branches scattered among the stars”

Wu Long nodded, as the old man’s eyes narrowed along with Qiu Yilao’s delicate ones.

The two Prime Disciples seemed to not completely understand the conversation, but continued to listen in silence as it was not time to ask clarifying questions that would disrupt the main discussion.

“And your relation to the Eternal Sun Temple is?” .

“Not remotely related, haha. I just recognized the tri-combination of the Pure Yang Life and Death Sutra, Brilliant Sun Vajra Body and the Eternal Inner Peace Sutra, which is a hallmark of the Eternal Sun Temple.

Though I assume you must only have the first volume of each of the cultivation techniques.

And in the case of the Frozen Garden Palace, I seem to recognize the origins of your techniques as the Pure Yin Cold Veins Scripture, as well as the Divine Moon Jade Body, though your legacy is not intact, since both techniques seem to have been altered, or rather the missing parts were filled in, and there is no Eternal Ice Soul Scripture”

Wu Long shrugged his shoulders to that question, though his explanation gave even more shock to the two senior members of the Five Great Sects. Particularly his last words caused a glint to appear in the eyes of Qiu Yilao.

“You can see that much? How…”

“That, unfortunately is not something I am willing to share” .

“But even if what you are saying is true, and you only made the association based on observations it seems your knowledge goes way beyond just hearsay, not to mention that it is not something even remotely common for the people of this world”

As Wu Long shook his head to Grand Elder Gan’s question Qiu Yilao chimed in with a question of her own, both watching him with intense attention, their sharp gazes determined to catch every mannerism or change in expression.

“What Palace Master Qiu said might be true but then again there are people like you two who know a little more than the average cultivator, as well as people like the founders of your sects who passed that knowledge.

It should come as no surprise that there are other people in the world who know more about its past and connection to the world beyond. Not to mention that there are figures who remain behind the veil of this lack of knowledge and exert their influence, which you both are also aware of”

Wu Long smiled, lightly dodging the question. He could answer truthfully but that would require long explanations that would drive the conversation off-topic for quite some time.

And though he had a different perception of time, it is time spent on these kind of things that he considered ‘waste’ and not the time he spent just idling by with his women.

But his words did have the necessary impact as the suspicion in the eyes of the two lessened, exchanged with a more steady look of acknowledgement. It was that feeling when people who were in the know, reluctant to speak freely in the presence of someone who wasn’t, relaxed as they realized that their conversation opponent was in the know as well.

The two Prime Disciples would be learning these things in the near future anyway so it was not a problem to now have a more open conversation with Wu Long since it seemed he was not someone oblivious to the mysteries and secrets of this world like the absolute majority of people.

“It seems Daoist Wu had something different in mind than simple greetings when you approached me”

Grand Elder Gan spoke as his pose slightly relaxed, sitting back on the stone seat which fit his powerful build quite nicely with its crude and large design.

Wu Long, who had a smaller build and when in clothes looked closer to a scholar since his techniques were accumulating strength in a leaner, toned form of muscles, still somehow managed to look extremely comfortable and fitting on the oversized chair as well, his posture relaxed and carefree from the very beginning.

“Hmm, hard to say I did…

It is partially a simple greeting but if I had any goal I already achieved it in having this meeting in which we could speak more freely.

That said I do want to establish closer relationships to both of your sects through it…”

Wu Long spoke with a pondering expression, acknowledging it was not a simple greeting but at the same time did not hold any specific agenda. Qiu Yilao’s pupils contracted as she realized by his own admission that he noticed her attention on their conversation and anticipated her joining them.

“And what does Daoist Wu want from that closer relationship?”

“Ultimately? To be given access to study and research the texts of both the Brilliant Sun Temple and Frozen Garden Palace”

He chuckled as a loud booming laughter resounded right after.

“Ahahaha! Quite bold of you, Daoist Wu! But I like it!”

Qiu Yilao was more restrained as she simply had a sharper look in her eyes.

“What makes you think we would grant that?”

“You may know of the forces hidden on this continent as well as their brewing conflict, you may even heard about it coming to a near boiling point not that long ago, but what you don’t know is that I am now smack in the middle of it”

He chuckled causing the eyebrows of the two to rise up.

“Are you trying to recruit us into your cause then?”

“Not exactly. What I am offering is my cooperation so that both of your sects can safely pass this ordeal.

It’s not like you can stay to the side of it either, both of you know that”

Wu Long answered Qiu Yilao’s question which was asked in a cautious tone with a chuckle, his tone very light contrary to the content.

“Hah, the Brilliant Sun Temple is not even on the Azure Eagle Continent, as we hail from the mountainous island in the North Sea. Besides we held a position of neutrality and seclusion to all worldly affairs since our founding”

“But it is not like you can ignore those ‘worldly affairs’ when your sect’s future is on the line, isn’t it?”

“That may be so, but in the battles of the entities you speak of, none of our small struggles even matter”

Qiu Yilao made another argument as Grand Elder Gan struggled to answer Wu Long’s words.

“Haha, that may be true for you but as I already said I am smack in the middle of that conflict, and can influence the outcome.

Though your ‘small’ struggles may not be the main stage of that conflict it is nonetheless helpful to be aligned with one side which is on the main stage since it influences the outcome of all the other smaller scales of it as well”

The two became silent as they did not see any semblance of bluffing either in his expression, voice or body language. Even the fluctuations of his Spiritual Qi remained calm and steady as if he was speaking about the weather.

“But is that not only true if we join the winning side?”

Qiu Yilao carefully spoke, as if thinking over every word as it left her lips.

“Bahahaha, Palace Master Qiu is sure cautious and cunning. Where have you seen a sweet deal like having a ten out of ten assurance of the choice given to be correct? It is a gamble”

Grand Elder Gan laughed again, causing the former to slightly frown.

“Hmm, Grand Elder Gan is correct, for the most part you don’t know if a choice is correct until you make it.

Not to mention that what you have is not a choice between two sides as in truth you are already aligned with me, just not officially.

But in this particular case, whichever side I am on is the one winning this conflict”

Wu Long chuckled.

A very light, restrained frown appeared on the face of the Brilliant Sun Temple’s Prime Disciple as Wu Long’s words lacked modesty and humbleness in his eyes.

Meanwhile Xue Bing’s eyes which never left Wu Long’s face had a light change that was almost imperceptible, comparable to a very small and quick movement behind a frosted glass partition.

“Hmm, a man should be like this, I approve. Though I am not authorized to make such decisions, I will speak with the Temple Master as soon as I am back”

Grand Elder Gan, contrary to the disciple standing next to him nodded with approval while Qiu Yilao ligthly rolled her eyes.

“That statement lacks credibility, Daoist Wu”

“Indeed, and only time will tell”

Wu Long nodded conceding quite quickly, which only made Qiu Yilao narrow her eyes even more.

“It seems that you have achieved what you wanted already”

“Correct, as I only really had to persuade the Brilliant Sun Temple, while Frozen Garden Palace desperately needs something from me”

Wu Long honestly chuckled as another bout of delighted laughter from the old man resounded in the hall while Qiu Yilao’s facial expression became a little complicated.

𝘳𝑎.𝒸ℴ