Among the widened eyes, Grand Elder Gan’s smile grew wider.

“Bahahaha! As always, a man of surprises!

Welcome, Daoist Wu! The Brilliant Sun Temple greets you with a nice warmth, be careful not to get cooked though, Bahahaha!”

His loud voice then woke the others from their stupor and as he cupped his fists with a powerful motion that made a loud sound and even produced wind, the others behind him straightened their postures and mirrored his actions, shouting “Welcome to the Brilliant Sun Temple” in unison.

“Greetings to the members of the Brilliant Sun Temple. I would trouble you with my visit for a bit”

Wu Long cupped his fists as well, his smile growing as well.

“Come! Let’s get you to meet our Temple Master!

He’s been pestering me about you without end ever since we came back”

The muscular old man came up to Wu Long, and putting a hand on his shoulder as if they were old friends, lead him forward to the temples.

“Grand Elder Gan, it is not proper to speak of Temple Master in such a tone!”

“Aah, he’ll survive that”

As Prime Disciple Beng Mao spoke up Grand Elder Gan made a nonchalant expression, continuing to lead Wu Long forward.

They went through the series of passages going over the flowing currents of lava, greeted by people all over, until their steps brought them to the Main Temple which was located on the side of the volcano.

The large plaza leading to the entrance was located at the foot of the volcanic mountain while the whole structure seemed to be cutting into it, various pagoda towers and buildings climbing up the steep volcanic rock above connected both with passages through the rock and outer bridges and stairs.

Upon entering the Main Hall, they were greeted by many gazes of Elders, many of whom were much less friendly than Grand Elder Gan and the delegation which greeted Wu Long, the latter consisted of largely the same people who were at the Winter Forest Hunt.

‘A long-standing policy of isolation… huh’

Wu Long’s eyes slightly narrowed as he could see the distrust and disapproval toward letting in an outsider in these gazes. There was also a heavy dose of caution and scrutiny.

All of this was something he expected, but what he did not expect was a few gazes filled with outright hostility.

‘Hah, trouble can brew everywhere it seems.

Though very likely unrelated to the conflict on the continent, looks like there is an internal strife here as well just as I thought’

He chuckled, inwardly pondering those gazes which were not only hostile to him, but toward the old man who led him as well.

Internal politics of a Sect could be complicated, and not always because of outside factors.

In fact, in strictly isolated and closed up Sects like this, which were distant from the affairs of the world and neutral to most conflicts, there was more likely to be an intense internal struggle since there was no common enemy to be united against outside of this community.

The members of the Brilliant Sun Temple were mostly coming from the Cloud Piercing Continent where there was a monastery that the prospective disciples would have to lead an ascetic way of life as a trial to enter the Sect.

There were many who were driven to this decision by the poor life or constant wars, but plenty of ‘inconvenient’ heirs to Noble Houses or political rivals were also exiled through this method, so some of the people gathering here were predisposed to ambition and scheming.

This Sect was also semi-religious one, as the practitioners all around Wu Long were Daoist Monks.

And in such cases, there were divisions about theoretical or otherwise interpretations of their doctrines which could get very severe.

He could also very easily identify part of the people who were now staring at him with hostility, and it was a group which was present and very vocal in any community.

“Please don’t mind them, Daoist Wu”

Grand Elder Gan spoke up as they passed through the Grand Hall and went into a series of passages leading up to the summit of the volcanic mountain.

“Hahaha, I don’t.

Conservative factions serve an important role in every community, as they preserve the sense of continuity and identity, as well as protect the founding principles.

It makes sense that my very presence in these halls offends them.

As for the others… well ambitions are something natural to appear in humans”

He chuckled, causing the old man as well as Beng Mao and a few Elders who were following them to widen their eyes.

“Bahahaha! Impressive as always, but… how did you know?”

“True conservatives are easy to identify, their hostility is not few Elders who were following them to widen their eyes.

“Bahahaha! Impressive as always, but… how did you know?”

personal. It is steeped in their principles and therefore feels… dry.

As for the other groups, well, intuition is part of it but there are clear red flags in the way they position themselves in enclosed circles of ‘their’ people”

Wu Long’s words made the Grand Elder nod with appreciation as others pondered his words.

“Hoho~! A keen eye and sensitive intuition. As well as a sharp mind.

Though I would say there are either only dried up corpses people here or someone who by no means could be called ‘dry’. On the contrary, they’re quite ‘full’. Bahahaha!”

Grand Elder Gan loudly laughed as the Elders walking beside raised a laughter that filled the passageways, making Wu Long chuckle while Beng Mao made a face that clearly said ‘outrageous’.

“But seriously, you have a tough battle ahead, as it took mequite a lot to persuade Grand Elder Jin, head of the conservative faction to even let this meeting happen.

Temple Master cannot be partial to one faction or person, so he could not weigh in without reason as well”

“I appreciate your help, Grand Elder Gan.

In all honesty, I did not expect for this meeting to be possible so soon, but it is much better this way”

Wu Long smiled, as they approached a tall pagoda tower on the very edge of the volcano’s crater.

Climbing to the very top, they entered a circular terrace with no railings, with a dual view of dark-gray and gloomy world of the Northern Sea locked in perpetual storm on one side, and a bright orange, yellow, and red lake emitting intense heat on the other.

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