In the evening of the next day after the official celebrations, Wu Long and his ladies arrived in a small but very tastefully decorated hall near the Peak of Unity, which was usually used for the meetings of Grand Elders, for a small private gathering.

This small gathering was also attended by Yu Huan, Cai Yin, Madam Liang, General Feng with his wife, and son Feng Huan, Luo Mingyu’s father who was named the new Patriarch of the Luo Family with his wife, Zhao Xieren and his son Zhao Biren, as well as Song Minfu and Chu Ren.

Qiu Yilao and Qu Mian were representing the Frozen Garden Palace.

Naturally, Old Yen and Butler Bang were there as well.

There were Sui Luxiao’s three sons and Cao Xiang’s right-hand man who used to be the general of the Liugwei Royal Army before fleeing to the Southern Archipelago, as well as Madam Liang’s five disciples.

Xia Jung and Lei Ding, as people Wu Long was relying on in leading the Disciples, as well as Elder Hai and his wife Hai Luan as people Lian Zhiqiu depended upon to secretly control the Sect, were the core members of the Yin Yang Unity Palace present here.

There were also Temple Master Qi Shan and Grand Elder Gan Shihan of the Brilliant Sun Temple.

“Everyone, I would like to congratulate you on successfully overcoming the hurdle, and coming out on the other side with victory”

Wu Long smiled, raising his cup in a toast, followed by everyone in the hall.

After the toast, the atmosphere became lighter as people drank the wine that Zhao Biren took out for this occasion and small discussions could be now heard from various parts of the hall.

“Daoist Wu… we had something to discuss…”

Qiu Yilao and Qu Mian approached Wu Long who was talking with Shen Min and Cao Xiang.

“Of course, Qiu Yilao, Qu Mian, please speak freely.

After all, we are no longer strangers or simply allies”

Wu Long chuckled, his words getting the attention of Qi Shan and Gan Shihan as they widened their eyes.

“It is that… we can no longer be considered a separate Sect.

Since we swore allegiance to you and with the rapid rise in the cultivation of our Disciples and Sect Protectors… there hardly is any difference left…”

Qiu Yilao spoke a bit unsure of the future of the Frozen Garden Palace as a Sect.

“Mm, I have actually discussed this with Zhiqiu, since Yin Yang Unity Palace has also lost a lot of members, and since the remaining members started to rise in cultivation it has been hard to maintain the status and operation of the Sect ever since.

If you do not object, we can establish the Eternal Duality Valley.

Yin Yang Unity Palace, renamed into the Twin Essence Palace and your Frozen Garden Palace entering into it as divisions, since a Valley can have separate palaces.

That way you can retain your separate identity and at the same time become part of a larger Sect”

Wu Long smiled, as he was thinking this problem over as well.

“Then, is our Feng Family going to join into this Sect?”

General Feng asked as he came closer.

‘This gathering… turned out to be not so simple…

The scale of things discussed here is… I’m afraid far higher than in the official meeting we had on the day the celebrations started.

The words coming from ancient times were right after all… the way that the world turns is decided not in public, but behind closed doors…’

Grand Elder Gan Shihan of the Brilliant Sun Temple narrowed his eyes as this small and very casual-looking gathering turned out to have far bigger repercussions than the official meeting which was held more for formalities than anything, exchanging a look with Temple Master Qi Shan.

“At first I thought of creating separate entities.

After all, gathering all forces into one might be convenient in terms of operation, but has the tendency to attract attention to that accumulation of power, as well as makes it hard to maneuver.

Just like what Gu Zhen did by dividing his powers into separate structures that on the surface had nothing to do with each other, therefore making his movements everywhere a lot less apparent, we could benefit from separating into several structures as well…”

Meanwhile Wu Long nodded, answering General Feng’s question before.

“Hmm, Master Wu is wise.

True, staking everything on one throw is not the best choice…”

General Feng nodded with understanding.

“But, structuring our different powers in this way would leave them prone to the same vulnerabilities as Gu Zhen’s forces.

Lack of cohesion between different parts, plus there would appear differences in cultivation realms and power.

Not to mention that having to compromise in situations where we could press with force, in fear of exposing the relationship between different parts is inefficient.

And finally, it would be harder to use the difference in the paths to our advantage if all of our forces are divided.

After all, if we were collected into one earlier, we would have reached the strength we eventually did a lot faster.

Our different forces coming together and elevating each other is what made us strong.

Thus, your Feng Family would form the War God Palace, while the Luo Family will form the Divine Enlightenment Palace”

Wu Long further explained as General Feng widened his eyes, as did Luo Mingyu’s father, Luo Mo.

“Hahaha! Truly a tiger that got its wings!

Right! That is how a man should be! Bold and not fearing difficulties ahead!

If we have Master Wu on our side, who dares to stand in our way?”

General Feng’s laughter then filled the room while Wu Long’s smile froze and became a bit strained at his words.

“Then, would my Soaring Feather Trading Company be officially operated by the Valley? Or by one of the Palaces within?”

Sui Luxiao asked as Wu Long nodded.

“Naturally, we would have to arrange it differently than originally planned as well.

Mystic Flame Alchemy Pavilion that Fairy Yu Huan will open would become part of the Valley.

While the Soaring Feather Trading Company, Liugwei Escort Agency, and Liugwei Mercenary Corps would be outwardly operated by the Pavilion”

Wu Long nodded.

At this time…

“I wonder if there is a place for a Thousand Eye Palace in that Valley, Daoist Wu?”

Madam Liang came forward with a smile that could make men weak in the knees, puffing on her long smoking pipe as a cloud of herbal smoke made an image of a palace.

“Hahaha, of course, Madam Liang. We would welcome you and your people.

We have already proven how good our cooperation could be in the war against Gu Zhen, so I see no reason to break our alliance if you have the will to continue”

Wu Long chuckled.

“Hmm, this Temple Master also wonders, if Daoist Wu says that a valley can have many palaces, could one of them be a temple?”

Qi Shan approached next and spoke up after a brief discussion with Gan Shihan, carefully probing Wu Long’s attitude.

“Hahaha, of course, Temple Master Qi.

A Temple can of course be built in a valley.

But the valley naturally has its own rules and its own master, so the one building the Temple must consider that well before committing”

Wu Long smiled.

“Hahaha, of course, that is natural in such a situation”

Qi Shan narrowed his eyes with a smile, satisfied with the answer.

“The main thing is, that while I will assume the role of the Valley Master, and my Dao Family will be the ones managing their own Palaces and forces, our names and faces in those official positions would not be known, as we would operate through intermediaries, and be referred to only by our titles within those organizations.

That will be what gives the Wu Family our freedom to act freely and independently with no need to hide our names or faces when outside, which would be the majority of time, and at the same time not tie our actions to the Sect.

The internal structure and composition of the Eternal Duality Valley would also be treated as a secret of the Sect”

Wu Long smiled, emphasizing this point.

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