Dual Cultivation God Returns-Chapter 521 Save it

?The twelve Grand Elders took their places around the Temple Master.

The one with the highest cultivation, equal to the Temple Master at the Mortal Transcendence Realm was a decrepit and feeble-looking old man whose days were numbered, and was introduced as Grand Elder Jin, the leader of the conservatives.

Wu Long noted that there were those in the council of Grand Elders whose cultivation did not reach Core Formation Realm, as he understood that the number of Grand Elders was fixed regardless if they had enough members of the required cultivation.

The three Foundation Building Realm Grand Elders were on the side of the Reformists.

He also saw that Grand Elder Jin exchanged a look with Beng Mao, deducing that the two were originally Master and Disciple before the latter became the Prime Disciple.

It signified the influence of the conservative faction, since they were the ones who pushed a person into the position of the next Temple Master.

'Hah, so I was correct in my assumptions'

He inwardly chuckled, as what landed him this meeting was most likely the fact that he saved Beng Mao's life from Hong Yue, making the conservative faction owe him a favor.

Wu Long was no stranger to the internal politics of various Sects and factions, and could tell from the moment he met this Prime Disciple that he was someone who was indoctrinated into the conservative ways.

And while he would still have saved Beng Mao at that moment regardless, if he did not have a calculation he would not have waited for Hong Yue to move as her attack was after her twin's, and therefore there was plenty of time for him to stop her even approaching him unlike with Xue Bing who was attacked first.

What followed was more of the same discussion, but this time there was severe opposition and interjections from the Grand Elders.

Wu Long noticed that Qi Shan and Gan Shihan acted less friendly to each other, or rather the latter did not speak up even once during this more formal part of the meeting.

"...we have been neutral and stood to the side for ten thousand years!

Our isolation has never been broken, and no faction has ever picked a conflict with us!

What would the Alchemy Tower gain from involving us in their struggle against the Azure Eagle Empire?

If anything, Grand Elder Gan's actions in aiding the Frozen Garden Palace have opened us up to potential conflict because we have taken a stance!"

One of the conservative Grand Elders finally pointed out and an intense argument followed with several Grand Elders shouting at once.

"Silence!"

Temple Master intervened to return order with a thunderous roar while Wu Long inwardly sighed at the waste of time.

"You refuse to acknowledge that a storm is coming for you all because your position has always been to the side and not interfering?

If you close your eyes, are you suddenly invisible to everyone around?

Tradition and adherence to some core principles is important for continuation of identity, but shielding those principles from all scrutiny is not tradition, it is fanaticism, and failing to adapt when the world changes around you would only result in you being obsolete"

He finally had enough of the bickering, speaking up in a calm, tranquil voice.

"Youngster! You are overstepping your bounds"

"Bounds?

Have you invited me here to let me hear you arguing, or to discuss possible cooperation?"

"You are a guest, and a Junior.

You do not even have the proper status to be attending this meeting, and it because Grand Elder Gan begged and pleaded, and grace of Grand Elder Jin that you are here.

It is proper to wait for when you are asked to speak"

One of the conservative Grand Elders exclaimed with emphasis on his and his colleagues' seniority.

"If that were the case I would not be here.

If I was representing someone who was going to help you, that would have been different as well.

I am here because I am the one proposing to help your sect survive, and the one who would be responsible for providing that help, which gives me all the status required to speak up.

While I did come here in good faith, with good intentions and with peaceful attitude, that does not mean I would tolerate my time being wasted on useless back-and-forth that could be happening without my presence, with no resolution and your seniority contest.

The internal politics of your Sect and your power struggle hold absolutely no meaning or value for me. I am here for one purpose, to discuss our cooperation. You can fight among yourselves all you want when I am gone"

Wu Long spoke without raising his voice or much emotion, but something in his demeanor caused the Grand Elders to not interrupt, as they all listened in silence.

The light of the fires behind the backs of the Grand Elders that was usually making their silhouettes seem intimidating, was now instead reflecting in Wu Long's eyes, and nailed the old men to their spots.

"...! Y-you-...!"

"Save it.

I have no interest in your indignation either.

I can achieve my purpose even if you don't agree, as I will simply come to the ashes of this Sect after it's gone in the war that is to come and take your legacy.

Even if it is gone because you destroyed it to protect its secrets, I would simply not have it, and that is fine by me.

I don't 'need' it.

I only became interested since it seemed like a nice bonus.

The fact I am here is a courtesy, do not mistake it for necessity"

Wu Long did not let the man who spoke up earlier say the all-

familiar words of indignation.

In the ensuing silence, the old decrepit man who led the conservative faction opened his turbid eyes to look at Wu Long.

"Hmm, it seems we have indeed been uncourteous to take up your time with conversations that do not concern you.

Now then, let us discuss the issue you came here for.

Grand Elder Gan told us about your feats, which are hard to believe even if you are, like he says, in Foundation Building Realm instead of the Revolving Qi Realm we see.

However, even if we take five steps back and believe it all, felling a 9th-tier Demonic Beast is different from fighting a Mortal Transcendence Realm cultivator as Demonic Beasts don't have the intelligence and wit of cultivators, and those you speak of are even higher in realms than that..."

His slightly trembling voice sounded feeble, but when he raised his hand to stop the previous Grand Elder from interjecting, there was no one who objected.

"... so, tell us... how exactly are you going to help us?"

The old man's turbid, bleak eyes looked directly into Wu Long's and then, they widened.

"Haa~..."

A sigh escaped from him as the others froze, unable to move or even lift a finger.

At this moment, Wu Long no longer seemed like a young cultivator in the Revolving Qi Realm to them.

They all felt enormous pressure as the eyes of God of Slaughter opened up to look into theirs, a feeling of immense and profound dread spreading within them.

Since he finally had someone worth talking to apart from Grand Elder Gan and Temple Master, he no longer prevented his Soul from affecting his aura and presence, though he still held back very much.

He did not use this method usually, as it burdened his current Niwan Palace to hold the weight of his Soul even in this extremely reserved capacity, but even if he could go all out, the mere presence of such a powerful Soul would have crushed their minds so he would still have held back.

"... are... are you..."

"That is irrelevant"

He said as the pressure on them disappeared and they finally started breathing again.

"What is important, is if you are convinced"

"... I am, I believe we all are..."

Grand Elder Jin spoke with a still shocked look on his wrinkled face.

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