The two fell silent once more.
Shaun Cole exited the main hall and stepped outside.
With two quick strides, he leapt to the highest point of the temple.
Eagle Vision—activate.
This had become a habit. Whenever he arrived somewhere unfamiliar, he would first activate Eagle Vision to grasp the surrounding environment.
Soon, information within a ten-kilometer radius flooded his mind.
The temple stood atop a snow-covered mountain. It wasn't inhabited only by the Ancient One and Kaecilius—there were nearly a hundred magical apprentices as well.
Below the mountain lay more than a dozen villages. Judging by their placement, they had clearly been built to remain under the temple's protection.
After fully mapping the area, Shaun Cole jumped back down.
The drop was less than twenty meters—far from enough to injure him.
At that moment, several apprentices outside the hall noticed him. Seeing his unusual attire, they immediately became alert, some already forming glowing rings in their hands.
"Stop!"
The Ancient One's voice rang out.
The apprentices straightened instantly and looked at her respectfully.
"This is our honored guest," she said sternly.
"Do not show any disrespect."
"Yes, Master Ancient One,"
the apprentices replied in unison, bowing.
"Mm," Shaun Cole said with a faint smile as he looked at her.
"This place really is quite nice. Why don't you just give it to me?"
The Ancient One's face turned pale. She was about to speak when Shaun Cole suddenly burst into laughter.
"Haha, I'm just joking. Look at you—your face went white. What, is there some secret hidden here?"
"You jest," the Ancient One replied hurriedly.
"There are no secrets here. It's just that the villagers at the foot of the mountain depend on us. If we were to move suddenly, it would cause them trouble."
"Haha, I said it was a joke," Shaun Cole laughed, patting her on the shoulder.
"Master Nun Gu Yi, you really don't have much of a sense of humor."
"Alright, I'm tired. When can we eat?"
"At any time,"
the Ancient One answered quickly.
Below them, the apprentices stared in disbelief. The Supreme Sorcerer they revered above all else was actually afraid of this man—it felt like witnessing something impossible.
"Good," Shaun Cole said, nodding.
"Let's eat first. It's been a long time since I've had a proper meal."
Hearing this, the Ancient One nodded repeatedly and hurried off to make arrangements.