544 Don't Be Mistaken
"F**k your m*ther! You s*n of a b*tch! Why don't you f*ck *ff and d** in ditch somewhere, f*cking c**t-!"
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The Grand Priest's face contorted in anger as he rained a string of curses at Vaan. He also pulled his long sleeves, revealing his wrinkly, skinny muscles like he wanted to get physically violent with him. All kinds of profanity one could think of was spilled out of his mouth.
His actions were completely unbefitting of his position as a Grand Priest and more like that of a street thug.
"Someone, take Grand Priest Ignatius away to cool his head. I will take it from here," another Grand Priest commanded with a deep, solemn look.
"As you command, Grand Priest Cornelius," a High Priest answered.
Shortly after, the High Priest called over more regular priests as backup to help him drag the furious Grand Priest Ignatius away.
"F*cking let go of me, you stinking brats! I'm not done here! I don't care who he is! I'm going to teach him the word respect today! Grand priest Ignatius roared while being held back by three young priests on each side.
"You're not thinking straight, Your Eminence! Let us take you somewhere to calm down!" a priest advised the elderly man with a strong, forceful, and frustrated tone.
"Watch how you speak to me, young man! have lived thrice your lifetime!"
"..."
"Sleep."
Grand Priest Cornelius frowned before casting a sleeping spell on Grand Priest Ignatius. The person didnt put up any defense and, thus, quickly fell asteep.
Shortly after, Grand Priest Ignatius was finally taken away.
With the loud hindrance gone, Grand Priest Cornelius fixed his gaze on the false Sun God. His eyes immediately twitched when he noticed the main temple had lost another two gold pillars
His breathing became agitated at once, but he forcefully controlled himself to remain calm.
"Your Divinity, the Sun God Temple was founded in honor and worship of you! It sn't wrong to say that everything here belongs to you! Please cease this meaningless destruction!" Grand Priest Cornelius pleaded before stating, "You are destroying your property, Your Divinity!"
"Since everything is mine, no one should mind what I do to it! Whether I tear this place down or give away all its wealth, that's my problem! Not yours! Unless, of course, you are lying to me!" Vaan cast Grand Priest Cornelius a sharp glance.
Grand Priest Cornelius immediately felt a cold shiver run down his spine.
The false Sun God was too powerful for anyone to contend with directly, and he couldn't be reasoned with either.
The best Grand Priest Cornelius could do was stall the person with words until they had a more definitive solution to stopping the false Sun God's madness
...
Meanwhile, Vaan took his time provoking the Sun God Temple's people while studying everything, He didnt understand where their confidence or stubbornness came from in opposing him.
Did they truly have a Sun God? Or did they have a secret means to deal with him?
From what he could see, the Sun God Temple's priests were not much different from the Wizard Tower's wizard; they all practiced the art of castration for power.
The only difference was their heavy focus on light-attribute mana, and their statuses weren't fully related to their cultivations.
For example, the Sun God Temple's hierarchy, from lowest to the highest position, was Acolyte, Priest, Senior Priest, High Priest, Grand Priest, and finally Archpriest.
Acolytes were newly inducted priests, while Priests were the regulars that have completed forming one mana ring, They were One-Circle Wizards.
Senior Priests were wizards with two mana rings.
However, among the High Priests and Grand Priests he had seen, they were all Peak-level Two-Circle Wizards.
That said, judging by the influence of the Sun God Temple, he didn't doubt at least some Grand Priests and the Archpriests were Three-Circle Wizards.
Still, it was shocking to find so many men willing to make such a great sacrifice for power. No wonder it was also called the Sun God Temple instead of the Sun God Church.
What was the difference between the priests and ascetic monks?
"Your Divinity, why are you doing this? What have we done wrong to deserve this?!" a Senior Priest asked with distress.
"Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they have... The root of suffering is attachment," Vaan calmly preached like a typical ascetic monk with a one-hand praying gesture. "Thou shall not get married. Thou shall not have children. Thou shall not have... manhood."
"Are you mocking us, Your Divinity?! If you are truly the divine Sun God, you should understand everything we have done for you!" a Senior Priest roared emotionally, pained by Vaan's words rubbing his old wounds.
"Wrong. Everything you have done was for yourself," Vaan coolly stated before saying, "The Sun God is the giver of life and knowledge. But what aspect of abandoning one's manhood is life-giving? This is merely a sacrifice made from your desire and pursuit of power."
"You say this temple was founded in honor and worship of me? I see nothing of that sort here, only endless greed and self-interest. You don't even practice what you preach, and you call yourselves believers of the Sun God?"
"How laudable," Vaan uttered with contempt.
With a wave of his hand, he blasted a fiery hole straight through the temple's walls. With another wave, he swept all the gold coins in soft flames and threw them outside through the newly opened hole.
"Your Excellency, do you really think yourself a god?! What right do you have to criticize us?" another Grand Priest bellowed furiously upon his arrival.
Vaan cast the newcomer an indifferent glance before he continued to speak.
"I know many of you don't acknowledge me as the Sun God. However, don't be mistaken. It's not you who does acknowledge me as the Sun God; it is I who does not recognize you as my believers!" Vaan firmly stated, shaking the hearts of many priests.
Vaan's words resonated with a fraction of the priests, who always felt something was wrong with how things were conducted at the Sun God Temple's main temple.
However, they never dared to confront the temple's upper echelons regarding the matter due to their lower status... until now.
"Your Divinity, I have been misled by the temple and sinned. Please grant your humble believer a chance to repent and prove his faith to you!" a regular Priest pleaded as he prostrated on the ground resolutely.
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