Way of the Knights

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The Sun Temple finally emerged. 

It's majestic beauty and glory was displayed for everyone to see and appreciate. 

Raven had seen many wonders throughout this life, but this kind of beauty is something that one doesn't see very often, add the fact such a wonder could be seen in a lower realm makes this even rarer. 

The Sun Temple was could hundred meters tall, at the very top lies a Sun Disc depicting several images of existences that are born of fire. 

Vermillion Birds, Phoenixes, Fire Giants, Dragons…

There are only a few of the images carved at the Sun Disc. There are many more but those are only visible for people who are fated to see them. These carvings shouldn't have been visible to Raven at all but due to his special circumstances, they were. 

There is a residual heat emanating off of the temple. It wasn't that high, not nearly enough to cause him to sweat but at the same time, it carried a specific comfort, a warmth that permeates to one's soul. This feeling could only be sensed by cultivators, common folk won't be able to feel this at all. 

"I'm sure Ellen would love this place. Well, she's I'm going to send her here in the future. Anyway, enough dilly-dallying. It's time to enter before this place disappears."

Raven entered the territory of the temple as soon as he could. He had to be quick since the temple is only going to be visible for 10 minutes before it disappears again. If he missed this chance, he'll have to wait for a whole year before it appears again. 

The temple is surrounded with Parasol Trees. According to legends, these are the same trees on which Vermillion Birds like to build nests on. Each tree is filled with rich Fire Energies, in fact this whole place is filled with high quality Fire Energies. 

Raven could see several wisps of flames dancing in the air, making a mesmerizing display that's enough to distract anyone. The ground is filled with rose petals which appeared to be on fire but are not turning into ashes. 

The walls of the temple are seemingly on fire but not quite. Each brick of this temple is made out of Volcanic Rocks that are harvested from Ancient Volcanos of the Divine Realm. These rocks could withstand unbelievable temperatures whilst maintaining their shape, not only did they not appear charred, they even had a gorgeous crimson color that fits the aesthetic of temple. 

Raven's also aware about the influence of Fire Laws in his surroundings. The profundity of heat around him is quite special and it is not something that could be felt in some random places that have high temperatures. 

He eventually arrived at the doors of the temple. He performed a polite salute and the doors slowly opened for him. This is the proper way of entering the temple, anybody who forces the doors to open will be subjected into a terrifying blaze of fire that would instantly incinerate them and reduce them ashes. 

Raven then entered the Sun Temple and as soon as he did, the doors closed behind him. 

His entrance was just right on time as the temple's disappearance from the outside. Since he already entered the temple, unless he passed as certain rule, he won't be able to get out. 

Just like the Sunken Ivory Castle and the Frozen Tomb of the North, the Sun Temple is also a testing grounds for a sect in the Divine Realm.

The sect which the Sun Temple is connected to, goes by the name of Divine Sun Sect. It is one of the Ancient Sects alongside of the Everlasting Snow Sect and Boundless Azure Sect. 

The Divine Sun Sect is founded by none other than Master Sun himself, the very first human being who stepped at the Divine Realm and brought others with him. He is a native of the Grand Ancestral Plane who caught a glimpse of the world beyond and had an overwhelming desire to explore and conquer it. 

Due to how much time has passed since the Ancient Era, where the Divine Realm was discovered, almost no one remembers the Old Masters. The elders and disciples of the Divine Sun Sect might still remember who Master Sun is since he was the who founded the sect but their story must've been forgotten by many. 

If the Ice Emperor was the stronger cultivator before, Master Sun could be called as the Pioneer. After all, he was the one who return from the Divine Realm bearing an overwhelming strength that none could've fathomed. It was him who revealed that there is a sky beyond their sky, and the peak which most of them stood on is just the beginning. 

Raven wasn't able to learn much about the life of Master Sun since the records he saw from the Sunken Ivory Castle aren't really focused on him. He had no prior knowledge about these people before his adventures in the castle so he really doesn't know much. 

Thankfully, he didn't have to. He didn't visit the Sun Temple to learn about the life of Master Sun anyway. And if the topic is about the Sun Temple, Raven has plenty of knowledge about that. 

As a testing ground for potential disciples of the Divine Sun Sect, the Sun Temple has a few tests that needs to be passed. And if one wants to be admitted as a disciple of the sect, they have to finish every test there is. Raven doesn't have any plans on finishing all of them, only a few just to ensure that he could exit the temple with the ingredient he needs. 

Once inside the temple, Raven immediately found a wide space with an altar at the very end. There is a set of stairs on each side leading towards the higher level of the temple but there's also a wall of flames preventing anyone from coming close to the stairs. 

The floor tiles are made out of volcanic rocks as well, but these ones are smoother and glossier compared to the walls. The interior walls are also decorated with all kinds of trinkets which all have something to do with fire. He also saw some Sun Crystals embedded on the walls.

Sun Crystals are considered as rare kind of consumable in the lower realms but in the Divine Realms, they are more less just regular rocks, those that have higher quality are used as decorations or currency in some places. Here, they act as catalysts that helped on purifying the Fire Energies present inside. 

Anyone who practices Fire based cultivation techniques will experiences a boost when they cultivate inside of this place. Their efforts will yield twice the result with half the price, which is why Raven said that Ellen would really love this place. 

Raven wasted no time, he approached the altar to begin the test right away. 

The altar is made out of Crimson Sun Crystals, the highest form of Sun Crystals there is. There are several runic engravings all over its surface, these are formations that is tied to this floor. All he needed to do is to touch this ritual circle and his trial will begin. 

"The Sun Temple has a total of 9 floors…" Raven stated, "Each floor has different tests that needs to be passed. If I want to exit this place will require me to finish at least 10 trials. And in order to get the ingredient I want, I need to finish 50 trials."

From the records that Raven read during his previous life, it is said that the trials differs from person to person. No challengers will face the same trial at the same time, and due to the countless variations added in the trials, finding a pattern to exploit is virtually impossible as well. The trials adjust themselves depending on the challenger, so there is really no way for anyone to cheat their way through. 

Each floor on the Sun Temple contains 10 trials. In order to ascend the stairs, one has to finish every trial on the current floor first or else the flame barrier would not disappear. 

Raven took a deep breath and placed his hand on the ritual circle placed on the altar. As soon as he touched it, the whole formation lit up and caused the whole floor to be illuminated by a gentle sunlight. 

Suddenly, words written in Elven language started forming above Raven. It reads:

"1st floor, 1st Trial: Untouchable. Rules: Defend yourself against the sea of flames for an entire day to pass this trial."

"Wow." Was all Raven could say as soon as he read the first trial he got. 

Before he could even think about anything else, a major development was already happening around him. 

The temperature was suddenly rising at an alarming pace. Plumes of flames started appearing everywhere and it didn't take long enough before they grew into tall flames which contained scalding heat. The flames were taller than Raven himself, and just like the trial said, he's literally submerged into a sea of fire. 

Faced with no other options, Raven just smiled wry and sat down.. His barrier is already protecting him anyway so all he had to do is to wait until a whole day passed.