Surgery

Sam went to visit the sect the next day at sunrise.

If he finishes this deal, he would have some free time before they could get their hands on the last member who is also a Peak stage Pre-transcendent stage cultivator of the Astral Plane. That one challenger.

He can finally reevaluate his recent changes both physically and mentally due to the cultivation and the losses he suffered.

Having that much pride is a borderline character flaw and trying to defend it by being angry at criticism that he gets is even more of a problem. He cannot let something as trivial as that to get in his way and hinder his progress both physically and mentally.

As he walked through the sect entrance, Jwala directly came to receive him and led him towards the volcano.

They climbed the volcano and stood at the mouth of it.