I must admit, Ten Thousand Grass Hall came to seek out Zhu Xiangxin well-prepared, and against such a logical and advantageous targeted attack, there are few who can withstand it, not excluding Zhu Xiangxin, who ultimately lost the battle.

Walking back to the Divine Fire Palace inn, Zhu Xiangxin was silent the whole way, nearly bumping into people on the road, somewhat distracted.

She returned to her room filled with a sense of guilt; she lived alone, and no one disturbed her in her quarters.

The excitement about entering the Divine Fire Domain was completely gone because Shi Chun had indeed treated her well.

That kindness even sparked a thought in her—since Shi Chun didn't have a woman, and she herself was unmarried, it wasn't impossible between them.

She had to admit, Shi Chun was quite an excellent man, not bad-looking either. Having such a partner in the Cultivation World for life wouldn't be a waste of her existence.

But everything ended there, after the Divine Fire Domain, she would return to her Sect.

She collapsed onto the bed, curled up still as if dead, only the sea breeze occasionally blowing in through the window continued to soothe her...

Back in his own room, Duan Xiangmei quickly stepped up to Wu Jinliang and whispered a few words.

Then Wu Jinliang grabbed his gourd and left the room, heading straight to Shi Chun's room, not bothering to knock, using a spell to open the latch and enter.

Shi Chun, meditating cross-legged on the bed, opened his eyes and said slowly, "What are you doing here again, coming in and out like this?"

This was already the third time Wu Jinliang had intruded. Not long ago, he had run over to report about An Wuzhi; someone had knocked on An Wuzhi's door and invited An Wuzhi to leave with them.

Wu Jinliang sat beside the bed and said softly, "Tong Mingshan has just been invited out by someone knocking on his door too."

Shi Chun's half-closed eyes twinkled as he mused, "It was quiet and peaceful before, so why all of a sudden have we been called out in this short period of time? It seems someone has leaked our stay here."

Wu Jinliang: "That's not important now. What matters is why those three, Tong Mingshan and the others, were chosen. If someone could easily summon them, I'm guessing it's their previous Sects behind it. Don't tell me you can't guess their intentions?"

Shi Chun glanced at him, "We're going in tomorrow, and once in, it'll be forty-nine days. You should take the time to get close to your Duan Xiangmei. Since we've been exposed, there's no point in hiding anymore. Take her around the island for a walk and enjoy the scenery; we've never really seen it before."

Wu Jinliang: "But those three, we should arrange for someone to secretly follow them."

Shi Chun glanced at him, "Alright, you don't need to worry about that, someone will be watching."

Wu Jinliang asked, "Are you referring to the Demon Path?"

Shi Chun shook his head slightly, "When I met with Young Master Nan earlier, I had already asked for his help. As for how to deal with it, I've made arrangements with Young Master Nan."

"Uh..." Wu Jinliang was slightly stunned, then quickly realized, "You expected someone would come looking for those three?"

Shi Chun: "Why do you think I didn't report to Qi Yun Valley, preferring to spend money hiding here with everyone? Go on, enjoy yourself then."

He needed to take any spare time to assimilate the demonic flames within his body, gaining more cultivation strength with each fraction he refined.

Seeing he was well prepared, Wu Jinliang's heart settled, and he laughed his trademark hehe, slapped his thigh, and got up to leave. This time, he indeed took Duan Xiangmei to play by the seaside.

Not long after he left, Feng Chi knocked and entered Shi Chun's room.

As soon as the door closed, she quickly slipped next to Shi Chun's bed and sat down to report in a low voice, "Zhu Xiangxin was summoned out and met with people from Ten Thousand Grass Hall. Her master, Bai Tingfang, as well as the Sect Leader Ao Hongyou and elder Lian Hu from Ten Thousand Grass Hall especially came to see her. It's not hard to guess what they're after."

Shi Chun asked, "Has she come back?"

Feng Chi: "She has, returned to her room."

Shi Chun fell silent for a moment, then nodded slightly, "Okay, I got it."

Feng Chi: "Also, An Wuzhi and Tong Mingshan were called out too. We still don't know who they're meeting with, but it's not hard to guess that we need to be cautious. Looks like I need to ask the higher-ups to keep a closer watch."

Shi Chun: "Don't worry about it, let it be. They are just making up the numbers going in; it's mainly for helping your people. There's no need for conflict with them."

Thinking it over, Feng Chi nodded, and then she left.

Just as she closed the door behind her, she saw An Wuzhi, who had just returned. They nodded to each other as a greeting and then each headed back to their rooms.

At this time, Tong Mingshan had already arrived at Qi Yun Valley and was brought to the accommodations of the Hundred Refinement Sect's group.

His former sect members, upon seeing his arrival, had reactions ranging from frowning to envy, unsure whether or not to greet him.

After entering a room, he met with Sect Leader Yan Qufeng, elder Pan Gongying and Jie Lunguang, as well as his master Luo Wan.

The encounter was almost identical to Zhu Xiangxin meeting her seniors; similarly, they wanted him to return to the Sect, putting a lot of pressure on Tong Mingshan.

The Hundred Refinement Sect offered great temptations, more advanced Refining Skills, higher-level Fire Attribute Skills, and an abundant supply of resources; he found it hard to resist.

But his situation was different from Zhu Xiangxin's.

No one from Ten Thousand Grass Hall was entering the Divine Fire Domain, only Zhu Xiangxin was.

But from the Hundred Refinement Sect, there were twenty who could enter. One more person, meaning him, didn't add much significance. They valued him because as the Sect Master of the Mingshan Sect, he could lead the thirteen others from his Sect to serve the Hundred Refinement Sect, increasing the chance of gaining the Divine Fire.

This was his value in the eyes of the Mingshan Sect.

Faced with his master's earnest persuasion and the immense enticement of benefits, Tong Mingshan hung his head in silence for a long while.

Everyone in the room quietly waited, and after a good while, Yan Qufeng subtly tilted his head to signal to his master, Luo Wan.

Luo Wan immediately barked a sharp admonition, "Mingshan, you must not be confused!"

Thus, Tong Mingshan lifted his still delicate and youthful face, took a deep breath, and shook off his previously hesitant demeanor, declaring resolutely, "Master, I cannot agree to this matter, I ask for forgiveness as I cannot comply!"

At this statement, everyone present was visibly shaken; they couldn't believe he would refuse such favorable terms.

Some found it hard to believe.

Luo Wan, frustrated with disappointment as if with iron that wouldn't harden to steel, stepped forward to reprove, nearly losing his temper, but was pushed back by Yan Qufeng who deflected him with a spell from afar and rebuked, "Do not behave rashly!"

After all, the person is, in the end, a sect master, bound by the Divine Fire Covenant. What if you cause injury now – what then? Should this really lead to contention and result in the Hundred Refinement Sect losing its qualifications to enter the Divine Fire Domain, that would be problematic.

Pan Gongying, curious, asked, "Tong Mingshan, what is it that you can't agree to?"

Now that he had made up his mind, Tong Mingshan's responses became more forthright, "I cannot betray my integrity and break my word!"

"You're being foolish!" Luo Wan, with hair and beard sticking out, pointed at him and scolded with fiery eyes, "Shi Chun is a scoundrel, where is there any integrity to speak of? He deceived you, tricked you, causing you to be expelled from the sect, have you forgotten?"

Tong Mingshan replied calmly, neither too fast nor too slow, "I am the sect master of the Mingshan Sect, how could there be any reason for betraying my own sect?"

This single sentence weighed more than thousands of words, striking like thunder, leaving all present tongue-tied, unable to respond.

Likewise a sect master, even Yan Qufeng, with countless reasons at his disposal, could not muster a single argument to counter these words.

Luo Wan, pointing accusatorily at his disciple, argued illogically, "You have enjoyed all the advantages of the sect to reach today; how is this behavior different from betraying your word and integrity?"

Tong Mingshan said placidly, "The disciple has never betrayed the sect; it was the sect that abandoned the disciple."

Then raising his hand, he bowed respectfully to Luo Wan, "Master, once my master, forever my master – the disciple dare not forget. The circumstances under which I was expelled from the sect in the capital of Shengshen Continent linger vividly in my mind.

From that day on, I understood that the master is the master, one must stand by one's own master as appropriate, things must be kept separate and not confused!

Please do not mention the matter of returning to the sect again, master, for I cannot comply!

Tomorrow I must enter the Divine Fire Domain, so I will take my leave first."

After speaking, he bowed to the others, then turned and strode away.

Luo Wan trembled with rage, about to chase after him when Yan Qufeng called out, "Enough, his mind is made up; what's done cannot be undone. Let him be. Now that things have been made clear today and our ties with the Hundred Refinement Sect have been severed, as long as he does not regret it tomorrow, all will be well!"

This was spoken not only for Luo Wan to hear but also for the departing figure.

Tong Mingshan, exiting the room, heard these words but did not look back, resolutely leaving.

Only successive sighs remained in the room.

Yan Qufeng, with his hands clasped behind him, paced to the window, gazing at the mountain valley scenery outside with a look of regret, and murmured softly, "Untempted by benefits, it is today we see his true nature. To have expelled him from the sect, perhaps it really is my Hundred Refinement Sect's loss, alas!"

Tong Mingshan, having returned to the Divine Fire Palace, did not go straight to his own room but knocked on Shi Chun's door.

Shi Chun's voice came from within, "Come in."

Tong Mingshan opened the door, entered, closed it, and took a seat in the room, remaining silent for a long time.

Shi Chun on the meditation couch sized him up for a while and said with a teasing smile, "You look heavily burdened with worries, what's wrong?"

"My sect came looking for me, asking me to return to the fold…" Tong Mingshan sighed as he explained the situation.

Shi Chun occasionally interjected a question, inquiring about what benefits were offered, for instance.

Upon hearing how he had refused, Shi Chun's eyes suddenly lit up and, leaping from his seat on the couch, flamboyantly swirled his sleeves in several circles, laughing heartily in rare good humor, "What a declaration to say 'I am the sect master of the Mingshan Sect; there's no reason to betray my own sect!'"

Suddenly spinning around, sweeping his sleeve and pointing emphatically at Tong Mingshan sitting there, he exclaimed, "You, Tong Mingshan, are truly worthy of being the sect master of the Mingshan Sect!"

Having just experienced an emotional confrontation, Tong Mingshan was not in the mood for such exuberance; he was somewhat disheartened and rambled on about the details.

Shi Chun, after listening, couldn't help but laugh, "You were offered such great benefits; how could you bear not to accept?"

He was very puzzled.

Tong Mingshan sneered self-mockingly, "What could I use to accept? They don't know, but don't I know myself? When did I become the sect master? In the Mingshan Sect, it's you, the master, who makes the decisions. What right do I have to command you all to aid the Hundred Refinement Sect? I simply cannot fulfill their requests.

If twenty of them enter, and should they find the Divine Fire together, do you think it would be my turn to absorb it? I would merely be making the bridal dress for others.

If I return to the Hundred Refinement Sect without having absorbed the Divine Fire, what use are higher-level cultivation techniques, higher-level refining skills, and unlimited cultivation resources to me? They won't let me have the Divine Fire, but instead give me, a mere disciple, an exception? I fear I am not fortunate enough to enjoy such things."

"Very well, very well." Shi Chun clapped his hands with glee, repeatedly praising, "It seems like the sect master of the Mingshan Sect has indeed not chosen the wrong person – a chosen one by heaven."

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