On the highest peak of Qi Yun Valley, the crowd gazed into the sky for a while before Situ Gu suddenly said, "That's enough."

Then, eight people on the terrace burst into flames once more, casting light onto the massive metal ring.

After a short while, the spinning speed of the metal ring gradually slowed down, and the orange clouds inside it disappeared. The eight people retracted their fiery aura, and the slowly rotating metal ring began to shift, flying off towards the distance, in the direction of Li Huo Sect.

Apart from the personnel left behind, a group of high-ranking officials from the Refining Sects also flew in the direction of Li Huo Sect.

In the valley, the confined sect leaders and their accompanying members finally gained their freedom. They flew out of their quarters and ascended the mountain peak. They saw over thirty thousand personal lotus lanterns neatly floating in the air, a truly magnificent sight.

Island Master Xin, who looked around, suddenly noticed the Sect Master of Heavenly Furnace Sect nearby. Both came from Artifact Refining Sects in Sheng Province. Although their sects were competitive, they were old acquaintances.

He immediately approached and greeted, "Sect Master Wu."

The Sect Master of Heavenly Furnace Sect turned around and said, "Oh, Island Master Xin."

Island Master Xin gestured to speak privately, and Sect Master Wu understood, leading them both to a secluded area without letting anyone follow.

After they met again, Island Master Xin quietly asked, "The matter Jieyun Mountain mentioned, have you informed your disciples about it?"

Sect Master Wu scoffed, "Some no-name figures from Jieyun Mountain dare to be so presumptuous in front of us, what nonsense."

Island Master Xin was surprised, "You didn't inform them?"

Sect Master Wu responded, "Don't tell me you would actually ask your disciples to delay important matters to pursue Shi Chun? Worth it? I don't believe it."

Island Master Xin sighed, "Who can say it's not so."

After their whispered conversation, an elder from Heavenly Furnace Sect came over to Sect Master Wu and asked, "That person who sought you, they weren't still on about Jieyun Mountain's matter, were they?"

Sect Master Wu grunted in acknowledgment and counterquestioned, "Have you made everything clear to the disciples?"

The elder stated, "Rest assured, Sect Master, everything has been clearly explained. If they encounter anyone from Fengluo Sect, Refining Castle, and Seven Star Island, they will be careful to avoid being dragged into those troubles and focus on the major matters."

By the seaside.

Lan Qiaoyan lamented as she observed the dispersing crowd and the lotus lanterns floating in the sky, especially the one bearing Shi Chun's name, "So, he's gone in now, and once in, his fate is uncertain."

Gong Shaoci asked, "Are you talking about Shi Chun?"

Lan Qiaoyan replied, "Among those who entered, I only know those two guys. Shi Chun, always off the Righteous Path, is bound to collapse sooner or later. Alas!"

A tone of helplessness filtered through her voice—not that she could really interfere or that it was proper for her to do so.

Gong Shaoci pondered and then said, "How should I put it? I've heard he's been spending a lot, even bought a mansion in Shengshen Continent bigger than what the Royal Court awarded him before. I hear that big guy has been squandering money in brothels, using both the Qiankun Bag and Wind Scale.

Just a few days after coming out of the Land of Exile, where did all this money come from? It couldn't have been obtained through normal means. Can't blame Young Master Nan for getting them involved; with this kind of spending, they couldn't sustain themselves without taking risks."

Lan Qiaoyan paused and then asked, "This time, without the Heavenly Mirror, we can't see the competitive situation inside. How is Young Master Nan's betting going to work?"

Gong Shaoci smiled, "Not being able to see makes it more fun, more thrilling, and makes the bets larger."

He pointed at the personal lotus lanterns floating in the air, "Betting on these, you can bet which sect will take the lead, how many Divine Fires each sect absorbs, or you can even bet on individuals. The range of bets is vast. Since we can't see inside, betting can continue until the Divine Fire Domain opens again, with odds adjusting continuously during this period. The odds vary at different times."

Lan Qiaoyan looked around and asked, "Just with the people on this island?"

She meant this was not as populous as during the Sky Rain Meteor Conference; the island did not seem to house the wealthy and powerful she imagined.

Of course, those who could afford to be on the island during this time were not penniless, but they were not the kind of people she thought could sustain Young Master Nan's betting.

Gong Shaoci chuckled and reminded, "The Heavenly Mirror can't see the Divine Fire Domain, but it can see this place."

He pointed at the personal lotus lanterns floating above, "Young Master Nan is playing big this time, spending a lot to rent the Heavenly Mirror.

In the Royal Courts of the Three Great Continents, arenas have been opened concurrently. For instance, the training ground in Shengshen Continent's Royal Court, which he rented again for public viewing. The same is true in the other Three Continents' Royal Courts; I hear the big training grounds are quite lively."

"Wow…" mother and daughter both took in a sharp breath, for if anyone could rent the training grounds where the armies of the Three Great Continents practiced, it was no ordinary person.

Lan Qiaoyan exclaimed, "This Young Master Nan really plays big and seems crazy. The Heavenly Mirror, such a precious artifact, can it even be rented?"

Gong Shaoci replied, "During the last Sky Rain Meteor Conference, Yang Wu, who managed the Heavenly Mirror, already made money with it. It opened Young Master Nan's eyes, and this time he approached Yang Wu, negotiated, and immediately got his friends from the other Four Great Continents involved. Once they saw there was money to be made, everyone helped each other and joined in. Getting Shi Chun involved was just something done in passing."

The mother and daughter were speechless.

After a while, Lan Qiaoyan lamented, "This Young Master Nan is too flashy. If he doesn't learn to restrain himself, he'll probably get played eventually."

Beside a coconut tree, a group from Vermilion Bird Pavilion stared long at the lantern bearing the name An Wuzhi, unable to look away.

Similarly, Ten Thousand Grass Hall focused intently on Zhu Xiangxin's name, placing high hopes.

Not everyone could stay and keep watch all the time, so Sect Leader Ao Hongyou turned and instructed, "Have people take turns watching, and don't miss a moment!"

Elsewhere, Shi Chun realized he had misjudged the situation, standing too far away; his gesture of salute went unnoticed by the ten elders.

Those by his side, including Tong Mingshan, noticed, and each wore a peculiar expression watching him perform a respectful salute, wondering what he was up to.

Seeing that he wasn't noticed, Shi Chun dismissed it, flicking his sleeves and casually discarding the posture he had just assumed.

Personnel from various sects scattered, seeing him still lingering there and not leaving, three cultivators practicing fire attribute skills became somewhat impatient.

Tong Mingshan said, "Master, we need to take the initiative. Where have Wu Jinliang and the others gone?"

"Even if we encounter the Divine Fire in this area, it'll be like swallowing more than we can chew," Shi Chun waved his hand, indicating there was no need to hurry, while also noticing that the Demon Path members they had met earlier seemed to be waiting for him.

In another mountain hollow, five individuals infused with demonic flames hid in it, one of them peeking out from behind a rock to observe Shi Chun's group.

Someone behind asked, "What's wrong?"

The spy whispered, "There are instructions from above to be cautious around Shi Chun's group."

The person behind scoffed, "Are we supposed to be afraid of them?"

The spy responded, "It's not about fear. It's that the higher-ups find Shi Chun's group's entry into the Divine Fire Domain peculiar and are worried it might have something to do with the other two sects, urging us to be extra careful."

"Hmm, could it be that Shi Chun is also one of us from the Demon Path…" someone behind muttered.

"Everyone, carefully identify people from the Mingshan Sect, just in case you run into them, be mentally prepared."

Meanwhile, in another part of the mountains, three people with demonic flames were also hiding in the shadows observing Shi Chun and others.

Seeing that almost everyone had left the vicinity, deciding to stay would be too conspicuous, the leader signaled and led his group away.

The first group also left quickly.

Shi Chun and his group waited left and right and finally, Wu Jinliang returned with Chu Jingtang and others.

Wu Jinliang didn't say anything, just nodded slightly to Shi Chun, indicating that the task had been accomplished.

With a wave of his hand, Shi Chun finally led everyone away.

The Demon Path group, after seeing their departure, discussed briefly amongst themselves and followed in that direction too.

Along the way, Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang found an excuse to leave the group.

Seeing the two leaving, those two individuals with demonic flames also left the group.

Before long, both parties met on a barren mountain top devoid of any grass.

Indeed, along the way, there was no sight of any grass, but abundant dazzling crystal stones were seen in many places.

After sizing each other up again, a man with a corner of his mouth hooked in a habitual smile saluted with his hands, "I am Xu Anzhang, a disciple from the Four Cauldron Sect."

Another, with notably dark red skin and burlier stature also saluted, "Four Cauldron Sect disciple, Youu Mu."

Just as Shi Chun and others were about to salute, Xu Anzhang waved his hand and smiled, "No need for formalities from you two; we know, Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang from the Mingshan Sect, right? We had already noticed you. I never expected that the higher-ups intended for us to meet you two. It seems this entry of yours was arranged by them as well."

Shi Chun still bowed with his fists, "Fortunate to meet you indeed, it was arranged by the higher-ups."

Xu Anzhang puzzledly asked, "Why only arrange thirteen people, since they've already sneaked in, wouldn't it be better to make it twenty for more strength?"

Shi Chun replied, "There are too many eyes on us two, even those eleven were just a diversion; actually, it's just us two. But those eleven can also be arranged to help. As for your side, how many did you come with this time?"

Xu Anzhang said, "Apart from the twenty people you see here, there are five more disperse among other sects."

Shi Chun raised an eyebrow, "How many? Twenty-five? Tell me, did they inform you of the purpose behind my coming here?"

Xu Anzhang replied, "They did; they said someone would be arranged to cooperate with us and advised us to consider that person's ideas. Of course, as long as the ideas are useful."

Shi Chun indifferently said, "If they can't even inform the true number of men at hand, how can we plan and arrange properly later? If so, this can't be done."

Xu Anzhang expressed surprise, "What do you mean? I've concealed nothing, just these twenty-five people."

Wu Jinliang, hearing this, didn't believe it and scoffed, "A great sect of the Demon Path can only send twenty-five people, who would believe that?"

Xu Anzhang immediately gestured for silence and quickly glanced around, signaling to be careful not to mention Demon Path openly as it wasn't safe.

He then seriously explained, "It's not what you think. Besides, how could we possibly have a massive inflow of people? This is a matter of artifact refining; other industries' people can hardly sneak in so easily, oh, except you guys. But you should know, even your entry wasn't easy, we wouldn't dare make as much commotion as you, not even one hundredth of that. It requires artifact refiners to participate, and also specific levels of cultivation, which wasn't something we could prepare in advance. If the personnel were arranged too early, those with excessive cultivation could not come, and those with too low cultivation would imply lack of talent, denying them the chance to enter Divine Fire Domain. The problem is, no one knew beforehand about the emergence of 'Desolate Blade,' there was no preparation at all, nor time to prepare. In our artifact refining industry, those with low cultivation couldn't enter, high cultivation couldn't either, and the rest couldn't just enter as they wished; they had to be picked for their refining talent, managing to gather twenty-five was not easy. In fact, there aren't even twenty-five, among our group of twenty, there are eight who are not from our own path, we can only use them, not inform them. If not for this, perhaps they wouldn't have involved you, Shi Chun in this matter. Seeing you, I somewhat understand the intentions from above, it seems they valued the abilities you exhibited at the Sky Rain Meteor Conference, they really do have wide-reaching powers."

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