"Yes, you went too far!" Chen Wuji also joined in the criticism.

"Sorry, sorry!" An Wuzhi quickly nodded and bowed in a flurry of apologies.

Without having obtained the Divine Fire, everyone had calmed down a lot, realizing they had been bewitched and had indeed gone too far. Such life-threatening matters shouldn't be handled so carelessly, and if the Master hadn't been there, they might have even come to blows on the spot.

Zhu Xiangxin too kept bowing continuously to apologize, "I'm sorry, I'm truly ashamed; I have no business speaking. But everyone, mark my words today: after I've absorbed the Divine Fire, when it comes to concocting Pills or anything else that's within my power, I will not decline."

After saying this, Chu Jingtang and the others realized something.

Hao Ji pointed to the Divine Fire in her hand and asked Shi Chun, "Master, are you giving her the Divine Fire?"

"I was just about to discuss this matter with you." Shi Chun spoke up, eyes sweeping over the faces of the three, and pointed at Chen Wuji, "She needs to find a place to absorb it, you accompany her, act as her protector, keep watch, and make it easy to withdraw timely if something arises."

To this, Chen Wuji, who slightly nodded in agreement, had no objections. However, he couldn't help but exchange a look with Chu Jingtang and the others. At this point, they believed that all of the Divine Fire should be given to Tong Mingshan in order to increase his chances of victory; if Tong Mingshan were to truly win, the value of those three treasures alone would be enough for them to live comfortably for a lifetime.

Yet, the intention of the Master to sidestep the Four Cauldron Sect had been quite clear before, although the reason was unknown; coupled with Zhu Xiangxin being present, it wasn't proper to voice such thoughts, so they left them unspoken.

"Thank you," said Zhu Xiangxin, bowing to Chen Wuji in gratitude.

Chen Wuji waved his hand in dismissal, insinuating there was no need for thanks, yet he didn't utter a single word.

Shi Chun then asked Zhu Xiangxin, "Are you planning to just walk out holding the fire so openly, afraid that the people from the Four Cauldron Sect won't see it? Let me tell you, if they see it, I won't be able to protect you either. They definitely won't allow you to absorb it, so you'd better think of a way to cover it up."

With that, Chu Jingtang and the others understood; indeed, it was intended to be swallowed secretly behind the Four Cauldron Sect.

Zhu Xiangxin grew anxious as well, the hard-won treasure that nearly cost her life couldn't be lost.

She immediately drew her sword and shaved a big piece off the somewhat soft iron wall, rolled it into an egg shape with an opening at the bottom, and placed it upside down on her palm to cover the ball of Divine Fire she was holding, using the Fire Manipulation Skill to control it.

After completing these preparations, the group finally left the place and headed outside.

Upon reaching the cave entrance, Chu Jingtang went out first to look around. Confirming there was no one around, he turned back and nodded slightly towards the inside of the cave.

Holding the object, Zhu Xiangxin and Chen Wuji then walked out together. Shi Chun also commanded the Wind Scale to fly up into the sky, observing the surroundings from above, helping them to avoid detection. They only needed to follow Shi Chun's flying path on the ground to evade others.

Chu Jingtang and the rest didn't follow; too many people would draw attention, so they stayed behind and watched them leave.

An Wuzhi wore an undeniable look of dejection on his face.

The other two noticed it too, and Hao Ji curiously whispered, "Why give it to her?"

"Because she's a woman," An Wuzhi sighed.

"Ah?"

"Huh?"

The two men suddenly perked up. Chu Jingtang, who was stroking his beard, asked, "Is the Master involved with Zhu Xiangxin?"

An Wuzhi was taken aback and then rolled his eyes, "What are you two idiots thinking?"

Hao Ji blinked, "Isn't that what you meant?"

"Rubbish! Don't go spreading nonsense about me; if the Master hears about it, who knows what he'll think," An Wuzhi snapped, then remembering the wrong he had previously done, he softened his tone, "Sigh, you're overthinking it. The Master means that one thing can't be given to two people, so a man should let a woman have it. But I think..."

He left the sentence unfinished and sighed once more.

Chu Jingtang said, "Don't leave things half unsaid, what does it mean? Finish what you were saying."

With a sigh, An Wuzhi said, "The real reason, didn't Zhu Xiangxin just say it? She's into Alchemy, maybe the Master thinks the Divine Fire is more valuable absorbed by her. The stuff about men and women may just be an excuse. With me, at most, I'd be an enforcer; the Master himself is already very capable, so whether or not he has me as an enforcer doesn't matter."

The other two understood immediately, exchanging glances; they were getting emotional over this.

Suddenly, Chu Jingtang laughed, teasing, "Old Hao, do you think this fellow is overthinking it?"

Hao Ji snickered, "Brain problems. He should think about it—if it really was about value, there's no need to let Zhu Xiangxin absorb it; giving it all to Tong Mingshan to help him win, or creating a true Artifact Refining expert, wouldn't that be more valuable than a half-filled bucket sloshing around?"

Chu Jingtang added, "Exactly! Knowing how cunning the Master is, how could he not have calculated this?"

An Wuzhi fell silent, but no matter what the two said, not having received it was a fact, and he wished greatly for it, so his emotions remained heavily dejected; it was the closest he had ever been to the Divine Fire in his life, and yet he had to watch as it passed him by.

Before long, Shi Chun descended from the sky, landing. He then instructed the others, "I've sent them out of the Iron Forest. You go on and make some rounds here, acting the part; let the Four Cauldron Sect see you, we'll be withdrawing shortly."

Hao Ji asked, "Where to?"

Shi Chun replied, "To the Ice Field. You don't need to go; you'll stay here later with that fellow from the Four Cauldron Sect, waiting for the undercover agent from Red Cloud Castle to meet. You'll have to continue following Red Cloud Castle's lead."

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