However, he couldn't suppress the fury in his heart. The so-called rules upheld by the ten elders seemed as flexible as a belt, being openly violated by someone who was supposed to enforce them.

The real problem was that with their intervention, Chun Tian was in danger now, and it was uncertain whether he had managed the situation or how long it would take.

Moreover, the fact that their ploy was uncovered wounded them deeply.

Jin Guiqi, staring at him, unexpectedly showed no guilt, instead pressing back, "Wu Jinliang, have I said anything that violates the rules?"

His eyes truly revealed a ruthless intent to kill, a blatant murderous look.

Wu Jinliang was stunned, "Violate the rules? What violation? I don't understand."

With Jin Guiqi's murderous aura slightly receding, a faint smile appeared on his face. He looked around and asked, "Did you all see? The person involved doesn't even think I violated anything. Some people shouldn't be trying to tarnish my reputation or falsely accuse me."

The elder from Yanbao Sect, Tang Weizong, appeared furious and pointed at Tong Mingshan, "Who is that, carrying a brazier? Who are you trying to fool?"

Tong Mingshan was embarrassed and felt indignant but restrained himself. Seeing Wu Jinliang gesture, he immediately deactivated his Divine Fire grandstanding mode.

The ten elders had various expressions. As expected, this youngster had indeed absorbed the Divine Fire. He had just arrived and had already found it.

Since the conversation went south, Wu Jinliang didn't stay any longer. Maintaining a polite and respectful demeanor, he bowed and was about to leave with Tong Mingshan to seek Elder Lao Changtai.

Then, Jin Guiqi suddenly called out and pointed towards the mountain's waist, asking, "What's that jumping over there? What are those people doing?"

The other elders, also curious from having noticed earlier, now wanted to know.

Wu Jinliang, now wishing he could feed him nonsense, improvised, "Ah, our entry point encountered the Divine Fire. Accidentally, a few were burnt by it limiting their mobility, so they have to stay here until the exit opens. They're uncouth, not even coming to pay respects under the elders' watchful eyes. I'll have them come over and apologize right now."

As if they needed their respects, but before the elders could respond, Wu Jinliang had already dashed away with Tong Mingshan following quickly.

Once the two landed at the mountain's waist, Elder Lao Changtai immediately asked, "What's the situation?"

"We'll talk later." Wu Jinliang first pointed at two disciples from Four Cauldron Sect, "You two, come with me to pay respects to those ten undying elders."

One disciple, puzzled, asked, "Why should we pay respects?"

Wu Jinliang explained, "It's for your own good. The old thieves are suspicious, and we need to appease them. Once settled, you can stay here safely; otherwise, who knows what vile deeds they might commit next. We must take precautions. No, you two appear too energetic. Pretend a bit, act as if you're severely hurt. Yes, even weaker, barely able to speak clearly…"

After some coaching, the two disciples from Four Cauldron Sect genuinely looked lethally injured. Wu Jinliang then grabbed each by the arm and hopped back, feigning exhaustion and weakness while bowing.

The ten elders on the mountain, all experts in dealing with fire, immediately recognized the authenticity of the injuries from the burns. Much of their skin was horrifically blurred by the fire; indeed, they seemed severely injured, which explained their delay here.

The suspicions of the ten elders disappeared, and without much discussion, they waved them off, allowing Wu Jinliang to whisk the apprentices back.

Meanwhile, Elder Lao Changtai and Shen Moming, having been briefed about the general situation by Tong Mingshan, were silently alarmed. The old folks on the mountain had indeed committed a violation.

In haste, Wu Jinliang asked further, "Shen, why did you rush back?"

Shen Moming replied, "I definitely have to report to the Master given the circumstances. What should we do now?"

Wu Jinliang said, "What else can we do? To be safe, we have to call for reinforcements. I need to find Elder Xu An and others. Come with me."

"Alright," Shen Moming agreed.

Without delay, bringing Tong Mingshan along, the three swiftly rode away on Wind Scales.

Elder Lao Changtai and the others watched as they left, feeling a lingering safety in staying put. Whether from Mingshan Sect or Four Cauldron Sect, they believed it safest here, considering the possible conflict with Shudao Mountain Area, where a considerable group capable of controlling Wind Scales could gather.

Now near the exit in the Iron Forest, Wu Jinliang quickly arrived with Tong and Shen.

On this trip, Tong Mingshan controlled the Wind Scale, allowing Wu Jinliang and Shen Moming to rest, given their previous considerable mana expenditure.

Arriving, they saw Four Cauldron Sect members still searching from the air. Tired of searching individually upon landing, Wu Jinliang drew his large knife and vigorously struck it against the Iron Mountain, creating a loud noise.

This quickly drew Elder Xu An and others to him.

Elder Xu An was irate, wanting to know if this giant was senseless. "With constant knocking and causing disturbances in the mountain, how can we find the Divine Fire? Has anyone ever searched for Divine Fire this way?"

Swallowing his fiery temper, he asked what was going on.

Wu Jinliang explained the situation, prompting everyone to pause their search for the Divine Fire and instead rush to the Ice Field with weapons ready to assist in case of unexpected incidents.

Hearing this, others were infuriated, cursing those elders from the Ten Great Sects for not abiding by the rules.

But hearing this, Elder Xu An fell silent.

Wu Jinliang took a glance and realized something was amiss, immediately asking, "Brother Xu, why the hesitation, what's going on? We can't afford to delay, every moment counts as danger."

Xu Anzhang spoke earnestly, "I have no other intentions. I'm just being realistic. I had already told Brother Chun not to provoke Shudao Mountain. Their strength is too formidable for us to provoke. Despite my warnings, he wouldn't listen and insisted on venturing there. Now, unfortunately, my words have come to pass.

Brother Wu, it's not that I don't want to go to his aid. As I've said before, with the might of Shudao Mountain, our current few people would be of no use if we went. Frankly speaking, if Brother Chun doesn't encounter any backlash from the people of Shudao Mountain, he naturally won't face problems. But if he does encounter them, our presence or absence won't make a difference. Forcing our way there is meaningless.

Brother Wu, you know, we have more important matters at hand."

Suddenly, the scene turned silent. Those present, Tong Mingshan, Shen Moming, and Hao Ji, either exchanged looks or furrowed their brows in silence.

Wu Jinliang stared intently at Xu Anzhang, his eyebrows nearly flying off his face, and suddenly cracked a sly smile, "Since that's the case, we won't insist. Wu, a man of steel and standing tall, never begs anyone.

However, I must remind Brother Xu, I know Chun Tian quite well. If he indeed falls into the hands of Shudao Mountain, to save his life, he'd say anything. You know the reputation of those from the Land of Exile. You're aware of the consequences. I reckon keeping him quiet is more crucial than your so-called important matters."

Having said that, he waved his hand and called out, "Those from the Mingshan Sect, follow me!"

What the others thought, unknown, but they all followed him, flying off in a flurry.

A twitching Xu Anzhang gritted his teeth, suspecting Wu Jinliang was tricking him, yet the logic was sound. People from the Land of Exile indeed carried no morals or backbone; he really couldn't afford that gamble.

He wondered, people from the Land of Exile were not easily accepted even by the Heavenly Court. Why would the higher-ups dare to get involved with such individuals, weren't they afraid of being betrayed?

Youu Mu, standing beside him, asked, "What should we do?"

"Brother Wu, wait for me, we'll go together!" Xu Anzhang suddenly cast a spell and shouted loudly, summoning his fellow sect members to follow.

Now there were only a few people left with him, totaling no more than five, even including those responsible for covert operations with Red Cloud Castle.

On the vast Ice Field, only a sliver of the thin sun was visible.

A group of people hurriedly flew in; hundreds of people from Shudao Mountain had finally rushed back. They did not immediately land but hovered above to search.

Soon, they noticed abnormalities, a collapsed ice valley, deep pits blasted out, and countless cracked ice web patterns on the ground, all signs that someone had wreaked significant havoc after their departure.

Following the trail of the web-like cracks, they flew toward the towering ridge ahead. They saw massive ice blocks capable of filling valleys and collapsed ice mountains.

They landed on the ridge to observe.

"We've searched this place before; there were no collapsed ice mountains originally," Yuan Yao told Gu Lianni.

Pang Hou pointed towards the ice field on the other side, "Look, the impact cracks go all the way there. Were they chasing the Divine Fire?"

Gu Lianni: "How did they know where the Divine Fire was escaping to beneath the ice? So, we must still be cautious of tricks. Shi Chun is notoriously cunning and could well be luring us away. Leave some people here. Don't rush after the thief in a panic like before when we heard the Divine Fire was gone or taken. He's exploiting our very psychology, which allowed him to succeed previously. Perhaps the Divine Fire is still here.

Pang Hou, you take some people to stay. Everyone who was involved in the formations should remain, check the magic artifacts related to the formation carefully, and check whether there's still any trace of the Divine Fire's presence. We cannot afford any mistakes."

Pang Hou acknowledged, "Alright."

Gu Lianni: "The rest, follow me along the trail to check it out. Everyone else disperse across the Ice Field and search everywhere. Don't overlook anything suspicious!"

"Yes." The leading disciples took their orders one after another.

Nearly twenty people took off, following Gu Lianni to trace and investigate...

Shi Chun was also persistently pursuing the Divine Fire across the Ice Field. The terrain gradually shifted from undulating hills to a boundless plain of ice and snow. The sky ahead looked ominously overcast, devoid of starlight, as if shrouded by thick dark clouds, while the horizon behind turned a dim red.

Snowflakes occasionally drifted down from the sky, large crystalline snowflakes, the size of a chicken egg's cross-section, floating past beautifully in their symmetrical crystal structure.

The terrain made Shi Chun uneasy. As long as the Divine Fire kept fleeing, with his current cultivation level, it was hard to force it out from underground, so he could only periodically catch up and stomp heavily on the ground.

Actually, the speed of the Divine Fire's escape wasn't very fast, but the continuous fleeing made it difficult to catch.

Especially when it seemed determined, heart set like iron, disregarding any attack or threat you throw, continuously moving in one direction as if Shi Chun's Demon Dispel Hand had terrified it. It wasn't clear what lay ahead that could make it so resolutely and persistently flee in that direction.

Chu Jingtang and An Wuzhi also kept flying and following closely without stopping.

Chu Jingtang wanted to rest, but seeing An Wuzhi chasing as if his life depended on it, he couldn't just stay behind alone. Moreover, the surroundings were too damn empty, the emptiness making one feel uneasy.

Just when Shi Chun didn't know when he would reach the end of the chase, a huge ice column suddenly appeared in his line of sight ahead, dozens of meters high and quite wide.

At first glance, it seemed unremarkable, but the Divine Fire continued rushing towards it, suddenly darting out from under the ice and then stopping its flight, hovering nervously up and down in front of the column, as if dancing, or as if trying to communicate something, in a distressed state.

Finally out, Shi Chun wouldn't miss this chance. He pounced from the air, a palm enormas, instantly locking it within a hazy green mist.

Frantically moving inside, the Divine Fire could no longer escape.

With a successful move, Shi Chun also landed on the ice column, and gracefully landed on the ground, finally heaving a sigh of relief.

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