After dealing with matters at Qianyan Sect, Xu Anzhang immediately led a group back to the Iron Forest area.

Even though he did not believe that the Demon Path could win the competition, the pressure it exerted was no laughing matter; If he appeared to be negligent, it would be problematic once word got back.

Shi Chun also took Shen Moming from here, leaving the task of tracking and undercover work to the people of Four Cauldron Sect.

On the way, under Shi Chun's instruction, the group from Mingshan Sect deliberately lagged behind, temporarily shaking off Xu Anzhang's group and changed course to the hiding place of Tong Mingshan and others.

Unsure when daylight would come.

Later, Shi Chun and the others did not see Tong Mingshan as Zhu Xiangxin came out, replacing Tong Mingshan to retreat and absorb the Ice Flames.

They did not see Zhu Xiangxin either, because An Wuzhi also came out and replaced Zhu Xiangxin back in.

While members of other sects were busy seeking the Divine Fire, these few from Mingshan Sect were incessantly busy absorbing the Divine Fire.

Seeing the two Divine Fires supported by An Wuzhi, Fang Zicheng was somewhat shocked—were the Divine Fires so plentiful there was nowhere to put them?

An Wuzhi's spirit seemed different, clearly more buoyant from a joyful occasion, and his smile never ceased when he saw his companions.

Wu Jinliang smiled and asked, "How does it feel to have absorbed the Ice Flames?"

An Wuzhi imitated his laughter, "My cultivation has already broken through to Great Success. Not just me, Tong Mingshan and Zhu Xiangxin have both reached the Great Achievement Realm."

Chen Wuji, who was in charge of keeping watch here, seemed to have known already and showed no reaction.

Chu Jingtang, Fang Zicheng, Shen Moming, and Hao Ji exchanged glances.

Taking advantage of Wu Jinliang chatting with An Wuzhi, Chu Jingtang and the others gave Shi Chun a hint.

Understanding the cue, Shi Chun motioned for them to speak on the side.

When Wu Jinliang noticed, he immediately left An Wuzhi and also ran over to join the excitement.

Chen Wuji followed suit.

When they reached a place where no one else was nearby and saw the group hesitating, Shi Chun asked, "What's the matter? Speak directly."

The men looked at each other in a hesitant manner, pushing the task of speaking onto one another.

Eventually, the bearded Chu Jingtang spoke first, "Master, there is something that we have been holding back in our hearts for a long time, unsure whether to speak of it or not."

Shi Chun said, "We are all brothers here, feel free to speak."

Chu Jingtang cautiously reminded, "Before entering the Divine Fire Domain, when we first heard the news that we were going to enter it, we gathered in your room at the inn of Divine Fire Palace to discuss the entry. Do you remember that, Master?"

Shi Chun nodded, "Of course I remember, what about it?"

Chu Jingtang nudged Hao Ji with his elbow, and Hao Ji reluctantly continued, "When we came out of your room, there was a woman looking around the corridor outside as if she was searching for someone. Upon seeing Zhu Xiangxin, she suddenly called out 'Senior Sister'."

Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang glanced at each other.

After not hearing the rest from the group for a long time, Shi Chun asked, "And then? Say what you want to say."

Shen Moming said, "Master, we recognize the clothing of Ten Thousand Grass Hall. The person who called Zhu Xiangxin 'Senior Sister' was from Ten Thousand Grass Hall. That means, before entering the Divine Fire Domain, someone from Ten Thousand Grass Hall found Zhu Xiangxin."

Fang Zicheng hmm'd and said, "Not just Zhu Xiangxin, we have reasons to suspect that people from Hundred Refinement Sect might have also contacted Tong Mingshan, and people from Vermilion Bird Pavilion might have contacted An Wuzhi."

After listening quietly, Shi Chun asked, "Share your thoughts."

Chen Wuji said, "Now their cultivation has all broken through to High Martial Great Success."

Chu Jingtang said, "Master, there were things we didn't want to say, but now that all three of them have absorbed the Divine Fire, we fear it can't be left unsaid.

I don't know if you can understand, Master, but logically, with your intelligence, you surely must grasp the huge significance that Tong Mingshan, Zhu Xiangxin, and An Wuzhi, who have absorbed the Divine Fire, hold for their sects.

Once their sects offer great rewards, to be frank, Master, after they leave the Divine Fire Domain with higher cultivation than ours and with the confidence of controlling the Divine Fire, they might not be willing to walk the same path as us anymore."

Hao Ji sighed, "They are all our own brothers, and we truly do not wish to speak ill of them behind their backs, but some things might turn out to be very realistic. We took such great risks to help them find the Divine Fire and helped them break through to the Great Achievement Realm. If it all turns out to be counterproductive in the end, how can we cope?"

Shi Chun calmly said, "If you had these thoughts, why did you not speak before entering the Divine Fire Domain?"

Several people exchanged glances, and Chu Jingtang sighed, "Master, what do you expect us to say? Initially, you mentioned we were just here to look around, so since we aren't doing much, why even bring it up? But now, we can't hold it in any longer."

Shi Chun asked, "Did you discuss this matter among yourselves privately?"

No one spoke, which amounted to an implicit agreement.

After observing them for a while, Shi Chun smiled and said to Wu Jinliang, "We thought they were clueless, but look, they are actually quite alert, astute, and fully aware; they just remain silent on the surface."

Wu Jinliang chuckled and said, "At the time, each of them acted as if nothing was amiss, completely fooling me. Truly worthy of being elites from various sects, they really know how to pretend."

Several people were startled, and Chu Jingtang asked, "Master, since you knew, then why?"

"How should I put it?" Shi Chun pondered and then explained, "Let me put it this way, back in the Land of Exile, I had a teacher whom I greatly admired for her wisdom, which was not constrained by adversities. She once taught me that sometimes, by helping others, you are also helping yourself."

Wu Jinliang's smile faded, knowing the person he was referring to—the woman who taught them how to write as children, the woman who left without revealing her name, the one who asked to be called 'Wind,' just like a wind-like woman.

The others exchanged glances, and Chu Jingtang questioned, "Master, are you sure that by helping them, we are also helping ourselves?"

Shi Chun earnestly said, "Think about it, among us, if there were masters of Artifact Refining, Alchemy experts, wouldn't that be a great help for our future?"

Chu Jingtang expressed his doubt, "Master, we understand the principle, but we worry that so many of us risking our lives for just three of them might not be worth it in the end!"

Shi Chun resolutely said, "It won't be like that. I trust them, just as I trust you all. I believe there won't be traitors among us!"

That was all he could say. Some thoughts, he would not share with them.

That is, since he dared to give, he had the ability to take it back!

Wu Jinliang understood him. Though he didn't know what plans the Master had, he knew it wasn't that simple, so he chuckled on the side.

Seeing that the Master had elevated them to the same level, what could Chu Jingtang and the others say? Could they say that they might betray when pushed to that point?

Observing their reactions, Shi Chun said, "Alright, I've got the gist of what you've said. Now that we are all in this, we need to work together wholeheartedly and fully support those three!"

The group reluctantly agreed, what else could they do? Did they have a choice? Others wouldn't fare any better, and would also be forced into risky assistance.

Shi Chun then instructed Wu Jinliang, "We need to alter the way messages are passed at the exit; we need to take control of that. Send someone with you to the exit to replace the two from the Four Cauldron Sect. Let them go to the Iron Forest with Xu Anzhang to search for the Divine Fire.

"If the tracking team from the Four Cauldron Sect brings back news of the Divine Fire, don't let them wander searching for us; let them save some energy and go back to continue tracking. If Wu Hong and Xiao Sheng go there, tell them to leave the tracking to the Four Cauldron Sect and come back to find me."

Wu Jinliang nodded, "Alright."

Shi Chun continued, "We don't know when results from Qianyan Sect and Forget Love Valley might come. You personally supervise the exit. Should anyone manage to reach the Elders while evading pursuit with the Divine Fire, it must be related to those two sects. Can you manage to extract the location of the stolen Divine Fire from the pursuing sects?"

Chu Jingtang and the others inwardly muttered: these pursuing sects are neither relatives nor friends of yours; why should people reveal the location of the incident to you?

Yet, Wu Jinliang slapped his chest directly, "Easy, leave it to me."

He then turned and asked the crowd, "Who would like to come with me to the area around the exit and accompany Labor Changtai in keeping watch?"

Everyone looked at each other, feeling that meddling in such matters might not even keep the area around the exit safe.

Of course, given the current schemes, staying close to Shi Chun might be even more dangerous.

No one spoke up, and Wu Jinliang, not one to be polite, directly picked Fang Zicheng to take with him, having had some experience following Shi Chun through dangers, whom he left behind for Shi Chun.

After briefly making arrangements, Shi Chun left Chen Wuji in charge to keep watch and led others to the Iron Forest to continue searching for the Divine Fire with Xu Anzhang.

Under normal circumstances, Shi Chun wouldn't want to waste time like this, but there was no helping it; the three currently cultivating Fire Attribute Skills couldn't leave just yet.

In the Ice Field, the sky was once again shrouded with dark clouds.

The group from Shudao Mountain, both uninjured and injured, totaling around fifty people led by Gu Lianni, had returned once again.

only this time, they all stood above the clouds on an ice mountain.

Accompanying them were another hundred people from the Refining Heaven Sect, the leading sect of the Artifact Refining World, summoned by Gu Lianni.

In the vast Divine Fire Domain, the speed at which Shudao Mountain gathered people was incredibly fast.

Of course, it helped that they had initially observed the movements of the Refining Heaven Sect, even tracking them briefly. After sketching out a rough direction, they dispersed their people and made a few trips. Coming across other sects that encountered Shudao Mountain provided some credibility, actively providing information and thus, they found them fairly quickly.

Though they had found help, the group from Shudao Mountain was dumbfounded; the plain seemed to have disappeared, and after running around, they were forced to settle on the ice mountain, stupefied.

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