A monster so terrifying, dying of a stomachache, isn't that just nonsense?

Yet, it was this most far-fetched explanation that serenely convinced Gu Lianni and Yuan Yao without them raising any doubts or showing any intention of contradiction.

Everyone else already thinks it's ridiculous, so what's there for you to question or argue?

Most importantly, the two of them probably knew why the sixth Divine Fire blossomed in the Ice Jiao's stomach; it was because, in order to escape when they were pursued by the Ice Jiao, Yuan Yao discarded the Ice Flames they possessed. The Ice Jiao chased after the Ice Flames, allowing them to escape.

What Shi Chun wondered about, they knew clearly in their hearts.

They guessed that this was how the sixth Divine Fire came into existence, but as for why there was a repulsion between the six Divine Fires, who knows what was really going on.

The death of the terrifying Ice Jiao, caused by the mutual repulsion of the six Divine Fires leading to an explosion, was truly unimaginable.

To some extent, weren't they the ones who actually killed the Ice Jiao?

On the other hand, if the situation were true, then they had indeed misunderstood Shi Chun.

After a while, Gu Lianni, seeing that her two junior sect members had no reaction, finally spoke up, "Shi Chun, is this the explanation you're giving us?"

"If you really don't believe it, there's nothing I can do," Shi Chun said with a sigh of helplessness, and then added with surprise, "I say, I really don't understand what you're all thinking. According to our alliance agreement, you even agreed not to compete with us for first place, to let us have it. It was clearly to our advantage, so why would you think we were deceiving you?

If there were a deception, it would be more valuable for you to deceive us, right? I'm puzzled. With just a slight change, without discerning right from wrong, you concluded that we were deceiving you and didn't even give us a chance to explain. I've never seen anyone like you. I say, we had no grievances before, so why do you have such deep prejudice against us?"

Their words prompted a moment of reflection in the others, and it seemed that indeed their prejudices ran deep.

Gu Lianni snorted, "Don't you know what kind of reputation you have?"

Shi Chun retorted, "And what about it, what reputation? Have I bullied men and women or committed every evil under the sun?"

Pang Hou said, "It's your own fault. At the Sky Rain Meteor Conference, you deceived the sects of the Shengshen Continent so badly, don't you know? You're known for your deception."

Shi Chun countered, "So, it seems that for the competition for the Divine Fire Covenant this time, your sect intends to play fair and square, relying solely on luck? If you're going to use every means at your disposal to fight for it, then what is wrong with me fighting for it? Why do you have the right to criticize me, why the prejudice against me, just because I won and others lost?"

Seizing the opportunity, he was determined to defend himself and clear his name.

Gu Lianni and the two others fell silent, unable to refute his words. In fact, after this calm exchange, they had gradually realized their own mistake.

Shi Chun did not stop speaking, "At the Sky Rain Meteor Conference, with a million competing, what power do I, Shi Chun, truly have? It's just the undercurrents that swept me to the surface.

The complexities behind it are beyond the imagination of outsiders. For instance, in the final battle, when I crossed hands with a disciple of Su Yuan Sect, someone dared to strike illegally at me under the public eye, forcing me back.

You can't see what oppression means, nor can you see that right and wrong can't stand against a knife at your throat forcing you to submit.

What you see is only what others want you to see; the same goes for what you hear.

How can you know to what wild lengths some people will go to conceal the truth, how unrestrained they are in capturing people and distorting the facts, forcing sect after sect to bow their heads and remain silent after the conference?

They lose, and they turn their word into gold to paint me as a villain, and I can't even defend myself. If I had lost, it would be their abilities, it would be my just deserts for being useless Shi Chun. Even if they plundered and committed every evildoing, they could merely gloss over the subject with a light word, and no one would make a peep.

Why? Isn't it just because they have the numbers and the power, and truth and justice depend solely on their word, while I, alone and powerless, cannot defend myself against a hundred accusations.

Where is the justice, where is the fairness? How innocent, how wronged I, Shi Chun, am.

Tong Mingshan and the eleven of them, from eleven different sects, followed me during the Sky Rain Meteor Conference, and afterwards were forced out of their sects. Who has the power to make eleven different sects expel them at the same time? Then they were forcefully thrown into jail, subjected to inhuman torture, and it took more than half a year before I could rescue them.

You all say how bad I am; are they all fools to still want to follow me? It's because they've personally experienced the Sky Rain Meteor Conference, because they're the ones who really know the truth, not those who just parrot others' words."

It was only Shi Chun speaking now; Gu Lianni and the others all looked somber, feeling how relentless and fierce the tempest behind those words was, realizing how ignorant and narrow-minded their own prejudices had been, truly just parroting others.

Having privately acknowledged their error did not mean they were ready to give up their interests. Gu Lianni suddenly cleared her throat, "All right, enough of this beating around the bush and talking about useless things. Our initial alliance agreement can continue. According to the agreement between us, you have already acquired three Divine Fires, which means the remaining two should be ours."

Shi Chun: "First, these five Divine Flames were not obtained through cooperation; they were acquired by our Mingshan Sect alone after you tore up our partnership. There's no reason to share them with you. Secondly, we were going to give them to you, but you insisted we were deceiving you and adamantly refused. Now you're going back and forth. Where in the world does such good fortune come like this?

The two Ice Flames are no longer within the scope of our cooperation. Now that we're restoring our cooperative relationship, naturally, we start sharing with the next Divine Flame. According to our agreement, the next one is yours."

Pang Hou panicked. "Shi Chun, this doesn't show much sincerity in cooperating."

Shi Chun: "Am I to blame? Who was it that made a fuss without distinguishing right from wrong, attacking us whenever you wanted to attack, and wanting a share whenever you felt like it? If you keep acting recklessly, getting your way by any means, with everyone else bearing the costs while reaping all the benefits, then how can we continue to cooperate? If the roles were reversed, would you agree?"

Yuan Yao: "Shi Chun, you killed two of our disciples from Shudao Mountain. We haven't settled that account with you yet."

Shi Chun: "Is that our fault? You were the ones who ordered the attack first. Were we supposed to stand still and let you slaughter us? If it were you, would you not fight back?"

Gu Lianni: "You want to swallow all five Divine Flames and not give us a single one. Do you think such cooperation is appropriate? My disciples from Shudao Mountain suffered heavy losses. No matter the misunderstanding, it has to do with you. It was your lack of clarity that led to our losses, and you must compensate us with Divine Flames!"

Shi Chun: "Gu Lianni, you're quite the accountant, aren't you? Five flames? Don't you count the one I gave you before? At the outset, I already gave one to you as a gesture of sincerity. But you turned around and attacked us, and now you're shamelessly denying it, saying you never received one.

Enough, let's stop here. With your impulsive and unpredictable nature, I'm afraid it's unnecessary to continue any cooperation. If you want to fight, then let's fight. Today we will settle this—those who survive can leave, and those who die must accept their fate. Lie down here honestly!"

With that, without showing any intention to stay, Shi Chun took advantage of their unpreparedness and quickly returned to his own group.

What a joke. He could have given them before, but now that he had the strength to oppose them, after having exposed Qianyan Sect's position, why would he give anything for free?

He was always assessing the situation and adapting as necessary.

With the temperament of these Artifact Refiners, he didn't believe they would easily give up the two Divine Flames they saw.

The trio, led by Gu Lianni, was somewhat dazed. Only after being reminded by Shi Chun did they remember the Divine Flame that had been discarded by this side.

Anyone with clear eyes could see that Shi Chun had just argued with Gu Lianni. So, as soon as Shi Chun returned, Xu Anzhang immediately asked, "What happened?"

Shi Chun did not reply to him. Instead, he cast a spell and spoke loudly, "Gu Lianni, the misunderstanding has been cleared up. We don't owe you anything. Immediately withdraw your forces from Shudao Mountain. Don't force us to take action!"

Upon hearing this, the weapons of both parties were raised immediately—an instinctive response.

The trio led by Gu Lianni didn't rush over or respond, but instead whispered among themselves.

After a good while, they finally returned.

Gu Lianni spoke aloud in front of everyone: "Shi Chun, since the misunderstanding has been cleared, let's consider past issues resolved. Our agreement to cooperate stands. What do you think?"

Compromise was the result of negotiation and dictated by the circumstances.

Firstly, Shi Chun's side had the advantage in strength. Not to mention anything else, just those twenty blue-clad individuals who dared to surround Shudao Mountain's forces upon a call—to anyone, that warranted careful consideration, especially given Shi Chun's retort.

Secondly, there were the benefits. They had lost their Element Locking Array, and searching for Divine Fire would be challenging. Taking action was easy, but the consequences were unpredictable. After discussing, they still felt it made more sense to cooperate with Shi Chun's side.

Furthermore, only through cooperation could they get Shi Chun to hand over those two Divine Flames.

In short, regardless of the outcome of the cooperation, they wanted to get their hands on those two Divine Flames first. Any unforeseen events wouldn't put them at a disadvantage.

Upon hearing this, Shi Chun replied, "Really?"

Gu Lianni: "Do you think I'd joke with my life oath?"

Are you not joking? Wu Jinliang's mouth twitched slightly, and he glanced at Pang Hou subconsciously. When he saw that Pang Hou's gaze was guiltily shifting towards him, he looked away quickly upon being spotted.

Shi Chun wasn't Wu Jinliang. He carefully considered what was beneficial for cooperation and sidestepped what wasn't. He said calmly, "If that's the case, withdraw your people from Shudao Mountain to one side first."

Gu Lianni quickly nodded at Yuan Yao, who then waved and called out a few times. The fifty or so people from Shudao Mountain immediately withdrew to a not too distant place.

The surrounding Qianyan Sect did not obstruct them, and under Gong Shixi's hand signal, they too gathered to one side.

The members of Mingshan Sect followed Shi Chun's lead and also put away their weapons.

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