Shi Chun calmly said, "There's no need to argue about this, I'll take full responsibility for finding the Divine Fire. Whatever repercussions arise from the outside, you can push them all onto me.

Something has happened here, as you all know, and I still don't know which side's people are the traitors, but I guess their strength is not weak, so there's no need to involve all of you. You just need to coordinate.

Since they sent me here, I have to give them an explanation. I'll stand in the front in the face of any danger, and you'll be the backup force. In case something unexpected happens, I'll have to entrust Tong Mingshan to you, you must find a way to protect Tong Mingshan and finally ensure his safe departure from the Divine Fire Domain."

Before this, he wouldn't have had such confidence to claim he would take full responsibility for finding the Divine Fire. But now, he indeed had the confidence to pat his chest—aren't ten Divine Fires enough proof of my efforts? Can the Demon Path of Xiang Laner's lineage accuse him of not trying his best? Without my approach, could these results be achieved?

Now, when facing the people of the Demon Path, he dared to slam the table and argue. People across the table had to remain silent.

Xu Anzhang and You Mu were almost moved by his words, what with his courage to stand in front and let others hide behind. This sense of responsibility made them reminisce about why he was sent here.

Of course, they also wondered, can someone from the Land of Exile, a place notorious for its moral decay, be enlightened like this?

Obviously suspicious, Xu Anzhang couldn't help but ask, "Exactly how many Divine Fires has Tong Mingshan absorbed now?"

Shi Chun looked around and whispered, "Currently, ten."

"How many?" Xu Anzhang exclaimed.

You Mu was also shocked, both thinking they had heard wrong.

Shi Chun indicated with his hands again, "Ten."

Xu and You couldn't help but gasp sharply, then quickly exhaled the potentially toxic air they had inhaled, and hurriedly took out an ice goat to replenish their energy.

You Mu put down the ice goat and asked, "How did you manage to get so many Divine Fires?"

Shi Chun replied, "I regret that I can't disclose that."

Xu Anzhang got a bit anxious and said, "Shi Chun, what are you really up to, hiding everything from us—what are you trying to do?"

Shi Chun countered, "Why must you inquire about such secrets—what are your intentions? I was actually preparing to tell you, but after discovering the traitor from Shudao Mountain, it was a wake-up call. Your eagerness to uncover secrets compels me to be cautious. If you were in my shoes, would you easily leak information?"

Xu Anzhang was left speechless and finally gave a bitter smile, "You don't trust even us?"

Shi Chun responded, "Does trusting you still matter? Tong Mingshan has already absorbed ten Divine Fires, and the mission assigned by the higher-ups has nearly succeeded. This is the best explanation for you. You have no reason to doubt me, nor should you try to uncover any secrets. I'll explain everything to the higher-ups once we're out."

This left them with nothing to say, as Shi Chun had already obtained ten Divine Fires. It truly wasn't their place to worry whether he would fulfill the mission completely.

Shi Chun continued, "Also, listen, you are the last force I have, my last trump card. I won't use you unless absolutely necessary. But when that time comes, you must be ready to fight for your lives; otherwise, the higher-ups won't spare you once we're out!"

These words made Xu and You tense, both cursing his ancestry in their minds—embroiled in trouble like the Refining Heaven Sect; now you're preparing us to fight to the death?

However, when that moment arrives, they had no choice but to fight bravely. Otherwise, the higher-ups indeed wouldn't let them off once they were out.

Deep down, they just wanted to get through this competition safely, but now they were forced into a corner.

Many times, achievements are indeed the key to having a voice.

With the situation at this point, they could only pin their hopes on his ability, being the champion of the Sky Rain Meteor Conference and now having obtained ten Divine Fires. Xu Anzhang no longer concealed anything and quickly provided more information, "The undercover agent in Shudao Mountain, isn't his name Yan Ketao? He was sent by the Refining Heaven Sect; the very sect pursuing you is the number one faction in the Artifact Refining World, led by Zuo Zisheng."

Shi Chun reacted surprisingly, "How did you know it was someone from the Refining Heaven Sect?"

Xu Anzhang hesitated a bit, not initially intending to reveal this easily, but after thinking, he disclosed, "We also have an undercover agent in the Refining Heaven Sect who came to us with this information."

Shi Chun glared, "You have an undercover agent in the Refining Heaven Sect, and you didn't say this earlier?"

Xu Anzhang sighed, "The trick of luring the tiger away from the mountain—do you think it's appropriate to use it on the Refining Heaven Sect?"

Shi Chun retorted, "What's inappropriate? It was still used against Shudao Mountain. You didn't tell me, and now we've lost Divine Fire!"

Xu Anzhang defended stoutly, "I thought it was inappropriate, so I didn't tell you at the time. Fortunately, I didn't. Given the undercover of the Refining Heaven Sect on Shudao Mountain, who knows what might have happened? You should be thanking me."

"You're talking nonsense. With the Refining Heaven Sect's exposure, naturally, there are other ways to proceed, and you've cost me a great deal. Forget it, there's no point discussing this now." Shi Chun waved his hand dismissively and countered, "Tell me honestly, do you have other undercover agents in different sects? With things the way they are, stop hiding things from me."

Xu Anzhang sighed, "No, there aren't any more. Actually, there was originally no undercover in the Refining Heaven Sect either; even if we had one, there wasn't necessarily a chance to place them. It was purely because of this competition; the Refining Heaven Sect, being the number one faction in the Artifact Refining World, was too conspicuous, making the higher-ups feel it necessary to focus on them significantly.

For this, the higher-ups tried their best to select candidates from the people attending from the Refining Heaven Sect, found their weaknesses, and then blackmailed and controlled them.

This matter was specifically ordered from above, to be handled carefully as there is no guarantee of control, and there's also the fear that using it excessively might lead to loss of control."

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