Everyone clearly understood the reason behind Uncle Shi's sudden enthusiasm—it was nothing more than an excuse to venture into the Forbidden Land.

Yet, no one could really refuse Uncle Shi's excuse.

Since they had entered the Divine Fire Domain and there was a chance to obtain the Divine Fire, who would not want it, who could resist this temptation?

Before, everyone had managed to keep Uncle Shi from entering the Wuming Forbidden Lands, but now, with Shi Chun and his group who held the Divine Fire Secret Technique entering the Forbidden Land, Uncle Shi claimed he wanted to snatch the technique; how could they stop him?

Although Uncle Shi's main interest was the Forbidden Land itself, everyone fully trusted Uncle Shi when he said that if he found Shi Chun and his group, he would help everyone capture the Secret Technique. He would surely fight for this benefit for everyone.

Uncle Shi might not do something if it benefited him personally, but he would reluctantly make an effort if it benefited the disciples of the Yanbao Sect, especially if he had promised to do something.

In terms of character, Uncle Shi was beyond reproach and had not dishonored his Sect Leader.

Their quick arrival was also inevitably tied to Uncle Shi's desire to enter the Wuming Forbidden Land.

Previously, when searching for the Divine Fire, Uncle Shi always tried to find ways to get close to the Forbidden Land, clearly seeking an opportunity to enter. Thus, they were not far from the Forbidden Land and quickly arrived upon catching wind of the situation.

Faced with Uncle Shi's decisive attitude, everyone naturally found it hard to adjust. However, some people from other sects friendly with the Yanbao Sect came over to explain the situation, detailing what had happened.

After thanking them with a bow, Li Hongjiu turned to everyone with a solemn expression and said, "You've all seen and heard it now. Shi Chun is cunning and vile, using the dangers of this place to target us all; it's truly detestable. Given the dangers of the Forbidden Land, let's find a safe place to take cover first. Allow me to go and scout ahead, then we'll see."

This had been his consistent attitude throughout the journey. He did want to enter the Forbidden Land, but he did not want his fellow sect disciples to come along and risk their lives.

However, the attitude of his fellow sect disciples was also consistent. The usual actual leader of the group, Guang Haoyou, also adopted a stern face and said seriously, "Absolutely not, if there's scouting to be done, it should be us doing it. It's not right for younger generations to have Uncle Shi run errands; there's no such logic in the world. Whatever Uncle Shi wants to scout, just instruct us."

"Right, Uncle Shi, just give your orders."

"Exactly, don't worry, Uncle Shi, we will certainly do our utmost."

The other disciples echoed similar sentiments, chiming in one after another.

Everyone knew Uncle Shi too well. Unless they kept him in check, he would run off and do as he pleased, and who knew when they'd see him again?

Li Hongjiu raised an eyebrow at them, his gaze unfriendly.

But the group of disciples presented themselves with righteous indignation, unflinchingly challenging his authority, not the slightest bit intimidated whether he was an uncle or not.

The internal strife among the participants of this sect and the internal strife among participants from other sects were a bit different. They were essentially forced into this absurd situation by the wrong timing, the wrong place, and the wrong people coming together.

Well, in the end, Li Hongjiu relented. Knowing that even his intimidating gaze wouldn't deter them, he casually took off his flask, took a few swigs while looking at the stars, and sighed, "Alright, let's stick together then, we can look out for each other."

He had to relent — he could indeed run off alone, but the consequences of that? This group of disciples would surely search all over the Forbidden Land for him. Given the strength of these disciples against the dangers of the Forbidden Land, the outcome was predictable.

He feared he wouldn't be able to explain it to his master if he left.

"Uncle Shi, you are wise!"

Guang Haoyou and the other disciples praised in unison, their synchronized response as if they had rehearsed it.

This scene left the disciples from other sects somewhat stunned; they hadn't realized that the Yanbao Sect disciples were so disciplined.

"Wise my ass..." Li Hongjiu muttered under his breath inaudible to others.

He then slung his flask back on, asked for directions, and led the group toward the site of the incident.

Observers from various sects weren't sure whether to praise the grand style of the Yanbao Sect members or to comment on their boldness. They all knew the dangers of the incident site and that even the Extreme Fire Sect had suffered losses, yet they still dared to venture forth.

Some disciples from friendly sects shouted warnings, "Mr. Li, it's really dangerous over there, even the Extreme Fire Sect took losses."

Given his seniority, it wasn't appropriate for him to call Li Hongjiu "Brother Li" in front of other Yanbao Sect disciples, lest it seem like he was taking advantage of them.

Li Hongjiu waved his hand in thanks without looking back and cheerfully replied, "That's why the Extreme Fire Sect is only ranked fourth in the Artifact Refining World."

The implication was clear—he was mocking the Extreme Fire Sect as being inferior to the Yanbao Sect, that their approach was merely opportunistic and having more people enter was useless.

His own master was spitting venom in arguments with the Sect Leader of the Extreme Fire Sect, and Li, as a disciple, was no more courteous, truly like master, like disciple.

A group of Yanbao Sect disciples couldn't help but grin.

Upon hearing this, sect members from various parties glanced at each other. Some, with good relations with the Extreme Fire Sect, their eyes flickered, prepared to report back and make you pay for your arrogance.

Danger was secondary; the Yanbao Sect group knew they were headed for trouble now. People from other sects who had been directing them were blocked, leaving no one to guide them. Now, they would have to blindly seek their way on their own.

When they hadn't gone far, Guang Haoyou leaned toward Li Hongjiu and spoke in a low voice, "Uncle Master, when it comes to recruiting people, the more the merrier, the more eyes the better, the more runners the better. These surviving soldiers and remnants, if promised some benefits and slightly instigated, might be utilized by us. Extreme Fire Sect used this tactic with the Yin Tianlu."

Li Hongjiu looked back at the scattered groups of sect members sprawling on the ground and said, "That's unnecessary. We should bite off only as much as we can chew. Getting involved with too much of this motley crew might not end well."

While saying this, he turned his head to look at Guang Haoyou, sizing him up and down, then nodded with his hand on his chin. "I hadn't realized it, but you even have the potential to be a Sect Leader."

Usually steady, Guang Haoyou rolled his eyes on the spot—it wasn't appropriate to praise someone like this. Such words coming from a Sect Leader's disciple could easily be misunderstood as reflecting the Sect Leader's thoughts. Would he even be comfortable in the Sect hereafter? Besides, was this praise for him or a criticism of the Sect Leader?

Pretending he hadn't said anything, he took the initiative to distance himself from this Uncle Master and didn't bring up using the disciples of other sects as tools anymore.

The group climbed to the top of a hill, surveyed the surroundings, and then at Li Hongjiu's signal, they split up onto four Wind Scales.

The night wind was cold, but the stars over the Land of Eternal Night were eternally brilliant.

Propelled by the speed of the Wind Scales, it wasn't long before the members of Yanbao Sect found the location of the earlier incident. They saw it before even getting close.

The Fire Bats, which had just woken up, weren't in a hurry to go back to sleep. Instead, they were flying around the Sky Pit, creating a rather spectacular spectacle of flowing luminescence.

Guang Haoyou was just about to call everyone to land without being noticed when Li Hongjiu curiously said, "Quick, get closer, let's take a better look."

The disciples sharing a Wind Scale with him gasped, and they all looked toward Guang Haoyou.

Guang Haoyou's face tensed up, "Uncle Master, don't mess around. They made it quite clear; although these strange bats aren't very powerful individually, in groups, they are more than a match for those of us with this level of cultivation. Their body liquid after exploding can even break through Protective Gang Qi; neither Wind Scales nor Magical Treasures can withstand the corrosion. So many from the Extreme Fire Sect suffered big losses."

Li Hongjiu readily changed his words, "Alright, you guys wait here, I'll go take a look." He lifted his chin, signaling for them to let him go alone. "Open a way through the Wind Scale."

The disciple controlling the Wind Scale didn't dare act without looking at Guang Haoyou's expression.

Guang Haoyou gave a direct command, "Land and take cover."

Li Hongjiu turned his head to look back at this nephew of his, then seeing the disciple controlling the Wind Scale not listening to him but following his nephew's direction to head toward the ground, he couldn't help but shake his head slightly and said, "Tell me, Guang Haoyou, are you the leader, or am I the leader?"

Guang Haoyou said, "Uncle Master, now you remember that you're the leader? That wasn't what you were saying when you were lying around drinking earlier."

Li Hongjiu stifled a reply, lacking the temper as he had let too many things slip through his fingers.

Another disciple said, "Uncle Master, the Sect Leader said to keep an eye on you, and when you indulge in your antics, we should listen to Brother Guang."

Li Hongjiu shook his head like a lion, seemingly asking himself whether he should listen or not.

Eventually, he made a sudden decision, pointing a finger. The Wind Scale everyone was in suddenly jolted, shaking the people inside.

The spinning Wind Scale blades opened a gap where Li Hongjiu, in his broad purple robes, floated out with a carefree laugh, gliding through the air toward the area of blue and red luminescence.

Having come all this way, how could he not have a look?

As he left, the Wind Scale returned to normal, leaving the others inside stunned, unsure how Uncle Master had managed it.

Then they saw that Uncle Master had gone alone.

Guang Haoyou was instantly alarmed and shouted, "Quick, go bring Uncle Master back."

"Tch." Someone stamped their foot in mid-air, complaining, "The Sect Leader really knows better; knowing how unreliable this Uncle Master is, yet still allowed him to come along, even saying that because fewer people came this time, Uncle Master needed to help us. Is this helping? Wouldn't it have been better to let him continue drinking and wasting time on the back mountain?"

Another person joined in the complaint, "Exactly, pulling out such a menace, and the Sect Leader treats him like a treasured tool."

Complaints aside, they still had to go and rescue him—not only due to seniority but because this person was a closed-door disciple of the Sect Leader. If they let him die there, how could they face the sect in the future?

Li Hongjiu, who was smoothly gliding in the high altitude, originally intended to dive directly into the area where the Fire Bats were swarming. But turning his head and seeing those annoying folks following, he sighed heavily.

He could venture inside alone, but he couldn't drag these folks into danger, fearing that if something wasn't timely handled, it could result in disaster.

Therefore, he set his gaze on a nearby peak, adjusting his glide angle and dove straight down.

The group followed him, each cursing in the Wind Scales.

Then the feared scenario occurred; they got close to the swarming Fire Bats, which had already noticed them, and numerous glowing particles flew toward them.

Li Hongjiu had already landed on the peak and was looking out.

In a few floating Wind Scales, Guang Haoyou urgently cast a spell and shouted, "Uncle Master, get up quick, let's go!"

Seeing Li Hongjiu unmoved, everyone panicked and started shouting, "Uncle Master, hurry, get out of there!"

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