He shouted casually, waking up many sects. Yes, everyone's attention has been focused on Shudao Mountain, but what about Shi Chun, who's been overshadowed by Shudao Mountain?

Many people were also unfamiliar with someone like Li Hongjiu. It was the type of situation where people knew Yanbao Sect had this person in name but were hazy about whether the details surrounding him were true or false.

Not to mention outsiders—even many disciples within Yanbao Sect had only heard the legends, but in reality, he was seen as a good-for-nothing, someone constantly scolded for being useless, someone perpetually punished.

If he were truly that impressive, he'd be a precious gem. How would he always be getting punished?

Most likely, it's simply because he's the Sect Leader's direct disciple, dressed up with a lot of gold plating.

Even people within Yanbao Sect can't figure him out, so how could outsiders know easily?

Yanbao Sect is one of the top ten major sects, so naturally, the attention from various sects was concentrated here. Their perception of Li Hongjiu remained fuzzy—they knew his name was on the roster, that he was the direct disciple of Yanbao Sect's leader, and the nominal leader of this delegation. Yet, in reality, the leader might actually be Guang Haoyou, with Li Hongjiu likely being a mere figurehead.

But this figurehead seemed quite bold—he's the Yanbao Sect Leader's direct disciple, yet dared to flirt with Shudao Mountain's Sect Leader's daughter upon their first meeting and again publicly berate her now, as though Yanbao Sect was ranked second while Shudao Mountain was ranked third.

The accompanying Yanbao Sect disciples were completely stunned by their own elder's behavior. What on earth was happening? Not even a single polite phrase, just storming forward to shout at her, completely disregarding the situation unfolding on the scene. Charging ahead recklessly in such an exaggerated manner—and in front of everyone, no less.

They couldn't even cover their elder's mouth in time; once said, words couldn't be taken back.

In the past, these Yanbao disciples would have endlessly grumbled and even secretly cursed this elder. But having witnessed his abilities now, they could only feel a profound sense of despair. Couldn't he act a bit more reliable?

Loudly finishing his rant at Gu Lianni, Li Hongjiu turned around to glance at his junior disciples, raising his eyebrows triumphantly. This time, nobody could claim he hadn't handled the matter properly, right?

A group of disciples clenched their teeth but couldn't publicly teach him how to conduct himself.

Even Yin Tianlu, watching from the sidelines, felt annoyed by Li Hongjiu's foul mouth. Initially, there had been a shred of good fortune amidst misfortune; both the Refining Heaven Sect and Shudao Mountain forces were about to withdraw. He could have continued pursuing the hidden trail surrounding Shi Chun in secret. Now, this hidden lead was dragged into the spotlight by Li Hongjiu.

Yet, he couldn't say anything at the moment and had to coldly observe for now, especially since he had publicly sworn to withdraw from this affair.

Besides, he hadn't yet recovered from the blow dealt earlier—his mood was rather low.

Originally, he thought his Extreme Fire Sect was on par with the Refining Heaven Sect, only to realize that had been his own delusion.

Most people were astonished about Shi Chun's whereabouts and were observing Gu Lianni's attitude.

What reaction could Gu Lianni possibly have? Considering Shudao Mountain's status in the industry, one may kill but not humiliate—especially since she's the Sect Leader's daughter.

Instantly, she placed both hands on her hips, her brows rising fiercely, her face cold as she prepared to restore her dignity with her words. But suddenly a hand reached out from the side, signaling her to stop.

The one who intervened wasn't just anyone—it was Zuo Zisheng, the Refining Heaven Sect's leader for this occasion, who had partnered with her team.

Gu Lianni turned to look at him, puzzled by his intentions.

Zuo Zisheng directed a cautious gaze at Li Hongjiu. Among the thousands of sects participating, if there was anyone who truly made him wary, it would be this man.

The foremost sect naturally boasted unparalleled breadth and depth in gathering intelligence. He still remembered the instructions from his sect before arriving.

If the rumors were true—if someone could contend with the Human Immortal Realm while being in the High Martial Realm—it would be nothing less than a battle between mortals and immortals without losing. What a marvel that would be!

Moreover, this happened years ago, reportedly when Li Hongjiu's cultivation hadn't even reached High Martial Great Success.

Though he's in the Artifact Refining World, as a fellow cultivator, Zuo Zisheng couldn't help but admire.

If it were true, he would truly be a legend, someone rare in this world.

Previously, skepticism dominated his perception of these rumors. But now, as soon as Li Hongjiu appeared, he boldly flirted with Shudao Mountain's Sect Leader's daughter and then dared to berate her without hesitation. Such confidence could hardly be ordinary!

Seeing him up close, Zuo Zisheng couldn't help but scrutinize him more carefully before politely addressing him, "Mr. Li, you've come to join in the fun as well."

This form of address granted face to the Yanbao Sect delegation. Li Hongjiu was the elder uncle to this group; to refer to him as a peer would insult Yanbao Sect's disciples. This title subtly expressed respect for Li Hongjiu.

The tone was markedly different from how Zuo Zisheng had treated other sects earlier. If provoked, he'd show no mercy, attacking decisively with unparalleled dominance.

Upon hearing these words, not only did other sects feel surprised—even Gu Lianni paused for a moment, tilting her head to scrutinize Zuo Zisheng. He suddenly seemed like a different person; he certainly hadn't been like this earlier. Before, he had displayed the dominance and pride befitting a top-tier disciple of the foremost sect. As a woman, observing him, she'd even found it dazzling.

Previously, he had boldly declared superiority over all the gathered sects, but now he suddenly shifted to an unusually humble demeanor, leaving everyone rather unaccustomed to it.

Sects with higher standings and broader information networks began looking at Li Hongjiu with increasingly meaningful and intriguing gazes.

Li Hongjiu still didn't recognize who this was—he hadn't paid attention before. Judging by the attire, he deduced he was from the Refining Heaven Sect. Thus, he turned to glance at a nearby disciple.

Guang Haoyou immediately leaned in to whisper softly into his ear, explaining Zuo Zisheng's identity and briefly mentioning Gu Lianni's background, reminding him to exercise caution and avoid careless remarks.

"Oh, Refining Heaven Sect. This has nothing to do with you. Don't interfere, lest it be said I'm intimidating the weak—I'm here for her." Li Hongjiu casually motioned for Zuo Zisheng to step aside, then pointed towards Gu Lianni. "Miss, I know your dad. I've even poured him tea before. Let's not ruin our camaraderie—for the sake of harmony. Shi Chun now?"

Realizing she's Gu Yanduo's daughter, his tone did turn slightly more courteous, causing Guang Haoyou and the others to secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

Being publicly disregarded—especially in these circumstances—Zuo Zisheng felt somewhat awkward. His mouth twitched slightly. He wanted to remind Li Hongjiu this wasn't the outside world—it was a gathering filled with magical treasures. Here, higher cultivation levels might not be an advantage.

Gu Lianni wasn't afraid of this hot-and-cold fellow. While she did know certain rumors about Li Hongjiu, she was currently representing her sect's dignity and reputation. Letting a sect ranked below Shudao Mountain trample upon their pride—what did that amount to?

Moreover, this wasn't a one-on-one situation; she'd already allied with the Refining Heaven Sect. Calmly, she replied, "Li Hongjiu, you're late. Shi Chun, well, he's already been killed by me."

The implication was clear: Want him? Dream on!

This statement left everyone stunned. Dead?

Even Yuan Yao hadn't expected such a declaration from Gu Lianni. His eyes flickered momentarily before following up, "If you don't believe it, ask Yin Tianlu from Extreme Fire Sect—he witnessed it personally."

Instantly, everyone's gaze swept past the crowd, focusing on the Extreme Fire Sect's team on the outskirts.

Yin Tianlu had no choice but to stare back at Yuan Yao, his gaze cold, realizing he'd been set up.

Claiming he saw it would be a lie—and if the other sects later confirmed Shi Chun was alive, what then?

However, denying it would imply someone had been lying, naturally sparking disputes over whether he'd actually seen anything.

Yin Tianlu remained silent, opting not to speak.

Whatever the others believed was none of his concern.

Still, someone asked, "Brother Yin, did Shi Chun really die?"

Yin Tianlu calmly replied, "I told you—my Extreme Fire Sect has withdrawn from this matter. I'm not involved, so I know nothing."

Saying nothing effectively implied a tacit agreement.

Li Hongjiu appeared cooperative, turning to his junior disciples, spreading his hands with a shrug—a gesture implying that it wasn't as though he wasn't trying, but the man was already dead.

The group's eyes were filled with resentment. They wanted to tell him, "Elder, you can't just shirking responsibilities like this!"

Guang Haoyou moved closer again to whisper into his ear, "Elder, Shudao Mountain's ability to kill Shi Chun indicates they've mastered a Secret Technique."

Looking at his disciples' hopeful gazes, Li Hongjiu pondered briefly before turning back to face Gu Lianni. "You have the Secret Technique in your possession?"

Gu Lianni raised her chin arrogantly, "So what if I do?"

Confidently, she feared nothing. Among the sects present, the most powerful force stood behind her. If the sky collapsed, taller figures would bear it. They'd have to see Refining Heaven Sect attempt to withdraw—it would undoubtedly tarnish their reputation irreparably.

As such, Zuo Zisheng, her teammate, subtly tensed his lips. Learning the Secret Technique was in Gu Lianni's possession seemed like a blessing on paper, yet against Li Hongjiu, it was unclear whether he should feel pleased.

Various sects gazed at Gu Lianni with distinct greed—with her admission, they now knew for certain.

Meanwhile, on the sidelines, Yin Tianlu cast a faintly amused glance toward Zuo Zisheng's group. He found Gu Lianni rather entertaining; her stunt had undoubtedly set things up for glory or burden alike. Let's see how Zuo Zisheng handles this.

Li Hongjiu, however, kept things straightforward. Forming a megaphone with his hands, he quietly called to Gu Lianni, "Give me a copy of the Secret Technique—it won't slow you down."

Gu Lianni countered sharply, "What if I refuse?"

Seeing that she had no intention of discussing this privately, Li Hongjiu lowered his hands with a sigh. After some thought, he added, "Then how about we search for Divine Fire together? Once we find it, I won't demand much." He then pointed to the disciples behind him, "Each of my Yanbao Sect disciples will take one blossom—that's plenty, I promise."

At this point, he did indeed want to give his disciples a proper resolution, if only to stop their challenging gazes from making him uncomfortable. Besides, he'd already boasted of his abilities earlier—it was time to take action.

These words elicited colorful expressions from the crowd. This wasn't much? Requesting twenty blossoms right off the bat—did he think they were cabbages?

But considering the early stages of this event had yielded over a hundred blossoms and dividing twenty later wasn't unreasonable—the context mattered.

Elder is a good man—a sentiment shared by the Yanbao disciples, who deeply admired him at this moment. His proposal for equal distribution truly struck a chord, setting everyone's expectations alight.

Gu Lianni sneered, "And why would I give you anything?"

Li Hongjiu pondered aloud, then glanced around at the crowd surrounding them, asking, "They're all here to trouble Shudao Mountain, aren't they?"

Gu Lianni snorted, "Same as you."

"No, no, no—not the same at all." Li Hongjiu casually waved his hand, "How about this—I won't take your goods for nothing. Let's partner up. You focus on finding Divine Fire, and I'll hold off anyone causing trouble. If I handle it, you give me the goods. If I fail, you owe me nothing. Fair pay for fair work. Reasonable, right?"

Gu Lianni lifted her chin triumphantly, nodding toward the crowd with a mocking smile, "Your words sound nice and all—have you asked them? Will they agree?"

Good point. Li Hongjiu scanned the crowd before setting his sights squarely on the Refining Heaven Sect. When looking to avoid trouble, targeting the powerful is the way—killing a chicken to scare the monkey. With utter conviction, he began addressing them, "Refining Heaven Sect folks—outside, we all interact frequently in the Artifact Refining World. Let's stay amicable and civil. Step aside—don't bully others or throw your weight around."

The tone, laced with both sage-like guidance and sternness, was entirely that of an elder lecturing juniors.

This caught Gu Lianni by surprise—of all things, she hadn't expected him to start by targeting the Refining Heaven Sect, especially given their recent partnership.

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