The underground cave illuminated by Sandal Gold Flame Energy cast a deep and captivating glint in Zhener's eyes.

It wasn't the kind of depth that hinted at scheming, but rather the kind that evoked the vastness of cosmic exploration, with her gaze toward Shi Chun full of tranquil curiosity. It made her dark pupils especially mesmerizing.

But Shi Chun found it troublesome. Initially, he had valued Zhener's cultivation and planned to leverage her strength to deal with Wu Shanshan and the others. Who would have thought that Zhener hadn't taken a single life before? Well, it turned out she had hardly even seen many people.

In short, she possessed impressive cultivation but had never been in a fight. Even she wasn't sure how strong she actually was.

Shi Chun knew all too well the disparity between a novice and a seasoned fighter. In life-and-death combat, such differences could be as vast as heaven and earth.

The problem was, he didn't have time to gradually train Zhener or teach her how to fight. Time was running out; if he delayed too long, and the main forces of the Extreme Fire Sect arrived, he wouldn't even know who would have the upper hand at that point.

That said, brute strength could overwhelm finesse. Using Human Immortal Realm cultivation to crush those in the High Martial Realm should theoretically pose no problem.

The real trouble lay in the fact that most Artifact Refining Sects came equipped with Magical Treasures. In contrast, their newly formed Mingshan Sect didn't even have the capability to forge treasures. The two Magical Treasures they currently possessed had been traded with the use of Divine Fire from Wu Shanshan—exploiting her urgency at the time.

Not knowing how many Magical Treasures the opposing side had or what they were capable of made any reckless conflict unwise.

Shi Chun stepped away from the group to the cave entrance, deep in thought. Wu Jinliang, standing nearby, asked, "What's the plan?"

A longtime partner, Wu Jinliang already understood Shi Chun's original intentions. Zhener's cultivation had been a tremendous advantage, akin to a flexible tool, but that edge was now blunted. Facing off against Artifact Refining Sects in a contest of Magical Treasures left them feeling uneasy.

Since they hadn't reached a point of no return, diving headfirst into a fight felt unnecessary.

Shi Chun said nothing, shaking his head slightly, still ruminating.

Wu Jinliang glanced behind him and then leaned closer to whisper, "How about we exploit Wu Shanshan's Demon Path identity to sow discord, letting them slaughter each other?"

Shi Chun shot him a glare. "That's a double-edged sword. If we use it, it must be done in the shadows without any ties to us. If anyone connects it to us, the consequences would be catastrophic. The Heavenly Court would track us down the moment we leave. Just explaining how we got the information would be enough to kill us. Get involved with this mess, and not even Young Master Nan would dare touch us. When Gong Shixi was scheming against us, did he use this to backstab us? No, right?"

"Fair enough..." Wu Jinliang muttered, then suddenly remembered something. "Back at Wukang Mountain, the issue with Bian Que and the Demon Path—someone managed to suppress all the news. The demon who framed Bian Que must hold considerable standing in either the Royal Court or the Immortal Court."

"Still have the time to think about those things? You must be idle." Shi Chun sneered at him in disdain, then added, "That Demon Path detail about Wu Shanshan isn't entirely useless. Dare to come along with me alone?"

As he spoke, he added, "Originally, Zhener would've been the best person to bring along. Alas, her brain isn't the most useful, and on top of that, she can't fight. How she even cultivated to this realm is beyond me."

"What is there to be afraid of!" Wu Jinliang slapped the gourd strapped to his back before pulling a large blade from his Qiankun Bag and hoisting it onto his shoulder. "My blade has long been thirsty."

Shi Chun disregarded his bravado and reminded him, "The immobilization skill is useless against Demonic Qi and people who have absorbed Divine Fire. They can break free with a spell, so remember—speed is crucial!"

The real key to victory ironically depended on the Magical Treasures they carried—specifically the gourds capable of immobilizing targets. Without these treasures, Shi Chun wouldn't dare confront their opponents head-on.

Wu Jinliang chuckled. "Got it, got it."

Shi Chun knew his courage was mostly talk; in reality, Wu Jinliang was also a cautious man afraid of dying.

Years of brotherhood, growing up together in the Land of Exile, had forged a bond where they often watched out for each other's safety. While others might not notice, Shi Chun knew that every time Wu Jinliang shouted the loudest to charge, he was actually the last to act, prioritizing safety over recklessness.

Then again, who wasn't afraid of death?

Shi Chun was aware of his partner's cautious nature. Even agreeing to accompany him on such a risky endeavor, without overthinking or hesitating, was commendable enough.

That settled, Shi Chun said no more.

As for coordination during combat, it wasn't something they needed to discuss. Over the years, they had mastered silent collaboration—a single glance or gesture sufficed.

With their decision made, the two returned to the cave and announced their plan to act.

This time, they instructed everyone to be ready to provide backup.

Should a fight break out and the odds favor them, they were tasked with intercepting and hindering anyone trying to escape. The main targets were Wu Shanshan and Black Tiger.

If the battle turned sour, Shi Chun told them to flee first. He claimed to have ways to ensure his own survival and reassured them not to worry. They also agreed on a rendezvous point in case they got separated.

Most people wore worried expressions. Chu Jingtang glanced around at their reactions and couldn't help but say, "Master, I'm not opposed to your decision, but do we really stand a chance? If not, there's no need to take unnecessary risks."

He honestly couldn't see any way to victory. First, they didn't know Zhener's actual capabilities—her cultivation level was a mystery, as Shi Chun had deliberately avoided the topic in their discussions.

Moreover, only three of them, who had absorbed Divine Fire, had broken through to the Great Achievement Realm. On the other side, everyone was at the High Martial Great Success Realm, and that was excluding their Magical Treasures. Factoring in the treasures made their situation even worse.

Not to mention, the two Magical Treasures from Wu Shanshan hardly inspired confidence. Even Shi Chun believed Wu Shanshan wouldn't have traded them unless she had stronger ones in reserve. Plus, the Artifact Refining Sect's forces from the Extreme Fire Sect likely carried formidable treasures of their own.

Finally, Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang were the only ones attending the meeting. Everyone knew their cultivation levels.

Shi Chun said calmly, "Some risks must be taken. Don't worry—I wouldn't go without some assurance of success."

There were some things he couldn't share with the others. His Secret Technique for locating Divine Fire was too important to fall into anyone else's hands. It concerned his fate and was something he had no choice but to fight for. If there was even a small chance of avoiding capture, he had to seize it.

One could say he was dragging everyone into danger for his own selfish reasons.

Faced with his resolve, the group had no objections. This Master's abilities often exceeded their understanding, and his persistence seemed to have some sound reasoning behind it.

Zhu Xiangxin glanced at Zhener, noticing her indifference. Despite how well Shi Chun treated her, she didn't appear concerned about his safety at all.

Unbeknownst to her, Zhener simply didn't understand the concept of "worry." Her heart remained untouched by worldly desires or fears. Without such burdens, she had fewer troubles. Whatever Shi Chun said, she believed without question. If he said he was confident, why should she worry?

Her primary focus was tilting her head slightly, trying hard to comprehend what everyone was saying, clearly intent on learning from them.

And so, the plan was settled.

Everyone departed together.

After leaving the cave, they gradually spaced themselves out. Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang led the way, while the others shadowed them, ready to provide support at any moment.

With Shi Chun's right-eye superpower guiding their direction, they made a straight line toward the pursuers' hideout.

Putting other factors aside, the troop sizes of the Extreme Fire Sect and Forget Love Valley matched the numbers of Mingshan Sect fairly evenly.

Forget Love Valley had only seven members left, with two stationed with the Extreme Fire Sect as lookouts to prevent deceit.

The Extreme Fire Sect itself didn't have many people left, as they were also engaged with the Shudao Mountain forces. Black Tiger, including himself, only brought ten people.

Altogether, the two groups totaled fifteen members.

Mingshan Sect had thirteen members, bolstered to fourteen with Zhener included.

Peering out from behind the rocks, Wu Shanshan continued her vigilant lookout, unable to rest. Only her Demon Eye could confirm whether or not Shi Chun's group had left, so her personal involvement was necessary. Without her, they'd risk losing track of him.

Suddenly, she spoke: "They've emerged. They're heading our way."

Her words instantly put everyone on alert, with their party swiftly moving into position, ready to ambush.

In the howling wind, Shi Chun raised his hand to stop Wu Jinliang in his tracks.

Wu Jinliang turned to him. "What's wrong?"

The moment they halted, the group trailing them immediately stopped as well, staying alert.

"They've reacted. They're on the move, and they're directing themselves toward us. They must've seen us. As expected, there's something unusual about them—someone among them likely has eyes similar to mine. Damn it, even my right eye can't track someone after they've completely fled without leaving traces. Their eye-related superpower must be stronger than mine," Shi Chun muttered, irritated and a bit envious.

Wu Jinliang glanced behind him. "So, the people trailing us won't be able to stay hidden either."

What now? Their backup ambush had already been noticed. Far from deceiving the opponents, it would only make them more cautious. Honesty appeared to be the best option left.

Wu Jinliang moved to summon the rest of their group.

Not long after, the silhouettes of their team emerged into Wu Shanshan and Black Tiger's line of sight, confirming their approach.

"What's going on? Why are they doubling back? Should we avoid them?" Black Tiger asked the woman beside him.

Doubling back referred to Shi Chun's group retracing its route toward them.

Wu Shanshan, who had wrapped her head in a scarf to obscure her use of the Demon Eye, looked closely at the approaching figures now visible to the naked eye. After observing for a moment, she dispelled the power of her Demon Eye and replied, "Let's retreat."

Just as they prepared to move, Shi Chun, having noticed their intention, immediately activated a spell and shouted, "Don't bother hiding—we know you're here."

He had no choice but to call this out. If they successfully retreated and he pursued them only afterward, they'd inevitably deduce that his eyesight had some unusual capabilities.

Adaptability sometimes required quick decisions like this.

The crouching figures froze instantly, exchanging glances in the dim starlight and roaring wind.

"How did they spot us?" Black Tiger asked.

Wu Shanshan shook her head. "I don't know. That was Shi Chun's voice. This proves that he isn't a simple character. He dares to approach us head-on, so everyone must remain alert."

Her words made it clear they no longer intended to evade.

One after another, they emerged, standing on the elevated edge of a hollow, watching as the Mingshan Sect moved closer. The weight of Shi Chun's name and presence bore down on them heavily, amplifying the tension.

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