Wu Jinliang didn't realize that he was a bit rambling when he spoke today.

Perhaps he had never met someone truly straightforward before.

Shi Chun also looked up at the starry sky, the vast and boundless heavens.

He murmured, "Why do people live? Isn't it just for some selfish desires? We've never seen anyone who could live as long as the stars. Luckily, the two of us are still alive. Do we have the chance to shine as brightly as the stars?"

Wu Jinliang fell silent, standing shoulder to shoulder with him and gazing at the stars. Facing in the direction Zhener had left, the two remained speechless for a long time.

The others noticed their silence and eventually came over. Xu Anzhang asked where Zhener had gone alone.

Shi Chun answered irrelevantly, instead asking him to take out the "Boundless Banner" for a look. He also told Youu Mu to bring out the "Six Paths Golden Wheel," examining the two treasures repeatedly and confirming that both were indeed damaged and no longer responsive.

Xu Anzhang and Youu Mu were inevitably heartbroken over this, and they couldn't help but curse the damned Heavenly Thunder. They had witnessed the battle between Shi Chun and Li Hongjiu firsthand and naturally knew the lightning that destroyed their treasures had been caused by Li Hongjiu.

Hearing these comments, the group from the Mingshan Sect was stunned. Wu Jinliang naturally couldn't stop himself from asking what had happened.

Only upon asking did he learn how terrifying Li Hongjiu truly was. Damn, commanding countless lightning bolts to obliterate countless monsters, destroying treasures from various sects—the thought of that scene alone was awe-inspiring.

After praising Li Hongjiu's prowess, the two naturally complimented Shi Chun as well, saying Shi Chun had faced Li Hongjiu head-on and might have even injured him. They claimed that if it weren't for Li Hongjiu resorting to trickery, he would have already met his end under Shi Chun's blade.

Actually, they weren't entirely sure if Li Hongjiu had resorted to trickery, but since Shi Chun had said so earlier, they went along with it, building him up further. The whole situation was starting to feel a bit sycophantic.

There was no choice—the visible strength was undeniable.

Not to mention, the group from the Mingshan Sect had all survived by listening to Shi Chun, while the Four Cauldron Sect had nearly all perished when they followed someone else.

The members of the Mingshan Sect who heard what had transpired were naturally shocked, even somewhat skeptical. Could their Master really be this formidable?

It wasn't just them; even Wu Jinliang was a bit doubtful. The Chun Tian he knew couldn't possibly be as outrageously strong as people were describing—overcoming something as monumental as that Thunder Sword head-on? What, was this myth-making?

Seeing the skepticism, Xu Anzhang was about to recount the events in detail when Shi Chun coldly cut him off: "Since you like talking so much, just keep your mouths busy. These two treasures, I'll hold onto them for now."

Seizing the opportunity, he directly found a reason to pocket the two disabled treasures without hesitation.

The manner was crisp and unashamed. After battling Li Hongjiu and his cultivation skyrocketing, Shi Chun's confidence had clearly shifted when dealing with these two.

Without their magical treasures, he wasn't afraid if they tried to get physical.

It should be noted that Wu Jinliang now wielded Black Tiger's legendary treasure.

Simply put, these two items were now his; he wasn't going to return them. Finding an excuse was better than outright stealing.

Why did he go to such lengths for two broken treasures? Naturally, he planned to repair them outside, and if they couldn't be restored, he could just tear open the "Boundless Banner," which still held two premium treasures inside.

"…" Xu Anzhang and Youu Mu were dumbfounded, rendered speechless by Shi Chun's reasoning.

Given everyone's secret affiliations, some words couldn't be uttered recklessly, and they weren't sure if they had accidentally revealed some confidential information just now.

The two wanted to tell him, "We were just trying to flatter you," but this reason couldn't be openly admitted.

Nevertheless, they couldn't afford to remain silent either. Xu Anzhang awkwardly said, "Brother Chun, it's better if you don't concern yourself with these two items. We'd prefer to keep them ourselves."

Shi Chun replied, "Let it be. I'll explain to your sect once we're out."

It was at least some sort of justification, avoiding outright conflict since the two might still have their uses.

All in all, the way Shi Chun said the word "sect" carried especially deep implications. Xu and Youu understood what he meant, their lips twitching slightly, but ultimately they stayed silent, watching helplessly as their treasures were handed over.

Even broken treasures were still treasures, and the two regretted their thoughtless words. They had tried to flatter him, only to shoot themselves in the foot.

But what could they do? Strength spoke louder than anything else.

Wu Jinliang knew Shi Chun too well. His eyes darted slyly around as he watched this unfold, unable to suppress a chuckle.

The Mingshan Sect group exchanged glances. Whatever their thoughts on the matter, it was clear that Xu and Youu's demeanor toward the Master had changed—becoming cautious and deferential. They still remembered the attitude these two had while seeking Divine Fire in the Iron Forest, and yet look how much things had shifted in this short time.

Some people's growth is long and gradual.

Others' growth burns fast, like wildfire…

Amid the vast mountain ranges lay a great lake, its surface still and frosted over, exuding an eternal sense of sorrow under the black, silent sky.

At its center stood Lake Heart Island, its peak jagged, shaped entirely by rocky contours, with several cavern-like openings scattered across it.

At the top of the island sat a humanoid stone statue, depicted crouching, elbow propped on its knee, and chin resting on its hand—seemingly lost in thought.

Zhener floated down gracefully, landing on the island and standing before the statue. After cautiously observing for a while, she timidly spoke, "Master Nine."

The statue emitted a low, buzzing sound from within: "You've come again. Do you really think I won't strike you down?"

The unmoving statue speaking amidst the eerie surroundings gave rise to an indescribable strangeness.

Zhener cautiously responded, "I want to see the Master."

The statue buzzed back, "Leave!"

The message was simple—the Master wasn't someone she could meet at will.

But Zhener didn't leave. Instead, she mustered courage and said, "Someone has come to propose to the Master."

The statue paused, seemingly deep in thought, before cracks began to appear, and blue light emerged from within. The fissures spread from the head downward.

As more blue light surged forth, the cracked shell began to break apart, crumbling away to reveal flesh and clothes beneath.

Soon, a figure emerged entirely from the scorched remains, illuminating the island with its radiance.

A boy appeared, shirtless and wearing a sleeveless vest, paired with knee-length shorts and barefoot. His hair was tied in a bun, and a simple yet elegant metallic bracelet adorned each wrist and ankle. His seemingly plain attire still carried an unmistakable air of refinement.

Blue flames burned outward from the boy's seven orifices, and when he opened his eyes, they revealed hollow sockets devoid of pupils—only blazing blue fire. As he stretched out his body, he slowly floated into the air, his movements as weightless and elegant as drifting snow, spinning in circles around Zhener.

Zhener seemed slightly frightened, biting her lip and turning as she tried to face him directly, but his erratic floating made it impossible.

"Oh my, that's a beautiful garment. Is this from the person who proposed?"

The boy's voice carried a strange, trailing quality.

Zhener nodded proudly and chirped, "Yes."

"It seems you've truly found someone willing to marry you. However, not many women come in from outside…"

The floating figure eventually landed in front of Zhener. The flames from the seven orifices extinguished abruptly, and the fire in his eyes condensed into what looked like ordinary eyeballs. The island's glowing light dimmed alongside them.

Studying Zhener's clothing, he asked, "Was the proposal from a man?"

At this point, his voice shed its buzzing, eerie quality, no longer sounding like a boy's but instead a mature man's.

Zhener was taken aback. "Of course it was a man. How could a woman…" She hesitated, then countered, "Could women also propose?"

Ignoring her question, the boy pressed further: "Was the proposal meant to wed you?"

Zhener puffed out her chest proudly and declared, "Yes."

The boy asked curiously, "The man who proposed to you—did he have other women's clothes with him?"

"He brought them for me…" Zhener replied brightly but then faltered, realizing that something seemed off, her expression turning slightly confused.

The boy turned his gaze toward the distance and said, "There's commotion. An abundance of Heavenly Thunder has descended. Many Fire Spirits sent to eliminate those intruding have perished—an unprecedented number. The boss says another powerful individual has arrived, someone we haven't seen in years. Did you notice who acted?"

Still bewildered, Zhener shook her head. "I didn't see."

The boy continued, "Was it the one who proposed acting?"

"No…" Zhener denied outright but then hesitated, suddenly aware she hadn't actually witnessed the events Master Nine described.

"There are both good and bad people outside," the boy said. "The good are few; the bad are many. Those who enter often want to consume us. Are you sure this person genuinely wishes to wed you?"

Zhener didn't know for sure but stiffened her porcelain-white neck and retorted, "He is already my man. I am already his woman."

The boy was intrigued and made a gesture with his fingers, signifying a ring-like action. "Have you done the thing that makes babies?"

Zhener straightened her back loftily and replied, "Not yet, but we've kissed—many times."

The boy's eyes sparkled, eager to ask more, but a deep, resonating voice interrupted: "Let her come down."

The voice seemed to emanate from beneath the ice-sealed lake. As it spoke, cracks appeared in the surrounding ice within a certain range of the island.

Zhener's face lit with joy.

The boy floated back to his original position, waving dismissively. "Go, then, go."

Zhener acknowledged briefly, showing no proper decorum, before leaping to the lake's surface. Using her powers, she smashed through the three-foot-thick ice, allowing herself to slip into the cold, murky waters below.

Once underwater, she realized that the exposed portion of the island barely served as the tip of an iceberg.

Zhener displayed graceful, deft movements beneath the water, gliding along the island's submerged slope for several dozen meters before encountering a sudden drop-off, revealing that the island extended downward as a massive, pillar-like structure.

Visible under the ice thanks to window-like openings encircling the coarse pillar's interior, firelight danced within while keeping water at bay.

Zhener descended rapidly, reaching the lakebed, where she encountered a true cliff face—the pillar seemed embedded in an abyssal trench beneath the lake.

At the lakebed, the rocky structure protruding outward marked the first of multiple visible layers.

Descending further into the abyss, she spotted a second illuminated layer, from which emanated the buzzing sound of a voice: "Does he look young?"

Zhener replied, "Yes."

Reaching the third layer, a woman's buzzing voice echoed: "Is he a handsome man?"

Zhener answered, "Handsome—he's the most handsome man under the heavens."

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