Gu Yanduo raised an eyebrow slightly, "Then how much do you want?"

Shi Chun shook his head, "I don't want much, just the amount in that bag. Selling it to others would still be the same price."

So there's no room to negotiate? Gu Yanduo's expression darkened, and he said slowly, "A secret that's known to everyone—is it still a secret?"

Shi Chun: "It's not exactly known to everyone. I'm only selling it to the Ten Great Sects."

Elder Tu suddenly interjected, "This is like taking off your pants to fart—completely unnecessary!"

Shi Chun stared coldly at him and abruptly retorted, "Is the elder implying that if I sell the secret to one sect, Shudao Mountain can guarantee that the other nine won't pressure me to disclose the method to find the Divine Fire?"

"..." Elder Tu opened and closed his mouth several times but uttered no words.

At least, Shudao Mountain's group now somewhat understood why Shi Chun wanted to sell the secret to all Ten Great Sects.

Upon reflection, Gu Lianni, whose face was previously clouded with fury, lowered her head, falling into contemplation.

Gu Yanduo spoke again, "I can take you as a disciple. If you join Shudao Mountain, the other sects naturally won't dare take action against you."

To ordinary people, such a statement might evoke mixed feelings, but to Shudao Mountain's group, it stirred emotions. For their renowned Sect Leader to offer to take Shi Chun as a direct disciple—this was an extraordinary blessing that countless Shudao Mountain members could only dream of. Surely, Shi Chun should immediately express his gratitude?

Yet, Shi Chun merely smiled calmly, "Thank you for your kind offer, Sect Leader Gu, but I, Shi Chun, am not blessed enough to bear such fortune. I know I'm not suited for artifact refining, and I have no desire to spend my days as a fringe spectator within an Artifact Refining Sect. I've also killed key disciples of other sects, and those sects may not spare me in the future. I don't believe Shudao Mountain would always protect me at any cost—you might abandon me at any time. It's far more reassuring to keep my life firmly in my own hands.

If I sell this secret to you ten sects, I won't dare spread it further. I trust you Ten Great Sects also wouldn't want more people to know about this secret.

Sect Leader Gu, there's no need to circle around with more words. Business is straightforward—voluntary transactions without coercion. This is the price, and the buyers are fixed. Shudao Mountain can choose whether to buy or not; just give me a clear answer now. If not, I'll move on to the next sect immediately."

Though his words were forthright, they made Gu Yanduo subconsciously tug at his mouth as though he wanted to bare his teeth. The audacity to be so forthright in front of Shudao Mountain—Shi Chun truly lacked the qualifications! Gu Yanduo genuinely wished to seize him on the spot and force the truth out of him.

However, the Xuanji Token Master was present and had already declared that he would ensure Shi Chun's safety.

In this moment, the proud Sect Leader of Shudao Mountain found himself helpless against this shameless rogue.

Recalling the events of the Sky Rain Meteor Conference and the matters in the Divine Fire Domain, Gu Yanduo deeply understood that this young man was indeed difficult to deal with.

From his vantage point of authority, the situation left him on the one hand seething with rage, and on the other calculating the benefit of this troublesome talent. Such a seemingly insignificant figure, yet able to remain so calm and adept amidst great figures—he could undoubtedly be of great use to Shudao Mountain.

Gu Yanduo seriously considered his earlier thought of taking Shi Chun as a disciple, but to no avail. With Shi Chun unwilling to join, how could he make him agree?

His gaze suddenly shifted with an appreciative glint toward his daughter, Gu Lianni.

A fleeting thought crossed his mind, but he ultimately dismissed it. No chance—especially since Mulan Jin had whisked her away. There's no guarantee she'd even return alive, and what if it implicated the Demon Path?

Issues that could be resolved with money were always preferable to settle with money. Taking a deep breath, Gu Yanduo decided, "We'll proceed as you proposed."

Shi Chun: "Let me state this first—I don't know the underlying cause of the secret. I can only share its exact origin. Whether or not you can unravel it is out of my hands. So you should think carefully before purchasing to avoid accusing me of misleading you."

"What nonsense?" Elder Tu became irate upon hearing this, pointing at the Qiankun Bag in Tong Mingshan's hand. "Just one piece of information, and you're charging such an exorbitant price?"

Wu Jinliang chuckled quietly as always, his laughter immune to time and place.

Young Master Nan also looked visibly puzzled—this rogue himself doesn't even know the secret's nature?

Shi Chun responded, "Elder, if I may, the most valuable thing in this world is information that meets a need."

Surprisingly, no one present refuted this statement, each lost in thought.

After a moment's pause, Shi Chun continued, "If I were you, I'd consider this a good thing—it means that other sects, even if they know the secret's origins, might not be able to decipher it. Whoever unlocks it would possess the chance to monopolize the secret!"

Young Master Nan's lip twitched, unable to stop himself from stroking his beard. He found this rogue, Chun Tian, an even shrewder negotiator than himself.

Observing Shudao Mountain's group, who continued to weigh their calculations without making a move, Shi Chun chuckled, "If this doesn't interest you, that's fine. As I said, there's no pressure to buy. If this is your sect's decision, then I won't impose any further—I'll take my leave!"

He cupped his hands in salute before turning to Tong Mingshan, "Sect Leader, please return the item to its rightful owner."

Before outsiders, Shi Chun refrained from disrespecting the Sect Leader of Mingshan Sect.

With that, he turned to leave. Young Master Nan and the chuckling Wu Jinliang also offered their polite gestures before following.

Tong Mingshan stepped forward, holding the Qiankun Bag in both hands as he returned it to Gu Yanduo.

But just as Gu Yanduo's tense expression suggested he was tightly wound, he suddenly called out with authority, "Hold it!"

Shi Chun and the other two stopped abruptly near the gate and turned back.

Gu Yanduo's gaze landed on Tong Mingshan's face. Calmly, he asked, "Sect Leader Tong, have you verified the items? Is everything accounted for?"

Holding the bag, Tong Mingshan turned to look at Shi Chun.

Shi Chun reprimanded him, "Sect Leader Gu is addressing you."

Caught between two forces, Tong Mingshan nodded to both sides, "I checked—everything matches the inventory."

Gu Yanduo said indifferently, "Shi Chun, Shudao Mountain has handed over the items according to the inventory. Now you must fulfill your promise."

With that, his sharp gaze swept across the room, his voice rising in tone, "Everyone unrelated—leave!"

Thus, including Gu Lianni, the younger disciples obediently vacated, leaving only the senior figures behind.

Shi Chun acted without hesitation, walked over, took the Qiankun Bag from Tong Mingshan's hand, and handed it to Young Master Nan. "Brother Nan, I'll first use these goods to offset what I owe you. The rest, I'll repay slowly."

"Then I won't stand on ceremony," Young Master Nan replied with a chuckle while taking the items. His laughter mirrored Wu Jinliang's trademark eerie chuckle, their sync strangely harmonious.

Shi Chun then began sorting through his possessions, ensuring no significant item remained on his person. He handed them all to Wu Jinliang, leaving only one Qiankun Bag before instructing his allies to leave. "It's better you avoid certain secrets altogether."

For Wu Jinliang, the so-called secrets had long been revealed. Chun Tian's gesture was merely an excuse to have his allies leave with the items. Otherwise, if stronger opponents seized both the secret and the goods, they'd have no recourse.

Ironically, their caution was almost overly paranoid—Shudao Mountain would unlikely stoop to such blatant robbery. As long as Shi Chun held the secret, and Shudao Mountain sought to keep it contained without eliminating him, taking back the goods by force would be counterproductive.

Ultimately, the three departed with the goods.

Shi Chun handed the remaining Qiankun Bag to Shudao Mountain, demonstrating a principled stance of not taking a penny more than agreed upon.

Times had certainly changed—earlier, such valuable items would never have been returned.

Gu Yanduo fixed his gaze upon him, "Speak."

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