Following the predetermined sequence, Shi Chun led Young Master Nan and others directly to the Yanbao Sect's temporary residence after leaving the Shudao Mountain stopover.

They were stopped at the gate, and the gatekeeping disciples were sent to report their arrival.

Ordinarily, meeting the Yanbao Sect Master would be an unattainable dream for most; certainly not someone who could be seen at a whim.

However, Shi Chun now surely possessed the qualifications to request such an audience.

The gatekeeping disciple recognized Shi Chun immediately and, without hesitation, politely asked him to wait before swiftly running off to report.

The reply came quickly; the disciple returned promptly to invite them in and guided the group to the main hall. The hall was empty, and the disciple asked them to wait for a moment.

After a short while, Yanbao Sect Master Qu Wuming entered with his entourage, bringing along Li Hongjiu.

Following a round of courteous pleasantries, the Yanbao Sect naturally inquired about their purpose in coming.

Shi Chun did not conceal the matter, dismissing unrelated personnel first before taking out a list and stating his terms of trade directly.

Upon hearing that Shi Chun intended to sell the secret technique for locating Divine Fire, Qu Wuming and his companions' faces visibly twitched, quickly crowding around the Sect Master to look at the list in his hands.

After they understood the details on the list, each of them had a notable change in expression.

One of the elders spat coldly, "You truly dare to name that price!"

The clueless Li Hongjiu was curious and shamelessly sidled up to his master, coaxing the list into his hands despite earning a severe glare from his master.

To Shi Chun, everyone's reaction was entirely within expectations. On the surface, it seemed terribly expensive, yet he believed that for sects of such stature, this amount of items couldn't possibly be regarded as too critical. Soon enough, their focus would shift—just like it had at Shudao Mountain—from the steep price to the true matter at hand.

"Elder, this is a matter of willing transactions. If you think it's expensive, you don't have to buy it—no one's forcing you. Judging from your reactions, it seems I've been rude. I hereby apologize and will stop troubling you. I shall take my leave."

Feigning sincerity, Shi Chun cupped his hands in salute to the group, decisively calling upon his comrades and preparing to walk away.

Tong Mingshan, who had been trailing alongside them throughout, was impressed. In his eyes, his sect, the Hundred Refinement Sect, was already a towering presence, whereas the Ten Great Sects of the Artifact Refining World were akin to deities that mortals could only gaze upon. Master Shi's audacity to confront these deities as an insignificant figure brought a wave of reverent awe to his heart.

Wu Jinliang stayed behind in the hall, releasing a dry chuckle laced with apparent disdain, making his silhouette seem imposing as he chuckled from one side of the room to the other.

The group hadn't even reached the doorway when Qu Wuming suddenly called out, "Wait!"

Shi Chun grumbled internally, why did all these sect leaders have to pull the same trick?

Nevertheless, he replaced his grumbling with a friendly smile and turned around.

Li Hongjiu, holding the list with a conflicted expression, was staring directly at Shi Chun. Qu Wuming suddenly addressed him, "Hongjiu, you two count as old friends. Why don't you take them to rest for now?"

The unsaid implication was clear: 'We need to discuss amongst ourselves.' Li Hongjiu wasn't dense enough to miss this and quickly returned the list before cheerfully moving toward Shi Chun's group, signaling, "Let's go, Brother Chun. Let's find a place to sit for a while."

Shi Chun promptly looped his arm through Li Hongjiu's, draping it across his shoulder, and quipped, "Brother Jiu, I truly wish I could spend all my days hanging out with you."

It made the two seem exceptionally close, as if they shared an unusually strong bond.

Li Hongjiu wasn't used to physical displays of camaraderie and gave a light push, but since he couldn't break free, he relented and allowed himself to be led away, first intending to fulfill his master's instructions of hospitality.

The Yanbao Sect's high-ranking members were caught off guard by this scene, watching in stunned silence as they departed.

Young Master Nan was equally speechless, feeling as though he had been reduced to a mere sidekick in this setting. Yet overthinking wouldn't change anything, and he could only continue following along.

Once the visitors had left, Qu Wuming glanced at the surrounding members and said, "Let's start assembling the items on the list, and take it from there..."

In the courtyard, where the Yanbao Sect's gatekeeping disciples were stationed, Shi Chun made sure to boast about his connection with Li Hongjiu each time they passed one of them, repeatedly slapping Li Hongjiu's shoulder and shouting: "Do you know him? This is my brother!"

"This is my brother—closer than blood brothers!"

"This is my brother—if you don't believe it, ask him yourself whether or not I'm his brother!"

Shi Chun flaunted this supposed relationship with everyone they met and demonstrated his intimacy with exaggerated actions.

The gatekeeping disciples, ranging from mildly to significantly shocked, cast inquisitive glances toward Li Hongjiu.

Needless to say, Li Hongjiu was highly esteemed in their eyes; many had already heard of his reputation in the Divine Fire Domain.

And what could Li Hongjiu do? His master's orders hadn't yet been carried out, and he'd actively sought out Shi Chun in a spirit of enthusiasm before. He couldn't possibly refute this claim of brotherhood outright, so he vaguely agreed, muttered, or ambiguously nodded while brushing his nose.

All the while, he began to suspect Shi Chun's intentions—why did this guy seem so eager to let the whole world know of their bond? Could he have some ulterior motive against Yanbao Sect?

Even Young Master Nan, observing the spectacle from behind, felt that something was off, noting how Shi Chun's energy seemed boundless. Ever since leaving the Divine Fire Domain, it had been one thing after another; hadn't this guy ever paused for a moment? Wasn't he exhausted?

Wu Jinliang, sporting a grin that revealed his large teeth, chuckled audibly the entire way.

Without heading anywhere else to rest, Shi Chun insisted on visiting Li Hongjiu's room. He insisted on a close bond; when Li Hongjiu showed the slightest resistance, Shi Chun feigned an appalled expression, as if deeply betrayed, always appearing on the verge of storming off.

Li Hongjiu couldn't afford to let him leave prematurely; his master's instructions were still pending. He had no choice but to pacify Shi Chun repeatedly, calling him 'brother' left and right.

Internally, though, he cursed this meddlesome individual, determined to cut ties entirely once the Divine Fire Covenant concluded—lest this nuisance unsettle his state of mind.

In the end, Li Hongjiu led them to his private quarters for a brief sit-down. Since they were already there, he naturally took the opportunity to probe Shi Chun's intentions...

The Yanbao Sect leaders didn't keep Shi Chun's party waiting for long. Gathering the listed items wasn't difficult, as the few missing ones were easily borrowed from neighboring sects through casual arrangements.

The disciples then summoned Shi Chun and his group back to the hall.

Of course, the gathered items wouldn't be handed over carelessly; they had to confirm the information first.

No problem—Shi Chun's only condition was a strict "cash-for-goods" exchange.

Once the items on the list were verified and delivered into Young Master Nan's possession, he, Wu Jinliang, and Tong Mingshan withdrew to avoid the subsequent negotiations.

Only then did Yanbao Sect learn from Shi Chun's own mouth about the existence of the "Fire God Incense."

The proceedings that followed mirrored the events at Shudao Mountain almost precisely; the precautions and back-and-forths were inevitable.

The outcome, too, didn't deviate much. Despite learning the secret information would be sold to multiple buyers, Yanbao Sect had no choice but to purchase it.

As for the supposed high pricing—that was merely a matter of complaints. For sects of this caliber, such expenses weren't considered crippling; the vital point was their demand for the information.

Whether they could eventually uncover the hidden truths in the end mattered far less.

Ultimately, it came down to one principle: the Ten Great Sects could all know the information, but Yanbao Sect couldn't afford to be the only one left uninformed.

Eventually, Li Hongjiu personally escorted the guests out of the Sect, sending off his "good brother" with a strained smile, saying something along the lines of apologies for not seeing them off farther.

"Brother Jiu, I'll come visit you at Yanbao Sect another day!"

As they left, Shi Chun's booming voice practically deafened the sect's gatekeeping disciples, seemingly worried they wouldn't hear him.

Li Hongjiu couldn't outright say 'you're not welcome,' so he plastered a smile across his face, cupping his hands on the steps as he saw them off...

Reuniting with Young Master Nan and the others after leaving, Shi Chun handed Wu Jinliang a new list, saying, "Since you killed Black Tiger, avoid showing up at Extreme Fire Sect. Go fetch a companion and take the list to Golden Appearance Hall—they can prepare these items ahead of time so we won't have to wait for each faction one by one."

Wu Jinliang grinned, wisely grabbing the list and heading off.

Young Master Nan sighed in admiration, "By the way, what is the secret technique for locating Divine Fire?"

Shi Chun replied, "Brother Nan, it's best if you don't know—it's safer for both of us. If the secret leaks and we're endangered, at least I wouldn't have to suspect you."

Fine—Young Master Nan opted not to ask further, patting his waist pouch holding the Qiankun Bag. "The way you're visiting these sects one after the other, money certainly comes to you fast and easy. I'm jealous."

Shi Chun smiled faintly, "There's nothing to be jealous of. Such an opportunity is rare. Without Mulan Jin's intervention, I wouldn't dare to maneuver against the Ten Great Sects like this—I wouldn't even have the qualifications to speak. Just approaching them would get me crushed instantly."

"True enough," Young Master Nan laughed heartily, with a mix of humor and concern as he teased, "Better hope things go smoothly at Stargazing Pavilion, or you'll have worked for nothing. All this loot might end up being mine anyway."

Shi Chun chuckled. "No effort is truly wasted. What will happen in the end is out of our control; for now, the right move is to complete what's before me, and that can't go wrong."

He then paused briefly, walking silently for a few steps before quietly remarking, "If push comes to shove and the hurdle proves impassable, take half and use the rest to care for certain people."

Surprised, Young Master Nan asked, "Which people?"

Shi Chun's mind flashed back to a scene at Wukang Mountain—a group of people who had found the mountain, shouting obscenities at its base with rather vulgar language. He chuckled softly, "I'll tell you when the time comes."

A "rare guest" arrived at the Extreme Fire Sect, so their gatekeeping disciples hurriedly reported the arrival.

No surprises, someone soon appeared to lead Shi Chun's party inside.

The situation there mirrored Yanbao Sect: the host wasn't present in the hall to meet the guests initially, leaving them to wait for a while before making an entrance.

When the host appeared, their demeanor was fierce. A large group gathered, displaying obvious hostility as their gazes fixed upon Shi Chun—a tension that couldn't be hidden. As they showed up, they surrounded Shi Chun's party with an overtly menacing posture.

Young Master Nan snuck a glance at Shi Chun, who remained calm and collected, thinking to himself how amusing this was—these people had to know that they couldn't lay a finger on Shi Chun now. If even Shudao Mountain and Yanbao Sect couldn't intimidate him, what chance did Extreme Fire Sect have?

Despite this, Shi Chun still adopted a flattering demeanor and saluted them respectfully, "Greetings, esteemed elders."

One elder barked angrily, "Shi Chun! You killed a disciple of our sect and still dare to show up here? Who gave you such audacity?" He tilted his chin toward Young Master Nan. "Was it him?"

Young Master Nan instantly showed displeasure, his face darkening as his brows furrowed. "Why would you drag my name into your claims?"

Shi Chun quickly gestured for calm, cupping his hands again as he said sincerely, "Seniors, I am here precisely to offer my apologies."

Noticing Young Master Nan's irritation, the Extreme Fire Sect Master Su Qiao raised his hand to silence the elder.

Another elder sneered, "You killed our sect's outstanding disciple—offering mere apologies, how could that resolve the matter? The magical treasure belonging to our disciple is still in your hands, isn't it? If you want to apologize, first return the treasure!"

Afraid that the magical artifacts might have ended up in Stargazing Pavilion's possession, the sect members deemed that reclamation of the treasure was paramount, irrespective of Shi Chun's fate. This strategy had been deliberated prior to their appearance.

Shi Chun didn't bother arguing that their disciples had initiated the chase, forcing his team to retaliate. After all, his goal was to resolve this matter now while the other side was willing to talk neutrally. Otherwise, when would he get the chance?

Looking solemn, Shi Chun answered directly, "I can't return it. That treasure might be tied to the Demon Path, exposing us to shared calamities. If you want it, you can ask Stargazing Pavilion yourselves—I can't make that decision."

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