But Qu Sect Master was already holding back. If not for his position, coupled with his concern for the sect's reputation, he might've raised his arms and shouted praises just like those youngsters.

Surprises, oh, this disciple of his was always full of surprises. Though most were of the unpleasant kind, occasionally, there were pleasant ones, just like now.

Of course, following that pleasant surprise was always a tangle of conflicting emotions. This method of artifact refining wasn't something he had taught. He knew his disciple was exceptionally talented and gifted, but still, one couldn't fly blind so often!

The entire Yanbao Sect was shaken by this surprise.

Luckily, an elder quickly regained composure, turned around, and motioned for everyone to remain quiet before they could cry out in amazement or cheer, ensuring they wouldn't disturb Li Hongjiu.

As Elder Jie Lunguang of the Hundred Refinement Sect had pointed out, refining in this manner, controlling thousands of delicate threads to take shape simultaneously, was prone to failure. Concentration was paramount; distraction could not be allowed.

Elder Li Qianqiu muttered softly, "This Li Hongjiu, truly extraordinary. Rivaling in strength, unparalleled in artifact refining—when he acts, he's nothing short of peerless. A true prodigy! Our Yanbao Sect has produced a heaven-sent genius!"

Qu Wuming shared the joy but quickly masked it with a serious expression. "Don't celebrate too soon. To integrate Transformation Power across thousands of threads this fine is no easy feat. Praise him when he truly wins. Hasn't he embarrassed us enough in the past?"

Li Qianqiu lightly shook his head. "From my perspective, if he dares to do this in public, he must have some confidence. Sect Master, if today he achieves this great feat, and if this method succeeds, our Yanbao Sect will shake the whole world. The profound influence of that will be immeasurable. His 'little flaws'—everyone will learn to overlook them in the future."

Qu Wuming was at a loss for words. Those infuriating habits of his were now being downplayed as 'little flaws'?

Where there is joy, there is also sorrow.

Daming Pavilion's Pavilion Master Xiao Youhong, whose eyes usually drooped in perpetual drowsiness, now couldn't close them. His wide-open gaze fixated on the incredible scene in the competition arena, as if witnessing something unbelievable. His expression turned grim. Finally, he muttered under his breath, "We were wrong…"

The entire Daming Pavilion was stunned into silence, standing frozen as if turned to stone. When they eventually snapped out of it, it was with a dizzying sense of confusion, as though struck dumb by a heavy blow. The enthusiasm that had surged in their chests was still lingering, yet it had been dashed to pieces by this scene—who could process such a blow that quickly?

Now they finally understood. Li Hongjiu wasn't joking when he said that as long as he was around, Luo Shengsheng wouldn't win. He was talking about artifact refining, not combat. They had overthought it. They were wrong.

Of course, Luo Shengsheng couldn't beat him in combat either.

Judging by the current refined integration, it didn't look like he could win in artifact refining either. At the very least, the posture Li Hongjiu displayed wasn't for show but a genuine technique that couldn't fool anybody familiar with the craft. It was evident to any discerning eye what was happening.

In other words, the Daming Pavilion's newly promoted pride and hope paled in comparison to Li Hongjiu. Neither in scholarship nor in martial prowess could they measure up.

Seeing Luo Shengsheng standing there, seemingly paralyzed, pausing his refining process, everyone in Yanbao Sect grew anxious for him. He always held himself aloof, proud, and determined, yet now, in the area he prided himself on most, he was being effortlessly crushed. Worse still, he was being crushed by someone in the same realm, someone with a significantly lesser quantity of Divine Fires under their control.

Putting oneself in his shoes, anyone would find it hard to bear.

Luo Shengsheng, staring helplessly with wide eyes, indeed found it unbearable, even despairing. It was the kind of despair that comes from realizing that no matter how hard you try or how much of an advantage you hold, the gap is insurmountable. That someone in the same realm could make him feel so insignificant. If not for the fact that the results were not yet finalized, his Dao Heart might've already shattered.

He had been so proud.

His pride wasn't baseless, either. To maintain it, he had even shaved his head bald, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to this path, focusing single-mindedly with an almost fanatical commitment. Only he knew how much blood, sweat, and tears he had poured into this.

After all, success never comes without a price.

Just as he was struggling to break free from his negative emotions, a familiar voice transmitted to his ears, "No one can win forever. Victory and defeat are matters of course in life; everyone must go through them. Don't concern yourself with others. Just focus on doing your best in the moment."

This old, resonant voice was unmistakable—it was the voice of their Pavilion Master.

To be personally comforted by the Pavilion Master was a high honor among his generation of disciples, a privilege few could claim.

Precisely because of this, his nearly shattered heart found a glimmer of hope once again.

What makes those who press forward hard to bring down is their unwavering resilience, their refusal to give up even in the face of tremendous obstacles. A deep breath, and they can forge ahead once more.

Especially with the personal reassurance of the Pavilion Master.

Who am I? I am Luo Shengsheng of the Daming Pavilion, the pride of its younger generation, the one in the Divine Fire Domain who commands the most Divine Fires!

After a wave of intense introspection and self-encouragement, his eyes lit up once more with renewed clarity and blazing determination. He refocused on Li Hongjiu's slow yet steady process of refining and melding.

So what if it's the Nine-Orifice Exquisite Heart? Who says I've lost?

The competition was not yet over. The outcome still lay in the balance!

He returned his attention to the nine components floating mid-air under his control. The colorful flames wreathing his hands suddenly flared with greater intensity as his Flame Energy surged. His aura transformed, his entire presence brimming with unyielding resolve.

This scene caused Daming Pavilion's Pavilion Master Xiao Youhong to nod slightly in approval. He felt a sense of paternal joy, akin to seeing a teachable student thrive, and his gaze upon this disciple carried even deeper admiration.

But the other contestants in the arena had not yet snapped out of their awe-struck daze caused by Li Hongjiu's overwhelming display.

Gu Lianni, who had been staring blankly at Li Hongjiu, almost lost control of her refining flames. Only now did she realize she had misjudged her benchmark; Luo Shengsheng wasn't her true rival. Her real competition was Li Hongjiu all along.

Only now did she recognize how far Li Hongjiu surpassed her wildest expectations. In the Divine Fire Domain, she had already been amazed by how formidable he was in combat. But to also dominate in artifact refining—it was as if he was destined to outshine everyone.

This was a chasm of three versus ten Divine Fires. Could such a gap ever be bridged?

Yet not only had he bridged it, but he was poised to far surpass it. Even as she witnessed it with her own eyes, it felt like a dream, like beholding a legend come to life.

In her eyes now, Li Hongjiu, bathed in the radiance of the Divine Fire Domain's acclaim, had become almost mythological in stature!

The sense of competition she once harbored toward Luo Shengsheng was obliterated in an instant. She no longer felt the urge to challenge him.

"Child, do not dwell on others; focus on completing your own trial to the best of your ability."

Her father, Gu Yanduo, suddenly sent a transmission to her ears.

Gu Lianni quickly snapped back to reality, regathering her spirit and resolve. Her competitive focus shifted once more—to Li Hongjiu.

Faced with such a monstrous prodigy of mythical proportions, she didn't think she could win.

Yet as the Sect Master's daughter from Shudao Mountain, at this moment, she had to fight not just for her sect's honor but to ensure that this peerless legend of a person noticed her existence.

She also suddenly realized that since meeting Li Hongjiu, he'd never really taken her seriously—not even sparing her a proper glance on most occasions.

Amid her rekindled Flame Energy brilliance, her father, Gu Yanduo, had already turned his head to look at someone else within the arena—Mi Liangmeng, a disciple of the Golden Appearance Hall. This person was the next to renew their fierce fighting spirit in the wake of Luo Shengsheng's resurgence.

To face such a formidable opponent and still exude an unyielding aura was worthy of admiration.

Tong Mingshan gazed intently at Li Hongjiu for a long moment, for the first time realizing how irreconcilably vast the gaps between individuals could be. He wouldn't have dared to dream such brilliance for himself, yet here it was, displayed before his very eyes.

After a prolonged stare, his gaze finally shifted from Li Hongjiu. Almost by reflex, he looked toward the Mingshan Sect contingent, only to find ten pairs of eyes quietly watching him. Those eyes were filled with regret and pity.

It was as if they were lamenting that he had been born in the wrong era.

Even Wu Hehe had gone silent and motionless.

Then he looked at the group near Mingshan Sect, toward the Hundred Refinement Sect's delegation. He realized that every eye there was fixed on Li Hongjiu. Occasionally, their glances flicked to the other competitors who'd resumed refining, but none were focused on him.

Looking back to the Mingshan Sect group, he saw their unwavering gazes still settled on him—all of them, without exception.

Among countless people present, theirs were the only gazes grounded in genuine concern for his feelings.

Suddenly, someone smiled at him. It was Wu Jinliang, with a calm expression that said, "It's okay."

Then, one by one, others started smiling at him—silent, uncoordinated smiles from people with whom he shared familiarity. Each smile seemed to convey the same message: Victory or defeat doesn't matter. It's all right.

Especially Shi Chun.

Shi Chun, frail and inexperienced, incapable of sending voice transmissions, waved reassuringly at him, clearly signaling for him to feel at ease, unambiguously saying it was okay—it was fine to lose.

Wu Jinliang glanced to the side, noticing their leader giving a similar gesture. Following suit, he raised his hand and waved at Tong Mingshan as well.

Shouting things like "Sect Master strikes back!" to cheer him on—it didn't seem appropriate anymore.

Chu Jingtang gave a sidelong glance, then also raised his hand slightly, gesturing as if to say that it was alright.

One person influenced the next, and soon it included Lao Changtai, Chen Wuji, Fang Zicheng, Xiao Sheng, Hao Ji, Wu Hong, and Shen Moming—every Mingshan Sect member present raised their hands in reassurance toward Tong Mingshan.

This unusual gesture caught the attention of a few from the Hundred Refinement Sect and nearby sects.

But for Tong Mingshan, that external attention didn't matter. What mattered was that he noticed it.

Tong Mingshan's nose turned sour; he understood the gesture's meaning. Yet he also recognized that it was his inadequacy that had shattered the hopes everyone had long labored to sustain.

He was all too aware of the risks people had taken for this.

They had even addressed him as their Sect Master.

And they had entrusted him with the majority of their Divine Fires, withholding from the other two cultivating the Fire Attribute Skill.

Suddenly, his gaze shifted from everything else, returning to the artifact components before him. Taking a deep breath, he softly murmured to himself, "I possess the Two-flavor True Fire. Who in this world rivals me?"

He abruptly reopened his eyes. The flames on his palms flickered; two plumes of fire extinguished.

Gone were the colorful incandescent flames. What remained were two distinct hues—one black, one white—both blazing with relentless intensity, mirroring the resolute gleam in his eyes.

No more concealment or pretense; his Two-flavor True Fire would now unleash its full might!

By now, sunlight had spilled over the mountain peaks, slanting into the valley.

At the entrance of the valley, An Wuzhi and Zhu Xiangxin caught sight of the mirror image showing a crowd of people waving. It stood out starkly amidst the otherwise stagnant scene. The two felt deeply remorseful—regretful that they were not among those waving.

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