This is no longer a matter of confidence or lack thereof. Suddenly elevating himself to the heights of someone like Li Hongjiu had him almost jumping out of his skin.

Li Hongjiu, what a monstrously talented figure, and the top disciple of a famous sect—his master is none other than the Sect Leader of one of the Ten Great Sects.

Where did he get such absurd notions? How could he think of equating himself to someone of that stature? Given his origins from a small sect, how could he dare even dream of it?

As soon as the thought arose, his heart faltered. Could creating a refining technique truly be achieved in the blink of an eye?

He wasn't foolish. Even if it was Li Hongjiu's refining technique, it likely wasn't invented in a moment of inspiration. The fact that Li Hongjiu had the confidence to boldly claim he would defeat Luo Shengsheng proved that his refining method had already been developed long ago. Unlike himself, who naively thought he could conjure something from nothing in a short time frame.

But did he have another choice?

Right now, the refining method he knew wouldn't get him any further. If he started over from scratch, he might not even surpass others who had absorbed three Divine Flames.

The old method of refining would not change the outcome, no matter how much effort he put into it.

So, his options were either to submit to fate or give it a try.

Did this even require deliberation? Trying wouldn't result in anything worse. Why not give himself a chance? Did he lack even the courage to try?

He looked at Shi Chun again, meeting her questioning gaze once more. He stared at that face—the face of someone who always found a way, who gave their all to pull them through dire situations—and a flicker of courage began to stir within him.

He then glanced toward the Hundred Refinement Sect group. In their eyes, he was someone who had absorbed four Divine Flames. If he couldn't even match those who had absorbed three...

If the Hundred Refinement Sect concluded that expelling him from the sect had been the correct decision, it would be the greatest humiliation of his life, leaving him to spend an untold amount of time redeeming himself.

He desperately wanted the Hundred Refinement Sect to know that even if he left, he could live well—perhaps even better!

Then there was the Mingshan Sect, filled with those familiar faces and the group of people who called him "Sect Master." They all knew how many Divine Flames he had absorbed, and they had given so much to help him achieve this. If he couldn't surpass even the ones who absorbed three flames, how could he face them?

He already knew his decision. His resolve was set. The question was, how should he proceed?

His gaze returned to the two flames in his hand. These Two-flavor True Fires were his only advantage now. He had no choice but to rely on them.

Yet even the sharpest Treasure Blade would be useless in the hands of a clumsy craftsman.

The task at hand was precisely how to fix the 'craftsmanship' aspect.

His eyes drifted to those already refining the True Exquisite Hearts. If he wanted the qualifications to compete, he'd have to refine a True Exquisite Heart himself.

But he had never even attempted to make a True Exquisite Heart. Its complexity could only be described as terrifying—like trying to craft intricate patterns on a single grain of dust. It was far beyond anything his previous training had equipped him for.

Yet the situation couldn't get any worse. He had already resolved to try; now, the problem was finding a method to begin.

Sometimes, once you genuinely start looking for solutions, you may already be halfway to success.

If you lacked even the courage to entertain the possibility, how could success ever follow?

Suddenly, Tong Mingshan lowered his gaze toward his chest. The Divine Fire in one hand extinguished as he slowly pressed his hand against his heart and chest, feeling the rhythm of his heartbeat.

A sudden idea came to mind. Though uncertain if it would work, it quickened the pace of his heartbeat.

Exactly! If he abandoned the refining methods of the Hundred Refinement Sect, it was true he didn't know any other methods. But his Two-flavor True Fire was unmatched in the world!

He held the artifact refining world's sharpest Treasure Blade, wielded the artifact refining world's sharpest treasure sword. The materials for refining ought to be easily molded under his Two-flavor True Fire's heat.

Using a Treasure Blade to carve tofu—following every rigid form technique—was both a waste of the blade's sharpness and an unnecessary caution to avoid ruining the tofu. Why did he have to be constrained by form techniques?

What if he abandoned preconceived notions and made full use of the blade's sharpness? What if he acted freely and intuitively?

What did it mean to act freely and intuitively?

Would that be possible upon the very heart beating within his chest?

It's true—he had never made the True Nine-orifice Exquisite Heart before. But wasn't the True Nine-orifice Exquisite Heart modeled after the human heart?

It's true—he had never made the True Nine-orifice Exquisite Heart before. But living within him was a real, beating heart.

It's true—he had never made the True Nine-orifice Exquisite Heart before. But he had a ready-made model within him to reference.

There was nothing stopping him from using his cultivation technique to examine his own heart. No matter how intricate its structure, it wouldn't prevent him from observing every minute detail.

What if, as he observed the details, his Two-flavor True Fire could simultaneously replicate and sculpt every fine point? Could he not then recreate it?

Technique guided by intention, True Fire responding accordingly—could this be the path to acting freely and intuitively?

Could he truly act freely and intuitively?

He didn't know. But once the thought took root, he found himself unable to suppress the urge to take action.

With a clatter, eight pieces of heated refining material fell to the ground, leaving only the one discarded piece in his palm. He intended to start by testing on this small piece.

He lowered the hand pressed against his chest. Closing his eyes, the black and white twin flames simultaneously ignited in the palm cradling the material...

Shi Chun didn't understand what he was doing. The method of abandoning nine and focusing on one was familiar; two others had done the same earlier.

Elder Pan Gongying, astonished, exclaimed, "Tong Mingshan... is he also trying to refine a True Exquisite Heart?"

A master knows their disciple's abilities well, and Luo Wan shook his head, "He doesn't have the ability to refine a 'True Heart.' That can't be it."

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