These nine individuals are no ordinary people. Each of them can easily be considered the Sect Leader of a top-tier sect in the Cultivation World. Witnessing them crowding together in such a cramped and shadowy little room is a scene few could ever imagine, let alone see—especially in such disguised and silent states. Even Shi Chun couldn't help but smile faintly upon sight.

This kind of scenario is unlikely to happen twice in the Cultivation World. It seems he's lucky to witness it firsthand.

He entered the room, shut the door, turned around, and first bowed to the group before speaking softly, "There hasn't been any reaction outside so far. Are you all absolutely certain Sect Master Luo will come?"

Sect Leader Gu Yanduo of Shudao Mountain replied, "Don't worry. If the Nine Sects show no movement, he might still hesitate. However, when we suddenly all leave in such a rush, he'll surely be anxious. He can't act directly against us, so the easiest target for him to press would naturally be you, the soft persimmon. Coming straight for you is undoubtedly the best option for him."

Oh, so that's how things stand. Shi Chun hesitated again and said, "Didn't Stargazing Pavilion plan to hunt us down? I fear if Sect Master Luo doesn't show up, the Stargazing Pavilion might just arrive first."

The implication was clear—if things turn south, don't blame him for failing to verify the truth of that secret. If the Stargazing Pavilion takes him away, what can he do about it?

Sect Master Su Qiao of Extreme Fire Sect snorted, "What you've considered, do you think Luo Yan wouldn't have thought of? Refining Heaven Sect, the number one sect in the Artifact Refining World, isn't just for show. If he's serious, Stargazing Pavilion can't do as they please. Meeting with you before they take you away wouldn't be too difficult a task for him."

Gu Yanduo added further, "As long as you haven't lied, as long as Situ Gu truly wants to silence you, then it confirms Situ Gu is hiding things from Refining Heaven Sect. That would mean Luo Yan truly doesn't know, and he would inevitably come to you."

Shi Chun replied, "You're overthinking it, seniors. I have no motive to lie. If I dared deceive you, I'd better not show my face in the Cultivation World again. Besides, I'm also concerned that Situ Gu might want to silence me; I genuinely want to expose his schemes."

Today's circumstances were instructed to him before the competition itself. He was merely cooperating, yet only now did he fully grasp the situation.

Despite speaking as if genuinely concerned, inwardly, Shi Chun didn't mind either way—whether Luo Yan came or not, it made no difference to him.

He wasn't someone easily intimidated either, and since he dared play along, his escape routes had already been planned well in advance.

What he truly worried about now was the Stargazing Pavilion. Still, that didn't stop him from grabbing profits where he could. Opportunities for fortune of this scale were rare—when one came along, he had to seize it.

Just then, a clear knock suddenly echoed from the courtyard outside. Shi Chun exchanged glances with the nine esteemed leaders, and all of them seemed to immediately realize what it meant.

Yanbao Sect Master Qu Wuming waved his hand, gesturing for Shi Chun to handle the situation.

Shi Chun didn't bother being polite—he swiftly turned, opened the side hall door, and rushed straight to the main entrance.

He shut the side hall door before opening the main hall's large doors, where Chu Jingtang approached briskly to report, "Master, Sect Leader of Refining Heaven Sect has personally arrived."

There was hardly a need for the announcement; Shi Chun had already seen him. The Sect Leader of the largest sect in the Artifact Refining World did not bother waiting at the entrance to be announced. Like he owned the place, he brought five subordinates and directly stormed inside.

The issue was this—Mingshan Sect's people exchanged bewildered glances, and no one dared to try stopping him.

Standing hesitantly at the doorway, Wu Hong was already shoved aside by someone and didn't dare utter a word of complaint. He could only look helplessly toward Shi Chun in the hall.

What could Shi Chun say? His thoughts briefly lamented: as expected, when it came to truly understanding Refining Heaven Sect, it was still the Nine Sects inside the room who knew best. Countering Refining Heaven Sect would clearly require their cooperation.

While they barged in, he still had to greet them with a smiling face. Such is life in the world. If you want fewer troubles, you better be good at keeping up appearances.

Shi Chun first shot a glance at Wu Jinliang, then descended the steps quickly to bow and greet, "Sect Master Luo, what wind has brought you here?"

Wu Jinliang followed suit, descending the steps as well. However, instead of staying close, he slipped out to the entrance and quickly vanished.

What are these two up to? Young Master Nan, standing in the courtyard, glanced at Shi Chun welcoming the guests, then at Wu Jinliang sneaking away. His thoughts were skeptical. Could they really be plotting something under Luo Yan's nose?

But his next thought dismissed suspicion entirely. Considering these two dared pocket money from the Nine Sects, pulling something involving Luo Yan seemed rather within reason. What's strange about it?

Everyone else in the courtyard appeared to be in spectator mode, subtly feeling that the Master of this place might indeed attempt a power play against the Refining Heaven Sect Sect Master.

From a window's crack, Sect Master Su Qiao of Extreme Fire Sect peeked outside. Turning back, he whispered to the group behind him, "He didn't come alone—brought several subordinates along."

With a single hand signal, all the Nine Sect Leaders exchanged mutually understanding glances and retreated deeper.

Luo Yan paused outside for a moment, swept his gaze around the courtyard, and ignored Shi Chun altogether, striding toward the central hall steps with a casual remark, "Inside the house."

"Right away," Shi Chun quickly jogged up the steps, respectfully leading the way.

Young Master Nan, eager to follow and watch, grew irritated when one of Refining Heaven Sect's accompanying elders raised a hand to block him. This wasn't their residence—how dare they bar him? Yet, seeing Shi Chun subtly signaling permission, he could only swallow the indignation.

The others were likewise held back at the bottom of the steps, leaving only the Refining Heaven Sect group and Shi Chun to enter together.

Inside the hall, Luo Yan stood surveying the area before abruptly asking, "Where is Tong Mingshan?"

Shi Chun smiled, "After the competition, he was exhausted. He's resting now."

"You aren't lying to me, are you?" Luo Yan's tone was calm but carried a hint of frost.

Shi Chun was taken aback—lie to him? What absurdity was this? Why should he ever lie to Luo Yan?

Without warning, Luo Yan tilted his head, signaling his two accompanying disciples, who immediately set off to search the back rooms and adjacent quarters.

The moment they began searching, Shi Chun's heart leapt into his throat. Surely the people inside wouldn't have time to maneuver out of this, nor could they escape unnoticed from such proximity. He never imagined that the dignified Luo Yan of Refining Heaven Sect would stoop to such precautions.

Now he understood Luo Yan's earlier remark: it was merely an excuse for conducting a search.

Nonetheless, Shi Chun allowed himself to stay composed. If everything came to light right then and there, so be it—it wouldn't affect him much. Although it might become slightly awkward for Luo Yan to realize his alliance with the Nine Sects was plotting against him.

Oddly enough, the searching disciples opened the room concealing the others, strolled inside briefly, and then left without digging very deeply.

No rigorous inspection followed; they simply checked for occupants and moved on.

A short while later, they returned and reported back to Luo Yan, "Tong Mingshan is meditating in an adjoining side room outside."

Shi Chun's gaze flickered with subtle suspicion—was this disciple an undercover infiltrator? Otherwise, how could anyone miss the people inside the room?

After reconsidering, he ruled out the idea—it seemed implausible. That left only one possibility: the Nine Sect Leaders inside must have vanished!

Vanished? That seemed impossible. If they'd left, their presence here would lose all purpose, meaning they must still be in the room.

His peripheral vision instinctively darted toward the beams above, lips twitching slightly in amusement.

Ah, now he grasped it. Those nine Sect Leaders hadn't achieved their positions without some level of skill—they must have honed their craft from the ground up.

Luo Yan murmured in response, "It's good that you weren't lying. Looks like you're being honest after all."

Shi Chun privately mused, *I'm honest? You think so? Really?*

Never mind—it wasn't worth exposing Luo Yan's cautious game. Instead, he bowed politely and asked, "Senior, may I inquire as to your purpose here?"

Luo Yan's voice carried a faint sneer, "Shi Chun, why pretend to feign ignorance? You should already know why I've come."

Shi Chun probed, "Seeking the secret technique for finding the Divine Fire?"

Luo Yan replied, "Exactly."

Shi Chun skeptically asked, "But doesn't Senior already know it?"

What sort of nonsense was this? If he knew, why would he come seeking? Luo Yan furrowed his brows, glaring pointedly.

Shi Chun feigned comprehension, blinking innocently, "Ah, Senior wishes to obtain it as well?"

Unable to openly voice his desire, Luo Yan countered with a question, "You've been colluding with the Nine Sects earlier; do they already know the secret?"

Shi Chun nodded honestly, "Yes, they already know."

Luo Yan was visibly puzzled, "Why would you reveal it to them but deliberately exclude Refining Heaven Sect?"

It had been a lingering doubt for him—a suspicion that perhaps the matter didn't revolve around the secret technique alone until he confirmed everything when the Nine Sects abruptly departed.

Shi Chun scratched his head with an awkward laugh, "Because they paid for it."

Luo Yan raised a brow, doubtful of this explanation. Surely this rascal didn't believe Refining Heaven Sect's wealth was inferior to that of the Nine Sects?

From his robes, Shi Chun casually pulled out a sheet of paper and offered it with both hands, "Sect Master Luo, the other nine paid this price. If you're genuinely interested in purchasing this secret, I won't charge you a penny more—same exact price as them."

On this list were financial demands—not exclusively prepared for Refining Heaven Sect but written in advance for other sects. If additional sects desired to muscle in alongside the Ten Great Sects' schemes, Shi Chun certainly wouldn't mind earning more.

During his previous endeavors within the Divine Fire Domain, he'd felt many sects were daring enough. Yet, outside its bounds, they all seemed overly cautious—so far, none had approached him. He wondered whether the Stargazing Pavilion's interference deterred them.

Regardless, Shi Chun had patience. Such secrets couldn't fail to pique interest among other Artifact Refining sects. He dreamed of selling seventy or eighty copies, the price substantial enough to serve as a qualifying barrier. It wouldn't do for just anyone to access such an arcane truth! Only those who could pay dearly should hold this privilege.

As for Refining Heaven Sect, he hadn't initially intended to profit off them directly—it seemed inappropriate to profit from their secrets. But given the Nine Sects' influence and their justified rationale, Shi Chun now felt more comfortable with the idea of charging Refining Heaven Sect—a fair approach rather than unjust favoritism.

He thus handed over one of the pre-prepared lists for other sects.

Meanwhile, hidden among the rafters, nine individuals crouched. The Nine Sects' Sect Leaders half-kneeling and half-crouching in the dim light all held their breath.

Upon hearing the conversation below, they exchanged glances—some raised brows, others smirked, and a few conveyed faint amusement. They showed no signs of discontent; on the contrary, there seemed to be unanimous delight. After all, they'd paid their dues—letting Refining Heaven Sect spend something extra, in their view, was perfectly acceptable.

What surprised them was Shi Chun's audacity in attempting this scheme. After all, Situ Gu was affiliated with Refining Heaven Sect.

Not to mention, the looming threat of Stargazing Pavilion still uncertain—but here Shi Chun was, casually trying to pocket yet another fortune. His boldness earned their begrudging respect.

Luo Yan hesitated upon hearing the sum, thinking back on the Nine Sects' visible borrowings from other clans regarding the items listed on that sheet. Surely, the pricing was accurate.

Scanning the details on the inventory appeared to confirm his suspicions. Refining Heaven Sect's surveillance wasn't blind to movements within the Cultivation World.

"Quite the appetite," Luo Yan remarked casually, then added bluntly, "You seem to think negotiating prices is an option, but let's clarify: Stargazing Pavilion's hunters have been intercepted by me. Now, your choice is simple—either accept being taken away by them or reveal this secret immediately. Think carefully about your decision."

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