The two didn't run anywhere else; they hadn't sufficiently scouted the place beforehand and didn't dare wander around, so they directly plunged into the water and sank to the bottom, using the Earth Escape Technique.

The muddy path was hard to traverse; Shi Chun kept casting spells to ward off the seeping underground water. Only after they reached a much deeper underground did it start to dry somewhat.

Wu Jinliang, panting from exhaustion, asked, "Is this good enough?"

Shi Chun looked around at the still-dripping water and the mud that was falling with a plop, estimating that without the mana support, it would collapse soon. He immediately threw out a corpse and said, "Hurry."

Wu Jinliang understood at once, quickly pulling out a stick of Death Refusing Incense and lighting it on fire with a Fire Attribute Skill.

Just as the accumulated water was reaching their knees, the passage between the two realms opened again, a cold, eerie aura seeping through. Shi Chun darted in first to check. Then a voice called out, "Come."

Wu Jinliang quickly jumped in too, returning once again to the dark Netherworld. He glanced around and realized they were no longer above Qiangyu City. He wondered where Lao Changtai had scattered those Soul Capturing Bags.

Shi Chun used his right eye superpower to scan the surroundings, then released the bundles of golden thread he had been holding and sighed in relief.

Wu Jinliang took out the "Ice Sheep," held it to his mouth and nose for a deep breath, and then asked, "Chun Tian, what was with the commotion just now?"

Shi Chun replied, "It was a warning I set off. The Demon Path was after Zhener; they snuck into the Refining Heaven Sect and kidnapped Zhener."

"Ah?" Wu Jinliang was quite taken aback, "How did they manage that? That's the Refining Heaven Sect, letting someone sneak in and kidnap someone. Wouldn't that mean their defenses are just for show?"

Shi Chun explained, "They timed it well when Situ Gu and other high-level members were absent, and there must be an inside traitor; otherwise, no matter how skilled, it would be impossible to kidnap someone silently in the Refining Heaven Sect. I've already issued a timely warning. Hopefully, the Refining Heaven Sect can catch up to them in time and rescue Zhener."

Wu Jinliang pondered while stroking his chin, "Chun Tian, to put it bluntly, even if we can't rescue Zhener alive, it would be better to kill them. We cannot allow Zhener to fall into others' hands. If Zhener can't hold up during interrogation and reveals our connections with Situ Gu, it would be disastrous for us. The fact that the secret method to find the Divine Fire is backed by Situ Gu is a cover for us, but if others find out, we are in big trouble. The secret method to find the Divine Fire is with Situ Gu, and he has the ability to withstand the pressure from all sides, but we don't."

Shi Chun mused, "Zhener's thinking isn't like that of a normal person; they shouldn't be so easy to break."

Wu Jinliang said, "To make the Demon Path risk everything to kidnap Zhener from the Refining Heaven Sect, it's obvious they are after the secret method of finding the Divine Fire from Situ Gu. But... how did they know that capturing Zhener would link to the secret method held by Situ Gu? It can't just be because Zhener is a disciple of Situ Gu, right? How can they be so sure this would force Situ Gu to hand over the secret method? Situ Gu has more than just Zhener as a disciple; why not capture someone else?"

Shi Chun seemed to have known the answer and calmly said, "We've been overlooking someone all along, Yin Tianlu of the Extreme Fire Sect!"

"Him?" Wu Jinliang was puzzled and began pondering the reason.

Shi Chun replied, "The Demon Path that captured Zhener this time should be the same faction that besieged us previously, linked to Jiang You'er on the Divine Mountain. I only realized after seeing Zhener kidnapped.

The Extreme Fire Sect paid such a heavy price to target us, it's not just because we've offended them or taken advantage, it must all still be about finding the secret method of the Divine Fire.

Yin Tianlu later fell into the hands of the Demon Path, and then, similar to the Extreme Fire Sect, they also targeted us, which led to the previous siege against us, even deploying a Heavenly Immortal Realm expert who tracked me to the library in Dazhi City.

Why was the Demon Path not so aggressive before? They must have learned something from Yin Tianlu later on.

Back in the Divine Fire Domain, I sensed something unusual about the Extreme Fire Sect's Black Tiger's reactions towards Zhener. Later, when you killed him, I was too preoccupied with other matters to think about it. Now, in retrospect, Black Tiger's ability to absorb so much Divine Fire must mean he had some divine skills to chase down the Divine Fire. From the current situation, it's inferred that Zhener's identity was long exposed by Black Tiger. Do you think Black Tiger would inform Yin Tianlu after knowing this?"

Wu Jinliang said in a grave tone, "He would certainly inform him. Yin Tianlu was the leader of the Extreme Fire Sect at that time."

Shi Chun sighed, "That's why Yin Tianlu already knew Zhener's real identity; hence, the Extreme Fire Sect had long known that Zhener was not just some disciple of Situ Gu in the outside world, and they had every reason to suspect a major connection to the secret method of finding the Divine Fire."

Wu Jinliang thought deeply and slowly said, "According to your reasoning, their initial attack on us was to extract relevant information from us. Later, since they couldn't find us due to our hiding, they turned directly to Zhener instead?"

Shi Chun replied, "That should be the case for the Demon Path. However, the Extreme Fire Sect might have intended to target Zhener long ago but couldn't find an opportunity due to the Refining Heaven Sect, so they turned us into the next target."

Wu Jinliang couldn't help but curse, "Damn it, treating us like soft persimmons to be squeezed."

"In their eyes, we are indeed soft persimmons. Brother, we're still far from making a name for ourselves." Shi Chun laughed at himself, then dragged out another corpse and stomped his foot. "Let's go down one more time."

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