Chapter 244: A Variable

Annoying as it was, this matter still had to be confronted.

After a short wait, Elder Pan and Elder Jie finally arrived.

Upon entering, the two elders greeted the Sect Master. Seeing him pacing back and forth, seemingly lost in thought, they exchanged glances. Elder Pan Gongying then cautiously asked, "Sect Master, are you troubled by the constant interruptions from various sects regarding Tong Mingshan's matter?"

Elder Jie Lunguang sighed, "This issue has been quite bothersome for both of us as well; people keep coming to inquire."

Yan Qufeng shook his head while pacing, seemingly to himself. "That's not how it is," he murmured.

"Hmm?" The two elders exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of his meaning.

A moment later, Yan Qufeng stopped before them and asked, "How likely do you think our disciples are to absorb the Divine Flame once they enter the Divine Flame Realm?"

"Well..." Pan Gongying's face showed his discomfort.

Jie Lunguang hesitated for a moment before replying, "This matter depends on various factors—the right time, place, and human effort. To a large extent, it's about luck. Looking at past events, the vast majority of sects come away empty-handed. We can certainly hope, but there's no need to put excessive pressure on our disciples. Their best effort will suffice."

He had subtly conveyed that the chances were slim.

Yan Qufeng countered, "Then why do the major sects always have a much higher chance of finding the Divine Flame compared to smaller ones?"

After some thought, Pan Gongying replied, "There are several reasons. Firstly, their sects have seniors who have absorbed the Divine Flame. These predecessors can offer experienced guidance and even allow their disciples to feel the essence of the Divine Flame in advance. This significantly enhances their sensitivity to it, making them far less likely to overlook it. This factor alone gives them a tremendous advantage over everyone else.

Secondly, the number of participants they send in—due to their contributions—is greater than other sects, which inherently increases their probability of discovery.

Major sects are intrinsically powerful, and having more people simply translates to greater overall strength. Should a conflict arise over the flame, they are more likely to emerge victorious.

When all these advantages are combined, the major sects undoubtedly have a much higher chance of success than other sects."

Jie Lunguang stroked his beard and nodded, "Brother Pan speaks wisely; that's indeed the case."

Yan Qufeng said, "So, if we could increase our numbers, it would significantly boost the likelihood of our disciples absorbing the Divine Flame."

Pan Gongying gave a wry smile. "Where would we find such a convenient opportunity...?" he began, then suddenly paused.

Jie Lunguang, too, had a realization. His eyes gleamed as he asked, "Sect Master, are you referring to the people from Tong Mingshan?"

Yan Qufeng weighed his words carefully before slowly stating, "With thirteen additional people helping, it would be difficult for the probability not to increase. And don't forget, they also have Shi Chun. You all witnessed his performance at the Heavenly Rain Meteorite Convention. If he's willing to contribute, the chances could be even greater. Moreover, Tong Mingshan is their sect master."

The implication was that if Tong Mingshan was secured, the thirteen individuals would naturally follow suit.

Pan Gongying hesitated. "They've already been expelled from our sect and established their own. I'm afraid it won't be easy to bring them back."

Yan Qufeng responded, "What about his master? He trained under his master since childhood; does he have no lingering affection? We need to gauge their stance, whether it seems promising or not, and try our utmost to secure their involvement.

Thirteen people are attending, yet they haven't even met the required numbers, clearly indicating they're not taking it seriously and are just going through the motions. They'll be idle anyway, so persuading them to contribute, even a little, might not be too difficult.

The Divine Flame Realm opens tomorrow; there's no time to lose. Elder Jie, you must go immediately and summon his master from the sect. Be quick!"

"Very well, I'll go at once," Jie Lunguang replied, cupping his hands before quickly departing.

As soon as he left, Pan Gongying voiced his concern, "Mingshan Sect still hasn't reported in. They won't back out under pressure, will they?"

Yan Qufeng said, "It's possible they'll arrive later. Regardless of whether they show up, we must be prepared."

He turned and resumed pacing, hands clasped behind his back. "After all, he was once an elite disciple trained by our sect. And truthfully, for a newly established sect to join the Divine Flame Alliance... perhaps we've underestimated Tong Mingshan's capabilities."

Pan Gongying considered this and said, "Given his abilities, I doubt he could have managed it on his own. It's more likely someone else was involved; Shi Chun, perhaps, is a stronger candidate."

Yan Qufeng nodded in agreement. "That's a valid point. However, he became the sect master of a newly established sect and even named it after himself. Do you truly believe he could have achieved that without any prestige among those individuals?"

Pan Gongying pondered the question and nodded slightly.

Meanwhile, for others, discerning the true circumstances behind the thirteen members of Mingshan Sect joining the Divine Flame Alliance was no challenge. They had long been aware that Young Master Nan was the driving force behind it, and even understood his motivations.

On another serene and picturesque beach, Gong Shaoci was accompanying Lan Qiaoyan and her daughter Miao Yilan, as they admired the ocean view and listened to the ebb and flow of the tide.

The mother and daughter had been invited by Gong Shaoci.

Both had received Gong Shaoci's invitation quite early, and at that time, neither the mother nor the daughter knew that Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang would be participating in the Divine Flame Alliance.

Their attendance was purely due to Gong Shaoci's invitation. Lan Qiaoyan readily agreed, having already made arrangements in advance, even securing time off for her daughter.

Miao Yilan felt neither strong approval nor strong aversion to her mother's arrangements, and her attitude toward Gong Shaoci was similar. Having been a docile child, she was accustomed to her family's plans and understood her mother's intentions. If her family decided that she should marry Gong Shaoci, she would not object and would comply.

If her family deemed it unsuitable, she would not marry him.

This was because her family had long shown her the ways of the world, making her understand that their arrangements for her would always be for the best.

And knowing that Gong Shaoci might one day become her husband, she felt a certain shyness whenever she saw him.

Of course, Gong Shaoci was also quite handsome and came from an excellent background. Miao Yilan's shyness also contained a subtle yearning for love.

Gong Shaoci extended this invitation because, at the Heavenly Rain Meteorite Convention, he had noticed the Miao family's particular interest in Shi Chun and presumed they enjoyed such spectacles.

Miao Dingyi was not present. He essentially managed all the Bowang Towers across Jambudvipa, so in a way, he was already on his own territory and could come and go as he pleased.

The scenery was breathtaking, far more beautiful than the Land of Exile. After some casual conversation, Lan Qiaoyan asked, "So, you already knew about Shi Chun's participation in the Divine Flame Alliance?"

Gong Shaoci smiled faintly. "Yes, to be honest, I knew about it two months ago. I even lent a hand in making it happen."

Lan Qiaoyan tilted her head, looking at him. "So, you're also involved in the betting pool Young Master Nan is managing this time?"

Gong Shaoci did not conceal it. "Everyone said they were just playing for fun, and it wouldn't be appropriate for me to stand out. I'm merely joining the excitement."

Miao Yilan frowned slightly. "Are they gambling with other people's lives for amusement?"

Gong Shaoci quickly clarified, "Not at all. The Divine Flame Realm is isolated from the outside world. The Xun Gate is useless there, as is the Overlooking Sky Mirror, and even the Parent-Child Talismans are ineffective. No one can see what's happening inside from the outside, and remote communication within is also difficult, essentially eliminating any possibility of manipulation. The Divine Flame Alliance will proceed as it normally would; there's simply an additional betting pool on the side."

Lan Qiaoyan asked, "Didn't Young Master Nan arrange for Shi Chun and the others to enter specifically to manipulate the gambling?"

Gong Shaoci replied awkwardly, "It's both yes and no. Firstly, Shi Chun himself requested to enter purely for experience, and Young Master Nan merely helped facilitate it. Young Master Nan believes that Shi Chun's claim of 'just playing' isn't entirely credible. Therefore, once Shi Chun enters, he will be a significant variable, potentially causing a setback for the sects that are currently considered dominant."

Lan Qiaoyan understood. "So, you had already calculated the outcome of this betting pool. You weren't going to lose money anyway; it was merely a matter of earning more or less. Introducing a variable, then, could potentially allow you to make a substantial profit."

Gong Shaoci chuckled awkwardly. "That seems to be the gist of it, though I don't fully understand it myself. I'm just playing along."

Lan Qiaoyan then turned to her daughter. "Lanlan, do you see? Getting an artifact-refining sect to breach the rules of the Divine Flame Alliance—that's something even the Heavenly Court struggles with, something the Royal Courts of the Four Great Continents find difficult to coordinate. Yet, they managed to arrange it behind the scenes."

Miao Yilan looked thoughtful.

Gong Shaoci could only manage a wry smile. He had already explained it multiple times, and further elaboration seemed pointless.

Lan Qiaoyan then asked, "Where is Shi Chun now?"

Gong Shaoci replied, "He probably hasn't arrived or reported in yet."

"Not here yet?" Lan Qiaoyan sounded surprised; she had hoped to see him.

Last time, Shi Chun had given such a gift to her daughter that it thoroughly shocked her entire family.

The last time Shi Chun had retrieved those eleven individuals from prison, it was also with her consent. She truly hadn't expected that this group, once released, would form their own sect and even venture into the Divine Flame Realm.

Since Shi Chun was the one who had freed them, she was well aware that although he wasn't their sect master, he was undoubtedly their true leader.

Unbeknownst to her, Shi Chun was currently strolling, enjoying the breeze, and admiring the scenery with Young Master Nan on a beach not far from where she was.

However, an unwelcome interruption arrived: a message via Parent-Child Talisman from Fengchi. It read: "They know about the founding of Mingshan Sect and want to see you."

"What's wrong?" Young Master Nan asked, seeing him shake his head.

Shi Chun simply showed him the message.

Young Master Nan recognized who the 'they' referred to at a glance and asked with surprise, "It's been over two months, you've brought them all here, and it starts tomorrow! You still haven't told them they're going in?"

Shi Chun first sent a reply via Parent-Child Talisman, stating he would arrive shortly. Only then did he explain, "The later I tell them, the less time they have to worry."

"..." Young Master Nan was speechless. He'd never heard such a considerate explanation before. He couldn't help but smile wryly. "Nothing will go wrong, will it? I've put so much effort into getting you all in. They won't back out at the last minute, will they?"

Shi Chun replied, "Don't worry, it's not a major issue. At least three of them are willing to go in. For now, I'll go back and handle it."

"Go on, go on," Young Master Nan urged, waving him away. After Shi Chun had departed, he quickly called out, "Remember to let me know once everything's settled!"

It was unclear if Shi Chun heard him, as he had already vanished and reappeared in the distance. Young Master Nan couldn't help but sigh, "How exasperating! I thought this was all sorted out. He said nothing, yet he was just idly wandering around the island. What a carefree attitude! And here I am, destined to worry."