Chapter 245: Allowing Everyone to Have Their Own Aspirations

When Shi Chun returned to his room, a group of people were waiting there.

Wu Jinliang sat in a corner, stroking his gourd with a half-smile. He was quite bored. Shi Chun had also forbidden him from going out, saying that his tall stature made him too noticeable and easy to recognize.

"Alright, outside it's picturesque, and there are plenty of beautiful women visiting. I'll stay inside, cooped up in my room. How about that? But even if I don't go out, aren't we still exposed?" He now looked like he was just waiting for some excitement to unfold.

“Big Boss.” When Shi Chun entered and closed the door, Chu Jing-tang and the others immediately greeted him. Since they were living under his roof and eating his food, they understood the need for basic courtesy.

Before they could speak, Shi Chun chuckled and said, “What, you all know already?” As he spoke, he scanned their reactions. As expected, Tong Mingshan, An Wuzhi, and Zhu Xiangxin showed clear signs of anticipation, while Chu Jing-tang and the others appeared worried.

Chu Jing-tang tried to confirm, “Big Boss, are the rumors outside true? That we’ve founded a sect, joined the Divine Fire Alliance, and are entering the Divine Fire Realm?”

Shi Chun raised an eyebrow at Tong Mingshan. “Didn't you say it was a rare opportunity? Didn’t you want to go in and have some fun? Well, then I had to find a way to fulfill your wishes, otherwise, wouldn't I, as your Big Boss, be letting everyone down?”

Feng Chi and Xiang Lan'er, standing by the side, exchanged a quiet glance. They could read each other’s eyes, knowing this guy would say something like that.

Duan Xiangmei was also there, joining in the fun, standing behind Wu Jinliang who was playing with his gourd. She was idly drawing circles on Wu Jinliang’s back with her finger, but was actually listening to the conversation. Having been with them for so long, she naturally knew who Chu Jing-tang and the others were. It turned out they were the same people who had followed the Big Boss to conquer the world at the Heavenly Rain Meteorite Convention. After being expelled from their sects, they had inexplicably ended up with the Big Boss again. Wu Jinliang's vague explanations had led her to feel a certain admiration for the Big Boss’s charisma. To be deceived and still continue to follow him – what else could that be but charisma?

Anyway, she thought Wu Jinliang was quite clever, and she admired his tall stature, thick eyebrows, and dignified masculine bearing. If even Wu Jinliang was wholeheartedly convinced by the Big Boss, then the Big Boss's charisma must truly be beyond question.

Of course, after a few days on the island, she had also come to understand what the Divine Fire Alliance was all about. She had been unsure when she first heard the discussions, but now that the Big Boss had personally confirmed it, she couldn’t help but be amazed. She thought the Big Boss was incredibly powerful to have made the Divine Fire Alliance make an exception for them. She truly didn’t know how he’d managed it. In any case, she felt it wasn't her place to speak, so she quietly listened and observed.

Upon hearing this, Chu Jing-tang and the others wore expressions of utter disbelief and amusement. It was true; a casual remark made when they first arrived on the island, and the Big Boss had actually made it happen. Earlier, some of them had stepped out for a breath of fresh air and heard similar discussions. They initially thought they had misheard, but upon inquiring further, they were quite alarmed. They quickly returned to inform everyone, who then also went out to investigate. Sure enough, it was true. And so, here they were.

Xiao Sheng said worriedly, “Big Boss, the Divine Fire Realm is not like the Heavenly Rain Meteorite Convention. It’s a truly alien place. I hear many areas have extremely harsh environments, and the artifact-forging sects are skilled at refining treasures. Many participating disciples carry powerful artifacts. Although the number of participants is far less than at the Heavenly Rain Meteorite Convention, their destructive power is far greater. Isn’t it too dangerous for us to go in?”

Shi Chun: “You worry too much. We’ll just go in to walk around, look around, see what’s there. If there’s an opportunity, we’ll seize it. If not, we’ll hide until it’s over and come out.”

Shen Moming also worried, “Big Boss, we heard outside that the artifact-forging sects exploded in anger when they heard we were participating, saying it broke the rules. With such resentment, if we go in, how could those artifact-forgers easily let us off?” The implication was that even if they went in, hiding might not be as easy as hoped.

Tong Mingshan spoke up, “Brother Shen, you worry too much. The situation in the Divine Fire Realm is different from the Heavenly Rain Meteorite Convention. While Insect Core Crystals can be snatched from others, once Divine Fire is absorbed by someone, it cannot be taken. It can only be seized before it’s absorbed. They can be angry and cause a fuss, but that’s just external agitation. The Divine Fire Realm is open for a limited time. Once inside, they won't have the luxury of wasting time hunting us down. As soon as they enter, they'll forget about us and dedicate themselves entirely to searching for Divine Fire.”

Zhu Xiangxin, though a woman, spoke with impassioned fervor, “Everyone, the chance to enter the Divine Fire Realm isn't available to just anyone, especially not to those outside of artifact-forging. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; how can we miss it?!” She was truly excited. She had never dreamed that she, an alchemist, would have the opportunity to enter the Divine Fire Realm. She wouldn't mind acting like a shrew if anyone present dared to stop her.

An Wuzhi said, “Indeed, it’s an opportunity that comes only once every two or three hundred years. Most people never know what the Divine Fire Realm looks like in their entire lives. To be able to enter even once, as an exception, is worth taking some risks. Entering once is something worth talking about for a lifetime.” He was also very excited. Although he knew that even if they entered, the possibility of obtaining Divine Fire was small, he was still thrilled. What if? What if he acquired a Divine Fire? His fire-attribute cultivation technique would expand to another realm, or to another possibility. What kind of possibility, no one knew, because there were thirty-six types of Divine Fire, and each one, when combined with the characteristics of one’s own fire-attribute cultivation technique, could open up a unique possibility. Moreover, it was an excellent opportunity to elevate his cultivation. This was a true chance granted by the heavens to gain divine abilities. Now that they had gained entry, how could they miss it?

Zhu Xiangxin added, “It’s an opportunity that comes once every two or three hundred years. None of us know how long we’ll live. This might be our only chance in this lifetime.”

Tong Mingshan: “Not ‘perhaps’, but ‘definitely’! If we truly live to see the next opening, our cultivation would have already broken through to the Human Immortal realm. By then, we would have forged immortal bodies, our physical forms would be extraordinary, and our attributes fixed. Even if we encountered Divine Fire, absorbing it would instead destroy our own fire essence, ruining our cultivation and killing us. What would be the point of going in then?”

This was called taking a stand. Three individuals with relevant talents and who cultivated fire-attribute techniques were passionately presenting their arguments and debating. Shi Chun, standing by, was spared from speaking. The arguments he had prepared were temporarily unnecessary as he watched the three debate with Chu Jing-tang’s eight. The eight felt pressured and struggled against the three. The eight could only talk about the various dangers they might encounter inside and couldn't offer any other logical arguments. Zhu Xiangxin and the other two, however, were emotionally charged. Besides passionately arguing at the eight, they even seemed ready to resort to force, as if to say, ‘If you don’t go in, I’ll beat you!’

Alright, Shi Chun figured it out. Even if they went in, with these three around, he wouldn't have to worry about failing to convince everyone to seek Divine Fire. After the debate grew too heated, Zhu Xiangxin suddenly waved her hand and declared, “If you’re too scared to go in, then fine, we few will go in by ourselves!” Tong Mingshan and An Wuzhi had the exact same intention. Chu Jing-tang and the other eight immediately fell silent. Their silence clearly indicated ‘as you wish,’ which also suited them fine.

“How can that be?” Shi Chun finally spoke up again. “For this, if we go, we all go. If we don’t, none of us go. We are all one entity; there’s no logic in some going and some staying. Alright, stop arguing, everyone will go. Everyone will go and see. As I said before, if there’s an opportunity, seize it. If not, hide until you can come out. This matter is settled!”

“Big Boss, your wisdom is brilliant!” Zhu Xiangxin bowed with clasped hands, her voice clear and bright. Tong Mingshan and An Wuzhi quickly followed suit, bowing with clasped hands in unison, “Big Boss, your wisdom is brilliant!” Such flattering words flowed out effortlessly from them, without any awkwardness, sounding so pure and natural. This was all due to having picked up the habit from Wu Jinliang.

Chu Jing-tang, however, grew anxious. “Big Boss, aside from the threat of all those people wielding magical artifacts, I heard that historically, there have been instances in the Divine Fire Realm when, at the time of exit, the gates couldn't be reopened, trapping those inside to their deaths. Such accidents, I hear, have not happened just once, but several times.”

The three, including Tong Mingshan, were about to retort, but Shi Chun was the first to glare at Chu Jing-tang and demand, “Why didn’t you say this earlier? When we landed on the island, when I said I’d find a way, why didn’t you speak up? Now that I’ve settled everything, you tell me this? What do you mean? Are you trying to be opportunistic with me? There are only a few of us here; we only banded together after being expelled from our sects. We’ve come this far, and you’re still not united? What are you trying to do?”

Chu Jing-tang was flustered by the rebuke and quickly waved his hands. “Big Boss, I didn’t mean that. I just felt it was dangerous, and I was also thinking of everyone…”

Shi Chun interrupted him sharply, “Dangerous? Then do you know how much trouble this has caused, and how much effort Young Master Nan and the others have put into it? Now you’re saying you won’t go in? Are you trying to play games with people? Do you think just anyone can be toyed with casually? Try playing games with those people, and I guarantee it’ll be more dangerous than entering the Divine Fire Realm!”

“…” Those who had objections were completely silenced. If it was more dangerous than entering the Divine Fire Realm, then what was the point of opposing it? It was settled instantly. Feng Chi silently tutted a few times and subtly nudged Xiang Lan'er with her elbow, signaling her observation.

Shi Chun then looked around at everyone, pointing to his own chest. “I won’t stand here talking without taking responsibility. What if there’s danger? I’ll lead the way in! Of course, I won’t force anyone. The road is wide open, and everyone is free to follow their own aspirations. Before the Divine Fire Realm opens, you’re permitted to withdraw at any time! Alright, everyone go do what you need to do.”

Wu Jinliang, chuckling, picked up his gourd and rose. “Alright, everyone, disperse.” As he spoke, he openly reached out, wrapped an arm around Duan Xiangmei's waist, and started to lead her away. “Come on, let’s go find a secluded spot by the sea for some private chitchat.” That was truly brazen flirting. Duan Xiangmei, thoroughly embarrassed, shook him off and quickly opened the door and fled.

As the group dispersed, some were brimming with ambition, while others were dejected. In the corridor, a woman who had been peeking into rooms turned to look at the departing group. Her eyes lit up when she saw Zhu Xiangxin appear, and she called out, “Senior Sister.”