Chapter 256: How Far Can You Brag

Upon hearing this, Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang understood. It was indeed unlikely that too many members of the Demonic Path would enter, as the cultivation world was vast, and the Demonic Path couldn't have previously devoted most of its energy to the artifact refining industry.

However, both of them were well aware that more members of the Demonic Path had entered than the other party claimed.

Wu Jinliang's previous disappearance was to inquire about the affiliations of the other two teams of Demonic Path members.

Shi Chun then asked, "Could your superiors have arranged for other people to enter without your knowledge?"

Xu Anchang waved his hand gently. "Absolutely not. To compete with those top artifact-refining sects and have a chance at winning, we must concentrate our power on one point, ensuring that any divine flame found is channeled to a single person. If we act separately, we'll have no chance of success, making our entry pointless."

Shi Chun had to admit that the other party's reasoning was still sound. However, what he saw with his special right eye couldn't be wrong. Therefore, there were only two possibilities: either the other party genuinely didn't know, or they were being deceitful.

Since the other party steadfastly denied it, there was nothing to argue about. Shi Chun immediately changed the subject. "You just said our main purpose for entering this time is the 'Desolate Severing Blade'?"

Xu Anchang was startled. "You didn't know?"

For a moment, he worried if he had spoken too much.

Shi Chun thought, "Even Feng Chi and the others claimed not to know, so how would I?" He shook his head slightly and said, "No one told me; they only said we needed to win first place."

Xu Anchang hesitated. "It essentially means winning first place. Without winning, it would be difficult to obtain the 'Desolate Severing Blade'."

Shi Chun was puzzled. "Since when did the Demonic Path become so refined? To get an item, they'd actually humble themselves like this? Couldn't they just steal or seize it outside?"

Xu Anchang was amused. "If we could just steal or seize anything, we would have dominated long ago. Don't you consider who holds the item? It's in the hands of top artifact-refining sects. Are their treasures that easy to steal or seize? Since there's this competition, we definitely have to seize this opportunity. If we truly can't get it this way, it won't be too late to prepare for a forceful acquisition later. Moreover, we *must* participate in the competition. If we don't, and the other two factions claim it, we'll lose any chance of stealing or seizing it afterward."

"The other two factions?" Shi Chun was surprised, then quickly realized. He asked, "You mean the other two branches of the Demonic Path?"

Xu Anchang nodded. "Who else could it be besides those two branches?"

Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang exchanged glances, feeling a sudden realization. They likely understood what was going on with the other two teams of Demonic Path members.

Both were also astonished, wondering what purpose the broken blade served that made all three branches of the Demonic Path vie for it.

Wu Jinliang couldn't help but ask, "What exactly is the 'Desolate Severing Blade' used for?"

Xu Anchang shook his head. "I'm not sure. We are just following orders."

In fact, he knew internally that it was related to opening the Demonic Altar, but he wouldn't reveal a single word about anything related to the Demonic Altar to outsiders.

Shi Chun and the other person exchanged glances again, both knowing that there must be a significant secret involved; otherwise, it wouldn't have drawn the attention of all three Demonic Path branches.

Since the other party wouldn't elaborate, Shi Chun didn't press further. He changed the topic, asking, "What's the plan now? Who will represent the Four Cauldron Sect in the competition?"

Xu Anchang replied, "Feng Yaoyang, the most outstanding disciple of the Four Cauldron Sect in the High Martial Realm. His cultivation has reached mastery, and his artifact-refining skills and talent are the highest among his peers. He is the best candidate to help the Four Cauldron Sect win first place. Our goal for this operation is to help him absorb more divine flames. On the surface, he is also our leader."

Knowing who it was sufficient. Shi Chun indifferently said, "Alright, then let's discuss how our two teams will merge."

Xu Anchang said, "This is also the most crucial point to discuss with you. After our two teams merge, you might have to endure some slight inconvenience. On the surface, Feng Yaoyang will be our leader, and we all must obey him."

Shi Chun looked suspicious. "On the surface? What does that mean?"

Xu Anchang replied helplessly, "He is indeed a disciple of the Four Cauldron Sect, but he's not one of us. He doesn't know our true identities. Nominally, he's the leader, so we have to listen to him. How should I describe him? He's arrogant due to his talent and a bit pigheaded."

"..." Shi Chun opened his mouth but was speechless, finding it somewhat unbelievable.

Wu Jinliang couldn't help but criticize, "Isn't that a bit too reckless? For an undertaking like this, with a leader like that, what exactly are you trying to achieve?"

Xu Anchang gave a bitter smile. "There was no other way. The situation arose suddenly, and conditions were limited. Otherwise, we wouldn't have brought you in to help. It shows that our superiors genuinely couldn't find a more suitable candidate at the moment. He is the most likely to help us win, and that's the most important thing."

Shi Chun asked, "Isn't the Four Cauldron Sect under your control?"

Since the Four Cauldron Sect's involvement was already exposed, Xu Anchang saw no need to hide it from him. "Yes, it's controlled. Most people, from top to bottom, are ours, but not all. Some aren't suitable to be brought into our ranks, and we also need some 'clean' individuals as a cover. Especially someone with Feng Yaoyang's personality, bringing him in would cause problems. Such people can only be exploited, not made accomplices."

Shi Chun pointed at the two of them. "Aren't you both artifact-refining disciples? If you can refine artifacts, why do you need someone who might ruin things? Can you resist absorbing the divine flame?"

You Mu, who had been silent, patted his abdomen and said, "Divine flame and demonic essence are antithetical; it would burn away the demonic essence."

Watching him pat his abdomen, Shi Chun roughly understood what demonic essence was—likely what he called demonic flame. He hadn't expected it to be antithetical to the divine flame.

Given this, what else could they do? They could only make do.

After the two sides finalized the details of their collaboration and agreed on a meeting point, they parted ways.

Chu Jingting and the others, waiting hidden among the mountains, breathed a sigh of relief when they finally saw Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang return. They had felt the two's earlier departure seemed a bit unusual.

Having just entered, they had immediately left their companions to act on their own. How could that be normal?

The three who practiced fire-attribute cultivation methods were even more anxious. If Shi Chun hadn't been able to keep them in check, they would have long since rushed off to find divine flames.

Seeing the two return, Tong Mingshan couldn't hold back. "Chief, let's hurry up and search! I really don't want to have come here for nothing."

Chu Jingting and the others, who didn't practice fire-attribute cultivation, were unimpressed. They had no interest in searching for divine flames. Coming to gain some experience was enough; it would be safest to guard the exit with the ten elders. Risking their lives for this was completely unnecessary. Honestly, if their chief hadn't insisted they come in, nobody would have.

Shi Chun patted Tong Mingshan's shoulder and cheerfully said, "Sect Master Tong, don't rush. Sharpening an axe doesn't delay chopping wood. In this vast Divine Flame Domain, we currently have no leads, and finding anything with just our small group might be difficult. We just went to find some allies for everyone. They're called the Four Cauldron Sect, and our two teams will partner up."

Allies? Four Cauldron Sect? The others exchanged bewildered glances. What on earth?

Chu Jingting asked, puzzled, "Chief, Brother Tong—no, Sect Master Tong—if he wants to absorb divine flame, wouldn't partnering with others be unsuitable? If divine flame is truly found, it probably won't be his turn to absorb it."

"Yes, exactly." The others also nodded in agreement.

Tong Mingshan also waved his hand. "Chief, this matter cannot be a partnership. Even within the same sect, facing the temptation of divine flame, people might turn against each other."

Shi Chun patted his shoulder again. "Alright, I have my own plans for this. Just follow the arrangements."

He then turned to everyone and said, "Before our two teams partner up, there are two things I need to tell you all. First, our Sect Master's background needs to be altered. Although he originated as a Hundred Refinements Sect disciple, he's not an ordinary one. We need to exaggerate his status to that of the Hundred Refinements Sect's most outstanding disciple with the greatest artifact-refining talent. Don't be stingy; praise him as highly as you can."

Everyone exchanged surprised and suspicious glances.

Tong Mingshan, however, became embarrassed and awkwardly said, "There's no need for that, really. It's not that extreme. While I'm decent among my peers in the Hundred Refinements Sect, I certainly can't claim to have the best artifact-refining talent."

Wu Jinliang chuckled, "You can't be modest about this. When it's not appropriate to be humble, you absolutely mustn't be polite. Us boasting about you is one thing, but you also need to boast about yourself. I don't know what an artifact-refining master looks like, but you definitely need to act the part."

Shi Chun also added, "Sect Master, if you want to absorb the divine flame, don't be shy. The Hundred Refinements Sect wouldn't let you lead a team to the Heavenly Rain Meteorite Convention if you were a pedantic person."

Tong Mingshan was clearly tempted, but he asked, puzzled, "Just by boasting like this, I can absorb the divine flame?"

Shi Chun winked at him. "How will you know if you don't try? I'm just asking if you want to absorb divine flame. If you do, stop dithering and do as I say. Do you think I'd harm you?"

So Tong Mingshan fell silent.

Shi Chun then told everyone, "The second matter is that after we partner up, everyone will temporarily have to endure some slight inconvenience. We must defer to the Four Cauldron Sect..."

By the sea, on the deck of a palace-like luxury ship, Young Master Nan was lazily basking in the sun.

Suddenly, a man quickly approached, knelt beside him, and whispered, "Sir, the three factions you were looking for have been found. There's an opportunity to approach them at any time now."

Young Master Nan opened his eyes, pushed himself up to stand, turned to look at the coastline, and smiled, "Since that's the case, let's go for a stroll."

With that, he leaped from the ship and flew towards the shore, the man following close behind.

The group from Myriad Herbs Hall was temporarily at leisure. Given the current situation, there was no need for everyone to be constantly vigilant.

Thus, Sect Master Ao Hongyou and his group, rarely indulging in such leisurely paces, strolled along the scenic coastline.

As they reached a patch of coastal vegetation, they suddenly heard someone speaking behind them.

"Young Master Nan, everyone says you were responsible for getting that group from the Bright Mountain Sect into the Divine Flame Domain. Is that true?""Why do you ask? What if I did, and what if I didn't?""No, we just want to know why you brought them in.""During the Heavenly Rain Meteorite Convention, my betting pool would have suffered heavy losses if Shi Chun and his group hadn't caused trouble. It's the same principle for the Divine Flame Domain opening this time – I had them enter for the same reason.""Oh, I see. To cause trouble. But with just a few of them, they probably won't achieve much in this Divine Flame Domain!""That's not my concern. I paid a high price to get them in. If they can't be useful, none of them will live. I guarantee no one can protect them!"

Upon hearing this, Ao Hongyou and his group exchanged glances. Amidst the sound of the waves, they moved closer to the vegetation to peek, and saw Young Master Nan and a few others sitting at a table on a nearby wooden platform, basking in the sun, leisurely drinking, and chatting.

Ao Hongyou and his group did not approach, quietly retreating instead.

Soon, someone else came and whispered a few words to Young Master Nan, so he stood up, dispersed the gathering, and moved to another location.

Not long after, similar conversations unfolded, one by one, at the Vermillion Bird Pavilion and the Hundred Refinements Sect.

Afterwards, when someone asked Young Master Nan what this meant, he replied that he didn't know himself. In truth, he genuinely had no idea why he had staged such a performance.