Chapter 260: Change of Person

Chase? How? The Four Cauldrons Sect disciples who arrived also hesitated. Was it wise for him to pursue alone, given that the assailant had just killed Feng Yaoyang?

But not chasing was not an option. Ignoring the death of a fellow disciple was unacceptable, especially with ten elders watching. The hesitant Four Cauldrons Sect disciples could only mount their Wind Scales again, heading in the direction the killer had fled. As for whether they would catch up, only heaven knew.

Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang, seemingly relieved, exchanged a glance, then quickly ran to face the ten elders, bowing and cupping their hands in apology.

“Being pursued left us no choice; we had to seek refuge in this esteemed place. We apologize for disturbing you, seniors; our actions were indeed rude,” Shi Chun said politely.

Wu Jinliang simply followed Shi Chun’s lead, bowing respectfully. His boss enjoyed feigning sophistication, and since Wu Jinliang wasn't good with such refined words, he figured his boss could just do all the talking for both of them.

The ten elders recognized these two; they had all seen them at the entrance to the Instrument Cloud Valley mountain.

The ten elders had their own duties and limitations. They supervised each other and were prohibited from participating in the inter-sect competition, lest they abuse their authority to favor disciples from their own sects.

Without a significant reason that all ten unanimously agreed upon, they could not even leave the mountain.

However, one elder couldn't help but speak up, “When something happens, you hide behind us, treating us as shields. Isn't that inappropriate?”

Shi Chun quickly replied, “Yes, yes, yes.”

“Everything you say is right. Anyway, we are not leaving.”

Although they were reprimanded and moved back a bit, it was only down a small slope. They continued to linger under the watchful eyes of the ten elders, looking terrified.

Meanwhile, the Four Cauldrons Sect disciples who discovered Feng Yaoyang's death were greatly alarmed. They began rushing around, notifying fellow disciples and making connections.

Not long after, Xu Anchang and others successively arrived at the murder scene.

Xu Anchang, kneeling before Feng Yaoyang's corpse, was truly stunned. The Demonic Dao's hope for the championship was gone?

He finally let out a loud shout, “What's going on here?!”

“I don't know,” someone said, pointing in a direction. “I saw people fighting, and someone was chasing Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang. The two of them fled in that direction.”

Someone was chasing Shi Chun too? Xu Anchang grew even more suspicious. He immediately dispatched his men, then personally mounted a Wind Scale with a portion of his group to investigate along the indicated direction.

Along the way, they occasionally encountered people from the Bright Mountain Sect and their own fellow disciples, inevitably pausing to inquire. Guided by these individuals, they naturally eventually found the mountain guarded by the ten elders.

Disregarding the ten elders, Xu Anchang led his people to land directly in front of Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang, urgently pressing, “Brother Chun, what exactly happened?”

Shi Chun said with a gloomy face, “What else could it be? So many people saw it—we were chased the entire way.”

Xu Anchang asked, “How was Feng Yaoyang killed?”

Shi Chun said in a deep voice, “The killer must have been after us; otherwise, they wouldn't have pursued us relentlessly. If Brother Feng and another brother hadn't intervened, we wouldn't have found a chance to escape at all. The killer is very strong; it's our fault that Brother Feng and the other brother were implicated.”

He turned his head to look at the ten elders overlooking them from above and sighed, “It was very dangerous. If not for the ten elders deterring the killer, our lives would have been in peril.”

Wu Jinliang nodded repeatedly, “It was too dangerous; fortunately, we were close to the ten elders.”

Xu Anchang and the others looked at the elders above, only then realizing why Shi Chun and his companion were hiding there.

Shi Chun then asked Xu Anchang, “Did anyone from your Four Cauldrons Sect pursue the killer on a Wind Scale? Were there any findings?”

No sooner had he spoken than someone arrived on a Wind Scale. It was Tong Mingshan, who had also brought along a few others, including Chu Jingtang. The Bright Mountain Sect members hadn't all arrived, likely because they hadn't met up yet.

A startled Xu Anchang disregarded Tong Mingshan and the others, urgently asking, “Someone from our group went after the killer? How many are chasing?”

Shi Chun glanced at Tong Mingshan and the others, then replied, “We only saw one person, who pursued on a Wind Scale.”

Xu Anchang immediately looked worried; he couldn't help but feel concerned. Feng Yaoyang was quite strong, and he had a capable escort, yet both were killed. Was one person enough to pursue the killer?

However, worrying now was useless. No one knew where the person had gone, and in this accursed Divine Flame Region, communication talismans were ineffective, making contact impossible.

He could only face reality and then asked Shi Chun, “Do you know who the killer is?”

Shi Chun said in a deep voice, “Although the killer was masked, I can guess who it is.”

Xu Anchang urged, “Tell me quickly.”

Shi Chun explained, “In Shengzhou, on the East Sheng Shenzhou side, four artifact-refining sects are participating: Heavenly Cauldron Sect, Fengluo Sect, Spirit Refining Fortress, and Seven Stars Island. The killer must undoubtedly be from one of them.”

Xu Anchang asked, “What makes you say that?”

Shi Chun began, “It’s a long story. In brief, it concerns Wukang Mountain, where I previously resided. After the Heavenly Rain Meteorite Assembly, Jiyun Mountain, the largest sect in Shengzhou, attempted to annex Wukang Mountain. At a crucial moment, I obtained a protective talisman from the Shengzhou Domain Lord, which led to the aggressive Jiyun Mountain, who had come to our doorstep, suffering humiliation.”

“I knew Jiyun Mountain wouldn't let me go, so when I arrived in the capital of Sheng Shenzhou, I dared not leave my home for over half a year.”

“I had thought that after so much time, Jiyun Mountain's anger would have subsided and they wouldn't continue to pursue a small fry like me. However, shortly after arriving at Lihuo Island, I discovered people from Jiyun Mountain were chasing me. Fortunately, I received a warning, which prevented Jiyun Mountain from daring to cause trouble on Lihuo Island.”

“However, before I entered the Divine Flame Region, I received reliable information that Jiyun Mountain had once again summoned the leaders of those four sects, instructing their forces to hunt me down within the Divine Flame Region.”

“I had initially thought that artifact-refining sects would prioritize finding the Divine Flame and wouldn't waste their time on me. However, it seems I was too optimistic. Jiyun Mountain is, after all, the largest sect in Shengzhou; they must have exerted considerable pressure on those four sects.”

Upon hearing these words, the Four Cauldrons Sect group became uncertain and suspicious. Were they implicated just like that?

The ten elders on the mountain exchanged glances. They had thought guarding this place would be tedious, but unexpectedly, sitting here, they were witnessing quite a spectacle and an unusual turn of events.

Meanwhile, Chu Jingtang and his group secretly exchanged glances, covertly casting an extra glance at Tong Mingshan.

Xu Anchang frowned deeply in thought. Suddenly, he lifted his gaze, staring intently into Shi Chun's eyes, and asked, “Why were you two with Senior Brother Feng?”

Shi Chun suddenly raised an eyebrow and retorted, “What do you mean?”

Xu Anchang waved a hand reassuringly. “Don't overthink it. I just want to know: Senior Brother Feng was at odds with you, so why were he with you, and why would he even help you?”

Shi Chun took a deep breath and said, “Because while we were searching around in the air, we discovered traces of the Divine Flame. We originally intended to find you, but happened to see him on the way. Wanting to ease relations, we went to speak with him. I never expected something like this to happen.”

As soon as these words were uttered, the group instantly put Feng Yaoyang's death aside for a moment. Xu Anchang urgently asked, “Brother Chun, did you truly discover traces of the Divine Flame?”

Not only them, but even the ten elders on the mountain instantly perked up, gazing eagerly at Shi Chun.

All ten of them had entered the Divine Flame Region in the previous session and had fortunately obtained Divine Flame, deeply understanding how difficult it was to find. They never expected this group to have made such a discovery so soon after entering.

It should be noted that each time the Divine Flame Covenant opens, at most around a hundred people gain something, and often only a few dozen have that fortune.

It's not an exaggeration to call it a one-in-a-thousand chance.

Among the Four Cauldrons Sect group, some were especially excited: Feng Yaoyang was dead, so who would now get the chance to absorb the Divine Flame?

Chu Jingtang and his group, however, were quiet, truly unsure how their boss intended to conclude this lie.

Shi Chun calmly stated, “I can't guarantee it's Divine Flame, but it's certainly possible we've found its location.”

Xu Anchang looked at everyone, then at the ten elders on the mountain. He immediately extended his hand and said, “Brother Chun, may I have a word with you privately?”

He also waved at You Mu, indicating for him to come along.

Shi Chun didn't resist and followed him, flashing over to a slightly lower peak.

Away from others, Xu Anchang asked in a low voice, “Did you truly find traces of the Divine Flame?”

Shi Chun replied, “Brother Xu, I feel like something's off with you. We both know why we're here, so why do you keep questioning me?”

Xu Anchang responded, “Isn't this me trying to confirm with you? Did you really find Divine Flame?”

Shi Chun said, “Whether it's Divine Flame or not, I don't know. But in that magma area, I saw an abnormal red light pulsating. Now I ask you, do you think it's Divine Flame?”

Xu Anchang asked, “Do you still remember where it is, and can you still find it?”

Shi Chun scoffed, “Nonsense! How could I not remember such an important place clearly? Let's call everyone and go see; then we'll know.”

Hearing this, Xu Anchang was silent for a moment. He then looked at You Mu and asked, “If it truly is the Divine Flame, what should we do?”

You Mu frowned, saying nothing.

Shi Chun retorted, “What else can be done? With so many of you, couldn't someone else absorb it? If you don't, I have three others on my side who can, and they're probably eagerly hoping for the chance. Didn't you see the resentful looks they gave me just now? If you don't go investigate, then I'll have to take them.”

Xu Anchang added, “If Tong Mingshan absorbs the Divine Flame, he wouldn't even give up the chance to participate in the competition once we're out, would he?”

Shi Chun remained silent.

Xu Anchang continued, “We don't demand that he listen to you indefinitely. But if he can win the championship in the competition for a period after we leave, surely with your capabilities, influencing him for a short time wouldn't be a problem? That would be enough for us to act and conveniently get what we need. As for his future, it's not important.”

Shi Chun hesitated, “If that's the case, it should be fine. He knows I have a good relationship with Young Master Nan, so he probably wouldn't dare to act rashly in the short term. Tong Mingshan would certainly be happy to absorb the Divine Flame, but have you considered, with so many people in your Four Cauldrons Sect, is it appropriate to give this opportunity to an outsider? There are also seven people among you who aren't on our side; they would never agree.”

Xu Anchang said indifferently, “Since things have come to this, it's simple: let them disappear completely!”

Shi Chun raised a hand to his forehead, remaining silent. The other person had said everything he wanted to say; what else could he add?

If the other party hadn't said those words, he would have found a way to say them. Since the other party had said them, he didn't need to.