Chapter 288: I Believe Them

After finishing up with the Thousand Crags Sect, Xu Anchun immediately led a group back to the Iron Forest. Although he didn't believe the Demonic Sect had a chance to win the championship, the pressure they exerted on him was no joke. If he appeared to slack off, he wouldn't be able to account for himself once the news got back.

Shi Chun also took Shen Momong with him from here. The task of tracking and spying along the way was still left to the people of the Four Cauldron Sect. En route, at Shi Chun's instruction, the Bright Mountain Sect group deliberately fell behind, temporarily shaking off Xu Anchun's group, and changed course to where Tong Mingshan and others were hiding. They didn't know when daybreak would come.

Upon arrival, Shi Chun and his group didn't see Tong Mingshan. Zhu Xiangxin had emerged from seclusion, and Tong Mingshan had taken his place to absorb the Ice Flame. They couldn't see Zhu Xiangxin either, because An Wuzhi had also emerged, and Zhu Xiangxin had gone back into seclusion. While other sects were busy searching for divine fire, the members of the Bright Mountain Sect were constantly busy absorbing it, going in circles with their rotations.

Seeing An Wuzhi holding two divine fires, Fang Zicheng was somewhat stunned. There was so much divine fire that there was nowhere to put it? An Wuzhi's demeanor had also changed. The joy of good fortune was clearly visible on him, and his smile never faded when he saw his companions arrive.

Wu Jinliang asked with a smile, "How does it feel to have absorbed the Ice Flame?"

An Wuzhi chuckled, imitating him. "My cultivation has broken through to the Grand Completion realm. Not just me, Tong Mingshan and Zhu Xiangxin have also reached the Grand Completion realm."

Chen Wuji, who was keeping watch here, seemed to have known this for a while and showed no reaction. Chu Jingting, Fang Zicheng, Shen Momong, and Hao Ji, however, exchanged glances.

While Wu Jinliang was casually chatting with An Wuzhi, Chu Jingting and the others gave Shi Chun a subtle hint. Shi Chun, understanding their intention, beckoned them aside to talk. Noticing this, Wu Jinliang immediately left An Wuzhi and went to join them. Seeing this, Chen Wuji also followed.

Once they reached a secluded spot and saw their hesitant expressions, Shi Chun asked, "What's wrong? Just say what's on your mind."

The others looked at each other, each subtly urging the other to speak first. Finally, the bearded Chu Jingting spoke up. "Boss, there's something we've been holding back for a long time, and we weren't sure whether to say it or not."

Shi Chun replied, "We're all brothers here. Speak freely."

Chu Jingting cautiously prompted him. "Before we entered the Divine Fire Domain, when we were at the Divine Fire Palace Inn and first heard the news about entering the Divine Fire Domain, we gathered in your room to discuss our entry. Do you remember that time, Boss?"

Shi Chun nodded. "Of course, I remember. What about it?"

Chu Jingting nudged Hao Ji with his elbow. Alright, Hao Ji reluctantly continued. "When we came out of your room, there was a woman in the corridor looking around suspiciously, as if searching for someone. After she saw Zhu Xiangxin, she suddenly called out, 'Senior Sister.'"

Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang exchanged glances.

When the others didn't continue for a while, Shi Chun asked, "And then? Just say what you want to say."

Shen Momong said, "Boss, we all recognize the robes of the Myriad Herbs Hall. The person who called Zhu Xiangxin 'Senior Sister' was from the Myriad Herbs Hall. This means that before entering the Divine Fire Domain, someone from the Myriad Herbs Hall found Zhu Xiangxin."

Fang Zicheng affirmed with a nod. "It's not just Zhu Xiangxin. We have reason to suspect that people from the Hundred Refinements Sect might have also sought out Tong Mingshan, and people from the Vermillion Bird Pavilion might have sought out An Wuzhi."

After listening quietly, Shi Chun asked, "Tell me your thoughts."

Chen Wuji said, "Now their cultivation has all broken through to Grand Completion of High Martial Arts."

Chu Jingting said, "Boss, there are some things we originally didn't want to say, but now that all three of them have absorbed the divine fire, it seems we can't keep silent any longer. I don't know if you can understand, Boss, though logically, with your intelligence, you should. Tong Mingshan, Zhu Xiangxin, and An Wuzhi, having absorbed the divine fire, are of immense significance to their respective sects. If their sects offer them great benefits, to be honest, Boss, once they leave the Divine Fire Domain, with cultivation levels higher than ours and the confidence to control divine fire, it's unlikely they'll still be willing to follow the same path as us."

Hao Ji sighed. "They're our own brothers, and we truly don't want to speak ill of them behind their backs. But some things could become very real. We took such great risks, helped them find divine fire, and helped them break through to the Grand Completion realm. If it all backfires in the end, how are we to bear it?"

Shi Chun calmly said, "If you had these thoughts, why didn't you say anything before entering the Divine Fire Domain?"

The others exchanged glances. Chu Jingting sighed. "Boss, how were we supposed to say anything about this? Initially, you said we were just coming in to look around. If there was nothing to do, what would have been the point of speaking up? But now, we really can't hold it in anymore."

Shi Chun asked, "Did you discuss this among yourselves privately?"

The others remained silent, indicating their affirmative.

After watching them for a moment, Shi Chun smiled and said to Wu Jinliang, "We thought they didn't know, but look, they're actually quite alert, smart, and understand everything in their hearts. They just chose to stay silent on the surface."

Wu Jinliang chuckled. "At the time, they all acted as if nothing was wrong, completely fooling me. They truly are the elites of various sects; they're excellent at pretending."

The others were stunned. Chu Jingting asked, "Since you knew, Boss, why did you still...?"

"How should I put this..." Shi Chun pondered for a moment before explaining. "Let's put it this way: when I was in the Land of Exile, I had a teacher. I greatly admired her wisdom, which was unconstrained by adversity. She once taught me that sometimes, by helping others succeed, you also help yourself succeed."

Wu Jinliang's smile faded, knowing who he was referring to. The woman who taught those children how to write, whose name they never learned even when they left. The woman who herself said, "Just call me 'Wind,'" a woman like the wind.

The other few exchanged glances. Chu Jingting said, "Boss, are you sure that helping them succeed will also mean helping ourselves succeed?"

Shi Chun said seriously, "Think about it: among us, if we have masters of artifact refining, alchemy, and such, wouldn't that be a tremendous help for our future?"

Chu Jingting questioned, "Boss, we understand the principle you're talking about. But what we're worried about is that so many of us are risking our lives for those three, only for it to be for nothing in the end!"

Shi Chun stated emphatically, "No, it won't. I believe in them, just as I believe in you. I believe none of you will betray us!"

This was all he could say. Some thoughts in his heart he would not tell them. Namely, if he dared to give, he had the ability to reclaim.

Wu Jinliang understood him. Though he didn't know what plans their boss had, he knew things weren't as simple as they seemed. Thus, he chuckled beside them.

Seeing their boss elevate them to the same level, what else could Chu Jingting and the others say? Could they say that they might betray him if they reached that point?

After observing their reactions, Shi Chun said, "Alright, I've noted what you've said. I'm making my stance clear now: since we're already here, we must work together, cooperate fully, and go all out to support those three!"

The group somewhat hesitantly agreed. What else could they do? Did they have a choice? Crucially, choosing anyone else wouldn't be any better; they'd still be forced to take risks and help.

Shi Chun then turned to Wu Jinliang and said, "The method of communication at the exit needs to change. We need to take it over and ensure the exit is under our control. Take someone else to the exit to replace the two from the Four Cauldron Sect. Let them go with Xu Anchun and his group to the Iron Forest to search for divine fire. If the five groups of trackers from the Four Cauldron Sect bring back news of divine fire, don't let them keep searching for us. Let them save their energy and continue tracking. You will take turns running errands to relay relevant information. If Wu Hong and Xiao Sheng have gone there, tell them to hand over the tracking to the Four Cauldron Sect and return to find me."

Wu Jinliang nodded. "Understood."

Shi Chun continued, "We don't know when the Thousand Crags Sect and the Valley of Forgetfulness will yield results. You personally stay at the exit and watch. If anyone, like us, brings divine fire and runs to Elder Ten to escape pursuit, it will definitely be related to those two sects. You must find a way to get the location of the stolen divine fire from the pursuing sects. Can you do that?"

Chu Jingting and the others muttered inwardly: *The pursuing sects have no relation to you. Is it appropriate to ask them for the incident location? Why would they tell you?*

To their surprise, Wu Jinliang directly patted his chest. "Easy, leave it to me." Then he turned to the group and asked, "Would anyone like to come with me to the exit area and keep watch with Lao Changtai?"

Everyone exchanged glances. They felt that if they kept stirring things up like this, even the exit area might not be safe anymore. Of course, with their current methods, being near Shi Chun was likely even more dangerous.

No one spoke up. Wu Jinliang didn't hesitate and directly picked Fang Zicheng to come with him. As for those who had previously experienced danger with Shi Chun and gained some experience, he left them with Shi Chun.

After Shi Chun gave some brief instructions, he left Chen Wuji to continue keeping watch, and took the others to the Iron Forest, continuing to follow Xu Anchun's group in their search for divine fire. Normally, Shi Chun wouldn't want to waste time by following them, but there was no choice; the three who practiced fire-attribute cultivation techniques were currently unavailable.

On the ice plains, the sky was once again blocked by dark clouds. The Summer Path Mountain group, numbering around fifty people, including both the unharmed and the injured, returned once again under the leadership of Gu Lianni. Only this time, they stood on the ice mountains above the dark clouds. Accompanying them were a full one hundred people from the Heaven Refining Sect, the foremost artifact-refining sect, brought by Gu Lianni.

It must be said, being able to find people so quickly in the vast Divine Fire Domain, the Summer Path Mountain group's search speed was astonishing. This was also because they had observed the Heaven Refining Sect's initial direction, even sending people to track them for a while. Afterwards, with a rough idea of their whereabouts, they spread out their search parties. Additionally, other sects they met along the way generally showed respect to the Summer Path Mountain group and were eager to provide information when asked, which helped them locate the sect quickly.

Although the reinforcements had arrived, the Summer Path Mountain group was bewildered. The plain seemed to have vanished; they searched everywhere but couldn't find it. In the end, they could only stand dumbfounded on the ice mountain.