Chapter 289: Identical

It wasn't Shudao Mountain that wanted to stop, but rather the people from Liantian Sect who had grown impatient. They had been following them in circles repeatedly. "How much longer will this go on?" they thought. "Are we being led around like dogs?"

The group from Liantian Sect all wore dark red robes. Their leader, Zuo Zisheng, had a short mustache and a sharp, capable look. He often had his sleeves rolled up, revealing his forearms.

It was Zuo Zisheng who, having reached his limit, called a halt and reprimanded, "Gu Lianni, how much longer will you lead us in circles?"

Shudao Mountain had claimed they found an ice dragon with five divine flames. Unable to secure it themselves, they had invited Liantian Sect to join forces, offering them three of the flames.

The temptation of acquiring three divine flames at once was irresistible, so they had rushed there.

Now, it seemed they had been deluded. How could such a good thing as multiple divine flames gathered in one place possibly exist?

Gu Lianni explained, "I don't know what happened. This place used to be a plain, but for some unknown reason, it's become a continuous ice mountain range. It's truly inconceivable. Brother Zuo, look, this ice mountain is clearly different from ordinary ice mountains; the ice is exceptionally transparent..."

Zuo Zisheng raised a hand to stop her. "We're not here to sightsee with you," he stated. "And I don't believe you can't even find the location. Where is this ice dragon you spoke of?"

Gu Lianni forced a bitter smile. "Brother Zuo, please have a little more patience," she said. "We still need to search further."

Zuo Zisheng scowled, his eyes cold. "Gu Lianni, where are the rest of your people? Why haven't they been seen? You're not intentionally delaying us so that others can proceed, are you?"

Gu Lianni sighed, "Brother Zuo, you're overthinking this. How long could such a delay possibly last?"

Zuo Zisheng cast a sidelong glance at her, then suddenly mounted his Windscale and soared into the sky. From above, he projected his voice loudly, "Let's go!"

A group of Liantian Sect disciples immediately followed him into the air.

Gu Lianni urgently called out, "Brother Zuo, I'm absolutely not lying! There truly is an ice dragon here..."

"Tell me when you've found it; we're leaving!" Zuo Zisheng declared, and without further ado, he led his group away swiftly. There were only forty-nine days, and time was precious.

The remaining group from Shudao Mountain looked at each other, not knowing what to do.

Pang Hou ran to Gu Lianni's side. "Martial Aunt, there's no mistake," he said. "I found the initial formation setup location, and I retraced the path following the traces. This is it. For some unknown reason, this plain suddenly transformed into a continuous mountain range. After we left, something must have happened here, and I wonder if it's related to that ice dragon."

Gu Lianni gritted her teeth. "No matter what changes have occurred, we must find the formation artifacts of the Yuan-Locking Array," she declared. "Otherwise, what will we do later? Those divine flames aren't flowers waiting to be picked. If we end up playing hide-and-seek with them, even with many people, we'll be in trouble. As the saying goes, 'to do a good job, one must first sharpen one's tools.' We must find them!"

Both Pang Hou and Yuan Yao looked at the continuous ice mountain range. They certainly wanted to find them, but the problem was how to search such a vast mountain range that towered into the clouds.

Gu Lianni knew it would be difficult to find, but she still insisted, "Everyone, first estimate the approximate location. Then, cast spells to melt the ice and burrow beneath the ice mountains to search."

Yuan Yao said, "Martial Aunt, once we're down there, the melted ice water will quickly refreeze. We won't be able to melt stable passages. Our movements underground will be extremely slow, and if we continue like this, our cultivation levels won't be able to sustain it."

Pang Hou also added, "Indeed. If we can't find them for a long time, are we expected to spend the entire duration of the Divine Flame Realm's opening here?"

Gu Lianni retorted, "Then what do you suggest? Are we to remain stuck here indefinitely?"

Yuan Yao replied, "Something significant must have happened here. I wonder if Shi Chun and his group saw anything."

Gu Lianni gnashed her teeth in hatred. "So what if he saw it?" she spat. "Can he go down and help us find the Yuan-Locking Array artifacts? Don't mention him to me again! If that bastard ever falls into my hands, I'll make sure he suffers a fate worse than death!"

Thinking of Shi Chun, she recalled how Yuan Yao couldn't dissuade her, how she had sworn a solemn oath on her father, and how her entire team had suffered death or severe injury after she was deceived. She was so furious she felt like spitting blood.

She truly couldn't understand why she had been so foolish. The entire cultivation world knew that person was a swindler, and even though she knew he couldn't be trusted, she had almost made herself cry from her own stupidity.

Yuan Yao suddenly said, "Martial Aunt, anger aside, we have to admit that Shi Chun's 'lure the tiger away from its mountain lair' method for stealing our divine flames was effective. Although he ultimately failed, his failure was critically due to Elder Jin reminding us. If we hadn't rushed back in time, he would have succeeded."

Gu Lianni paused, then hesitantly asked, "Are you suggesting we imitate their method?"

Yuan Yao replied, "I'm afraid it won't be easy to imitate. We know of more potential divine flame locations than just the ice plain. The key is how Shi Chun, without the Yuan-Locking Array artifacts, managed to catch the divine flames on the ice plain. My point is, with such an effective method, would he only use it once?"

Gu Lianni's eyes lit up slightly. "You mean, stake out the exit?"

Yuan Yao replied, "Exactly. If we see them using the same trick again, we can follow the clues and catch Shi Chun. As long as we can figure out his method for finding divine flames, we can compensate for the loss of our Yuan-Locking Array artifacts. Of course, we can't place all our hopes on them; what if they don't do it again? Wouldn't that be a waste of time? So, we can send a portion of our people to secretly stake out while the others still need to rush to the next divine flame hotspot to find a solution."

The anxiety on Gu Lianni's face gradually disappeared. She looked him up and down with great admiration, thinking to herself, "No wonder Father said he was originally the most suitable leader."

Pang Hou also expressed his approval, "Martial Aunt, this is certainly worth a try."

Gu Lianni said, "Alright, you personally lead a few people to keep an eye on them. Be absolutely cautious and don't alert them prematurely."

Pang Hou cupped his hands and accepted the order.

So, the matter was settled. Pang Hou departed with three people, while the rest followed Gu Lianni, hurrying to the next divine flame hotspot recorded by their sect.

Dawn broke, and the various suns, large and small, once again appeared on the horizon.

Not too far from the Iron Forest, the sealing stones were pushed aside, and a refreshed Tong Mingshan emerged. In the adjacent cave, An Wuzhi, who had been sitting cross-legged holding two clusters of Ice Blight, immediately stood up and slipped to the entrance. Unable to go outside with the divine flames in his hands, he excitedly asked, "Brother Sect Master, how has your cultivation improved?"

Chen Wuji, who had been keeping watch on the mountain, also jumped down, equally curious and eager to know.

Tong Mingshan was also somewhat excited. "My cultivation hasn't advanced too much," he said, "I'm still at the Great Perfection of High Martial. However, my Fire Essence realm should now be equivalent to the Minor Completion of Human Immortal."

An Wuzhi said with an envious look, "Your Fire Essence realm is sufficient; future cultivation breakthroughs won't be an issue."

As he spoke, he presented the two divine flames in his hands. "These must be entrusted to you for safekeeping," he said. "I'm going to find the Big Boss."

Both Tong Mingshan and Zhu Xiangxin had absorbed two divine flames, but he had only absorbed one. He was already impatient to find the Big Boss.

As soon as Tong Mingshan took the flames, An Wuzhi immediately ran off. Chen Wuji frowned slightly, feeling that An Wuzhi seemed to have forgotten Shi Chun's instructions.

Approximately three hours later, Zhu Xiangxin also emerged from seclusion.

Zhu Xiangxin, having emerged from seclusion, was also very excited and immediately wanted to find the Big Boss.

However, Chen Wuji stopped him. "Xiangxin," he said, "the Big Boss gave instructions earlier. He wants you to stay and guard these two divine flames after you emerge, and for Tong Mingshan to join the team's actions. The Big Boss wanted to make it clear, saying there's nothing to hide. He said this is a grand event for the artifact-refining profession, and the Sect Master must be prioritized. After leaving, the Sect Master must also participate in winning the championship and give an explanation to the person who brought us in. The Big Boss said that anyone with objections is allowed to withdraw; there's no compulsion!"

Zhu Xiangxin froze. Although he seemed to have something to say but held back, he ultimately took the two divine flames from Tong Mingshan.

There was nothing to be done; he still had no choice. Withdrawing would be useless on his own. If he sought refuge with another sect, and they found divine flames, their own members wouldn't have enough to distribute, let alone outsiders.

By honestly obeying, he still had a chance.

Besides, he also knew that An Wuzhi had only absorbed one, so if there were more, it wouldn't be his turn for now.

Tong Mingshan offered a bitter smile and an apology, then cupped his hands in farewell, retreated a few steps, and finally turned and flew away.

Chen Wuji, who had been watching him leave, turned back to Zhu Xiangxin, also forcing a bitter smile. "I'll stay with you and continue keeping watch," he said.

On the vast loess wilderness, there were numerous large, scab-like pits. These pits were filled with strangely shaped pillars: some like bamboo shoots, some like mushrooms, some like snakes, and some like earthen forts. A myriad of bizarre, twisted forms filled the landscape.

From time to time, dust clouds drifted over the wilderness, rising from occasional underground collapses that created holes.

A group of people moved through the landscape, searching.

Some of the twisted earthen pillars would collapse if someone landed on them while flying past, or even with just a touch, causing plumes of dust to rise.

A group of people dressed in blue robes were hidden behind a slope, secretly observing the activities of others in a large pit. These blue-robed individuals were, in fact, from Qianyan Sect.

A gust of wind stirred up a sweeping cloud of dust. Gong Shixi, the leader, quickly turned his head and said in a deep voice to those beside him, "Now! Be careful, go!"

Two men immediately used the cover of the dust to slip into the large pit.

Gong Shixi raised a hand to signal, "Withdraw!"

He led his group to quickly retreat and hide in a nearby pit.

Before long, a cry of alarm rang out: "Divine flame! Stop them, don't let them escape!"

Soon, a group of people ascended into the sky, rapidly chasing two men riding Windscales. One of the men was holding a pale purple flame in his hand.

After those people had gone far away, the entire group from Qianyan Sect emerged. Gong Shixi watched the figures disappear into the distance, then waved his hand and said, "What are we waiting for? Search freely!"

A group of people immediately flew into those pits to search.

There was a cave on the mountainside near the exit. For convenient observation, the cautious Wu Jinliang had already modified the observation point. He had dug the cave directly to the mountaintop and then opened small openings in all directions, which were not easily noticed but allowed for convenient observation of the surroundings.

After sufficient rest, and with nothing else to do, Lao Changtai and Fang Zicheng pestered Wu Jinliang to tell stories. After he finished recounting the tales of acquiring divine flames, they asked him to tell stories about the Land of Exile.

Wu Jinliang was in the middle of eloquently describing the "Ice Sheep" when Lao Changtai, who had occasionally been looking out the window, suddenly waved his hand to interrupt him. "Someone's coming," he said.

The other two immediately squeezed in, one on each side, to observe.

Seeing two people land in front of the ten elders on the mountaintop, one of whom was holding a pale purple flame, Lao Changtai couldn't help but chuckle. This scene was all too familiar; it wasn't the first time he'd witnessed it, only the people involved were different.