Chapter 296: Misunderstanding Resolved

A monster so terrifyingly powerful died from an upset stomach. What kind of nonsense is that?

Surprisingly, this most absurd explanation left Gu Lianni and Yuan Yao looking at each other calmly, neither questioning nor attempting to refute it.

If they themselves found it ridiculous and unreasonable, what was there to question or refute?

Most importantly, the two of them likely knew why the sixth divine flame emerged from the Ice Dragon's stomach. When they were chased by the Ice Dragon, Yuan Yao discarded the Ice Blaze in his hand to escape, and the Ice Dragon went after that Ice Blaze, allowing them to get away.

What puzzled Shi Chun, they were well aware of.

They surmised this was the origin of the sixth divine flame, and as for why the six divine flames repelled each other, only heaven knew.

It was truly unbelievable that the terrifying Ice Dragon died due to the mutual repulsion of the six divine flames, causing it to explode.

To some extent, did they perhaps kill the Ice Dragon after all?

Conversely, if the situation was true, then they had indeed misunderstood Shi Chun earlier.

After a long pause, seeing no reaction from her two junior nephews, Gu Lianni finally spoke, "Shi Chun, is this your explanation to us?"

"If you truly don't believe me, there's nothing I can do," Shi Chun sighed, then added with a puzzled expression, "Honestly, I really don't understand what you're thinking. According to our cooperation agreement, you even promised not to compete with us for first place and to yield it to us. This clearly benefits us, so how could you think we're trying to deceive you?

If deception were intended, it would be more valuable for you to deceive us, wouldn't it? I'm baffled. The moment something unusual happened, you indiscriminately concluded we were tricking you, not even giving us a chance to explain. I've never seen people like you. Tell me, we've had no past grievances, so why do you hold such deep prejudices against us?"

These words prompted a brief self-reflection among the group; it did seem that way, and their prejudices were indeed very deep.

Gu Lianni snorted, "Don't you know your own reputation?"

Shi Chun retorted, "What about me? What reputation? Have I oppressed men and women, or committed all sorts of evil deeds?"

Pang Hou said, "Blame yourself. At the Heavenly Rain Meteorite Assembly, you gravely deceived those sects from Sheng Shenzhou. Don't you know? You're known for your trickery."

Shi Chun countered again, "So, for this Divine Flame Alliance competition, your esteemed sect intends to compete honorably, without vying or seizing, relying solely on luck? If you're going to use every means to compete, then what's wrong with me doing the same? Why do you blame me? Why do you hold prejudices against me, simply because I won and others lost?"

Seizing the opportunity, he naturally had to defend himself and try his best to clear his name.

Gu Lianni and the other two were left speechless. In truth, after this calm exchange, they had gradually recognized their mistakes.

Shi Chun continued without pause, "At the Heavenly Rain Meteorite Assembly, millions competed. What meager abilities did I, Shi Chun, possess? It was merely the turbulent undercurrents that brought me to the surface.

The complexities behind it are beyond what outsiders can imagine. For instance, in the final battle, when I fought a disciple from the Suyuan Sect, someone dared to make an illegal move against me in plain sight, forcing me back.

You don't see what it means to oppress with power, where right and wrong yield to a blade held at your throat, forcing you to concede.

What you see is only what others want you to see, and what you hear is the same.

How can you know how brazen some people were in concealing the truth? After the assembly, they arbitrarily arrested people and coerced them to distort the facts, forcing one sect after another to bow their heads and remain silent.

When they lost, they slandered me with countless accusations, branding me a traitor, and I couldn't even defend myself. If I had lost, it would have been their prowess, and I, Shi Chun, would have been useless and deserving of it. Even if they pillaged, killed, and committed all sorts of evils, it would have been dismissed with a casual remark, not a single word mentioned by anyone.

Why? Isn't it simply because they are numerous and powerful, deciding what's right or wrong, while I am weak and alone, unable to defend myself even with a hundred mouths?

Where is divine justice? Where is fairness? How innocent and wronged am I, Shi Chun?

Tong Mingshan and the other eleven, belonging to eleven different sects, followed me during the Heavenly Rain Meteorite Assembly. Afterward, they were forced out of their sects. Who has such immense power to compel eleven sects to expel their disciples simultaneously? Then they were forcibly imprisoned and subjected to inhumane torture for more than half a year before I managed to get them out.

You all say how bad I am, are they all fools? Why are they still willing to follow me to this day? Because they personally experienced the Heavenly Rain Meteorite Assembly; they are the ones who truly know the truth, not those who merely repeat what others say."

With only him speaking now, Gu Lianni and the other two had grave expressions. They could feel the ruthlessness and ferocity of the turmoil behind his words and realized how ignorant and narrow-minded their own prejudices were, truly just following the crowd.

Acknowledging their mistake inwardly didn't mean they would abandon their interests. Gu Lianni suddenly cleared her throat. "Alright, stop rambling about useless things. Our initial cooperation agreement can continue. According to our agreement, you've already obtained three divine flames, and the remaining two should be ours."

Shi Chun replied, "Firstly, these five divine flames were not obtained through our cooperation. The Mingshan Sect acquired them independently after you broke off the partnership, so there's no reason to share them with you. Secondly, we intended to give them to you before, but you insisted we were deceiving you and refused them. Now you're wavering back and forth—where in the world would you find such a good deal?

Those two Ice Blazes are no longer part of the cooperation. Now that we're resuming our partnership, distribution will naturally begin from the next divine flame. According to the agreement, the next one is yours."

Pang Hou grew anxious. "Shi Chun, you show no sincerity in cooperating."

Shi Chun asked, "Is that my fault? Who was it that indiscriminately messed things up, attacking us when they felt like it, and demanding a share whenever they wished? If we keep acting so wantonly, doing whatever we please, with others bearing the cost and ourselves reaping all the benefits, how can we continue to cooperate? If it were you, would you agree to that?"

Yuan Yao said, "Shi Chun, you killed two disciples from my Shudao Mountain. We haven't settled that score with you yet."

Shi Chun retorted, "Can you blame us for that? You were the ones who first ordered the attack. Were we supposed to just stand there and let ourselves be killed? If it were you, would you not fight back?"

Gu Lianni countered, "Five divine flames, and you intend to take them all, not giving us a single one? Do you think such cooperation is appropriate? My Shudao Mountain disciples suffered heavy losses. No matter how much of a misunderstanding it was, it's still connected to you. Your failure to clarify the situation led to our losses, and you must compensate us with divine flames!"

Shi Chun exclaimed, "Gu Lianni, you're quite good at counting, aren't you? Five? Does the one I gave you earlier not count? From the very beginning, I gave you one to show my sincerity, yet you immediately turned around and tried to attack us. Now you're openly reneging, claiming we never gave you a single one.

Forget it, stop right there. With your capricious and fickle nature, I'm afraid. I see no further need for cooperation. If you want to fight, then let's fight. Today, we'll decide who wins and who loses. The living will leave, and the dead will accept their fate and lie here quietly!"

After speaking, he showed no intention of lingering. Taking advantage of the trio's unpreparedness, he flashed back to his own group.

What a joke. He could have given it before, but now he had the strength to resist, and they had caused him to expose the Qianyan Sect's side; how could he just give it away for free?

He had always been assessing the situation and adapting accordingly.

Given the nature of these artifact crafters, he didn't believe they would easily give up two readily available divine flames once they saw them.

Gu Lianni and the other two were somewhat stunned. Only after Shi Chun's words did they recall the divine flame that had been discarded by this side.

Anyone with eyes could see that Shi Chun had just had an argument with Gu Lianni's group. Thus, as soon as Shi Chun returned, Xu Anchang immediately asked, "What's the situation?"

Shi Chun didn't answer him. He activated a spell and declared loudly, "Gu Lianni, the misunderstanding has been resolved. We owe you nothing. Immediately withdraw your Shudao Mountain forces. Don't force us to act!"

As soon as these words were spoken, all weapons on both sides were immediately raised—a subconscious reaction.

Gu Lianni and the other two did not rush over or make any immediate response. Instead, they huddled together, whispering.

After a while, the trio flashed back.

Gu Lianni then announced loudly to everyone, "Shi Chun, since the misunderstanding has been resolved, let bygones be bygones. Our cooperation agreement remains valid. What do you say?"

The compromise was both the result of negotiation and a necessity imposed by the situation.

Firstly, Shi Chun's side clearly possessed strength. Leaving aside other factors, just the twenty blue-robed individuals dared to surround the Shudao Mountain forces upon command. Anyone would have to think twice, especially with Shi Chun's reverse provocation.

Secondly, there was the matter of their interests. Their Yuan-Locking Formation was gone, and finding divine flames would be difficult. While initiating conflict was easy, the consequences were uncertain. After discussion, they concluded that cooperating with Shi Chun's group would be more beneficial.

Furthermore, only through cooperation could they most easily get Shi Chun to hand over those two divine flames.

In short, regardless of the final outcome of the cooperation, they should first secure those two divine flames. Even if circumstances changed, they wouldn't suffer a loss.

Upon hearing this, Shi Chun countered, "Truly?"

Gu Lianni replied, "Do you think I would joke about my poisonous oath?"

You're not joking? Wu Jinliang's lips twitched. He subconsciously glanced at Pang Hou and found Pang Hou's somewhat guilty eyes also flickered towards him. Caught, Pang Hou quickly averted his gaze.

Shi Chun was not like Wu Jinliang; he would haggle over details that benefited cooperation but avoid those that hindered it. Calmly, he said, "In that case, first withdraw your Shudao Mountain forces to the side."

Gu Lianni immediately nodded to Yuan Yao, who promptly waved a few times, and the fifty or so Shudao Mountain forces immediately withdrew to a nearby distance.

The surrounding Qianyan Sect forces did not interfere; at Gong Shixi's signal, they also gathered to the side.

The Mingshan Sect group, led by Shi Chun, also put away their weapons.