Chapter 343: Shi Chun Is Not Dead

Wu Jinliang could completely understand this point. This place was different from the Skyfall Meteorite Gathering; it was entirely the private reserve of the artifact refinement world. Unless absolutely necessary, no one wanted to clash directly with the major sects of the artifact refinement world.

Being chased like a helpless grandchild all this time, without a way to fight back, was precisely the problem.

Now, no matter what they did, they couldn't escape; they were always caught. Even using the fire bat traps didn't shake off their pursuers. They couldn't just keep running endlessly without sleep.

After a moment of thought, Wu Jinliang sighed, "Chun, I don't object to taking action. Winning or losing is one thing, but as you said, the smaller sects are easy to deal with. With Young Master Nan's backing, they can't cause any trouble. However, those from the major artifact refinement sects are truly difficult to touch. Regardless of winning or losing, we'll be in deep trouble. Isn't it like how you were beaten by Shudaoshan yet still shamelessly offered benefits to seek their cooperation? That Hei Hu could lead a team here, so he's clearly a highly skilled disciple of the Extreme Flame Sect. If we kill him and provoke the Extreme Flame Sect, can we even get out of here? Given Shudaoshan's current situation, they might not escape easily. If they fall into the hands of the other side, they'll likely sell us out for self-preservation. We probably can't count on their help at the exit."

The fact that he could say such things indicated that he was clear about certain matters in his heart.

This wasn't like when they first emerged from the Land of Exile. They had spent a long time in the capital of Sheng Shenzhou, associating with Young Master Nan and his group for quite a while.

Shi Chun said, "If we are truly cornered, Shudaoshan is very likely to betray us, but they won't do so easily. Unless they can silence us, it would be difficult for their elder to explain their involvement at the exit to the artifact refinement world."

Wu Jinliang said, "Chun, I know you have a plan, and I don't want to ask too many questions about what you're not revealing. But right now, it's not just Shudaoshan that knows you have the secret method to find divine fire. All the major sects of the artifact refinement world know about it. How could they easily let this go? How will you handle things once we're out?"

Shi Chun, standing in the wind, gave a dismissive smile. "They call the shots here, but once we're out, it won't be up to them."

Wu Jinliang sighed, "The problem is how we're going to get out now. The secret method for finding divine fire is widely known. The elders at the exit won't just stand by; they'll definitely want a result before they're satisfied. Jin Guiqi of Shudaoshan alone can't stop them. I don't believe you don't understand this."

Shi Chun reached out and patted his shoulder, revealing a mysterious yet humble smile. "Previously, I did rely on Shudaoshan, but circumstances change. Don't worry, I've found a better candidate. As long as we survive until the end of the gathering, someone will get us out. It shouldn't be a big problem."

So confident? Wu Jinliang couldn't help but ask, "Who?"

Shi Chun patted his shoulder in reply, but didn't reveal the person's identity.

Alright, it was the usual rule: if the other party didn't want to say something for now, Wu Jinliang wouldn't press further. Although he had his doubts, he was used to it. There was nothing he could do; this was the style of their leader.

However, thinking that they had no more worries, his mood brightened considerably. He instinctively reached back to touch the large gourd on his back, recalling how he had instantly killed two advanced martial arts disciples from Shudaoshan back in the ice plains. A look of anticipation even appeared on his face as he chuckled, "If the other side doesn't have any powerful artifacts, we're not without a fighting chance."

Shi Chun said, "We still need to think things through as thoroughly as possible. If we can leave no one alive, that would be best, then no one can prove we did it."

Wu Jinliang's eyes lit up at these words. This was no longer a question of whether they could win, but whether they could wipe out everyone on the other side. Just hearing it boosted morale.

As he spoke, Shi Chun patted Wu Jinliang's back again. "We now have three people at the Dacheng realm, and one at the Human Immortal realm. Let's go discuss this with everyone."

So, the two quickly crept back...

On a flat mountaintop, as if the peak had been sliced off by a sword, one could look down from a high vantage point across the four fields, as if able to pluck stars from the sky. This was what Li Hongjiu called a good spot.

After the three factions landed, they each took a position, confronting each other with Li Hongjiu, Gu Lianni, and Zuo Zisheng at the center.

Zuo Zisheng, who had been pondering and weighing his options all the way, was like a silent gourd, still deep in thought. He hadn't come to a definite conclusion with his fellow disciples on the way.

Ultimately, he was still somewhat wary of Li Hongjiu. That man was just too confident, wasn't he? It was intimidating.

Crucially, with the sect's instructions fresh in his mind, he was indeed a bit intimidated.

Without the sect's warning, they would have acted to solve the problem long ago.

Li Hongjiu watched him with interest. Seeing the other party's attitude, he had already guessed the reason. He probably heard some rumors about himself. Otherwise, with the confidence of the Heaven Refining Sect, whose disciples were usually arrogant, why would they be so hesitant? This clearly showed they had misgivings.

Gu Lianni was even less anxious, looking from one to the other.

Alright, Zuo Zisheng finally realized that everyone was watching him. He glanced around; without so many outsiders present, compromising wouldn't be embarrassing, and suffering a loss from acting wouldn't mean others could take advantage.

Finally, settling his mind to face Li Hongjiu's demands, he retorted, "Mr. Li, why should I agree to your terms?"

Li Hongjiu burst out laughing. "You're an interesting kid. One thing in front of people, another entirely when their backs are turned. If you weren't going to agree, you should have said so earlier; you had me running around, playing games. I'll say it again: since there's a good way to find divine fire, I don't want too much. For these nephews and nieces who came with me, one divine fire each is enough, no less. This is just a small gesture from me as their martial uncle, so they didn't come here for nothing."

The disciples of the Yanbao Sect were secretly moved and grateful by these words, realizing that this martial uncle was actually quite reliable as a person.

Zuo Zisheng opened his arms and gestured to the strong forces behind him, "Why should I give them to you?"

Li Hongjiu's smile remained unchanged. "The matters here are easy to resolve. The real trouble lies between our sects outside. Our conflict could lead to a major clash between our two factions, resulting in countless casualties, which is not what I want. That's why I'm not keen on fighting and killing. Right now, it's easy to talk, and things are easy to handle. Your Heaven Refining Sect would still get a share of the benefits. But if we really start fighting, well, once the fighting begins, it won't involve your Heaven Refining Sect anymore. Do you believe that once I make a move, at such close range, you won't even have a chance to use your artifacts?"

Wow, the disciples of the Yanbao Sect's eyes lit up. They already knew how powerful their martial uncle was, but they didn't expect him to be *this* powerful. Would the Heaven Refining Sect's forces truly not even get a chance to make a move once he acted?

It was also the first time they had heard their usually nonchalant martial uncle utter such domineering words. It was completely unlike his usual style, as if he had become a different person. This was more like someone serious about business.

What they didn't know was that their martial uncle was deliberately trying to intimidate Zuo Zisheng.

As soon as these words were spoken, Zuo Zisheng's internal alarm bells went off, and his face froze.

The faces of the Heaven Refining Sect group tensed up. They instinctively reached for their weapons, some already holding artifacts in readiness.

Xu Anchong and You Mu, mixed among them, exchanged glances.

Gu Lianni's group was also surprised. They had naturally heard about the Yanbao Sect's leader, but the weight of Li Hongjiu's words exceeded their imagination. Was it true or false?

Zuo Zisheng, his face tense, said, "Are you threatening us?"

Li Hongjiu pointed at his nose. "You're being unreasonable, kid. It's not your property, nor has it fallen into your hands. Everyone is trying to get it from Shudaoshan, but you're acting like we're robbing your own family's possessions. I'll ask one last time: Will you agree or not? If you refuse, I'll take Shudaoshan's people and leave. If your Heaven Refining Sect dares to try and rob us, you can try."

Zuo Zisheng said in a deep voice, "Shudaoshan and my Heaven Refining Sect have already formed an alliance. So, who is truly robbing whom?"

"Alliance? Why haven't I seen it?" Li Hongjiu chuckled, then turned to ask Gu Lianni, "Miss Gu, who do you wish to ally with?"

Even a fool would know to stay neutral now. Gu Lianni blinked repeatedly and said, "The three major sects have no grudges against each other, and I don't wish to offend anyone. This is between you two. Just sort it out yourselves; don't make a woman like me decide."

Zuo Zisheng gave her a cold glance.

"Alright, no more rambling, I'm impatient with this," Li Hongjiu waved his hand and pointed at the large group from the Heaven Refining Sect. "Let's be direct. A fight will solve the problem more easily than talking sense. Big fight or small fight, you choose. For a big fight, everyone charges in until a winner is decided. For a small fight, be more amicable; send anyone to duel me. If they can survive for ten counts after the fight begins, I lose, and we'll immediately turn and leave, never mentioning this again. If you lose, the same applies."

At these words, the Heaven Refining Sect's side fell silent. Should they all attack, or send one person? If it was the latter, ten counts would decide life or death – who would dare?

The Heaven Refining Sect was not without hot-headed individuals. Seeing their side fall silent, their faces filled with reluctance and unspoken words, they truly wanted to jump out and shout, "I'll do it!", were it not for the responsibility they couldn't bear.

Zuo Zisheng suddenly said, "Let's discuss this."

Disregarding whether Li Hongjiu agreed, he led a few core disciples deeper into his own group. In the instant he turned, a murderous glint flashed in Zuo Zisheng's eyes.

After the core members gathered to confer, Zuo Zisheng quietly asked, "They are being so aggressive. What do you all think?"

Someone said indignantly, "If he really had that kind of ability, would he waste time talking nonsense with us like this? I don't believe it!"

Another person said, "It's hard to say. According to rumors, this guy's character is indeed different from ordinary people; he can't be judged by common sense. Without some real ability, he wouldn't dare to be so provocative, would he?"

Seeing that they were just going back and forth with the same indecision as during their journey, unable to get the answer he wanted, Zuo Zisheng directly proposed, "We can agree for now. Then, we can instruct someone from his faction to launch a sneak attack to test his true strength. If he's just putting on a show, we can kill him!"

Everyone's eyes lit up upon hearing this; they all thought it was a good plan.

The outer disciples standing closer by also looked relieved, finding a way to console themselves.

So, Zuo Zisheng returned to Li Hongjiu and loudly declared, "Alright, as Mr. Li says, my Heaven Refining Sect will concede a step and let each disciple of your Yanbao Sect have one."

*Clap!* Li Hongjiu clapped his hands, cheerfully saying, "There, it's settled! Isn't it better to avoid a fight that could lead to irreconcilable feuds between two sects?"

Then he turned and waved to Gu Lianni, saying, "Miss Gu, alright, go ahead and use your secret method to lead us to the divine fire."

Gu Lianni was internally speechless. She genuinely hadn't expected these two factions not to fight, or that the problem would be resolved so easily. She never thought the Heaven Refining Sect would back down so readily. What about the reputation of the number one sect?

Then she blurted out a shocking statement: "Shi Chun isn't dead."

"What?" Zuo Zisheng frowned.

"What do you mean?" Li Hongjiu asked, stunned.

Gu Lianni sighed, "Actually, I don't possess the secret method for locating divine fire. Even if I did, it would be impossible to cooperate with the Bright Mountain Sect on this. You must all be aware of this, Brother Zuo; that traitor Yan Ketao should have told you. The secret method is in Shi Chun's hands. He is responsible for finding the divine fire, and our Shudaoshan is responsible for sealing it with the Lock Yuan Array. That's how our cooperation works. Shi Chun is too alert. When the Extreme Flame Sect surrounded us earlier, he noticed something was wrong and ran. I regret not listening to him; that's why I was left behind."

Zuo Zisheng said gravely, "Gu Lianni, spare me this act. Don't think I don't know that your Lock Yuan Array collapsed when you faced the ice dragon."

Gu Lianni turned her head to look at Yuan Yao. The latter understood, and with a flick of his wrist, the complete Lock Yuan Array clanged into existence before everyone's eyes.