Chapter 408: Three Incense Sticks

It was still the same old story: there was no choice.

And it was also the same old story: the allure of the divine flame was powerful enough for anyone involved in artifact refining.

So, with no opposition from his fellow disciples, Feng Zhuoyi agreed to let the sect decide the matter, which effectively meant he had agreed.

For the three brothers, the question of who would stay and who would leave was now the most difficult decision. Those who stayed would have the chance to absorb the divine flame, and how many could resist such a temptation?

Beyond that, everyone faced the threshold of breaking through to the Human Immortal realm. This threshold meant a complete metamorphosis, unlike anything before, and not everyone could cross it. However, the divine flame possessed a miraculous power that could easily guide people past that barrier.

From ancient times until now, anyone who had absorbed the divine flame had experienced no hindrance when breaking through to the Human Immortal realm; it was effortlessly achieved!

It was said that the more divine flame absorbed, the greater the benefit for breaking through subsequent realm thresholds.

Finally, Feng Zhuoyi made a decision that he wasn't sure was selfish or not: he would stay with two others, and once the Divine Flame Spiritual Gate opened, he would have his two junior brothers lead the other disciples away, sending a message along the way.

Xie Wantian and Chi Anlan didn't defy the order, but their agreement seemed somewhat reluctant.

Perhaps sensing their emotions, Feng Zhuoyi pulled them aside for a private word.

Seizing the opportunity, Wu Jinliang leaned closer to Shi Chun and whispered, "Tell them to also take a message to Xiang Lan'er. The more factions we have helping us, the better our chances of getting out."

He was suggesting that the power of the Demonic Path was not weak and was worth utilizing.

Shi Chun hummed in response, "Do they still need a message? Once a large number of people get out, they'll naturally know what's happening inside. If they're capable, they'll do their best to help us without us even asking. We don't need to get too involved in things they'll do on their own."

"Hmm..." Wu Jinliang pondered for a moment, thinking that was true. If their actions weren't connected, it would be less likely to attract unwanted attention. Still, he wondered, "Tell me, are we even considered part of *that* side?"

They had previously said they were part of the Demonic Path, but now he always felt a slight disconnect. Sometimes he felt he belonged to the Demonic Path, and other times he clearly felt he didn't.

He looked back at Gong Shixi and the other two who were being secretly watched, knowing what Shi Chun would do to them next.

He also knew that their leader probably couldn't bear to leave the Demonic Path. But with the leader's particular quirks, was it truly good for the Demonic Path if he didn't leave? Something about such a Demonic Path practitioner felt a bit off.

Shi Chun himself was a bit confused and mumbled, "Who cares which path it is? We'll go with whichever one is useful."

Alright, Wu Jinliang sighed, looking into the distance, unable to see clearly. With that said, damn it, he really felt his future was a bit uncertain.

Before long, Feng Zhuoyi had sorted things out. He handed two copies of the letter, one each, to Xie Wantian and Chi Anlan, who then departed with most of their fellow disciples.

Feng Zhuoyi, along with two fellow disciples, remained by Shi Chun's side.

Shi Chun then led everyone to yet another location, ensuring that even if Xie Wantian and the others wanted to return to find them, they wouldn't be able to.

After the group found another place to settle down, Shi Chun had someone dig a hole for him. Even at this point, digging a hole, only Wu Jinliang knew what he intended to do.

Avoiding the eyes and ears of Feng Zhuoyi and the others, Shi Chun threw the incapacitated Gong Shixi and the two others into the hole. Then he summoned the group from Mingshan Sect.

No one knew what their leader was up to now. In their current environment, it was rare for everyone to be squeezed into one hole like this. Outside, apart from Zhen'er, there wasn't even a proper lookout. Only Wu Hehei, known for his wide, blood-red mouth, occasionally peered out from the cave entrance.

Zhen'er had been tricked by Shi Chun, who told her she had been entrusted with the important task of standing guard. Zhen'er had agreed happily and solemnly, which was genuinely a bit difficult to watch.

Taking out a piece of sandalwood gold and sticking it to the wall for light, Shi Chun motioned to the crowd, inviting Tong Mingshan, An Wuzhi, and Zhu Xiangxin to step forward.

The three exchanged silent glances, all uncertain of the situation.

The cave was not dug wide enough, so others were either squeezed together or stood with arms around each other's shoulders, all watching curiously. Only Wu Jinliang at the entrance occasionally glanced back, though he, too, didn't really know what their leader intended to do.

Behind Shi Chun, who was pacing with his hands clasped behind his back, lay the maimed Gong Shixi and the two others. He got straight to the point: "The three of you cultivate fire-attribute cultivation methods. After entering the Divine Flame Domain and then leaving, I'm afraid your sects will all come looking for you..."

At these words, Tong Mingshan was startled. Hadn't he already expressed his loyalty? He immediately tried to explain again, "Leader, I..."

Shi Chun immediately raised a hand, a gesture accompanied by a look in his eyes, signaling him to stop and say no more.

"..." Tong Mingshan froze, having no choice but to swallow the words he was about to speak.

An Wuzhi and Zhu Xiangxin's gazes were somewhat shifty and guilty. They knew very well that their sects wouldn't wait until they left; they had already been sought out before they even entered.

However, Chu Jingting and the others' hearts skipped a beat as they realized something, instinctively exchanging glances. Right, how could they have forgotten this? These three had absorbed so much divine flame; their sects would surely be scrambling and begging for them to return.

Once they returned, their future would undoubtedly be bright and glorious.

Then they thought about themselves; they certainly wouldn't receive such treatment. They were like water poured out by the sect, expendable, and naturally, of the kind that could not be taken back.

Thinking about it, they felt a bit sour. The divine flame they had risked so much to acquire together had become a wedding gown, completing the success of these three.

More or less, they all wanted to ask, "Why them?"

But it was just a thought. As long as they could get out alive, they had no complaints. With what they now carried, they would certainly live far more comfortably outside than they ever did in their sect. At the very least, their current sects couldn't possibly allocate so many resources to them.

As long as they survived, their lives would be entirely different with the wealth they possessed. They wouldn't have to endure the layers of restrictions from sect figures. To speak harshly, such a sect might as well be abandoned.

Shi Chun continued, "I never treat my own brothers unfairly. Ask yourselves, have I, Shi Chun, ever treated any of you poorly? Don't worry, I'm not forcing you to make a statement, nor will I force you. Even if your sects find you, it's absolutely a great thing, and I'll be happy for you.

Moreover, I support you returning to your original sects. After all, the fire-attribute cultivation methods you practice are incomplete, and the higher-level techniques are still with your former sects.

Besides, we've worked together. If you become successful after you go back, won't we all have a few more helpers in the future? I imagine if we ever encounter difficulties and ask for your help, you wouldn't just ignore us, would you? Ah, haha..."

Chu Jingting and the others, however, couldn't laugh. Only his laughter echoed in the cave.

Tong Mingshan frowned in thought, but An Wuzhi and Zhu Xiangxin's eyes showed a hint of joy upon hearing this. Shi Chun's attitude secretly relieved them.

Of course, they didn't outwardly relax, nor did they show any eagerness to leave.

However, Shi Chun secretly took note of all their subtle reactions.

An Wuzhi even sighed and said, "Leader, your words have left me a bit at a loss. How can sect disciples be so easily expelled and then easily taken back? Wouldn't that make a mockery of things?"

Zhu Xiangxin became even more self-conscious, thinking she was the only one whose sect had sought her out. She chimed in, "To just dismiss us when they want, and then recall us when they want—that shouldn't be the case."

She dared not speak too definitively. She had witnessed this leader's methods repeatedly; while he was good to his own people, he could be quite terrifying when truly ruthless, and he wasn't afraid to take risks.

Could an ordinary person, alone, infiltrate various factions to carry out assassinations?

Tong Mingshan also wanted to speak, but Shi Chun, who cast a smiling glance at him, interrupted him. "Whether it's a game or not, if you can go back, then go back. I wish you all the best. But there's something I need to remind you of, using my own experience as an example.

Back when I was still in the land of exile, I fought fiercely under the leader of the East Nine Plains, risking my life repeatedly for him. At first, he treated me well, but later, seeing my merits grow and more people supporting me, he worried I would threaten his position as leader and actually tried to eliminate me. The outcome was truly difficult to describe.

I want to remind you that you might have absorbed a bit too much divine flame. If it ever exceeds what certain people can control or use, it might not be a good thing for you in the future.

Of course, I might be overthinking this, but it's always best to be prepared. So, before we leave, I want to give you something that could save your lives in the future, as a token of our shared journey."

Hearing the last sentence, Wu Jinliang at the cave entrance glanced back again. That phrase sounded familiar. He couldn't help but secretly marvel that Shi Chun was indeed reading more and more. He should too.

Of course, he was also curious what Shi Chun intended to give them, sensing it was almost excessively kind.

Everyone else also widened their eyes, watching Shi Chun reach into his sleeve, eager to see what their leader was going to give.

Actually, it was nothing special; he merely pulled three sticks of incense from his sleeve.

They appeared to be ordinary sticks of incense, yet everyone's heart skipped a beat. They were so familiar, and they had seen their leader use them more than once. How could they not know what this incense was?

This was the key to finding the divine flame, the Fire God Incense!

Shi Chun looked at the three sticks of incense and sighed, "The Fire God Incense, I obtained it from a deceased senior in the land of exile. At the time, I thought this item would have nothing to do with me; I originally planned to sell it to some artifact refining sect to make a fortune. However, there was no way to verify its authenticity outside. Now you should understand why I entered the Divine Flame Domain, right?"

Mystified yet impressed, Wu Jinliang couldn't help but chuckle at the cave entrance.

The people inside the cave had grown accustomed to his chuckles and automatically ignored them. At this moment, they all had an expression of sudden realization; they truly understood.

"Anyway, there's no way I'll ever enter the Divine Flame Domain again. When the next Divine Flame Domain opens, the artifact refining world wouldn't let me in even if it killed them. These things are limited in number. When I used them, I intended to be frugal, absolutely frugal, thinking they might be useful to the three of you in the future. Unfortunately, I still wasted quite a bit, but I stuck to my principles, and finally, these last three remain. Here, there aren't many, don't despise them, one for each of you!"

Shi Chun distributed them into their hands as he spoke.

Not to mention An Wuzhi and Zhu Xiangxin, even Tong Mingshan couldn't help but instinctively reach out and take the 'Fire God Incense.' The allure of this item was simply too great. This was the crucial secret to finding the divine flame, and as cultivators of fire-attribute methods, how could they resist?

When their leader offered such a massive temptation, they had to accept it, whether they wanted to or not.

Chu Jingting and the others almost cried out in surprise. Were they really giving away something like this? And the last three sticks, no less!

They desperately wanted to say, "This stuff is worth a fortune, isn't it? Let them go their way; we won't stop them. But why give away such treasures? Wouldn't it be better to keep them for ourselves?"

However, their leader had stated that these were for the three's lives in the future, and considering their shared experience, the words caught in their throats. In the end, no one could voice their thoughts directly.

Tong Mingshan, holding the incense, looked at their leader with profound emotion in his eyes.

An Wuzhi also stared blankly at Shi Chun, surprised that this cunning fellow could be so righteous. Then again, their leader had indeed always treated them well.

Zhu Xiangxin's eyes reddened; perhaps women were more emotional, but she was genuinely a little touched.