Chapter 437: Not the Same

His outburst made the elders from the various factions feel as if a troublesome individual had infiltrated an otherwise orderly group; everyone else was fine, but he alone seemed to have endless complaints.

What was particularly vexing was that he was vociferously claiming injustice while presenting himself as someone from the artifact refining world. The elders wanted to ask, "Aren't you aware whether you're truly from the artifact refining world or not?"

On second thought, after the commotion in the Divine Fire Domain, the elders had to concede that this individual was indeed out of the ordinary.

Moreover, the people from the Star-Gazing Pavilion were waiting for him nearby.

All in all, they found themselves in a dilemma: acting against him was difficult, but doing nothing felt equally unsatisfying. Everyone harbored a desire to extract his secrets. He was, in essence, a perplexing individual.

Upon hearing him, the presiding elders glanced at the individuals waiting in line for their turn to be inspected.

The disciples from various factions, sensing their gaze, all adopted expressions that implied, "I never said that; I am certainly not one of the 'many people' he referred to."

The elders did not contradict Shi Chun's statement, as he was not speaking nonsense, and his point was indeed valid.

Since his point was reasonable, it would be improper not to respond. A lack of response might suggest they were deliberately being unfair.

So, an elder casually gave a perfunctory reply, "You worry too much; appropriate considerations will naturally be made."

Well, since they had spoken, Shi Chun could not press the matter further for the time being. His opinion had been registered, and if there was no response later, he could always raise his voice again. For now, he concluded his point, cupped his hands in salute to the elders, then turned and gestured for everyone to depart.

With the exception of Tong Mingshan, who seemed to understand the boss's intentions, everyone else, including Young Master Nan's group, remained somewhat puzzled, unsure of Shi Chun's true motive for bringing up the issue.

"Four? Are you certain it's four?"

At Mount Shudao's temporary encampment, upon hearing Elder Tu Wenjing's report, Gu Yanduo questioned repeatedly, unable to believe it. He wasn't the only one; others nearby also looked utterly incredulous.

Elder Tu Wenjing had anticipated their reactions. He offered a wry smile and said, "I also thought I had made a mistake. Not only did I personally operate the 'Fire Soul Yuan Light Mirror' to examine Tong Mingshan, but I also held him down myself to cast spells and perform the check. It wasn't just me; other factions also confirmed it repeatedly. There's absolutely no error; it is indeed four."

After a brief silence, Gu Yanduo instructed the disciple guarding the door, "Go and summon Gu Lianni."

"Yes," the disciple at the door replied, then departed to fulfill the command.

Shortly thereafter, Gu Lianni arrived quickly, entered, and respectfully bowed to the assembled high-ranking individuals.

Gu Yanduo gave Elder Tu a subtle nod, prompting Elder Tu to briefly recount the details of Tong Mingshan's inspection to Gu Lianni.

After listening, Gu Lianni's eyes widened as she gasped, "How is that even possible?"

Gu Yanduo said, "The problem is, this is the current situation. I ask you, can you confirm the exact number of divine fires Tong Mingshan absorbed?"

Gu Lianni wanted to affirm that she could confirm it, but the words faltered on her tongue; she dared not make such a guarantee, especially after Elder Tu's statement. After a moment of contemplation, she hesitated and said, "I saw him take divine fires into the cave for absorption, and he emerged empty-handed. If he didn't absorb them, could it have been a failed attempt? Shi Chun also exchanged various divine fires with us, so in terms of quantity, there were definitely ten."

She then turned the question back to the group: "Is there a possibility of failing to absorb divine fire?"

Everyone pondered hesitantly. After a long silence, Gu Yanduo mused, "Failed absorptions certainly occur. We tend to estimate based on our own fire-attribute cultivation methods, but we're not truly clear on the success rate for those smaller sects, especially since Tong Mingshan was expelled from his sect, and the completeness of his cultivation method is questionable. It's possible that the lower probability of smaller sects absorbing divine fire is related to their success rates in this regard."

For the time being, no one else could offer an answer to this proposition.

Elder Tu stated, "Regardless, I can guarantee that Tong Mingshan absolutely possesses the attributes of only four divine fires within his body. Furthermore, even if I were mistaken, it's highly improbable that all the elders of the Ten Great Sects are similarly mistaken. Even if he possesses a method of concealment, to win the championship during the competition, he would invariably have to reveal them. At that point, we would all see. If he reveals more than ten, we can still disqualify him according to the rules. If he doesn't reveal them, he will be unable to win the championship."

Another elder nodded, "That reasoning holds. Tong Mingshan and his group should also be aware of this. Therefore, it's genuinely possible that Tong Mingshan only absorbed four."

As they spoke, everyone's gaze settled on Gu Lianni's face. She, however, could find no reason to object, as she genuinely had no idea what had transpired. While she personally felt it was impossible for there to be only four, the undeniable reality lay before them.

"Elder Tu makes a valid point," Gu Yanduo said, first clarifying the situation. Then he turned to his daughter, "Your cooperation with Shi Chun and his group was disrupted, but you still maintain normal contact. It's perfectly reasonable for you to visit them. Why don't you go personally and ask Shi Chun what exactly happened?"

Gu Lianni readily agreed, saying, "Alright, I'll go immediately."

With that, she bowed to the assembled group and turned to depart.

However, Gu Yanduo called out to stop her: "Whether he chooses to reveal the origin of the item in his possession is one matter, but there's no harm in you trying to inquire about it incidentally. Everything is negotiable; he can propose any conditions he wishes, provided Mount Shudao can meet them."

Elder Tu and the others subtly nodded upon hearing this. They naturally understood what "the item in Shi Chun's hand" referred to, and they believed this gave them an advantage over the other factions.

"Understood," Gu Lianni replied, then departed.

After watching her leave, an elder remarked, "Had Mu Lan Jin not suddenly intervened and raised concerns about that boy's potential ties to the demonic path, I fear all the factions would have eagerly rushed to establish contact with him."

Gu Yanduo responded, "I hope he can pass Mu Lan Jin's scrutiny. If he cannot, then clarifying the origin of that item before then would also be acceptable."

The Mingshan Sect, for its part, was also keeping an eye on the number of divine fires absorbed by other factions.

It wasn't so much about deep concern, but since they aimed to win the championship, it was always prudent to be aware of others' progress. In this aspect, they still relied on Young Master Nan, who possessed some connections for gathering information.

However, the news they received left Shi Chun somewhat perplexed. The results of inspections by various factions indicated that most had absorbed only one divine fire. Beyond that, there was only one individual who had absorbed two, and another who had absorbed four.

The one with four was, naturally, Tong Mingshan.

Among the participants registered by the Ten Great Sects for the competition, few had undergone inspection so far.

What did this mean? While he was still pondering, Xiao Sheng, who was guarding the door, rushed in to announce Gu Lianni's arrival.

A guest had arrived, and an old acquaintance no less, so naturally, they were invited in.

It wasn't just Gu Lianni who arrived; Yuan Yao had accompanied her.

Shi Chun, greeting them, chuckled and teased, "Miss, Brother Yuan, what brings you here today?"

Had he gotten so used to calling her 'Big Girl' that he still did so even in public? Gu Lianni raised an eyebrow, defiantly placing her hands on her hips. "What, am I not welcome?" she challenged.

"Nonsense," Shi Chun cheerfully replied, extending a hand to invite them in.

Once seated in the main hall, they found there was little available to offer as hospitality.

Gu Lianni required no special hospitality and intended to get straight to the point. However, realizing that Young Master Nan had also slipped in to eavesdrop, she found it awkward to begin. Instead, she engaged in polite, perfunctory conversation, mentioning how she regretted not heeding Shi Chun's advice in the past, which had led to her being held hostage by the Refining Heaven Sect.

Eventually, Shi Chun steered the conversation back to the main topic, asking, "Do you two have something specific you wish to discuss?"

He certainly didn't believe they had come to repent for those trivial past incidents.

Gu Lianni and Yuan Yao exchanged glances, then both looked towards Young Master Nan, each appearing as if they had something to say but were hesitant to speak.

Ah, Young Master Nan understood; he was clearly superfluous once more. Never in his life had he felt so unwanted multiple times in a single day. With a smile, he offered, "You two chat," and discreetly departed.

Wu Jinliang chuckled twice as he watched him leave; he, of course, had no need to depart.

With no one else present, Gu Lianni no longer sat. She immediately stood up and rushed over to Shi Chun, demanding, "I heard Tong Mingshan only absorbed four divine fires. What's going on?"

Shi Chun spread his hands. "What else could it be?" he said. "He only absorbed four divine fires to begin with."

Gu Lianni's eyes widened. "Impossible!" she exclaimed. "From what I saw, he took nearly ten to absorb. And now you're telling me four?"

Shi Chun retorted testily, "Miss, have you been a major sect disciple for so long, remaining aloof in the heavens, that you're unaware of the hardships of the mortal realm? Can Tong Mingshan's fire-attribute cultivation method compare to yours at Mount Shudao? He was also expelled from his sect midway through his training, and his fire-attribute cultivation method was only half-mastered. How could his success rate for absorbing divine fires possibly be that high?"

Could that truly be the case? Gu Lianni and Yuan Yao exchanged bewildered glances.

Still unsatisfied, Gu Lianni rolled up her sleeves and impulsively hurried back outside, disregarding the propriety of gender separation. She went directly to the courtyard, took hold of Tong Mingshan, and immediately cast a spell to examine him.

Tong Mingshan looked towards Shi Chun, who was standing at the hall entrance, winking at him.

A moment later, Gu Lianni silently lowered her hand. She looked at Tong Mingshan again, a deeply distressed expression on her face, then turned and rushed back into the main hall, pacing restlessly.

Shi Chun, walking inside, asked, "What's wrong? You're pacing like an ant on a hot griddle."

Gu Lianni slapped her hip in frustration, lamenting, "Such a terrible waste of heavenly treasures! So many divine fires, and only four were successfully absorbed. You are far too wasteful; had I known, you should have just given them to me."

Yuan Yao, too, was shaking his head and sighing, feeling an urge to give Shi Chun a sound thrashing.

Shi Chun, however, calmly stated, "If we hadn't been 'wasteful,' I doubt he would have even managed to absorb four."

"You..." Gu Lianni pointed a finger at his nose, then ultimately waved her hand in resignation.

Shi Chun said, "Four is sufficient enough. Although our sect master isn't proficient at absorbing divine fires, his talent in artifact refining is exceedingly rare, and certainly not inferior to yours."

What did that have to do with artifact refining talent? Gu Lianni was so pained by the waste that she no longer wished to speak with him.

Shi Chun abruptly changed the subject. "Speaking of the number of divine fires absorbed, why haven't you submitted to the inspections from the various factions? Don't tell me you don't intend to participate in the competition."

"Rules are naturally to be followed; no one can evade them. It's simply that disciples from major sects shouldn't rush to line up and inconvenience others. We'll be going shortly."

Gu Lianni gave a casual, dismissive answer, but she knew full well that these rules were primarily intended for others, especially the Mingshan Sect directly before her. As for the Ten Great Sects, a consensus had already been reached: they would only undergo inspection just before the competition commenced.

As she spoke, she subtly winked at Yuan Yao.

Yuan Yao immediately went and closed the hall door.

After a brief moment of privacy, Gu Lianni ceased her pretense with Shi Chun, knowing he was too shrewd for such evasions. She leaned in and asked directly in a low voice, "Where did you obtain the 'Fire God Incense'?"

She was rather close, and Shi Chun could detect her body scent. His gaze subconsciously lingered on her for a moment as he playfully asked, "Why should I tell you?"

Gu Lianni replied, "You are a clever person; you must know the saying, 'An innocent man is guilty only when he possesses a treasure.' I won't say more; you name your conditions, and we can negotiate."

Shi Chun blinked, then remarked, "Since you are aware of the saying 'an innocent man is guilty only when he possesses a treasure,' you should also understand that my sole desire right now is self-preservation. Can your Mount Shudao guarantee my safety?"

Gu Lianni pondered for a moment, then asked, "Are you aware that the Star-Gazing Pavilion is seeking you?"

Shi Chun replied, "I am."

Gu Lianni said, "Good that you know. As long as you are not entangled with the demonic path, and provided you can pass the Star-Gazing Pavilion's scrutiny, Mount Shudao can protect you without an issue."

Shi Chun asked, "How would you protect me?"

Gu Lianni stated seriously, "You can join Mount Shudao. Once you become a disciple and take refuge within our sect, other artifact refining factions will be powerless against you."

As she spoke, a hint of yearning appeared in her eyes. Having witnessed Shi Chun's capabilities, she had long wished he were a disciple of Mount Shudao. Her father was the sect leader, and his joining would effectively mean serving their family.

Shi Chun chuckled, "If you burn the bridge after crossing, I would be powerless against you."

Gu Lianni asked, "What would it take for you to feel secure?"

With a challenging glint in his eye, Shi Chun made a startling declaration: "You become my woman! Let's ensure the deed is done. Only when your sect leader publicly announces me as his son-in-law can I feel at ease. What do you say?"

At his words, Gu Lianni froze, and Yuan Yao was similarly stunned.

"Hehehehe," Wu Jinliang chuckled again, his gaze darting back and forth between Gu Lianni.

Gu Lianni, meeting Shi Chun's gaze, slowly felt a blush creep across her cheeks. Biting her lip, she appeared on the verge of scolding him, but ultimately turned aside and said, "I cannot make a decision on this matter."

Shi Chun asked curiously, "Then what exactly are you here to discuss?"

Gu Lianni then looked at Yuan Yao, "You return and report this. I will await their reply."

"Hm? Oh, alright," Yuan Yao replied, snapping back to attention, and immediately turned to leave.

However, before he had taken two steps, Shi Chun urgently reached out to stop him, saying, "It was a joke, just a joke, please don't take it seriously, Brother Yuan. I was merely jesting."

He simply wanted to ascertain the extent of Mount Shudao's willingness to pay. While he was unsure, Gu Lianni certainly was, and her reaction immediately gave him insight. He had no real intention of marrying Gu Lianni; their statuses were mismatched, and he certainly wasn't seeking such complications.

"Uh?" Yuan Yao paused, dumbfounded, wanting to ask, "What exactly are you playing at? Is this really something to joke about?"

Gu Lianni's mouth and jaw contorted, her teeth slightly bared, as she glared at Shi Chun with a mixture of shame and annoyance.

Shi Chun quickly cupped his hands in apology, then cleared his throat and regained a serious expression, saying, "Please wait, both of you. I cannot decide on this matter alone. I will go and discuss it with my brothers before providing you with a reply. Please bear with us for a moment."

He then promptly opened the door and fled as if escaping. There was no other choice; Gu Lianni's gaze was murderous.

The people in the courtyard outside also sensed that something was amiss. The boss's awkward and hasty demeanor seemed peculiar, and Wu Jinliang, who followed him, wore a clearly mischievous grin, whispering something into the boss's ear.

"I think this woman isn't bad either," was Wu Jinliang's whispered comment.

Shi Chun quietly scoffed, "With money, any woman is attainable."

"That's also true," Wu Jinliang agreed profoundly.

As Shi Chun moved towards a side room, he called out to the others, "Sect Master, Brother Nan, please come here for a moment."

Tong Mingshan immediately hurried over. Young Master Nan, who was quite bored, naturally responded and followed suit.

The group entered the small room. As soon as the door closed, Shi Chun placed a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone on a table, then said to Tong Mingshan, "Examine what materials are required to repair those magical artifacts and write down everything you need."

Tong Mingshan knew he was referring to the magical artifacts damaged by lightning. With a wry expression, he said, "At my current level, I'm afraid it will take me a very long time to thoroughly research and understand them."

"Where would we find the time for slow research?" Shi Chun mused, then revised his instruction: "Alright, think about what materials you'll need for your future artifact refining—valuable ones, expensive ones—and list them all."

Since Tong Mingshan was willing to follow him so faithfully, he couldn't let all those absorbed divine fires go to waste. He intended to seize this opportunity to help Tong Mingshan acquire sufficient materials.

Tong Mingshan instantly looked bewildered. It was too sudden; he felt a bit lost.

Wu Jinliang's grin stretched from ear to ear.

Shi Chun then turned to Young Master Nan and said, "Brother Nan, we are rather unsophisticated and lack a good understanding of valuable items. As someone who has seen the world, please help our Sect Master compile a list."

Young Master Nan spread his hands. "No, this is so abrupt and vague," he said. "I don't even understand what's happening, much less how to begin. How can I help?"

Shi Chun stated frankly, "It's nothing complicated. Don't those sects desire the secret method for locating divine fires that I possess? I can share it with them, but not for free. They will need to offer something in exchange. Please help me assess its value, estimating how much those sects would be willing to pay—something substantial yet not exorbitant. Help me compile a list."

Young Master Nan let out an "Oh," now understanding. He knew how to proceed. He first tilted his head, amused by Shi Chun for a moment, then stroked his small mustache in thought. Soon, he turned to instruct Tong Mingshan, "Come, come, first list the artifact refining materials you need. Let's start with a draft..."

This discussion took quite some time. Gu Lianni, standing stiffly by the main hall entrance, surprisingly maintained her patience.

Yuan Yao, meanwhile, paced back and forth on the steps, his head bowed.

After roughly half an incense stick's worth of time, Tong Mingshan, who had been writing, set down his pen. Young Master Nan, who had been observing from the side, one hand on his hip and the other resting on the table, also cheerfully straightened up. "Alright, Spring," he declared, "the weight of this list should satisfy you and also be acceptable to Mount Shudao. See if you need to add anything further."

Shi Chun, who had been pacing back and forth with his arms crossed, had certainly overheard their discussions during the drafting process. He had already made his additions; his demands were very practical: simply more money.

He waved a hand and said, "That's about right. We shouldn't overdo it; making people suffer too much isn't ideal. So, Sect Master, please make eight more copies of this list."

Tong Mingshan paused, bewildered.

Young Master Nan, equally perplexed, asked, "What do you mean?"

Shi Chun explained, "These are the Ten Great Sects of the artifact refining world, are they not? Each holds influence, so it wouldn't be appropriate to give it to one and not the others."

Young Master Nan had also considered this possibility, but remained confused. "They are indeed the Ten Great Sects, but eight more copies would make nine in total."

Shi Chun replied, "Let's exclude the Refining Heaven Sect; even if we gave them a copy, they wouldn't pay."

Wu Jinliang chuckled slyly, like an old fox.

"Ah, I see," Tong Mingshan understood, and immediately picked up his brush to copy.

Young Master Nan let out a sound of understanding, watching the swift movement of the brush, then shook his head, tsk-tsking. "Spring, our methods of earning money are truly, utterly, and entirely different. I earn what others are willing to give, but you are effectively forcing others to pay, which carries a strong suspicion of robbery. Selling the same item to nine different factions—are you certain you can manage to pull this off?"