Chapter 450: Observing

Once the command was issued, all sects sprang into action.

Shi Chun turned and saw Tong Mingshan looking his way. He immediately patted Tong Mingshan's arm, saying, "It's your moment to shine. You know what I'm aiming for. Don't think about anything else; just focus on this competition!"

Tong Mingshan understood the adage, "train an army for a thousand days to use them for one hour." Previously, in the Divine Fire Domain, he had taken countless risks and gone to great lengths to gather various divine fires for them. He had largely reaped the benefits of their efforts until now. It was indeed time for him to contribute for everyone, or else he would truly be undeserving of the 'Sect Master' title they had called him for so long.

He, of course, knew what the Boss wanted: simple, direct advantages, significant benefits, and the grand prize for winning the competition!

"Sect Master, focus on the competition!" Chu Jingting also called out.

"Sect Master, let loose and show them what you've got!"

"That's right, our Mingshan Sect may be new, but we're not to be underestimated!"

He faced the encouragement of his companions, ignoring the scrutinizing glances from the Bailian Sect. Tong Mingshan turned to his group, nodded vigorously, then resolutely stepped onto the stage.

Wu Jinliang immediately raised his arm and loudly proclaimed, "When our Sect Master appears, who can contend?"

He directed this shout towards his own people, left and right.

The group paused for a moment, then Chu Jingting quickly raised his arm and echoed, "When our Sect Master appears, none can contend!"

The others immediately followed suit, raising their arms and shouting, "When our Sect Master appears, none can contend!"

Initially, their shouts were chaotic, but after three or four repetitions, they achieved a synchronized chorus.

They were all excited and aware of the pressure Tong Mingshan had just faced from the Bailian Sect. Thus, they enthusiastically cheered him on, hoping to dispel any gloom in his mind.

However, their cheers sounded somewhat jarring to others, drawing collective stares from nearby onlookers, who regarded them as if they were a group of foolish simpletons.

No one could fathom where these buffoons found the confidence to make such a bold proclamation publicly. Given the current reality of the Divine Fire Covenant, how dared they declare that none could contend with them?

In previous covenants, perhaps four divine fires might have been sufficient. However, this session saw an unprecedented emergence of exceptional talents, making four utterly insufficient.

"I say, stop shouting. The louder your boasts, the more humiliating your defeat will be later."

From behind, an elder from an unknown sect offered this well-intentioned reminder.

This elicited a series of backward glances from the Mingshan Sect members, whose eyes seemed to speak volumes, all conveying the same unspoken message: 'Mind your own business!'

Their bold shouts stemmed from their knowledge of the number of divine fires Tong Mingshan had absorbed. Those ten divine fires absorbed by Luo Shengsheng were nothing; what Gu Lianni absorbed were mere scraps compared to them. What could anyone possibly compare to them?

They then continued to wave their arms and cheer for Tong Mingshan. There was no stopping them; Wu Jinliang, in particular, seemed oblivious to decorum, unconcerned with being conspicuous or annoying, and utterly lacking in shame. He kept waving his arms and shouting, and the others felt compelled to join in rather than let him howl alone without response. Every time Wu Jinliang let out a yell, they followed with a roar and a wave of their arms.

Only Shi Chun remained calm, his arms crossed. He knew full well that he had done all he could; the outcome of the remaining competition was now beyond his control.

The well-meaning elder who offered the reminder was utterly flustered by the eloquent glares from the group.

The nearby Bailian Sect also stared collectively at the Mingshan Sect contingent. Sect Master Yan's mind conjured the idiom: 'birds of a feather flock together.'

Of course, regardless of whether they seemed foolish, such unwavering unity, even to the point of shamelessness, was a form of solidarity. This caused Tong Mingshan's master, Luo Wan, to feel a sinking in his heart, vaguely realizing that his disciple might be beyond reclamation.

Young Master Nan, observing from halfway up the mountain, only saw the Mingshan Sect group waving their fists and drawing all the attention in that section. He was extremely curious, wondering what new antics the Mingshan Sect group was up to.

His current mood was one of great relief and lightness. Upon learning that the Litian Sect had absorbed a maximum of only three divine fires, while someone from Dameng Pavilion had absorbed ten, and others had four or seven, he felt a huge weight lift off his shoulders, knowing that the Litian Sect's hopes of winning the championship were essentially dashed.

He even had the leisure to occasionally contact people outside the valley using his communication talisman.

In the capital's training grounds in Shengzhou, Bian Weiying and his two companions on the viewing stands strained their eyes, finally locating Shi Chun's group within the mirrored image.

Ordinarily, it would have been difficult to spot Shi Chun's group due to the lighting conditions, the shadows within the valley, and the distant perspective of the Sky-Gazing Mirror's display.

However, Shi Chun's group was conspicuously visible, not because of their actions, but their attire. While other sects wore standardized uniforms, with perhaps only high-ranking members having distinct outfits, the Mingshan Sect was likely the only one whose members displayed such a diverse array of clothing colors and styles.

This style was not unfamiliar to Bian Weiying; he had witnessed it firsthand during the Heavenly Meteor Shower Conference. He knew well that those two individuals had no regard for uniform attire, seeming to embody the idea: 'I may not wear any specific sect's robes, yet I can be a disciple of any sect.'

However, he could only make out a rough outline; the individual faces of Shi Chun's group were not discernible in the image.

"Come, sit down," a man's voice invited.

Bian Weiying and his two companions turned at the sound, seeing that Domain Lord Wei Mo had arrived unnoticed and was now beckoning them to sit.

Over a dozen people were already sparsely seated. Bian Weiying and his two companions recognized none of them. Knowing this was the seating area for distinguished guests, they hadn't dared to sit down, choosing instead to stand in a corner. Only now, at Wei Mo's invitation, did they venture over to greet him.

Wei Mo disregarded their polite formalities, intently studying the mirrored image as he asked, "Can you see Shi Chun and his group?"

Yi Huachun and Elder Yin Huixing instinctively exchanged glances. The privilege of being repeatedly named by the Domain Lord astonished them both, especially since Shi Chun had been absent from Shengzhou for such a long time.

They vaguely sensed there might be something significant going on.

Little did they know, if not for Shi Chun, Wei Mo would have no interest in observing a basic artifact refining competition among low-level disciples. He knew countless powerful artifact masters, and there were several such sects within his domain whose leaders he could summon to perform with a single word. Without a specific objective, why would he waste his time? He hadn't even placed any bets.

Bian Weiying immediately pointed to the mirrored image and said, "That cluster of individuals in mismatched attire, grouped together, should be Shi Chun's Mingshan Sect."

Unable to see clearly, Wei Mo paused, then a few thoughts clicked in his mind as he realized what was happening—those individuals likely hadn't even bothered to create proper sect uniforms. He couldn't help but smile faintly. Then, looking at the three respectful figures beside him, he stated nonchalantly, "Someone might arrive shortly; I'll introduce you."

The three were taken aback, then bowed in acknowledgment. At Wei Mo's dismissive wave, they cautiously settled onto the very edge of their seats.

An Wuzhi and Zhu Xiangxin, unable to find Xiang Lan'er's group at the inn and having returned to wait at the valley entrance, had fortunately chosen an excellent vantage point. They lay reclined on the hillside, watching the mirrored image in the sky, and, based on their attire, had also located Shi Chun and his companions.

They felt a degree of regret. Had they known, they wouldn't have left; it would have been far better to remain focused on the live event.

Duan Xiangmei stood among the throng on the beach, gazing upward. She, too, naturally pinpointed Shi Chun's group in the mirrored image and witnessed Tong Mingshan's entry onto the stage.

Around her, discussions about seven divine fires, ten divine fires, and similar topics began to buzz.

After the two-realm passage sealed, communication between the inside and outside of Qiyun Valley became unhindered. News from within the valley began to be updated externally in real-time.

She paid no attention to the number of divine fires. Occasionally, she would glance around. Being quite short, she again noticed the absence of Xiang Lan'er and her group. The image of the man in green robes flashed through her mind once more, stirring a faint sense of worry within her.

At this moment, Xiang Lan'er and Feng Chi were indeed with the man in green robes again, positioned in a more secluded corner. They, too, overheard the crowd's discussions regarding the number of divine fires.

Despite this, Feng Chi suddenly interjected, "We might be targeted. If Shi Chun and his group win the competition, will we still be able to take our gains away?"

Xiang Lan'er and the man in green robes immediately turned to look at her, as if she were an anomaly.

Xiang Lan'er couldn't help but remind her, "Tong Mingshan absorbed four divine fires, someone from Shudao Mountain absorbed seven, and someone from Dameng Pavilion absorbed ten. Didn't you hear this?"

Feng Chi retorted, "So what? It's a fact that it drew the covetous attention and pursuit of various sects. It's also a fact that someone from Shudao Mountain only managed to absorb seven thanks to Shi Chun's influence. How could Shi Chun's own faction have absorbed only four divine fires? If he weren't confident of victory, why would Shi Chun let Tong Mingshan, who absorbed only four divine fires, participate in the competition?"

Xiang Lan'er and the man in green robes stared at her in shock, as if she were deranged. They wanted to ask her, 'It's merely a competition; haven't even those who absorbed just one divine fire taken part?'

Xiang Lan'er sighed and said, "The competition rules were repeatedly revised specifically to target Shi Chun and his group. They would never give Shi Chun and his group a chance to win. Tong Mingshan has already undergone a thorough and rigorous inspection; there is no mistake that he absorbed only four divine fires. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been allowed to participate at all."

"Who knows what will happen until the very end? During the Heavenly Meteor Shower Conference, who would have believed he could win?"

Feng Chi's expression and tone were resolute: "Such a massive commotion in the Divine Fire Domain, leading to various sects joining forces in pursuit, all for just four divine fires? This whole process seems suspicious from every angle; there must be something more to it. I believe he will never give up easily, and he certainly won't let me... or us down!"

She then turned to the man in green robes, "Lord Qing, we must plan in advance how to transfer the items, and guard against the other two factions attempting a forceful seizure."

Xiang Lan'er was truly speechless with Feng Chi. She knew Feng Chi held high hopes for Shi Chun, almost treating him as a personal beacon of hope, but she never imagined it had reached such a level of psychological distortion. Feng Chi was utterly blind to reality, speaking as if in a dream.

Worried about Feng Chi's mental state, she slowly turned back to gaze at the mirrored image in the sky, saying nothing more.

'Is this woman insane?' the man in green robes wondered to himself. After staring blankly at Feng Chi for a moment, his Adam's apple bobbed and he swallowed dryly. Then, playing along with her, he casually remarked, "If he truly manages to win, as long as he can overcome Mulan Jin, then taking the items away shouldn't be an issue. With Mulan Jin present, the other two factions wouldn't dare make any rash moves."

Feng Chi: "I only fear those two factions will resort to forceful means, regardless of the cost."

The man in green robes: "Rest assured, if the higher-ups say they have a way to prevent it, then they certainly do. We don't need to concern ourselves with that."

Feng Chi nodded gravely, sighing, "I hope so."

The man in green robes had no reply. He, too, looked up at the mirrored image in the sky, but found himself unable to resist subconsciously glancing back at Feng Chi, subtly scrutinizing her from head to toe, repeating the action several times.

Across the Four Great Continents, all who could view the mirrored image looked up, watching the competition participants step onto the screen.

In the bustling city, within an inn, a cluster of guests gathered, chattering excitedly. They had all placed bets and were awaiting the competition results.

The man at the center held a communication talisman. Though he lacked the qualifications to attend the live event at the training grounds, he had friends inside who could relay real-time updates to him.

An elderly woman, meticulously cleaning the floor on her knees nearby, listened intently to the excited chatter of the guests. Whenever the name 'Shi Chun' was mentioned, she would pause her work and listen closely.

Being from East Jiuyuan herself, she had been among those who went to the foot of Wukang Mountain to curse Shi Chun. Her insults had been particularly vile, even claiming that Shi Chun had suckled at her breast as a child.

In the vast harbor, teeming with countless moored vessels, a dark-skinned man toiled beneath a colossal, sky-masted ship, constantly loading and unloading what appeared to be mountainous piles of cargo. Even as a cultivator, he was drenched in sweat. When he overheard the assembled crew discussing 'Shi Chun,' he, too, was momentarily distracted.

Splash! Waves surged as a colossal sea beast surfaced beside the pier, revealing its spiny back and drenching him in seawater.