Chapter 469: 承接薪火

The words were a bit frightening. How did the demonic path get brought into this?

The Hundred Refinement Sect group froze on the spot, their expressions a mix of surprise and doubt as they pondered the truth of the statement.

Yan Qufeng and the others had only heard about Mulan Jin's arrival from the Star-Gazing Pavilion; they never imagined she was here for Shi Chun.

Certain information simply didn't reach the ears of sects like the Hundred Refinement Sect.

Other sects nearby, seeing Tong Mingshan's return, had sent people over, intending to greet and get acquainted with him. However, before they could even get close, they overheard the conversation and immediately halted their steps.

Yan Qufeng, who had just issued the invitation, couldn't immediately retract his words. He could only turn his head to look at Luo Wan.

Luo Wan, equally anxious, promptly asked his disciple, "Mingshan, is what he said true?"

Tong Mingshan, his shoulder-length white hair occasionally stirred by the breeze, calmly replied, "Yes."

Luo Wan knew his disciple wouldn't lie to him about such a matter. He turned to the Sect Master, his face a picture of conflict, unsure how to respond.

Emotionally, he naturally hoped his disciple, whom he had personally trained, would return to the sect, especially now that he had achieved such success. However, he also clearly understood the gravity of the situation: involvement with the demonic path was something the humble Hundred Refinement Sect could not withstand. One misstep and they could be utterly destroyed, costing countless lives. He couldn't let his emotions dictate his actions.

"Alright," Yan Qufeng understood. After a brief hesitation, he thoughtfully remarked, "A single arm cannot twist a thigh. Since the Xuanji Order Master has business, we must defer to him for now. Our matters will have to be discussed later."

Though he said this, he knew in his heart that this withdrawal would completely sever the ties between the Hundred Refinement Sect and Tong Mingshan.

Seeking him out when he was useful, then disavowing him at the first sign of trouble — this wasn't the first time. What would Tong Mingshan think? It would be difficult to approach him again in the future.

Yet, from his perspective, his Hundred Refinement Sect had no other choice.

Seeing the Sect Master's decision, Luo Wan's expression grew somber; he, too, understood the implications of this retreat.

The Hundred Refinement Sect group, who had just approached, retreated. Their earlier excitement and anticipation vanished, replaced by quiet apprehension, even concern that they might have gotten too close to the Mingshan Sect.

Wu Jinliang let out a couple of chuckles.

Tong Mingshan, devoid of all emotion and energy, remained exceptionally calm, as if nothing had transpired. He closed his eyes to rest.

The sect members who had approached, hoping to get acquainted, now seemed to realize they were in the wrong place. They either retreated or simply looked around and passed by.

The high-ranking officials from the Ten Great Sects had now convened to communicate, signaling the imminent announcement of the final competition results.

The Nine-Orifice Exquisite Heart that Tong Mingshan had just refined was being passed around and examined by the senior officials of the Ten Great Sects.

Seeing this, Shi Chun wanted to ask something, but when he turned, he realized Yan Qufeng was no longer beside him, having returned to his central position with the Hundred Refinement Sect.

"Damn it!" he cursed inwardly.

"Never mind," he said, turning to Wu Jinliang. "Later, go retrieve that exquisite heart the Sect Master refined."

He had just intended to ask Yan Qufeng whether the finished product from the competition could be reclaimed. Finding it inconvenient to inquire, he decided against it and simply instructed Wu Jinliang to retrieve it. He was well aware of Wu Jinliang's competence; he wouldn't fail to get even this back.

"Is it valuable?" Wu Jinliang asked curiously.

He wanted to determine its worth to gauge how much effort and sacrifice he should put in.

Shi Chun, unsure of its exact value, replied flatly, "It's a gift."

Wu Jinliang paused, then instantly understood, realizing to whom the chief wanted to present it.

For a gift intended for that person, its monetary value was secondary; they weren't lacking in wealth. The crucial aspect was demonstrating sincerity. The prize of a grand competition in the refining world, held only once every few centuries and witnessed by all, would convey both heartfelt intention and novelty.

He was impressed by this, admiring the chief's perseverance.

He chuckled, saying, "Alright, don't worry. If I can't get it back, I'll bring you my head."

The low hum of conversations suddenly receded like a tide, giving way to silence. The Sect Master of Refining Heaven Sect, Luo Yan; the Head of Summer Dao Mountain, Gu Yanduo; and the Sect Master of Extreme Fire Sect, Su Qiao, appeared together, walking onto the steps along the central axis of the arena.

The three did not descend from the side steps to enter the arena.

Once the entire venue fell silent, Luo Yan, Sect Master of Refining Heaven Sect, suddenly flicked his sleeve. A dark silhouette shot out, soaring into the air, expanding against the wind, and transforming into a black-gold tower.

The tower, with thirty-six stories, spun rapidly in the air, continuously growing larger until it became as vast as a mountain. Its imposing body, smooth as polished glass, exuded a magnificent aura.

It grew so large that even Mulan Jin, standing on a mountaintop, had to crane her neck to see its peak.

It was so immense that if it were to fall, it could suppress everyone within the entire valley.

Many gasped, exclaiming, "It's the True Fire Ruyi Pagoda!"

Shi Chun, gazing upwards, also sighed in astonishment, not having expected the item to be so enormous.

He had already understood its purpose in the Divine Fire Domain: it was useless for ordinary cultivators but perfectly suited for artifact refiners—essentially, a refining furnace.

True artifact refining differed significantly from the competition just held. Many objects being refined were enormous and couldn't be forged by merely controlling one's own divine fire as demonstrated earlier; doing so would deplete one's magical power too quickly. Instead, external fires were primarily utilized for such refining.

Consequently, the high temperatures involved in true refining were terrifying; those not cultivating fire-attribute techniques might find them unbearable. Thus, a dedicated refining site was necessary. The 'True Fire Ruyi Pagoda' served as an excellent such site, capable of containing and circulating intense heat within its structure. Its internal formations boasted numerous ingenious applications, reputedly developed by Situ Gu from years of refining experience, providing powerful assistance during the process. This assistance was indeed the pagoda's most valuable feature.

With thirty-six internal levels, artifact refiners could adjust their height and position during forging according to the size of the object being refined.

Furthermore, the pagoda's size was adjustable, capable of being either massive or compact, meaning it served as an excellent portable refining site.

At that moment, countless artifact refiners looked on with envy.

Witnessing the grandeur of this colossal artifact, the crowds watching through mirrors in various locations also erupted in gasps and murmurs.

It was only displayed briefly to prove its authenticity. The massive object, suspended and spinning, rapidly began to shrink, quickly reducing to the size of a vase. It then floated slowly, rotating before Luo Yan.

Luo Yan subtly glanced at the mirror suspended above, inwardly cursing Young Master Nan. With this mirror broadcasting, he had to maintain impeccable decorum at all times.

As the pagoda returned, Gu Yanduo, the Head of Summer Dao Mountain, flicked his sleeve once more. A golden bead adorned with cloud patterns flew out, suddenly pausing in mid-air above the arena.

Just as the upward-gazing crowd quieted down and focused, the bead began to tremble violently. Faint, ethereal blue smoke seemed to drift out from the cracks in its cloud patterns.

The blue smoke suddenly erupted, its elongated blue shadow resembling a turquoise waterfall flowing backward towards the sky, or a silken ribbon soaring upwards, passing beyond the mirror above.

As the image pulled back, the crowd finally discerned it was the illusory form of a colossal azure dragon.

Immediately afterward, the shockwave from the dragon's emergence from the golden bead hit. Some were caught completely off guard and blown to the ground, while pavilions and ornate railings collapsed, as if the force aimed to strip every fine hair from people's faces.

The emerging dragon wasn't intentionally displaying aggression; merely its ascent generated such power. Its true might, if fully unleashed, would be unimaginable.

It was merely a brief airborne display. Gu Yanduo then flicked his hand, pointing at the golden bead. The swirling azure form in the sky let out a prolonged roar, "Awoo," its sound reverberating across the vast land. Many in the valley and on the adjacent beach felt their eardrums on the verge of rupturing.

The illusory dragon then plunged back into the valley, circling and soaring, causing countless people's clothes to flap wildly and kicking up dust and stones.

Only then did the crowd discern its rough outline: though resembling a dragon, it lacked four claws, revealing itself as the residual soul of an azure Flood Dragon.

The azure Flood Dragon's illusory form spiraled in an ever-decreasing space. After coiling around the floating golden bead, it suddenly plunged headfirst, smoothly vanishing into it.

The floating golden bead then flew back to stand before Gu Yanduo.

"A remnant dragon artifact spirit!"

"Even a mere remnant soul possesses such power! If a physical body were forged to match it, it would undoubtedly become an invaluable treasure!"

Just as murmurs began to spread, Su Qiao, Sect Master of Extreme Fire Sect, suddenly flicked his sleeve. A dark, heavy, curved object, resembling a bow without a string, materialized and hovered before him.

Upon closer inspection, the crowd realized it wasn't a curved bow at all, but a four-foot-long piece of what appeared to be dark, heavy metal. Despite being a metal piece, it showed no reflection whatsoever, and if it weren't for its faint smoothness, one might easily mistake it for a charred lump of coal.

Those viewing the object directly or from an angle could discern it was a flat piece.

From the side, its widest point was only a palm's breadth, while its narrowest was a mere finger's width. Its thin, curved edge appeared razor-sharp, and one irregular side looked as if it had been broken off from a larger object.

This seemingly unremarkable item, however, caused the green-robed figure on the beach, Xiang Lan'er, and Feng Chi to all stare intently, their eyes wide.

On the terrace, Gong Yuanzhi instinctively stood up again, his eyes fixed on it.

Lan Qiaoyan and her daughter looked at him with some surprise; they hadn't seen him react so strongly to the previous two treasures.

Given his esteemed background, not only the mother and daughter but even his son, Gong Shaoci, found his reaction quite unexpected.

Lan Qiaoyan couldn't help but ask, "Brother Gong, perhaps my knowledge is limited, but is there something special about this 'Wild-Breaking Fragment Blade'?"

Gong Yuanzhi, roused by her voice, chuckled, "It's rumored to be the sharpest object in the world. This is my first time seeing it."

As he spoke, his gaze remained fixed on the mirror.

In the mirror, Su Qiao's gaze swept across the scene. He then flicked his finger through the air, sending the bow-shaped fragment before him whistling towards the large incense burner in the arena.

A faint metallic clink was heard as the dark silhouette swiftly cut through the large incense burner, then flipped back to hover upright before Su Qiao.

Noticing the crowd's confusion, as if they hadn't fully grasped what had transpired, Su Qiao flicked his sleeve again, sending out a force that subtly pushed the incense burner from a distance.

Instantly, the large incense burner split into two halves, clanging to the ground, its thick, cut surfaces remarkably smooth and even.

Only then did the crowd realize that the bow-shaped fragment had already sliced the large incense burner perfectly in two.

This incredible sharpness immediately elicited gasps of astonishment.

Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang exchanged glances. They knew that if this item ended up in their hands, they wouldn't be able to keep it; attempting to would be courting death.

On the terrace, Gong Yuanzhi nodded, exclaiming in admiration, "It is indeed unparalleled in sharpness!"

Gong Shaoci said, "If Father likes it, I'll speak to Shi Chun later and have him resell it to me."

Hearing this, Gong Yuanzhi immediately turned, his eyes scrutinizing his son for a moment before he tentatively asked, "Do you have such a relationship with him?"

Gong Shaoci pursed his lips. The words, "My buying it from him is doing him a favor," almost escaped, but he held them back, realizing his father wasn't the only one listening. He rephrased: "If the price is right, there's nothing that can't be sold. That item isn't particularly useful to him, and even if it were, I could speak to Young Master Nan. I wouldn't take it for free; it would be an equal exchange. Young Master Nan would surely grant me that much consideration. He allowed them into the Divine Fire Domain, so they had to comply. They rely on him for their standing, so if Young Master Nan speaks, they must show him that respect."

Lan Qiaoyan, who had been listening, immediately fixed her gaze on her daughter. Just as she expected, her daughter's lips began to move, seemingly about to interject. She quickly and cheerfully interrupted, "Shaoci truly possesses filial piety."

As she spoke, she gave her daughter a stern look, forbidding her from getting involved.

Miao Yilan paused. She had originally intended to offer a small gesture of goodwill to her future father-in-law, thinking that if all else failed, she had some acquaintance with Shi Chun and could perhaps ask to purchase it herself without much trouble.

She was confident that if she made the request, Shi Chun would not object.

To her surprise, her mother intervened.

She didn't know what her mother meant, but she understood there must be a deeper reason, so she swallowed the words she was about to say.

Gong Yuanzhi then chuckled, "Rarity determines value; it's a rare item. Let's see what happens with the Star-Gazing Pavilion first. If Shi Chun isn't implicated in anything, then buy it if you can. Pay its proper price; no forced buying or selling."

Gong Shaoci cupped his hands and replied, "Understood."

Inside the valley, the Sect Master of the Lihuo Sect walked to the base of the steps where the three sect masters stood. Facing the arena, he projected his voice with a spell, announcing, "By the Divine Fire Covenant, passed down through generations, new talents arise! Tong Mingshan of the Mingshan Sect, inherit the sacred flame!"

The voice reverberated through the valley, thrilling Zhu Xiangxin and An Wuzhi, who were at the valley entrance.

Those outside, unable to hear the announcement, were perplexed as to why the mirror wasn't focusing on Tong Mingshan at this crucial moment. Unbeknownst to them, someone near Young Master Nan was in close communication with the operator of the Sky-Overlooking Mirror, essentially directing the external broadcast.

Under the watchful eyes of the multitude, Tong Mingshan, who had been resting with closed eyes, was roused again, reminded that it was time to collect his prize.

Tong Mingshan was truly exhausted, but knowing this was the culmination of everyone's hard work, he forced himself to go and accept the honor.

Shi Chun and his companions were excitedly rubbing their hands, whereas the Hundred Refinement Sect members wore expressions of complex emotion.

Li Hongjiu of the Yanbao Sect, who had been observing the spectacle, was amused. He nudged a fellow disciple beside him, quipping, "See? There are advantages to not competing. Look at those three major sects; their own treasures are just handed over, and they look as grim as if their parents had just died."

No sooner had he finished speaking than he met a pair of fierce eyes he dared not confront.

Qu Wuming, turning his head, gritted his teeth and snarled, "Is that how you do your calculations? Have you considered how many disciples from Summer Dao Mountain absorbed the divine fire this time? You scoundrel, another month!"

Li Hongjiu's mouth twitched. The recently swollen area of his cheekbone still throbbed faintly, and he hadn't even dared to use magic to reduce the swelling. He quickly lowered his head and fell silent, a bitter smile on his face, feeling as if everything he said or did was wrong.