Chapter 471: Same Price

These nine individuals were no ordinary people; they were essentially the leaders of top sects in the cultivation world. The sight of them squeezed into such a cramped, secluded room was not something just anyone would witness, especially considering their quietly disguised appearances. Shi Chun couldn't help but smile upon seeing them.

This scene would likely never be repeated in the cultivation world. He considered himself fortunate to have witnessed it.

He entered, closed the door, and turned to bow to everyone. Only then did he softly ask, "There's still no reaction outside. Are you sure Sect Leader Luo will come, seniors?"

Gu Yanduo, the leader of Shudao Mountain, said, "Don't worry. If our nine sects showed no reaction, he might still hesitate. But with all nine of us suddenly rushing off, he'll surely be anxious. He can't directly exert pressure on us, and you're the easiest target to press. Coming directly to you is his best option."

"I see," Shi Chun said, still hesitant. "Didn't you say the Stargazing Pavilion wants to apprehend us? I'm worried Sect Leader Luo won't show up, but the Stargazing Pavilion people will come first instead."

The implication was that he was setting expectations: "Don't say I didn't cooperate with you in verifying the secret's authenticity if I'm taken away by the Stargazing Pavilion. What can I do then?"

Su Qiao, the leader of the Extreme Fire Sect, snorted. "If you can think of it, do you think Luo Yan can't? The top sect in the artifact crafting world isn't just for show. If he were truly assertive, the Stargazing Pavilion couldn't just mess with him arbitrarily. Meeting you before you're taken away wouldn't be too difficult for him."

Gu Yanduo added, "As long as you're not lying, and as long as Situ Gu truly intends to silence you, then it proves Situ Gu did hide something from the Refining Heaven Sect. This also means Luo Yan is genuinely unaware. In that case, Luo Yan will definitely come to you."

Shi Chun replied, "Seniors, you worry too much. I have no reason to lie. If I dared to deceive you, I wouldn't be able to stay in the cultivation world. Besides, I'm also afraid Situ Gu wants to silence me, and I want to expose this whole matter of Situ Gu."

The situation today had been explained to him before the competition. He was merely cooperating and only now understood the full plan.

While he spoke earnestly, he was actually indifferent. Whether Luo Yan came or not, it didn't matter to him.

He wasn't naive. Since he dared to do it, he had long prepared his escape routes.

What he was truly worried about now was the Stargazing Pavilion. But that wouldn't stop him from seizing the profits first. Opportunities to make such a fortune weren't common; when encountered, they had to be grasped.

Just then, a clear knocking sound suddenly came from the courtyard outside. Shi Chun's eyes met those of the nine grandmasters, and they all realized what was happening.

Qu Wuming, the leader of the Treasure Derivation Sect, waved, signaling him to quickly go out.

Shi Chun, without ceremony, turned his back to them, opened the door, and ran out.

He closed the side hall door and then opened the main hall entrance. Immediately, Chu Jingting rushed over to report, "Boss, the leader of the Refining Heaven Sect is here in person!"

Shi Chun didn't need to be told; he already saw him. The leader of the top sect in the artifact crafting world didn't even wait at the gate for an announcement, striding in as if unimpeded, directly bringing five people with him.

The problem was that the people of Bright Mountain Sect looked at each other, and no one dared to stop them.

Wu Hong, who had hesitated for a moment blocking the main entrance, was directly pushed aside. He dared not voice any objection, simply looking expectantly at Shi Chun in the hall.

What opinion could Shi Chun have? He merely sighed inwardly, "He's really here. It turns out the nine sects inside are the ones who truly understand the ways of the Refining Heaven Sect. Dealing with the Refining Heaven Sect still requires them."

Even though they intruded, he had to greet them with a smile. In the martial world, to avoid trouble, one had to be a good actor.

He first shot a glance at Wu Jinliang. Then he quickly descended the steps, approached with cupped hands, and bowed. "Sect Leader Luo, what brings you here?"

Wu Jinliang also descended the steps. However, he skirted around, heading straight for the entrance, and quickly slipped out.

"What are these two up to?" Young Master Nan in the courtyard watched Shi Chun greeting the guest, then glanced at the departing Wu Jinliang, muttering inwardly. "Do they dare try to pull something over Luo Yan?"

Then he reconsidered, thinking he was overthinking. "They even dare to pocket money from the nine great sects. What's wrong with just trying something on Luo Yan? Isn't that perfectly normal?"

The others in the courtyard watched as if at a play. They vaguely sensed that their boss seemed about to go head-to-head with the Refining Heaven Sect Leader.

Peeking out from a gap in the window, Su Qiao, the leader of the Extreme Fire Sect, turned and whispered to the group behind him, "He didn't come alone; he brought several subordinates."

With a gesture from him, all nine sect leaders implicitly understood and retreated together.

Luo Yan, pausing outside, scanned the courtyard. Ignoring Shi Chun, he strode towards the main hall steps, adding, "Let's talk inside."

"Alright," Shi Chun immediately jogged up the steps, respectfully ushering him inside.

Young Master Nan, who wanted to follow and see, was annoyed. He was stopped by a push of the hand from an accompanying elder of the Refining Heaven Sect. "This isn't your home, why are you stopping me?" he thought. However, seeing Shi Chun nod a silent instruction, he reluctantly held back.

Everyone else was stopped at the bottom of the steps. Only this group, with Shi Chun, entered the hall.

Once inside the hall, Luo Yan looked around. He suddenly asked, "Why don't I see Tong Mingshan?"

Shi Chun chuckled, "He's too tired after a match and is currently resting."

"You're not lying to me, are you?" Luo Yan said indifferently.

Shi Chun was taken aback. He wondered, "Of all things to lie about, why would I lie about this?"

To his surprise, Luo Yan then tilted his head, giving a signal. Immediately, two accompanying Refining Heaven Sect disciples began searching the back hall and the rooms on both sides.

This action made Shi Chun's heart leap into his throat. He thought, "This is embarrassing now. The group inside probably won't have time to react, or retreat. At such close range, any significant movement would surely be noticed. I can't believe the esteemed leader of the Refining Heaven Sect would stoop to such petty suspicion."

He also understood what Luo Yan's earlier words meant. It was simply a pretext for a search.

However, he didn't really care. If everyone laid their cards on the table, it wouldn't affect him. It would just be a bit awkward if Luo Yan found out he and the nine sects had been scheming against him.

What was strange was that the searching disciple opened the door to the hidden room, strolled in briefly, and then came out.

He didn't search carefully, just took a casual look for people.

After coming out, he went to check outside.

Soon after, the person ran back and reported to Luo Yan, "Tong Mingshan is meditating in an annex room outside."

A strange glint appeared in Shi Chun's eyes as he looked at the disciple. "Could this person be a mole? Otherwise, how could he not see so many people in the room?"

He then thought it unlikely. That left only one possibility: the people in the room had vanished into thin air.

"How could they vanish into thin air? If they left, the nine guys would lose the purpose of being here. Which means they're still in the room."

Out of the corner of his eye, he subconsciously glanced at the beams of the other room. He couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

Well, he had figured it out. Those nine sect leaders didn't get their positions for nothing. They likely rose from the bottom through arduous training.

Luo Yan grunted in acknowledgment. "Good, you didn't lie to me. You're still honest."

Shi Chun muttered inwardly, "Don't you know whether I'm honest or not by now?"

Never mind, he didn't dare expose Luo Yan's petty thoughts. He bowed again, asking, "May I ask, senior, what instruction brings you here?"

Luo Yan snorted. "Shi Chun, why pretend to be ignorant when you clearly know? You should be well aware of why I'm here."

Shi Chun tentatively asked, "To find the secret method of the Divine Flame?"

Luo Yan replied, "Good that you understand."

Shi Chun asked suspiciously, "Senior, you don't know?"

"What kind of question is that? If I knew, would I be here asking you?" Luo Yan frowned, staring at him.

Shi Chun, looking like he understood, blinked and said, "Senior, you want it too?"

Given Luo Yan's status, he couldn't directly express his desire. He retorted, "You've been associating with the nine great sects; do they all know about it?"

Shi Chun nodded. "Yes, they all know."

Luo Yan immediately looked puzzled. "Why could you tell them, but deliberately omit my Refining Heaven Sect?"

This was what he had been curious about earlier. He even suspected it might not be related to the secret method. It was only after seeing the nine sects eagerly depart that he became certain.

Shi Chun scratched his head and gave a dry chuckle. "They all bought it."

Luo Yan raised an eyebrow, skeptical of this reason. Surely this fellow doesn't think the Refining Heaven Sect's financial power is inferior to those nine?

Meanwhile, Shi Chun casually pulled out a piece of paper and presented it with both hands. "Sect Leader Luo, this is the price the other nine sects paid. If you truly wish to buy this secret, I won't ask for a single extra coin; it's the same price."

He had several copies of the inventory list on him. They weren't prepared for the Refining Heaven Sect, but for other sects. If any other sects wanted to get involved with the ten great sects, he wouldn't mind earning more.

Originally, in the Divine Flame Domain, he felt there were many bold sects. However, outside, they all seemed to have become cautious. He hadn't received any visitors yet. He wasn't sure if they were intimidated by the Stargazing Pavilion or something else.

But he still had patience. Other artifact crafting sects had no reason not to be interested in such a secret. He dreamed of selling seventy or eighty more copies.

The price was very high, serving as a threshold. Not just anyone could be qualified to know this secret; one had to pay a hefty sum!

As for the Refining Heaven Sect, he hadn't planned to earn this money from them initially. What sense did it make to earn money from a sect by using its own secrets? But now, after the nine sects' involvement and what they said, he felt it was acceptable and that he shouldn't show favoritism.

So, he casually took out the list prepared for other sects and presented it.

Indeed, nine people were nestled among the ceiling beams of the adjacent room. The nine sect leaders, half-crouching and half-kneeling, all held their breath.

After hearing the commotion below, several figures in the dim light either looked at each other, exchanged glances, raised eyebrows, or sneered.

But none of their expressions showed distaste. Instead, they revealed a hint of satisfaction. They had all paid, so it was good for the Refining Heaven Sect to also incur some expense; they certainly had no objections.

They just hadn't expected Shi Chun to dare to pocket this money as well. After all, Situ Gu was from the Refining Heaven Sect.

Furthermore, it was uncertain whether they could even pass the Stargazing Pavilion's scrutiny. To still think about making a profit at this very moment, they truly admired him.

Luo Yan was slightly stunned. Realizing it was the price paid by the other nine sects, he couldn't help but take it and look.

Once he had the list and scanned it, he believed it. The Refining Heaven Sect was neither blind nor deaf. The actions of the nine great sects borrowing items on the list from other sects could not be hidden from him.

"You have quite an appetite," Luo Yan casually praised him. He had no intention of paying, so he directly threatened, "I've already stopped the Stargazing Pavilion people for you. Do you want to be taken away by the Stargazing Pavilion, or are you willing to reveal this secret to me? You decide."