Lighting Lanterns in the Mountains and Seas

Going underwater to help find things, Chai Wenwu volunteered to be of service.

However, he was politely refused by Wu Jinliang. This matter of scavenging treasures shouldn't involve outsiders; he didn't trust others, fearing that if he suspected someone of being dishonest, he might not be able to resist acting against them.

Mu Lanqing also offered to help, but Wu Jinliang didn't allow her to get involved, assigning her to stay on the island and keep watch.

After dividing the search area underwater, Wu Jinliang took Chu Jingtang straight to the approximate location of Feng Yin's relics, soon finding the Qiankun Bag buried under the sand.

Having obtained the item, Wu Jinliang couldn't wait to return to the island to inspect it.

He entered a cave and immediately emptied the contents of the Qiankun Bag, finding quite a lot of scattered items. First, he counted the tokens, discovering there were 175 in total.

After sorting them, Wu Jinliang pondered over more than twenty black West Ox Team tokens, estimating that it was unlikely Feng Yin killed members of his own team; the tokens wouldn't be useful if they were stolen, so they must have been taken from the spoils of other defeated teams.

Then he counted the golden Heavenly Court Team tokens, finding 35. These belonged to his own team and didn't contribute to their record. Keeping them was somewhat wasteful, but discarding them was not an option; he wondered if he could find an opportunity to exchange them with other teams.

That was a matter for later. For now, he had secured 140 effective tokens from Feng Yin.

Although he didn't gain little, Wu Jinliang found his fingers fiddling with one of the tokens to be troublesome. It was Feng Yin's Centurion Token. Since Feng Yin wasn't dead, the token's beacon could still be located. Should he keep it or discard it?

He didn't make a decision and connected with Shi Chun using the Mother-child Talisman to ask for advice.

Shi Chun instructed him to continue searching for other items.

So Wu Jinliang casually rummaged through the other items without closely examining them, planning to take a closer look when he had time and prioritizing finding relics in the sea.

He put away the items, exited the cave, and dove back into the sea to continue searching.

This area, stirred by huge waves, was vast. For ordinary people, searching for items in the sea was truly like looking for a needle in a haystack. However, for Wu Jinliang's group, it was at most troublesome. All were monks at the Human Immortal Realm, and their mana extended over a large search area, allowing them to search quickly, piece by piece.

Meanwhile, Shi Chun, who was on his way to this sea area, was stopped halfway and landed on a mountain peak with strange flowers and grasses.

The Demon Path contacted him, inquiring about the situation with the naval battle.

There was no way around it; someone had informants at certain command centers.

There was no way not to ask, as the meeting place Shi Chun arranged was precisely the site of the naval battle.

Upon learning that Li Hongjiu was the one who acted, the Demon Path contact expressed astonishment at Li Hongjiu's abilities. Most importantly, they suggested changing the meeting location.

That area was now frequently monitored by the Heavenly Mirror of the Five Command Centers, making it unsuitable for shady dealings.

A new meeting place? Shi Chun no longer cared; earlier, when he learned of Wu Jinliang and his group's peril, he planned to meet with the Demon Path there to seek their help, dragging them into the fray together.

So they settled on a new meeting location, not too far from where Shi Chun's group was currently based.

Feng Chi wanted to accompany him, so Shi Chun instructed Zhener to wait in place.

"I want to go too," Situ Zhen pleaded.

Shi Chun held her face in his hands, seriously explaining, "I have matters to attend to. Be good and stay here. Don't worry, I won't be long."

Situ Zhen could only nod silently.

After watching them leave, she quietly observed her surroundings for a while before forming a hand gesture, seemingly casting a spell.

After about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, a figure flew over from afar—a man—landing unsteadily under the trees atop the mountain. He fell to his knees before Situ Zhen, hands clutching his head, sweating profusely, and appearing in great pain as he bowed, almost like he was hitting his head.

Situ Zhen released the hand gesture, allowing him to collapse onto the ground, gasping for breath with a pale face.

The man was under her spell, summoned through it. When Feng Chi had searched him earlier, and he discarded his tracking device, she left a message on it, detailing a contact method that Duan Jie could understand.

After examining the man, Situ Zhen asked coldly, "Did you bring the item?"

Her tone was indifferent and ruthless, a stark contrast to how she spoke when in front of Shi Chun.

The man hastily retrieved half a Mother-child Talisman from his bosom, cradling it in his hands and offering it up with both hands.

After taking the Mother-child Talisman and quickly using it to verify the message, Situ Zhen responded with a curt "Alright, you may leave."

Feeling as if he had received a great pardon, the man scrambled to his feet and swiftly disappeared into the sky.

Nearby in the underbrush, a tiny figure, smaller than a mouse, slowly withdrew its gaze from behind a leaf, pulling back its head and holding its breath, its expression extremely grave.

This tiny figure was none other than Shen Moming, who had cultivated the "Divine Travel Technique." Now only the size of an index finger, this was the limit of his cultivation technique's divine skills.

With his current cultivation, this was the smallest size he could achieve. Once his cultivation deepened, he could even shrink to the size of a speck of dust.

Previously, when Shi Chun took him along, he was always hidden in Shi Chun's sleeve. Just now, as Shi Chun left, he left him behind to monitor Situ Zhen.

The surveillance was obviously due to some suspicion, and Shen Moming discovered, just as the master expected, that this woman indeed had issues.

At this moment, Situ Zhen was still using the mother-child talisman to convey her changed intentions to Duan Jie...

The meeting place where Shi Chun was to meet with the Demon Path was in a valley, and when Feng Chi arrived, the contact had not yet arrived, perhaps because Shi Chun's group was closer.

After waiting for about half an hour, the two standing on top of the valley finally saw three figures flying towards them, maneuvering Wind Scales, hovering above them for a while before confirming through mother-child talismans and landing.

The three arrivals were obviously disguised, unlike Shi Chun's group who were open about it. The leader's physique was clearly female, and she instructed her companions to investigate the surroundings.

Shi Chun, having opened his right eye superpower, investigated the opponent's Magic Source and couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth; it was another Demon Essence of Earth Immortal Great Success Realm scale.

The returning companions came back after inspecting the surroundings and reported their findings.

Confirmed with no abnormalities found, the woman then instructed them to keep watch outside while she invited Shi Chun and the others into the valley below for a confidential talk.

With no outsiders present, Shi Chun spoke directly, "Since you're here, you might as well be honest."

Understanding his implication, the woman replied calmly, "Shi Chun, I've heard a lot about you. Do you think you are being honest?"

Shi Chun spread his hands and asked, "How am I not being honest?"

The woman asked, "Earlier, when asked which Heavenly Court team you're with, how much did you say?"

Shi Chun was puzzled and responded, "Heavenly Team 3000, is there a problem?"

"..." The woman stalled for a moment, then said in a stern voice, "You clearly said Heavenly Team 300."

Talking about this, she became frustrated, leaving the surveillance from the Command Center to focus on the 'Heavenly 300' team's position on the Mountain River Map for a long time.

It's important to note that when the cursor is not zoomed in, it's just a small dot without a number, and focusing on this dot consumed much of the surveillance energy there, delaying many of their matters.

Even when Li Hongjiu, caught in a dilemma, was rescued by Shi Chun, she suspected nothing and thought it was set up as bait by placing the token aside.

It wasn't until the 'Heavenly 300' spot suddenly disappeared, with Shi Chun still alive and well, did she realize it was time to verify.

Yet her superior later questioned her, "Missing a zero; did you see it wrong?"

Shi Chun naturally denied it, saying in a deep voice, "Impossible, I didn't say anything about three hundred. What I sent you is clearly 'Heavenly 3000'," pointing at Feng Chi, "she saw it firsthand, if you don't believe, ask her."

Feng Chi was startled inwardly, did I really see it? But still instinctively nodded, indicating that's indeed the case.

The woman's eyes then conveyed a meaning of contemplation and recollection, somewhat doubting herself, could it really be that she remembered incorrectly?

Shi Chun waved his hand, confidently saying, "That's a minor issue, it's inconsequential now. So, what kind of person are you?"

The woman remained silent, didn't dwell on the earlier issue as there was no point, after all the value the other party showed was here, otherwise, she wouldn't personally come for the conversation.

She immediately tore off the false face, revealing a lovely visage, her beauty could rival Xiang Laner.

After revealing her true face, she said calmly, "Su Mian, Centurion of East Victory Team 706."

Shi Chun quickly took out the participant list to check; those with cultivation reaching Earth Immortal Great Success Realm numbered less than fifty, and such figures were towards the front of the list, he soon found it.

Checking related, reading about Biyun Palace disciple and such, he memorized this sect, put away the list, and cupped his hands, saying, "Pleasure to meet you."

Su Mian said, "Let's talk about the Sky Splitting Sword. I have already exposed my true identity to you, so you don't have to worry about me borrowing and not returning it."

Shi Chun shook his head, "Whether you are the real Su Mian or a fake one, even if it were so, what's the big deal about true identity? If needed, who cares about the fate of Biyun Palace? Once you take the sword and run, I would have no recourse against you."

Su Mian was about to speak further, Shi Chun raised a hand to stop her, "First, clarify what you want the sword for, and what exactly you are here to do. If it's truly something I can manage, I'll take the money and naturally cooperate wholeheartedly. As things stand, treating me like a fool has no meaning. Only when I know what's to be done can I know how to assist you, wouldn't you agree?"

Su Mian nodded, "Indeed, that's the reasoning. Before coming, I also conducted a detailed understanding of your situation; being able to hand over the 'Desolate Broken Blade' is enough to prove you're not from the other two lines, but it hardly confirms you're not a Heavenly Court infiltrator. I've always been suspicious of your identity. Just because you don't fear Demonic Qi things doesn't mean you're of the same path, it's imprudent, not to mention these matters are greatly consequential; I'm not quite clear on why those above have so much faith in you."

Her reference to Heavenly Court, in this context, includes the Four Great Royal Courts, nominally still ruling over the realms.

Upon hearing this, Shi Chun suddenly raised a palm, conjuring a spell, immediately a black gas rolled out of his palm, and with a flip of his hand, the black gas was propelled towards the other's face.

Su Mian warily intended to step back, but suddenly paused, allowing the non-offensive black gas to engulf her face, personally experiencing it, confirming it indeed was Demonic Qi!

By the side, Feng Chi's eyes sparkled as she observed; it confirmed the master's cultivation was also of Demon Skill, a vague apprehension she had was now completely relieved.

With his hand down, Shi Chun said, "If I were a Heavenly Court person, the exposure of cultivating Demon Skill would mean decimation by Heavenly Court, you must admit, your superiors indeed have more foresight than you. Well, since they allowed you to talk, it means you can be frank with me, so don't play around, creating complications has no point."