Inside the main hall of the Blazing Fire Sect's branch in Artifact Cloud Valley, the Sect Master held the list Elder Wei of the Golden Hall had brought. One brief glance was enough to make him bare his teeth.
Watching his expression, the gray-bearded Elder Wei asked, "What is it? Am I not qualified, or are you worried the Golden Hall won't return what it borrows?"
The Blazing Fire Sect Master hastily waved his hands and smiled bitterly. "Elder Wei, I really can't produce these materials here. If you truly need them, I'm afraid you'll have to wait. I'll send someone back to our sect to gather them."
They were on the same island anyway, only a short walk away. Elder Wei settled comfortably against the chair back and waved a hand. "Hurry, then. We need them urgently."
"Certainly. Please wait a moment while I give the instructions." With that polite reply, the Blazing Fire Sect Master found an excuse to leave.
He had just stepped outside and handed the list to a disciple beside him to take care of it when another disciple hurried over and reported, "Sect Master, Elder Hu of the Extreme Fire Sect requests an audience."
The Blazing Fire Sect Master was momentarily speechless. He turned and exchanged looks with the elder beside him, both showing surprise and suspicion. The latter gave a dry chuckle. "No need to ask. Another one here to borrow materials."
The Blazing Fire Sect Master frowned. "How strange. Why are they all coming to our Blazing Fire Sect to borrow materials?"
The elder said, "Could it have something to do with Shi Chun? According to the reports from our disciples, those are precisely the sects he's visited."
The Blazing Fire Sect Master pondered with a frown, then shook his head slightly.