The setting sun sank out of sight, and night rose once more.
The leaders of the Nine Great Sects gathered at Summer Path Mountain's lodgings. They discussed the matter at length but failed to devise a good way to deal with Situ Gu. Not only did he have the mighty Heavenforging Sect behind him, but his own influence was considerable. One call from him would bring plenty of willing supporters.
Of all the great masters in the Cultivation World, who would not want to befriend the world's foremost artifact-refining expert?
The trouble was, they could hardly take Shi Chun straight to Situ Gu for a confrontation. If Situ Gu admitted it, what could they do? Was the Heavenforging Sect not allowed to develop methods of finding divine fire? What business was it of theirs? Did they intend to rob him?
They could rob an ordinary sect, but against the foremost sect in the Artifact Refining World, who would dare lead the charge?
That was what made this so difficult.
After much agonizing, someone voiced a suspicion. "Could Shi Chun have known Situ Gu was a tough bone to gnaw, and deliberately pointed us toward him?"
Someone immediately countered, "If he dares deceive us over this and sling mud at the Heavenforging Sect as well, he'll be making an enemy of the entire Artifact Refining World. He might as well find somewhere to bury himself and never show his face again. He's a clever man. He must understand that."
Someone agreed. "We believe him because there really have been unusual dealings between Situ Gu and Shi Chun. A man as aloof as Situ Gu should never associate with a small fry like Shi Chun. You must have noticed it too: someone with Situ Gu's temperament was unusually concerned about the Divine