"Hahahahaha..."
"This time, the Personal Disciple Position should finally be mine!"
"What makes you think you deserve it? You're not worthy!"
Zhao Gongming firmly believed that, with his strength, he was utterly invincible among the Outer Sect Disciples!
Lin Chuan was an Outer Sect Disciple himself, and an unknown nobody at that.
How could someone like that possibly compare to him?
He wasn't even worth mentioning.
But...
Zhao Gongming had no idea that his attack had done absolutely nothing. It hadn't worked at all.
The many Outer Sect Disciples of the Interception Sect might not have understood what was happening. They only saw Zhao Gongming's terrifying attack and couldn't help showing a trace of fear.
Then they began to waver.
After all, their own strength was still weak.
They were far weaker than Zhao Gongming, so naturally they couldn't understand everything that was going on.
As for Duobao...
He gave a slight shake of his head.
"The gap is too great..."
The gap he meant wasn't the one between Lin Chuan and Zhao Gongming.
It was the gap between Zhao Gongming and Lin Chuan.
At first, Duobao had been just as puzzled as the others. Why had their master made an unknown nobody a Personal Disciple? Wouldn't that stir up resentment among the many Outer Sect Disciples?
Even if they didn't dare speak up,
the matter would remain like a thorn, lodged deep in their hearts.
Sooner or later, it would cause trouble.
Yet their master had never paid it any mind.
Duobao had been completely baffled.
But now, he understood a little.
"Lin Chuan has hidden his strength far too well. He must have extraordinary power, at the very least far greater than Zhao Gongming's."
"Yet he's always been an unknown nobody, unheard of and unknown to all."
"He's hidden himself far too well!"
"If Master hadn't suddenly given the order, we might never have found out. As expected of Master."
"And Lin Chuan..."
Duobao was deeply shaken.
After all, everyone had started out with the same opinion. But the situation before them had completely exceeded their expectations.
Lin Chuan was no ordinary person.
Judging by the strength he had displayed so far, he could easily crush Zhao Gongming.
Even so, that didn't mean Zhao Gongming was weak. His strength was well known, and he was one of the best among the many Outer Sect Disciples.
Therefore,
the only thing this proved was how powerful Lin Chuan was.
"C-can he still hold out?"
"Zhao Gongming's way too brutal! He went all out without a word. That's terrifying!"
"No! You can't be sure. Lin Chuan came out of that last attack completely unharmed. It'd be downright foolish to underestimate him."
"But Zhao Gongming's strength right now is extraordinary! Who could possibly withstand it?"
"How about we make a bet?"
"Sure!"
"I bet Zhao Gongming can't break through his defense!"
"Then I bet Zhao Gongming wins this time!"
"Count me in!"
"Me too!"
The many Outer Sect Disciples of the Interception Sect suddenly began cheering and placing bets.
Clearly, they didn't think the battle between the two was one-sided. That was why they'd come down on different sides.
Each group stood by its own prediction.
Even amid their shock, quite a few people still watched with anticipation.
After all, Lin Chuan had been an unknown nobody, and now he had not only become a Personal Disciple but also displayed extraordinary strength.
That gave everyone a glimmer of hope.
Perhaps, if they reached a certain level, they too could become Personal Disciples.
Compared with Lin Chuan, Zhao Gongming's path had been far more arduous and demanded far more patience.
After all, it had taken millions of years!
The disciples were making no effort to keep their voices down, and many people heard them.
Zhao Gongming heard them too.
His face immediately darkened as he stared at the spatial turbulence blocking his view.
"Heh!"
"Someone actually thinks I can't break through his defense? I'll make sure to give you a proper lesson!"
"Can't break through his defense?"
Zhao Gongming didn't believe it.
Especially now, when his displayed strength was so formidable.
He was certain that he'd already broken through Lin Chuan's defense. The other man was merely clinging on by a thread, too proud to surrender and save face.
That was all!
However...
Zhao Gongming had no idea that Lin Chuan was even more frustrated.
[Hey, hey, hey... You're making bets, so why didn't you call me? Let me make a couple of bucks too!!]
[This is so unfair! You didn't even let me in on it, even though it's such a great chance to make money!]
[Wait, if they make such a big deal of this, won't that just cement my position as his Personal Disciple?]
[Oh no, that old geezer Tongtian has tricked me again!]
Lin Chuan considered everything, and in the end, he was thoroughly frustrated. Yet he could do nothing to argue against it.
Was he supposed to admit defeat?
No! He could give way, but he couldn't back down!
So, reluctantly, he had to give up.
Sect Master Tongtian nearly spat out a mouthful of blood when he heard that.
What the heck? You want in on everything?
Please, try acting like a person!
And why does everything have to be pinned on me?
Sect Master Tongtian was thoroughly suspicious. Why was he always the one taking the blame?
It clearly had nothing to do with him, yet he was blamed for no reason. It was infuriating, especially since it was always this brat.
This brat clearly had a huge grudge against him. Why else would he keep thinking about him from time to time?
"This brat spends every day thinking about getting expelled. Doesn't he know that once I say something, I don't take it back lightly?"
"You're a Personal Disciple whether you like it or not!"
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Sect Master Tongtian's mouth. Whenever he saw Lin Chuan utterly frustrated, he felt delighted.
Who else in all of the Great Desolation would malign him for no reason? He was a Heavenly Dao Sage, after all. Even the other Sages of his level didn't go around slandering him from time to time.
Yet this disciple of his was downright audacious.
He even kept wanting to be expelled!
Good grief!
Sect Master Tongtian sometimes found it truly frustrating. But he had already made up his mind: he wasn't letting Lin Chuan leave.
Afraid to die?
Then once it really came to pass, he'd figure something out.
Sect Master Tongtian congratulated himself on his cleverness.
Lin Chuan had learned about the Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods without anyone telling him. That was already completely unreasonable.
Even if the other matters hadn't been fully confirmed, it was better to believe they might be true than dismiss them outright. Sect Master Tongtian had always been especially cautious.
Even a Heavenly Dao Sage couldn't claim to be omnipotent or all-knowing!
Before you continue