To be on the safe side, Zhao Gongming didn't stop so easily. The Twenty-Four Sea Calming Divine Pearls continued to circle around him.
They brought an enormous shock to everyone watching.
As for the many Outer Sect Disciples, they were also filled with anticipation.
Who would win and who would lose?
The answer was about to be revealed.
After all, the bets had already been placed.
The only two who knew the truth were Duobao Tathagata and Sect Master Tongtian. But given their lofty status, neither would readily explain anything.
Duobao Tathagata was filled with emotion.
He had always maintained a neutral stance and never deliberately favored anyone. He had simply formed a slight bias beforehand, which was why he felt a trace of displeasure toward Lin Chuan.
Especially since only three people knew about the Personal Disciple Position.
Duobao Tathagata had believed his master would never reveal it.
And his master truly hadn't.
Then the conclusion was obvious.
Being so eager to let everyone know he had already secured the Personal Disciple Position was far too impulsive, especially when Sect Master Tongtian hadn't even said a word.
He had already made it common knowledge!
Duobao Tathagata was, after all, the chief disciple.
Naturally, he was deeply displeased.
Still, he hadn't shown too much dissatisfaction. He was acting as the referee in the contest between the two, but judging by the situation, it seemed his master had indeed made the right choice.
Forget his character for now.
In terms of strength alone, he was definitely even stronger than Zhao Gongming.
A defense that left him unscathed.
Despite Zhao Gongming's relentless barrage, Lin Chuan hadn't suffered so much as a scratch. Even Duobao Tathagata himself wasn't sure he could pull that off.
Yet Lin Chuan had demonstrated Absolute Defense in its truest sense.
"He... who exactly is he?"
"Why does he have such terrifying defenses? Zhao Gongming may not be all that powerful, but it would be nearly impossible for anyone to defend like that."
"Even I probably couldn't do it!"
"This..."
At first, Duobao hadn't realized what he was seeing. But as it gradually sank in—
His face slowly filled with shock.
Putting himself in Lin Chuan's shoes, he finally understood just how badly he had underestimated the young man standing there. And if he really had been in Lin Chuan's place—
He... might not have been able to do so well.
There was no denying that his own strength was a little greater.
But if he had to refrain from fighting back...
That would be nearly impossible, too. If he didn't fight back, he'd sustain at least some injuries. What's more, he knew Lin Chuan had come away completely unscathed.
His astonishment gradually showed on his face.
Terrifying!
Incredible!
Lin Chuan had been nothing more than an unknown Outer Sect Disciple before.
If he had been so powerful, everyone would have known about him long ago.
No matter how well he hid his strength, he would have let something slip. Yet now, he seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, and he was incredibly powerful!
Setting everything else aside, this defense alone had left Duobao Tathagata in awe.
He even felt he couldn't compare!
As Duobao Tathagata stood there in shock—
Sect Master Tongtian, too, gradually came to his senses.
Because Lin Chuan kept badmouthing him in his thoughts from time to time, he had started paying close attention to the young rascal.
But...
Those were secrets he couldn't uncover. He'd never imagined the brat's defenses would be so strong.
"Has he already finished cultivating all the techniques from before? Or has he always been this strong, and simply never shown it?"
"No... impossible!"
"Anyone with this kind of strength would never hide it."
Wait!!
Sect Master Tongtian had initially wanted to dismiss the idea, but then he realized his thinking had fallen into a blind spot.
Especially when it came to Lin Chuan.
Anyone else with such strength would be eager to show it off. Lin Chuan, however, was the exact opposite. That rascal clearly wanted to leave the Interception Sect.
He practically wanted to get expelled.
With someone that peculiar, anything he did was understandable.
Once he had figured that out, Sect Master Tongtian looked utterly exasperated.
"This brat..."
"How could anyone be so unwilling to improve? No, I won't allow it!"
"I can set aside the question of when his strength grew so great. Now that I know about it, I'll give him a little push."
"Dare to disobey?"
"Then don't even think about leaving!"
"Hmm~ Let's see how I deal with you!"
Sect Master Tongtian smiled mischievously.
Perhaps when it came to the Great Desolation, Sect Master Tongtian was stern with everyone, and never so much as cracked a smile, not even around experts of equal standing.
But when it came to Lin Chuan, he always felt like playing a trick on him.
Besides, in this dog-eat-dog world, a little amusement was a welcome change.
What's more...
Lin Chuan was hiding a great secret. Sect Master Tongtian didn't mind having a little fun with him. If he managed to uncover that secret, it might bring unimaginable benefits in the days ahead.
Hmm~
That was what Sect Master Tongtian thought.
Meanwhile...
Lin Chuan suddenly shivered.
He had no idea Sect Master Tongtian was keeping an eye on him. Even so, he could clearly sense that someone was maliciously scheming against him.
And whenever he had that kind of thought or feeling—
Whether it was true or not...
It was always that old scoundrel Tongtian's fault!
Here we go again!
It's definitely that old scoundrel Tongtian scheming against me again. No, I can't stay here any longer. This place is nothing but trouble, and that old scoundrel is a real menace!
He's always trying to dig a pit for me to fall into. If this keeps up, he'll play me to death!
That old scoundrel is a real menace!
Lin Chuan grumbled bitterly. He didn't think he was imagining it.
After all, in the world of the Great Desolation—
The stronger you were, the sharper your senses became.
If you had a premonition, nine times out of ten, it was true.
Besides, as far as he could tell, the only person in the Interception Sect who could act against him without restraint and always leave him at a disadvantage was Sect Master Tongtian.
He still couldn't figure out what Sect Master Tongtian wanted.
He was nobody.
Now, out of nowhere, he had become a Personal Disciple and the enemy of the entire Interception Sect.
It left him thoroughly frustrated.
If not for the rewards from the system, he would have wanted to smash his head against a wall.
But just then—
Lin Chuan suddenly opened his eyes, and light seemed to shine from them.
He... seemed to have forgotten something.
Before you continue