The many disciples of the Interception Sect felt that hope was within reach. The example was right before their eyes, and the passion in their hearts seemed to ignite in an instant!
Duobao was quite satisfied.
This was exactly the kind of encouragement the Outer Sect Disciples needed.
However...
One person was rather unimpressed.
Lin Chuan curled his lip.
[Tongtian This Old Scoundrel really is devious, setting traps every chance he gets. Now he's even resorting to this kind of motivational tactic.]
[Tsk, tsk, tsk...]
[Good thing I saw right through it. Does he really think he can win me over with a trick like this?]
[Only a fool would fall for it!]
Lin Chuan could see at a glance that, since the matter had become such a big deal, even though Sect Master Tongtian held an exceptionally lofty position,
if the details weren't handled properly,
sooner or later they would become the main issue threatening to topple this towering tree.
Therefore,
he had come up with this as a way to encourage the disciples.
And he'd seized the opportunity to make Zhao Gongming an Inner Sect Disciple.
Zhao Gongming had always deserved that position!
He more than met the formal requirements for advancement. It was just that he'd had terrible luck.
Otherwise...
how could he still be an Outer Sect Disciple?
In the end, this had belonged to Zhao Gongming all along. Now, with the matter having become such a big deal, they'd simply had no choice but to seize the opportunity and make it happen.
As an onlooker, Lin Chuan saw right through it.
Sect Master Tongtian had nearly leaped out of his seat.
Never mind that he was a Heavenly Dao Sage. After being talked about time and again, anyone would feel at least a little displeased.
Lin Chuan was going too far.
No matter what happened, he always managed to drag Sect Master Tongtian into it.
"That brat needs to be taught a lesson. He really has no idea how powerful I am. He keeps dragging me into everything, as if I'm the one who's behind it all!"
"I wouldn't stoop so low. I'm a Heavenly Dao Sage, after all. Why would I handle such a thing myself?"
Sect Master Tongtian was thoroughly disdainful. He was, after all, a lofty Sage.
He would never personally bother with such a trivial matter. Wouldn't that be beneath his dignity?
Duobao Tathagata had simply drawn his own conclusions, yet somehow all of this had been misunderstood.
Sect Master Tongtian declared that Lin Chuan was doomed!
Zhao Gongming gradually recovered from his excitement. He hadn't expected to become an Inner Sect Disciple.
But as the excitement slowly subsided,
he gradually understood why he'd been given the chance to join the Inner Sect.
It wasn't because he was especially powerful.
Nor could it be because he had extraordinary talent.
After all, there was always someone stronger, and heaven beyond heaven.
He understood that principle more deeply than ever now. And right before his eyes was a genius whom his master valued even more.
That was what a true genius looked like!
What did he amount to in comparison?
So he was especially clearheaded now. He knew that without Lin Chuan, he would never have achieved this.
And he certainly wouldn't have been able to join the Inner Sect!
In the end, he owed it all to Lin Chuan.
Then, thinking of how Lin Chuan possessed such strength yet had chosen to keep a relatively low profile, Zhao Gongming felt something stir within him.
In full view of everyone,
Zhao Gongming dropped to one knee on the spot.
"Senior Brother Lin, I offended you before. You've already forgiven me, but if not for what happened this time, I never would have had the chance to enter the Inner Sect."
"Everything I owe to becoming an Inner Sect Disciple is because of you, Senior Brother."
"Your junior brother swears to follow you. Whatever you ask me to do, I won't complain."
"This junior brother wants to follow by your side, Senior Brother!"
"Please accept!"
Everyone: "..."
Duobao: "..."
Sect Master Tongtian: "..."
Everyone was dumbfounded. No one had expected Zhao Gongming to pull a stunt like that.
It was truly astonishing!
He was an Inner Sect Disciple, yet here he was, swearing in front of everyone to follow someone else.
Of course, no one present would deny Lin Chuan's strength. He was also a Personal Disciple. True, until recently he'd been a nobody, but this contest had made everyone realize the truth.
He might have kept a low profile, but that didn't mean he was incapable.
So although Zhao Gongming's actions were certainly reasonable,
they still left everyone somewhat shaken and astonished.
"My god!"
"Zhao Gongming just became an Inner Sect Disciple, and now he's already swearing to follow Lin Chuan?"
"The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife just moments ago. The two of them were at odds, and now they've completely made peace?"
"What else would you expect? He's already given away the Sea Calming Divine Pearls as compensation. If they hadn't made peace after that, things between them would've been a real mess."
"No... no..."
"Lin Chuan might not have much of a problem with it, since he already got the Sea Calming Divine Pearls."
"But... doesn't Zhao Gongming want his treasure back?"
Everyone fell silent.
After all, everyone had thought their relationship would be one of irreconcilable enmity. But now Zhao Gongming had made such an astonishing move.
It had left everyone gaping!
Perhaps, in Zhao Gongming's eyes, the treasure had already served as an apology, and he'd never intended to take it back in the first place.
Otherwise, why would he have made such a move?
Everyone was astonished.
Their eyes shifted back and forth between Zhao Gongming and Lin Chuan.
If Zhao Gongming's actions had surprised them, then they couldn't help but admire Lin Chuan.
Without some real ability, how could he have won Zhao Gongming's complete submission?
Interesting!
He really was formidable!
What's more...
Zhao Gongming's actions had given the many Outer Sect Disciples of the Interception Sect a new perspective. Their eyes had all changed a little.
At first, they'd either focused on cultivation or formed little factions, but none of them had ever considered this kind of approach.
Lin Chuan had indeed been a nobody before.
But now he had suddenly become a Personal Disciple, on his master's orders, no less. Didn't that mean their master thought highly of him?
He'd even been made a Personal Disciple by special exception.
Now, if they could cling tightly to this powerful backer, even if they couldn't become Inner Sect Disciples, might they at least get a slightly greater share of the resources?
Before you continue