Silence.
Duobao was utterly dumbfounded. No words could describe how he felt at that moment.
Zhao Gongming was just as stunned.
How much had he sacrificed to become an Inner Sect Disciple? He had even devoted millions of years to the cause, achieving such great accomplishments.
And yet he was still an Outer Sect Disciple.
Lin Chuan, a nobody, had risen to become a Personal Disciple at an incredibly fast pace. That alone was infuriating, but now he seemed to care nothing for his status as a Personal Disciple.
Zhao Gongming felt that his aspirations had been trampled!
A trace of anger gradually appeared on his face.
Although Sect Master Tongtian had not shown himself, the corner of his mouth twitched all the same.
Lin Chuan was the sort who refused to budge when coaxed, but backed away when pushed.
It left him feeling rather helpless.
[Does this count as disobeying an order?]
[And if I can avoid the contest, even if that means acting against orders, doesn't that mean they can just kick me out?]
Sect Master Tongtian: "..."
No one knew how helpless Sect Master Tongtian felt at that moment.
Was there anyone who could slack off even more than Lin Chuan?
To escape this place full of trouble, he was willing to try anything.
However, Sect Master Tongtian had already set his sights on him and had even made up his mind to refuse to let Lin Chuan have his way.
Especially since he still didn't know whether Lin Chuan had the ability to foresee the future.
If that ability was put to good use, perhaps it could help the Interception Sect truly escape the calamity.
Didn't he say this was a place full of trouble?
Then he would tie him to the ship and see if he could come up with a solution.
Sect Master Tongtian thought it over.
Zhao Gongming was overcome with humiliation. The Personal Disciple Position he had so desperately wanted had just been casually rejected by someone else.
This...
Even the most patient man had his limits!
However,
before he could say anything,
Duobao Tathagata spoke. "Do you know that those who disobey orders will have their souls extracted and be cast into the Place of Eternal Damnation, never to be reincarnated?"
"Once Master says it, no one can disobey unless he takes back the order."
"If anyone disobeys, they will be denounced as a traitor before the world."
"Have you thought it through?"
A cold glint appeared in Duobao Tathagata's eyes, and his opinion of Lin Chuan worsened.
Sect Master Tongtian realized he absolutely could not let that brat find any loopholes, or he would definitely do everything he could to defy the order.
He had to make Lin Chuan understand just how serious disobedience was.
Sure enough,
Lin Chuan had been secretly gloating.
But when he suddenly heard the consequences, his eyelids began twitching.
The corner of his mouth even twitched slightly. He had thought that the worst that could happen for disobeying was being expelled.
Then he could leave this place full of trouble, but he had never imagined—
that damn Sect Master Tongtian could be so ruthless!
What kind of rule was that?
He had to be doing this on purpose!!
[AAAAAAAAAAAH!!]
[That old bastard is definitely doing this on purpose!]
[He's absolutely doing it on purpose. What is it about me that caught your eye? I can change, all right? Whatever I can change, I'll change it all.]
[Stop keeping your eye on me!]
[What have I done to deserve your attention? Isn't Zhao Gongming good enough? That guy has made contributions to the Interception Sect for millions of years.]
[Now that's a truly good disciple, better than those traitors like Duobao. Can't you see that? Why do you have to keep your eye on me?]
Lin Chuan was going out of his mind.
He had thought he could get away from this place full of trouble, but instead, he had been pushed into another abyss.
Did he dare refuse?
No!
Even though he kept complaining about Sect Master Tongtian in his heart, he had to admit how powerful he was.
His power reached to the very heavens!
In the Great Desolation,
he was one of the top experts.
He was also a man whose word was law. If Lin Chuan still dared to defy him, he really would be torn limb from limb.
As if sensing a gaze from somewhere beyond, Lin Chuan lowered his head in humiliation.
"I... have no intention of disobeying. I only think Zhao Gongming is more suitable!"
"He can definitely shoulder this responsibility!"
As soon as Lin Chuan finished speaking,
a glint flashed in Zhao Gongming's eyes, and he shot Lin Chuan a cold look.
"No need. Thank you, Senior Brother, for your kind offer."
"In my view, I should fight for what I deserve, not accept your charity."
"I will prove to my fellow disciples and Master that I'm better than you!"
Lin Chuan: "..."
He parted his lips slightly and stared at Zhao Gongming, who was glaring at him.
He was at a loss for words.
Good grief.
He was trying to hand the position over to him, and now he was pulling this?
What was he playing at?
[What a blockhead!]
[You want the Personal Disciple Position, don't you? Just cooperate a little, and then you'll truly be a Personal Disciple. Why make such a fuss?]
[What are you playing at?]
[AAAAAH!]
Though utterly speechless, Lin Chuan felt helpless. He knew that even if he didn't want to compete, he had no choice.
He had been driven into a dead end.
Disobeying meant certain death.
But he wanted to leave this place full of trouble.
So, to save his own life, he had no choice but to compete with Zhao Gongming.
What a disgrace!
Sect Master Tongtian watched Lin Chuan's frustrated expression, and a smile crept onto his lips.
It seemed everything was under his control.
Refusing to budge when coaxed, but backing away when pushed?
Look how capable you are. Now I'll make you show what you can really do. Let's see if you still think you can keep slacking off!
"You said this was a place full of trouble? Then I'll keep you tied up here. If you can come up with a more reliable solution,"
"then there may still be hope for you. Otherwise, you'll stay here."
Sect Master Tongtian didn't fully believe Lin Chuan. He only had some doubts.
But Lin Chuan somehow knew about the Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods, while everyone else hadn't even noticed it, much less learned of it.
That alone showed that Lin Chuan had extraordinary abilities.
So Sect Master Tongtian was willing to take a small gamble.
In truth, Sect Master Tongtian had failed to notice that he was gradually losing trust in Duobao, and a trace of wariness was slowly rising in his heart.
Whether it was true or not,
once that thorn had taken root in his heart,
it was bound to cause some unease.
A thorn that could not be removed. After all, no one could easily accept a traitor.
On Golden Ao Island,
in just fifteen minutes,
the news caused another huge stir.
Zhao Gongming was going to compete against Lin Chuan, the new Personal Disciple, with the Chief Disciple Brother serving as judge.
As for who would win, no one cared.
Most people simply wanted to see who this Lin Chuan was, the one who had suddenly become a Personal Disciple!
How had he managed to become one just like that?
That was what everyone was curious about!
Before you continue