Silence!
An utter, deathly silence.
The many disciples on Golden Ao Island all wore looks of shock.
Staring at that figure, for a moment none of them could find the words to describe how they felt.
In the blink of an eye, one disciple came to his senses.
"My god!"
"What... what is Lin Chuan doing? Does he not know that he's about to be watched by a crowd of people?"
"And the outcome of this duel between them will decide who gets the Personal Disciple Position!"
"Are you kidding me? Even if he gave it his all, he might not be a match for Zhao Gongming. And now he actually wants to face Zhao Gongming like this?"
"He's asking to die!"
"What blatant humiliation!"
The Interception Sect disciples on Golden Ao Island erupted in an uproar. None of them could stay calm.
No matter who was involved, everyone would treat a major matter like this with the utmost seriousness. No one would act on a whim.
But now, Lin Chuan wasn't even giving it his all.
Worse, he was facing Zhao Gongming in this manner. What was that supposed to mean?
The other disciples were already reacting this way.
How much more so Zhao Gongming himself?
He was absolutely furious. He had already felt utterly humiliated, and now, seeing Lin Chuan act like this, how could it be anything but an insult?
"Damn you!"
"Don't get cocky!"
"So what if you've already become a Personal Disciple?"
"Oh? I never thought becoming a Personal Disciple was such a big deal!"
"I said it before: if you want the position, you can have it."
Lin Chuan spoke listlessly, as if his mind were somewhere far away. Strictly speaking, he hadn't been taking the fight seriously at all!
Every word and action of his sent a tremendous shock through the disciples present.
Especially as soon as those words left his mouth.
They immediately caused a huge commotion!
"What?!"
"Lin Chuan... Lin Chuan actually doesn't want the Personal Disciple Position? Are you kidding me?"
"Who doesn't know that Personal Disciples can meet their master directly and even receive his personal guidance? Some are even taught by him in person and given access to endless resources."
"And he... he actually says he'll give the position to someone else!"
Boom!
The Interception Sect disciples stared in disbelief, as if they thought they'd misheard him.
After a long while,
they looked at one another, seeing shock in each other's eyes.
"I... I must be imagining things, right?"
"No! You're not!"
Among the many disciples, an uproar was inevitable. Everyone yearned for such a status. Becoming an Inner Sect Disciple alone meant a considerable rise in standing.
It was a symbol of prestige.
And what about becoming a Personal Disciple?
Sect Master Tongtian had very few Personal Disciples. If not for that, Lin Chuan's having become one without anyone knowing would never have caused such a huge commotion.
That was exactly why the reaction was so extraordinary!
And now, the person in question was treating the position with such disdain!
How could anyone not be shocked?
Duobao was there himself, and when he heard this, the corner of his mouth twitched too.
He hadn't expected Lin Chuan to say such a thing in front of everyone. If he'd said it in private, no matter what, it could never have caused such an uproar.
If someone challenged him face-to-face, he could simply deny it.
But given the situation now, this was going to get out of hand!
Duobao glanced at the agitated disciples around him and sighed helplessly, a complex look in his eyes.
"Now that takes guts!"
"Is he not afraid the disciples will tear him to pieces? Many people here have spent hundreds of thousands, even millions of years, trying and failing to become Inner Sect Disciples."
"And the Personal Disciple Position is even more precious in everyone's eyes. Yet someone is trampling all over it."
"Isn't that just an insult?"
Just as Duobao had said, the Interception Sect disciples were all furious.
They glared at Lin Chuan. If Zhao Gongming hadn't been there, many of them would have rushed at him by now.
After all, someone had trampled on what they yearned for.
How could any self-respecting person put up with this?
"Damn it!"
"He's a nobody, and now he dares to spout such nonsense. If he hadn't used underhanded tricks, how could he have gotten the Personal Disciple Position? And now he doesn't even know how to treasure it."
"You bastard!"
Anger showed on every disciple's face.
By comparison,
Zhao Gongming was just as furious. He simply wasn't shouting and raging like the others. He was barely holding himself back, his whole body beginning to tremble.
The hand gripping the Golden Whip shook nonstop.
Lin Chuan floated slowly in the air, showing no sign of wanting to fight.
Sensing the emotions of those around him, Zhao Gongming included,
a bewildered look crossed his face.
[My god, what's with everyone looking so furious? You'd think I'd killed their fathers.]
[This is ridiculous!]
[As they say, the rotten apple doesn't fall far from the tree. With that old geezer Tongtian around, how could anyone here turn out normal?]
Sect Master Tongtian spat out a mouthful of blood.
He'd been caught in the crossfire for absolutely no reason!
What's more...
The one who'd caused such a huge commotion was clearly you, you little brat. Do you have any idea how many years everyone here has spent cultivating?
How much they've sacrificed to become Inner Sect Disciples?
It would be no exaggeration to say they'd gone through countless cycles of reincarnation for it.
And now, you've shattered everyone's convictions.
You... isn't this just asking for the whole crowd to turn against you?
Sect Master Tongtian was deeply exasperated. If he had granted anyone else the position of Inner Sect Disciple or Personal Disciple, they would have been overwhelmed with gratitude.
But this brat had not only tried to give the position away time and again, he was now slandering him in his thoughts!
I...
"Rotten apple..."
"Not one normal person..."
Sect Master Tongtian was at a loss for words. He glanced at Lin Chuan. He was, after all, a Heavenly Dao Sage. Even though he wanted to teach the boy a good lesson, he couldn't make a move right now.
At the same time, he glanced at Zhao Gongming.
The corners of his mouth lifted slightly. Zhao Gongming's anger had already been stoked.
Though Zhao Gongming was an Outer Sect Disciple, anyone with eyes could see that his strength far surpassed that rank.
He was formidable!
Strictly speaking, Zhao Gongming had long been qualified to enter the Inner Sect.
On an ordinary day, perhaps they could have had a fair match.
But given the situation now, Lin Chuan was in trouble!
The disciples on Golden Ao Island glared at him, their anger surging like a storm. The clouds and mist around them seemed to stir, a clear sign of the disturbance caused by so many gathered disciples.
And even when they were overcome with anger,
they still stirred up quite a commotion.
Before you continue