Chen Lin ignored the Old Taoist's threat.
The man had probably been trapped here so long that something had gone wrong with his head, for him to say something so childish.
The more he behaved like this, the harder Chen Lin found it to trust him.
Still, Chen Lin offered no mocking remarks.
Though the man's demand was unreliable, he could use it to his advantage, playing along to buy himself time to advance.
Otherwise, he certainly could not keep up with the man.
At that thought, Chen Lin pretended to deliberate. "If you want me to trust you, Reverend, you'll have to give me some assurance. How about this? Swear with a Daoist Sect incantation that you absolutely will not betray me, and I'll agree to work with you."
"An oath using a Daoist incantation? Certainly."
The Old Taoist agreed readily.
He immediately used an incantation unique to the Daoist Sect to swear a Great Dao Oath.
He did not ask Chen Lin to swear as well, seemingly thinking nothing of him.
"Good. Since you're so sincere, Reverend, I'll trust you this once. Wait for me before the final node!"
Chen Lin made a show of delight.
After a pause, he transmitted his voice again. "But with my abilities, even reaching the final node will be difficult. Do you have any way to help me, Reverend?"
"You can only rely on yourself for that."
The Old Taoist refused bluntly.
Then he said, "If you can't even reach the final node, there's no point in our cooperation. We'd have no chance at all of escaping this place."
"You're right, Reverend."
Seeing that nothing could be done, Chen Lin did not insist. Keeping the man from entering the Light Orb ahead of him was enough.
He then continued forward.
With ample