Wang Chuan did not answer Zhao Wuji's question directly. Instead, a trace of struggle appeared in his eyes.
As an orphan in his previous life, Wang Chuan had understood the essence of the world from the moment he became aware of things: the strong preyed on the weak.
Whether in the orphanage or at school, anyone with a weak personality became someone everyone could bully.
Because of that, Wang Chuan had grown accustomed to being alone and developed an independent, self-reliant personality.
But humans were ultimately social creatures.
During the past half month with Zhao Wuji, Wang Chuan realized that he, too, longed for companions deep down.
Yet human nature was ultimately complicated.
Although Wang Chuan had acknowledged Zhao Wuji's character during the previous test and accepted him into the team,
he still hesitated now.
Because everything he intended to do next would touch upon his most fundamental secrets. If Zhao Wuji ever harbored even the slightest ill intent in the future, Wang Chuan would be doomed beyond redemption.
But at that moment, Wang Lie's kindly smile flashed through Wang Chuan's mind.
Wang Chuan froze for a moment before the corner of his lips lifted slightly. He gave a self-mocking laugh.
Honestly, it's not as if I'm revealing every secret I have all at once. Why am I being so timid?
This is also a good opportunity to see whether Zhao Wuji is truly someone I can trust with my back.
There may be plenty of refined egoists in this world, but there are also plenty of kindhearted and righteous people.
Otherwise, how could my great motherland have risen once more onto the world stage after a century of humiliation?
And if I'm too afraid to move forward over something this small, wouldn't this life be far too stifling? What would be the point of becoming stronger?
After criticizing himself, some shackle within Wang Chuan's heart gradually shattered. His smile became increasingly uninhibited and wild, and he seemed to gain a few more traces of confidence.
Turning around, Wang Chuan looked Zhao Wuji straight in the eye and asked,
"Old Zhao, I truly consider you a brother.
"So, can I trust you?"
Faced with Wang Chuan's abrupt question, Zhao Wuji was briefly stunned.
Then he met Wang Chuan's gaze openly, slapped his broad chest with bold confidence, and said firmly,
"Isn't that obvious, Captain? I, Old Zhao, have seen everything you've done for me!
"If I betrayed you, would I still be human? Just say the word, Captain. I'd give my life if I had to!"
Seeing Zhao Wuji like this, Wang Chuan smiled with even greater relief.
At the same time, he thought that Zhao Wuji truly was worthy of being someone who would follow that miser Flender in the future. Even now, one could already see hints of what he would become.
With things having reached this point, Wang Chuan stopped keeping him in suspense. A bright purple Spirit Ring rose from his body.
"Uh? Ah!"
Zhao Wuji froze again. Then his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as he let out an incredulous cry.
"Captain! You... this! This!"
A millennium first Spirit Ring was simply too great a shock to Zhao Wuji's understanding.
And at this point in time, Bibi Dong, who had successfully cultivated Twin Martial Souls, had yet to emerge. Cases of Twin Martial Souls were extremely rare, so ordinary academies naturally did not teach about them.
Zhao Wuji naturally could not make the connection. For a moment, he was at a loss for words, his mind crashing as he had no idea how to express the chaos in his heart.
Wang Chuan watched calmly. Only after Zhao Wuji's emotions gradually settled did he speak.
"Hehe, strange, isn't it, Old Zhao?
"I'm clearly so much stronger than you, yet I'm only a Spirit Master, and my first Spirit Ring is even a millennium ring.
"But don't worry. I'll tell you why."
Wang Chuan then explained that his talent was poor, but that he had become so strong through relentless physical training. He also explained the requirements for Spirit Masters to absorb ten-thousand-year Spirit Rings.
At the same time, he clearly told Zhao Wuji that, based on his observations, Zhao Wuji was fully capable of absorbing the Earth Crystal Bear's Spirit Ring.
As Zhao Wuji listened, his mouth opened wider and wider. At the same time, he understood why Wang Chuan had asked so seriously whether he was trustworthy.
As a commoner Spirit Master, he understood all too well what these pieces of knowledge meant!
So when Wang Chuan told Zhao Wuji to kill the Earth Crystal Bear and obtain its Spirit Ring, Zhao Wuji did not act immediately. Instead, he stared fixedly at Wang Chuan.
Zhao Wuji clenched his fists, the emotions in his heart surging like a tsunami.
Wang Chuan had been forced into loneliness, but had Zhao Wuji not experienced the same?
Otherwise, why would he have been ostracized into graduating?
At that moment, Wang Chuan's intense trust allowed him to rediscover the long-lost days when he had played and fought with his companions in the village. His eyes reddened slightly.
Only because such innocent emotions were so precious and deeply desired.
Suddenly, Zhao Wuji clasped his fists toward Wang Chuan, then dropped to one knee.
"Captain, no! Big Brother!
"I'll remember your kindness. As long as I, Old Zhao, live another day, you will always be my big brother! I will never betray you, and I will always be your little brother!
"Otherwise, may I, Zhao Wuji, suffer heaven's punishment, have my Martial Spirit shattered, and die without a burial place!"
Wang Chuan had not expected Zhao Wuji to suddenly do something like this.
After all, before Tang San came up with that whole 'a teacher for a day, a father for life' idea,
kneeling rites on Douluo Continent were reserved solely for monarchs. Though Zhao Wuji had only knelt halfway, it was enough to show the respect he held for Wang Chuan at that moment.
Not to mention that Zhao Wuji had sworn upon his own Martial Spirit in the end.
In a world where Spirit Masters stood above all else, that was an oath of the greatest weight.
Wang Chuan quickly helped Zhao Wuji up. Though he said that he had only told him these things because he trusted him,
the smile on his face was impossible to hide. Clearly, he was immensely satisfied with Zhao Wuji's response.
Afterward, Zhao Wuji did not hesitate. He stabbed a knife through the Earth Crystal Bear's heart and killed it, then began refining the Spirit Ring wholeheartedly, without a trace of doubt toward anything Wang Chuan had said.
At first, Zhao Wuji's expression twisted in discomfort, but his complexion soon returned to normal.
Wang Chuan was not surprised in the slightest.
After all, during the past half month, Wang Chuan had not merely been feeding Zhao Wuji nourishing food. They had sparred with each other as well.
So even though Wang Chuan had not mastered a method of using Mental Power to examine the body, he could still clearly determine which stage of his own physical strength Zhao Wuji's body compared to.
A mere 2,200-year Earth Crystal Bear was naturally no problem.
In fact, if circumstances allowed, Wang Chuan would have wanted Zhao Wuji to absorb a 3,000-year Spirit Beast instead.
Because Zhao Wuji's physical strength was absolutely far beyond that of others at the same level.
Wang Chuan even boldly guessed that Zhao Wuji's future feat of fighting sixteen Soul Emperors from Spirit Hall alone was due to his powerful physique, which far surpassed those of the same stage.
Wang Chuan then looked at the purple Spirit Ring being refined by Zhao Wuji, which was gradually dimming.
If Zhao Wuji could randomly obtain a Gravity Control skill similar to, yet stronger than, the Gravity Enhancement skill from his original timeline, then the Zhao Wuji of the future would only become stronger.
Before you continue