"Look at you, such a disappointment. It's not as though I never gave you a chance. I sent you to manage Shangyuan Mountain, and what happened? That Demon Monkey drove you back here. Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough?"
The disciple took the scolding full in the face, but it also put Tang Changsheng on his guard.
So Shangyuan Mountain was the next Sect Leader's Daoist Grounds. No wonder True Lord Wu had tried to put him off.
So be it. He was a newcomer who had joined the order late. Though he had become a Direct True Disciple, he had no roots in the Taiyi Immortal Sword Order. Why wade into these muddy waters?
He politely declined and asked Sect Leader Chen to grant him a different Daoist Grounds.
To his surprise, those words enraged Sect Leader Chen all over again. This time, Chen turned his anger on Tang Changsheng. "What, are you afraid too? Is there not a single useful disciple on Great Expansion Peak? Are you all so frightened of that Demon Monkey that you'd hand over Shangyuan Mountain for nothing and let everyone else laugh at us?"
Those were harsh words. Tang Changsheng was left thoroughly chastened.
True Lord Wu started to speak, but Sect Leader Chen stopped him with a look. He could only smile bitterly and hold his tongue.
Sect Leader Chen's anger had not abated. He pressed on: "Let me tell you this. The position of Sect Leader in the Taiyi Immortal Sword Order has always gone to the worthy. No rule says the Sect Leader's own True Disciple must inherit it. Any True Disciple who wishes to can contend for the position!"
He spoke with such severity that, while Tang Changsheng held up, the other disciple's face turned ashen.
It seemed the man