Chapter 40: The Wager

"Is there something wrong with the decision of this sect leader?" As everyone was stunned, Sect Leader Liao Yan said again with a faint smile, a hint of satisfaction flashing across his face, seemingly very pleased with his decision that achieved two goals at once.

"Sect Leader, absolutely not! Those two just killed my personal disciple. You want me to take them under my wing again? This... this... how can I face people?" Xiao Zhenhai was the first to object. The grudge between him and those two boys had not been settled, so it was impossible for them to become master and apprentice.

"That's right, I also don't want to take these two vicious boys as my disciples!" Lu Hao also disagreed, his reasons being similar to Xiao Zhenhai's.

Although they didn't have a deep enmity with Shen Chen and Wang Yue, the situation had escalated too quickly, and the master-disciple relationship was already impossible.

"Please, Sect Leader, think it over. After this incident, the two elders will surely have a grudge against these two young men. In the future, they may not treat them sincerely. If Sect Leader is willing to make an exception, I, Situ Ya, am willing to take them in!"

"Sect Leader, this matter seems to violate the rules of the Flowing Cloud Sect. The sect regulations state that the personal disciples of the five elders must be at least at the Sixth Level of the Blood Fusion Realm..."

Situ Ya and Chen Fanghao also advised, their motives different, but both opposing Shen Chen and Wang Yue becoming Xiao Zhenhai and Lu Hao's disciples.

Only Situ Chuan remained silent, stroking his beard with a light smile, as if he had already guessed the sect leader's intentions.

As the parties involved, Shen Chen and Wang Yue couldn't say much at this moment.

To be honest, they were a hundred times unwilling to become disciples of those two old foxes. Neither of them wanted to fall into a pit, but Shen Chen was very clear that if he and Wang Yue made a big fuss now, it would be equivalent to not giving the sect leader face. Liao Yan had clearly been helping them all along, and even if Shen Chen was unaware, he should understand the gravity of the situation.

It was finally a chance to resolve the conflict, and Shen Chen didn't want to escalate things again. Although he wasn't afraid of Xiao Zhenhai and Lu Hao, he didn't want to confront two Eleventh Level Blood Fusion Realm elders directly, as it would only end up hurting himself.

Wang Yue always followed Shen Chen's lead. Seeing that his senior brother didn't speak up, he also pretended not to hear, letting the elders argue among themselves.

However, this chaotic situation didn't last long. Soon, Liao Yan spoke, making the final decision.

"This matter is already decided. There's no need for further discussion. From today on, Inner Sect Disciple Shen Chen will be under Elder Xiao, and Inner Sect Disciple Wang Yue will be under Elder Lu. The deaths of Lin Hai and the others will not be mentioned again!" Liao Yan said calmly, his tone not high but firm and unyielding.

"Ha ha, Article 172 of the Flowing Cloud Sect regulations states that unless the five elders unanimously agree, anyone who disobeys the sect leader's orders will be executed without mercy! I have no objections to the sect leader's arrangement!"

Then, Situ Chuan was the first to support Liao Yan. After his statement, the matter was almost settled, as the absence of one elder was insufficient to change the sect leader's order.

"Agreed. Rules are dead, but people are alive. This is indeed a win-win solution!" The Bloodthirsty Mad Lion nodded, a hint of regret in his eyes. He naturally hoped to take Shen Chen as a disciple, but it was now impossible.

"Alright! I hope the two elders can put aside their grudges and treat these two young men sincerely!" Situ Ya's eyes were filled with the most disappointment. Shen Chen was a disciple she highly valued, even giving him the Shadow Fox Step. Now, Shen Chen had slipped through her fingers.

"Ah..."

Seeing the situation was hopeless, Xiao Zhenhai and Lu Hao exchanged glances and sighed.

However, Bloodthirsty Madman Xiao Zhenhai was still reluctant, his face dark as he said to Liao Yan, "Sect Leader, I dare not disobey your arrangement, but I have lived a life of respect for heroes. It's not easy to inherit my legacy. If the successor is a mediocre person, I would rather die than comply!"

"Agreed. I am also unwilling to pass on my life's work to an ordinary person. If necessary, I and Elder Xiao will voluntarily step down as elders and retire to the back mountain, spending the rest of our lives protecting the Flowing Cloud Sect. This would be a way to honor our ancestors!" The Green-Faced Wolf was equally firm, unwilling to compromise.

Their meaning was clear: they dared not disobey the sect leader's orders, but they would also adhere to their principles.

In fact, Xiao Zhenhai and Lu Hao's actions were normal. On the Tianlong Continent, no martial artist was willing to pass on their life's work to an incompetent successor. The stronger the martial artist, the more stringent their requirements for choosing disciples.

"Understood! The wishes of the two elders are reasonable. How about this: let's make a wager. Within three months, Shen Chen and Wang Yue must do everything possible to rank among the top five Inner Sect Disciples. Such an achievement should not disgrace the two elders, right?" Sect Leader Liao Yan thought for a moment and said.

"Ranking among the top five Inner Sect Disciples means they are the best within a thousand miles of Luoyun City. We have no objections, but... what if they fail to rank among the top five within three months?" Xiao Zhenhai said solemnly.

"Right, what if they can't do it?" Lu Hao echoed.

The sect leader had made a reasonable concession, and they couldn't stubbornly insist. Moreover, both elders firmly believed that ranking among the top five Inner Sect Disciples within three months was almost impossible for two Fourth Level Blood Fusion Realm boys.

The Flowing Cloud Sect, though an ordinary sect in Luoyun City, had many outstanding disciples, and the Inner Sect was filled with talented individuals. While they didn't know how Shen Chen and Wang Yue had killed Lin Hai, they were well aware of the difficulty of ranking among the top five.

With this premise, Xiao Zhenhai and Lu Hao weren't afraid of the two boys cheating. They could even openly create some obstacles for them...

"Ha ha, if they fail to rank among the top five within three months, I, the sect leader, will personally cripple their cultivation to the First Level of the Blood Fusion Realm and expel them from the Flowing Cloud Sect!" Liao Yan said with a playful smile.

"Is the sect leader serious?" Xiao Zhenhai and Lu Hao were delighted.

"Absolutely. Everyone here can be a witness!"

"Alright, it's a deal!"

...

When Shen Chen and Wang Yue left the main hall of Yunlan Peak and returned to their residence, their faces were both grim.

The wager had essentially cut off their retreat. If they failed to rank among the top five Inner Sect Disciples within three months, they would not only be expelled from the sect but also have their cultivation reduced to the First Level of the Blood Fusion Realm, the same level they were at when they first joined the Flowing Cloud Sect.

Anyone would be unhappy with such a situation, but Shen Chen didn't blame the sect leader. He knew that if Liao Yan hadn't done this, the two elders might not have left in a huff, but there would certainly be a rift in the sect's upper echelons.

This was something Sect Leader Liao Yan, as the leader of the Flowing Cloud Sect, did not want to see. What he could do was buy time for Shen Chen and Wang Yue.

"Brother! Do you have confidence in ranking among the top five Inner Sect Disciples within three months?" On the bed, Wang Yue tossed and turned, turning to Shen Chen with a somewhat guilty tone.

"I have no problem. The one who should be worried is you, kid!" Shen Chen was speechless. This guy was asking a known question, clearly trying to boost his own confidence.

Shen Chen said nonchalantly, "Don't worry. I will definitely secure one of the top four positions, and the fifth will be left for you."

Before this, Shen Chen had already proven his strength by killing Lin Hai, who was ranked fifth in the Inner Sect. With his current enhanced cultivation, if Lin Hai were alive, Shen Chen could easily defeat him again. Facing the disciple who had moved up to fifth place after Lin Hai's death, Shen Chen was even more confident.

So, for Shen Chen, ranking fifth in the Inner Sect was not difficult.

But if he did that, what about Wang Yue? Shen Chen couldn't let Wang Yue challenge him and knock him down, right?

Therefore, Shen Chen's current minimum goal had to be the top four in the Inner Sect.

"Alright! Since you're so confident, I won't let you down!" Wang Yue nodded firmly.

...

After the wager was established by Sect Leader Liao Yan and the two elders, the incident at Yingchou Gorge finally came to an end.

In the following days, the news of Lin Hai's death spread throughout the Flowing Cloud Sect, becoming widely known in just four or five days.

"What? Senior Brother Lin Hai is dead?!"

"Which Lin Hai? Not the Inner Sect's Senior Brother Lin Hai, right? How did he die?"

"Alas, it's truly a case of heaven envying talent. It's said that Senior Brother Lin Hai died under the attack of a group of iron-armored rhinos. To provoke a group of iron-armored rhinos alone, Senior Brother Lin Hai can be proud even in death."

Once the news spread, rumors and speculations flew. In the square in front of the Purple Mist Hall, where outer sect disciples often gathered, nearly a thousand outer sect disciples discussed various versions of the story.

Being in the outer sect, they naturally had limited access to information about the inner sect, leading to discrepancies. Some people, hearing the wind, spread rumors, causing more confusion.

However, soon, some well-informed individuals revealed the truth.

The news of Shen Chen killing Lin Hai caused a stir among the outer sect disciples and the sect's enforcers.

"Tsk, these guys are talking nonsense. Senior Brother Lin Hai was clearly killed by someone. I heard it was Inner Sect Disciple Shen Chen, who fought him to a draw before..."

"What? This... This... How is this possible?!"

"This is impossible! That's Senior Brother Lin Hai!"

"Right, as the personal disciple and successor of Bloodthirsty Madman Elder Xiao, who could kill him?"

"Hmph! What's impossible? Senior Brother Lin Hai's remains have already been buried. How can this be fake? Don't look at Senior Brother Shen Chen with your narrow-minded eyes. A month ago, he was in the outer sect, but now he's far from what he used to be!"

"Wow, Senior Brother Shen Chen is really awesome and ruthless!"

"Tsk tsk, just over a month in the Inner Sect, and he's already caused such a stir. Senior Brother Shen Chen's future is boundless..."

While the news was spreading like wildfire among the outer sect disciples, in a room where outer sect disciples lived, a tall, muscular young man cowered in the corner, his eyes filled with fear, his whole body trembling.

It was Liu Yong, who had been defeated by Wang Yue and demoted to the outer sect.

"Senior Brother Lin Hai is dead... dead... dead... killed by Shen Chen..." Liu Yong's face was pale and blank, muttering to himself, as if he had lost his soul.

Lin Hai's death had a significant impact on him. Liu Yong finally realized that he had provoked a formidable opponent he could not resist...

While the outer sect was buzzing with news about Shen Chen, the inner sect disciples were relatively calm. Although the incident also shocked them, most inner sect disciples kept it to themselves.

Moreover, the most discussed topic among the inner sect disciples was the wager between the sect leader and the two elders.

There was no such thing as a completely sealed wall. After Lin Hai's death, the subsequent developments also caused a stir among the inner sect disciples. Many wanted to know how the upper echelons would handle the matter, given the many deaths of fellow disciples.

To avoid unnecessary controversy, Sect Leader Liao Yan later revealed the wager through some key disciples. As a result, most inner sect disciples focused on the wager.

"Do you think Shen Chen and Wang Yue can rank among the top five Inner Sect Disciples within three months?"

"I think it's very unlikely. Fourth-ranked Senior Sister Zhong Ling is at the Seventh Level of the Blood Fusion Realm and has always been above Senior Brother Lin Hai. It's very difficult for them to secure two top five positions!"

"Right, Senior Sister Zhong Ling is much stronger than Senior Brother Lin Hai. She's just very low-key."

"Calculating the time, many of the top-ranked inner sect disciples who went out to train should be returning soon. The three months coincide with the sect's five-year competition. No wonder the sect leader chose that time..."

---

The page turns, and the advertisement begins.

The page turns, and the advertisement ends.