"Do you think Lin Chu will show up?"
"He probably will. After all, Lin Chu isn't alone. If he doesn't come, it's not just his reputation on the line. The Saintess's honor would be severely damaged."
"That's right. And this challenge was initiated by Lin Chu himself. As a junior sect disciple, if he issues a challenge and doesn't participate, wouldn't he be expelled from the sect?"
"Perhaps Lin Chu would rather be expelled than be killed by Senior Brother Qiu Shaoming?"
"..."
The challenge arena seating was already filled with junior sect disciples.
At this moment, while the involved parties, Lin Chu and Qiu Shaoming, had yet to arrive, the members of the Heavenly Dragon Association had all gathered to cheer for Qiu Shaoming. With nothing else to do, the junior sect disciples began to chat amongst themselves.
"Look! Senior Brother Qiu Shaoming is here!"
A moment later, a sharp-eyed junior sect disciple spotted Qiu Shaoming entering the challenge arena accompanied by over a dozen people and quickly exclaimed.
Upon hearing this, everyone turned their gaze.
Meanwhile, in the regular disciples' residence, Chen Lingang was pacing anxiously, looking at Lin Chu, who was still meditating with his eyes closed.
*Hoo.*
Lin Chu exhaled a turbid breath and slowly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them.
"My Senior Brother Lin Chu, you've finally woken up," Chen Lingang said as soon as Lin Chu opened his eyes.
Lin Chu smiled upon hearing this and asked, "What time is it?"
"What time is it? The challenge arena is probably already full. Senior Brother Lin Chu, do you really have the confidence to defeat Qiu Shaoming? If not, we can just not go." Chen Lingang immediately spoke.
"Not go? Why not go? Don't you understand the system set by the junior sect? If I don't go, this challenge will be won by Qiu Shaoming, and I'll have to leave the junior sect. Not only that, I think my sister will also be subjected to gossip. None of these are what I want. Alright, let's go."
Lin Chu said and slowly stood up.
"Senior Brother Lin Chu, can you defeat Qiu Shaoming?" Chen Lingang asked with a worried shrug, feeling helpless.
Lin Chu paused upon hearing this, turned around, and looked at Chen Lingang, saying, "Whether I can win, I don't know. But I know I cannot lose. The only thing I can do is give my all."
As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Chu turned and headed towards the challenge arena.
Chen Lingang, still standing in his original spot, seemed to have gained some insight from Lin Chu's words. He paused for a moment and then hurried after Lin Chu.
"Brother Lin, may I, Su, have the honor of accompanying you?" Just as Lin Chu reached a corner in the corridor of the阁楼, Su Jinlong, leading nearly a hundred people, had been waiting for a long time. Seeing Lin Chu arrive, Su Jinlong smiled and said.
Looking at Su Jinlong and all the members of the Jinlong Team, Lin Chu felt a warmth in his heart and smiled, nodding, "It would be my pleasure."
Time passed, and the scorching sun climbed higher. On the challenge arena, the temperature gradually rose.
"Why hasn't Lin Chu arrived yet? Could it be that he knows he can't beat Qiu Shaoming and ran away in advance?"
"That shouldn't be the case, right? If that were to happen, it would be a laughing matter."
"Eh? Look, isn't that Lin Chu at the front of that group of people?"
Just as everyone was getting impatient, a junior sect disciple suddenly spotted a procession slowly approaching the entrance and exclaimed.
"It's Lin Chu, I didn't expect him to actually come!"
"Now, there's going to be a good show!"
Upon seeing Lin Chu appear, everyone became excited.
After all, this arranged match had captured everyone's attention from the start.
And as Lin Chu's background was revealed, everyone's anticipation for the match between Lin Chu and Qiu Shaoming grew.
More importantly, this was also a contest between a newly promoted disciple and an older disciple.
"I thought you had already run with your tail between your legs." Qiu Shaoming said with a cold sneer as he watched Lin Chu step onto the challenge arena.
Lin Chu smiled and paid no mind to Qiu Shaoming. Instead, he turned to Su Jinlong and Chen Lingang and clasped his fists, saying, "Thank you all for accompanying me here. After I resolve this matter, I'll treat all of you to drinks."
"We await Brother Lin's good news." Su Jinlong returned the gesture with clasped fists, smiling slightly. He then led the members of the Jinlong Team back towards the spectator stands.
"Senior Brother Lin Chu, go for it! If you win, I'll wash all your clothes from now on," Chen Lingang said at this moment, then turned to leave with Su Jinlong.
"Senior Brother Lin Chu, go for it!" Chen Desheng also shouted, waving his fist with a flushed face.
Lin Chu smiled and then his gaze fell upon Qiu Shaoming.
Although Lin Chu had not addressed Qiu Shaoming directly, his opening words had indeed ignited the atmosphere to a fever pitch.
"Arrogant!" Qiu Shaoming's expression turned cold. He then struck out with a palm towards Lin Chu.
*Boom!*
The moment Qiu Shaoming unleashed his palm strike, an elder seated on the challenge arena slightly opened his eyes. With a wave of his hand, he blocked Qiu Shaoming's attack and slowly said, "To make a move before the disciple challenge has even begun, do you take this old man as if he doesn't exist?"
"Elder Wu De, please forgive me. It is just that Lin Chu has made this disciple too angry, hence this action. I beg Elder Wu De's understanding." Qiu Shaoming's heart jolted. He had actually forgotten about the presence of Elder Wu De beside him and immediately bowed in greeting.
"Considering it is your first offense, you will not be punished this time. Now, the parties involved in the wager have arrived. Are there any who wish to withdraw?" Elder Wu De's expression remained calm. He glanced at Lin Chu and Qiu Shaoming and spoke again.
Qiu Shaoming bowed to Elder Wu De and said, "This disciple does not withdraw."
Lin Chu also bowed respectfully to Elder Wu De and said, "This disciple does not withdraw either."
Elder Wu De nodded slightly and said, "Since neither of you wishes to withdraw, I now declare this wager to have officially begun."