"Tang Hong, your talent and strength are the most underestimated among this year's candidates. With your current mental realm, you have excellent prospects of reaching the Yuan Realm in the future. It's a pity your sect hasn't fully tapped your potential, hasn't taught according to your aptitude, causing your previous time to be somewhat wasted. I hope you'll join the Purple Sun Sect. I see in you the same potential as Lei Gangyang. Under my guidance, I have at least a sixty to seventy percent chance of training you into a Yuan Realm cultivator!"
Ancestor Zhuiyang's words were meticulously planned. First, he drove a wedge between Tang Hong and the Treasure Tree Sect, then compared Tang Hong favorably to Lei Gangyang to increase his appeal, and finally dangled the Yuan Realm as bait—a sixty to seventy percent chance was enough to drive any young man wild.
It had to be said, Ancestor Zhuiyang's persuasion was extremely tempting and highly targeted.
Moreover, he keenly perceived the awkwardness in Tang Hong's relationship with the Treasure Tree Sect and fully exploited it to sow discord.
The Treasure Tree Sect had long been embroiled in internal strife between the Xie and Tie families, both vying for control of the sect's interests. Ancestor Qianye had always been aloof and uninterested in worldly matters. In terms of controlling the sect, he was far less decisive and forceful than Ancestor Zhuiyang.
Ancestor Qianye's detached personality made him the weakest of the four great reverends in terms of sect control. This was also a major reason why the internal conflict between the Xie and Tie families in the Treasure Tree Sect never ceased.
The Zhuiyang old monster seized upon this point, pointing out that Tang Hong was stuck between the two families, suffering from both sides. Therefore, leaving the Treasure Tree Sect and joining the Purple Sun Sect was the best possible choice.
Truthfully, at that moment, Tang Hong did waver, just a little.
"Tang Hong, stay in the Treasure Tree Sect. I will also be joining the Treasure Tree Sect." Just as Tang Hong was struggling with his decision, a voice transmission entered his mind.
It was the boss!
The voice Tang Hong heard was none other than the boss's spiritual sense transmission.
The boss was going to join the Treasure Tree Sect?
Hearing this news, Tang Hong had no more hesitation. He let out a hearty laugh, his massive hand ruffling his own messy crimson hair a few times.
"I've decided to stay in the Treasure Tree Sect," Tang Hong said with a broad, bright smile. The huge, sturdy man's smile revealed eyes that were pure and clean, like an innocent boy from next door, free of impurity.
Ancestor Qianye, upon hearing this, felt the heart he'd been holding in suspense finally settle back into place. Just moments before Tang Hong made his choice, he had a strong premonition that the Treasure Tree Sect was about to lose this genius.
Because, reflecting on the past, Ancestor Qianye realized Tang Hong had never enjoyed any special treatment within the Treasure Tree Sect.
Given Tang Hong's untamed personality, what reason did he have to feel attachment or gratitude toward the Treasure Tree Sect?
Therefore, hearing Tang Hong's choice, Ancestor Qianye could hardly believe his ears. His heart swelled with emotion as he silently vowed to himself that, from now on, he must pay more attention to nurturing the sect's geniuses.
Ancestor Zhuiyang, upon hearing the outcome, was also incredulous.
He had just felt his persuasion had a ninety percent chance of success. With his perceptiveness, he had naturally seen the brief moment of doubt in Tang Hong's mind—he had been absolutely tempted.
But then, abruptly, as if Tang Hong had received some kind of hint, a look of wild joy had instantly appeared on his face, followed by his resolute choice to stay with the Treasure Tree Sect.
"Someone must have hinted to him. Who? How dare they ruin my plans!" Ancestor Zhuiyang seethed with fury, his sharp gaze sweeping around the area.
However, no matter how he looked, he found nothing.
Seeing Tang Hong about to step back, Ancestor Zhuiyang suddenly asked, "Tang Hong, did someone just secretly make you some kind of promise?"
Tang Hong chuckled. "Does that have anything to do with the selection?"
Without waiting for a response, he ignored Ancestor Zhuiyang's dark, grim expression and returned to his place.
Ancestor Zhuiyang's attempt to poach talent had failed once again, leaving him boiling with anger. Both times he had made a move, he had felt confident, yet both times he had failed inexplicably.
This time, poaching Tang Hong had ended in an especially baffling defeat. The genius he'd almost had in his grasp had flown away in the blink of an eye.
Suddenly, Ancestor Zhuiyang thought of Tang Hong's relationship with Jiang Chen. His mind stirred, and his dark gaze shot toward Jiang Chen's location.
It had to be said, a Yuan Realm old monster's intuition was remarkably keen. With just that thought, he solidified his judgment.
"You worldly brat, was it you who just stuck your nose in?" Ancestor Zhuiyang sent a voice transmission, his tone cold and questioning. He knew about Tang Hong's relationship with Jiang Chen. He knew even better that Tang Hong submitted to Jiang Chen completely, willingly acknowledging him as his boss.
"So what if it was?" Jiang Chen responded faintly.
He had long since torn off all pretenses with the Purple Sun Sect. There was no reason for him to yield, even to Ancestor Zhuiyang.
"Good, good, good!" Ancestor Zhuiyang's killing intent surged, his teeth almost gnashing together. "Brat, you don't understand the bigger picture. Time and again, you defy my Purple Sun Sect. Give me one good reason not to kill you?"
"Kill me?" Jiang Chen scoffed. "A Yuan Realm ancestor, using the selection as a front to lure and murder a worldly martial artist? You've lived so many years, where exactly did your intelligence go?"