As soon as Long Chen said this, these powerful figures felt utterly embarrassed. When Long Chen was being hunted down during the Saint King Assembly, they chose to sit back and watch the tigers fight, leaning on the bridge and watching the water flow.
Those who had once helped Long Chen would naturally not refuse, and these forces immediately contacted Lingxiao Academy, which agreed to allow them to come here to undergo tribulation.
But the forces that rushed over upon hearing the news were different. They chose to protect themselves at the Saint King Assembly, but now they shamelessly came to beg for help. Long Chen's words left them utterly embarrassed.
"Dean Long Chen, you're magnanimous, so don't hold grudges with us. Besides, at a time like this, we should unite and put the bigger picture first." An elderly man couldn't help but say.
"What a good saying: unite and put the bigger picture first. Back when my brothers and I were besieged by countless foreign powerhouses, how could you not have thought of uniting and putting the bigger picture first?
What a double standard. You can just stand by and watch, but I have to put the bigger picture first? Let me ask you, why? Long Chen sneered.
"That's right. Why? Inside the arena, Senior Brother Long Chen fought desperately to protect us. Outside the arena, he led us all the way to fight and escape, never leaving a single person behind.
And you guys? Hide when there's danger, go for it if there's benefit—it's like drawing a nose on a sheet of paper—what a huge face. A disciple sneered.
"Still united? Have you ever been united? Do you consider yourselves members of the human race? "
Exactly, who knows, when the gates to another world open, you clever fence-sitters will be the first to side with them and deal with your own kin."
On Long Chen's side, the disciples waiting for the tribulation crossing, and those who had already completed the tribulation but still stood guard here, cursing fiercely for the powerful ones without a guardian disciple for the trial.
Most of the strong who came here were those who fought their way out of the Saint King Arena alongside Long Chen. Some of them came from humble backgrounds, and within their family powers, there wasn't even a half-step Immortal level expert.
But Lingxiao Academy had never refused them. As long as they could come, they were all welcomed. Even when they could only protect a hundred people through tribulation, they never abandoned them.
This deeply moved them. This was why, at Long Chen's command, tens of thousands of people would join them for the tribulation—because they had absolute trust in him.
Now, seeing this group appear, shamelessly asking to join the tribulation team, even they couldn't stand it anymore.
The old man, scolded by a junior boy pointing at his nose, instantly turned red with flush but dared not argue.
"Dean Long Chen, we know this is our fault. If you are angry, we old bones can kneel and apologize to you.
But we disciples are innocent. You can't take out your anger on them because of our foolish decisions.
They are still young and have a bright future ahead. If their bright future is ruined because of us fools, we truly will be at great risk! An elderly man stepped forward, his face full of grief, and slowly knelt before Long Chen.
"Whoosh!"
Long Chen waved his hand, and the old man's body trembled violently, forcing him to retreat several steps and unable to kneel down.
"Dean Long Chen, do you really refuse to forgive us foolish old fellows?" The old man spoke with a look of utter despair, even tears streaming down his face.
"Shut up!"
Long Chen sneered, "A river and mountains are easy to change, but one's nature is hard to change. You only humble yourself because you need something from me, putting on a look of tears and pounding your chest—who are you trying to see?"
Moral coercion? I've seen this kind of trick many times; it's meaningless. I, Long Chen, have never been a gentleman. As long as I have no morals, no one can hold me hostage. As
soon as Long Chen said this, Bai Shishi's mother pursed her lips and looked at Bai Xiaole's mother. The two exchanged a smile. Long Chen's sharp tongue was really something—he wouldn't be able to resist both soft and hard tactics.
Hearing Long Chen say this, the old man could only shake his head and sigh, his face full of helplessness. However, deep in his eyes, there was a trace of resentment, though he dared not show it.
"You begging me like this is meaningless. Have I ever said they weren't allowed to come here to undergo tribulation?" Long Chen said calmly.
"What?"
Those people had been preparing to leave, but upon hearing Long Chen's words, they couldn't believe their ears.
"Lingxiao Academy is an academy for all under heaven. All the classics there are treasures of the entire human race. The academy is merely a custodian.
Similarly, the academy's tribulation sanctuary is open to all humans, and anyone can undergo tribulation here. Long Chen said.
"So that means you agree that our disciple is undergoing the tribulation here?" An elderly man's voice trembled.
"Of course, anytime." Long Chen shrugged and said.
"May I ask, when our disciple undergoes tribulation, can he be protected by you?" An elderly man who was shrewd got to the bottom of the question.
What's the point of coming here to undergo tribulation? Without Long Chen's help, it's meaningless. If someone ambushes and Long Chen doesn't care, even if struck by lightning, it doesn't matter. Then it's useless to undergo tribulation here.
"You want to go through tribulation with us?" Long Chen looked at the disciples behind the group of powerful figures.
The group of disciples fell silent instantly; not a single one dared to make a sound. They felt guilty and didn't dare respond.
"Can't even let out a fart, let alone cultivate? Might as well dig a hole and bury yourself." Long Chen sneered.
"Yes, we want to pass the tribulation under your protection." Finally, a young disciple, unable to contain his anger, stepped forward and shouted loudly.
"Then let me ask you, I protected you. When I fall upon myself in trouble in the future, will you kick me when I'm down, stab me in the back, or stab the human race?" Long Chen said solemnly.
"No, absolutely not. I can swear with my soul that I will serve Senior Brother Long Chen for my whole life." The disciple shouted loudly.
"But what if one day I become a villain, start slaughtering humans, and stab my own kind in the back?" Long Chen retorted.
"Well..." The disciple was stunned, not knowing how to respond for a moment.
The others were also surprised. They didn't know what Long Chen meant by that question, but it sounded rather frightening and made one's heart race.
"I can protect you through tribulation, and I don't need anyone to pledge allegiance to me. But I do need you to swear to your true hearts, always uphold justice, be loyal to the human race, never be driven by profit, never oppressed by threats, never do anything against your conscience." Long Chen shouted coldly.
"I swear to always hold justice in my heart, be loyal to humanity, never be driven by profit, never oppressed by threats, never do anything against my conscience."
After Long Chen finished speaking, countless disciples stepped forward, raised their hands to the heavens, and shouted loudly.
Seeing this group of disciples swear an oath, a smile appeared on Long Chen's face. This way, even if the older generation betrayed the human race, the new generation wouldn't be led astray by them.
Bai Shishi's mother, Bai Xiaole's mother, and Bai Zhantang all nodded in agreement. They saw through Long Chen's intentions. It had to be said, Long Chen's methods were extremely clever.
Such oaths to heaven, especially in front of a powerful figure like Long Chen, carry tremendous deterrent. If they dare to break their oath, as long as Long Chen is still alive, it will bring them great psychological obstacles and form inner demons. They will never dare to challenge the Divine Lord in this lifetime.
"Everyone who has sworn an oath, come and line up. The first wave of 100,000 disciples is gathering."
When the hundred thousand people had gathered, Long Chen was overjoyed:
"With so many Tribulation Crossers, I must make Lei Ling'er a presence comparable to an immortal powerhouse."