“What!? That guy Lin Xun is here?”
“He finally showed himself. Ever since he defeated Huang Jianchen, a descendant of an aristocratic clan from the Forbidden City, he seems to have disappeared into thin air. I never thought that he would show up in the Azure Sea Training Hall today!”
“Given Lin Xun’s strength, he could easily pass the provincial exam without honing his martial arts, isn’t that right?”
“Indeed. Lin Xun is publicly acknowledged as the opponent that the 5,000 provincial exam candidates don’t want to face the most!”
In the main hall of Azure Sea Training Hall, the cultivators broke into an uproar when they learned that Lin Xun was there.
Someone exclaimed with a shocked expression. “I heard from an attendant just now that Lin Xun crushed four Human Dipper puppets and the attendant had to organize a secret chamber specially reserved for Earth Dipper cultivators. Who would have thought that even the puppets in that room were no match for Lin Xun? In addition, those puppets were heavily damaged and Boss Yin Daxu had to invite Lin Xun into a secret chamber usually prepared for Heaven Dipper cultivators.”
Everyone gasped, and their expressions dramatically changed.
“Doesn’t that mean…he already possesses the strength to fight against Heaven Dipper cultivators? How is that possible?” someone cried out.
The others were speechless. They were aware of the duel a few days ago and knew that Lin Xun had remarkable strength superior to his peers. But they had never thought that he would be strong enough to face Heaven Dipper cultivators.
This is too astonishing!Someone couldn’t help asking, “Is this true?”
“It has to be. The boss of Azure Sea Training Hall saw it with his own eyes and Lin Xun is now training with Heaven Dipper Stage puppets,” someone said confidently.
The atmosphere in the hall turned heavy and solemn. Many of the cultivators present were provincial exam candidates. They couldn’t help but feel weak at the thought that Lin Xun was one of their competitors in the exam, and they secretly prayed that they would never have to face him.
“Hmph, Lin Xun is powerful, but don’t put yourself down. From what I know, there are many fierce characters able to compete with Lin Xun among the cultivators participating in the provincial exam.” Someone snorted, breaking the silence and heavy atmosphere.
Many people snapped awake and nodded repeatedly. Indeed, the provincial exam had been widely talked about in Haze City. Among the exam candidates, besides Lin Xun, there were many outstanding talents of the younger generation that had gathered a lot of attention.
For example, Xue Shaolin, Yu Wenjing, Le Zhiyou and Yun Zitong were known as the four geniuses of Haze Academy. They were considered to be the candidates with the greatest promise of being in the top ten!
In addition to them, some young talents from other cities in the southwest province also possessed astonishing strengths.
“Regardless, I still don’t want to face against Lin Xun. That guy’s strength is so terrifying. He simply isn’t human,” someone sighed and many people nodded in agreement.
They didn’t know how strong Lin Xun was but they were certain that they shouldn’t provoke him since he could defeat Huang Jianchen and could train with Heaven Dipper Stage puppets!
……
It wasn’t until midnight that Lin Xun emerged from the secret training chamber. Although exhausted, he seemed to be in high spirits.
Through actual combat training, he finally was able to roughly judge how much control he had over the Nine Heavenshaking Destruction Art and realized the terror of the cultivation art.
If he cultivated it to the highest level, he indeed could smash mountains and split seas, refine emptiness, break souls, swallow the sky and suppress prisons. It wasn’t an exaggeration.
Although the power of the Nine Heavenshaking Destruction Art that Lin Xun could currently unleash wasn’t as monstrous as the Star-Gather, it was still enough to make many secret cultivation arts dim in comparison!
The Mother-Son Yin Ghost Scripture that Huang Jianchen practiced was unparalleled. It drew amazement from the important figures in the arena and put a lot of pressure on Lin Xun.
However, now that Lin Xun had learnt the Nine Heavenshaking Destruction Art, he found that the Mother-Son Yin Ghost Scripture was clearly inferior.
There was no competition! Lin Xun concluded that the Nine Heavenshaking Destruction Art was indeed a top-class secret cultivation art as Xue Jin had said!
Hu—
Lin Xun exhaled a breath of turbid air and strode out of the Azure Sea Training Hall. Along the way, he noticed the cultivators he ran into casting strange looks at him. Their gazes were a mixture of fear, vigilant, and awe!
It was as though Lin Xun was a savage beast. He couldn’t help but scrunch his brows in bewilderment. What is going on?
He still wasn’t aware that he had been acknowledged as the opponent that many cultivators didn’t want to face in the provincial exam!”
“Young Master, Young Master, please wait a minute.”
Suddenly, Boss Yin Daxu hurried toward Lin Xun and donned a humble smile. He handed him a storage bag and said, “This is to express the Azure Sea Training Hall’s appreciation. Young Master, please accept it.”
Lin Xun said in puzzlement, “What is this?”
“It’s nothing special, I just want to express my respect for you. It’s also a little gift from the Azure Sea Training Hall.”
Lin Xun gave a slight smile and said, “I understand, you are driving me away and plan to not let me come in the future, is that right?”
Yin Daxu broke out into sweat and said awkwardly, “Of course not. If you want to come, the door of Azure Sea Training Hall will always open for you.”
Lin Xun waved his hand dismissively. “Okay, I understand.“
After that, he walked away in large strides.
”Young Master, this sign of gratitude...” Yin Daxu said aloud.
“I appreciate your offer but I won’t accept it. Farewell.” Lin Xun didn’t turn his head around and disappeared through the entrance of Azure Sea Training Hall.
Yin Daxu let out a long sigh of relief, wiped away the beads of cold sweat on his forehead, and lit up with joy. I have finally sent away that evil demon. If he comes again, he will no doubt tear down my training hall.
“Boss, It’s been counted carefully. None of the puppets in the Heaven Dipper chamber have been destroyed,” an attendant came over and reported in a whisper.
“Good, that’s good…” Yin Daxu relaxed again.
“It’s just that although those puppets have not been destroyed, they are quite damaged. Ordinary puppet masters likely can’t repair them. I reckon a great puppet master has to be invited to fix them and it will roughly cost at least two thousand gold coins.”
Yin Daxu’s body stiffened and his face grew overcast. Only after a long while did he gnash his teeth and glare at the attendant. “Can you not say something nice?! Would you suffocate if you don’t say it all at once? You—” he roared in fury.
He was so furious that his heart almost bled. Damn it. That evil demon is too vicious. He made the Azure Sea Training Hall lose thousands of gold coins on his first visit.
That’s a huge sum of money! It is equivalent to one month's earnings! All of that lost in one day…
Yin Daxu was about to collapse. What did I do? Why did the heavens send that evil demon to torture me?!
……
As twilight deepened, the sunset suffused the western sky and cast a ruddy glow over half of Haze City.
The streets were still bustling and lively. Lin Xun was about to call a rune shuttle to return home when he caught sight of a familiar figure not far away.
Gu Liang?
Why is he here?
It was Gu Liang. He was enthusiastically explaining something to a young man in white. “Young master, don’t worry, it won’t affect your performance in the provincial exam. It’s just a little request—if you win, can you help promote my shop…”
Before he could finish, the young man in white impatiently shoved Gu Liang away. “Get out of the way. I won’t do something so embarrassing.” He marched away as he was speaking.
“Young Master, is ten gold coins not enough?” Gu Liang shouted.
”Damn it, don’t insult me, I do not need money!” The young man in white’s disdainful voice rang in the distance.
Gu Liang shrugged helplessly.
Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of him. He lifted his head and lit up with joy to see the familiar face of Lin Xun. “Lin Xun, why did you come here?“
Lin Xun briefly explained and couldn’t help but ask, “What are you doing here?”
Gu Liang said helplessly, “What else? Of course to promote Golden Jade Hall.”
It turned out that the business of Golden Jade Hall had been very quiet. In desperation, he had to find a way to promote Golden Jade Hall through the provincial exam.
As long as Golden Jade Hall built up some fame, it would attract a steady stream of customers and the business would no doubt improve steadily.
A flash of realization came to Lin Xun’s face. ”No wonder you stopped that guy just now. Turns out you want him to advertise for you during the provincial exam.”
Gu Liang said seriously, “It’s not that simple. The provincial exam has attracted the attention of the entire Haze City. It's a grand annual event in the entire southwest province. If I can promote Golden Jade Hall during the exam, many people would know about the existence of Golden Jade Hall.”
Lin Xun pondered for a moment and couldn't help but exclaim, “What a good idea!”
Indeed, as Gu Liang had said, Golden Jade Hall’s name would spread without much effort if it was promoted in the provincial exam.
The advertisement strategy was indeed amazing.
However, Gu Liang said with a wry smile, “However, I overlooked one thing. The youngsters who can participate in the provincial exam, regardless of whether they are poor or rich, are all prideful. They won’t cooperate with me as they think it would lower their status and embarrass them. They won’t agree no matter what benefits I offer. I still haven’t found a suitable partner.”
Lin Xun fell silent. This is normal. The cultivators who can participate in the provincial exam aren’t ordinary. They would have a bright future whether they pass the exam or not.
Why would they want to lower their status and help promote a store using their reputation and name?
“Can I do it?” Lin Xun suddenly asked with a smile