“You?”
Gu Liang was taken aback. In truth, Lin Xun was the first person he thought of when he started to promote Golden Jade Hall.
However, he didn’t ask Lin Xun because he felt that Lin Xun had already helped him too much. The extraordinarily rare rune materials Lin Xun left with him were already worth over one hundred thousand gold coins!
How could he be so shameless to ask Lin Xun for more help?
Gu Liang was an extremely proud and respectful young man. He didn’t want to ask Lin Xun for help every time he encountered difficulty. That would make him look too incompetent.
Therefore, when Lin Xun proposed to help, Gu Liang couldn’t help but hesitate. There was no doubt that Lin Xun was the best person to promote Golden Jade Hall. He was well-known in Haze City and would do a better job than any other cultivators.
However, Gu Liang couldn’t answer him.
“Okay, it’s decided then.”
As though Lin Xun had read Gu Liang’s mind, he clapped him on the shoulder and said, “Remember, it's natural for friends to help each other. Also, I am waiting to make a fortune through Golden Jade Hall. Do you want me to watch my own business lose money?”
Gu Liang smiled bitterly and was about to explain his reason when Lin Xun interrupted him, “Tell me, how do you plan to promote Golden Jade Hall? I’ll just follow what you say when the time comes.”Gu Liang sighed. “Let’s make it clear. You asked to help.”
Lin Xun chuckled. “Of course, let’s go. Let’s head to Golden Jade Hall and have a good chat. I haven’t seen you in a long time.”
Gu Liang smiled, a warm feeling in his heart. This is the Lin Xun I know!
……
It wasn’t until late at night that Lin Xun left Golden Jade Hall. He had a long discussion with Gu Liang and finalized a promotion plan.
Gu Liang had a more comprehensive promotion strategy, but there wasn’t enough time to implement it.
Gu Liang’s strategy and ideas amazed Lin Xun. As expected, no wonder he specializes in business. Gu Liang might be inferior to me in terms of cultivation but he is indeed a rare talent in business!
The promotion ideas and strategy that Gu Liang described were already remarkable and broke the normal conventions. It was a promotion strategy unheard of in the empire.
Lin Xun couldn’t wait to see how much attention the Golden Jade Hall would receive when he started to promote it in the provincial exam.
Although it was late at night, Xue Jin wasn’t asleep as usual. Instead, he sat drinking alone in the courtyard as though something was on his mind.
Seeing Lin Xun return, he said casually, “The provincial exam is in half a month.”
Lin Xun nodded. “I know.” Immediately, he sensed that Xue Jin seemed a little distracted.
Lin Xun couldn’t help but ask, “Old Jin, is…something on your mind?”
“It’s nothing. It’s just that I have to leave when the provincial exam is over,” Xue Jin said after he took a sip of alcohol.
Lin Xun stood in stunned silence. Before he knew it, he and Xue Jin had been together for more than half a year and it was almost time to part.
A mixture of complicated emotions swirled in his mind.
Xue Jin had helped him a lot during that period and he wouldn’t even be able to gain a foothold in Haze City if it wasn’t for Xue Jin.
It would be a lie if Lin Xun said he wouldn’t miss Xue Jin.
Xue Jin suddenly grinned. “What, are you going to miss me?”
Lin Xun nodded. He wasn’t in the mood to joke around. He asked in a serious tone, “Old Jin, where do you plan to go after you leave?”
Xue Jin thought for a moment before he answered, “I should be taking a trip to the turbulent wasteland.”
Turbulent Wasteland!
It was the main base of the Darkness Kingdom and where the three great darkness races, the Magi Brute Race, Abyss Demon Spirit and Moon Soul Race, were stationed.
When Lin Xun was in Blood Kill Camp, he had already heard that the Turbulent Wasteland was a territory more vast and more ancient than the empire’s territory. Countless darkness races resided there and it was incredibly dangerous.
Although only the Magi Brute Race was considered the true enemy of the empire among them, it alone had caused countless destructive events and bloodbaths in the empire in the past thousands of years!
Even now, the empire still lacked the strength to completely wipe out the Magi Brute Race.
From this, it was easy to imagine how terrifying the Magi Brute Race’s foundation was. Moreover, the Turbulent Wasteland consisted not only of the Magi Brute Race but also other darkness races!
Xue Jin could face terrifying danger there!
“Why?” Lin Xun scrunched his brows.
“The empire has gradually grown stronger in recent years and the darkness bastards are getting more and more restless. A war may break out at any time. I am going there to check the situation. I shouldn’t encounter any danger,” Xue Jin said nonchalantly.
“Do you have to go?” asked Lin Xun.
“Do you remember the words on the stone tablet in front of Blood Kill Camp’s entrance? Violet Glory Flower is undefeated because of blood kill and the empire exists forever because of continued expeditions.”
He assumed a rare solemn expression. “As a cultivator in the empire, there are certain things that I have to do!”
Lin Xun was inexplicably moved. He thought of Xu Sanqi, Xiaoke, Xiaoman and Old Mo.
“Do you want to drink with me?” said Xue Jin.
“All right!” Lin Xun nodded.
The two didn’t say anything else and drank silently.
The night passed, and neither mentioned the matter anymore. They did what they had to do, and it seemed no different from the past.
However, Lin Xun knew that Xue Jin wouldn’t stay after the provincial examination.
……
Time flew by and the date of the provincial exam drew closer and closer. Haze City was more and more lively and many conversations centered around the provincial examination.
Almost all the inns in the city were full, and the streets were crowded with cultivators from other cities in the southwestern province. Most of them came to watch and some were tasked with an important mission on behalf of their respective clans and family.
The reason was simple. Over 5,000 young cultivators would take the provincial examination after making it through the selection process but only 100 people would pass in the end.
Although thousands of people would fail, those people were still remarkable talents with tremendous potential. If a sect or clan managed to entice them to join, it would no doubt add a new force to their sect or clan.
This was the reason why people repeatedly refused to help Gu Liang promote Golden Jade Hall. The major sects and clans have already had their eyes on the examination candidates, regardless of whether they were wealthy or poor. Given the candidates’ bright futures, how would they be enticed by the reward that Gu Liang offered?
In short, the provincial examination was a grand event to select the pillars of talent for the empire. Those fortunate enough to pass the exam would undoubtedly leap to the dragon’s gate and rise to the top.
For the major sects and clans, this was a grand event to recruit talents and absolutely shouldn’t be missed.
The provincial examination was also a wonderful event for ordinary people in the southwest province. They were able to meet the cultivators of the younger generation and encourage their children to work hard.
The provincial exam was different from the prefectural exam and the district exam. The standards were extremely high and it was second to only the national exams. No cultivators qualified to take the provincial examination were ordinary. Similarly, the examination was destined to be a successful event!
Under the anticipation of the entire city, the day of the provincial examination in the southwestern province of the empire finally came.
On that day, the sky was clear and the breeze was gentle. Just as dawn broke, Haze City was already bustling with excitement. The streets were filled with a tide-like stream of people all moving in the same direction.
It was Haze Academy!
It was the venue of the provincial examination as it had an open space that could accommodate one hundred thousand people.
Every year, in addition to the examination candidates, cultivators with a pass could also enter the venue and watch the examination.
Of course, it was impossible to enter without a pass.
Lin Xun set off early in the morning. But when he arrived at Haze Academy, it was already crowded with people. There were masses of people in every corner. It was a spectacular sight.
Many guards were arranged to stand guard in front of the entrance to the academy. Only those with an examination badge or a pass to watch were allowed to enter. Even so, it didn’t affect the spectators’ enthusiasm.
The number of spectators present was enough to show the popularity of the event.
Lin Xun didn’t hurry inside. He waited for a while and he saw Gu Liang’s figure rushing over.
“Look at how lively this place is! If we successfully promote Golden Jade Hall today, it will rise to fame tomorrow!” Gu Liang exclaimed with excitement.
Lin Xun smiled. “Are you ready?”
Gu Liang nodded.
The two lined up to enter Haze Academy.
It was a different scene inside Haze Academy. They didn’t see a single ordinary person. All of them were remarkable cultivators.
There was no need to ask for directions. Lin Xun just followed the people in front and soon came to an incredibly vast and spacious field.
In the center of the field stood one hundred arenas, each one around one acre in size. It was a magnificent sight.
The field was surrounded by seats that could accommodate one hundred thousand people. The seats were already occupied by people talking and discussing among themselves.
It was just that those discussions together sounded like rolling thunder reverberating between heaven and the earth.
Lin Xun gasped. Even the venue is spectacular!
Gu Liang’s eyes sparkled with excitement as he muttered, “Given your ability and my cooperation, it will be difficult for Golden Jade Hall’s fame to not explode!”