The atmosphere was buzzing like it had never before. It was a magnificent event.
Lin Xun casually handed over some things to Gu Liang, held up the examination badge and walked ahead alone.
Ahead was the examination zone where cultivators participating in the examination had to wait for the examination to start.
When Lin Xun arrived, many people had already gathered in the examination zone. There were men and women, all of whom were under eighteen years old. From a rough estimate, Lin Xun reckoned there were a few thousand people.
The majority were from wealthy families and only a few were cultivators from poor backgrounds.
The assessment hadn’t started and all the youngsters in the examination zone were discussing and chatting among themselves. Their faces filled with anticipation, excitement, nervousness, and various other emotions.
For them, the provincial examination was an opportunity to change their destiny. If they successfully passed, they could leap to the dragon’s gate, rise to the sky and surpass the rest of the world!
“I heard that the many influential figures in the southwest province would come to watch the exam. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Even if we fail, we might have a chance to attract the attention of influential figures as long as we perform well!”
“Don’t say that. The exam hasn’t started yet and you’re already talking about failing. Do you have a backbone?”
“This is not about having a backbone or not. It’s reality. Do you think that people like us can compete with the true top geniuses? I guarantee that you won’t be ranked in the top 100.”“Ugh, yes, I indeed am not hopeful of passing the assessment. I just hope that my strength will be noticed by an influential figure during the exam. I would already be very happy to be scouted by a top sect or clan.”
“I agree, I heard that many of the top geniuses are already at the Earth Dipper Stage. Also, Xue Shaolin, Yu Wenjing, Le Zhiyou and Yun Zitong are well-known geniuses of the Heaven Dipper Stage!”
“Heaven Dipper Stage!? Heavens, isn’t that terrifying?”
“Hey, what’s all the fuss? The rules of the provincial exam state that cultivators have to be under eighteen and have to be at least at the Human Dipper Stage. It doesn’t state that those at a stronger cultivation level can’t take part.”
“Damn it, there’s no point comparing. Who would have imagined that there are people younger than eighteen with a cultivation base of the Heaven Dipper Stage? I just hope I won’t have to go up against those abnormal people in the exam.”
“Haha, those at a higher cultivation level are undoubtedly more powerful but don’t forget that there are also some fierce characters in the Human Dipper Stage. Some of them could even compete with people of a higher cultivation level than them!”
“Who?”
"Who else could be? Of course it’s Lin Xun!”
“I knew it would be him! He has been acknowledged as the opponent most people don’t want to face!”
“Damn it. He is indeed abnormal. I heard that he trained against Heaven Dipper Stage puppets in the Azure Sea Training Hall a few days ago. Isn’t he abnormal?”
There were endless discussions in the examination zone. All of them were analyzing the situation in the examination.
When they mentioned the famous top youngsters, Lin Xun’s name would always be spoken.
Lin Xun was a little dumbfounded. He had never thought that he would be that famous.
The funniest thing was that no one was able to recognize him even if he was standing in front of them.
Suddenly, a chubby man beside him took him aback. The man’s eyes were tightly closed and his hands were folded together as he constantly mumbled something like he was praying.
Lin Xun could vaguely hear the chubby man say, “God, please, please don’t let me encounter that abnormal person Lin Xun…”
Lin Xun rolled his eyes. Am I that scary?
The little chubby man opened his eyes and caught a glimpse of the speechless look on Lin Xun’s face. He blushed in embarrassment and explained, “Buddy, you might think I’m being ridiculous, but from what I heard, Lin Xun is an evil demon. Whoever provokes him will suffer.”
“…”
“I’m not lying to you, I watched the duel between him and Huang Jianchen with my own eyes. You can’t even imagine how terrifying he is.”
Lin Xun finally couldn't help but say, “Since you watched the duel, can you tell me what Lin Xun looks like?”
The little chubby man said without wavering, “I was too far away so I only know he is nine feet tall with a blue face and fangs. He looked fierce like an evil spirit that escaped from hell.”
Lin Xun rolled his eyes again. He forcibly resisted the urge to beat him up, turned around, and walked away. A blue face and fangs? Evil spirit? When did I become a demon?
“Hey, buddy, why are you leaving? I’m not lying!”
How could Lin Xun pay any attention to him? He thought he was already very kind in not beating him up.
Lin Xun finally confirmed that although many of the examination candidates had heard about him, most were exaggerations!
Not long after that, Lin Xun finally saw some familiar figures, such as Wen Mingxiu, Yuan Shu and Qi Yunxiao. They were also candidates in the provincial examination.
At almost the same time, Wen Mingxiu and the others also met Lin Xun’s gaze. Their expressions dramatically changed.
Most of them had complicated feelings towards Lin Xun including hatred, jealousy, awe and admiration.
“Junior Sister Mingxiu, what’s up with you guys?” A young man in a luxurious robe swept a surprised glance over Wen Mingxiu and the others.
“Senior Brother Xue!”
“Paying our respects to Senior Brother Xue.”
Immediately, Wen Mingxiu and the others snapped out from their thoughts and bowed their heads respectfully.
The young man was Xue Shaolin, one of the four geniuses in Haze Academy! At only seventeen years old, he already had the superb cultivation base of the Heaven Dipper Stage!
“Senior Brother Xue, we just ran into an acquaintance just now,” Wen Mingxiu explained softly.
“Who? Is it a student of Haze Academy?” Xue Shaolin’s interest was piqued.
“No.” Wen Mingxiu shook her head and was about to explain when Qi Yunxiao interjected, “Senior Brother Xue, aren’t you also curious about who Lin Xun is? Look, he’s there.” He pointed to the distance.
Lin Xun!
A gleam flashed in Xue Shaolin's eyes, but he only caught a glimpse of Lin Xun’s back before he vanished into the crowd.
However, Xue Shaolin was able to remember him from just his rear view. This was because he had often heard about Lin Xun’s name and it made him very curious about him since he could defeat Huang Jianchen.
He finally saw him with his own eyes but unfortunately, it was just his back.
“If there is a chance, I would like to have a showdown with him in the provincial exam. It will be very interesting,” Xue Shaolin said with a smile.
Wen Mingxiu and the others were stunned for a moment with complicated emotions swirling in their eyes. Even if Xue Shaolin was at the Heaven Dipper Stage and was two cultivation levels higher than Lin Xun, it was still hard to say who would win in a duel between the two.
It wasn’t that they had no confidence in Xue Shaolin, but that they knew Lin Xun was an abnormal person who didn’t play the usual cards. Anyone who underestimated him was an absolute idiot!
Their reactions surprised Xue Shaolin. He couldn’t help scrunching his brows. Could Lin Xun really be so strong that it made Wen Mingxiu and the others silent?
This is getting more and more interesting!
An irrepressible fighting spirit rose in Xue Shaolin’s heart. He was determined to have a showdown with Lin Xun.
Xue Shaolin suddenly wondered whether Yu Wenjing, Le Zhiyou and Yun Zitong would feel the same if they learned about Lin Xun’s strength.
……
Soon, a melodious and resounding bell echoed across the world, silencing the commotion in the examination zone.
All the spectators and examination candidates simultaneously turned to the easternmost part of the venue.
A white jade platform was suspended in mid-air like a castle in the sky. Rune light suffused the platform and made it look extremely mysterious.
There were rows upon rows of seats, which were already filled with people. In the center sat Governor Liu Wujun and beside him was Wei Lingzhen, the principal of Haze Academy, and Du Dongtu, the head of the Violet Plume Army.
They acted as witnesses of the provincial examination and would work with chief examiner Liu Wujun to assess the examination!
Everyone fell silent and the atmosphere had unknowingly become incomparably solemn.
Under everyone’s watchful gazes, Wei Lingzhen rose to his feet and announced the rules of the provincial examination. He then highlighted some things to take note of and encouraged the candidates to do well. His voice, clear and sonorous, echoed throughout the stadium.
Finally, he ran his eyes across the audience and commenced the examination!
Meanwhile, in the examination zone, the candidates were drawing lots to divide themselves into different areas.
Lin Xun’s slip of paper was written with ‘first set, No. 36, opponent Tan Long’. In other words, he would appear in the first set of battles on the no. 36 arena and would go up against an opponent called Tan Long.
According to the rules of the provincial examination, battles would simultaneously take place in one hundred arenas.
The duration was one hour and the winner would progress to the next round and the loser would be eliminated!
If a winner hadn’t been decided within one hour, both cultivators would be eliminated.
When the first set of battles was over, another 200 cultivators would make their way onto the platform and compete and so on.
The first round of examination was over when all 5,436 cultivators had fought.
In other words, in the first round, all candidates would battle against their drawn opponent in the arena.
Based on this, at least half of the candidates would be eliminated after the first round.
This was equivalent to 2,718 people. The elimination rate was brutal!
It was the provincial examination! Only the true top cultivators of the younger generation could pass the round after round of cruel assessments and finally stand out from the crowd!