Bang!
Tan Long uncontrollably blasted across the air and slammed into the ground outside the arena.
His face twisted with horror and disbelief. Did he defeat me with one blade strike? That guy is more abnormal than rumored!
Gasps rang out from the audience. Everyone was in utter shock. They thought that Tan Long was pretending to be cowardly and possessed remarkable strength, so he would be able to fight a fierce battle with Lin Xun.
Who would have thought that Lin Xun sent Tan Long flying with one blade strike? It looked as easy as swatting a fly!
The battle ended too quickly!
Many people were a little dumbfounded, refusing to believe that the duel that they looked forward to the most was over so soon.
On the white jade platform, Wei Lingzhen and Du Dongtu exchanged a glance with each other and couldn’t help smiling wryly. Lin Xun is savage!
Governor Liu Wujun narrowed his eyes but he didn’t utter a word. The way that Tan Long was defeated was indeed unexpected but it made sense that Lin Xun could defeat him given the strength he had previously shown.
“Damn it, that guy is an evil demon!”“I know Tan Long. He is considered a genius in the Human Dipper Stage, yet he was defeated in one move. You can imagine how strong Lin Xun is.”
The cultivators waiting to appear in the arena for their battles couldn’t compose themselves. The battle had ended too quickly. They weren’t able to gain an insight into Lin Xun’s true power, but from the way he crushed his opponent in one move, logically speaking, no ordinary person would be a match for him!
Perhaps, only top Earth Dipper cultivators could suppress Lin Xun!
The audience fell silent and all gazes were fixed on Lin Xun. Everyone wore strange expressions and their emotions were constantly fluctuating.
No one paid any attention to the battles in the other ninety-nine arenas.
Amidst the silence, Lin Xun suddenly straightened his body. His eyebrows were sharp like blades, his eyes flashed like lightning, and he had a superior air around him.
What is he going to do?
Many people’s eyes narrowed.
Lin Xun leisurely raised the wide blade in his hand and placed it at his eye level. Suddenly, the jet-black blade unleashed a long and clear cry.
Lin Xun ran his eyes across the audience, gathered qi to his dantian and said in a deep voice, “Haha, don’t laugh at my performance. In truth, I only effortlessly won the battle because of the blade in my hand.”
The audience was completely dumbfounded. What is he doing?
“Excuse me, Young Master Lin Xun, where did you buy that blade?” someone asked aloud.
Lin Xun said with a smile, “This battle blade is everlasting and one can be handed down forever. This blade is personally forged by the runemaster of Golden Jade Hall. It can be called a divine weapon of mid-human grade aeth tools. I really like it so I will only buy aeth tools from Golden Jade Hall from now on!”
“Golden Jade Hall?”
“Yes, It’s Golden Jade Hall!” Lin Xun repeated.
Uproar broke out from the audience once again. Everyone’s expressions were unusually splendid.
“He’s promoting Golden Jade Hall!”
“Who the hell is Golden Jade Hall? How can they make Lin Xun advertise them? It’s simply…simply…too dope!” someone exclaimed.
“Pah! Shameless! This is the provincial exam, a grand event of the empire. Lin Xun is obsessed with money and promotes irrelevant things on such an occasion. What does he think the provincial examination is? Does he even have the dignity and backbone of a cultivator?” someone berated.
“Why—why did the idol I admire become like this? His mighty image in my heart has collapsed with this, and my heart hurts...” Many young women cried out in disappointment.
Many people also criticized Golden Jade Hall. They felt that the business had insulted such a grand event!
Wen Mingxiu, Qi Yunxiao and other candidates were dumbstruck. Could Lin Xun be so poor that he had to do such a shameful thing?
Isn’t it easy to make money given his current reputation and strength?
Some people speculated that Golden Jade Hall had to be closely connected to Lin Xun. Otherwise, Lin Xun wouldn't do such a thing that would tarnish his reputation.
Many people quickly agreed with the speculation. Everything made sense if Lin Xun had an inseparable relationship with the Golden Jade Hall.
On the white jade platform.
Governor Liu Wujun’s face was overcast with a frown, and a glint of discontent flashed in his eyes. Lin Xun, this is nonsense!
Suddenly, Wei Lingzhen chuckled. “I’m curious who the boss of Golden Jade Hall is? No ordinary business could make Lin Xun promote them.”
A thought struck Liu Wujun’s mind, and then he heard Du Dongtu say, “Indeed, Lin Xun has recently become famous in Haze City. He wouldn’t possibly do such a shameful thing just for money.”
Liu Wujun remembered that Lin Xun was more than just an outstanding cultivator. Behind him stood a colossal force that dozens of major sects and clans feared!
Why would someone like him help promote a business for no reason?
Liu Wujun suddenly remembered that Lin Xun had been specially arranged to sit in the distinguished guest seat at the Stone Cauldron Alms 100th anniversary celebration.
This matter isn’t as simple as it seems!
But if I investigate Lin Xun during the provincial exam, it seems...inappropriate.
Liu Wujun frowned, and he finally suppressed his discontent. He decided to wait for the provincial exam to finish to investigate Golden Jade Hall!
At that moment, everyone seemed to have forgotten about the ongoing provincial examination and were all drawn to Lin Xun’s unexpected behavior.
As for Lin Xun, he had already stepped down from the arena. He couldn’t help chuckling when he heard the mixed responses in the audience. In any case, the name of Golden Jade Hall will likely spread throughout Haze City after this!
……
Lin Xun left the examination zone and left Haze Academy.
He had smoothly passed the first round after his battle with Tan Long and he had to wait three days before the second round of examination started.
He left not because he had no interest in the following battles, but because he received endless strange looks and heard various criticisms wherever he went.
He felt extremely uncomfortable and had chosen to leave to avoid being in the limelight.
When he walked out of the gate of Haze Academy, it was still crowded with people.
None of them was allowed to enter the venue, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t watch the fun. The result of Lin Xun’s battle rapidly spread out and caused a great sensation.
“What? Lin Xun is too weird. He even risked damaging his reputation to help promote a business?”
“Heavens, Golden Jade Hall is amazing. It will soar to fame with Lin Xun’s advertisement!”
“Lin Xun might be strong in battles but there is a problem with his character. I have decided to not see him as my idol from now on!”
“Hmph, look at your ugly face. If I was Lin Xun, I would be very happy that you made such a wise decision.”
The matter stirred heated discussions, and news quickly passed from mouth to mouth. The matter that Lin Xun promoted Golden Jade Hall in the exam spread at an incredible speed like wildfire.
Lin Xun was speechless for a while. Fortunately, not many people at the scene recognized him and he was able to safely leave Haze Academy.
However, it made Lin Xun realize that the name of Golden Jade Hall would spread throughout the entire Haze City before dawn.
……
Lin Xun didn’t return home but headed to Golden Jade Hall to take a look.
Who would have thought that the entrance of Golden Jade Hall was already crowded to the extent that not a drop of water could pass through?
Most of them were cultivators who had just heard the news from the provincial examination. They wanted to see what the deal about Golden Jade Hall was.
However, many people were indignant and had come to berate Golden Jade Hall. They felt that Golden Jade Hall’s actions had ruined the reputation of the provincial examination and tarnished Lin Xun’s image.
When Lin Xun looked into Golden Jade Hall, he saw that Gu Liang had already returned and was sweating profusely while directing attendants to help maintain order.
Golden Jade Hall is about to soar to fame!
Lin Xun made an intuitive judgment. Regardless of whether Golden Jade Hall was famous for a good or bad reason, at least, its name had spread and it was no longer unknown to the world like before.
As long as it had some fame, they wouldn’t need to worry about the flow of customers. If Gu Liang handled the matter well, he could even take the opportunity to expand Golden Jade Hall!
Of course, Lin Xun knew that the sudden rise of Golden Jade Hall would inevitably cause vigilance and oppression from other businesses in the city. However, he felt that he should leave Gu Liang to handle the matter himself.
If Gu Liang couldn’t handle it, he might as well close Golden Jade Hall.
After contemplating for a while, Lin Xun turned around and came to the Rune Master Association. He mentioned the matter to Chu Feng and asked him to dispatch people to Golden Jade Hall to help maintain order.
Golden Jade Hall would no doubt be swept into a whirlpool of trouble in the next few days. Given Gu Liang’s current power, he couldn’t possibly maintain order by himself.
If someone with bad intentions took advantage of the opportunity to create trouble, the consequences would be serious.
Chu Feng had already heard about the incident and so he agreed without hesitation. He swiftly dispatched several guards to Golden Jade Hall.
After settling the matter, Lin Xun didn’t stay for too long. But just as he stepped out of the Rune Master Association, a familiar figure appeared in his periphery and took him aback.