After taking several deep breaths, Gu Liang finally suppressed his joy and excitement and said gratefully, “Lin Xun, you have helped me a lot this time. I don’t even know how to thank you.”
His words were from the bottom of his heart, and even those words couldn’t express his true feelings.
Earlier, Lin Xun had not only helped him resolve trouble from Jadelight Pavilion but also left him with a batch of rune materials worth over one hundred thousand gold coins.
That amount could buy out the entire Golden Jade Hall!
And now, Lin Xun helped promote Golden Jade Hall and even drew up the concepts for seven brand new aeth tools. He had done too much for Gu Liang!
Gu Liang was very certain that the seven brand new aeth tools would fetch an unimaginable amount of money if Lin Xun had sold them to other businesses!
However, Lin Xun didn’t waver in the slightest when he handed the designs to him How would Gu Liang not be moved?
Gu Liang wouldn’t even frown if Lin Xun wanted his life!
Lin Xun was utterly taken aback by Gu Liang’s moved and tearful face. He chuckled, “I also have a share in Golden Jade Hall. I’m not helping you, but doing it for myself. If you want to thank me, then help me improve Golden Jade Hall. Didn’t you say you want to expand Golden Jade Hall outside the empire? I believe you can do it!”
Gu Liang clenched his teeth and said fiercely, “One day I will make the entire world know about Golden Jade Hall!”Lin Xun smiled. “Then I’ll wait and see.” And then he pointed to the seven new aeth tools ideas in Gu Liang’s hand. “Those are like secret recipes. You mustn’t leak them no matter what. You should know what the consequences are when other businesses learn about them.”
Speaking of business matters, Gu Liang’s face glowed with confidence, “Don’t worry, my father has a special way to keep things secret. This matter won’t be leaked at all.”
He suddenly frowned. “What I’m most worried about is whether the seven new types of aeth tools will be easy to imitate.”
Lin Xun grinned. “I can tell you that there are many unique markings throughout the creation process of the seven aeth tools. No other runemaster will be able to crack their secrets, unless…”
“Unless what?” asked Gu Liang.
“Unless they come and ask me to tell them the secret,” he said casually but his voice was filled with utmost confidence.
Those were brand new aeth tools that Mister Lu had personally designed. How would they be so easy to imitate?
If Lin Xun didn’t understand the secrets of the aeth tools, he couldn’t possibly successfully make them!
Gu Liang smiled broadly and finally relaxed.
He had decided to invite his father Gu Yanping from Donglin City tomorrow and make preparations together.
If he handled the matter well, the rise of Golden Jade Hall would be unstoppable!
……
Lin Xun felt much lighter after solving Golden Jade Hall’s matter. He had done what he had to do and he could only leave Gu Liang to do the rest.
It was already midnight when he returned home. Xue Jin was snoring in the corner as usual and the courtyard was bathed in starlight. It seemed particularly tranquil.
Lin Xun didn’t want to disturb Xue Jin and lightly tiptoed toward his room. But Xue Jin suddenly turned over and opened his eyes. “What you did today doesn’t seem like your usual style.”
Lin Xun was surprised. “You also heard about it?”
Xue Jin sat up, frowning. “Nonsense, the incident had stirred the entire Haze City. How would I not know about it? I’m just very puzzled why you did it. Are you aware of the possible consequences?”
Before Lin Xun could speak, Xue Jin continued, “Boy, I have to remind you that your reputation has grown tremendously. You are beginning to attract attention and this is a good thing but also a bad thing. At least, your enemies won’t let go of any opportunity to attack you. You may be safe in Haze City for now but that doesn’t mean your enemies will give up.”
“Based on that, your relationship with Golden Jade Hall will only become your weakness. If your enemies want to attack you, they could just take action on Golden Jade Hall!” Xue Jin had assumed a serious expression. “Many similar incidents had happened in the past. Have you thought about the consequences of your actions?”
Lin Xun fell silent and then said after a while, “Nothing in this world has no risk. If we want to expand Golden Jade Hall, competitors will attack us sooner or later. I believe that Gu Liang has already realized this. As to whether or not my presence would have a bad impact on Golden Jade Hall is out of my control.”
Taking a deep breath, Lin Xun continued, “But no matter what, there are some things you have to continue even if you know the risk. Without courage, you will only be worried about the gains and losses every time you do something. If that’s the case, is there any point to doing anything?”
Xue Jin’s expression turned complicated. He realized that he had indeed worried too much and had forgotten that everything in the world was like that. Nothing in the world always went smoothly.
“Moreover, if someone dares to attack Golden Jade Hall to get revenge on me, then they also can’t blame me for retaliating.” Lin Xun’s expression was calm, but his voice was chilling and fierce. “I don’t believe that they don’t have any friends or families!”
In other words, he wouldn’t hesitate to retaliate against whoever dared to attack the Golden Jade Hall to get revenge on him by attacking their family and friends!
Xue Jin felt a chill run down his spine as he saw the calm and indifferent expression on Lin Xun’s face.
He was certain that Lin Xun would do what he said. Moreover, his retaliation would be more terrifying and ruthless than theirs!
“Ai, I’m too old, I can’t compare to you young people. As the saying goes, the older one is in Jianghu, the less brave they become. Maybe you are right.” Xue Jin sighed.
“Old Jin, you are also right, we just have different views.”
Xue Jin waved his hand. “All right, ignore me. I just talk too much. After I leave, you can do whatever you want. You can pierce a hole into the sky if you have the ability.”
Lin Xun fell silent for a moment, smiled, turned around and walked into his room.
As Xue Jin watched Lin Xun disappear, he realized more and more that he couldn’t understand Lin Xun.
How can there be a youngster like him?
……
Three days flew by.
The first round of the provincial examination ended yesterday and more than half of the 5,436 candidates had been eliminated. Only 2,600 successfully made it to the next round in the end.
Only half of the candidates were supposed to be eliminated after the one-on-one duels, but both sides of some battles were eliminated due to going over the time limit.
The cultivators able to take the provincial examination were the best among the younger generation, yet more than half of them were eliminated in the first round. This clearly showed how brutal and cruel the provincial exam was.
Of course, the winners who successfully entered the second round received more attention compared to the failed candidates.
Among them, the most eye-catching people were naturally the geniuses of the younger generation including Xue Shaolin, Yu Wenjing, Le Zhiyou, and Yun Zitong.
Almost all of them were at the Earth Dipper Stage or Heaven Dipper Stage. They had already displayed their brilliance in the first round and caused sensations.
Lin Xun was also one of the people who gathered the most attention, but he was special because he was only at the Human Dipper Stage. Moreover, he became a laughingstock after he promoted Golden Jade Hall after he won the first match and subsequently tarnished his reputation.
However, regardless, Lin Xun’s strength in battle was unquestionable.
Moreover, Lin Xun used a more domineering method to win and won in a much shorter time compared to the other candidates.
He sent his opponent flying with just one blade strike. This fact alone was enough to make many people shudder.
Haze Academy, examination zone.
The second round was about to commence and the two thousand-odd people who passed the first round had already assembled in the examination zone.
Even the seats around the venue were filled with people just like it was three days ago. It seemed even more lively.
The second round of the examination would no doubt be more intense than the first, and naturally, attract more attention.
A commotion broke out in the audience when they saw Lin Xun.
“Look, it’s Lin Xun. I wonder if he will promote Golden Jade Hall again in the second round.”
“Hahaha, that guy is peculiar. He doesn’t need money but he did something that ruined his reputation. I don’t know what he’s thinking.”
“I only know that Golden Jade Hall’s fame has exploded. Who in Haze City doesn’t know about Golden Jade Hall now? This is all Lin Xun’s doing! This is proof of how successful Lin Xun’s and Golden Jade Hall’s promotion strategy was. You have to be impressed.”
A clamor of discussions rang out. Some praised Lin Xun but some criticized him. Regardless, Lin Xun had become the focus of the audience.
Many exam candidates couldn’t help showing strange expressions when they saw this. They had to admit that Lin Xun was no doubt the most popular person in the examination!
Of course, not everyone wanted that kind of limelight.
On the white jade platform, Governor Liu Wujun, Wei Lingzhen and Du Dongtu assumed strange expressions. Lin Xun indeed can only be described as…abnormal!