Lin Xun felt somewhat uncomfortable being the center of attention. He smiled bitterly in his heart. It’s troublesome being famous.
Fortunately, a melodious and clear bell soon rang, raising the curtains to the second round of the examination.
A total of 2,600 cultivators took part in the second round of examination and the examination rules were the same as the first round. Candidates drew lots to choose their opponents and fought in the arena.
However, the duration of the exam had been changed from one hour to half an hour!
In other words, both sides would be eliminated if a winner couldn’t be decided within half an hour.
Lin Xun’s opponent was called Yue Zhongtian, which was an unfamiliar name to him. He was arranged to fight on the no. 49 arena and was scheduled to appear in the fourth set of matches.
In other words, Lin Xun would duel in the arena in the fourth set along with ninety-nine cultivators.
Soon, the first set began and two hundred cultivators began to fight with their chosen opponents in the one hundred arenas.
All sorts of cheers, shouting, and excited roars erupted from the audience, shaking the sky and ground. The atmosphere buzzed like never before.
Lin Xun waited in the examination zone, closely watching the battles. Fierce battles broke out one after another and he found that every cultivator was the best among the best.However, very few were worth his attention. It wasn’t that the cultivators weren’t strong, but Lin Xun’s strength had long exceeded the normal level. Even cultivators with extraordinary powers didn’t interest Lin Xun.
Even so, Lin Xun still watched carefully as different cultivators practiced different cultivation techniques and arts that he could learn from.
Suddenly, a sneer sounded in the distance. “Hmph, I don’t need you to remind me. I know Lin Xun is powerful but do you think I, Yue Zhongtian, am weak? You guys might fear Lin Xun, but I don’t!”
Lin Xun looked over and saw a slender man look offended by the reminder from a group of people.
The slender man was Yue Zhongtian, Lin Xun’s opponent in the second round!
He was slender and tall and dressed in a sapphire blue robe. He had a piercing gaze and exuded a terrifying aura.
He raised his chin slightly, showing arrogance and superiority. He was a prideful young man.
As Yue Zhongtian met Lin Xun’s gaze, his lips curled in a cold smile. Then, he stared at Lin Xun provocatively.
The cultivators near Yue Zhongtian looked awkward when they saw that Lin Xun had noticed them. They secretly cursed Yue Zhongtian for his big mouth. They had only reminded him to be careful out of good intentions. He not only ignored them but also deliberately said it out loud for Lin Xun to hear it.
Lin Xun was surprised to see Wen Mingxiu, Qi Yunxiao and Yuan Shu among the cultivators around Yue Zhongtian!
Wen Mingxiu and the others avoided his gaze and drew away from Yue Zhongtian as though they were afraid that Lin Xun would misunderstand.
“It seems that guy is a student of Haze Academy,” Lin Xun said thoughtfully as he withdrew his gaze.
Lin Xun ignored Yue Zhongtian’s provocative expression. He wouldn’t be so petty to be angry because of a glance.
Who would have thought that Lin Xun’s reaction was a sign of fear and avoidance in Yue Zhongtian’s eyes?
Smiling, he strode towards Lin Xun.
”Lin Xun, many people think it’s not good to mess with you but I disagree.”
Yue Zhongtian came to a stop three feet away from Lin Xun, narrowed his eyes, and arrogantly sized him up.
It was a blatant provocation!
Yue Zhongtian’s comrades turned ashen-faced and inwardly scolded the youth for acting too arrogant and looking for trouble.
However, they all knew that was Yue Zhongtian’s personality and no one could do anything about it.
As Lin Xun had speculated, Yue Zhongtian was indeed from Haze Academy and was quite well-known there.
He had just turned sixteen but was already at the Earth Dipper Stage. Although he wasn’t as dazzling as Xue Shaolin, Yu Wenjing, Le Zhiyou and Yun Zitong, he was still one of the top figures in Haze Academy.
However, he was obnoxious, arrogant, and had a big mouth. He had caused a lot of trouble in Haze Academy and wasn’t very likable. If he wasn’t exceptionally talented, he would have been expelled from the school long ago.
The cultivators from there couldn’t help shaking their heads and sighing when they saw Yue Zhongtian actively trying to provoke Lin Xun.
Some people watched from afar like it was a show.
However, Lin Xun didn’t even glance at Yue Zhongtian and completely disregarded him. It was as though he felt the teen was a weirdo and didn’t want to lower himself to engage with him.
However, the more Lin Xun ignored him, the more Yue Zhongtian wanted to push him further. He said aggressively, “Do you want to know what I think of you?”
“No,” Lin Xun answered very bluntly.
Yue Zhongtian’s face stiffened. Then, he smiled coldly. “You are indeed very arrogant. I admit that you’re strong, but it’s a shame about your character. To make money, you didn’t hesitate to help promote a business during the exam. You have tarnished the name and integrity of cultivators!”
He was not only rude but pointed Lin Xun in the face and berated him.
Many people were dumbfounded. Although they knew that Yue Zhongtian was nuts, they didn’t expect him to be that crazy!
Lin Xun was his opponent in the next match. What if Lin Xun defeated him in the arena?
It didn’t end there. Yue Zhongtian continued to sneer, sounding arrogant and conceited, “Of course, this is your own clown behavior and it’s fine as long as you don’t bother other people, but don’t forget this is the provincial exam and what you do doesn’t just affect you! You…”
Lin Xun finally responded. He glowered at Yue Zhongtian and interrupted him, “What are you trying to say?”
This guy is too noisy. He has rambled endlessly like an annoying fly. Even good-tempered people would lose their patience at this point.
Many nearby cultivators felt a chill as they realized that Yue Zhongtian’s endless attacks had finally angered Lin Xun.
“That guy is just asking for death! Just because he is at the Earth Dipper Stage, he is looking down on Lin Xun. He’s too naive and immature!” Qi Yunxiao whispered. Even if he hated Lin Xun to the bone, he had to admit that Lin Xun was a monster. Various previous incidents had already proved that whoever underestimated Lin Xun would suffer!
However, Yue Zhongtian recklessly tried to provoke Lin Xun. What a joke!
A lot of people had the same thought as Qi Yunxiao. People like Wen Mingxiu and Yuan Shu had already had a taste of Lin Xun’s ability in the past and knew that Yue Zhongtian’s action was incredibly stupid.
Yue Zhongtian unexpectedly said, “It’s very simple, I want to make a bet with you.”
Lin Xun frowned. “Bet what?”
Yue Zhongtian smiled coldly, “Bet that you can’t knock me out of the arena like how you defeated Tan Long!”
What bet was that?
Everyone almost couldn’t believe what they heard. Yue Zhongtian acted so arrogantly just now, so how could he propose such a bet?
Knock him out of the arena within one move? Is there such a bizarre bet in the world?
If they hadn't witnessed it with their own eyes, they would think that Yue Zhongtian was crazy. They would never agree to such a ridiculous bet let alone Lin Xun.
One move?
Clearly, he wanted to stand in an invincible position. Only an idiot would agree to the bet.
In many people’s view, Yue Zhongtian might not be a match for Lin Xun but he could easily block Lin Xun’s attack without being defeated!
Based on that, Yue Zhongtian’s proposed bet was not only absurd but also completely unreasonable.
Lin Xun was taken aback at first. He thought that Yue Zhongtian had some ability given how arrogant and conceited he acted, but who would have thought that it was all an act to provoke him to accept his ridiculous bet?
“What, are you afraid? Ten moves is fine too. Of course, since it’s a bet, there has to be a wager. Let’s each bet ten thousand gold coins.”
Seeing that Lin Xun didn’t say a word, Yue Zhongtian became increasingly smug, and his face was full of disdain.
Just when everyone thought that Lin Xun would refuse, he smirked. “All right, I accept. Ten thousand gold coins, right? Prepare it for me!”
Yue Zhongtian’s eyes lit up. He didn’t expect Lin Xun to agree!
The others thought that he was extremely arrogant and that he was stupid to provoke Lin Xun repeatedly, but only he knew that he did it for the bet!
Regardless of how crazy Yue Zhongtian was, he wasn’t an idiot. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have earned the strength and reputation he had today. He knew that his chance of winning was slim against Lin Xun so he thought of a way to minimize the impact of a failure.
The proposed bet may seem shameless and ridiculous but Yue Zhongtian was confident in winning the bet as long as Lin Xun agreed to it. If he won the bet, even if he lost to Lin Xun in the second round, it wouldn’t be as humiliating!
This was Yue Zhongtian’s thought. His face was alight with excitement and a hint of smugness when he heard Lin Xun agree.
However, Lin Xun’s next sentence made his heart tremble.
“You don’t need to change the conditions of the bet to ten moves. One move is enough.”
Lin Xun turned around to leave the area.
Yue Zhongtian should have been more delighted, but for some reason, as he watched Lin Xun’s handsome figure leave, a bad feeling rose in his heart.