Shi Yu, Ning Meng, and the others also gasped. Lin Xun was far too savage. Could he have intentionally held back until all the fish finally took the bait?
That’s so devious!
They began to view Lin Xun in a slightly different light.
To think that he can become so unscrupulous in order to obtain points.
However, they had wronged Lin Xun this time. It had not been his intention to set such a trap, but things had somehow just fallen into place. Who else could the Dao Martial Department students blame but themselves for foolishly jumping in?
One of the students bellowed, “This is impossible!”
“Why? Are you a sore loser?”
Lin Xun could not be bothered with them. He began to collect the identity tokens as he said, “Hey you. If you dare to run, don’t blame me for burning bridges.”
One of the students, who had been planning to slip away, was rooted in place after hearing that. In the end, he had no choice but to hand over his identity token with an ugly expression.
“You cheated!”Another student shrieked, clearly unable to accept the outcome.
These points were earned through their blood, sweat, and tears. Who would willingly hand them over to someone else?
“Cut the crap, go ahead and show me how you can cheat the rankings.”
Lin Xun snatched the other party’s identity token, causing him to shake in anger. However, he ultimately restrained himself.
What else could he do? Even the likes of Lan Yu and Jin Zhuliu weren’t Lin Xun’s match, so how could he possibly dare to take on Lin Xun?
In the end, Lin Xun obtained a dozen more identity tokens. Together with the tokens he had won from Lin Yu, Jin Zhuliu, and the others, he now had a total of nearly four thousand points!
The abundant haul somewhat surprised him. Since he was now ranked first on the Spirit Sea Gold Rankings, he would be awarded another two thousand points, bringing the total to six thousand. That was more than enough for the Sky Stairs Assessment.
“Many thanks, everyone.”
In the end, Lin Xun smiled and waved goodbye as he left Spirit Sea Peak with Shi Yu, Ning Meng, and the others.
The Dao Martial Department students nearly vomited blood.
……
Swoosh!
Not long after, a man in white arrived at Spirit Sea Peak. His figure was tall and slim like an immortal from legend and his eyes twinkled like stars.
Gu Yunting!
His eyes immediately focused on the first-place name on the Spirit Sea Gold Rankings, only to be stunned and bewildered. The phenomenon earlier had been so grand and mystical, so why had someone like that failed to leave their name on the Spirit Sea Overall Rankings?
After a moment of silence, Gu Yunting turned around and left.
A little more time passed, and numerous people began to arrive at Spirit Sea Peak. These instructors and students could not help but be astonished when they saw the name occupying first place on the Spirit Sea Gold Rankings.
Lin Xun!
To think that it’s him!
There would be no peace in Qinglu Academy on this day. Two months after Lin Xun disappeared, he returned like an unstoppable force, defeating Shi Yunpeng, Xue Yun, Jin Zhuliu, and Lan Yu in the arena, which caused a big commotion in the Dao Martial Department.
His arrogant and fearless attitude, and underhanded tactic of acting weak in battle to fool his opponents made the students hate him yet also secretly fear him.
“He’s devious, evil, and intentionally acted weak to trick everyone. What a shameless person!”
“How formidable. Even Lan Yu voluntarily admitted defeat to him. Lin Xun’s martial cultivation has already surpassed many heaven prides!”
These were the crowd’s opinions of Lin Xun. They loathed him and cursed him for being shameless and underhanded, feeling he did not act anything like a heaven pride.
There were also those that admired and praised his strength.
However, this wasn’t the end of it. While everyone was still guessing how strong Lin Xun was, a certain piece of news exploded in Qinglu Academy like a bomb!
Lin Xun had attacked the rankings, ascended to the peak in one fell swoop, and now towered over all the other heaven prides!
It was frightening, to say the least. The Spirit Sea Gold Rankings represented supreme glory. Every name upon it represented the top hundred most outstanding heaven prides of the Dao Martial Department of this generation.
And yet, a young rune master from the Rune Department had seized first place on the rankings. How could anyone not be shocked by this news?
Who could have imagined that Lin Xun’s martial cultivation would also stand at the apex of the Spirit Sea stage?
“How hateful. Lin Xun isn’t even a Dao Martial Department student, and yet he’s taken the first spot on the Spirit Sea Gold Rankings. Wouldn’t this imply that there’s no one capable in our Dao Martial Department?”
The Dao Martial Department students could no longer keep calm and were both devastated and angered by this news.
“Lin Xun is incredible. In the long history of the academy, who has ever dared to beat up the Dao Martial Department heaven prides and then seize first place on the Spirit Sea Gold Rankings? This is going to be hard to swallow for the Dao Martial Department students.”
“Those Dao Martial Department heaven prides are all so haughty. I hope this lesson will make them change their attitudes.”
The students from the other departments were excited, believing that Lin Xun was a true savage.
It was only when news of Gu Yunting ascending to the Spirit Sea Overall Rankings spread that the Dao Martial Department students were finally able to cheer up.
“After five years of secluded cultivation, Senior Brother Gu Yunting returned, surpassed the Spirit Sea Gold Rankings, and ascended to the Spirit Sea Overall Rankings. He’s now a miracle that stands shoulder to shoulder with the most outstanding heaven prides of the past few thousand years.”
“Hahaha, no matter how arrogant Lin Xun is, he’s only first place on the Spirit Sea Gold Rankings. Compared to Senior Brother Gu Yunting, he’s just a grain-sized pearl that can never match the radiance of the sun!”
Gu Yunting singlehandedly swept away the bad mood of the Dao Martial Department students, making them ecstatic and excited.
“No wonder there was a phenomenon earlier. Gu Yunting had ascended the overall rankings!”
“He’s a man who possesses the Dao Fire Golden Body. He has already surpassed all of the current-day heaven prides and now stands shoulder to shoulder with the most dazzling heaven prides of the past few thousand years!”
The instructors and students from the other departments could not help but be amazed as well when they heard the news.
Gu Yunting was too incredible and peerless. No one could even feel jealous of him because he was just far too superior.
“What do you guys think? Who’s stronger between Lin Xun and Gu Yunting?”
“Of course it’s Gu Yunting! Lin Xun is only first on the Spirit Sea Gold Rankings which Gu Yunting has already surpassed.”
“That might not be the case. I recall that Lin Xun is only sixteen this year while Gu Yunting is already more than twenty. There’s a substantial age gap between them. If Lin Xun is given a few more years, he definitely has the possibility of surpassing Gu Yunting.”
“What a joke. Although age does represent potential, cultivators ultimately compete via their cultivation. Since Lin Xun is currently behind, it will be very difficult for him to catch up.”
Numerous people in Qinglu Academy began to compare Lin Xun and Gu Yunting, which eventually gave rise to fierce debates.
Regardless of the conclusions, there was no doubt that Lin Xun and Gu Yunting had become the hottest topics in the academy today.
Meanwhile, another piece of news was spreading in the Forbidden City.
After disappearing for two months, Lin Xun exited his secluded cultivation with a massacre. He destroyed the Lin branch clan disciples and captured two younger generation heaven prides, Zuo Yang and Qin Xing!
The news immediately shook the city.
Lin Xun wasn’t an unfamiliar name to anyone. He had been at the center of many commotions and uproars, and was famous in the Forbidden City.
Just when everyone was thinking that he was in huge trouble after offending the imperial family, he suddenly launched a strong counterattack.
“He’s already started such a bloodbath on his first day out by slaughtering all of the branch clan members who dared to challenge and oppose Mind Cleansing Peak. Lin Xun is a truly vicious individual!”
“Is he not afraid of death? I can’t believe he even captured Zuo Yang and Qin Xing. Isn’t he worried about revenge from the Zuo and Qin Clans?”
“I only know that Lin Xun won’t take this lying down. Even in the imperial palace, he dared to force the Rising Sky Marquis to kneel and apologize in front of all of those powerful figures. Is there anything he doesn’t dare to do?”
The Forbidden City was abuzz with such discussions.
After two months of silence, Lin Xun had returned in a strong and bloody fashion, shocking everyone incredibly.
No one had thought he would dare to commit such acts. It was equivalent to burning bridges with the three Lin branch clans in addition to offending the Zuo and Qin Clans!
“Mind Cleansing Peak is already in an extremely dangerous position. Despite that, Lin Xun not only doesn’t lay low but instead also causes a huge commotion. He’s playing with fire.”
“Even a rabbit will bite back when forced into a corner. Lin Xun must have done it because he has nothing left to lose.”
“Sigh, his opponents aren’t just the Zuo and Qin Clans but also the imperial family. I feel it will not be long before a calamity befalls Lin Xun. When that happens, Mind Cleansing Peak won’t be safe either!”
“Indeed, no matter how incredible he is, he’s ultimately still a young man who doesn’t understand how terrifying the high clans are. For them, killing him is easier than squashing an ant.”
It was the capital after all. As such, Lin Xun’s matter quickly drew much attention and discussion from the entire city. Regardless of whether it was good or bad, there was no doubt that his fame had reached a level that no one could ignore.
On the same day, news about Lin Xun entering Qinglu Academy, defeating several famous heaven prides, and taking first place on the Spirit Sea Gold Rankings also spread to the Forbidden City.
At the same time, news that Lin Xun captured Zuo Yang and Qin Xing and massacred the Lin branch clan members likewise spread to the academy.
It was no surprise that this resulted in another huge uproar that made Lin Xun the hottest topic in the Forbidden City.
Even in the long history of the empire, it was very rare for anyone to be treated in such a manner.
After all, if one was to disregard his status and strength, Lin Xun was merely a sixteen-year-old youth. The fact that he could stir up the entire city was something no one from his generation could ever hope to match.
Lin Xun was unaware of all this, but he probably wouldn’t be overly concerned even if he knew. He had intended to stir up a ruckus, and it mattered not whether it made him infamous.
The Great Affairs Hall.
Lin Xun arrived with a big stack of identity tokens. He intended to exchange his points before finally starting preparations for the Sky Stairs Assessment!