What is Lin Xun doing here?
In the Great Affairs Hall, many people looked curious.
Lin Xun headed straight to the rune material exchange area, took out his identity plate, and gave it to the old man stationed there. “I’m here to exchange for the horn of Kui Ox.”
The old man sprang to his feet, his eyes widening and his voice filled with disbelief, “You passed the Sky Stairs?”
“What Sky Stairs?” The students were bewildered.
“The Sky Stairs Mountain. It is a mountain marked with traces of the Great Dao. It is rumored that only the most powerful geniuses in the world can scale it. Due to the difficulty of the Heaven Ladder Assessment, no one has been able to set foot on the mountain for hundreds of years,” someone explained, sparking a clamor of discussions.
“No way! Is Lin Xun that amazing?”
“It‘s true. Didn’t you hear? He wants to exchange his points for the Kui Ox Horn. As far as I know, you can only exchange for that treasure after passing the Sky Stairs Assessment.”
“He only reached the first spot on the Spirit Sea Gold Rankings yesterday, and today he passed the Sky Stairs Assessment that no one has passed for hundreds of years. How can the students of our Dao Martial Department accept that?”
A great clamor filled the hall, and all eyes brimmed with gazes of astonishment and shock like they were looking at a monster.Indeed, it was very absurd. Lin Xun was a young rune grandmaster of the Rune Department but he also had such heaven-defying abilities in martial arts. He was like a monster. No one knew what standard to measure him against.
He was a rare talent!
The most terrifying thing was that he was only sixteen years old yet he had made such remarkable achievements in both the art of runes and martial arts!
The old man checked Lin Xun’s identity plate, but his eyes suddenly glazed over in a trance as he muttered, “He really passed…”
In the end, he handed Lin Xun a black sealed box that housed the Kui Ox Horn.
“I finally succeeded.”
Lin Xun felt a weight lifting off him. Now that he had obtained the Kui Ox Horn, he had the core rune material for making the rune armament he had designed. As long as Shen Tuo helped him gather the other rune materials, he could start his rune armament-making operation on the ninth floor of the Refinement Tower.
“Wait a moment.” Someone stopped Lin Xun as he stepped out of the Great Affairs Hall.
His hat and clothes were whiter than snow, and his silky black hair glistened in the light. He was handsome and noble-looking and had an ethereal bearing like an immortal. He was Gu Yunting!
The area buzzed nonstop when Gu Yunting showed up. Many students halted, and their eyes blazed fanatically as they stared at Gu Yunting.
Lin Xun might be dazzling, but he wasn’t from the Dao Martial Department. Gu Yunting was different because his name had shaken the academy five years ago. He was like a blazing sun, always in the center of attention.
However, he had gone into closed-door cultivation for five years. When he reemerged, he leapt to the top of the legendary Spirit Sea Rankings. An amazing and elegant person like him was naturally a target of fanatical adoration.
“Is there something?” Lin Xun asked in puzzlement. He didn’t expect Gu Yunting, who had always been treated as above all mortal beings, would suddenly appear before him.
However, Lin Xun remained unusually calm because he guessed the reason why Gu Yunting would take the initiative to find him.
“I need the Kui Ox horn, can you give it to me? Don’t worry, I will compensate you,” Gu Yunting asked indifferently.
As he stood there, he looked remarkable and unrivaled. His flowy robe was whiter than snow, and his demeanor was elegant.
Lin Xun had guessed correctly.
He shook his head without hesitation. “Sorry, but I also need the Kui Ox Horn.”
Gu Yunting wrinkled his brows slightly. “You should know that I had the opportunity to exchange for the Kui Ox Horn before you.”
Lin Xun nodded. “Yes, you and I ascended the Sky Stairs Mountain at the same time, but unfortunately, you were one step too slow.”
The nearby students were astonished when they realized that not only had Lin Xun climbed Sky Stairs Mountain, but so did Gu Yunting!
Something that hadn’t happened in hundreds of years had happened twice!
Suddenly, the students looked at Gu Yunting differently. Their gazes were even more fanatical and sparkled with admiration. No wonder he can leap to the top of the Spirit Sea Ranking. He didn’t give Lin Xun the chance to dominate the limelight.
Gu Yunting flicked his sleeve and brought a bright and colorful ball of light floating into the air.
Everyone’s eyes widened in surprise.
It contained dozens of rare rune materials and aeth medicines! Each one was worth as much as the Kui Ox Horn!
For example, there was a Blood Lingzhi that only matured every three thousand years. It was bright red and overflowed with a splendid essence that dyed the air a deep red. It gave off a unique aroma that relaxed the soul.
Then, there was an octagonal copper iron. A thumb-sized piece was worth tens of thousands of gold coins, but that piece was as big as a fist!
In addition, there were jade fungus, nine-star flowers and other rare treasures.
Everyone gasped. Some eyes gleamed covetously, and some fell into a dazed state. They didn’t expect Gu Yunting to have such wealth. The value of that batch of rune materials was worth more than any amount of money!
Lin Xun was also stunned by the offer. As a rune master, he knew the earthshaking values of those rune materials.
“You can choose any two as compensation for giving up the Kui Ox Horn. I believe that shows my sincerity,” Gu Yunting said calmly as though he was certain that Lin Xun wouldn’t be able to decline such a temptation.
This was because the value of the compensation had exceeded the value of the Kui Ox Horn.
Many people envied Lin Xun. If it were them, they would not dare to expect such generous treatment.
Unexpectedly, Lin Xun’s jet-black eyes remained clear and calm as he unwaveringly refused again, “The horn of the Kui Ox is priceless to me. I won’t give it up no matter what you offer me.”
Everyone was astonished. He refused!?
Even Gu Yunting was taken aback. He couldn’t help but frown. “Are you not happy with my offer? Fine, I can let you choose three then.”
Lin Xun also scrunched his brows. This guy is so arrogant. Did he not hear that I don’t plan to give it up at all?”
“Lin Xun, you should be content!”
“Senior Brother Gu Yunting has already shown his sincerity. Don’t try to push your luck.”
“Lin Xun, you should be honored to receive such treatment from Senior Brother Gu Yunting.”
Some nearby students spoke up, standing up for Gu Yunting.
Lin Xun snorted and glanced around and left. He didn’t want to waste time with them.
However, his indifferent attitude irritated many people. Even so, no one dared to stop him or say anything.
Gu Yunting’s brows furrowed deeper, and an imperceptible chilling glint flashed across his eyes. He was determined to cast a weapon using the horn of the Kui Ox. He thought he had shown his sincerity with his offer but Lin Xun didn’t appreciate it.
“You are Lin Xun? I hope you can give up the horn of the Kui Ox,” a sweet-sounding voice suddenly rang out.
A young maiden walked towards them. Her face was stunning, and her skin was smooth as jade and brighter than snow. Her perfectly curved body seemed to sparkle like crystals as she moved. She was flawless in every way.
She was a dazzling beauty like a phoenix.
Everyone broke out in an uproar.
“Princess Linghuang has come!“
“Five years ago, she had a very friendly relationship with Gu Yunting. I never thought that she would come to the academy when Gu Yunting came out of closed-door cultivation!”
Princess Linghuang was the emperor’s most favored daughter. Not only was she stunningly beautiful, but she also had an astonishing talent for cultivation and a high and mighty status. She was regarded as a pearl of the imperial family.
She had studied in the Dao Martial Department five years ago and only returned to the imperial family when Gu Yunting went into closed-door cultivation. Ever since then she had never appeared in the academy.
Now that Gu Yunting had re-emerged, she also appeared in the academy. Many people couldn’t help but speculate.
She came to a stop in front of Lin Xun, blocking his path like a phoenix descending upon the world.
In truth, she was indeed like a proud phoenix. When she spoke, her flawless chin was slightly raised, highlighting her fair and shapely neck.
“Yes, I’m Lin Xun, but as I said before I have no intention of giving up the Kui Ox Horn. I hope you don’t get in my way,” Lin Xun said with a smile.
Although he was smiling, he was growing more and more annoyed. It seems Gu Yunting and Princess Linghuang are determined to not let me go until I hand over the Kui Ox Horn.
Many people smacked their lips. Lin Xun is so daring. He first declined Gu Yunting’s offer and now he refuses to listen to Princess Linghuang. Is he not afraid of offending them and bringing trouble upon himself?
“I have already heard that you are fearless and perverse. I finally understand now. But since I have come here today, you will have to hand over the Horn of Kui Ox.” Princess Linghuang threatened with a frown.
She exuded an air of arrogance and pride. Although her voice was sweet, her words were full of authority. Clearly, this wasn’t the first time she had done something similar.
Lin Xun lost his patience. He waved his hand dismissively. “I don’t care who you are. Even the King of Heaven can’t change my mind today. Move out of the way!”
Everyone gasped. Lin Xun is so crazy. She’s Princess Linghuang, a descendant of the emperor. Who dares talk to her like that?
“How dare you?! How dare you offend Her Highness? Do you want to die?!”
A young man bellowed, his body overflowing with a threatening aura.
“Who are you now? Move aside.”
Lin Xun’s black eyes flashed a cold glint. He didn’t want to cause any trouble before he started making the rune armament, but the other party was treating him like a pushover.
Everyone was a little bewildered because the young man also wasn’t an ordinary person. He was the direct descendant of the Qi Clan, one of the high clans. He was Qi Yu, a talented genius who was amazing in identity, status, and strength. He had broken through to the Heaven Ascension Stage in the past year and was currently training in the True Martial Department.
However, Lin Xun fearlessly scolded him without any restraint.