Chapter 96 The Human Heart is the Most Difficult to Predict
The gasps were few and scattered among various areas in the plaza.
This proved that having True Martial sixth layer cultivation at the age of thirteen was not very impressive. It was merely better than average and thus did not cause a commotion.
However, those that knew the name Lin Xun were unable to keep calm. It was not because Lin Xun’s results were amazing but because they knew this name!
To many people present, Lin Xun was an unfamiliar name. However, those that knew him felt hatred and resentment at the mention of his name.
For example, some of the gasps in the crowd had come from Yang Qun and his group. They were known pampered young masters in Donglin City who had been beaten up and captured by Xia Zhi yesterday. They were subsequently brought to the entrance of Donglin Academy and made into the most miserable clowns. How could they not hate Lin Xun after all that?
Donglin Academy Principal Yu Canglin suddenly raised his head and thoughtfully glanced at Lin Xun, who was returning to the plaza, as he recalled the talk he had with Wu Clan Leader Wu Qun yesterday.
However, Principal Yu Canglin also recalled the commotion in front of the academy yesterday, causing him to frown and fall into thought.
Yu Canglin did not notice Yao Tuohai also quickly scanning Lin Xun’s figure. Yao Tuohai’s expression remained unchanged but he could not help but feel a little skeptical. What was so special about this True Martial sixth layer stage youngster for his daughter and Lian Fei to have suffered at his hands?
The corner of Wu Qun’s eyes twitched without anyone noticing. He clearly remembered the report stating that Lin Xun had been at the True Martial fifth layer a month ago when he entered Donglin City. Who could have anticipated that the kid would advance to the next cultivation stage in a single month?
With such potential, cunning and ability at this young age, he will certainly become a huge threat once he grows up!
Wu Qun’s expression remained composed but he had already begun thinking about killing Lin Xun.
Mu Wansu had an even more complicated expression on her face. If her memory was right, Lin Xun was only at the True Martial third layer the first time they met in Feiyun Village. In fact, it was through First Young Master Shi Xuan’s four seasons brew that Lin Xun managed to step into the True Martial fourth layer.
It had only been a few months since then but Lin Xun’s cultivation had already reached the True Martial sixth layer. Such rapid progress shook Mu Wansu’s heart. For the first time, she realized that she had been too focused on making sure she would not lose out to the brat and had failed to notice his amazing cultivation talent.
Lin Xun was unaware of everyone’s thoughts. He returned to his original position, lowered his head, and silently waited for the exam to be over.
He knew that announcing his name was akin to drawing blood in the woods, instantly drawing the attention of all the hidden hungry wolves.
However, he was not worried about them causing trouble during the exam.
Sure enough, it was exactly as Lin Xun had predicted. His appearance did not cause any interruptions and the exam proceeded as usual. One by one, each hopeful participant nervously went forward to get measured, obtain their results and return.
Some were happy with their results, some sighed in sadness, and some did not know what to make of it; each person displayed various emotions.
When it was nearly noon, all 9300 participants were finally done with their measurements. However, no one left since the final results had yet to be announced. In contrast to the boring waiting from before, the atmosphere of the plaza turned tense.
Everyone braced themselves and looked towards the tall stage; their faces were filled with desire, nervousness and hopefulness.
The final results would soon be announced. Those who were eliminated and those who passed would be known shortly!
On the tall stage, the chief examiner Yao Tuohai did not let everyone wait for long. He rose to his feet and his gaze swept across the crowd, “This district exam has been an eye-opener for me and I’ve discovered several good seedlings. Regretfully, only a thousand people will be able to pass. I hope that the young friends who fail will not be discouraged but work harder and participate again next year. As for those who pass, do not become proud and satisfied. The district exam is only the first step and there are still many challenges awaiting you…”
After giving his speech, Yao Tuohai’s expression turned solemn as he instructed, “Dao Friend Canglin, please announce the results.”
As he spoke, he passed a scroll to Yu Canglin.
Yu Canglin felt a surge of energy and accepted with a smile. However, his expression quickly changed to a serious one when he got up and unfurled the scroll.
“Age fifteen and cultivation lower than True Martial fifth layer, eliminated!
“Age fourteen, cultivation lower than True Martial fourth layer, eliminated!
“Age thirteen, cultivation lower than True Martial third layer, eliminated!
“Age twelve and below, cultivation lower than True Martial second layer, eliminated!”
He did not speak too quickly or too slowly. Each word boomed across the plaza like thunder, especially the word ‘eliminated’, which made several participants’ hearts jump and made them unable to compose themselves.
The eliminated youths’ faces paled as misery and an unwillingness to accept the results was revealed. Several of them even began to cry.
Although others might laugh at them for crying, this showed that these boys and girls were still children who had yet to properly experience life and its hardships. An experienced adult would not show tears no matter how badly he or she was unable to accept the result.
“It is time for the eliminated cultivators to leave the plaza!”
The mood in the plaza was heavy and filled with emotion, making it very easy for things to spiral out of control. If the eliminees did not leave, they might cause a ruckus upon hearing the names of those who had passed.
More than seven thousand disappointed people soon left, disappearing from the plaza.
Many felt pity for these eliminees. After all, quite a number of them had pretty good results and would have easily passed the past year’s district exam.
Regretfully, this year’s district exam was different because of a single Yao Tuohai. His presence had caused a massive influx of participants, with many cultivators even making a special trip here from other cities. As a result, the competition was crueler and the passing requirements much stricter than previous exams.
Lin Xun did not feel this was a big deal but he could not help but ponder at this juncture. The exam results are already being announced, are those fellows still not going to act?
Of course, it would be best if he could smoothly pass the district exam. However, Lin Xun did not believe such a thing would be allowed to happen.
There were roughly two thousand participants left in the plaza. In other words, at least a thousand more would soon be eliminated!
It was not long before Yu Canglin began to speak again, “There are now two thousand participants left. Most of you are of similar ages and possess similar cultivation levels, making it very difficult to make a decision. For the sake of fairness, Lord Yao Tuohai has decided to add in another round of testing!”
Another round of tests!
The entire place erupted. No one had expected that there would be another stage of selection at the most critical juncture. This was far too rare.
Of course, similar situations had occurred before in the empire’s district exams and had ultimately been resolved through an additional round of tests.
However, it was the first time something like this had happened in the Donglin City district exam!
Lin Xun’s eyes narrowed. He suddenly had a feeling that the additional round would not go smoothly for him.
“Of course, I have a list of names to announce before the additional round. The cultivators whose names appear on this list have the most outstanding results and need not go through this second round to pass!”
Yet another uproar swept through the plaza. However, it did seem fair after thinking about it. Top performers like Wu Feichong, Yu Miao and Xiao Hen, who had caused big commotions earlier, would definitely pass anyways. It was meaningless and a waste of everyone’s time for them to go through another round of selections.
As the commotion died down, everyone in the plaza could not help but hold their breaths and look up in anticipation. The remaining participants hoped that their names would appear on the list so they need not go through the second round.
Yu Canglin quickly began to announce the names, “Wu Feichong, Yu Miao, Xiao Hen…”
About six hundred names were announced one after another, drawing wave after wave of reactions. Some were envious while others sighed in disappointment.
When Lin Xun ascertained his name was not on the list, he could not help but inwardly sneer. As expected, they will not let me pass so easily!
Although Lin Xun had seemed inattentive during the exam, he had actually memorized every cultivator’s name and age. Hence, he had a rough idea about his relative performance.
Quite a number of participants on the name list were of similar age and cultivation to Lin Xun. There was clearly something fishy going on since they were given a pass and Lin Xun was not.
After all, there were only six hundred names on the list, meaning there were still about four hundred unfilled slots. So why was his name not there?
Lin Xun did not expose this because he knew it would be useless. No one present would help him seek redress for this injustice anyways. Moreover, although the list might seem biased, strictly speaking, it did not break any rules.
It was not the final list of passers but a portion of them! Yu Canglin still had more than sufficient room to explain everything!
In Lin Xun’s opinion, this might be an attempt to incite and provoke him into giving them a valid reason to eliminate him.
Lin Xun would not allow them to have their way.
However, something unexpected soon happened. Lin Xun did not plan to expose this, but someone else stood up for him. Moreover, it was a very unexpected person―
Mu Wansu!
However, Lin Xun’s heart could not help but sink at this scene as he inwardly swore.
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