When Lin Xun walked out of Stone Cauldron Alms, he had one hundred and three silver coins left after spending a huge amount on aeth concoctions and rune inks.

His huge expenditures couldn’t be helped. The items required for cultivation were all costly and simply unaffordable to ordinary people.

Lin Xun had heard that many gifted people failed to set foot on the cultivation path due to their poor background and lack of financial support. In the end, they remained as ordinary people among the mass of common people.

Fortunately, Lin Xun had no such worries yet.

When noon neared, Lin Xun decided to set off to return to Feiyun Village. Xue Liang sent two guards to escort Lin Xun and help transport his goods back.

The two guards were also given the task of purchasing Feiyun Fire Copper, and so they came with Lin Xun to scout out Feiyun Village beforehand since they would need to go there to purchase Feiyun Fire Copper every month.

With that arrangement in place, Lin Xun wouldn’t have to worry that no one would help the villagers of Feiyun Village deliver and exchange goods even when he left the village.

Lin Xun knew that was Yan Zhen’s arrangement, which indicated that the people in Stone Cauldron Alms indeed kept their promises.

As long as Stone Cauldron Alms remained in the Qingyang Tribe, and as long as Lin Xun was still alive, he wouldn’t need to worry about someone breaking the agreement.

Moreover, now that he had the Stone Cauldron Alms as a backer, he could guarantee that no one would dare touch the wealth that belonged to Feiyun Village.

Xue Liang personally saw Lin Xun out of the Qingyang Tribe, drawing countless attention along the way. But they all retracted their gazes when they recognized him to be part of Stone Cauldron Alms.

“Young Master Lin Xun, given your age and cultivation level, why don’t you participate in the district examination in Donglin City?”

As they exchanged conversations along the way, Xue Liang learned that Lin Xun was only thirteen years old and, besides feeling surprised, he couldn’t help but encourage him to take the examination.

Lin Xun exclaimed, “District examination?”

Xue Liang patiently explained, “Every other year, the empire will conduct a selection process to recruit outstanding talents from all over the world.”

According to Xue Liang, the Ziyao Empire had established a series of examinations to select the best talents: district examination, prefectural examination, provincial examination and national examination.

It was understandable given the Ziyao Empire’s vast territory. Besides the Forbidden City, the empire’s capital, the other land was divided into a further thirty four provinces, and each one was further divided into prefectures. Each prefecture was also further divided into districts.

In short, the districts, prefectures, provinces and the imperial capital made up the vast territory of the Ziyao Empire.

The district examination, prefectural examination, provincial examination and national examination corresponded to different levels of assessment and selection.

The district examination was the lowest level and the conditions to participate was very simple: Participants had to be under fifteen years old and possess a cultivation base.

Those who met those two conditions would successfully pass the district examination.

The prefectural examination was more strict in that participants would have to undergo an assessment of their qualifications, power of understanding and foundation. Only the most outstanding could pass the examination.

The provincial examination could no longer be described as strict, but harsh instead. Even Xue Liang didn’t know about the specific details of the examination, only that those who passed were considered one of the best in the world!

As for the national examination, it was too distant. It could be classified as the top assessment in the Forbidden City. Anyone able to participate was a superb cultivator selected from a million people. It was not an exaggeration to call them the pride of heaven.

It was worth mentioning that the district examination, prefectural examination, provincial examination and national examination were a series of selections.

An examinee not only had to be less than eighteen years old to participate in the national examination but also had to pass the district examination, prefectural examination and provincial examination!

Lin Xun couldn’t help but marvel at this. He wondered how many peerless cultivators would emerge in each year’s examination. The ones able to rise above the others in the series of examinations would undoubtedly become the pillars of the Ziyao Empire and display their splendor.

However, Lin Xun realized a problem. He asked, “Uncle Xue Liang, are there any specific benefits in participating in the examinations?”

Xue Liang was struck dumb for a minute before he answered Lin Xun, “There are many. Besides fame, successful participants would encounter many opportunities to climb and be promoted to a higher position. Most importantly, it brings great benefits to their cultivation path.”

After a pause, he continued, “For example, those who pass the district examination would be noticed by many sects, clans, chambers of commerce and even the military and top academies. They would try to draw them over to their side with various means and even provide them with money and cultivation resources.”

Lin Xun said in puzzlement, “Why is that?”

Xue Liang smiled. “It’s simple. Although it’s only the district examination, many participants are under fifteen years old and possess a strong cultivation base. They are akin to good seedlings with huge potential and thus, in the future, could bring huge benefits to the sects and forces that drew them to their side.”

Lin Xun nodded thoughtfully. “I see, then there’s no other benefit if one doesn’t want to join any sects or forces?”

“Of course not. The empire would reward those successful with a prize and grant them the eligibility to participate in the prefectural examination. Those who pass would receive even greater benefits. For example, greater sects and forces would focus their attention on them.”

“It’s even better to pass the provincial examination. Even if you don’t have the opportunity to participate in the national examination in the future, you can enjoy an extremely high status, endless wealth, and cultivation resources. As for the national examination—those who pass would be able to step into the halls of Qinglu Academy! It is the most famous academy in the empire and also the sacred cultivation place that countless cultivators dream to study in!”

Xue Liang’s voice trembled with emotions and admiration.

He only restored his calm state after a while. He smiled bitterly. “But it’s not easy to enroll into the Qinglu Academy because it only accepts one hundred students every year and 99% of participants in the national examination would fail.”

Lin Xun slowly digested what Xue Liang said. In the end, he couldn’t help but sigh emotionally. “The Qinglu Academy is indeed amazing. At least, its symbol is engraved on the imperial coins circulating around the empire.”

Xue Liang had the same thought. “I can’t agree with you more. Anyway, each of the series of examinations for the selection of talent isn’t simple. A cultivator must possess deep knowledge to pass each one. If you’re interested, you can find out more in Donglin city. I heard that the district examination in Donglin City will begin in two months.”

Lin Xun nodded. “I will seriously consider it.”

While they conversed, they arrived on the outskirts of the Qingyang Tribe.

There, Lin Xun bid farewell. “Uncle Xue Liang, you don’t need to walk me any farther.”

Xue Liang nodded. “Okay, take care of yourself on the way.”

𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Lin Xun smiled, mounted the scaled horse, turned the horse around and clattered away. The two guards from Stone Cauldron Alms, who were responsible for escorting goods, also followed after him.

“That little guy seemed to have acted recklessly last night, but he’s actually quick witted and intelligent. Also, he’s far-sighted. Unless something unexpected happens, he surely will achieve success in the future. It’s a pity that he was born in a remote and poor place. He lacks knowledge and experience, and as a result could run into many twists and turns in his life…”

Xue Liang stared into the distance until Lin Xun and the others vanished from his sight. He then withdrew his gaze and returned to the Qingyang tribe.

……

At the same time, at the Wu Corporation.

Wu Deyong sat dully in the main hall, his eyes bloodshot and his face overcast.

He couldn’t understand how a kid from Feiyun Village could become a distinguished guest of Stone Cauldron Alms, and why the Manager of Stone Cauldron Alms would stand up for him. And because of that, Wu Deyong couldn’t vent his anger and had to swallow it.

The power of Stone Cauldron Alms was too terrifying. Let alone Wu Deyong, even the Wu clan behind Wu Deyong wouldn’t dare to offend the Stone Cauldron Alms.

Compared with Stone Cauldron Alms, they were akin to tiny ants before a towering tree. If the Stone Cauldron Alms wanted to give them trouble, they could effortlessly crush them between their fingers!

Therefore, they had to tolerate Lin Xun.

An attendant urgently rushed over to report to him. “Boss, the kid has left the Qingyang Tribe accompanied by two guards from Stone Cauldron Alms.”

The last trace of stubborn refusal to accept defeat finally vanished from Wu Deyong’s heart. His face clouded over. The Stone Cauldron Alms actually sent guards to accompany him?! It’s clearly a warning to the Wu Corporation!

“Manager, do we really just leave the matter at that? That kid killed Mad Dog Wu Jie and the others. Who in the Qingyang tribe doesn’t know about that incident? If we don’t teach him a lesson, how can we lift our heads high in the Qingyang tribe?”

A middle-aged man on the side of the hall fumed, drawing the others to nod their heads in agreement.

Wu Deyong thundered, “Don’t tell me you want to get revenge? Do you want the Stone Cauldron Alms to find an easy excuse to get rid of us all?”

Everyone fell silent.

After several breaths, Wu Deyong restored his calmness and said, “This matter has ended. Don't bring it up again!”

Someone couldn’t help saying, “But we still haven’t heard any news about Chief Steward Wu Henshui. Do we have to forget about that matter too?”

The mention of Wu Henshui made Wu Deyong’s lips twitch. He hissed through gritted his teeth, "Idiot, that boy single-handedly carried out a massacre in the Qingyang tribe. Do you think Wu Henshui would still be alive?”

Everyone fell silent again. They had already known that Wu Henshui’s situation looked grim but they were unwilling to let Lin Xun go so easily.

That matter not only concerned their faces, but also the Wu Corporation’s reputation within the Qingyang Tribe!

After a while, someone suggested, “It might not be inconvenient for us to act, but we can find someone else to take care of it. Why don’t we hire someone to do it?”

However, Wu Deyong slammed the table and smoke almost rose from his head. He snapped, “Have you forgotten what Yan Zhen said last night? If something happens to the kid, the Stone Cauldron Alms will get rid of us whether or not we did it! Do you know what that means? Even if the kid dies in the jaws of a beast, the Stone Cauldron Alms will take revenge on us! You bunch of idiots! Use your brain!”

Everyone slumped down and their hearts almost exploded from their suffocating feelings. The Stone Cauldron Alms has gone too far!

Seeing that no one said anything in a long while, Wu Deyong took a deep breath and said, “Of course, we have to get revenge, but now isn’t the time. Don't forget that Lian Rufeng, the guard leader of Feiyun Village, also left with Wu Henshui. I remember his son Lian Fei is now training in Donglin City. The opportunity will come in the future. Lian Fei may be of great use to us…”

His voice suddenly turned chilly and sinister.