Donglin Academy.

In the early morning, the sun was shining down the lush grass and trees. Students in navy blue school uniforms rushed to the cafeteria in groups of twos and threes.

When Lian Fei stepped out of his dormitory, his eyes were bloodshot and his brows were furrowed together.

He had stayed up all night waiting for a message, but he still hadn’t received any.

Could something unexpected have happened last night?

This question struck Lian Fei’s mind from time to time and tormented him the entire night.

“Lian Fei, how are the preparations going?”

A pretty girl in a perfectly tailored uniform came over from the distance. Her footsteps were light and she seemed to be in high spirits.

“Prepare for what?” Lian Fei was perplexed. The girl was called Yao Susu and was Lian Fei’s classmate. She had admired him for a long time.

“Have you forgotten that the district examination is in ten days?!”

Lian Fei hummed and slapped his forehead. He then said with a smile, “What is there to prepare for? It’s just a test of age and cultivation. I can definitely pass.”

Yao Susu and Lian Fei walked side by side. She explained, “Don’t be so careless, you are fifteen years old this year, so you won’t have an advantage in age. I heard that there are 3,000 people alone from Donglin Academy who want to participate in the district examination. However, there are only 1,000 people admitted. The elimination rate is even higher if you also consider the other applicants in Donglin City,”

Lian Fei responded in a distracted manner, “My age is definitely my weakness but I am already at the fifth layer True Martial Stage and that’s undoubtedly an advantage over the others. I believe I won’t be eliminated at the district examination.”

Yao Susu giggled. What she liked most about Lian Fei was his confidence.

While the two were talking, they arrived at the cafeteria. The huge cafeteria was already full of students, and the breakfast also looked fine. It was a vegetarian dish that consisted of a special eight treasure aeth porridge and was paired with several kinds of aeth vegetables. It also tasted pretty good.

The students in Donglin Academy were all very young, with the youngest at five and the oldest fifteen years old.

Donglin Academy was an official school and not a local force. It was established to select talents for the empire’s district examination.

Students over fifteen years old were not allowed to participate in the district examination and so wouldn’t be accepted into Donglin Academy.

Many students in the cafeteria were talking while eating breakfast. The cafeteria was very lively, and almost all topics centered around the district examination that would begin in ten days.

Uninterested in the topics, Lian Fei lowered his head and ate quietly.

Yao Susu noticed that something was wrong with Lian Fei and couldn’t help but ask, “Do you have something on your mind?”

Lian Fei hummed and then patiently explained, “Don't worry, it’s just a small matter.”

Yao Susu had an impressive family background. Her family controlled a lot of power in Qingfeng County. Qingfeng County ruled over twelve prefectures and Donglin City was one of them.

In other words, Donglin City was also under the rule of Qingfeng County.

Lian Fei planned to participate in the prefectural examination in Qingfeng County in the future. Given Yao Susu’s infatuation with him, he naturally would be well-treated there.

Yao Susu said in a concerned voice, “Lian Fei, if you have trouble, you can tell me. Although my family isn’t in Donglin City, we still have many connections here.”

Lian Fei smiled. “Don't worry. Don’t you believe in the man you like?”

Yao Susu’s pretty face blushed, and she softly spat out, “You’re a smooth talker.”

After being interrupted like that, Yao Susu forgot what she wanted to ask.

The two finished breakfast and walked out of the cafeteria when a middle-aged man rushed in anxiously.

When he saw Lian Fei, he wanted to say something but Lian Fei stopped him with an eye signal. Lian Fei smiled at Yao Susu. “A friend is looking for me, why don’t you wait for me inside?”

Yao Susu nodded and left.

The smile on Lian Fei’s face instantly faded when the girl disappeared. He said to the middle-aged man, “Why are you here now?”

While asking, he brought the middle-aged man to a quiet corner.

The middle-aged man was called Xue Yong and was an informant sent by the Wu Clan to pass a message to Lian Fei.

“I just received a message.” Xue Yong sighed. “This morning, Black Widow returned twice the deposit and confirmed that the mission had failed.”

His one sentence made Lian Fei freeze and his expression changed indefinitely. The worst result had come!

“How is that possible?”

Lian Fei forcibly suppressed his worry. “That kid is only at the fifth layer true Martial Stage. We have spent so much money to invite Black Widow, Du Xiao, and Frowning Oldy to take on the mission together. They could kill a ninth layer True Martial Stage cultivator let alone deal with a kid. How could they fail the mission?”

Xue Yong’s face was overcast as he explained, “This matter is no doubt true. I heard that Du Xiao and Frowning Oldy have met with an accident and will never appear again.”

Lian Fei gasped and felt a chill run down his spine. He stood there in a trance for a long while and then, a thought flashed across his mind. “Could that kid have a master helping him?”

“Although Black Widow didn’t say so, that should be the case.”

Lian Fei asked anxiously, “Could it be Stone Cauldron Alms?”

He was most afraid of the Stone Cauldron Alms since it was one of the strongest powers in the empire and no one in the entire Donglin City would dare to anger the Stone Cauldron Alms.

From what he knew, Stone Cauldron Alms didn’t hesitate to ruin their relationship with the Wu Clan in order to protect Lin Xun. And as a result, the Wu Clan didn’t dare to act recklessly.

If it weren’t because of them, then the Wu Clan wouldn’t have pushed Lian Fei out to take the lead to deal with Lin Xun!

Lian Fei knew that the Wu Clan was using him, but he had no other choice in order to avenge his father. Moreover, he needed help from the Wu Clan. As a little student of Donglin Academy, he couldn’t possibly shake the great mountain that was Stone Cauldron Alms.

Xue Yong’s pupils shrank when he heard the name Stone Cauldron Alms.

Lian Fei pondered for a moment and then he coldly snorted in his mind. Given the Wu Clan’s usual way of shirking responsibility, I would have to bear the consequences alone if the people from Stone Cauldron Alms got mad.

This was an agreement that Lian Fei had already reached with the Wu Clan.

However, Lian Fei was unwilling to be used. After taking a few deep breaths, he gritted his teeth and said, “The matter has already happened, and so they must be on the alert. If it was up to me, I will immediately send more people to end the matter once and for all!”

When Xue Yong heard this, the overcast expression suddenly faded from his face, and he laughed. “I heard that Wu Deyong, the manager of the Wu Clan, also thinks the same way. So it’s true that heroes see the same thing.”

Lian Fei snorted again in his mind. What nonsense that heroes see the same thing. It’s obvious that they have already figured out a countermeasure, but they just want me to come forward and take care of it!

Lian Fei said bluntly, “Since that’s the case, what else did Shopkeeper Wu Deyong say?”

“We can no longer hire assassins. The death of Du Xiao and Frowning Oldy have stirred up many waves. Assassins won’t dare to take part anymore.”

After a pause, he changed the topic. “However, although we can’t use assassins, we can use some gangsters.”

Lian Fei asked thoughtfully, “What do you mean by that?”

Xue Yong smiled meaningfully. “Lin Xun is now living in the slums, where there are many underground gangs. Coincidentally, the leader of one of the biggest gangs is Old Tiger Lu. I heard that he is a ruthless character who only cares about money. What’s especially good is that Old Tiger Lu is a true initial Spirit Dipper expert!”

Lian Fei’s heart trembled. “We are going to ask a Spirit Dipper expert to act? This is going to cost a lot of money, right? Is it worth it?”

Xue Yong’s face grew fierce and ruthless. “Du Xiao, Frowning Oldy and Black Widow acted together, but they failed to get rid of the boy. We have no choice but to ask Old Tiger Lu. This matter must be quickly ended. The longer it drags on, the more disadvantaged we are.”

He suddenly realized something and said with a smile, “Of course, it depends on whether you, young master, agrees or not.”

Would Lian Fei dare not to agree? He said coldly, “It’s the best option given the circumstances. It depends on whether Old Tiger Lu is a real tiger or not!”

Xue Yong immediately left with a smile.

Lian Fei’s lips curved in a mocking smile as he watched Xue Yong leave. What bullshit is the Wu Clan? They are afraid of the Stone Cauldron Alms’ power and are just using me as their knife. When I rise to the top, the first thing I will do is get rid of the Wu Clan!

He returned to the academy and saw that Yao Susu had already saved him a seat. Lian Fei couldn’t help but smile brightly when he saw her pretty face.

Whether or not he could rise to the top would depend on Yao Susu…

……

Courtyard No. 49 in the slums.

Clasping a cup of warm tea, Lin Xun sat under the old locust tree. He exclaimed in surprise, “You let Black Widow go?”

Xia Zhi was sitting quietly opposite him, flipping through the book “Records of the Empire’s Past Conquests”. The warm winter sun shone on her tranquil and beautiful little face and cast her in a sacred aura

“Well, they are just assassins who work for money. It doesn’t make sense to kill them,” Xia Zhi casually explained.

It indeed didn’t make sense.

Lin Xun thought it over. He really admired Xia Zhi’s approach. She knew that there were things that must be done and things that must not be done. Her decision clearly showed her nature.

“The district examination is in ten days.” Xia Zhi suddenly raised her head and looked at Lin Xun.

“Yes.” Lin Xun said with a smile, “I will be fourteen years old this year. Also, I broke through to the sixth layer True Martial Stage last night. I don’t think there would be a problem in passing the district examination.”

He suddenly asked, “By the way, do you want to participate too?”

Xia Zhi shook her head. “I have no interest.”

Lin Xun acknowledged her decision and didn’t try to force her. Xia Zhi always had her own opinion. Although she would listen to him, he didn’t want Xia Zhi to go against her own heart.

“What are you going to do with the Wu Clan? They must be the people behind what happened last night?” asked Xia Zhi.

“Lian Fei hasn’t left Donglin Academy these days. He’s extremely smart. I’m afraid we can’t get rid of him first.”

Lin Xun looked a little surprised. He was the one who killed Lian Fei’s father and so he was Lian Fei’s enemy. Lin Xun was surprised that Lian Fei could suppress his hatred and obediently stay in Donglin Academy. His patience and intelligence wasn’t simple.

While they were talking, someone came to visit. Lin Xun opened the door to see a beautiful woman with a hot figure standing in front of him. Moreover, she was wearing a short black leather dress.

Black Widow!

Lin Xun narrowed his eyes. Why is she here?