Lian Fei’s back was drenched in sweat when they walked out of the hall.

Although the conversation with Yao Tuohai had lasted less than fifteen minutes, it allowed Lian Fei to understand the pressure of a powerful expert.

Yao Tuohai had a scholarly appearance and a soft, friendly demeanor. Although he had merely been casually sitting there, facing him had made Lian Fei feel like an ant looking up at a majestic mountain.

This was the invisible pressure produced when a person’s cultivation reached a certain level and was not something Lian Fei could neutralize.

Yao Susu asked in concern, “Are you alright?”

Lian Fei shook his head and tried to smile, his face still a little pale, “I never imagined that your father would be Lord Yao Tuohai. It’s honestly a surprise.”

Yao Susu offhandedly replied, “I never hid it from you. You just never asked.”

Lian Fei chuckled bitterly. When he recalled his conversion with Yao Tuohai, Lian Fei’s heart began to beat faster in excitement. If he married Yao Susu in the future, wouldn’t that mean he could borrow Yao Tuohai’s influence and power to fly all the way to the sky?

Yao Susu suddenly asked, “Did you mean what you said earlier?”

Lian Fei was taken aback but immediately returned to his wits and responded with a determined expression, “Susu, how will I be worthy of you if I can’t personally avenge my father’s death?”

In the earlier conversation, Yao Tuohai had said that he already understood the grudge between Lian Fei and Lin Xun and clearly expressed that he would not help Lian Fei.

Lian Fei was even more direct. He immediately swore that he would personally take revenge, earning a little admiration from Yao Tuohai.

Yao Susu acknowledged his reply and said, “Although my father said he will not help you directly, you should know that the Yao Clan can provide you with various types of support. Don’t waste this opportunity. You must pull yourself together and try to earn my father’s acknowledgement.”

Lian Fei took a deep breath and solemnly said, “Don’t worry Susu, I will not only earn Uncle Yao’s acknowledgement but also make you my wife!”

Yao Susu smiled sweetly and did not say anything else.

Lian Fei was overjoyed and proud. With Yao Tuohai backing him, what was there to worry about?

As for Lin Xun, he was merely an ant in Lian Fei’s path which would be easily crushed once he rose to power!

“Look, that seems to be the Wu Clan Leader.”

Yao Susu suddenly stopped and turned her head.

Lian Fei followed her gaze and saw Principal Yu Canglin walking toward them with a middle-aged man wearing a black hat. The middle-aged man was the current Wu Clan Leader, Wu Qun.

Lian Fei’s expression immediately turned frosty. He didn’t have a good impression of the Wu Clan.

“Susu, you guys are done?” Yu Canglin also caught sight of them and approached with a smile.

Yao Susu nodded and bowed, “We’re done.”

“Lian Fei, you’re here as well.” Wu Qun called out to Lian Fei, displaying a friendly expression.

Wu Qun had just found out about Lian Fei’s and Yao Susu’ relationship from Yu Canglin, who had also revealed that Yao Susu’s father was the famous Yao Tuohai.

Wu Qun was rather surprised by this revelation. Lian Fei must be the luckiest son of a bitch in this world. Life really is fickle.

Lian Fei’s expression was slightly cold as he acknowledged him before leaving with Yao Susu.

Wu Qun’s expression instantly turned somewhat ugly as he inwardly ground his teeth. What an arrogant brat, if not for my support, you won’t even be here today!

Meanwhile, Lian Fei was also sneering inside. You old dog Wu Qun, you can keep dreaming if you’re thinking of using me as a spearhead again!

Yu Canglin spoke up at this moment, “I have mostly understood your matter. With Lord Yao Tuohai personally overseeing this, I believe you will receive a satisfactory answer.”

“I’ll have to trouble Brother Yu.” Wu Qun smiled and cupped his hands together as he inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

Yu Canglin waved his hand and disdainfully said, “No need to be courteous. Since Lin Xun tried to bully Donglin Academy, as the principal, I naturally will not allow such a vile person to continue running amok.”

……

The next morning.

Lin Xun got up at dawn. After washing up, he had breakfast with Xia Zhi.

Today marked the start of the district exam. However, Lin Xun seemed the same as usual, displaying no hint of excitement or anticipation.

Xia Zhi asked, “Are we leaving after the district exam is over?”

Lin Xun nodded. After some thought, he added, “I’ve offended many people in the city and it’s become a problematic place. It would be best to leave as soon as possible.”

Xia Zhi regretfully said, “Only half a month more and I’ll have devoured all the gangs in the slums.”

Lin Xun was speechless.

He finished his breakfast and was just about to leave when Xia Zhi suddenly said, “I want to go with you.”

Lin Xun was stunned, “You’re worried?”

Xia Zhi nodded. She opened her pitch-black, crescent-shaped eyes and earnestly said, “I feel that your enemies will not let you pass the district exam so easily.”

She knew what had happened yesterday in front of Donglin Academy and understood how big of a commotion Lin Xun had caused.

Lin Xun chuckled. “The district exam is a very important event in the empire. Who would dare to cause trouble during the exam? Not to mention a bigwig like Yao Tuohai will be overseeing the exam. There shouldn’t be anyone who would dare to obstruct me from participating.”

Xia Zhi said, “I want to go and watch. I’ve not left the slums since we arrived in Donglin City.”

Lin Xun’s heart softened and agreed without hesitation.

Indeed, Xia Zhi very seldom showed herself. Even when wiping out the gangs in the slums, she only did so at night.

Since she requested to accompany him to Donglin Academy, how could Lin Xun possibly turn her down?

As such, Lin Xun left holding Xia Zhi's small hand. They walked out of the slums and headed to Donglin Academy.

The streets were busy despite the early hour and numerous people could be seen converging in a certain direction.

The district exam was today and it was one of the biggest events in Donglin City. It drew the entire city’s attention and was naturally exceptionally electrifying.

When Lin Xun arrived at Donglin Academy, he found the place already flooded with people. A black mass of heads bobbed up and down like the sea, creating a majestic scene.

The majority was here for the entertainment, but there were also families here to support the participants.

Lin Xun retrieved his participation token and smoothly brought Xia Zhi into Donglin Academy. They did not encounter any obstructions.

They followed a wide paved path and their view soon opened up to reveal a giant plaza which could hold ten thousand people.

The plaza was already filled with figures, nearly all of which were teenagers. There were several thousand participants, their faces filled with anticipation.

There was a tall stage at the front of the plaza which had an excellent view of the entire place. When the district exam officially began, the examiners would be stationed on the stage, accompanied by various VIPs.

Two stone tablets stood a hundred feet away. Each tablet was a hundred-feet-tall and gave off different aeth power undulations.

These two tablets were the Bone Measurement Tablet and the Cultivation Measurement Tablet which measured a person’s age and cultivation respectively.

When the exam began, the participants would go measure their age and cultivation in front of the two tablets. No one could cheat under the crowd’s watching eyes, making it fair for everyone.

Xia Zhi chose a spot on the outer perimeter and softly said, “I’ll wait here for you.”

Lin Xun nodded. He was not worried about Xia Zhi. The little girl possessed exceptional intelligence and knew not to cause trouble in such a place.

Xia Zhi silently stood in a remote corner as a gentle breeze blew past, ruffling her clothes. No one noticed the peerless and breathtakingly beautiful face concealed under the little girl’s hat.

Although the world was huge, her gaze only had room for Lin Xun alone.

As she watched Lin Xun walk into the giant plaza, Xia Zhi’s brows furrowed as a sliver of unexplainable irritation surged in her heart.

She had been feeling this irritation since last night and strongly believed in her intuition. Hence why she had specially followed Lin Xun today.

She did not know what was going to happen but she would be watching. She feared nothing as long as she was with Lin Xun.

There was still an hour until the district exam started, but the plaza was already filled with numerous cultivators, who were conversing with each other.

Lin Xun stood by himself, gazing at the empty stage in the distance. He knew that the district exam was the last chance for his enemies. All that was left was to see whether or not they dared to cause trouble under the watching crowd.

The district exam was an important event for the empire and was simultaneously held in all the cities today. No one in their right mind would dare to cause mischief because the consequences would be dire if the empire’s higher-ups found out.

Lin Xun was not worried about his safety but whether or not certain people would allow him to pass smoothly.

After all, the nine thousand participants would ultimately be culled to a thousand. All it took was the examiner to make up some excuse to eliminate him!

Did they dare?

Lin Xun was not certain.

Lin Xun suddenly sensed something and turned his head to find Lian Fei coldly staring at him with unconcealable hatred.

Beside him was a well-dressed Yao Susu.

Lin Xun helplessly chuckled and approached them, “We meet again, friend. Didn’t I say a few days ago that there’s always a reason behind coincidence? I feel that we are quite strongly bound by the strings of fate.”

Lian Fei was slightly stunned, seemingly not expecting Lin Xun to approach at this juncture. Lian Fei’s expression swiftly darkened, “Is that so? Well, I don’t feel the same!”

Yao Susu curiously looked Lin Xun up and down. Soon after, she softly chuckled and said, “I can see a lingering darkness between your brows. I’m afraid that you will be quite unlucky today.”

She then pulled Lian Fei’s arm and led him away.

Lin Xun’s eyes narrowed, falling into thought as he watched them leave.