"Sure enough, with Fancang's help, my strength had advanced by leaps and bounds."
The next morning, Lin Tian returned from the Small World, ending his night-long cultivation.
With Martial Saint Fancang's help, his combat techniques had improved greatly, and he had also learned a fist technique—Savage Fist.
This was a cultivation technique created by Martial Saint Fancang based on his own martial skills. Creating an entire cultivation technique in just one night was even more terrifying than Lin Tian had imagined.
"This martial skill should at least last me until Martial Dao Fourth Layer. By then, I won't have signed in too few times, and I'll surely have corresponding martial skills."
Savage Fist was merely a transitional martial skill for his current stage. Later, he would seek out better martial skills.
"Today seems to be the day they announce matters related to the college entrance examination. There may be some changes this year."
Qing Province's college entrance examination used the major cities within Qing Province as the centers for assessment.
A testing ground would be selected within a major city and designated as an assessment zone. All qualified examinees would enter it to hunt demon beasts, then be ranked according to their points.
"Even Experimental Class students who have already been recommended for admission must participate. The rewards for the college entrance examination rankings seem pretty good."
This was something Lin Tian had learned from the Experimental Class students over the past two days.
Every year, the college entrance examination offered certain rare resources. These were jointly provided by Qing Province's major factions to reward examinees who performed outstandingly in the examination.
In truth, they were prepared for the favored geniuses of those factions.
Soon, it was time for school, and Lin Tian returned to the Experimental Class once more.
"Students, return to your seats and sit properly. The plans for this college entrance examination have been released."
Not long after, Wang Yang arrived.
"This college entrance examination has changed, much as you expected. As for the reason behind the change, you should all know it."
As soon as Wang Yang said this, everyone in the Experimental Class turned to look at Lin Tian.
"This time, the examination ground will be one of the Qing Province Garrison Army's training grounds. All demon beasts above the third rank within it have already been eliminated."
"All Qing City examinees must enter this examination ground."
"A testing ground selected by the Qing Province Garrison Army?"
The instant they heard this news, the Experimental Class students erupted.
"Why was the testing ground selected by the Garrison Army? Wasn't it jointly decided by Qing Province's major factions in the past?"
"Something like that happened within the Qing Province Garrison Army. What right do they have to select the testing ground this time?"
They were furious. The traitor within the Qing Province Garrison Army had yet to be found, yet one of the Garrison Army's training grounds was being used as the examination ground.
"Quiet! All of you, quiet!"
Wang Yang shouted loudly. The Experimental Class students' reaction was exactly what he had expected.
"This decision was made by a Martial Saint from the Imperial Capital. As for the several Martial Dao experts in our Qing Province Garrison Army, they were all severely injured and taken away for investigation."
"You should learn about this before long."
Wang Yang explained patiently.
"A Martial Saint from the Imperial Capital..."
Upon hearing this, the Experimental Class students knew that this Martial Saint had come for Lin Tian, an Extreme Martial Artist. They simply had not expected a traitor to emerge within the Qing Province Garrison Army.
"That Martial Saint is known as Martial Saint Yuanming. He arrived together with student Geng Xian."
Some of Qing Province's higher-ups already knew this information, and the Experimental Class students believed they could guess it as well.
After all, when Geng Xian had arrived at Qing City First High School, he had been brought there in a Qing Province Garrison Army vehicle.
"This afternoon, Martial Saint Yuanming will come to Qing City First High School. You should all know his purpose."
When Wang Yang said this, the Experimental Class students were somewhat shocked.
"Qing Province has no response to this?"
Jiang Mingyue spoke up to ask. Lin Tian was from Qing Province, yet a Martial Saint from the Imperial Capital was coming so openly. Was that not too much of a slight against Qing Province?
"What response could there be? There are even traitors within the Qing Province Garrison Army. Qing Province can only stand by and watch."
Wang Yang was deeply helpless.
Lin Tian, the person at the center of it all, merely watched quietly without saying a word.
Time passed into the afternoon.
Martial Saint Yuanming from the Imperial Capital appeared in Qing City First High School's Experimental Class. Everyone in the class held their breath and sat there tensely.
Among the Experimental Class students, only the Jiang Family that Jiang Mingyue and Jiang Cheng belonged to had ever produced Martial Saint-level experts, and even now, Martial Saints still existed within the family.
However, only Jiang Mingyue had truly seen a Martial Saint, and that had been after awakening her Starlight Body.
Martial Saint Yuanming's purpose was clear. He had come for Lin Tian.
"I intend to take you back to the Imperial Capital. Many Martial Saints are stationed there, enough to guarantee your safety."
The first thing Martial Saint Yuanming said upon seeing Lin Tian was to state his purpose directly.
"For now, I have no plans to go to the Imperial Capital."
Lin Tian tactfully declined Martial Saint Yuanming's invitation. The Imperial Capital was Dragon Nation's most central city, filled with powerful experts.
It might be safe there for others, but not necessarily for him, an Extreme Martial Artist.
As Blue Star's second Extreme Martial Artist, and one who had gone directly from ninety-eight points of vitality and blood to an Extreme Martial Artist in just one month,
too many people and too many factions had their eyes on him.
There were too many powerful experts in the Imperial Capital. With Martial Saint Fancang's strength alone, protecting him would be somewhat difficult.
Lin Tian had originally considered entering Dragon Soaring University, but the moment he saw Martial Saint Yuanming, he abandoned that thought.
As Qing Province's provincial capital, Qing City did not have a single Martial Saint stationed there. All of Qing Province's Martial Saints had important matters to attend to; some had even left Qing Province for other places.
Yet the Imperial Capital could still send an extra Martial Saint, and one at the third level of Sainthood like Martial Saint Yuanming, merely to bring him back to the Imperial Capital.
That fact alone greatly reduced Lin Tian's favorable impression of the Imperial Capital.
Other provinces in Dragon Nation were all working for Dragon Nation's safety, yet many Martial Saints still remained in the Imperial Capital, Dragon Nation's most central city.
He could not help but let his thoughts wander.
Martial Saint Yuanming showed no surprise at Lin Tian's refusal and continued speaking.
"Then what choice have you made regarding Martial Dao University?"
"You defeated Geng Xian, who was at Martial Dao Second Layer Mid-stage, while you were only at the late Martial Dao First Layer. Dragon Soaring University can offer you the best treatment."
"Go into detail."
"If I find it acceptable, I may consider Dragon Soaring University."
Lin Tian spoke indifferently.
Seeing Lin Tian speak to a Martial Saint in such a manner, the Experimental Class students were all dumbfounded, their admiration for Lin Tian growing immensely.
At the very least, they could not speak so calmly with a Martial Saint, much less negotiate terms with one.
"We will give you a quota to enter a Secret Realm directly."
The moment Martial Saint Yuanming said this, the Experimental Class instantly burst into an uproar.
A quota to enter a Secret Realm was something many geniuses could only dream of, yet Lin Tian could obtain one directly.
"Only that?"
"With my strength, obtaining a quota to enter a Secret Realm would be as easy as turning over my hand."
"If that is the only condition, Dragon Soaring University will not be within my consideration."
Lin Tian spoke disdainfully.
"Of course, that is not all."
Martial Saint Yuanming continued.
"After entering the Secret Realm, you may choose one cultivation technique and one martial skill to keep. You need only hand the rest over to Dragon Soaring University."
"And after entering Dragon Soaring University, it will cover all your cultivation resources before Martial Dao Sixth Layer. There will also be a Martial King at Martial Dao Ninth Level serving as your mentor."
"Anything else?"
Lin Tian raised his eyes and asked. Since Martial Saint Yuanming had arrived, he had remained seated in his own place, with no intention of standing.
"Is that still not enough?"
"Child, do not be too greedy."
Martial Saint Yuanming said with some displeasure.
"Greedy?"
"How could I be called greedy for things I do not even value!"
Lin Tian stood up unhappily.
"If Dragon Soaring University offers only these conditions and this kind of attitude, then I will never enter it."
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