"Lin Tian, are you all right?!"
Outside the examination grounds, everyone from the Experimental Class looked at Lin Tian with worry written across their faces.
They had learned from Jiang Mingyue that Lin Tian had entered the Tier 3 Demonic Beast territory, where a massive explosion had just occurred, flattening everything within several hundred meters.
"Of course I'm fine. I rendered great service this time!"
Lin Tian proudly slapped his chest. Yet that single slap made his simply bandaged chest wound bleed again, blood instantly soaking through his clothes.
Lin Tian bared his teeth in pain. This was an injury that had pierced straight through his chest.
"Lin Tian, what happened to you?"
Seeing his clothes dyed red with blood, everyone from the Experimental Class hurried forward.
"I took a sword strike. Looks like I'll have to lie in a Medical Pod for a while."
Lin Tian's mouth twitched.
"I'll have to trouble you with claiming the rewards for the college entrance examination rankings. I'll be leaving first."
With that, Lin Tian headed back toward the camp.
Before long, many examinees saw Martial Saint Yuanming flying away with Lin Tian.
"That person was Lin Tian just now, right? The one who took him away... could he be a Martial Saint?"
The college entrance examination had ended, and they already knew what had happened in the examination grounds.
They could not believe it was real. An Extreme Martial Artist and five Martial Saints had appeared at their examination grounds.
But the sight of Martial Saint Yuanming taking Lin Tian away seemed to prove that it was true.
"An Extreme Martial Artist... no wonder the Experimental Class's first place changed hands. Among martial artists of the same generation, who could possibly be an Extreme Martial Artist's opponent?"
The many examinees were filled with emotion. Though they had never seen an Extreme Martial Artist before, they had heard far too many legends about them.
Xia Jie, the Pioneer of Martial Dao, had been Blue Star's first Extreme Martial Artist—an invincible existence in his era, an existence that changed Blue Star's entire landscape.
Only after the fact did everyone in the Experimental Class learn through their phones what had happened during the college entrance examination.
Very quickly, the news that Lin Tian was an Extreme Martial Artist surged to the top of the trending searches.
Second place was the news that Lin Tian had been protected by five Martial Saints.
As for the Tarot Society, there was not a single piece of information about it online.
All information about the Tarot Society from the livestream had been cut out. Under the overwhelming wave of news about Lin Tian being an Extreme Martial Artist, related information vanished from the public eye in an instant.
"So Lin Tian being an Extreme Martial Artist was exposed just like that. What an unexpected turn."
Everyone in the Experimental Class was somewhat surprised.
"The fact that information about Extreme Martial Artists hasn't been removed from the internet shows that Dragon Nation has tacitly allowed this matter to spread."
"Looks like those big figures in the Imperial Court have agreed to reveal Lin Tian's identity as an Extreme Martial Artist."
That was what shocked them most. Blue Star's second Extreme Martial Artist had become a figure known to the masses just like that.
A day later, the first thing Lin Tian heard upon waking was Martial Saint Fancang's report.
"It doesn't matter that The Hermit and Tower escaped. The order I gave you was to kill the Magician."
Lin Tian spoke blandly. In his report, Martial Saint Fancang had deeply regretted letting The Hermit and Tower get away.
But Lin Tian did not care in the slightest. With Martial Saint Fancang by his side, so what if the Tarot Society came again?
Afterward, he began looking into what had happened while he was unconscious.
The Dragon Nation Imperial Court officially acknowledged Lin Tian's status as an Extreme Martial Artist, stating that everything which had happened during the college entrance examination livestream had been intended to promote his identity as an Extreme Martial Artist.
"So it was all an act. I knew it—how could enemies possibly come hunt examinees in a place as heavily guarded as the college entrance examination grounds?"
"Everything was paving the way for Lin Tian's identity as an Extreme Martial Artist."
"I never expected Dragon Nation's higher-ups to publicize Lin Tian's identity as an Extreme Martial Artist in this way. It completely overturns their usual serious style."
Comments like these instantly appeared online, recasting Lin Tian's assassination attempt as a plan by Dragon Nation's higher-ups to promote him.
"Don't worry. We've deleted the relevant videos. Only those who watched the livestream at the time know what you look like."
Martial Saint Yuanming said with a smile.
But Lin Tian could only complain helplessly upon hearing that.
"Ah, how many chances to display my holiness before people did I miss?"
Martial Saint Yuanming's mouth twitched. He should never have started talking to Lin Tian.
After reading through the news, Lin Tian calmly put down his phone.
After treatment in the Garrison Army's top-grade Medical Pod, he was already able to move normally, and his wounds were gradually healing. With a few more days of treatment in the Medical Pod, he would fully recover.
"My compensation should all be there, right?"
"This time, I really risked my life. I truly came within a hair's breadth of dying."
Lin Tian spoke with lingering fear on his face.
Before him, Martial Saint Yuanming looked apologetic.
"This was indeed our oversight. We never expected core members of the Tarot Society to come."
"Tower had a special treasure that trapped us for ten seconds."
"However, I can now confirm that there is a traitor among the Garrison Army's four Martial Saints."
Martial Saint Yuanming changed the subject, his voice turning icy.
"During our conversation with them, I said that everyone and every demonic beast inside the examination grounds had been restricted to Tier 3 and below, and that your strength was enough to handle it."
"I specifically stated that you had no life-saving item on you."
"That was precisely why you were able to survive beneath the Magician's hand."
"This generation's Magician of the Tarot Society most enjoys completing missions at an exact time."
Hearing Martial Saint Yuanming's explanation, Lin Tian nodded slightly.
He knew that Martial Saint Yuanming could not determine which of the four Martial Saints was the traitor either, and could only maintain the current state of affairs.
"Let's not talk about that. Next, let's discuss the compensation you care about most."
Seeing Lin Tian deep in thought, Martial Saint Yuanming smiled.
"Then let's hear it. Don't leave me dissatisfied."
A smile instantly spread across Lin Tian's face.
"You brat, you forget the pain as soon as there's something to gain."
Martial Saint Yuanming laughed as he scolded him.
"This compensation is being jointly provided by Qing Province and the Four Great Universities. But because of the Tarot Society's involvement, the Imperial Court is also offering you a compensation package."
"Quick, tell me."
Lin Tian was becoming impatient.
"Qing Province's compensation is one hundred million Dragon Country Currency and a Qing Mang fighter jet."
"The Qing Mang fighter jet is one of Qing Province's highest-class fighter jets. It is controlled through synchronization with the pilot's consciousness."
"Only people who have made extraordinary contributions to Qing Province can possess one, and most of those people are above the Martial Dao Ninth Level."
"However, you can only receive it after your cultivation reaches the Martial Dao Fourth Layer. With cultivation too low, it will be difficult for you to control this fighter jet."
"Understood, understood!"
Lin Tian was excited. He had not expected Qing Province's reward to be so generous.
"You should understand Qing Province's intentions in offering this compensation."
Seeing his reaction, Martial Saint Yuanming reminded him.
"That's something for the future. We'll talk about the future when it comes."
Lin Tian waved his hand, signaling Martial Saint Yuanming to continue.
"The Imperial Court's compensation is to let you choose one cultivation method and three martial skills, with no restrictions on grade. It can also be considered laying the road for your future."
"Cultivation methods are important. One may accompany you for your entire life. As for martial skills, consider their current practicality and how they can be changed as your cultivation rises in the future."
"This compensation will remain reserved by the Imperial Court indefinitely."
"If you intend to choose, I can take you to the Imperial Capital."
Martial Saint Yuanming looked at Lin Tian. This was also the intention of those great figures in the Imperial Court.
"Let's talk about that later."
Lin Tian shook his head. For the time being, he had no plans to go to the Imperial Capital.
"What is the Four Great Universities' compensation?"
Seeing that Lin Tian had no intention of going to the Imperial Court, Martial Saint Yuanming was somewhat disappointed, but then he spoke again.
"The Four Great Universities' compensation will be personally explained to you by their teachers. They have already been waiting outside the door for quite some time."
As he spoke, Martial Saint Yuanming said coldly,
"You may come in."
The moment his voice fell, the sound of the door opening rang out. Two men and two women entered the room one after another.
These four were the teachers sent by Dragon Country's Four Great Universities to negotiate with Lin Tian.
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