The Despicable Lin Clan

"What? How could this be! How are we supposed to pass the assessment like this!"

"It was clearly stated that we would automatically pass once we reached a certain number of points. Why is it so much stricter this time!!"

"In previous assessments, at least a quarter of the people passed, but this time it's not even one-tenth! How could this happen!"

All the children were in an uproar. For them, this was their last chance. If they couldn't join the Lin Clan, the only outcome was to end up on the streets. There would be no good ending for them then; they wouldn't even know how they died.

Moreover, the path of cultivation was not something one could succeed at just by working hard; it required vast amounts of cultivation resources, which they had no way of obtaining. Joining a large family or a powerful faction was their only option!

Qin Lang and Bu Lianshi's expressions also changed drastically. This change in rules caught them off guard. They had originally thought that with their improved strength, passing the assessment was a sure thing, but now it seemed that was far from the case.

"It's over, it's over, it's all over... I have the highest strength in our group, but I'm only at the third level of the Qi Refining Stage. With these new rules, there's basically no hope!" Qin Lang wore a miserable face, his eyes almost welling up with tears.

Bu Lianshi also looked nervous. If they failed the assessment, boys might have it slightly better, but for girls, it would be miserable. Being sold as a maid would be considered lucky; there was even a possibility of being sold to a brothel.

"Lin Chuan, you've been working hard on your cultivation lately. What level have you reached?" Although he knew there couldn't be much improvement, Qin Lang still looked at Lin Chuan with hopeful eyes.

"The first level of the Qi Refining Stage!" Lin Chuan said without changing his expression, ruthlessly shattering the last bit of hope held by Qin Lang and Bu Lianshi.

"I guess we have no hope this time. But Bu Lianshi and I still have a chance, while you, Lin Chuan, might..." Qin Lang looked at Lin Chuan with an apologetic expression. He had just been patting his chest, promising to help the others pass the assessment, but in the blink of an eye, he couldn't even save himself. Qin Lang felt very guilty toward Lin Chuan.

Seeing their apologetic expressions, Lin Chuan felt a sense of relief for no reason. At least these two genuinely wanted to help him and treated him as a companion.

"It's okay, just do your best!" Lin Chuan said with a smile, while secretly thinking to himself, Since you two can't carry me through, then let me carry you through!

Just as everyone was feeling insecure and whispering among themselves, the supervisor standing above spoke again, "You have all noticed that the pass rate for this assessment has decreased. However, in addition to the previous method, we have added another way to pass."

"At the center of Hunting Ground No. 44, there is an Underground Magma Lake. In the Lava Cave beneath it grows a medicinal herb called the Crimson Flame Lotus. If anyone can collect three or more Crimson Flame Lotuses, they will pass the assessment directly. Furthermore, the more you collect, the greater the reward of cultivation resources you will receive after passing!"

Boom!

Hearing this, everyone instantly became excited. The sound of discussion grew even louder than before, as if the mention of more cultivation resources had stimulated many people's nerves. Even Qin Lang's face brightened in an instant, as if he had been brought back to life!

"Hahaha, I've decided! I'll take you both to collect the Crimson Flame Lotuses. We will definitely pass the assessment!" Qin Lang said excitedly, shaking the confused Bu Lianshi and the wryly smiling Lin Chuan.

What the hell was that 'I'm dying' act you just pulled? Lin Chuan complained helplessly in his heart.

Although these little brats were all excited, Lin Chuan, who was actually a young man in his twenties, did not think highly of the task of collecting the Crimson Flame Lotuses. His intuition told him that this task would be even more difficult than hunting Spirit Beasts.

"Additionally, I must tell you one more piece of news. Five days after the assessment begins, those who have previously passed the assessment—provided their strength has not reached the Foundation Establishment Stage—will enter the assessment area to collect the Crimson Flame Lotuses. Furthermore, killing is no longer prohibited in this assessment! How many of you survive will depend on your own fortune!"

"The assessment begins at noon today. At that time, the protective formation of Hunting Ground No. 44 will be activated. You may choose any direction to enter. Remember, the Underground Magma Lake is in the center of the hunting ground, and the hunting ground is a circular area with a radius of fifty miles. So, no matter where you enter from, the distance to the center is fifty miles. This will not change!"

The supervisor's words immediately brought the excited crowd back to reality. Qin Lang, who had been incredibly excited a moment ago, instantly wilted.

Lin Chuan ignored the stunned expressions of the orphans around him. He watched the supervisors who were walking away after announcing the details, his eyes narrowing slightly. He felt that this assessment with its changed rules was filled with something sinister.

Without hesitation, Lin Chuan raised his hands and quietly formed seals against his chest.

"Byakugan!"

Purple chakra immediately surged toward his eyes, and the veins around them bulged. Lin Chuan activated his Byakugan and looked directly at the supervisors walking away.

The men were chatting casually. Through his Byakugan, Lin Chuan immediately saw the contempt and disdain in their eyes. The lip-reading skills he had studied out of boredom in college came in handy now, and their conversation was read by Lin Chuan without reservation.

"Tch, these orphans. They actually think we in the Lin Clan really need them. Even if they pass the assessment, so what? They're still just dogs for our Lin Clan!"

"You can't say it like that. Even if they are dogs, people are fighting tooth and nail to become one. As long as they can be a good dog, isn't that fine? Hahaha!"

"That's true. Since they are dogs, they should have the awareness to be a good dog. But how many of them do you think will go to collect the Crimson Flame Lotuses?"

"Collecting the Crimson Flame Lotuses isn't dangerous at all; they were specifically planted there by the Lin Clan. We intentionally lowered the pass rate this time just to make them go collect the Crimson Flame Lotuses. There should be quite a few who take the bait!"

"Hmph, that's true. The Crimson Flame Lotus is the kind of thing that will devour a small portion of a person's Spirit Root if touched directly by hand. Although it's very little, none of the Lin Clan disciples are willing to risk their own Spirit Roots, so we can only let these useless dogs collect them."

"It is said that if you cover your skin with spiritual power, you won't have this problem during collection."

"You're right, but that would lower the quality of the Crimson Flame Lotus, and our family isn't that stupid! Besides, projecting spiritual power outside the body is something only those at the Foundation Establishment Stage can do. That's why the family is making everyone who hasn't reached the Foundation Establishment Stage enter that area for the assessment!"

"Hehe, the family's methods are truly extraordinary! Anyway, the family has been raising these dogs for so long; it's not bad to let them exert some residual value!"

The two men laughed and chatted as they slowly walked away. Lin Chuan's expression grew colder and colder, so gloomy it could drip water. Looking at the three hundred or so children around him, a sense of sorrow welled up in his heart for no reason.