"Emperor Gan intervened and helped me cheat?"
Li Shun could think of no other reason he had managed to pull the wool over everyone's eyes during a test conducted right under the Imperial Academy's nose.
But the thought brought him no delight.
Instead, he felt as though he were sitting on a bed of needles.
"When did I come to Emperor Gan's attention?"
"And what made him regard me so differently?"
Perhaps no one but Emperor Gan knew the answers.
Li Shun also knew that dwelling on them would only bring trouble upon himself.
That did not stop him from planning what to do next.
Li Shun had never been comfortable standing exposed in broad daylight.
Back in Cold Mountain County, he had developed the habit of digging deep burrows.
Ever since he began cultivating, he had relied on the advantages of Square Inch and the wonders of puppets to keep his extraordinary abilities hidden.
More recently, Turtle Treasure had sheltered him by placing him "beyond calculation."
Li Shun had thought he could finally enjoy some peace and safety for a while.
Yet scarcely a few days of calm had passed before this dreadful news struck.
He was under Emperor Gan's watchful eye.
Worse, he had all but confirmed that Emperor Gan likely possessed power comparable to an Outer God's.
The more Li Shun thought about it, the harder it became to sit still.
He glanced around instinctively, feeling as though Emperor Gan's prying gaze were everywhere.
Only when his mind returned to Square Inch did his anxiety and unease gradually fade.
"Thank goodness I still have Square Inch."
"Within Square Inch, I'm still like a creator god. No matter how powerful Emperor Gan is, he can't pierce Square Inch and glimpse anything inside."
"But in the real world, it