C19 Shock!

"Lin Xi!"

Beneath the purple stone tablet, the examiner called out the final name with a complex expression.

"Young Master Lin, you're up..." Lu Hao murmured, barely moving his finger. He had completed his test but hadn't joined the others in the qualified area, choosing instead to stay by Lin Xi's side. He was concerned about Lin Xi's performance, especially since he hadn't caused any trouble for Princess Jinger. Perhaps Lin Xi could still scrape by, but this time, it seemed more challenging. Whether Lin Xi could pass was entirely up to him.

Lin Xi looked up, opening his eyes that had been nearly closed, and surveyed the field. The schadenfreude in the onlookers' eyes elicited a cold, involuntary sneer from him.

"Isn't that Great General Lin Sen's son? His father has gone mad in the Imperial Court, and the son is even bolder, having the audacity to molest Princess Jinger. He's nothing but a wastrel. Passing the test would be next to impossible for him!"

"He's quite audacious, molesting Princess Jinger. He's the epitome of a wastrel. I must say, I'm impressed!"

"It's outrageous that someone like him is even allowed to test on this field!"

Whispers and murmurs filled the air, their origins indiscernible.

In a moment, all eyes were on Lin Xi.

"This Lin Xi dares to molest my sister; he should have been killed on the spot!" thought the three princes.

"If Lin Xi manages to pass the test, he could become a formidable adversary," Liu Linxiang considered, his eyes briefly flashing with intensity.

"Such a son of a general is nothing but a lump of useless mud. If he were on the battlefield, he'd be scared out of his wits," Cai Guanghui laughed heartily, his mockery undisguised.

"A wastrel like him taking the test? If it were me, I would have slunk away by now. Staying here only brings shame!" Zhao Yuelun looked on with scorn, still resentful about past events. He had long found Lin Xi disagreeable, and now he had his chance to express it.

...

A chorus of mockery and contempt filled the air, all directed at Lin Xi, making him feel as though he stood alone against the world.

"You guys are really..." Lu Hao stood by Lin Xi's side, about to shout out in protest, but Lin Xi stopped him.

"Lu Hao... You are my brother!" Lin Xi uttered just one sentence.

He scanned the crowd and noticed that nearly everyone had joined the ranks of his detractors. This brought Lu Hao's words to mind—how his old father had clashed with the court officials. Lin Xi realized that perhaps his father had faced a similar situation, and this thought filled him with a profound sense of paternal love.

It turned out his old father had done almost everything for him.

Yet, amidst the crowd, Lin Xi also felt a warm gaze—it was Su Yan's. He caught her worried look and subtly nodded in acknowledgment.

Lin Xi turned his head slightly and cast his gaze toward the stage, a faint smile on his face.

The second elder's heart skipped a beat. He recognized that familiar smile—it was as if he was seeing his old friend, Lin Xiong. He was about to intervene when the third elder stopped him.

The second elder sighed internally, thinking, "Lin Xi, it's all up to you now."

Taking a deep breath, Lin Xi strode confidently toward the purple stone tablet, his eyes alight with a spirited expression that left those who had wanted to mock him speechless.

Under the watchful eyes of the assembly, Lin Xi approached the base of the purple stone tablet.

The examiner looked at Lin Xi with a soft sigh. Lin Xi had always been known as a wastrel, and today seemed no different. If there were any hints, he might have been able to manipulate the outcome, but he felt no such prompt. After today, without a miracle, this was likely to be Lin Xi's final test at the academy... and he could only let things unfold as they would.

With the crowd's intense scrutiny upon him, Lin Xi's chest rose and fell evenly. He extended his hand and lightly touched the icy surface of the purple stone tablet.

Every gaze was fixed unblinkingly on the tablet, all too aware that this test could be the last for the notorious playboy of the academy and the entire Celestial Enlightment Empire.

The stone tablet remained quiet, but then, suddenly, it erupted in a dazzling light!

The Dragon Flying Phoenix Dancing script that appeared on the tablet made every heart in the audience skip a beat.

"Great Purity Cultivator... Initial stage!"

The arena fell into a hush, a silence that seemed almost ordinary.

Everyone within the arena stared at the five large characters on the purple stone tablet, their faces a canvas of extraordinary expressions. After a moment, the sound of sharp intakes of breath began to ripple through the crowd.

"Boom!" On the elevated platform, the second elder's grip shattered his chair.

"Great Purity Cultivator, Lin Xi... You've actually done it!" The second elder's gaze fixed on Lin Xi beneath the purple stone tablet, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. He was acutely aware of the immense effort Lin Xi had invested to reach this milestone.

"What could have possibly happened in the Dark Void Abyss to bring about such an instantaneous transformation?" he wondered silently.

The three elders sitting beside him were equally stunned. Wasn't Lin Xi just a Third Grade Clear Qi Cultivator a year ago? And now he had ascended to the early stage of a Great Purity Cultivator? Such progress was nothing short of remarkable!

"Hehe... The Dark Void Abyss truly is a fearsome place, a land of miracles," the second elder remarked, his previous sarcasm still lingering. His face betrayed a mix of emotions as he forced a chuckle.

The second elder's excitement was palpable, and without any attempt to hide it, he glanced at the third elder and said with a light laugh, "Third elder, do you really believe the Dark Void Abyss to be a place brimming with miracles?"

The third elder's head shook vigorously, like a bobblehead, knowing all too well the perils of the Dark Void Abyss. Even he wouldn't dare to venture there recklessly.

At the side of the purple stone tablet, the examiner gazed at the large inscription, his usual indifference washed away by astonishment.

"Lin Xi: Great Purity Cultivator, early stage!"

He exhaled deeply, as if trying to expel the shock that had taken hold of his heart. Despite his efforts to remain calm, his voice still quivered with barely concealed disbelief.

"This can't be... Lin Xi, it's impossible!" Zhao Yuelun was the first to snap out of his daze. He felt as though he had been slapped across the face, a stinging reminder of his earlier mockery. Reality had proven him wrong; Lin Xi had indeed achieved the impossible.

"Impossible..." Princess Jinger's face drained of color as she grappled with the revelation. It was as if her schemes had been shredded before her eyes. She could feel the piercing intensity of Lin Xi's gaze and the looming threat of his vengeance. Fear surged through her, but her mind quickly turned icy as she began to weave new plots in her head.

"This... this..." The three princes were equally astounded.

"Interesting... He's not the same Lin Xi we knew before. Whatever happened in the Dark Void Abyss, it seems only he knows. But one thing is for sure, he must have had an extraordinary adventure!" Liu Linxiang mused to himself, pondering how he should approach Lin Xi in the future. He sensed that Lin Xi had undergone a significant transformation.

"How can this be?" Voices of astonishment rose around them.

Yet, the shocking event unfolded right before everyone's eyes.

"He did it. He might just be the one to take me on an adventure!" Su Yan's face lit up with a smile, her joy evident for all to see, and Lin Xi found himself captivated by her beauty.

"Young Master Lin... well done. You've changed, and for the better!" Lu Hao was thrilled. He could tell that Lin Xi was no longer the same person; he had grown stronger.

Lin Xi gazed at the purple inscriptions on the stone tablet and exhaled softly. The complex looks from those around him brought many thoughts to his mind.

He felt different after his experience in the Dark Void Abyss. His mind had matured, his character had solidified, and his resolve had deepened.

"My life is going to change from this point forward."

He knew that his life would be different after the Dark Void Abyss, a place where danger and opportunity coexisted.

Lin Xi was also aware that after the Profound Examination, he would undoubtedly shake the entire academy. Perhaps this would be his rise to prominence, but it could also bring dangers, such as the Emperor's suspicions and various other hindrances.

Before the test, Lin Xi had already decided to keep a low profile, but sometimes, there was no need to hide. He wanted people to know that he, Lin Xi, could achieve great things, that he could thwart conspiracies, that he could prove himself.

He was aware of the supreme authority of the imperial power in the empire, but Lin Xi, a transmigrant from Earth, was confident. Though not deeply versed in the five thousand years of Huaxia's history, he understood enough to navigate these challenges.

Lin Xi glanced around with a serene expression and slowly descended from beside the purple stone tablet.

The area fell silent as Lin Xi stepped away.

"Cough, cough, cough..." On the elevated platform, the great elder quickly regained his composure. Aware that the Profound Examination was still underway, his cough redirected everyone's attention to him.

"The testing phase is complete. We will now move on to the next stage. Those who did not qualify may challenge a qualifier, but be warned, you only have one opportunity to do so," the great elder announced, striving to maintain his composure. He recognized Lin Xi's talent as something the academy should nurture. He had taken a keen interest in Lin Xi and was eager to learn what had transpired in the Dark Void Abyss. The thought of venturing into the abyss had crossed his mind, but the known perils quickly quelled his adventurous spirit with a resigned sigh.

At his words, a ripple of unrest spread across the field. Those who had narrowly missed qualifying fixed their intense gazes on the successful candidates, understanding that challenges were permissible for some but not for others—a tacit understanding among them.

Confronted with the challenging stares, the exceptional students lifted their heads with a hint of scorn. The distinction between a Purity Cultivator and a non-Purity Cultivator was stark, and without any unforeseen circumstances, a Ninth Level Clear Qi Cultivator was no match for a Purity Cultivator.

Those at the Ninth Level of Clear Qi Cultivation were painfully aware of this reality. Yet, facing their final chance, they were determined to give it their all, success or failure notwithstanding.

The mood in the arena grew tense as heated glances crisscrossed among the qualifiers. Everyone was discreetly sizing up the most manageable opponent, mustering their final efforts for the challenge ahead.