C4 Tripitaka Sutra Pavilion!

No matter how astute Great General Lin Sen was, he could never have imagined that his son's body was now host to a different soul. To a father, whether his son turns out to be successful isn't the priority; what matters most is that he lives a safe and peaceful life. With the influence of the Lin family, ensuring a life of safety and wealth for Lin Xi should pose no problem.

"Xi, you've grown up, and I couldn't be prouder," Great General Lin Sen said, tears streaming down his face as he gently patted Lin Xi's shoulder.

"Lin Xi, you don't hold a grudge against me for the beating, do you?" Great General Lin Sen looked at Lin Xi with hope in his eyes, realizing that his son had changed.

"Father, I don't blame you. I understand that you did it to protect me and the Lin family. And after all, didn't I improve after you disciplined me? I can't hold it against you. In fact, I'm grateful. Your tough love steered me back on the right path," Lin Xi said with a soft smile, trying to lighten the mood, though his eyes were brimming with tears. He truly appreciated Great General Lin Sen, thankful for this father who gave him a second chance at life.

"Good, very good. You truly are my son, well done," Great General Lin Sen said, filled with satisfaction. He could see that Lin Xi had matured and become much wiser.

"Father, I'll be heading to the academy tomorrow," Lin Xi announced.

"To the academy? Aren't you worried about the gossip?" Great General Lin Sen inquired.

"A man of integrity fears nothing. If you've done nothing wrong, you've got nothing to fear," Lin Xi declared with a sense of justice.

"A man must stand by his actions and his principles. You have my blessing!" Great General Lin Sen said, tears welling up again. He realized that he had cried more today than he had in his entire life, moved by the profound change in his son.

"Go ahead, your father supports you," Great General Lin Sen affirmed.

Lin Xi nodded firmly.

"That's enough for today. Go and get ready; tomorrow you head to the academy," Great General Lin Sen said, holding back his emotions. He recognized his son's transformation and now it was time to let him forge his own path in the world.

Lin Xi wiped away her tears and stepped out of the study.

"Xi, I hope your life will take a different path," Great General Lin Sen said, his gaze following the closing door, filled with hope and a profound paternal love.

"Lu, the protective array can be taken down now," Great General Lin Sen composed himself and spoke calmly.

A shadow glided into the room from outside the study. "Lu, have you noticed that Lin Xi seems different than before?" Great General Lin Sen inquired.

"Master, it's not just a little different; it's like he's become a completely different person," Lu replied.

"Whether he can pass the Academy Examination is up to fate," Great General Lin Sen sighed.

"Master, there's no need for concern. Perhaps the young master has a destiny that will aid him, and he might pass through his own efforts. You've always wanted to toughen him up, haven't you? This Academy Examination could be the opportunity he needs to grow. Who knows, he might even surprise us," Lu suggested thoughtfully.

"You truly understand me!"

"Unless it's absolutely necessary, we should not rely on the legacy left by the old master," Great General Lin Sen concluded, then vanished from the study with Lu.

Early in the morning, bathed in sunlight and dew, Lin Xi left Lin Mansion. Not wanting to sadden his father, Lin Sen, he departed at dawn, breaking his usual habit of rising late and set out for the National Academy at Ancient Vast Mountain.

Unbeknownst to Lin Xi, his father had risen even earlier, watching him leave from a distance with misty eyes.

With a heavy heart, Lin Xi left the capital, casting one last glance at Lin Mansion before heading toward the city's outskirts, walking the path alone.

Half a day's journey brought Lin Xi to the National Academy.

As Lin Xi entered the gates of the National Academy, many who saw him were taken aback and quickly steered clear, as if afraid of contagion. Observing the handsome young man with a serene and indifferent demeanor, they couldn't fathom the thickness of his skin; how could he show up for classes as if nothing had happened after his impropriety with Princess Jinger?

Lin Xi ignored the array of surprised, scornful, angry, and mocking gazes. He had come to the academy with a purpose: to seek out the Tripitaka Sutra Pavilion. He remembered the academy's vast collection of books detailing precious medicinal herbs from across the continent, which he urgently needed to enhance his Clear Qi. Moreover, Lin Xi was aware of the rich library within the National Academy, offering extensive knowledge about the Clear Profound Continent, which would allow him to deepen his understanding of it.

While some people whispered and pointed at Lin Xi, many others paid him no mind. They were too preoccupied with their own cultivation, engrossed in their books, or focused on the upcoming Academy Examination in eight days.

Lin Xi was acutely aware that, regardless of the setting, strength was paramount. If not for his lack of prowess, Princess Jinger would not have been able to easily execute her scheme to falsely accuse him of impropriety. Ultimately, it boiled down to Lin Xi's insufficient strength.

Throughout the ordeal, Lin Xi carried on as if unaffected, seemingly treating the whispers and stares as if they were nothing but air. After dropping off his luggage at the dormitory, he made a beeline for the Tripitaka Sutra Pavilion, continuing to disregard the scornful looks from passersby.

Just then, a grating, hoarse voice, reminiscent of a eunuch's, rang out beside him: "Tsk, tsk, tsk, isn't this the Great General's Third Young Master Lin? Hehe, what's got into him that he's strutting around so confidently?"

Lin Xi's brow furrowed slightly, but he remained silent and kept walking. A student from the Academy suddenly stepped forward, hurling insults. "Trash! Didn't you hear our lord speaking to you?" The speaker was a lackey of the eunuch-voiced man.

Lin Xi turned to look at the man with the eunuch's voice. He recognized him; it was Zhao Yuelun, a fellow student in the lower-level class, yet at the ninth level of Clear Qi, potentially on the cusp of becoming a Purity Cultivator. His grandfather was a noble, a Duke like Lin Xiong, which gave Zhao Yuelun the audacity to mock Lin Xi without fear. His face was smug with self-satisfaction, and he was one of Princess Jinger's many suitors.

The one who had called Lin Xi worthless was Zhao Yuelun's attendant, Hee Guang, a sixth-level Clear Qi practitioner, three levels above Lin Xi.

"Mind your own business!" Lin Xi muttered under his breath, barely containing his rising anger. Without giving them another moment's attention, he turned and continued on his way.

Zhao Yuelun grumbled under his breath, "A loser is always a loser. A spineless man!"

That's just how people are; the more you give in, the more they think you're scared of them.

Zhao Yuelun's lackey, Hee Guang, took advantage of being three levels above Lin Xi and having the protection of young master Zhao Yuelun. He didn't see Lin Xi as anything but worthless trash. What did it matter if Lin Xi was the son of the Great General? It was only a scuffle at the National Academy. Would the Great General bother with that? Surely, that wasn't embarrassing enough!

Enraged by Lin Xi's insult, calling him a dog, Hee Guang charged forward, aiming a palm strike at Lin Xi's shoulder. The force of the blow was wind-driven, a formidable martial technique known as the Wind Palm. If it connected, even without full force, Lin Xi's shoulder would be immobilized for days. With full force, Lin Xi would be incapacitated for at least three days.

At that critical moment, Lin Xi felt a spark of enlightenment flash through his mind, as if a pearl was floating there. He could sense a faint Chaos Qi coursing through him, perceptible only to him.

His mind was crystal clear, and the martial arts he had seen on television back on Earth now flashed before his eyes with miraculous clarity. Techniques that had once baffled him now seemed lucid, and it felt as though he had suddenly grasped the essence of Taiji Fist.

Simultaneously, Lin Xi leaned forward, narrowly evading Hee Guang's strike. To onlookers, it appeared he had just managed to dodge the attack. He then spun around and pushed out with his hand, effortlessly redirecting the force with the principle of 'using four ounces to move a thousand pounds.' Hee Guang felt his own momentum turned against him, as if he had struck himself. With a howl of agony, he stumbled backward five or six meters, landing hard on the ground, his body contorted like a shrimp, crying out in pain.

All who witnessed the scene were dumbfounded, standing agape, their faces etched with disbelief as they stared at Lin Xi.

Was that miraculous kick really delivered by the so-called worthless young master of the Great General's family? It was as if Zhao Yuelun's man had spun around and struck himself!

Moreover, while the gap between Clear Qi Level Six and Clear Qi Level Three isn't enormous, it shouldn't be so easy to take someone down, should it?

And what exactly is the cultivation technique Lin Xi employed? Was it a special skill? Why had it never been seen before? Consequently, everyone arrived at the same conclusion: it must have been a fluke. If Lin Xi truly possessed such skill, he wouldn't be stuck at Clear Qi Level Three, nor would he have failed to take liberties with Princess Jinger. With this in mind, people couldn't help but pity Zhao Yuelun's subordinate. Despite being three levels higher, he was embarrassingly defeated with a simple palm strike. He would likely become the butt of jokes at the academy: labeled as less than trash when compared to someone already deemed worthless!

Zhao Yuelun's face turned a shade of iron as he watched Lin Xi walk away without a backward glance after the kick, and he shot a fierce glare at Hee Guang, the source of his humiliation.

In such a public setting, he couldn't seek retribution against Lin Xi. Aristocrats could issue challenges, engage in duels, or decline them. Declining was frowned upon, but unprovoked attacks were strictly forbidden.

If taken to the Imperial Court of Nobility, such an act would earn the scorn of the entire aristocratic community. Zhao Yuelun seethed internally, "Lin Xi, you just wait! I, as a Purity Cultivator, have no time for you now, but once I ascend further, you'll see how I'll deal with you!"

Lin Xi's show of strength had significantly reduced the amount of unsolicited advice he received along his path, much to his relief. It served as a reminder that this world was not like Earth; here, if you lacked strength, you were simply ignored. This was a harsh reality where respect was earned solely through superior strength.

Entering the Tripitaka Sutra Pavilion, Lin Xi followed the signs to locate two comprehensive sets of books: The Records of Plants in the Clear Profound Continent and The Records of Profound Beasts in the Clear Profound Continent. Each set contained nearly a hundred volumes. However, judging by the wear on the books, they didn't seem to be frequently perused.