For the next while, Lin Yun planned to go all out boosting himself for the Martial Exam.
The prefecture round didn’t faze him much—should be fine, a confidence born from his strength.
If he won the prefecture title, he’d head to Fire Cloud Empire’s capital for the national round.
That one, he wasn’t dead certain of clinching.
The national round drew champions from every prefecture—bound to be some heavy hitters.
Yesterday’s scrap with Wei Qi—didn’t he only just scrape by?
Lin Yun didn’t know what foes the national round held, all he could do was max out his prep!
“Hero Lin Yun, why not stay and train at Zhu Clan? It’s safer here, Clan Leader Mo’s dirty tricks won’t touch you, I’ll have the servants fix up a big, quiet house in the back for you!” Clan Leader Zhu offered.
“Fair enough,” Lin Yun nodded after a moment’s thought.
It beat an inn for convenience.
“Ha, Brother Lin Yun staying—that’s brilliant!” Zhu Xu cheered.
…
Elsewhere.
Prefecture Lord’s Palace.
“Father, heard the news? Divine archer Wei Qi got beat in the tower yesterday, bloke who did it’s called Lin Yun, apparently,” a young man said to the Prefecture Lord.
“Heard it, if you’ve got time, go meet him, if he’s the real deal, try recruiting him into our prefecture army,” the Prefecture Lord said calmly.
To him, beating Wei Qi proved talent and strength.
But however strong, without hitting Tribulation realm, it didn’t warrant him stepping out—his son could handle it.
No matter how ace, if you didn’t break into Tribulation realm, you might stall at a bottleneck, only crossing that line opened a new world.
“Right, I’ll find time to see him,” the young man agreed.
“Lin Yun, why’s that name ring a bell?” he muttered to himself.
This was the same young master who’d shooed Lin Yun from the palace days ago.
But that trifling moment? Long forgotten.
…
Elsewhere.
Zhu Xu took Lin Yun to the signup spot outside the magistrate’s office.
After enrolling, Lin Yun returned to Zhu Clan to start his retreat.
At Zhu Clan’s gate.
Lin Yun and Zhu Xu had just arrived when the steward rushed up.
“Lord Lin Yun, a VIP’s here to see you,” the steward beamed.
“VIP?” Lin Yun blinked.
“Prefecture army soldiers at the gate—someone from Dongyuan’s brass?” Zhu Xu mused.
“It’s the Prefecture Lord’s son, Young Master Yi Cheng,” the steward grinned.
“Oh? Young Master Yi Cheng’s here?” Zhu Xu gaped.
He turned to Lin Yun, buzzing, “Brother Lin Yun, Yi Cheng’s the biggest deal among Dongyuan’s young blood, loads want to cosy up to him, him coming to see you—that’s rare.”
“Let’s head in,” Lin Yun stayed cool.
Inside, the steward led them to the reception hall.
Clan Leader Zhu was there, hosting Young Master Yi Cheng.
“Well now?”
Lin Yun’s face twitched slightly on seeing Yi Cheng.
He remembered him, alright.
“Young Master Yi Cheng, here’s the Lin Yun you wanted to meet,” Clan Leader Zhu smiled.
Yi Cheng, decked in finery, turned to Lin Yun.
“You’re Hero Lin Yun? You look familiar—have we met?” Yi Cheng studied him.
“Young Master Yi Cheng, you’re a busy man with a short memory, a few days back I tried visiting the Prefecture Lord at the palace, ran into you, you said it wasn’t my place and told me to scarper,” Lin Yun said with a faint smile.
Yi Cheng froze, the memory clicking.
Awkward—he’d chased off the guy he now wanted to recruit?
“So here I am again, this time with sincerity, inviting you to join Dongyuan Prefecture’s army,” Yi Cheng forced a smile, tinged with embarrassment.
“Sorry, Young Master Yi Cheng, I’ve signed up for the Martial Exam, aiming for prefecture champ,” Lin Yun said.
His meaning was clear.
Win the prefecture round, and he’d head to the capital—even without a national top-three, the empire would snap him up.
Joining Dongyuan Prefecture? Not his goal.
He’d pick the best if he joined anything!
Dongyuan was big, but too small a stage for him!
A polite no, that.
“Champ, eh? Hero Lin Yun’s got confidence, but saying it pre-race—if you don’t win, that’s a right embarrassment, beating Wei Qi’s impressive, but prefecture champ’s no cakewalk,” Yi Cheng said, smiling with a hint of mockery.
“No worries, I’m not fussed about looking daft,” Lin Yun grinned back, smoothing the tension, giving Yi Cheng face.
“Oh, Young Master Yi Cheng, reckon I’m qualified to see the Prefecture Lord now?” Lin Yun kept the smile.
“Let’s talk after you win the prefecture round—assuming you do!”
Yi Cheng stood and strode out.
“Prefecture Lord’s son, alright,” Lin Yun chuckled, shaking his head.
“Hero Lin Yun, turning down Yi Cheng’s invite bruised his ego, his reaction’s no shock,” Clan Leader Zhu said.
“His mood’s no skin off my nose, Clan Leader Zhu, I’ll start my retreat,” Lin Yun rose.
A golden scale doesn’t linger in a pond.
Lin Yun’s sights were on vast oceans, not this little puddle.
“Right, Xu’er, take Hero Lin Yun to the back,” Clan Leader Zhu said.
Zhu Xu led Lin Yun to a spacious, quiet guest room in the rear.
After dropping him off, Zhu Xu left to let him train.
Inside, Lin Yun prepped for his retreat.
“This time, I’ll push Taixu Body Refining and Taixu Power to the eleventh layer!” he murmured.
Last upgrade was at first-rank Mahayana realm.
Now at third-rank, he was ready to hit eleventh.
