“Alright, Brother Liang,” Lin Yun nodded.
“It’s late—I’ll leave you to rest,” Liang Yuan said, then took off.
Lin Yun saw him out—headed back in—slipped into the One Thought Clarity Tower space—kept carving.
No point wasting downtime.
Time flew—next day dawned.
Morning hit—Exam Prefecture buzzed—decked out for the celebration—all for the candidates.
9 a.m.
Hall Master He rocked up to Lin Yun’s room.
“Greetings, Hall Master He,” Lin Yun bowed.
“Lin Yun, today’s Exam Prefecture bash—you’re skipping it, it’s not for you,” Hall Master He said.
“Oh? Why’s that?” Lin Yun blinked, thrown.
“Your reward’s in the palace—come on, with me—Emperor Fire Cloud’s summoning you himself!” Hall Master He grinned.
“Meeting Emperor Fire Cloud, eh,” Lin Yun murmured.
He’d nabbed the Emperor’s summons.
What’d come of it? No clue—Lin Yun’s gut churned.
Hall Master He led him out—cart straight to the palace!
Lin Yun’d done palaces before—Star Martial Empire, a few times—knew the drill, seen their scale.
Fire Cloud Empire’s palace? Vast, grand, lush—still jaw-dropping.
Inside.
Divine Connection Hall.
Emperor Fire Cloud’s spot for business and summons.
Lin Yun and Hall Master He hit the entrance—guards notified.
“Lin Yun, nail this—it’s a rare shot,” Hall Master He nudged.
Lin Yun nodded.
Bit nervy now—heart thumping.
Guard stepped out, “Master He—inside.”
Hall Master He took Lin Yun in.
Divine Connection Hall—huge, ornate, echoey.
Emperor Fire Cloud sat ahead—red robes, eyes deep—radiating a vibe that owned the world, dwarfed all life.
Just sitting—his aura rippled the air.
Too fierce to meet head-on!
“Greetings, Your Majesty!”
Lin Yun and Hall Master He bowed.
Emperor Fire Cloud’s gaze landed.
“Lin Yun—your exam feats, Hall Master He’s told me, he’s run out of praise—your fights, recorded in an artifact, I’ve seen ‘em, you’re a gem—top-notch all-round, and young,” he said, calm.
Youth—endless potential!
Youth—prime for molding!
“Thanks, Your Majesty,” Lin Yun clasped his fists.
He didn’t know—Emperor Fire Cloud rarely gushed like this.
“One thing bugs me—how’d you rack up beast-fighting savvy so young? Peace reigns—common monks, even empire troops, lack that experience,” Emperor Fire Cloud said, even.
“Replying, Your Majesty—I crossed the Beast Mountains, killed heaps—experience forged in blood, life-or-death scraps, soul-sense honed,” Lin Yun said.
“What? Crossed the Beast Mountains?”
Hall Master He—next to Lin Yun—jumped.
If not for the Emperor, he’d have yelped—grilled Lin Yun on the spot.
Even Emperor Fire Cloud’s eyes flickered—rare ripple for a man steady as a rock!
Hard to swallow.
But those piercing eyes clocked it—Lin Yun wasn’t lying.
“Alone?” Emperor Fire Cloud asked.
“Yes—had no choice,” Lin Yun replied.
“No fibs—I don’t know how you pulled it, but crossing the Beast Mountains solo? A miracle!”
His look sharpened—hooked.
Solo crossing the Beast Mountains—enough to flip his view of Lin Yun!
Near-impossible feat!
Third-rank Mahayana? Even Tribulation or immortal realm pros wouldn’t dare.
A guard hustled in—handed Emperor Fire Cloud a scroll.
He took it—eyed Lin Yun, “Your full dossier.”
Had to vet Lin Yun—no demon ties—key for trust.
He unrolled it—scanned.
Done—he had the measure.
“So—you’re from the Three Thousand Lesser Worlds, crossed the Beast Mountains fleeing Emperor Star Martial’s Heaven-Slaying Alliance, chased into it—no way out but through, right?” Emperor Fire Cloud looked at him.
“Spot on, Your Majesty,” Lin Yun answered.
Shocked inside—his past dug up clean, even the Lesser Worlds bit.
Emperor Fire Cloud closed the scroll—locked eyes, “Lin Yun—I want you as my disciple, you in?”
No gushing praise—just the offer.
That alone screamed approval!
Lin Yun froze.
Emperor Fire Cloud—taking him as a disciple—straight up?
Out of nowhere!
He knew—past exams, rare champs got this nod—super rare!
This sudden pitch—caught him off guard.
Hall Master He—beside him—gaped.
He’d figured a fat reward, decent post—disciple? Wild.
Seven centuries running the exam—Lin Yun was the first champ Emperor Fire Cloud tapped like this!
How could he not reel?
“What—not keen?” Emperor Fire Cloud watched, calm.
Lin Yun snapped out of it.
“Disciple Lin Yun—greets Master!”
He dropped into a full kowtow.
Words and move—answer clear.
Revenge burned—needed strength fast.
To grow quick—big backing was key.
