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Chapter 58: Imperial Tests

Upon leaving the Keystone Business, Lin Xun only had a hundred and seventy-three imperial silver coins. Most of his money was spent on spiritual medicines and spiritual ink.

There was no other choice. All the goods used for cultivation were of great value, which ordinary people could not afford.

Lin Xun had also heard that some people with the aptitude for cultivation failed to involve cultivation in all their lives due to poverty and lack of financial support and had to be a common one of all mortal beings.

Fortunately, Lin Xun didn’t need to worry about it now.

As noon approached, Lin Xun had decided to venture back to Feiyun Village. Shue Liang sent two guardians to help Lin Xun escort the cargo.

The two guardians, who were also responsible for purchasing Feiyun Fire-copper, followed Lin Xun this time in order to explore the way, and thereafter they would go to Feiyun Village to buy Feiyun Fire-copper every other month.

In this way, even if Lin Xu left Feiyun Village later, there was no need to worry that no one could deliver and exchange goods for Feiyun Village.

Lin Xun clearly knew that this must be the arrangement of Yan Zhen and it also proved that Keystone Business always matched the action to the word.

From now on, as long as Lin Xun was alive and Keystone Business was still in Green-sun Tribe, surely no one dared to break the contract.

Besides, the backing of Keystone Business ensured that others dared not to encroach on the wealth of Feiyun Village.

Shue Liang saw Lin Xun off to the outside of Green-sun Tribe, which attracted a lot of attention along the way. However, when recognizing the people from Keystone Business, all the passers-by looked away quietly.

“Childe Lin, based on your present age and cultivation, why don’t you go to Donglin Town to attend the County Test?” said Shue Liang, who was surprised to learn that Lin was only 13 years old as they talked.

“County Test?” asked Lin Xun, in a daze.

Shue Liang patiently explained, “The Empire conducts several rounds of selection every other year, recruiting outstanding talents from all over the world…”

According to Shue Liang, in order to select talents, Ziyao Empire, on the basis of regional differences, set up four kinds of tests, namely County Test, State Test, Province Test and Nation Test.

It was easy to understand that covering a vast territory, Ziyao Empire (except the imperial capital – the Forbidden City) was divided into thirty-four provinces, each of which had several states. Similarly, each of the states included several counties.

In short, counties, states, provinces, and the imperial capital make up the grand Ziyao Empire.

And “County Test”, “State Test”, “Province Test” and “Nation Test” corresponded to different levels of assessment and selection.

Therefore, County Test, the lowest level of test, held a simple requirement, that was the participants must be young practitioners who did not exceed 15 years old.

All the people who met this condition could successfully pass County Test.

State Test, which was more rigorous, conducted accurate assessments on aptitude, perception and root bones of the practitioners, and only the outstanding ones could pass the test.

Province Test was super harsh. Shue Liang wasn’t quite clear about the specific content, but he knew that all the people who could pass the Province Test were the first-class figures in the world!

Nation Test, the top test in the Forbidden City, seemed to be unreachable. The participants of Nation Test were one-in-million peerless masters, the chosen ones.

It was worth mentioning that layers of screening and selection worked in the forms of the four tests.

The people who wanted to take part in Nation Test should be under the age of 18, and must pass the other three tests, none of which was replaceable.

After learning this, Lin Xun could not help but marvel at how many brilliant people would stand out through the annual tests. Those people who emerged from rounds of tests, without further ado, would certainly become the mainstays of Ziyao Empire in the future.

Soon a question came to mind and Lin Xun asked, “Uncle Shue, what are the specific benefits of participating in the tests? ”

Shue Liang fell silent for a long time and said, “There are numerous advantages. The participants will not only get fame, but also many opportunities for promotion and development. Most importantly, it is of great benefit to one’s future cultivation.”

After a pause, he continued, “Take County Test for example. As long as you pass the test, a lot of clans, chambers of commerce, military ministries and schools will try their best to cozy up to you by providing you with the wealth and resources needed for your cultivation.”

Lin Xun was amazed and asked, “Why?”

“The reason is simple. Although it’s just a County Test, all participants are teenagers under 15 years old with cultivation. Such people are raw clay with great potential. If they can be recruited and become one part of own forces, it would definitely bring great benefits to the forces in the future.” Shue Liang said, laughing.

Lin Xun nodded as if deep in thought, and then said, “I see. So, if you don’t want to join other forces, there is no benefit, right?”

Shue Liang said, “No, of course not. As long as you pass County Test, the Empire will reward you with money and you will get an opportunity to take part in State Test. Once passing State Test, you will enjoy more benefits. At that point, some large forces will also be paying attention to you.”

“If you can pass Province Test, that would be awesome. Even without the chance to take Nation Test in the future, you can have a very high status, enjoying endless wealth and inexhaustible resources for cultivation.”

“Passing Nation Test means you get a ticket to the Green-deer School, the most famous school in the Empire and the dream shrine of cultivation for countless practitioners!”

Speaking of this, Shue Liang’s face filled with admiration and his voice shook with emotion.

Shue Liang regained his posture after a long time. “However, it is difficult to enter the Green-deer School. Since it only enrolls one hundred students a year, only 1% of the participants of Nation Test get the chance to enter the school.” he said, smiling bitterly.

Lin Xun, in silence, digested what he said for a long while, and could not help but sigh, “The Green-deer School is really impressive. Even the currency circulating in the Empire is imprinted with patterns about it.”

“That’s right!” with sympathy Shue Liang said: “Then again, each test of the Empire for selecting talents, with a lot behind it, should not be taken lightly. If you plan to take the test, you can go to Donglin Town for specific information. I hear that the County Test of Donglin Town is about to begin in two months.”

“I’ll think about it.” Lin Xun nodded.

While they talked, the group had already traveled outside of the Green-sun Tribe.

Here, Lin Xun took the initiative to leave and said, “Uncle Shue, it’s time to say goodbye.”

“Well, take care.” Shue Liang nodded.

Lin Xun smiled, turning the scaled-horse and riding away, and the two guardians from Keystone Business followed him with the cargo.

“Though a bit reckless last night, this young fellow is actually quite tactful and sophisticated. Barring accidents, he will certainly become somebody someday. But it is a pity that he was born in a remote and poor place with narrow horizon knowledge and little experience, for which he may encounter a lot of twists and turns in the future…”

Shue Liang silently looked into the distance until their figures disappeared. Then he turned back to Green-sun Tribe.

…

Meanwhile in Wu Business.

Wu Deyong sat in the hall, with his eyes bloodshot and face looking somber.

He never expected that a young boy from Feiyun Village would become an honored guest of Keystone Business. And even Yan Zhen, shopkeeper of Keystone Business, personally backed up this boy. Wu Deyong had to calm his fury.

The colossal force of Keystone Business was too horrible that even the Wu Clan behind Wu Deyong couldn’t afford to offend it.

Compared with Keystone Business, they were as small as ants in front of a towering tree. If they wanted to pick a fight, Keystone Business could crush them without striking a blow.

Thus, they had to put up with it.

At that moment, a servant hurriedly came to report, saying, “The boy has left Green-sun Tribe, accompanied by two escorts of Keystone Business.”

The news was the last straw and Wu Deyong got livid. To his surprise, Keystone Business sent escorts! This clearly warned Wu Business not to do something excessive!

“Master, can we just let it go? Mad Dog Wu Jie and some others were all killed by the boy. Now everyone in Green-sun Tribe knows it. If we don’t seek revenge, how can we strut about full of attitude in Green-sun Tribe from now on?”

At one side of the hall, a middle-aged man said in anger, and others nodded, “Aye”.

Wu Deyong thundered, “Don’t let it go? You want revenge and to offer Keystone Business an excuse to wipe us all out?”

All at once, the crowd went quiet out of fear.

After gasping for a long time, Wu Deyong calmed down and said, “This is over. Don’t mention it again!”

A guy could not help saying, “But now there is still no news on Master Deacon Wu Henshui. Forget it too?”

“Idiot! The young boy single-handedly made a round trip of killing in Green-sun Tribe, do you really think Wu Henshui is still alive?” said Wu Deyong, the corners of his mouth twitching when it came to Wu Henshui.

The crowd fell completely silent. They also knew that it was likely that Wu Henshui had been killed. However, they were extremely unwilling to let Lin Xun go like this. This was not only about their prestige, but also the reputation of Wu Business in Green-sun Tribe!

“Master, it’s inappropriate to strike down Lin Xun by ourselves, but we can get somebody else to do it. Why not hire some desperados?”

The suggestion was made after a long silence.

Hearing these words, Wu Deyong slapped on the table and fulminated with anger “Have you all forgotten what Yan Zhen said last night? Should anything bad happen to that boy, whether it’s on us or not, Keystone Business will eradicate us immediately! Do you know what this means? It means that even if the young boy dies in the mouth of a beast, we will suffer the full revenge from Keystone Business. A bunch of morons! Speaking without thinking!”

The crowd got depressed right away and were extremely aggrieved. Keystone Business really pushed it too far!

A moment later, seeing nobody spoke again, Wu Deyong took a deep breath and said, “Of course, blood must be paid in blood and it’s only a matter of time. Don’t you forget that Lian Rufeng, captain of the guardians in Feiyun Village, left together with Wu Henshui. I remember that his son – Lianfei – is in Donglin Town for cultivation. Upon a proper opportunity, Lian Fei may come in handy….”

At the end of the words, a grim tone wavered in his voice.