Chapter 26
: Extremely Oppressive, Prodigies Everywhere
The sky was clear and blue in the early morning.
At Shiyang Academy, thirty-two calligraphers stand tall and imposing.
The ten seeded players also stood on the high platform.
The most attention-grabbing was naturally on Prince Qilin, Zhao Yao.
In just over twenty days, he seemed to have transformed again, exuding a powerful aura, looking heroic and exuding a long and deep breath.
Meanwhile, the usually calm and reserved Zhu Yuting stood silently behind the Prince of Qilin.
Everyone present understood what he meant by that attitude.
Zhu Yuting was already a follower of the Prince of Qilin, or to put it bluntly, a lackey.
There's nothing shameful about it.
Countless people would love to be the lackey of the Kirin Prince, but none of them are even qualified.
This position is highly sought after!
Everyone knows that once Young Master Qilin joins the Holy Land, Zhu Yuting is very likely to win the position of ghostwriter!
County Magistrate Zhao, his face flushed, bowed and greeted County Magistrate Lu, saying:
"Lord Lu, I will be leading the team for this selection competition. I am concerned about Yao'er and need to supervise and encourage him daily."
Magistrate Lu remained silent with a stern face.
According to the rules, the magistrate of Shiyang County should lead the team, and the county clerk should manage the affairs of the county government.
This is a great opportunity to gain exposure!
Once a prodigy joins the sacred land in Shiyang County, the county magistrate will have achieved a political achievement.
But now, in front of everyone, the second-in-command has openly overstepped his authority.
The key is that he couldn't refute it!
His son was participating in the selection, and as a father, he had to go to Chuwei County no matter what, but the chief and assistant officials of Shiyang County could not go with him!
Magistrate Lu nodded expressionlessly.
After the selection competition, I had to find an excuse to transfer away from Shiyang County, because the Zhao family was all-powerful and I felt frustrated no matter what I did.
With two supreme figures in one family, the Zhao family's ancestral tomb is truly shrouded in auspicious smoke!
The man in the orange flying fish uniform scanned the ten people, his voice short and forceful:
(Please remember that 101kanshu.com has a wide collection of books. 101kanshu.com is a website where you can read any book and see the fastest chapter updates.)
"Set off!"
There were already dozens of Akhal-Teke horses in the square. Gu Lin selected a jet-black horse and reined it in.
Outside the academy, there was a great commotion, with gongs, drums, and firecrackers.
Gu Changchuan had already purchased a carriage and drove it himself, taking Zhou Man to Chuwei County.
Unexpectedly, the chubby Wang Mu also arrived, and he shamelessly asked to come along.
Gu Changchuan naturally agreed. In the past, Lin'er had suffered all kinds of scorn, and only Wang Mu was a true friend.
Amid the crowd, Shen Xun and his son watched the ten seeds depart.
Shen Xun, his face full of resentment, said in a low voice:
"Father, a month has passed since the loan was due, and Gu Lin shows no sign of repaying it. Should we go after him and demand the debt?"
Snapped!
Mr. Shen slapped him and said angrily:
"Are you tired of living? Daring to cause trouble in front of the ghostwriter?"
"We'll discuss the loan agreement after the selection process is over."
Shen Xun was somewhat unwilling. The loan agreement was registered with the government, and it was only right to pay back debts!
He said cautiously:
"What if Gu Lin becomes the ghostwriter..."
Mr. Shen shouted:
"If we really become ghostwriters, we'll have to tear up the loan agreement and offer up the money ourselves."
"However, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Young Master Qilin is obsessed with willpower. Given his intense reaction that day, he will definitely not accept Gu Lin."
Shen Xun breathed a sigh of relief.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Li Jisheng, the leader of the fishing gang, led several of his gang's best members.
Ever since the academy selection competition, the Li family has become a laughing stock!
He couldn't sleep all night, filled with rage and determined to make that little beast pay a hundredfold!
Once the Holy Land selection competition is over, that little beast will lose his token as a protective charm, and he'll slaughter the entire Gu family!
Inside the carriage, a graceful woman lay sprawled on a soft couch, a veil covering her ugly, scarred face. Half of her face was charred and blackened. Every time she looked in the mirror, she would be terrified and cry out in pain.
Young Master Qilin, remembering their past friendship, conveyed a message to her.
That little beast has offended the Zhao family; he's doomed!
She wanted to witness it with her own eyes; she wanted to tear Gu Lin to pieces; she wanted to vent her boundless hatred!
kill!
kill!!
......
......
Five days later, the group rode at full speed and successfully arrived at the foot of Chuwei City.
As expected of the Akhal-Teke steed, it only needed one resupply along the way and galloped day and night.
Gazing at the majestic and solemn city walls, the group suppressed their excitement and followed the knife-wielding man into the city.
Half an hour later, we arrived at the Shiyang Martial Arts School in Chuwei East City, which was our lodging.
The selection process is the same for every competition, and Dean Yan is already familiar with it, having already arranged the rooms and training rooms.
Just now.
Steady footsteps could be heard outside.
A person stepped into the martial arts school.
In an instant, all the knife handlers knelt down, not daring to raise their heads.
This scene shocked everyone in Shiyang.
How noble and domineering the swordsman was, yet now he grovels on the ground, utterly humble.
Who is this visitor?
He was dressed in a black official robe with three-headed, three-legged golden crows embroidered on the hem, and his golden waist badge gleamed.
The man wore a black crown, had a face like jade, and eyes as unfathomable as an abyss.
He simply stood there quietly, exuding an aura of power that commanded all directions, and all was silent.
He didn't speak.
None of the ghostwriters dared to raise their heads.
The distinction between superior and inferior, the hierarchy, is one that no one can transgress!
That sense of oppression, that invisible weight of power, made it hard for Shi Yang and his group to breathe.
Dean Yan knelt down with a thud and respectfully said:
"Greetings, Lord Zhao."
Upon hearing the news, County Magistrate Zhao also bowed his head and clasped his hands in a respectful manner.
I can distinguish between public and private matters, but since I am a father, I will refrain from kneeling.
The newcomer was none other than Zhao Can from the Martial Peak Hall!
"Get up, all of you." Zhao Can's voice was hoarse as he scanned the group of ghostwriters.
He walked step by step toward Zhao Yao.
Zhao Yao greeted him with a smile, his face full of reverence.
however.
Snapped! !
A powerful and heavy blow came.
Zhao Can swung his arm almost in the air and slapped Zhao Yao hard across the face.
Zhao Yao was knocked to the ground, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, and he didn't dare to utter a single word.
Zhao Can looked down at him and said in a cold voice:
"In such a small county as Shiyang, a test of willpower, how could you possibly lose?"
"You mediocre good-for-nothing, you've utterly disgraced me!"
Zhao Yao wiped away the blood, knelt down and kowtowed:
"Brother, it is the younger brother who is incompetent."
He dared not be arrogant in the slightest; he even dared to contradict his father, but he was only afraid of his elder brother.
Zhao Can suppressed his anger and calmly asked:
Who is Gu Lin?
His tone was calm, yet it carried an imposing sense of dominance.
Gu Lin took two steps forward.
Zhao Can scrutinized the scene for a long time before walking over step by step.
Gu Lin bowed his head slightly to show his respect for the Martial Peak Hall. He saw the magnificent, dark official robes and the lifelike three-headed, three-legged golden crow.
"You're very good." Zhao Can raised his hand and patted Gu Lin's shoulder lightly.
In an instant, Gu Lin's internal organs trembled, and intense pain spread throughout his body, causing his body to tense and his shoulders to twitch uncontrollably.
Zhao Can turned around expressionlessly.
After a brief examination, he found that the boy had nothing special about him, nor did he have any dark aura left from practicing evil arts.
Gu Lin stared at Zhao Can's retreating figure, a chill flashing deep in his eyes.
In the dead silence, Zhao Can slowly spoke:
"Gentlemen, I'm taking Zhao Yao away. Any objections?"
All the ghostwriters said in unison:
"As you command, sir!"
They knew that Lord Zhao was going to give his younger brother special treatment, but this was in accordance with the rules.
"Let's go." Zhao Can strode away.
Zhao Yao got up and followed closely behind, without even glancing at Gu Lin.
Having witnessed his elder brother's brilliance and power, he also despised this man surnamed Gu from the bottom of his heart, treating him like an ant.
"Respectfully seeing off Lord Zhao."
When Zhao Can boarded the magnificent carriage, the swordsman finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Magistrate Zhao felt honored and unconsciously raised his voice, proclaiming:
"With Zhao Yao gone, the best training room will be reserved for Zhu Yuting."
Zhu Yuting is a follower of the Zhao family and also one of their own. From now on, he will serve Yao'er diligently.
"Thank you very much, Magistrate!" Zhu Yuting said respectfully.
The other eight seeded players remained silent.
Leaving the lobby, Dean Yan couldn't help but look at Gu Lin. Everyone had seen the "pat on the shoulder" scene. Although everyone sympathized with him, who could defy Lord Zhao of the Martial Peak Hall?!
Entering the training room, Gu Lin struggled to calm his turbulent emotions. Anger was useless; he had to and absolutely had to join the Holy Land!
.......
Later, the eight of them gathered together.
The weakest among them, Liu Suifeng, was out gathering information. His face was grave as he said:
"According to rumors, Chuwei Prefecture has twenty-three counties, and there should be nine Dongxuan Realm experts there!"
Nine?
Everyone felt as if they had fallen into an ice cave, experiencing an unprecedented chill.
There are only six spots available for the Holy Land.
There are actually nine people at the Dongxuan Realm!
This not only frustrated them, but also instilled feelings of inferiority and fear in them.
Liu Suifeng's throat tightened, and he said bitterly:
"Not only that, there is another person named Li Zhixu, a Confucian and Taoist practitioner with the strength of a ninth-level Confucian Qi Cultivation Realm cultivator. He made a name for himself in the Shanyin County selection competition, causing a great sensation!"
Nine ranks of Confucian scholars?
The atmosphere grew increasingly oppressive.
It is well known that Confucian and Taoist practitioners can almost always fight two levels higher than martial artists.
Li Zhixu's true combat strength is definitely no less than that of a first-level Dongxuan cultivator!
"Li Zhixu, rites are the order of heaven and earth." Yan Shouxu looked dejected.
They're both lawful, yet the difference is so huge!
Liu Si couldn't help but ask:
"What are the chances that Young Master Qilin has of success?"
Liu Suifeng took a sip of tea to moisten his throat and said slowly:
"The entire Chuwei County is going crazy with gambling. The odds for Young Master Qilin are ranked fifth, and the general public believes that he will be able to get the spot smoothly."
"It's all because of Lord Zhao of the Martial Peak Hall! Lord Zhao definitely wants his younger brother to be selected, so he will naturally provide assistance. It is precisely because of this that Young Master Qilin was able to surpass several Cave Profound Realm cultivators and rank fifth!"
"Fourth is Song Shiwei of Youxi County, third is Li Zhixu, the Prince of Order, second is the Hegemon King of Chu, and first is Yan Xu of the Yan family of Chuwei County!"
Upon hearing this, the others felt ashamed of their own appearance, and Yan Shouxu cautiously asked:
"Where is my ranking?"
Liu Suifeng sighed:
"We're in the top ninety, Zhu Yuting is ranked seventy-second, the rest of us didn't even make the top one hundred. Wei Xuan is in the top one hundred and thirties, Gu Lin is one hundred and twenty-eight, and I'm the worst, sixth from the bottom..."
"The qualifying rounds determine the number of participants based on past performance. Shiyang County has only ten spots, while Chuwei County has forty-eight spots, making a total of two hundred and fifty-six participants in the entire Chuwei County."
Everyone fell silent; the sumptuous dinner tasted bland.
Only Gu Lin remained calm and continued eating with his head down.
The group was dejected and left one by one.
They had considered following the Kirin Prince, but he refused, deeming them worthless in his eyes.
Because of the deep friendship between his grandfather, Dean Yan, and Magistrate Lu, Yan Shouxu was naturally not accepted by the Zhao family.
Half an incense stick later, Gu Lin left Shiyang Martial Arts School and found his parents at the inn, where the chubby boy Wang Mu was also there.
"Jingming, I bet five hundred coins on you; this is also a form of moral support!!"
Wang Mu told him everything as soon as they met.
Gu Lin glanced sideways:
"How much was bet on Zhao Yao?"
Wang Mu smiled innocently:
"Twenty-five taels."
Gu Lin sneered:
"If you trust me, bet all your savings on me!"
After saying that, he didn't say anything more and pulled his father into the room.
"Dad, how much money do we have at home?"
Gu Changchuan smiled bitterly:
"There are only two hundred taels, and that's all the money you received as gifts after you got the spot."
Gu Lin asked again:
"What's the return if I bet on getting a spot in the Holy Land?"
Although Gu Changchuan found it strange, he had heard Wang Mu mention it before, and replied:
"Fifty-nine times!"
Gu Lin smiled silently, his expression leaving no room for argument:
"Bet all on me!!"
He took out seven hundred taels of silver notes and handed them over, then glanced at the cold, green-colored spear his father cherished, and said simply and bluntly:
"First, pledge a thousand taels at gambling dens in various places! Remember to find a big gambling den to draw up a contract and sign it."
Gu Changchuan stared blankly.
But she met her son's resolute gaze.
He did not object and followed his son's advice.
This... this is gambling everything on a single, desperate move...
Also, where did the son get seven hundred taels of silver?
Gu Lin ignored his father's shock and astonishment and left the inn to return to the martial arts school.
Wang Mu shouted from behind:
"Jingming, I believe you!"
"I'm going to fight the gambling den to the death! I've decided to bet ten taels of silver on you!"
Wang Muxin was bleeding, but when she thought of supporting her friend, she didn't care about losing ten taels of silver.
At Shiyang Academy, thirty-two calligraphers stand tall and imposing.
The ten seeded players also stood on the high platform.
The most attention-grabbing was naturally on Prince Qilin, Zhao Yao.
In just over twenty days, he seemed to have transformed again, exuding a powerful aura, looking heroic and exuding a long and deep breath.
Meanwhile, the usually calm and reserved Zhu Yuting stood silently behind the Prince of Qilin.
Everyone present understood what he meant by that attitude.
Zhu Yuting was already a follower of the Prince of Qilin, or to put it bluntly, a lackey.
There's nothing shameful about it.
Countless people would love to be the lackey of the Kirin Prince, but none of them are even qualified.
This position is highly sought after!
Everyone knows that once Young Master Qilin joins the Holy Land, Zhu Yuting is very likely to win the position of ghostwriter!
County Magistrate Zhao, his face flushed, bowed and greeted County Magistrate Lu, saying:
"Lord Lu, I will be leading the team for this selection competition. I am concerned about Yao'er and need to supervise and encourage him daily."
Magistrate Lu remained silent with a stern face.
According to the rules, the magistrate of Shiyang County should lead the team, and the county clerk should manage the affairs of the county government.
This is a great opportunity to gain exposure!
Once a prodigy joins the sacred land in Shiyang County, the county magistrate will have achieved a political achievement.
But now, in front of everyone, the second-in-command has openly overstepped his authority.
The key is that he couldn't refute it!
His son was participating in the selection, and as a father, he had to go to Chuwei County no matter what, but the chief and assistant officials of Shiyang County could not go with him!
Magistrate Lu nodded expressionlessly.
After the selection competition, I had to find an excuse to transfer away from Shiyang County, because the Zhao family was all-powerful and I felt frustrated no matter what I did.
With two supreme figures in one family, the Zhao family's ancestral tomb is truly shrouded in auspicious smoke!
The man in the orange flying fish uniform scanned the ten people, his voice short and forceful:
(Please remember that 101kanshu.com has a wide collection of books. 101kanshu.com is a website where you can read any book and see the fastest chapter updates.)
"Set off!"
There were already dozens of Akhal-Teke horses in the square. Gu Lin selected a jet-black horse and reined it in.
Outside the academy, there was a great commotion, with gongs, drums, and firecrackers.
Gu Changchuan had already purchased a carriage and drove it himself, taking Zhou Man to Chuwei County.
Unexpectedly, the chubby Wang Mu also arrived, and he shamelessly asked to come along.
Gu Changchuan naturally agreed. In the past, Lin'er had suffered all kinds of scorn, and only Wang Mu was a true friend.
Amid the crowd, Shen Xun and his son watched the ten seeds depart.
Shen Xun, his face full of resentment, said in a low voice:
"Father, a month has passed since the loan was due, and Gu Lin shows no sign of repaying it. Should we go after him and demand the debt?"
Snapped!
Mr. Shen slapped him and said angrily:
"Are you tired of living? Daring to cause trouble in front of the ghostwriter?"
"We'll discuss the loan agreement after the selection process is over."
Shen Xun was somewhat unwilling. The loan agreement was registered with the government, and it was only right to pay back debts!
He said cautiously:
"What if Gu Lin becomes the ghostwriter..."
Mr. Shen shouted:
"If we really become ghostwriters, we'll have to tear up the loan agreement and offer up the money ourselves."
"However, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Young Master Qilin is obsessed with willpower. Given his intense reaction that day, he will definitely not accept Gu Lin."
Shen Xun breathed a sigh of relief.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Li Jisheng, the leader of the fishing gang, led several of his gang's best members.
Ever since the academy selection competition, the Li family has become a laughing stock!
He couldn't sleep all night, filled with rage and determined to make that little beast pay a hundredfold!
Once the Holy Land selection competition is over, that little beast will lose his token as a protective charm, and he'll slaughter the entire Gu family!
Inside the carriage, a graceful woman lay sprawled on a soft couch, a veil covering her ugly, scarred face. Half of her face was charred and blackened. Every time she looked in the mirror, she would be terrified and cry out in pain.
Young Master Qilin, remembering their past friendship, conveyed a message to her.
That little beast has offended the Zhao family; he's doomed!
She wanted to witness it with her own eyes; she wanted to tear Gu Lin to pieces; she wanted to vent her boundless hatred!
kill!
kill!!
......
......
Five days later, the group rode at full speed and successfully arrived at the foot of Chuwei City.
As expected of the Akhal-Teke steed, it only needed one resupply along the way and galloped day and night.
Gazing at the majestic and solemn city walls, the group suppressed their excitement and followed the knife-wielding man into the city.
Half an hour later, we arrived at the Shiyang Martial Arts School in Chuwei East City, which was our lodging.
The selection process is the same for every competition, and Dean Yan is already familiar with it, having already arranged the rooms and training rooms.
Just now.
Steady footsteps could be heard outside.
A person stepped into the martial arts school.
In an instant, all the knife handlers knelt down, not daring to raise their heads.
This scene shocked everyone in Shiyang.
How noble and domineering the swordsman was, yet now he grovels on the ground, utterly humble.
Who is this visitor?
He was dressed in a black official robe with three-headed, three-legged golden crows embroidered on the hem, and his golden waist badge gleamed.
The man wore a black crown, had a face like jade, and eyes as unfathomable as an abyss.
He simply stood there quietly, exuding an aura of power that commanded all directions, and all was silent.
He didn't speak.
None of the ghostwriters dared to raise their heads.
The distinction between superior and inferior, the hierarchy, is one that no one can transgress!
That sense of oppression, that invisible weight of power, made it hard for Shi Yang and his group to breathe.
Dean Yan knelt down with a thud and respectfully said:
"Greetings, Lord Zhao."
Upon hearing the news, County Magistrate Zhao also bowed his head and clasped his hands in a respectful manner.
I can distinguish between public and private matters, but since I am a father, I will refrain from kneeling.
The newcomer was none other than Zhao Can from the Martial Peak Hall!
"Get up, all of you." Zhao Can's voice was hoarse as he scanned the group of ghostwriters.
He walked step by step toward Zhao Yao.
Zhao Yao greeted him with a smile, his face full of reverence.
however.
Snapped! !
A powerful and heavy blow came.
Zhao Can swung his arm almost in the air and slapped Zhao Yao hard across the face.
Zhao Yao was knocked to the ground, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, and he didn't dare to utter a single word.
Zhao Can looked down at him and said in a cold voice:
"In such a small county as Shiyang, a test of willpower, how could you possibly lose?"
"You mediocre good-for-nothing, you've utterly disgraced me!"
Zhao Yao wiped away the blood, knelt down and kowtowed:
"Brother, it is the younger brother who is incompetent."
He dared not be arrogant in the slightest; he even dared to contradict his father, but he was only afraid of his elder brother.
Zhao Can suppressed his anger and calmly asked:
Who is Gu Lin?
His tone was calm, yet it carried an imposing sense of dominance.
Gu Lin took two steps forward.
Zhao Can scrutinized the scene for a long time before walking over step by step.
Gu Lin bowed his head slightly to show his respect for the Martial Peak Hall. He saw the magnificent, dark official robes and the lifelike three-headed, three-legged golden crow.
"You're very good." Zhao Can raised his hand and patted Gu Lin's shoulder lightly.
In an instant, Gu Lin's internal organs trembled, and intense pain spread throughout his body, causing his body to tense and his shoulders to twitch uncontrollably.
Zhao Can turned around expressionlessly.
After a brief examination, he found that the boy had nothing special about him, nor did he have any dark aura left from practicing evil arts.
Gu Lin stared at Zhao Can's retreating figure, a chill flashing deep in his eyes.
In the dead silence, Zhao Can slowly spoke:
"Gentlemen, I'm taking Zhao Yao away. Any objections?"
All the ghostwriters said in unison:
"As you command, sir!"
They knew that Lord Zhao was going to give his younger brother special treatment, but this was in accordance with the rules.
"Let's go." Zhao Can strode away.
Zhao Yao got up and followed closely behind, without even glancing at Gu Lin.
Having witnessed his elder brother's brilliance and power, he also despised this man surnamed Gu from the bottom of his heart, treating him like an ant.
"Respectfully seeing off Lord Zhao."
When Zhao Can boarded the magnificent carriage, the swordsman finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Magistrate Zhao felt honored and unconsciously raised his voice, proclaiming:
"With Zhao Yao gone, the best training room will be reserved for Zhu Yuting."
Zhu Yuting is a follower of the Zhao family and also one of their own. From now on, he will serve Yao'er diligently.
"Thank you very much, Magistrate!" Zhu Yuting said respectfully.
The other eight seeded players remained silent.
Leaving the lobby, Dean Yan couldn't help but look at Gu Lin. Everyone had seen the "pat on the shoulder" scene. Although everyone sympathized with him, who could defy Lord Zhao of the Martial Peak Hall?!
Entering the training room, Gu Lin struggled to calm his turbulent emotions. Anger was useless; he had to and absolutely had to join the Holy Land!
.......
Later, the eight of them gathered together.
The weakest among them, Liu Suifeng, was out gathering information. His face was grave as he said:
"According to rumors, Chuwei Prefecture has twenty-three counties, and there should be nine Dongxuan Realm experts there!"
Nine?
Everyone felt as if they had fallen into an ice cave, experiencing an unprecedented chill.
There are only six spots available for the Holy Land.
There are actually nine people at the Dongxuan Realm!
This not only frustrated them, but also instilled feelings of inferiority and fear in them.
Liu Suifeng's throat tightened, and he said bitterly:
"Not only that, there is another person named Li Zhixu, a Confucian and Taoist practitioner with the strength of a ninth-level Confucian Qi Cultivation Realm cultivator. He made a name for himself in the Shanyin County selection competition, causing a great sensation!"
Nine ranks of Confucian scholars?
The atmosphere grew increasingly oppressive.
It is well known that Confucian and Taoist practitioners can almost always fight two levels higher than martial artists.
Li Zhixu's true combat strength is definitely no less than that of a first-level Dongxuan cultivator!
"Li Zhixu, rites are the order of heaven and earth." Yan Shouxu looked dejected.
They're both lawful, yet the difference is so huge!
Liu Si couldn't help but ask:
"What are the chances that Young Master Qilin has of success?"
Liu Suifeng took a sip of tea to moisten his throat and said slowly:
"The entire Chuwei County is going crazy with gambling. The odds for Young Master Qilin are ranked fifth, and the general public believes that he will be able to get the spot smoothly."
"It's all because of Lord Zhao of the Martial Peak Hall! Lord Zhao definitely wants his younger brother to be selected, so he will naturally provide assistance. It is precisely because of this that Young Master Qilin was able to surpass several Cave Profound Realm cultivators and rank fifth!"
"Fourth is Song Shiwei of Youxi County, third is Li Zhixu, the Prince of Order, second is the Hegemon King of Chu, and first is Yan Xu of the Yan family of Chuwei County!"
Upon hearing this, the others felt ashamed of their own appearance, and Yan Shouxu cautiously asked:
"Where is my ranking?"
Liu Suifeng sighed:
"We're in the top ninety, Zhu Yuting is ranked seventy-second, the rest of us didn't even make the top one hundred. Wei Xuan is in the top one hundred and thirties, Gu Lin is one hundred and twenty-eight, and I'm the worst, sixth from the bottom..."
"The qualifying rounds determine the number of participants based on past performance. Shiyang County has only ten spots, while Chuwei County has forty-eight spots, making a total of two hundred and fifty-six participants in the entire Chuwei County."
Everyone fell silent; the sumptuous dinner tasted bland.
Only Gu Lin remained calm and continued eating with his head down.
The group was dejected and left one by one.
They had considered following the Kirin Prince, but he refused, deeming them worthless in his eyes.
Because of the deep friendship between his grandfather, Dean Yan, and Magistrate Lu, Yan Shouxu was naturally not accepted by the Zhao family.
Half an incense stick later, Gu Lin left Shiyang Martial Arts School and found his parents at the inn, where the chubby boy Wang Mu was also there.
"Jingming, I bet five hundred coins on you; this is also a form of moral support!!"
Wang Mu told him everything as soon as they met.
Gu Lin glanced sideways:
"How much was bet on Zhao Yao?"
Wang Mu smiled innocently:
"Twenty-five taels."
Gu Lin sneered:
"If you trust me, bet all your savings on me!"
After saying that, he didn't say anything more and pulled his father into the room.
"Dad, how much money do we have at home?"
Gu Changchuan smiled bitterly:
"There are only two hundred taels, and that's all the money you received as gifts after you got the spot."
Gu Lin asked again:
"What's the return if I bet on getting a spot in the Holy Land?"
Although Gu Changchuan found it strange, he had heard Wang Mu mention it before, and replied:
"Fifty-nine times!"
Gu Lin smiled silently, his expression leaving no room for argument:
"Bet all on me!!"
He took out seven hundred taels of silver notes and handed them over, then glanced at the cold, green-colored spear his father cherished, and said simply and bluntly:
"First, pledge a thousand taels at gambling dens in various places! Remember to find a big gambling den to draw up a contract and sign it."
Gu Changchuan stared blankly.
But she met her son's resolute gaze.
He did not object and followed his son's advice.
This... this is gambling everything on a single, desperate move...
Also, where did the son get seven hundred taels of silver?
Gu Lin ignored his father's shock and astonishment and left the inn to return to the martial arts school.
Wang Mu shouted from behind:
"Jingming, I believe you!"
"I'm going to fight the gambling den to the death! I've decided to bet ten taels of silver on you!"
Wang Muxin was bleeding, but when she thought of supporting her friend, she didn't care about losing ten taels of silver.