Chapter 8

"Over six hundred kilograms of strength, and quick reactions, Qin Yan is much stronger than me!"

Lin Dong thought to himself, his eyes resolute, deciding to make Qin Yan his first target!

As long as he surpasses Qin Yan, his lifespan will definitely be extended. If necessary, he can then seek the Emperor for an exchange!

...

In the evening, the carriage from Lin Family's Dongzhuang returned, and Lin De was waiting at the entrance, a mocking smile on his face.

Lin Dong had gone to Tianyang City yesterday and should be returning with the carriage today!

"Brat, once you fall into my hands, I will surely teach you a lesson!" Lin De thought, his mind filled with various ideas on how to torment Lin Dong.

The carriage stopped, and Lin Bing jumped down from the lead carriage.

"Where is Lin Dong? Did this brat run away?" Lin De's face darkened when he didn't see Lin Dong. "Lin Bing, what kind of job are you doing? Didn't I tell you to keep an eye on Lin Dong and bring him back with you?!"

"Without joining the Wind and Thunder Martial Academy, he should have returned to work quickly. Does he think he's still a genius?"

Lin Bing coughed lightly and said, "Sir, Lin Dong should be able to join the Wind and Thunder Martial Academy."

"What?"

Lin De was about to scold, but hearing Lin Bing's words, he was speechless.

"Lin Bing, what did you say? How can that brat Lin Dong join the Wind and Thunder Martial Academy? His strength is only two hundred kilograms. Did the Wind and Thunder Martial Academy lower their standards? No, your strength is not lower than his. If he can enter, you should be able to as well!" Lin De said with a dark face.

Lin Bing smiled bitterly. "Sir, I am far inferior to him. His fist strength is four hundred and thirty kilograms, while mine is only two hundred and twenty kilograms! He also passed the second test, and his performance was quite good!"

"Passing is certain. If he achieves an excellent score in the third test, Lin Dong's final score will likely be excellent!"

Lin De was greatly shocked. Excellent? Lin Kai's score was only passing, not excellent!

If Lin Dong's score is excellent, and he has a conflict with Lin Dong, the position of Chief Manager is almost certainly not his!

"Tell me, is what Lin Bing said true?" Lin De asked the others who returned, his face dark.

"Report to the manager, it is indeed true!"

"Damn!"

Lin De cursed inwardly. The Lin Family was already discussing his appointment as Chief Manager, but at this critical moment, such an event occurred, and he hated Lin Dong to death!

Lin De didn't think that if he hadn't targeted Lin Dong, his son Lin Kai joining the Wind and Thunder Martial Academy would have made his appointment as Chief Manager a certainty!

"With this matter, whether I can become Chief Manager will likely only be known by the end of the year! If Kai wins Lin Dong in the annual test, I still have a chance to become Chief Manager!"

Lin Dong took several deep breaths to calm his mind. He believed that Lin Kai could win Lin Dong at that time!

"Third Manager, Lin Dong should be given a good house. House number nine is quite nice. Why not that one?" The Second Manager of Dongzhuang said with a hint of schadenfreude.

House number nine was quite good and managed by Lin De. The Second Manager's words almost made Lin De spit blood. He didn't want to give up that house, but if Lin Dong joins the Wind and Thunder Martial Academy, that house is the most suitable!

"I have no objections," Lin De said through gritted teeth. He knew that even if he opposed it, the proposal would still pass, as the Second Manager and the Chief Manager of the manor would agree.

He thought he had a sure win, but now he had seriously offended the Chief Manager of Dongzhuang!

At the Lin Family residence, the head of the family, Lin Haoran, listened to the report from his subordinate.

"Lin Dong actually passed the first and second tests. He has been training every day since he was four, so his martial heart is surely firm. He will definitely join the Wind and Thunder Martial Academy... Lin Feng, you should go to Tianyang City again tomorrow. If he joins the Wind and Thunder Martial Academy, give him a hundred gold taels. If he joins and becomes an excellent disciple, give him five hundred gold taels!" Lin Haoran said.

Lin Feng was surprised. This was not a small amount. An ordinary family of three could live comfortably for a year with five gold taels, and a hundred gold taels was already a huge sum, let alone five hundred gold taels! (One gold tael has a purchasing power equivalent to about 10,000 RMB on Earth.)

"Head of the family, isn't this a bit too much?" Lin Feng said hesitantly.

Lin Haoran said calmly, "Too much? Not at all. A few hundred gold taels are nothing to the Lin Family. This is just an initial investment. If Lin Dong performs well, there will be more resources!"

"Head of the family, but Lin Dong is only joining the Refinement System... It's very difficult to become an expert in the Refinement System!"

Lin Haoran sighed inwardly. He also wished Lin Dong had joined the Elemental System, but fate had it that Lin Dong had no talent in any of the nine elements!

"Although it's difficult to become an expert, once you become one, you are generally the strongest among peers!" Lin Haoran said calmly, waving his hand. "Go now. Set off early tomorrow. You haven't been back to the Wind and Thunder Martial Academy for a long time, so I'll give you a month off to practice well!"

Time quickly passed to the next day. Many of those who performed poorly were eliminated yesterday, reducing the number of candidates from about 2,600 to 2,000. These 2,000 would be reduced by half in the third test!

Lin Kai came again, but Lin Sha did not appear. However, another young man from Dongzhuang who joined the Wind and Thunder Martial Academy was there.

"Young Master, Lin Dong has beaten both of us before. Now that he has shown greater strength and joined the Wind and Thunder Martial Academy, surpassing us, are you not upset?" Lin Kai whispered.

Lin Shaobai sneered, "He won't be arrogant for long. I have already contacted a senior from the Refinement System, a peak Fifth-Class Warrior. Once Lin Dong joins the Wind and Thunder Martial Academy, he will know the consequences!"

"Young Master is wise. The Refinement System encourages challenges as long as they are not too severe." Lin Kai smiled sinisterly. "If one challenge doesn't teach Lin Dong a lesson, he can have several more!"

Lin Shaobai glanced at Lin Kai and said, "Lin Kai, I didn't notice before, but Lin Sha is quite beautiful when she dresses up. Stay away from her; I have some interest in her."

Lin Kai was furious. Lin Sha was definitely a beauty in the making and would be a great beauty in a few years. He had also set his sights on her, but he couldn't compete with Lin Shaobai!

"Young Master, I have no interest in Lin Sha, but Lin Dong... he and Lin Sha are quite close," Lin Kai said, hiding the fact that Lin Sha didn't actually accompany Lin Dong that day.

Lin Shaobai sneered, "Lin Dong had better know his place, or I will make him suffer!"

On the Wind and Thunder Square, the 2,000 candidates had already gathered. At this moment, the head of the Refinement System, Peng Gang, appeared again.

"Ladies and gentlemen, as you all know, the Wind and Thunder Martial Academy's martial heart test is different each time." Peng Gang stood in the air, hands behind his back, and said calmly, "The pool on your right is a medicinal pool. This year's third test will take place in the medicinal pool. The longer you can stay in the pool, the higher your score will be!"

"The medicinal liquid in the pool can improve your body and heal any hidden injuries. It will be painful, but we will see how long you are willing to endure for your martial path!"

Lin Dong's eyes lit up. This year's test was like this! He had trained his body for ten years without using any spiritual medicines, always worrying about hidden injuries. Now, such a test would heal his hidden injuries if he could endure long enough, which was exactly what Lin Dong wanted!

"Those who can last a quarter of an hour can be included in the final score. Those who last less than a quarter of an hour, unless they have special admission qualifications, cannot join the Wind and Thunder Martial Academy even if their total score exceeds sixty points! Those who last two quarters of an hour are qualified, those who last half an hour are excellent, and those who last an hour or more get full marks!"

"Now, all enter the medicinal pool!"

The medicinal pool was large, square, with each side measuring fifty meters, easily accommodating 2,000 people.

Soon, all 2,000 candidates jumped into the pool. The dark water looked a bit scary, but once inside, a faint fragrance could be smelled.

"Comfortable."

"The water is warm; this is a real treat. Lasting two quarters of an hour should be no problem!"

"Idiot, if it were that easy, it wouldn't be a test!"

Many people in the pool spoke up, their bodies submerged in the water, heads above the surface.

After about half an incense stick's time, the medicinal power entered their bodies, and some people already felt something was wrong, with a tingling sensation appearing in their bodies!

Lin Dong also felt it, but he smiled. If it was effective, that was good. He hoped this test would heal all his hidden injuries, as having hidden injuries would affect his martial path!

The tingling sensation quickly intensified, and many candidates showed signs of discomfort. Some who had previously said it was comfortable now wished they could jump out of the pool immediately!

"Lin Dong, how long do you think he can last?" Lin Kai whispered. "If he gets an excellent score, his final evaluation might be excellent, and he will receive a lot of resources for joining the Wind and Thunder Martial Academy!"

"His score probably won't be too bad," Lin Shaobai said.

Although his relationship with Lin Dong wasn't good, Lin Shaobai admired Lin Dong's perseverance.

When he was five, Lin Shaobai was still playing with mud, but Lin Dong, at four, had already started training and had persisted for ten years, never missing a day of training except when it was absolutely impossible.

Now that this test could heal hidden injuries, Lin Shaobai knew Lin Dong would do his best to endure!

"His hidden injuries will likely be healed. Damn, he has good luck. The Refinement System is making such a big move this time. In the past, to heal hidden injuries, one had to use spiritual medicines!" Lin Kai said.

Lin Shaobai sneered, "Old injuries will be healed, but I will make sure he gets new ones!"

Time passed, and just after a quarter of an hour, some candidates screamed and climbed out of the pool. They wanted to join the Wind and Thunder Martial Academy, but the pain was too intense and only getting worse!

With the first to leave, many others quickly followed, screaming and leaving the pool, their faces pale from the pain.

"Brother Lin, are you not in pain?" Qin Yan asked, trembling. She was not far from Lin Dong and saw no sign of pain on his face.

"Still okay."

Lin Dong said calmly. The current level of pain was much less than the pain he endured while practicing the Nine Deaths Devil Technique, let alone the pain he experienced during his spatial travel.

Every time he thought about the pain of his soul being torn apart during the spatial travel, Lin Dong shuddered. It was a terrifying memory, and if possible, he didn't want to recall it again!