Chapter 91

In the martial arts training room, there were nine copper-skinned puppets, each corresponding to the power standards of the nine levels of the True Martial Realm.

It is worth noting that the copper-skinned puppets are different from the spirit testing stones. The spirit testing stones measure the thickness of a cultivator's spiritual energy, while the copper-skinned puppets are used to test a cultivator's martial arts strength.

This is easy to understand; possessing spiritual energy cultivation does not necessarily mean one can exert a matching combat power.

The exertion of combat power is closely related to the martial arts cultivation techniques and the martial arts realm of the cultivator.

After all, combat is combat; cultivation merely provides a source of power for combat. To exert this power, one must rely on martial arts techniques as an auxiliary.

Lin Xun walked up to a copper-skinned puppet marked with the sixth level of the True Martial Realm, "Burning Blood," and lightly tapped the heart area on the puppet's chest.

A hum sounded, and the copper-skinned puppet's eyes glowed red, as if it had awakened from a deep sleep. Every part of its body shimmered with a bright luster.

Lin Xun took a deep breath, and his muscles instantly tightened like steel wires, his physical strength surging like a coiling dragon, roaring through his spine and throughout his body.

At this moment, even Lin Xun's breathing carried a fierce and powerful momentum!

Boom!

His right arm shot out like lightning, gripping the copper-skinned puppet's wrist. The accumulated strength surged out like a flood, generating a terrifying shock force!

This was a move from the "Bone Separation Technique," which could instantly dislocate an opponent's joints, scatter their strength, and render them completely unable to fight. In severe cases, it could even shatter their internal organs and kill them with a single strike!

Boom!

A loud explosion echoed, and the copper-skinned puppet, which could withstand a full-strength attack from a sixth-level True Martial Realm cultivator, burst into pieces like paper, scattering parts everywhere. Only one arm remained in Lin Xun's grip.

Seeing this, Lin Xun was stunned. Was it really that easy to destroy?

Originally, Lin Xun had a rough estimate that his current physical strength should be sufficient to contend with a sixth-level True Martial Realm cultivator.

After all, he had been entering the "Heavenly Secret Realm" every three days to challenge it. Although each challenge ended in failure, it greatly refined and enhanced his physical strength.

Even Xia Zhi had once said that Lin Xun's progress in physical cultivation was definitely faster than his spiritual energy cultivation.

However, Lin Xun still did not expect that he could shatter a copper-skinned puppet representing the sixth-level True Martial Realm's strength standard with just one strike!

Of course, this was a test of martial arts power, but even so, the physical strength Lin Xun exerted with the assistance of the Bone Separation Technique exceeded his own expectations.

After some thought, Lin Xun approached another copper-skinned puppet, this one representing the seventh level of the True Martial Realm.

This time, Lin Xun changed his strategy, delivering a simple punch using the most direct force technique.

Boom!

The copper-skinned puppet was sent flying, and its chest caved in, leaving a prominent fist mark.

At the same time, a chime sounded from the copper-skinned puppet: "Congratulations, guest! Your martial arts strength can now threaten a seventh-level True Martial Realm cultivator!"

Lin Xun looked at his fist, pondered for a long time, and then turned to leave the training room.

However, when Lin Xun left, he had to pay a high price of one hundred silver coins to compensate for the destroyed copper-skinned puppet.

Although Lin Xun's financial situation had improved, one hundred silver coins was still a significant expense, making him inwardly curse. If he had known, he would have directly tested the seventh-level True Martial Realm puppet.

In any case, he was pleased to discover that his physical strength could now threaten a seventh-level True Martial Realm cultivator.

Of course, this was just a test of martial arts strength. In real combat, the situation is ever-changing, and factors such as a cultivator's combat experience, the quality of their equipment, and the power of their cultivation techniques all play crucial roles.

"I now possess 4,900 units of spiritual energy, which is on par with a peak eighth-level True Martial Realm cultivator. My physical strength can threaten a seventh-level True Martial Realm cultivator. If I continue to practice diligently, when I advance to the Spirit Gale Realm, it might bring unexpected benefits..."

After leaving the Donglin Martial Arts Hall, Lin Xun thought about his strength while heading home.

Tomorrow was the county examination, and he had no interest in wandering around.

However, when he arrived at No. 49 courtyard, he immediately heard a series of curses coming from his yard.

"Damn it! I am the young master of the Xue Family Martial Arts Hall in Donglin City. How dare you treat me like this? You are truly asking for death!"

"Let us go!"

"You will regret this! No one in Donglin City can save you!"

Lin Xun raised an eyebrow and pushed the door open. He immediately saw that over a dozen well-dressed young men were tied up and lying on the ground, their faces bruised and their hair disheveled, looking quite pitiful.

In the center of the courtyard, Xia Zhi sat quietly, reading a book as if she hadn't heard the curses at all.

Beside Xia Zhi stood Diao Fatso and Magan, both looking rather dejected and dispirited.

"What happened?" Lin Xun frowned.

"Tell him, I'm a bit tired and going to sleep." Xia Zhi closed her book, gave Diao Fatso and Magan a command, and then turned to walk into the room.

Lin Xun glanced at Diao Fatso, who immediately stepped forward, his face full of worry, and narrated the entire story.

It turned out that shortly after Lin Xun left home in the morning, these dozen young men came to his door, claiming to be from Donglin Academy. They had heard that Lin Xun had considerable combat skills and demanded to spar with him to determine who was stronger.

Xia Zhi initially ignored them, but they persisted and began to insult her, which enraged her. She then took action and subdued all of them.

If not for Diao Fatso and Magan arriving in time, Xia Zhi might have killed these dozen Donglin Academy students.

Upon learning this, Lin Xun's eyes narrowed. The county examination was tomorrow, and these dozen Donglin Academy students had come to his home to challenge him. This seemed suspicious.

Was it a conspiracy?

Lin Xun thought of Lian Fei, who was hiding in Donglin Academy. He was almost certain that even if this wasn't Lian Fei's idea, it was definitely related to him!

"You are Lin Xun? Quickly release us! Otherwise, the consequences will be more than you, a country bumpkin, can bear!"

"Untie us now!"

Seeing Lin Xun return, the dozen Donglin Academy students did not stop their curses but became even more arrogant, spewing all sorts of insults, seemingly unafraid that Lin Xun would harm them.

A cold glint flashed in Lin Xun's eyes, but a smile appeared on his lips as he walked over.

"Boss, calm down!"

Diao Fatso hurriedly stepped forward, whispering anxiously, "We have already gathered information. These guys may look like ordinary Donglin Academy students, but they come from powerful families in Donglin City. You can't kill them, or the consequences will be endless."

"Ah."

Lin Xun fell silent.

Seeing this, the dozen bruised and well-dressed young men became even more brazen and smug.

"What? Are you afraid? I bet you won't dare do anything to us!"

"Hmph! Blind fool, what are you waiting for? Untie me now!"

These young men were all very young, the youngest being around eleven or twelve, and the oldest not exceeding fifteen. They were all arrogant and clearly had never experienced any setbacks, which was why they could be so brazen.

Lin Xun no longer remained silent. He walked up and squatted in front of one of the young men, smiling and asked, "Who sent you here?"

"Ha! Who in Donglin City can command me? Stop talking nonsense, and release us now, or you'll regret it!"

The young man lifted his head, like a proud rooster, but his face was swollen like a pig's head, and his eyes were bruised, making him look quite ridiculous.

Slap!

Lin Xun slapped him, and the young man let out a scream, his head tilting to the side as he fainted.

This scene shocked the other young men, who had not expected Lin Xun to actually harm them at this point.

Was he not afraid of their revenge?

"Boss, this... this..." Diao Fatso and Magan were also stunned.

"This guy was spewing filth and cursing. He's too uncivilized." Lin Xun shook his head, as if nothing had happened.

Then he smiled and looked at another young man, saying, "You tell me, who sent you here?"

The young man, clearly frightened by Lin Xun's actions, said in a fearful tone, "We... we really came on our own, I swear we're not lying!"

Lin Xun frowned and looked at the other young men, seeing that their expressions matched. He realized that these young men, who had never experienced setbacks, were unlikely to lie.

This was evident from their unguarded expressions, which revealed their true feelings.

Lin Xun stood up, thought for a moment, and then called Diao Fatso and Magan to the side, whispering, "Get some people to tie these guys up and take them to the front of Donglin Academy."

Diao Fatso gasped, exclaiming, "Absolutely not! If this gets out of hand, the consequences will be unimaginable!"

Lin Xun's face was calm and smiling, and he said, "It has to get out of hand. Otherwise, even if we release them now, there will be endless trouble."

He stroked his chin thoughtfully and added, "When the time comes, I will need you to help me put on a show. If this doesn't become known throughout the city, no one will be able to live in peace."

Seeing Lin Xun's serious expression, Diao Fatso and Magan finally realized that their boss was not joking!

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ps: Thank you, Bing Ling, for your support and encouragement! I will try to complete the update by 11:30 PM.