While Lin Shen and the other two were talking, in another private room in the clubhouse, another conversation was also going on.
"So what if he's first in the competition?"
Lü Zijun grunted heavily, and he didn't conceal the disdain on his face.
"It's just a competition between ordinary students. Only someone like Su Nian who came from a declining old family will participate.
"The real proof of strength is the exam next month!
"Only those who perform well in the exam are the true elites and geniuses!"
In the luxuriously decorated private room, more than 20 disciples of influential families were sitting around. All of them had obtained the qualifications to take the examination.
Yan Xing and Zhao Xueying were also among them.
Hearing Lü Zijun's words, most of the people seemed to agree with him.
They felt the so-called competition wasn't presentable, so they didn't register to participate.
Otherwise, those ordinary students wouldn't have stood a chance.
However, there were also people who objected.
"I agree with you, but that may not apply to all of them. Lin Shen and Su Nian both have extraordinary capabilities. After all, they've reached Mastery in Blazing Sun Palm. Not many of us have reached that level yet."
The disciples of influential families had sufficient cultivation resources to support them, and their cultivation levels generally far exceeded ordinary students.
However, for things like martial techniques, even with the guidance of a master teacher, it was very difficult to improve quickly without sufficient talent.
Of the 20 or so people here, no more than five of them had reached Mastery in Blazing Sun Palm, Yan Xing and Zhao Xueying included.
No one had reached Perfection.
"Those two are indeed talented."
Lü Zijun shrugged and snorted.
"But that's all.
"The exam tests a person's overall strength, including cultivation, the level and combination of martial techniques, and actual combat skills!
"Lin Shen and Su Nian are alright in their cultivation and martial technique levels, but they have nothing special in other aspects.
"That's especially the case with Lin Shen. He's not even from a declining old family, and the only martial technique he cultivates is the Blazing Sun Palm. He doesn't even have a movement technique. He's far inferior to us!
"As for actual combat techniques… They're also very ordinary!"
Lü Zijun wanted to criticize Lin Shen some more on the last point, but he immediately recalled the battle between Lin Shen and Su Nian earlier that day.
Strictly speaking, Lin Shen's combat skills weren't much inferior to theirs. Lü Zijun realized it would sound too deliberate if he belittled Lin Shen in that aspect, so he changed his choice of words to play it off.
However, many people nodded in agreement.
"Zijun is right. Although Lin Shen and Su Nian are worthy of our attention, we don't feel threatened."
"That's right. All of us have prepared for the examination for a long time. Why should we be afraid of a commoner and a member of the declining old families?"
"The ones who are truly worthy of our attention are the disciples of influential families from other schools. I've received news: many more of them are participating in the Nine Suns Academy's examination this year than in previous years!"
"I'm not worried. I can't wait to show my might in the entrance examination!"
"You're bragging. You're only at the sixth level of the Qi Transformation Stage. Do you think that's mighty enough for you to boast about? Young Master Yan Feng and Sister Ying will be the ones to demonstrate their mighty power!"
"That's right. Young Master Yan and Sister Ying are definitely the best among the participants!"
Hearing everyone's flattery, Yan Xing only smiled faintly and took a sip of tea.
He didn't take their argument to heart.
Or rather, he had never taken Lin Shen and Su Nian seriously this whole time.
They were only at the sixth level of the Qi Transformation Stage. It was not worth his attention.
If they hadn't reached Mastery in the Blazing Sun Palm, he wouldn't even be surprised.
As for the so-called genius commoners, he didn't think much of it at all.
In the path of cultivation, wealth, companions, techniques, and land were indispensable.
Without sufficient resources, one couldn't go far, no matter how talented they were.
The gap between commoners and disciples of influential families wasn't something that mere talent could make up for.
"However, Lin Shen is worth nurturing. I'll wait and see after the exam. If his performance is outstanding enough, I'll give him a chance to stay with me," Yan Xing thought to himself.
After entering the academy, he had to try to build his own team.
Someone like Lin Shen was still worth training and cozying up to.
At the very least, he was stronger than trash like Zhou Zhihai!
As he was thinking, he suddenly heard the sound of a chair being pushed away.
Zhao Xueying spoke after that.
"I'm full. See you."
Yan Xing came back to his senses. He immediately stood up and smiled warmly at Zhao Xueying.
"I'll give you a ride."
"No, thanks."
Zhao Xue Ying flatly refused.
"Also, don't invite me for such boring dinners in the future."
Yan Xing's smile froze. Before he could say anything, Zhao Xueying had already turned around and left without showing him any respect.
He watched Zhao Xueying walk out of the door, a grim look flickering in his eyes.
…
The dinner in the clubhouse lasted until past ten in the evening. Everybody enjoyed themselves.
Lin Shen got his wish and obtained a lot of information about the examination from Yang Zhongyi.
After dinner, he politely declined Yang Zhongyi's suggestion to stay and experience the service on the fourth floor. He left the clubhouse with Su Nian, who was also uninterested.
"I'll go to Calm Sun Martial Arts School when I find the time. We can exchange a few blows!"
Before they parted, Su Nian said to Lin Shen with bright eyes.
From his expression, Lin Shen knew Su Nan was still brooding over his defeat in the competition and wanted to get back at him.
"Alright, I'll be waiting."
An opponent could increase his combat experience. Lin Shen naturally wouldn't refuse.
When he returned home, Lin Shen immediately summoned Clone 2 and gave it an Origin Pill. Then, he meditated to test the effect of the pill.
After that, he summoned the interface.
[Clone 4]
[Condensation complete. Current progress: 100%]
After twenty days, the fourth clone was finally completed!
Lin Shen suppressed his joy. With a thought, a shadow instantly separated from his body and quickly condensed into a figure.
[Clone 4]
[Talent: Talented Alchemist]
[Stage: Qi Transformation Level 7, 48%]
[Current Cultivation: None]
"Talented Alchemist? What kind of talent is this?"
Lin Shen was very curious and immediately looked more closely.
[Talented Alchemist: Alchemy Success Rate +30%, Pill Quality Improvement Probability +50%]
"Alchemy-related talent…"
Lin Shen was slightly disappointed.
Alchemists had an extremely high status in Dragonside City and belonged to the upper class.
An official alchemist of the lowest level wouldn't be inferior to a cultivator master in terms of status.
But there was a problem. To become an alchemist, one had to at least be in the Bright Aperture Stage. They also had to have huge financial support. Lin Shen couldn't satisfy either of those conditions.
To say the least, even if he could meet the conditions, he didn't want to become an alchemist.
He wanted to become a cultivator master, who had the power of his own.
Of course, even if he couldn't specialize in alchemy, he could still work on it as a part-time task.
When he had the time in the future, Lin Shen didn't mind learning alchemy.
However, at this stage, alchemy-related talent was useless to him.
Fortunately, Lin Shen didn't expect to get an outstanding talent in one go. He quickly calmed down his disappointment and let Clone 4 commit suicide. He would wait for the talent to refresh tomorrow.
An hour later, Clone 2 finished absorbing the medicinal power of the Origin Pill, and its cultivation progress increased by 3%.
"Good. The effect is much better than the Essence Tempering Pill and Condensing Liquid!"
Joy flashed across Lin Shen's eyes.
A bottle of twelve Origin Pills could increase his cultivation progress by a total of 36%.
Together with a liter of Condensing Liquid, it was enough for him to break through to Level 8 of the Qi Transformation Level Stage!