"Do you know the rules of the Green Talent List? Based on the current situation, I’m afraid you won’t even make it past the first round before you’re eliminated," Elder Bai said.

The Green Talent List has two rounds in total. Only those who pass the first round have a chance of being noticed by the major powers. However, the first round of the Green Talent List eliminates at least eighty percent of the young talents each time.

"Lin Yun, with Gong Qi and Master Wu in Yanhuang Country right now, your parents’ safety is guaranteed. The most critical part is you. As long as you aren’t captured by the Royal Family, there’s still hope," Elder Bai continued.

"I can send you away from Celestial Eagle Valley right now. You’re still young, Lin Yun. In ten or twenty years, once you’re powerful enough, you can return to Yanhuang Country, and even the Royal Family won’t dare to touch you."

Hearing Elder Bai’s suggestion, Lin Yun refused without a second thought. "No. I can’t wait that long. My parents, my teacher, my friends—they’re all in the hands of the Royal Family. Am I supposed to let them be imprisoned for twenty years?"

"It’s the best option right now. Your chances of success in the Green Talent List are minuscule, practically zero. You have to realize, the Crown Prince has surely gone to the Wind Forest Sect by now. When the time comes, you’ll be facing a siege from countless geniuses. Have you thought about that?"

"If you fail your challenge on the Green Talent List, you won’t even have a chance to escape."

"Lin Yun, a great man knows when to yield and when to stand firm. Once you are powerful enough, you’ll be able to protect your family and friends. You can’t be reckless."

Elder Bai pleaded earnestly, but Lin Yun hadn’t even considered waiting ten or twenty years. It was too long. Never mind the risk of unforeseen changes; the very idea of his parents being imprisoned by the Royal Family for two decades was something Lin Yun could never accept.

His body was a gift from his parents, and Lin Yun couldn’t bear to see them suffer even the slightest hardship—not even for a minute.

Looking at Elder Bai, his gaze resolute, Lin Yun said, "Elder Bai, I know you’re looking out for me, but I absolutely cannot give up on the Green Talent List. Even if dozens of geniuses besiege me, I will carve a bloody path out."

As he spoke, Lin Yun exuded confidence. It was a belief in himself.

Staring at Lin Yun for a moment, Elder Bai finally shook his head. "I’m getting old. Truly getting old. Since you’ve made up your mind, then go for it."

As he spoke, Elder Bai took out a Space Ring. "Zhong Lin asked me to give you this. That old fellow put his entire life’s savings in here. I’m sure you’ll find plenty of useful things inside. Take it."

It was a simple Space Ring, but in Lin Yun’s hands, it felt like a Supreme Treasure. It was from Zhong Lin. Knowing full well that Lin Yun’s identity would implicate him, Zhong Lin had not only chosen not to protect himself but had instead left all of his resources for him.

’Teacher...’ Lin Yun thought, carefully tucking Zhong Lin’s Space Ring away.

"Alright, the Green Talent List starts in a week. During this time, you must try to improve further. Your Cultivation is still too low," Elder Bai said, having finished his instructions.

Hearing this, Lin Yun gave Elder Bai a respectful bow before leaving and returning to his own room.

Inside his room, Lin Yun composed himself. ’It’s all my fault for not being strong enough.’

Taking out Zhong Lin’s Space Ring, Lin Yun extended his Soul Thought inside. He found many Elixirs and Primordial Stones, as well as quite a few Spirit Soldiers. But the first thing he noticed wasn’t any of those—it was a letter.

He looked at the letter in his hand. It was very brief. Zhong Lin must have written it before he knew the Royal Family was going to act against him.

After reading the letter, the resolve in Lin Yun’s eyes hardened. In it, Zhong Lin urged him not to return to Yanhuang Country until he was absolutely certain of his own strength. He had also specially prepared a Primordial Spirit Pill for Lin Yun.

As an Earth Level Six-Stars Elixir, the Primordial Spirit Pill was extremely expensive. At an auction, a single one would cost at least tens of thousands of Middle Grade Primordial Stones.

And the effect of the Primordial Spirit Pill was nothing short of heaven-defying: it could enable a Martial Artist at the Ninth Layer of the Qi Sea Realm to break through to the Primordial Ocean Realm.

Zhong Lin had essentially handed over all his wealth to Lin Yun, placing all his hopes on him as well. As long as Lin Yun could grow strong, Zhong Lin didn’t care what happened to himself.

"Teacher, I will make the Royal Family regret what they’ve done today," Lin Yun muttered to himself, his eyes filled with determination.

For the next few days, Lin Yun began to train frantically. He was currently at the Sixth Level of the Qi Sea Realm, and he wanted to break through to the Seventh Layer of the Qi Sea Realm by the time the Green Talent List began.

One should not underestimate the difference of a single layer. The gap between the Sixth and Seventh Layers marked the boundary between the Mid-Stage and Late-Stage of the Qi Sea Realm.

Seated cross-legged on his bed, Lin Yun held a Primordial Stone in one hand. He had already swallowed a Three-Stars Qi Essence Pill and was beginning to refine it.

With this two-pronged approach, Lin Yun’s Cultivation Realm improved steadily. Five days passed, and his Cultivation had completely reached the Peak of the Sixth Level of the Qi Sea Realm.

Now was the time to attempt a breakthrough to the Seventh Layer of the Qi Sea Realm. Holding his breath and focusing his mind, Lin Yun began to assault the barrier to the Seventh Layer.

Having taken the Three-Stars Qi Essence Pill, Lin Yun began rapidly refining Low Grade Primordial Stones as if they were free.

Because Lin Yun’s Elemental Power was ten times that of an ordinary Martial Artist, his breakthroughs required far more resources. In just a single hour, he had already refined over a thousand Low Grade Primordial Stones. Eventually, he couldn’t be bothered to refine them one by one and simply began shattering them a thousand at a time.

The Elemental Power in the room became incredibly dense, and Lin Yun’s body, like a bottomless pit, furiously absorbed it. Fortunately, the Space Ring from Zhong Lin contained many Primordial Stones, and Lin Yun himself had over a million Low Grade Primordial Stones. He wasn’t at all concerned about consuming this many.

However, the moment the barrier to the Seventh Layer of the Qi Sea Realm shattered, Lin Yun could only smile wryly.

The Elemental Power from over a thousand Primordial Stones vanished without a trace, barely making a ripple.

"Must it be this intense?" Lin Yun sighed helplessly. Then he decided not to worry about it. After all, he had plenty of Primordial Stones on him now—several million Low Grade Primordial Stones.

He shattered and absorbed the Low Grade Primordial Stones ten thousand at a time. Only after consuming a grand total of two hundred thousand Low Grade Primordial Stones did his Cultivation at the Seventh Layer of the Qi Sea Realm slowly stabilize.

He had successfully broken through to the Seventh Layer of the Qi Sea Realm. Although it had cost him two hundred thousand Low Grade Primordial Stones, it was still within an acceptable range for him. After all, what could he do when his Qi Sea was so immense?

’Seventh Layer of the Qi Sea Realm.’ he thought with a sigh. But the pressure on him hadn’t lessened in the slightest.

The Green Talent List was about to start. He knew without a doubt that the people from the Wind Forest Sect and Yanhuang Academy wouldn’t let him off the hook. Furthermore, the three prodigies of the Wind Forest Sect were all at the Primordial Ocean Realm. Lin Yun refused to believe the Crown Prince hadn’t also reached the Primordial Ocean Realm.

He would have to face several Primordial Ocean Realm experts alone, all of whom were geniuses in their own right. To anyone else, it would be a suicide mission with not even a sliver of a chance for survival.

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