Chapter 305: Chapter 301: Saint Institute Trial

Two great families, plus the imperial royal family, had joined forces to kill Lin Hao during the Saint Institute’s trial.

This news did not surprise Lin Hao in the slightest.

After hearing Wenren Feiming’s words, Lin Hao’s expression remained unchanged; he simply nodded.

A strange light flashed in Wenren Feiming’s eyes.

Lin Hao’s calm demeanor startled him.

’The strength of Lin Zhan and Lin Jue is already terrifying. Add to that the ones who haven’t shown themselves yet... just the power of the Lin family alone is frightening to think about.’

’And with the Hu family and the royal family members, what a terrifying force that would be!’

’What’s more, the trial grounds are filled with all sorts of vicious beasts.’

Just the thought of it sent a chill down Wenren Feiming’s spine.

Lin Hao was all alone. Once he entered the trial grounds, it was an almost certain-death scenario.

"Big Bro, before you enter the trial grounds, you should probably find that ’ice cube.’" As they got closer to the Yujin Saint Institute, Wenren Feiming whispered to Lin Hao, giving him a meaningful look.

Lin Hao followed his gaze and knew at once who Wenren Feiming was talking about.

Among the five people standing before the Saint Institute’s main gate, the one on the very end was like a sharpened sword, exuding a frigid aura from head to toe.

Needless to say, this was the "ice cube" Wenren Feiming had mentioned.

"He’s from the Chen family. The Vice Dean knows you’re entering the trial grounds, so he’s surely made arrangements. My cousin is too high-profile, so the ’ice cube’ is the best candidate," Wenren Feiming added.

Seeing Lin Hao’s somewhat puzzled expression, Wenren Feiming seemed to have a sudden realization and clarified, "The Vice Dean’s surname is Duan, and his given name is Wushuang."

Lin Hao finally understood what was going on. However, he didn’t answer directly, instead asking, "Where are the Saint Institute’s trial grounds?"

"Behind the Saint Institute," Wenren Feiming replied.

Lin Hao looked up and noticed something strange.

Just a moment ago, looking from below, the Royal Palace was right behind the Yujin Saint Institute, and the two seemed very close.

But now, having walked up to it, there seemed to be a great distance between the Yujin Saint Institute and the Royal Palace.

At that moment, four old men suddenly appeared atop the Yujin Saint Institute’s imposing walls.

These elders leaped down, striking the wall several times as they descended.

Then, the wall, which had been a single, solid structure, began to groan and rumble.

Before long, four great gates appeared.

"These four gates divide the Saint Institute’s Trial Forest into four major zones. Inside, there are countless Tokens scattered by the Saint Institute. Those who can collect twenty Tokens before sunset may enter the Saint Institute; all others will be eliminated. Note: working in groups is forbidden. Additionally, vicious beasts are everywhere. Do not overestimate your abilities."

After one of the elders announced the assessment rules, the other three declared in unison: "The assessment begins."

In an instant, countless disciples swarmed toward the four gates.

With a time limit, the faster one entered, the greater the advantage.

There were simply too many people. Some managed to get in, while those who were slower got stuck at the back.

Immediately, a great battle broke out.

While they fought for the chance to enter first, some people hadn’t moved a single step.

This group included Lin Hao, Lin Jue, Lin Zhan...

Besides them, several others also remained motionless.

And their gazes were completely unconcealed, fixed squarely on Lin Hao.

It was obvious that whichever gate Lin Hao entered, they would follow.

These people had only one purpose for entering the Trial Forest—to kill Lin Hao!

"Young Master Lin, you can’t participate in this trial." Wenren Yuxin’s urgent voice suddenly sounded in Lin Hao’s ear.

"Why not?" Lin Hao transmitted his voice back in the same way.

"If you go in, you won’t come out. Their cultivation levels are too high! There are three at the Eighth Layer of Elemental Realm, and the rest are at the Seventh Layer of Elemental Control Realm. What’s more, the weakest among them possesses an Element Body! There’s also one person at the Eighth Layer of Elemental Realm whose physique is comparable to Lin Jue’s." Wenren Yuxin’s voice was anything but calm. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Although she had only met Lin Hao once, and he had been concealing his identity at the time, Wenren Yuxin knew a great deal about him.

One could say she knew all of Lin Hao’s deeds like the back of her hand.

Even though she knew Lin Hao was strong, against such a force, forget the current Lin Hao—even she, with her Peak of Elemental Realm cultivation, wouldn’t stand a chance.

One had to know that her physique surpassed the War Body; it was one of the twenty-four King Bodies!

Special physiques were divided into Spirit Body, Element Body, War Body, King Body, Emperor Body, Divine Body, and Overlord Body.

They corresponded to the seven different colors of one’s natal essence blood.

In ancient times, bloodlines and physiques vied for supremacy. Among the special physiques, beyond the War Body, there were the twenty-four King Bodies and the twelve Emperor Bodies.

According to legend, the physique of the last Great Emperor, Emperor Hongtian, was one of the twenty-four King Bodies.

In that era, not only did all twenty-four King Bodies emerge, but the twelve Emperor Bodies also appeared to shake the world.

In the end, Emperor Hongtian defied the heavens and cut down the dao, defeating the twelve Emperor Bodies to achieve the station of Emperor Venerable.

And legends said that in a more distant epoch, the Primeval Era, several Divine Bodies had appeared after the twelve Emperor Bodies.

As for the Overlord Body, one would have to trace it back to an even more remote age.

It was precisely because Wenren Yuxin’s physique was a once-in-ten-thousand-years rarity that she was able to overcome all objections and have the Wenren family choose to oppose the Lin family over a single sentence from Lin Hao.

A King Body from the set of twenty-four, not seen for ten thousand years—one could only imagine how formidable it was.

Even so, Wenren Yuxin couldn’t guarantee she could escape unscathed, so for Lin Hao to go in was absolute suicide.

That was why she had warned Lin Hao.

"Thank you for the warning, but I have to go in," Lin Hao transmitted back.

"I know you possess an unusual fire, but the Saint Institute’s Trial Forest has restrictions that prevent it from being used. Taking a huge step back, even if you have an incredibly fast Body Technique and can escape, you still won’t be able to collect twenty Tokens," Wenren Yuxin continued her analysis.

Her strategic mind was exceptional, and no matter how she calculated it, Lin Hao was doomed to fail.

If he entered the Trial Forest, even if he could escape, he would have no future with the Yujin Saint Institute if he couldn’t gather enough Tokens.

"Don’t enter the Trial Forest. Just say you already have a Token and gave it to the Vice Dean," Wenren Yuxin schemed on Lin Hao’s behalf.

Lin Hao was silent for a moment before saying, "Miss Wenren, thank you. But clashing with these geniuses is something I’ve long yearned for."

After speaking, Lin Hao strode toward one of the gates.

At that moment, two young men were locked in a great battle before that gate.

Their cultivation was powerful, and they had forced everyone else far away.

"Idiot!" Wenren Yuxin cursed under her breath as she stared at Lin Hao’s back.

"Yuxin, I heard you once visited Red Beauty City and War Dragon City. You must have seen him, then," Lin Xinran, who was standing beside Wenren Yuxin, suddenly said.

After Wenren Yuxin returned to the capital from War Dragon City, the Taobao Holy Hall suddenly had all sorts of long-lost medicinal pills, and then, because of those pills, they broke ties with the Lin family.

Later, various signs indicated that this might be related to Lin Hao.

Lin Xinran had been watching her the whole time. Although Wenren Yuxin and Lin Hao had been conversing secretly via voice transmission, their expressions had made certain things crystal clear.

Hearing Lin Xinran’s words, Wenren Yuxin was startled. Just as she was about to speak, Lin Xinran smiled faintly and said, "Yuxin, don’t be so quick to deny it. I actually think you two are quite a good match."

Wenren Yuxin froze, then a look of indignation rose on her pretty face.

She and Lin Hao had only met once... no, that was wrong, it couldn’t even be called a proper meeting. And here Lin Xinran was, playing matchmaker.

Just then, the young man in the python-patterned robe at the very center of the group of five suddenly looked at Lin Hao’s back, a trace of killing intent flashing in his eyes.

Wenren Yuxin didn’t see this flicker of killing intent, but it didn’t escape Lin Xinran’s notice. A smile flashed in her beautiful eyes and was gone.

As the young miss of the Lin family, Lin Xinran knew the grudge between Lin Wu and Lin Hao like the back of her hand. She had even played a part in Lin Wu’s coercion of Lu Dieyi.

It could be said that Lin Xinran was one of the people in the Lin family who most wanted Lin Hao dead.

’His bloodline was stolen, a restriction was planted in him, yet not only did Lin Hao survive, he’s even grown to this level. Just now, a single glance from him made my heart pound with fear.’

She had only ever felt this kind of sensation from Lin Wu, and it sent a chill through Lin Xinran’s entire body.

Furthermore, Lin Xinran also caught the wicked glint in Lin Hao’s eyes. As a woman, she seemed to know what Lin Hao wanted to do.

The thought of that outcome made Lin Xinran feel as if she had been plunged into an icy cavern.

Waiting for death was not Lin Xinran’s style. Having been born into a great family where scheming and backstabbing were commonplace, her mind was incredibly mature.

In just an instant, she had found her opening.

’It seems to be working.’

"It’s still early. I have a cultivation problem I need to resolve, so I’ll be leaving for a bit. My apologies for the trouble," the young man in the python-patterned robe suddenly said with a smile.

"It’s no trouble at all. Please, go about your business, Your Highness," Lin Xinran said with a smile.

’It seems it’s not just working, it’s working very well.’

As the young Prince strode away, Lin Hao had already reached the gate.

Strange to say, the several Martial Artists who had been fighting fiercely all stopped when they saw Lin Hao appear, clearing a path for him.

After Lin Hao disappeared through the entrance, they scrambled to surge inside once more.

Before long, the gate was congested again, and the battle erupted anew.

Meanwhile, when Lin Jue and the others saw Lin Hao heading for the gate, they didn’t move, their faces filled with mocking smiles.

In their minds, for Lin Hao to enter that gate, he would surely have to fight.

Then, Lin Hao would be mobbed and attacked by everyone.

This was something they were happy to see.

But the result was far beyond their expectations.

When those Martial Artists stopped fighting, they were all dumbfounded.

And by the time they came to their senses, Lin Hao’s figure had long since vanished.

Now they were in trouble.

The expressions on Lin Jue and the others changed, and they charged toward the gate where Lin Hao had disappeared.

However, the fierce battle there was still raging; it didn’t stop just because a few more people joined in.

"Get out of the way!" Lin Jue roared, attacking relentlessly.

He was originally a Token holder and could have skipped the trial to enter the Saint Institute’s Genius Tower directly. Now that he was attacking in a rage, naturally, no one was his match.

Several Martial Artists were tossed aside like trash.

"Get him!" Someone shouted—no one knew who—and the Martial Artists who had been fighting among themselves all shifted their target and surrounded Lin Jue.

As the saying goes, two fists are no match for four hands. Before long, Lin Jue had already been hit by countless punches.

Fortunately, the others who shared his goal appeared, and several of them attacked together, carving a bloody path forward.

But by this time, Lin Hao was long gone.