Chapter 343: Chapter 339: Alternative Assessment

By the time Lin Hao and the other two appeared at the gates of Your Highness’ Mansion, the restrictive wards had already been lifted. A continuous rumbling echoed from the area they had just left.

That entire area was collapsing.

"Miss, just now Miss Lin came out and said the Eighth Prince has fallen. Is this true?" Seeing them appear, the carriage driver hurried forward to ask.

The death of a Prince was no small matter.

He had sensed something was wrong with the aura of Your Highness’ Mansion and had wanted to go inside. But even with his Soul Gathering Realm cultivation, he still couldn’t break through the restrictive wards.

In fact, it wasn’t just him. The other carriage drivers had tried to force their way in together, but to no avail.

It wasn’t until someone came out of Your Highness’ Mansion and told them it was all to deal with Lin Hao that they finally gave up.

Later, an exceptionally brilliant youth from the Lin family arrived. To everyone’s shock, when the person who had come out of the mansion tried to take the youth inside, they found they could no longer get back in.

After waiting a long time, they heard the rumbling and felt Your Highness’ Mansion itself begin to collapse. Just as they were about to charge in, Lin Xinran appeared.

Hearing the news Lin Xinran brought, everyone was stunned. They then quickly rushed off toward their respective great families.

Seeing the look on Wenren Yuxin’s face, the man knew it was true and repeatedly urged her to leave.

It wasn’t just the Eighth Prince who died inside, but also disciples from the great families. If this wasn’t handled properly, it could change the very power structure of the Imperial City.

Wenren Yuxin nodded but looked toward Lin Hao.

"Miss..." the driver began, afraid that Wenren Yuxin would once again invite Lin Hao to go with them.

Lin Hao was a walking disaster. One wrong move and he could bring ruin upon the Wenren family.

"No need for goodbyes. You should go first." How could Lin Hao not understand? He said with a smile.

"Take care." In the end, Wenren Yuxin sighed softly, bid her farewell, and departed.

She had the Wenren family behind her; she couldn’t be as unrestrained as Lin Hao.

"You should get going too," Lin Hao said to Chen Qian, seeing her leave.

"Right!" Chen Qian said only a single word, then left.

The Blood Transformation and Bone Refining Skill had appeared. He had to hurry back and tell Chen Yan.

As for Lin Hao, his figure flickered, and he sped off in the direction of the Saint Institute.

He had to set out for Jumo City first thing in the morning, and Duan Mushuang had left him with a difficult problem.

Earlier, Duan Mushuang had delivered an order from the Saint Institute, telling Lin Hao to lead the new disciples to Jumo City at dawn tomorrow.

The new disciples had endured countless hardships to enter the Saint Institute, only to be made nominal disciples. Not only were they denied access to the library, but they were now being sent to the front lines. It was highly unlikely that a single one of them would be willing to go.

This was a huge problem.

Perhaps the news had already spread throughout the Saint Institute, and countless people were waiting to watch him make a fool of himself.

If Lin Hao couldn’t take a single person with him tomorrow morning, aside from his own followers, he would become a laughingstock.

In fact, Lin Hao’s guess was spot on.

Even though it was late at night, no one in the Saint Institute was asleep. Everyone was talking about this matter.

"Lin Hao hasn’t shown up yet. You guys think he chickened out?"

"Probably. You guys don’t know, but I just went out to check. Those new disciples are all gathered together, and they’re furious. Forget Lin Hao, I doubt they’d listen even if a Saint Master showed up."

"It’s understandable. Only a fool would go."

"Well, actually, there are a couple of fools like that. Doesn’t Lin Hao have two followers? Under their encouragement, two others were actually willing to go."

"Hmph! During the trial, those two were in the fourth area, and they were the last ones out. They’re probably Lin Hao’s people too, so they don’t count."

"Hahaha, looks like only four people will be following Lin Hao tomorrow morning. He’s going to be a laughingstock."

"Not only that, this order is also a test. If he can’t complete it, Lin Hao might even be expelled from the Saint Institute."

"..."

All sorts of voices mingled, every one of them gloating over his misfortune. No one had any faith in Lin Hao.

Meanwhile, in a courtyard within the Saint Institute, all the new disciples were gathered. Aside from four people, every one of them looked exceptionally angry and agitated.

"Ling Xiao, we all know you and Yang Peng are Lin Hao’s men, so stop talking. If you want to go die, go by yourselves. Don’t drag us down with you." One disciple stared at Ling Xiao, his tone hostile and leaving no room for discussion.

"That’s right! We’re absolutely not going to our deaths!" the others chimed in, in unison.

They were so confident because the Saint Institute had told them they wouldn’t be forced. If they wanted to gain experience, they could use the Saint Institute’s training rooms.

Although the Saint Institute’s library wouldn’t be open to them, they could still use the training rooms.

The Saint Institute’s training rooms were quite unique. They could simulate all sorts of battles without any risk to one’s life.

Both were ways to gain experience. It didn’t take a genius to know which one to choose.

Ling Xiao felt a headache coming on. He had been trying to persuade them for one or two hours, but not only was it ineffective, it was making them even more resistant.

Ling Xiao looked at Yang Peng, a question in his eyes.

Yang Peng understood. Ling Xiao wanted to use him as an example, to sell them a pipe dream.

Although he knew Ling Xiao would be discreet and understood what could and couldn’t be said, Yang Peng still shook his head.

In his heart, everything he had belonged to Lin Hao; only Lin Hao could make that decision.

Ling Xiao sighed and looked outside.

At this point, he was powerless. He could only wait for Lin Hao to return.

Lin Hao had been gone for so long. Logically, he should have been back by now.

Just then, someone came running from a distance.

Ling Xiao’s eyes lit up, only to dim a moment later.

The newcomer wasn’t Lin Hao.

"I just got news! An evil art called the Blood Transformation and Bone Refining Skill appeared at Your Highness’ Mansion. This evil art absorbs a Martial Artist’s essence, qi, and spirit, turning them into a dried-up corpse! Even the freshly dead are no exception. After absorbing the essence, qi, and spirit, the user becomes an indestructible giant. The Eighth Prince, Hu Rui from the upper house, and many other senior brothers have fallen. Your Highness’ Mansion is in ruins. And this evil art comes from the Mo Yun Kingdom."

The person ran straight over and blurted out this long speech.

The crowd exchanged glances, and a commotion broke out.

Ling Xiao and Yang Peng’s expressions changed drastically.

The new disciples were already unwilling to go. After hearing about such an evil skill, it was even less likely they would agree. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

What was worse, the two people they had managed to persuade were now backing out.

"Damn it!" Ling Xiao cursed and went to grab the person who had come to spread these malicious rumors.

However, when he made his move, the person was as slippery as an eel. He evaded Ling Xiao’s grasp and drifted away gracefully.

"Let’s get out of here too. With an evil art like that in the Mo Yun Kingdom, if we agree to go, it’ll be a one-way trip." The two who had initially been persuaded by Ling Xiao were now whispering to each other.

"Senior brother is absolutely right," the other replied, and they both distanced themselves from Ling Xiao and Yang Peng.

The two of them were at their wits’ end.

Just then, someone else appeared.

Ling Xiao and Yang Peng looked over, their eyes lighting up in unison.

The person who appeared this time was Lin Hao!

In their hearts, there was nothing Lin Hao couldn’t do.