Chapter 55 Counterattack: Revitalizing the Cultivation World (55% complete)
Wang Yikun stared intently at the eye-catching headlines projected on the communication stone. Without even clicking on them, he knew it was yet another post exposing his past.
He wanted to guide the candidates to discuss Jiang Yun to influence their mindset, but the other party turned the tables on him, and now it was he who was unsettled.
He slammed his palm down on the wooden table, then curled up his hand, his face turning blue with pain.
Even a broken wooden table is going against him!
His anger clouded his judgment, causing him to forget that he was currently in the first level of the Tianyan Academy. Nothing on the island was of ordinary quality; even the furnishings in the rooms where tens of thousands of people lived were high-quality spiritual artifacts.
He's really hit a brick wall.
Wang Yikun clenched his fists in anger, feeling the subtle gazes sweeping over him from all sides, his face growing even darker.
He knew these people must have also seen the posts on the university's intranet.
The post doesn't explicitly name the person in question, but anyone living nearby can immediately identify them by the pseudonym "Wang Moukun from Dormitory 40* in the North District".
His carefully cultivated image of gentleness and refinement has been ruined by these endless posts.
He wasn't ashamed of revealing his past; in the cultivation world, strength reigns supreme, and many people will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.
Su Xiaoyao, the person who was the center of attention during the illusionary trial, was also unchallenged because everyone knew that she had reached the level that others had accumulated over twenty years in just a few years of cultivation, and had also gained the favor of the Heavenly Evolution Dao Ancestor.
With the backing of the Holy Prayer Palace and his own considerable talent, he was not afraid of others' fear or disdain when he traveled outside.
What angered him was why the fish that had escaped the net back then not only did not have its Dao heart hindered, but its strength continued to grow.
What initially ignited his dissatisfaction was someone expressing envy for Jiang Yun in the comments of a photo, noting that Jiang Yun had broken through to the Golden Core stage at a young age and possessed a Saint-grade spiritual artifact.
This made him extremely jealous.
Jiang Yun clearly came from the same small town in the mortal realm as him, yet his fate was so much better.
He was frail and sickly, so his family found him a marrow-cleansing pill. Even after his entire family died, he still had excellent luck. After three years, his strength increased greatly and he even obtained a sacred-grade spiritual artifact.
On what grounds?
It was just a little mouse that escaped through his fingers; how could a mouse be more shrewd than him?
Then came the subsequent actions.
But he had anticipated a thousand possible reactions from Jiang Yun, none of which included this one!
We said we'd wipe them out completely, but those bandits were so stupid and incompetent they couldn't even find a child. Now, the ones who escaped are quite strong and have actually made a name for themselves in the entrance exam for Tianyan Academy.
He couldn't help but regret that he had turned against them too quickly back then. After the Jiang family was wiped out, he turned around and killed the bandits, breaking their necks was too lenient on them. They left him with such a huge threat and should have been tortured more.
It's no use regretting it now. Once the Jiang family's son gains power, he will surely die without a burial place.
Wang Yikun hardened his heart, no longer caring about saving face.
Meeting the evasive yet probing gaze of the person next to him, he lashed out with a fierce look, causing the other person to hastily look away.
He felt better after regaining the feeling of being superior to others.
Well, he had originally thought that one of the people around him might be able to get into university with him and become classmates. Considering the potential for exploitation, he maintained a good facade.
But now the post can't be deleted no matter what we try. Jiang Yun, who is busy and overwhelmed, only gave a light clarification. He didn't seem angry or affected. On the contrary, his reputation and dignity have been completely exposed.
"Jiang family brat, we'll see. I can wipe out your entire family once, and I can make sure you all die without a burial place!"
"Senior brother," several disciples from the Holy Prayer Palace cautiously peered over, "the next assessment is about to begin, are you going now...?"
"Heh, go? Why wouldn't I go?" Wang Yikun sneered, his hands behind his back. "Does he dare to make a move inside Tianyan Academy? Even if he does, I'm not afraid of him."
The disciples looked at each other in bewilderment.
My first reaction wasn't to deny it, but that what's circulating on the internal network... is all true?
Wang Yikun knew what they were thinking without even looking. A cold glint flashed in his eyes, half contempt and half arrogance.
The path of cultivation should be about clearing away all obstacles for oneself. Those who question his morality are simply those whose path is smooth and who have not experienced the same pain of yearning for immortality but being hopeless as he has.
They're all just foolish ants; he doesn't care what they think.
He only cares about the opinions of those who bring him benefits.
After much deliberation, he took out a communication talisman from his storage bag.
When he took out the encrypted talisman, the other disciples of the Holy Prayer Palace bowed their heads respectfully in unison. The Holy Prayer Palace's unique communication talisman could only be possessed by core disciples who were highly regarded by the Palace Master.
The difference in their social status made them put aside their previous doubts.
Wang Yikun was very satisfied with their reaction.
This is what he is pursuing.
"I'm going to send a secret message to the Palace Master. You all go outside and wait for me. Put away your little schemes," he warned threateningly.
The disciples of the Holy Prayer Palace obediently withdrew.
Wang Yikun was the only one left in the room. Suddenly, his expression changed, and he adopted a devout and gentle demeanor.
"Master, I have something important to report."
The Palace Master of the Holy Prayer Palace once told him that the Holy Prayer Palace's talisman cultivators passed down their skills, and their special communication talismans were drawn with ancient runes that no one could decipher. He could confidently use them to contact others after entering the Heavenly Evolution Academy without worrying about being intercepted or having their messages overheard.
The Palace Master of the Holy Prayer Palace was the most powerful being Wang Yikun had ever come into close contact with, so he naturally wouldn't doubt what he said.
So, while the master and disciple were making their plans, no one noticed that the communication talisman was emitting a faint golden light.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Jun Huilian, who was sitting at his desk and starting the first-ever face-to-face offline meeting between his main body and his clones, paused.
Ink dripped onto the neat strip of paper, blurring the words "multiple choice" into a large, profuse blot.
"Interesting. Discussing conspiracies on my turf using a communication channel I've phased out." She curled her lips into a smile, her playful and expectant expression undisguised when no one else was around.
"Let them do what they want." Feng Wujue stared intently at the slip of paper in her hand. "Let's draw lots first."
He's already figured out which one is the multiple-choice question!
Jun Huilian smiled slightly, picked out the "multiple choice" note that had become conspicuous due to the ink stains and threw it away, then replaced it with a new one under Feng Wujue's regretful gaze.
"Draw lots." She tapped her fingers on the table.
...
One family is sad, while another is happy.
No matter how furious Wang Yikun was, Jiang Yun remained calm and peaceful.
"Su Xiaoyao, your essay writing is slightly inferior to mine," Helian Yi said smugly.
Within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he drafted three hundred articles criticizing Wang Yikun from different angles, becoming the most prolific contributor in the entire task.
"Young Master Helian is mighty and domineering." What Su Xiaoyao said and what she thought were always separate. She didn't hesitate to give perfunctory words, if that would get her to fleece the sheep more.
"The activity on the intranet forum has decreased." Shen Suqi, who was focused on controlling the direction of public opinion, directly felt this. "It's probably because the assessment time is approaching."
"That's enough work, let's get down to business and head to the assessment site." Su Xiaoyao's cheerful mood was written all over her face.
The group walked together toward the assessment site marked on the internal network. Along the way, many people glanced at Jiang Yun, but their gazes were not negative; rather, they were curious and scrutinizing.
Along the way, what they heard most was the candidates' discussions about Wang Yikun.
They had been on edge for too long preparing for the entrance exam to Tianyan Academy, so it was a rare treat to have something like this to distract them, and naturally, they discussed it enthusiastically.
Although cultivators in the cultivation world are not very proficient in using the internet, some human traits are inherited from one another.
Intense curiosity led to a rapid spread of gossip, with some saying that Wang Yikun had pioneered a new path of cultivation—physically on the righteous path but inwardly inclined towards the demonic path.
Many people were also impressed by the post title, carefully studied this eye-catching trick, and even published their own research posts.
As the incident began, Jiang Yun faded from public view, and people intentionally or unintentionally overlooked him during their discussions.
Knowing that Jiang Yun was beyond reproach and could easily sway public opinion, no one wanted to offend the leader of the first assessment. It was a consensus among cultivators in the cultivation world that one had to leave room for maneuver in order to ensure that someone could be completely eliminated in one go.
The little incident filled the dull and tense exam period with joy.
“Although we’ve gone through hundreds of versions, the core concept is pretty much the same; we’re just stating the facts.” Xiao Tingyuan patted Jiang Yun on the shoulder, telling him not to take it to heart. “He’s just a clown. Don’t worry about him. Focus on your exam. If you get distracted, he’ll get away with his scheme.”
Jiang Yun nodded slightly, his calm demeanor suggesting that he wasn't the one at the center of the storm.
Xiao Tingyuan felt a little relieved and said with emotion, "We've given him a taste of his own medicine. Wang Yikun is now reaping what he sowed."
"He deserves it," Su Xiaoyao sneered.
"He only has himself to blame," Helian Yi said.
Su Xiaoyao turned her head: "Do you really have to show off your literary talent in front of me?"
Helian Yi looked innocent: "I just used a very ordinary idiom, why would you think that? Is it because you're too nervous about the assessment and are being overly sensitive?"
"Am I sensitive? Am I overthinking? If anyone else used those words, I wouldn't think there was anything wrong with it."
Su Xiaoyao expressed her distrust with three cold laughs.
This guy is clearly trying to outdo others in a subtle way; don't think she doesn't know he's a bit of a brooding pervert.
"I understand. You must know that my mindset has undergone a qualitative leap. Because you're afraid that I'll be under a lot of pressure in the next exam, you're feeling burdened and trying to regain your composure in some minor details. You're using me to bolster your courage before the exam, right?" Su Xiaoyao put on an expression that said, "I understand, I get it, you don't need to explain," and concluded about Helian Yi's actions.
She earnestly advised him: "Young man, you are still young. You need to broaden your horizons. Don't just focus on me. Look around, there are thousands of people competing with you. How can you show weakness at this time?"
After saying that, she sighed heavily and shook her head, having thoroughly enjoyed her acting.
Helian Yi was no match for her in words; he gritted his teeth and managed to squeeze out a single nasal "humph."
He didn't want to talk.
At this point, the more you pay attention to Su Xiaoyao, the angrier she will become.
With no one teasing her anymore, Su Xiaoyao pouted, feeling a bit bored.
Just as she was looking for some fun, a handsome young man passed by.
She glanced at him a couple more times and felt that the other person looked somewhat familiar.
She was still trying to remember where she had seen this person before when he stopped beside her.
The young man, dressed in apricot-yellow finery, lowered his eyes and softly called her name.
"Miss Su, it's been a long time. I wonder if you still remember me?"
Su Xiaoyao stared at him intently, and suddenly realized that his features slowly overlapped with a face from her memory—
The prince of the dynasty with whom she had a profound connection, Wenren Cong.
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Author's Note: More to come later!
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