Wang Linchi did not immediately investigate the news from the black market. He needed to wait until he reached the Black Iron Level to even enter; otherwise, it would be pointless. Moreover, he needed enough power to ensure his survival in case of unforeseen circumstances.
As for how to break through to the Black Iron Level, he would figure it out gradually.
At this stage, Wang Linchi wasn't too anxious about advancing to the Black Iron Level. Instead, his priority was evolving his Soul Kind. If the timing were appropriate, he would have already submitted the Third-Generation Soul Seed Boiling.
It wasn't that he wanted to hold back, but the current environment truly wasn't suitable for him to stand out.
Historical figures like Di Qing and Yue Fei from the Song Dynasty, who went against the grain, had all faced terrible ends. If I take the spotlight now, I too would be going against the grain.
Given the choice between taking it slow and facing danger, Wang Linchi naturally chose the former.
He was not willing to gamble his life on the goodwill of others.
The unified exam starts today. I wonder if something will happen. Wang Linchi surmised that Yan Ming King wouldn't try to show off in the same way twice; he'd need different foils.
Hence, this time, Wang Linchi didn't plan to watch the exam at the academy. He would watch it on his home television instead.
This world was a peculiar place. It was ostensibly an ancient dynasty, but due to the Secret Realms connecting various unique civilizations, technology had also emerged.
This technology relied on the Soul Resemblance of Awakeners, for tasks such as manufacturing television sets or repairing refrigerators. Surprisingly, one could awaken these types of skill-based Soul Resemblances, which were classified as Life-Based and were much more potent than Wang Linchi's Generic-Based one.
Therefore, several technological creations already existed. The difference, however, was that these creations were not manufactured by conventional technology but by Soul Resemblance, rendering their underlying principles unknown.
Technological products were incredibly expensive. A television set, for instance, cost at least ten thousand, a starting price reflecting that they were manufactured by Awakeners.
These were luxury items, not intended for ordinary people.
Wang Linchi hadn't bought his; it was part of his inheritance.
He turned on the television, tuned it to the correct channel, and soon saw the live broadcast.
Unlike the immersive experience of being present at the exam site, the broadcast had many limitations, such as a fixed camera angle and inferior clarity, but it didn't matter as Wang Linchi could accept it.
"Hmm, why is the signal so poor?" Wang Linchi walked up to the television and gave it a couple of knocks, a time-honored technique for fixing appliances that usually worked.
How could something go wrong right at the start?
On closer inspection, it didn't seem to be a problem with the television set or the signal.
Instead, a significant problem had occurred in the Secret Realm.
After the unified exam began, blood-red runes started to appear within the Secret Realm.
This looks somewhat familiar... Could there be a problem? Wang Linchi watched as these blood-red runes eventually converged to form the illusion of a blood-red Devil Dragon.
"Holy crap, the Baylong Religion?!" Wang Linchi immediately understood the implications.
The Baylong Religion, a notorious cult in the Dajing Dynasty, worshipped the Blood Dragon Clan. Blood Dragon Sect Members, their adherents, possessed the power to control blood and also had draconic physiques.
Wang Linchi knew a bit about the origins of the Baylong Religion. It was said that they originated from the Secret Realm – Dragon Island, one of the most colossal Secret Realms.
The aboriginal inhabitants of that Secret Realm could not leave it, but they managed to control a group of humans, who eventually formed the Baylong Religion.
The Baylong Religion's core belief was the supremacy of the Dragon Clan.
The unified exam for the entire Prefecture, and the security measures are this pathetic. It seems ninety percent of the new generation of prodigies are about to be wiped out.
Yan Ming King would likely display his prowess and turn the tide, but he definitely couldn't save everyone. At most, he could only protect his close female companions and some loyal underlings.
This meant that Qinghe Academy would have more survivors. Students from other academies in the prefecture shouldn't hold out much hope; if even three to five of them survived, their academies would consider those students exceptionally strong.
After this, the prefecture will surely suffer a generational gap.
It seems there won't be anyone left who can contend with Yan Ming King... hmm, perhaps not.
Wang Linchi recalled that Yan Ming King was due for a change of scenery anyway.
He had only swept through the academies. In the Prefecture, the Great Families and Sects still remained.
Those from the Great Families attending the academy were mostly from branch families or were secondary sons; the true heirs and prodigies were cultivated privately at home.
The Sects sent even fewer people to enroll; at most, a few might attend as observers.
So, Yan Ming King would likely clash with the Great Families and Sects next. He would only leave after establishing an aura of invincibility.
But speaking of which, the Prefectural Government Office hasn't made a move either. Is it just because the Secret Realm is sealed? Wang Linchi felt this whole situation was utterly preposterous.
It reminded him of his past life when robbers invaded a key high school's exam site during the national college entrance exams, which were being broadcast live throughout the province. Yet, neither the guards at the entrance nor the people watching the live broadcast reacted. They were merely shocked and incredulous, completely failing to act.
The reason given was shockingly that the school's main gate was locked, and they didn't have the key to get in!
Honestly, for the Secret Realm to be sealed and restrictive measures imposed during the academy's unified exam was something Wang Linchi had never witnessed.
"Even good swimmers drown, and skilled riders fall," Wang Linchi couldn't help but lament.
Not all Awakener students specializing in combat were qualified to participate in the prefecture-wide academy unified exam. Only the absolute top tier of students had that privilege. Yet now, ninety-nine percent of them had died inside.
After half an hour, the live broadcast showed the fighting in the Secret Realm subsiding. It concluded with Yan Ming King spectacularly turning the tide by slaying the Blood Devil Dragon Illusion.
He hadn't missed a single moment of grandstanding in front of everyone.
Only then did they belatedly cut the live broadcast, but unfortunately, everything had already been shown.
However, the Dajing Court wasn't particularly concerned about this loss of public trust. They maintained their rule over the land through military might, not political maneuvering.
As long as the Dajing Emperor remained alive and the Royal Family had a successor, the entire realm would not descend into chaos.
The Baylong Religion had survived until now partly due to its own strength, but more importantly, because of the support from the Dragon Clan within the Dragon Island Secret Realm. Otherwise, they would have been eradicated long ago.
It was highly probable that the Court and Dragon Island had reached some sort of beneficial agreement, which was why the Court suppressed the Baylong Religion but stopped short of complete eradication.
Otherwise, with the Dajing Court's power, how could the Baylong Religion have flourished so comfortably to this day?
Next, there will probably be a strict crackdown on the Baylong Religion. At the very least, the Baylong Religion within this prefecture is bound to be uprooted.
Things will likely be chaotic for a while. I should go out less.
Wang Linchi immediately got up, preparing to purchase enough food and water to stay holed up at home for at least a month.