124: Chapter 124 From the Light to the Dark, I Want It All!

"There is naturally no need for that, as everything was already made very clear before the assessment. Are you sure you won't reconsider, Young Friend Lin?"

Looking at the Principal's worried expression, Lin Xiao's face still showed no signs of nervousness.

"Rest assured, Principal, I know what I'm doing. Besides, the other party has gone to such great lengths. Even if I avoid it this time, there will surely be a next time, and the time after that.

I can't just keep hiding from them, right? Only by hitting them hard enough to cause pain will they be able to stop completely."

Principal Li Qingyun understood this logic as well. Seeing that Lin Xiao had made up his mind, he stopped trying to persuade him further and was just about to announce the decision.

He saw Lin Xiao's eyes dart around, and with a beaming smile, he whispered a few words to him. While Principal Li Qingyun maintained a calm expression on the surface, he felt a wave of strangeness inside.

He hadn't expected that although Lin Xiao looked harmless, he was actually quite cunning.

As expected of someone from a major Family, how could he really be naive about the world? He gave a barely perceptible nod, indicating that he would cooperate.

Seeing this, Lin Xiao put on a distressed expression and deliberately raised his voice so that the Family Elders, faction Deacons, and retainers in the distance could hear him.

"Principal, wouldn't that be inappropriate? Perhaps I should just stick to the normal assessment; this so-called Prodigy Mode sounds very dangerous.

If I were to be careless, wouldn't my painstakingly raised Believers suffer heavy losses? No, no, that won't do..."

Upon hearing this, Principal Li Qingyun's face showed a timely expression of agreement.

"Since you have made up your mind, Young Friend Lin, then..."

The group of Elders, Deacons, and retainers listening from afar became anxious immediately. They had prepared painstakingly for so long, sparing no expense to strengthen those alien demigods.

They had even gone all out, taking out many precious resources for the enhancement. How could it get stuck at the very first step?

Therefore, they could no longer care about anything else and hurried over with smiles on their faces.

"Hahaha, Young Friend Lin, you must not be impulsive. It is rare for the Principal to be willing to activate the Prodigy Mode for you; this is not only an affirmation of your strength.

It is also a significant Opportunity! If you can successfully pass the assessment, there will immediately be a glowing review on your personal file.

By then, even your main Family will look at you with new eyes because of this achievement."

"That's right, it would be a great pity for you to miss such an Opportunity, Young Friend Lin. It is just an assessment, even if you don't pass in the end.

This can still be considered experience, and it will allow you to know exactly where you are lacking. For a Divine Being, this is truly a rare Opportunity that is hard to come by."

"Sigh, if I had had this Opportunity when I was in school, perhaps my strength would have been even higher now..."

Listening to the various attempts at persuasion from the group, Lin Xiao found it amusing, but he maintained a distressed look on his face.

"Sigh, what you all say is indeed correct. But this is ten demigods after all, and when it comes down to it, I am only a Divine Being.

Relying on equipment and Medicinal Pills, passing a normal assessment is fine. But if it's changed to this so-called Prodigy assessment, what if my Believers suffer too great a loss..."

The Elders and retainers couldn't help but feel anxious upon hearing this. Everything had been calculated, yet it was stuck at this first step.

Just as some people were planning to use reverse psychology, Lin Xiao changed the subject.

"Besides, this thing is just an honor in the end. It has no practical benefits. If I go to take the test, I don't even know how much I will spend on Medicinal Pills and equipment.

It's not worth it, it really isn't worth it..."

Hearing this, everyone immediately understood what he meant. Isn't this guy just asking for benefits?

What kind of person is this! He doesn't even forget to fish for benefits while taking his own assessment. No wonder this kid has such deep pockets, but as long as there is a way, it's fine.

"So that's what you're worried about, Young Friend Lin. Your temple has spent no small amount of resources to alleviate the burden on the county. As an Elder of the Chen Family, I am willing to give back a little to you.

How about this, any loss of Medicinal Pills and equipment you incur later will be covered by me."

"How can we let Brother Chen hog all the credit? I am also willing to contribute!"

Soon, seven or eight Elders and retainers spoke up, increasing Lin Xiao's potential compensation by seven or eight times. It could be said that as long as he was willing to go, he would definitely make a profit.

Facing these promises, Lin Xiao sneered inwardly. How much could Medicinal Pills and equipment cost? Seven or eight times? Were they insulting him by calling him poor?

They were Elders of Families and retainers of factions, yet their words and actions were so petty. No wonder the Family had only developed to this point after a thousand years.

"What are you all saying? Even if I cherish my Medicinal Pills and equipment, I can't just take your resources, right?

My Elders in the Family often taught me that if you want something, you should strive for it yourself! Things begged for are merely the pity of others.

Although I am lacking in resources, it is not that urgent. What I need most urgently right now are some people who can help.

Why don't we do this: if I am lucky enough to win the one-on-three assessment later, then you Seniors can help me by selecting a group of disciples from within your Families who have decent talent.

Let them lend me a hand in the temple. If I win the one-on-five, then find me 50 demigods to work as assistants.

Although I know I basically can't win the one-on-ten, whether I get it or not is one thing. There must be a prize. If I am lucky enough to win,

then I will trouble you all to find me 50 First-order Deities to be my subordinates. Of course, this is only temporary. After graduating from university in four years, these subordinates will be free. How about it?"

"This..."

The Elders and retainers showed hesitant expressions upon hearing this. They currently wished that his crappy temple would fall apart as soon as possible.

And now he wanted them to help find helpers? They were naturally ten thousand times unwilling.

The reason Lin Xiao proposed this bet was actually to corrode and buy off these Families and factions from the inside.

He believed that even if he won, the people the other party found would either be useless trash or spies sent to infiltrate him; he wasn't worried about this at all.

They were just some demigods and First-order Deities. He was confident he could handle them. The matter with the Commission Temple had made him realize the problem.

When his strength was not yet enough to dominate a region, being slightly unconventional could easily cause trouble. Therefore, after reflecting on his mistakes, he decided to hide his forces in the shadows.

Just like how he was planning to secretly buy off Intermediate Deities, if local snakes like the Chen Family, Fang Family, and Hu Family could be secretly subdued by him,

then when the time came, he would have them send a portion of their clansmen to explore the outer realms. He wanted to grasp not only the high-end power of Intermediate Deities and High-rank Gods,

but he also didn't want to let go of these local snake Families; since they were all rewards, naturally the more, the better.

Seeing that the other party was hesitating, Lin Xiao immediately spoke with a smile.

"I was just using that as an analogy; I didn't really mean to ask you Seniors to help me find subordinates. As for this so-called Prodigy assessment, I think..."

"Agreed! We agree!"

"How could we let a small matter cause you to give up such an Opportunity, Young Friend Lin? We will do as you say. We agree to this bet!"