197: Business genius Mr. Lin sells exam answers online.
Wei Qing's words were forcefully swallowed back down his throat by the loud splash.
Plop!
Water splashed up.
Lin Yuan's figure vanished into the silver-white pool, leaving only expanding ripples.
The entire Circular Corridor fell into a deathly silence.
Wei Qing maintained his sneer, but the mockery was frozen on his face.
The fishing rod in King Kong's hand clattered onto the ground. His mouth hung open wide enough to fit a fist.
The black mist that was Shadow Fiend fluctuated, almost dissipating on the spot.
Is he crazy?
This was the only thought in everyone present.
Every drop of water in this Thunder Pool is highly concentrated liquid thunder, and its energy density is even more terrifying than the thunder storms on the Heaven Rank ascent.
Even when fishing with Spiritual Power Threads, they had to be extremely careful, fearing they might trigger a rampage in the pool.
Jumping in with one's Physical Body?
That's not called a trial; that's called suicide.
And the most efficient kind, too—not even ashes would remain.
"Idiot..."
Wei Qing finally found his voice. He shook his head, his face displaying a strange expression mixed with shock and contempt.
He thought Lin Yuan was merely arrogant, but he never expected him to be a complete and utter moron.
However, the scene he had anticipated—the pool boiling and then returning to calm—did not happen.
The Thunder Pool was in chaos.
Centered around the spot where Lin Yuan fell, a vortex was forming.
The originally calm silver-white pool water began to churn, and streaks of electrical current darted wildly underwater, stirring the entire Thunder Pool into a frenzy.
Wei Qing's expression changed.
He felt the thread of spiritual power he had extended underwater being yanked by a brute force, snapping it instantly.
"Pfft."
Due to the Spiritual Power Backlash, Wei Qing grunted, feeling a tightness in his chest.
King Kong and Shadow Fiend next to him weren't faring any better; their "fishing lines" were also shredded at the same time.
"He... he's not dead?" King Kong stammered, looking at the growing vortex.
No one could answer him.
Deep within the Thunder Pool at this moment.
Lin Yuan was so comfortable he nearly groaned aloud.
[Divine Body Evolution Progress +1%...]
[Divine Body Evolution Progress +2%...]
How could this be water? This was clearly the world's most premium energy drink, and the kind with unlimited refills.
Every pore on his body opened up, greedily absorbing the surrounding energy.
His Meridians, which had been stretched to their limit by the Geng Metal Divine Thunder in the Ruins, were rapidly repairing and widening under the nourishment of this gentle yet vast energy.
"If I had known the trial was this, I would have signed up first."
Lin Yuan stretched in the water, feeling the fatigue from carrying the god slaying weapon up the stairs completely swept away.
He opened his eyes, adjusting to the underwater light.
Then, he saw the so-called "Thunder Spirits."
They weren't fish at all.
Instead, they were fist-sized energy bodies with long tails, somewhat resembling ethereal jellyfish.
They flickered with silver-blue light, rapidly moving through the water.
At this moment, these little fellows did not scatter and flee because of Lin Yuan's intrusion as an uninvited guest.
Instead, they rushed toward Lin Yuan one after another, like cats smelling catnip.
They circled Lin Yuan, carefully touching the current radiating from his body with their ethereal tentacles.
Lin Yuan could sense the emotions they were transmitting.
It wasn't fear; it was curiosity and yearning.
"So, after all that fuss, you just want a free meal?"
Lin Yuan was amused.
He understood.
Wei Qing and the others used Mental Energy as bait, mimicking the aura of the Thunder Spirits to "trick" them into biting.
As for himself, to these pure Lightning Element Life Forms, he was a source of energy radiating fatal temptation.
He was Tang Sanzang's Flesh.
These Thunder Spirits were the Little Monsters who wanted a bite.
Lin Yuan casually reached out and grabbed the closest swimming Thunder Spirit.
The little thing struggled desperately in his hand, emitting bursts of "sizzling" electrical sounds, yet it sounded more like acting spoiled.
"Alright, stop messing around."
Lin Yuan kicked his legs, propelling himself upward.
Whoosh!
The surface of the water burst open.
Lin Yuan, covered in water droplets, landed back on the Circular Corridor.
In his hand, he was still clutching the lively Thunder Spirit.
Wei Qing, King Kong, and Shadow Fiend stared fixedly at the thing in his hand, as if they had seen a ghost.
They had racked their brains and failed to catch even a single hair.
This guy jumped down for a swim and casually fished one out?
Is this reasonable?
Lin Yuan ignored the three pairs of eyes that were practically spitting fire.
He shook the water from his hair, his gaze falling upon Ling not far away.
The little girl was sitting on the ground hugging her knees, staring blankly at her empty fishing rod. The Stuffed Bear she usually held was placed beside her, looking somewhat lonely.
Lin Yuan walked over.
He squatted down and gently placed the struggling Thunder Spirit in his hand next to the Stuffed Bear.
"Here."
"It's for your bear. It can serve as a nightlight when you get up in the middle of the night."
The moment the violent Thunder Spirit got close to Ling, it suddenly calmed down.
The electric arcs on its body retracted, turning into a docile ball of light that affectionately rubbed against the Stuffed Bear.
Ling was stunned.
She looked up, and Lin Yuan's reflection appeared in her eyes.
She looked at the Thunder Spirit, then looked at Lin Yuan.
Then, she extended her small hand and gently touched the Thunder Spirit.
"Thank you."
Her voice was very soft, but very serious.
"You're welcome."
Lin Yuan stood up, clapped his hands, and then turned around to face the three "colleagues" who had turned to stone.
He cleared his throat, revealing a calculating yet enthusiastic smile.
"Gentlemen, the free trial period is over."
Lin Yuan held up two fingers and rubbed them together.
"Now, the Lin Clan Thunder Spirit Proxy Fishing Service is officially open for business!"
"Prices are clearly marked, fair trade for all. One Thunder Spirit is two thousand spirit crystal coins. Discounts for bulk purchases, package deals supported."
"Of course, bartering is also accepted."
He looked at King Kong again.
"And you, your Alloy Skin looks quite valuable. Scrape off a hundred grams, and I'll count it as two spirits!"
Only Lin Yuan's voice echoed throughout the corridor.
Wei Qing's body was trembling slightly.
This was no longer just provocation.
This was throwing his dignity and the face of Kunlun onto the ground, stomping it into the dirt, and then asking him if he wanted to buy it back.
"You..."
Wei Qing squeezed one word out from between his teeth.
"Stop with the 'you, you, me, me' stuff. Time is limited, and it's Last-Place Elimination," Lin Yuan interrupted, not giving him a chance to explode.
"Miss this village, and you miss this shop. Hurry up and place your orders. I still need to rush to the next station to collect... *cough*, to take the trial."
After speaking, he didn't give the three men any time to react.
Plop!
Lin Yuan dove headfirst into the Thunder Pool again.
This time, he even untied the Safety Rope around his waist.
Beneath the surface, countless silver-blue specks of light converged like mad toward the spot where he submerged.
Wei Qing stood by the pool, watching the Thunder Pool being churned upside down, his face turning liver-colored.
The fishing rod in his hand creaked under his grip.
"Lin Yuan!"
A roar suppressed to the extreme exploded in the empty corridor.
"I will Never Rest Until One Is Dead!"