Chapter 37: Rich People All Cherish Their Lives

Jianghai City center, the Awakener Examination venue.

A black extended-length sedan with military plates pulled up steadily before the venue's main gate.

The car door opened, and a long, slender leg stepped out first.

Ye Hongyu walked to the back seat, pulled the door open respectfully, and thoughtfully held up a hand to shield the top edge of the doorframe.

"Young Master, we're here."

Lin Mo yawned and climbed out of the car.

That languid air, tinged with a touch of noble poise, immediately drew plenty of sidelong glances from the surroundings.

"That's the young master of the Lin family, right? I heard his Awakening was a blank slate…"

"Shh, keep your voice down. His father is the Commander of Jianghai City—even without an Awakening, he could live worry-free for life."

"…"

Ye Hongyu stood at Lin Mo's side and said softly:

"Young Master, the examination hall for output-type professions is just ahead. The tanks and support-type halls are on the other side."

Lin Mo nodded and stretched his back. "Alright, got it. Thanks, Sister Ye. I'll head in first."

"Mm, I'll wait for you outside."

Ye Hongyu bowed slightly, then stood by the car, watching Lin Mo walk toward the examination hall's main gate.

By now, a long queue had already formed at the security checkpoint.

But Lin Mo took the VIP lane—there was no one ahead of him.

Two uniformed staff members, one man and one woman, were in charge of security.

"Hello, please show your admission ticket."

The male staff member extended his hand in an official manner.

Lin Mo handed over his admission ticket.

"Lin… Lin Mo?"

The staff member glanced at the name, and his expression immediately froze.

Hearing the name, the female staff member beside him, who had been sorting documents, immediately leaned over, her eyes raking up and down over Lin Mo.

"Oh my, you're the Commander Lin Tianhao's son?"

Lin Mo nodded calmly:

"That's me. What, the photo doesn't look like me in person?"

"It does! It does! You're even more handsome in person than in the photo!"

The female staff member hurriedly laughed ingratiatingly, her tone full of flattery.

As they spoke, the two curious staff members instinctively activated 【Inspect】.

"Ho—holy crap?" The male staff member couldn't hold it in and blurted out a swear. "Level 17?!"

One had to know that in past years' examinations, having a Level 15 was already outrageous.

And just now, Zhao Yu at Level 16 had already shocked them enough—now here came another at Level 17…

The two exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes.

This is what money can do?

Pushing a blank-slate mage all the way up to a Level 17 that looks down on the entire field?

"Ahem…"

The male staff member, after all, had received professional training, and quickly suppressed that greenhorn expression.

"Lin Shao, my apologies, my apologies!"

"Truly worthy of Commander Lin's son—like father, like son!"

He pointed at the metal security gate behind him and said respectfully:

"Lin Shao, this is the routine security detection device. You just need to stand under that light curtain for five seconds—very quick."

Lin Mo took back his admission ticket and nodded:

"Alright, no problem."

Saying that, he stepped toward the security gate.

The instant Lin Mo stepped into the light curtain's range—

Hum—!

A beam of deep blue light instantly descended from above.

In that split second—

【'Earth Shield': Something's up!】

The next moment, a spherical shield of yellowish-brown light enveloped Lin Mo, cutting off all outside light.

"…"

"…"

The two staff members exchanged a glance.

What was going on?

It's just a security check—is this Lin Shao really that cautious?

"Um… um, Lin Shao, this is just to check whether you're carrying any prohibited items and whether your equipment quality exceeds Bronze-tier…"

Inside the shield.

Lin Mo covered his forehead, somewhat speechless.

Going through a security check and making such a scene—anyone who didn't know would think he was terrified of dying.

"Cough... sorry."

Lin Mo coughed awkwardly, then immediately deactivated the skill.

"I've been leveling up a bit too hard lately, my nerves are too tense, it's a stress reaction, forgive me, forgive me."

Having said that, Lin Mo mentally lectured 'Earth Shield Technique':

"Xiao Tu, don't be so jumpy, okay? Sooner or later I won't be killed by enemies, I'll be scared to death by you."

【'Earth Shield Technique'】 complained pitifully: "I was just thinking about Master's safety... I'll pay attention next time..."

Lin Mo rolled his eyes, too lazy to argue with this coward.

"Alright, Young Master Lin, inspection passed, you may enter."

After the staff member glanced at the monitor, they granted permission to proceed.

Lin Mo nodded and walked into the examination corridor.

Two staff members watched Lin Mo's retreating back and began whispering quietly.

"My god, is this how much rich people value their lives? Even setting up a shield just to pass security?"

"What's so special? If I were a Young Master of the Lin family, I'd value my life even more than him..."

"That's true."

Passing through the corridor, Lin Mo arrived at a huge open-air square.

Many examinees had already gathered there, clustering in groups of three or five.

The moment he appeared, he immediately attracted many gazes.

After all, Lin Mo's name was quite famous among his peers in Jianghai City.

"Lin Mo?"

A familiar voice came from behind.

The crowd automatically parted to make a path.

Zhao Yu, surrounded by a group of people, strode over. "Level 17... your level is actually quite high, huh."

Lin Mo turned around, recognized the person, and replied casually:

"Hmm? Isn't this Young Master Zhao? Something wrong?"

Zhao Yu chuckled lightly and said:

"I'm just here to remind you that there are no subordinates of your father inside this exam hall to protect you."

"You... take it easy after you go in, drop out if you need to. To be honest, a blank-slate mage really has no need to take this exam."

The examinees around also cast strange glances and whispered among themselves.

Lin Mo's expression remained unchanged; he simply replied calmly:

"Thank you for your concern, Young Brother Zhao, but I suggest you worry more about yourself."

"After all, if a blank-slate mage like me fails, it's expected. But you, Young Brother Zhao, are an S-race genius; if you don't get good results later, Uncle Zhao's face... will really have nowhere to rest."

"You...!"

The fake smile on Zhao Yu's face instantly froze.

He opened his mouth but couldn't squeeze out a single word for a long time.

This logic... was damnably sound!

Lin Mo was too lazy to pay him any more attention; he put his hands in his pockets and leisurely walked toward the corner of the rest area.

"Young Master Zhao, don't be angry, don't be angry; it's not worth getting upset with someone like that."

One of the lackeys leaned in and flatteringly comforted him.

"Lin Mo is just boasting with his mouth; we all know how he reached level 17. He's just a waste with a high level."

"Exactly, exactly!"

Another lackey chimed in, "Young Master Zhao is a chosen one destined to enter the Imperial Sky Dragon Academy; Lin Mo will probably just scrape by in Jianghai City for the rest of his life."

"We are not from the same world; why bother taking him seriously?"

Hearing these words, Zhao Yu's expression finally eased slightly.

He took the water handed to him by the lackey, took a sip, and snorted:

"Sky Dragon Academy? Hmph, that's just the baseline." A glint flashed in Zhao Yu's eyes. "My target is the Sky Dragon Academy's 'Long Xu Ban'!"

"Long... Long Xu Ban?"

The people around were stunned for a moment.

"Young Master Zhao, Long Xu Ban is the highest-tier reserve force for our Dragon Country's combat power! Will their admissions officers come to our Jianghai City?"

"I heard the threshold starts at SS-rank?"

Listening to the discussion among his subordinates, Zhao Yu slightly raised his chin. "Old Man Xu Wenchang of Long Xu Ban has indeed come, and... he came for me."

"Hiss..."

"Young Master Zhao is awesome!"

"Young Master Zhao, when you rise to prominence in the future, don't forget to lift us brothers up!"

Hearing these praises, Zhao Yu's gloom vanished completely, and he regained that sense of superiority and confidence.

Hmph, how can a sparrow know the ambitions of a swan?

Lin Mo, a frog at the bottom of a well like you will never know how big the real world is.