Starting with a Family System to Become an Immortal Official Chapter 82

Master Wen Jiuling floated serenely in the air.

The massive royal brush rested across his shoulder as though it weighed nothing.

Behind him stood the key members of the Mortal Realm Directorate.

Xu Wenliang with his jade abacus.

The elegant Lady Bai Xiu.

The armored General Iron Ledger.

And the coldly beautiful Head Proctor Ye Zirou.

The entire Golden Sun Pavilion stood in absolute silence as every cultivator from Qi Condensation disciples to Nascent Soul elders held their breath.

Wen Jiuling spoke with a calm but powerful voice.

It was like a flowing blue ocean.

"Every five years, the Immortal Official Exams open their gates. Not a single soul is chosen at random. My Directorate has already observed the talents of every cultivator within these peaks. Only the truly suitable are granted the right to compete."

As he spoke, Xu Wenliang had other thoughts.

His sharp eyes locked onto Li Qingmu standing among his wives and children.

The old registrar sneered.

『So this is the boy Xu Wanshan mentioned... the little worm who dares interfere with Young Master Wanshan’s future path to Governor. Hmph. I will make sure these exams become his personal hell. Lower world trash should know its place.』

Xu Wenliang suddenly descended.

The moment his feet left the clouds, the world seemed to slow.

Time itself thickened like molasses.

Every second stretched.

Dust motes hung motionless.

Even the fearful gasps of disciples froze mid-breath.

He drifted directly toward Li Qingmu.

Up close, he studied the man with detached curiosity as he murmured under his breath.

"Truly... I see nothing special. Average bone structure, decent meridians, nothing that screams heaven-defying. How exactly is garbage like you a threat to Xu Wanshan’s campaign plans?"

His gaze shifted then froze.

In the corner, little Li Zimo stood clutching her baby brother as she stared up at the pagoda.

She looked quite scared of them.

Xu Wenliang’s pupils contracted.

Divine sight flared.

A faint azure glow, invisible to mortal eyes, gleamed deep within the girl’s soul sea.

『A soul fragment... of the Immortal Water King!』

His lips slowly stretched into a vicious, greedy smile.

『I already possess the Fire soul fragment. With Water in my grasp, only Metal and Wood remain. Once I collect all four... the seal on my cultivation will shatter. Heavenly Nascent Soul realm will be mine at last!』

His eyes flicked back to the frozen Li Qingmu.

『But first... I will grind this man into dust.』

With a flick of his sleeve, the old registrar returned to his original position high in the sky.

To the sect members below, he had never moved at all.

Only the other Directorate immortals noticed and none of them bothered to comment.

Wen Jiuling cleared his throat lightly.

"From the Golden Sun Pavilion, we have selected twelve exceptional candidates eligible to participate in the Immortal Official Exams."

He turned slightly and gave a small nod toward Ye Zirou.

The moment the stern beauty stepped forward, every elder broke into eager smiles. Several even straightened their robes unconsciously.

Ye Zirou ignored them completely.

She raised one delicate hand.

Spiritual energy surged and condensed into a long scroll that hovered before her.

Her cold voice spoke out clearly.

"First candidate—Su Liyue."

The beautiful senior sister stepped out and bowed.

"Selected in the previous cycle but declined the honor. Youngest to reach Nascent Soul in the last three hundred years of the Far-Reaching Continent."

"Second—Bi Haitao."

Another youth stepped out, bowing low.

"Core Formation achieved in record time."

Huo Batian wiped at the corner of his eye.

"She... she has grown so much..."

Ye Zirou’s face remained expressionless until she read the next name.

Her brows furrowed just a tiny bit.

The watching cultivators blinked in shock.

That face never showed emotion.

What could possibly make Head Proctor Ye lose composure like that?

Her voice came out slightly tighter.

"Third candidate... should be barred from the exams due to grave misconduct."

Murmurs erupted.

"However. Due to powerful intervention from the Song and Gu families, and in recognition of his unprecedented dual golden cores and the fastest Core Formation speed recorded across both Mortal Realm and Lower Heaven Realm in this era... the ban is lifted."

She clenched her fist until her knuckles whitened.

"Li Qingmu."

Dead silence.

Then the sect exploded.

"What?! That rascal?!"

"He’ll bring shame to the entire pavilion!"

"But... but his talent is monstrous. Dual cores! Fastest Core Formation!"

"He’s a troublemaker, but you can’t deny talent—"

Voices clashed back and forth in heated debate.

Ye Zirou’s narrowed gaze locked straight onto Li Qingmu.

『It’s him. The one who maimed my brother and stupidly shattered the Ye-Zhen marriage alliance. I will make sure he fails so miserably he’ll never dare cultivate again. Despair will be his only companion.』

Her teeth ground together faintly.

Lady Bai Xiu leaned over with a soft, concerned smile.

"Zirou? Are you alright?"

Ye Zirou snapped out of her killing intent.

"...Of course. I’m fine."

She blinked frantically right after.

Bai Xiu nodded gently.

"Then please continue calling the names."

Ye Zirou dipped her head slightly.

"Apologies."

She resumed reading.

One by one, the remaining candidates stepped forward until twelve figures stood apart from the crowd with their heads bowed respectfully.

Zhen Rou smiled warmly at Li Qingmu’s side.

"I’m glad husband will get to take the exams."

Chen Yuxuan nodded confidently.

"With his talent, he’ll crush everyone like ants."

Chen Yuling giggled.

"I almost pity the others. He can already slay Nascent Soul cultivators from higher realms."

The three wives exchanged proud glances.

To them, their husband was simply unmatched.

But the atmosphere chilled when Wen Jiuling spoke again with a faint smile.

"You should also know... this cycle of the exams will be conducted differently."

Every elder tensed.

Wen Jiuling continued smoothly.

"Head Proctor Ye Zirou successfully petitioned the Lower Heaven Directorate. They have agreed to allow Mortal Realm candidates to sit the examinations together with Lower Heaven candidates."

Patriarch Zhen Guang’s face twisted in fury.

"Madness! This is madness!"

He roared as veins bulged on his forehead.

"There is no fairness in this! Upper realm geniuses have superior resources, superior inheritances, superior everything! That’s why the exams have always been separate and should remain that way! You cannot—"

Before he finished, Ye Zirou raised one hand.

BOOM!

Spiritual pressure slammed down like a mountain.

The old patriarch was blasted backward like a broken kite as he crashed mercilessly into the arena stones and spat a thick mouthful of blood.

Screams erupted.

"Patriarch!"

"Someone help him—!"

Several elders rushed forward... only to be swept aside by another casual wave of Ye Zirou’s sleeve.

She spoke coldly.

"No one moves."

Her beautiful cold-looking eyes sharpened.

"I am simply performing my duty and disciplining an old fool too senile to understand his place."

Zhen Rou cried out.

"Father!"

Chen Yuxuan and Chen Yuling quickly held her back.

"Don’t go against them!"

The old patriarch crawled to his knees and clutched his chest as fresh blood dripped from his lips.

『She’s only Grandmaster realm... yet she cultivated in Lower Heaven most of her life. Her foundation is far deeper than mine...』

He glared up at her with hatred.

『I understand now. She suggested joint exams just to crush Li Qingmu... and thoroughly humiliate the entire Zhen Clan in one stroke! Curse the Ye family!』

Wen Jiuling smiled thinly.

"Head Proctor Ye... isn’t that a little harsh?"

Ye Zirou didn’t even glance at him.

"I dislike mouthy old men."

She lifted one finger.

Spiritual energy coiled around Patriarch Zhen like invisible chains that slowly crushed him.

One could already hear bones breaking.

The old man screamed.

Zhen Rou buried her face in Chen Yuxuan’s shoulder so she wouldn’t have to watch this.

Lady Bai Xiu gave an awkward chuckle.

"Surely... that’s enough?"

Ye Zirou ignored her then increased the pressure.

"You will not question my authority simply because you find equality inconvenient. The Mortal Realm Directorate has always operated on fairness. We will continue to do so. Now shut your mouth."

The patriarch couldn’t answer.

"NGAAAAHHH!"

His body was being torn apart from the inside.

Then Li Qingmu cleared his throat loudly.

"That’s enough."

Every head snapped toward him.

Several disciples whispered frantically.

"Is he insane!?"

"Speaking up in front of immortal seniors!?"

"This is pure madness!"

Ye Zirou paused her torture and glared at him.

"Do you want the same treatment?"

Li Qingmu lowered his head calmly.

"No. I simply ask that you focus on the purpose of your visit. Or... are Lower Heaven cultivators so overwhelmingly strong that you can only show off your power by bullying mortals here?"

Snickers rippled through the crowd before they could stop themselves.

Even Wen Jiuling’s lips twitched.

Lady Bai Xiu giggled softly behind her ornate fan.

Ye Zirou’s fair face flushed red with anger.

"You—!"

Before she could explode, Wen Jiuling raised a hand.

"That’s enough time. There are other sects to visit."

Lady Bai Xiu smiled sweetly at the crowd.

"In one week, the selected candidates will be brought to the Shifting Pagoda for the first phase."

She elegantly fanned herself.

"Is that understood?"

The male candidates nodded eagerly—mostly staring at Bai Xiu’s gentle beauty.

Li Qingmu alone remained expressionless.

Bai Xiu’s eyes sparkled as she looked at him.

"You’re funny. I like funny men."

He said nothing.

One by one, the Directorate members rose back into the royal pagoda.

The massive structure shuddered once then tore open the sky and vanished.

The sect immediately erupted into complaints.

"This is blatant coercion!"

"They know Lower Heaven candidates will slaughter ours like helpless pigs!"

"They must fear our exceptional talents and want to crush them early! How shameless!"

Li Qingmu lowered his head.

His hands trembled faintly.

『There’s no way I survive this...』

Standing nearby, Su Liyue noticed.

She glanced at her own shaking fingers.

"He looks terrified... but honestly... so am I."