Starting with a Family System to Become an Immortal Official Chapter 83

One week passed in the blink of an eye.

The twelve selected candidates threw themselves into training and last-minute breakthroughs. Most finished early and were eager to prove themselves against the haughty Lower Heaven geniuses who had always looked down on Mortal Realm cultivators as country bumpkins.

Su Liyue in particular buried herself in dusty tomes on politics, resource allocation, provincial governance and anything else she could get her hands on. She wanted to be ready if any written or oral trial touched on governance.

However, Zhen Rou spent the days quietly miserable.

She hated the thought of her husband facing Lower Heaven monsters in the same examination hall.

The so-called "choice" to participate was a cruel joke.

For Li Qingmu it was accept or die.

Especially with Ye Zirou and the entire Ye family nursing their old grudge against the Zhen Clan. Every time Zhen Rou chopped vegetables in the kitchen or tried to cultivate in private, she muttered all sorts of filthy curses at the Ye family under her breath.

Only Huang Shiyue’s patient coaxing kept her from completely losing her mind.

"Qingmu will be fine."

The older woman would say gently while braiding Zhen Rou’s hair.

"He always is. Trust in him a little more."

Meanwhile.

Chen Yuxuan and Chen Yuling turned into nagging medicine-crazed wife-demons.

Every time Li Qingmu so much as glanced at his travel bag they would materialize like cheerful whirlwinds, arms loaded with porcelain bottles, jade vials, and silk pouches.

"Husband, wait! You need this Blood Healing Dew!

"It can staunch a dantian wound in seconds!"

"And this one! Clear Mind Pill is perfect if they throw an illusion array at you!"

"Don’t forget the Golden Marrow Paste; rub it on your meridians before sleep so you wake up thirty percent more refreshed!"

They would press the items into his hands while explaining dosages, contraindications, and even flavor profiles in exhaustive detail as their beautiful green eyes sparkled with worry and love.

It was impossibly cute... and also incredibly stressful.

By the fourth day Li Qingmu started flinching whenever he heard their light footsteps coming.

Auntie Gao Yue took a different approach.

Every night she dragged him into a quiet pavilion for intense exam tutoring.

However, Li Qingmu frequently stopped listening.

His gaze would drift... and drift... until it shamelessly settled on the bountiful breasts on her chest, barely hidden by her revealing nightdress.

"Chief Li."

She finally said one evening with a flat voice.

"What exactly are you staring at?"

He blinked slowly.

"Your chest, Auntie."

Gao Yue froze.

"EH—!?"

Then her arms snapped up to cover herself as bright red flooded her lovely face.

"...I—I’ll be right back."

She fled the pavilion so fast the candle flames flickered from the rush of air she left behind.

Now the final morning had arrived.

Inside his private chambers.

Li Qingmu sat cross-legged on the floor, carefully folding talismans, emergency escape seals, and spare robes into an enormous brocade bag.

Baby Shuming gurgled happily in his lap as his tiny fists waved at a floating spirit-light toy.

"I need to pack properly."

He murmured to the infant.

"But I’m sure half my camp is going to cry and cling to my legs the moment I try to leave."

He sighed then slicked his hair back with one hand as a proud smirk decorated his face.

"Well... I am just that amazing."

A soft voice drifted from the doorway.

"Qingmu."

He looked up.

Big Sis Song stood there.

Gorgeous as ever in a violet robe that hugged her mature figure. She leaned against the wall, arms folded beneath her chest in a way that made everything... noticeably more prominent.

"A few hours from now I’ll personally escort you to the Shifting Pagoda for the first phase."

She tilted her head with a strange smile.

"Do your best. Pass."

Li Qingmu nodded, setting Baby Shuming gently aside.

"Of course."

Song Yan stepped forward.

Each ladylike step sent an elegant ripple through her full breasts.

"You shouldn’t be so blindly confident."

There is something about how Auntie Song talks.

It is always sweet.

Whether she’s punishing you or being soft on you.

Li Qingmu loves her voice so much.

"There are dangerous people who will come for your head during these exams. But you must—at minimum—place in the top one thousand candidates."

Li Qingmu raised a brow.

"Top one thousand? Big Sis, you only need top ten thousand to officially pass. One thousand is a bit—"

His words died as a warm, soft palm settled on his chest and began to rub sensually over his robes.

He looked down.

Then up.

Song Yan’s beautiful face hovered close, lips curved in a seductive smile as her fingers traced his pectorals like she was savoring the muscle beneath.

"Um... Big Sis Song?"

"Hm?" she purred. "Don’t you like it?"

"I—of course I do, but... this feels a little sudden."

She is never this forward.

Song Yan is a woman who is confident enough to seduce any man she wants.

But she’s too proud to do it to Li Qingmu.

『So why is she...?』

He took a cautious step back.

She followed, matching him perfectly.

When his spine met the chamber wall, she pressed in so her delicious breasts would squish warmly against his torso as her hand continued its lazy exploration.

"You’ll have suuuuuch~ a wonderful future if you reach the top thousand."

Her whispers were hot and sexy.

"I don’t even need you in the top hundred."

Her fingers found his nipple through the silk.

She caught it gently between her delicate jade fingers then pinched... not brutally hard, but firm enough that a sharp sting bloomed right away.

Still, she didn’t go all the way to real cruelty.

The pressure eased just a little at the end of each pinch to give him a tiny wave of relief that made the ache feel strangely sweet.

It was like she was deliberately teaching him with every twist and release—

『Yes, big sister can hurt you... but look how nicely I can make it feel better too.』

She giggled softly.

"This worrying big sister has a lovely reward waiting if you make me proud."

Li Qingmu tried to resist.

『I’m a man. I can’t just let this shameless woman control me so easily—』

Then she twisted the sensitive bud with exquisite care and leaned even closer as her pillowy breasts flattened deliciously against him.

His manhood instantly throbbed like a boiling teapot about to whistle.

Song Yan licked her rosy lips, pressed them together then gave a wet little smack.

"I haven’t tasted junior brother’s mouth before."

She murmured cluelessly.

Her free hand drifted downward.

"I’ve heard young men love having their little brother squeezed while they kiss."

She pulled at his nipple like she wanted to rip it off.

"Is that true?"

Li Qingmu’s lips parted.

"Well—"

The doors exploded open with a bang.

Zhen Rou stood framed in the entrance with a face darker than an angry thundercloud.

Her eyes zeroed in on Song Yan’s hand still teasing her husband’s nipple.

"What. Are. You. Doing?"

Li Qingmu slipped free in an instant and sidestepped with some grace.

"Ahh, sweetie! You’re here!"

Song Yan straightened her dress as though nothing had happened and offered a serene smile.

"Just helping my junior brother relieve a little pre-exam stress, Rou’er."

Zhen Rou’s adorable face crumpled with fury.

She marched forward, small fists clenched.

"Aunt Song! Didn’t you swear you wouldn’t bother my husband again? Do you really want to compete with your own martial niece? What is all this!?"

Song Yan listened with arms elegantly folded and her usual proud, unruffled smile.

Li Qingmu chuckled and tried to play peacemaker.

"Rou’er, there’s no need to—"

Song Yan calmly pushed him aside with one hand.

"Rou’er. I will spend as much time with Li Qingmu as I please. He is my property and therefore very important to me and to the Song family."

Li Qingmu lifted a brow.

『Property...』

He rubbed his chin and stared at the ceiling beams as if they might offer enlightenment.

『That’s right... I’ve never even met the rest of the Song family. Or the Gu family. Yet both of them insisted I participate in the exams. Should I be worried?』

Zhen Rou exploded.

"Aunt Song can leave!"

She pointed to the door.

"I want final moments with my husband!"

Song Yan remained utterly unbothered.

She caught Li Qingmu’s wrist in a gentle but iron grip and tugged him toward the door.

"Unfortunately we don’t have time for that. He won’t be gone long so try not to cry, sweetie? You’ll see your husband again very soon."

Li Qingmu stumbled after her.

Zhen Rou’s frown deepened.

Just before they vanished around the corner, Song Yan glanced back over her shoulder and gave Zhen Rou a playful wink.

"I’ll take very good care of him."

Zhen Rou turned spicy chilli red.

She pouted furiously, pearl-like cheeks puffed like an angry baby squirrel.

By the time they were almost out of sight she raised a tiny fist and shouted after them.

"Husband! You better not fall for any of those useless Lower Heaven beauties who act like they’re better than everyone else! They’re just like Aunt Song!"

But he was already gone.

Outside, nearly the entire sect had gathered in the huge square to see the twelve candidates off.

A grand magic airship floated silently above.

Cheers erupted as Song Yan led her cherished Li Qingmu into the open.

"Su Liyue! Our fairy senior sister!"

"Bring glory to the pavilion!"

"Senior Sister Su is peerless in both beauty and talent—surely she’ll claim first place!"

"Li Qingmu! Slaughter those arrogant candidates!"

"Chief Li looks so handsome today!"

The twelve candidates assembled beneath the airship.

Song Yan cast them all a smiling side-eye.

"Are you ready?"

Eleven heads nodded vigorously.

Li Qingmu simply gave a small, calm smile.

Her expression turned stern.

"Then let us set off."

With a deep hum the airship’s arrays flared to life.

It rose smoothly and flew toward the horizon.