Starting with a Family System to Become an Immortal Official-Chapter 100: Examination Surprises

The first phase of the Immortal Official Exams had finally concluded.

What was meant to be a simple trial of scattering countless pill bottles across the vast Thousand Empty Sea Domain and letting the candidates scramble for them had turned into a blood-soaked slaughterfest.

The proctors from Lower Heaven Realm had designed it that way on purpose.

Weed out the trash. Keep the numbers low.

And, most importantly, make sure those filthy mongrels from the lower-worlds never stepped foot into the second phase.

They had been so confident.

Lower Heaven Realm candidates vastly outnumbered and outclassed the rabble from the mortal planes.

The plan was simple.

Let the strong devour the weak.

By the end, fewer than 100,000 survivors remained out of the millions who entered. And among them were a precious few that came from the lower worlds.

Gu Bingyue stood on the central dais.

Her peerless green hair fluttered gently in the wind like immortal silk.

Her icy eyes swept over the battered crowd below.

So few lower-world faces.

So many corpses left behind in the sands.

She should have been pleased.

Yet her heart felt strangely heavy.

『That man... Li Qingmu...』

He had turned everything upside down.

The unsealing of Hai Tung Wan should have wiped out the weaklings entirely.

Instead, the beast became prey.

And Li Qingmu who was merely at Core Formation had made an existence that should have been an apex predator look like a helpless lamb before the butcher.

Her fingers tightened slightly at her curvy sides.

『Perhaps... I have been too hasty. Crushing him might not be the wisest path. His potential... it’s frightening. That’s not something one can easily ignore mmm~』

Gu Bingyue bit her succulent lower lip.

Then she cast a quick side-eye toward Ye Zirou standing beside her.

The other woman’s beautiful face was unreadable.

『Neither Ye family nor Gu family would be happy to hear such thoughts from me. Not yet. I’ll keep silent until I’m absolutely certain what move to make.』

Gu Bingyue took a deep breath, smoothed her expression into that familiar, serene, fake smile, and prepared to address the survivors.

The three peerless beauties on the dais.

Gu Bingyue, Ye Zirou, and Song Yan.

They were enough to quiet the restless crowd.

The sight of such sexy, womanly figures calmed their racing hearts that had been scared to fragility by their encounter with that fearsome water beast.

Just as Gu Bingyue opened her mouth to speak.

A small commotion rippled through the survivors.

Heads turned. Murmurs rose.

There was Li Qingmu.

He walked casually through the crowd.

"Oh... am I late?"

He carried the weakened Auntie Chuyan gently in his arms like a fragile treasure.

His robes were dusty but completely intact.

Not a single scratch marred his handsome face.

Ye Zirou’s expression instantly soured.

Her plump, strawberry lips pressed into a thin line.

However, Song Yan lit up with genuine relief and joy.

Her eyes sparkled as she floated down from the dais like a falling peach rose petal.

She hurried to him with grace and elegance.

Even when she saw one of her favorite people she still managed to look dignified.

"Qingmu!"

She called softly with a voice full of affection.

She stopped in front of him and looked up with a warm and proud smile just like a mother’s.

"Of course you’re late. You were the only one bold enough to stand your ground against an Immortal-grade beast. I knew I hadn’t misjudged you."

Her sylph-like hands reached out to gently touch his broad shoulders, his arms, his chest just to check for wounds with tender concern.

"Are you hurt anywhere? Tell this big sister."

Li Qingmu smiled down at her, warm and easy.

"Don’t worry, Big Sis Song. I’m perfectly fine."

He shifted Auntie Chuyan slightly in his arms.

"But she doesn’t look so good. She’ll need some high-grade rejuvenation pills and proper healing from Lower Heaven Realm experts."

His gaze moved to Xu Lingxi, who stood nearby clutching her wounded arm.

She looked both exhausted and indignant.

"And her too."

Lady Xu Lingxi immediately scowled.

"I don’t need your help! I’m completely fine! Take care of Auntie Chuyan first. And besides—I never asked you to carry her like some damsel!"

Her pretty face twisted in disgust.

Li Qingmu only gave her a mild, almost doting smile.

"No need to act like a stubborn child, Lady Xu. I carried Auntie because I like helping beauties in distress. And right now... you’re both in no position to refuse."

Xu Lingxi’s face scrunched up like she was swallowing a whole mouthful of curses.

She looked ready to explode.

However, Auntie Chuyan felt entirely different.

A proud noblewoman of the Xu Clan, now cradled like a submissive little kitten in the muscular arms of young and talented man like Li Qingmu... she felt deeply ashamed of herself for enjoying it so much.

It was an excitement that made the old, gray hairs between her legs to tingle.

This silver beauty hadn’t been this excited down there for so many of her virgin years.

Yet at the same time...

『How can such a handsome young man call an old woman like me beautiful? If I had the strength, I’d scold him for toying with my heart. No man desires an aging, childless woman like me anymore... at least the young miss is like a daughter to me.』

A soft, contented smile curved her lips.

She snuggled just a little closer into his warm chest as she pretended her body still ached.

Li Qingmu could feel her deliciously aged breasts press against his broad chest.

So he has no complaints. Why should he!?

Ye Zirou stared from afar.

Her sharp eyes caught every detail.

Not a single bruise or tear in his robe.

『How...? Defeating Hai Tung Wan is already absurd for a Core Formation cultivator. But emerging without a scratch is simply another realm of power. Just how much further will this arrogant man grow?』

Her fingers dug into the fabric of her tight dress.

Song Yan kept her vixen-like smile fixed on her sweet Junior Brother Li.

"This is incredible. Not only did you outshine every candidate here and prove you deserve a spot in the second phase—you slew an Immortal-grade beast and walked away completely unharmed. Unprecedented in the history of these exams! How did you do it? Did you have some secret knowledge about Hai Tung Wan beforehand?"

Li Qingmu lifted his chin, closed his eyes wearily and strolled right past her.

"Huh? Can you all just let me rest? I don’t even know who this ’Hai Tung Wan’ is."

He let out an innocent yawn.

"I just want to sleep."

The nearby candidates exploded into whispers.

"A Core Formation cultivator... defeating an immortal water beast? Impossible!"

"He’s a freak—an anomaly!"

"Look at him surrounded by all those peerless beauties. No wonder they’re charmed. He’s more handsome than any lower-world trash I’ve ever seen and he’s got the strength and charisma to match."

"Damn it, I’m so jealous!"

"Jealous? Hmph. He’s just lucky. Probably relied on some hidden treasure or forbidden pill."

"Shut up. If you had his face and power, you’d also be drowning in women too."

Gu Linyuan stood silently on the dais.

『This doesn’t make any sense...』

His golden eyes burned with fury as he watched.

『Never in my wildest dreams did I think he could crush an Immortal water beast so easily. I feel like a fool... and now I’ve wasted that Wood soul fragment on Xu Wenliang for nothing!』

His fists clenched so hard his knuckles cracked.

Gu Bingyue shot him a deadly side-eye.

"Linyuan."

Her voice was low and threatening.

He immediately lowered his head.

"This little brother apologizes, Big Sister."

Su Liyue stepped forward with a smile and carefully took Auntie Chuyan from Li Qingmu’s arms.

The old auntie frowned slightly in disappointment but quickly pretended to remain unconscious.

Su Liyue rubbed his back soothingly.

"You worked so hard today, Qingmu. You deserve rest. When we get home, I’ll make sure to cook something very nice for you. How does that sound?"

Li Qingmu gave her a soft, tired glance and smiled.

"Sounds perfect."

He stretched his arms overhead and yawned hugely.

"Big Sis Song, I’m exhausted. Your niece really gave me too much trouble today."

Song Ruyi’s face immediately puffed up.

"How dare you—!"

But Song Yan slipped into strict auntie mode in an instant.

"Ruyi. Shut your mouth or you’ll be in big trouble."

The little miss squeaked like a frightened mouse and instantly went silent.

Li Qingmu chuckled.

"So you CAN stay quiet when you want to."

Song Ruyi groaned inwardly but didn’t dare retort.

Li Qingmu clasped his hands behind his back and started walking through the crowd.

"Big Sis Song, I’m going to go relieve myself behind that rock over there. If the second phase starts before I get back, just let me know."

Song Yan watched his departing figure with a fond smile that softened her matured face.

『His talent just keeps growing. Every time I look away he seems to reach new heights. His wives are blessed to spend every day with him. Even seeing him once in a while makes my heart feel delighted... truly.』

Beside her, Song Ruyi glanced up at her aunt then back down at her own twisting fingers.

『Auntie Yan’er really likes this man...』

Her cheeks got a little hot.

『And I... I do too...』

But just as Li Qingmu was about to disappear into the crowd for an urgent potty break.

"Not so fast."

Ye Zirou’s cold voice rang out.

Li Qingmu paused. "Huh?"

He turned, eyes narrowing slightly.

This woman.

The one who had harmed Zhen Rou’s father.

Daughter of one of his sect’s greatest enemies.

Just seeing her always put him in a foul mood.

Ye Zirou folded her slim arms beneath her fat chest that seemed to bounce with every word.

"You failed the exam."

She batted her lashes sternly.

"No need to worry about the second phase."

The entire crowd erupted.

"EHHH!?"

Song Yan rushed forward.

"What madness is this!?"

Ye Zirou nodded once.

Even the look on her face was calm and superior.

Like she wanted Li Qingmu to be sure that he knew his place in her presence.

"The instructions were clear: find a pill bottle and pass. Nothing more. Slaying some Immortal beast? I agree that’s quite impressive. But it was never the objective."

Song Yan opened her mouth to argue but Li Qingmu raised a hand to silence her.

He looked straight at Ye Zirou.

"So what does that mean?"

Lady Ye Zirou raised a delicate brow.

"Are you dumb? It means you’re eliminated. Simple."

This beauty is truly a devil full of hatred.