Immortal of the Ages
Chapter 419: You Really Are Murder Crazy

Not long after, Yun Xiao found his way back to the Divine Dawn Pavilion, standing in the courtyard with a slight frown creasing his brow.

"What's the matter?" Lian Xi asked with concern.

Yun Xiao, clearly a bit miffed, said, "You go and gather all the books on laws and principles from the Primordial Academy, and don't forget those scrolls from the Mystic Zenith Temple, anything that's got to do with tomorrow's literary exam. Fetch them all for me."

Lian Xi couldn't help but crack a smile. "Is it because you scored a zero last time? Now you're in a huff, planning to wreak havoc?"

"It's just writing a few essays about having the moral high ground, what's the big deal?" Yun Xiao replied nonchalantly.

This, perhaps, was also a part of the human cultivation journey.

"I'll get ready then."

In half an hour, Lian Xi had amassed a pile of books that filled the stone table in the pavilion.

"You're a prodigy who could beat Uncle Feng right after joining. I believe a small literary exam is no challenge for you," Lian Xi said, all smiles.

Yun Xiao picked up a few books, glanced through them, and said, "It's all about saying the right thing to the right person. I can kill A and B but not C and D? I can write that in the exam, but when it comes to action, I'll slay them all the same."

"Jeez, you're always so murder crazy," Lian Xi remarked, sticking out her tongue lightly.

"Am I?" Yun Xiao paused, surprised.

"Yes," Lian Xi nodded.

"Maybe it's because I get angry more easily than others," Yun Xiao said.

"That shows you have a sense of justice, getting angry at injustice," Lian Xi earnestly said.

Yun Xiao couldn't help but laugh, shaking his head. "That's giving me too much credit. I'm selfish. Everything I want to do, everything I do, in the end, it's all for myself."

After saying this, he glanced at Lian Xi and gently pinched her cheek. "That's where you and I differ. You live to give, without a thought for yourself."

"What..." Lian Xi paused, momentarily lost.

"Never mind, I'm off to read." With a slight smile, Yun Xiao then immersed himself in the sea of books. He read swiftly, a page dense with information per breath, his expression solemn.

The laws and cases documented in the books were a microcosm of humanity itself. People, objects, emotions, conflicts—all were laid bare on these pages.

He read with meticulous care, while Lian Xi, ever so quietly, took out a wine jug, topping up Yun Xiao's cup on the table.

"When we first met, he hadn't even formed a Genesis Spirit, and everyone thought he was just hiding his strength. Little did they know, he's been making rapid breakthroughs these past few days," Lian Xi thought to herself while pouring the wine.

Even she found it hard to read this partner from her dreams. How did he do it? Lian Xi didn't know. But slowly, a sense of reassurance filled her heart.

"Tiger Rod Wine?" Yun Xiao paused after a sip.

"I heard you liked it last time, so I had someone get it," Lian Xi said with a slight smile.

"That's like digging your own grave," Yun Xiao chuckled.

"Why's that?" Lian Xi asked, curious.

"This wine boosts vitality."

"..." Lian Xi fell speechless. Blushing, she set the wine jug on the table and dashed back to her cultivation room, from which soon came a tremendous rumble. Back to training she went!

From noon till nightfall, Yun Xiao finally finished reading all the books and scrolls.

"With a reading of ten thousand books, writing comes as if divinely inspired. From now on, no one can preach morality over me. I alone am the unparalleled moral exemplar!" Yun Xiao couldn't deny, settling down to read was beneficial.

After so many stories, his Worldly Dao Heart and even his Genesis Spirit seemed to have undergone trials, becoming more profound and weighted.

"Now, time to cultivate!" Yun Xiao said, retrieving some Heavenly Dao Sariras.

Red Moon had devoured everything Dharma Crown Qin owned, from the pills, talismans, Immortal Jades, to even magic treasures. It gnawed on everything, turning them into the purest Heavenly Dao Sariras in the end. Only the flavors varied.

"Why does this Heavenly Dao Sarira taste like a woman?" Yun Xiao mused, swallowing a handful of black beads.

"That idiot Reddy went and ate her clothes too," Blue Star said, rolling his eyes.

"Dammit! Really!?" Yun Xiao's vision darkened.

"Who are you calling an idiot?" Red Moon retorted irritably.

"You, obviously." Blue Star chuckled.

"Well, since I'm you too, I guess the idiot is calling himself an idiot!" Red Moon burst into laughter, holding his belly.

"Damn… Why do you have a brain in times like these…?" Blue Star was so shocked he almost fainted on the spot. Being made a fool by a fool was possibly the greatest shame of his life, causing him to scream his lungs out in utter humiliation.

"He got you there." Yun Xiao clicked his tongue, expressing his disdain.

"Stop it, darn it! Ahhh!" Blue Star, regretting his words, spat out more Heavenly Dao Sariras.

Pure energy surged into Yun Xiao's Dantian, and the nine primordial suns orbiting within him grew once more.

"My Genesis Spirit has reached the peak of this realm. I'm in the Establishment stage, finally!" Yun Xiao remarked. He was just one step away from the Saint Wheel Realm! That was the last great realm before the transformation of his sacred power!

"Like this, advancing to the Saint Wheel Realm tomorrow should be no problem," Yun Xiao muttered to himself.

In fact, he'd advanced quite rapidly in the Primordial Ruins over these past couple days. From the Heaven Sanctuary Realm straight to the Establishment Genesis Spirit Realm, that was almost two whole realms!

Basically, Yun Xiao was having four to five breakthroughs every day! A day of progress for him equaled many years of cultivation for others!

With this, he was pretty much ready for the Crown selection.

As dawn broke, Lian Xi was already waiting for him outside the pavilion.

"It's time to leave," she reminded.

"Ah, okay. Hmm?" Yun Xiao shook the wine jug of Tiger Rod Wine. It was already empty. He shook his head, stood up, straightened his clothes, and asked, "Where's the location?"

"The Mystic Zenith Temple's Square of Righteous Law. After the news of your registration spread yesterday, there might be tens of thousands of spectators today," Lian Xi said.

"Fine by me. I like a big audience," Yun Xiao said with a grin.

"They all want to see how someone who scored zero on the written portion of the academy's entrance exam will fare in this selection..." Lian Xi remarked softly.

At that, Yun Xiao fell silent. With a hum, his Sword Soul transformed into a six-foot Sovereign Sword, rising into the air. He leaped onto the sword, then said to Lian Xi, "Let's go, I'll take you flying."

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The Square of Righteous Law in the Mystic Zenith Temple was packed with a sea of people. Most of them were students. Gathered in small groups, they kept their distance and whispered among themselves, with strange expressions on their faces.

"Yun Xiao's life is really something. He's only been at the academy for a couple of days, but he sticks his nose in everything."

"And somehow, he always ends up in the spotlight..."

"My granny says when someone's as odd as he is, they must have some kind of destiny. Let's not mock him today; pure support!"

"Let's mock those noble kids in the Pathseeker Society instead!"

"Such a trashy bunch."

"Especially Can Nian and Qin Ziyue. One's a big jerk who bullies others with his family's power, and the other's a snooty brat. Pah!"

"Guys, guys, mock all you want, but don't cross the line. That's straight-up insulting, and you don't want the Three Immortal Lineage hearing...”

"Besides, honestly, even if you think Yun Xiao can step on them, it's just sour grapes. Why bother?"

Whispers swirled, an undercurrent of tension in the air.

At the focal point of intense gazes, over a hundred disciples from the Pathseeker Society had already taken their places in the center.

Led by those of the highest cultivation, this group of well-dressed youths, each more distinguished and imposing than the last, also appeared cultured and courteous, the very picture of promising leaders.

The rest looked on with a mix of discomfort, resentment, jealousy… and indeed, envy. Power, it was something everyone criticized yet secretly wished to wield themselves.

So, their views on the Pathseeker Society were a mix of yearning and disdain, a peculiar blend indeed.

Many harbored secret resentments, brimming with righteous indignation, yet if the Pathseeker Society offered them a spot, they'd elbow their way in with more fervor than the rest.

"The Temple Head has arrived!"

The buzz of the Square of Righteous Law hushed to a silence.

Under the gaze of thousands, a red-robed woman, crowned with a wild mane, descended from the heavens with a few Crowns in tow, taking their seats upon a high platform.

The temperature of the entire square seemed to plunge to freezing point.

Many who had just mocked the Pathseeker Society now sealed their lips tight, hardly daring to lift their heads.

"Are Yun Dahe and Feng Qingcong, the two Sacred Sages, also here?"

"They must be among today's examiners!"

"That should ensure fairness..."

"Not really! With only the descendants of the Three True Immortals participating in the Crown selection, don't you think your understanding of fairness is a bit skewed?"

Indeed, many noticed.

The bald and burly Yun Dahe, along with the remarkably haired Feng Qingcong, were seated to the left and right of the red-robed woman.

"Previous Crown selections were overseen by the Temple Lord and nine Crowns. This time it's the Temple Lord, seven Crowns, and two Sacred Sages?"

"The Mystic Zenith Temple is just putting on a show."

"Indeed, adding two Sacred Sages makes the inside deal appear more convincing."

Such murmurs were whispered even more softly.

"This time it's indeed grand, guests have arrived too?"

Many glanced towards the east, where amidst the mists, a group was seen gracefully descending to the square, taking their seats on another high platform.

Over thirty folks in total, all powerhouses from the Three Great Ruins, made their appearance.

"Welcome, three Celestial Officials, and all guests," Si Qing declared, keeping things succinct. She opted for all guests for those ranked below her, a crisp way to bundle the introductions.

The visitors from the Three Great Ruins offered smiles, but kept their peace. Among them, the three Celestial Officials indeed stole the show.

"Is that Celestial Official in the middle the mother of Tian Zhixiu?" someone whispered.

"Yes, that's Tian Yulan."

The younger male disciples couldn't help but steal glances, replaceing themselves a tad thirsty. Tian Yulan, dressed in a gold and white gown, exuded dignity and grace, a mature charm with natural-born nobility and loftiness that mere mortals couldn't touch.

Besides Tian Yulan, there were two more Celestial Officials. One was an elder in a violet robe, known as Celestial Official Qin, the brother of the recently slain Dharma Crown Qin.

And Qin Ziyue was his granddaughter.

The last Celestial Official, a man with disheveled hair, sat drunkenly, his face flushed, his posture askew, yet his smile and seemingly carefree demeanor hid an unfathomable depth.

"The Pathseeker Society's top brass are here, and so are their folks."

"Tian Yulan, Qin Zheng, Jiu Jiankuang—top-tier Celestial Officials from the Three Great Ruins..."

"What a lofty heritage, truly."

With the guests seated, it signaled the Crown selection was about to commence.

"Where's Yun Xiao?" Feng Qingcong, seated on the platform, casually inquired.