This Human Immortal Is Too Serious-Chapter 484 - 482: The Protagonist of the Big Exam

Chapter 484: Chapter 482: The Protagonist of the Big Exam

"Qing Shan, the big exam is tomorrow. You should not do anything extra tonight, just rest well and get a good night’s sleep. You must be full of energy."

As dusk fell, Dong Gao found Wu Wang and gently urged him by the arm.

Wu Wang hadn’t planned to wander aimlessly and naturally agreed right away. He returned to his room early and lay calmly on his bed.

He used to fall asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow, but tonight Wu Wang found himself sleeping restlessly.

He began to ponder the various events that had unfolded along his journey.

The Luili Realm, the Twelve Realms of Martial God, the Outer Sky world, the Martial God who had favored him, and the Candle Dragon whose head bore the seal of his mother and Jingwei.

For a moment, Wu Wang’s emotions became a bit complex.

He certainly couldn’t allow himself to become lost in confusion; he knew clearly in his heart what he needed to do—become stronger and challenge the Candle Dragon. He simply felt that his luck was indeed not bad, having gained the favor of the Martial God once again. The exam of the Liuli god was indeed mysterious, and Wu Wang guessed that if he were "commended by name" tomorrow, it was very likely the Martial God stirring things up from behind. We’ll see what happens afterwards.

Footsteps approached his room, stealthy and sneaky.

Wu Wang’s lips curved into a slight smile, but he did not disturb the visitor, listening as the door was gently pushed open, listening to the faint sounds the petite figure made on the floor, listening to...

"WAH!"

Jin Wei suddenly cried out and jumped up, landing on Wu Wang’s stomach, with her little feet kicking up into the air.

Wu Wang opened his eyes and said with a smile, "What’s the matter? I need to rest well tonight."

"It’s hardly late," Jin Wei pouted. "Chat with me."

"Let me sit up first."

"No," Jin Wei deftly rolled into the inside of the bed, hugged Wu Wang’s bedsheet, giggled, curled up her little legs beside him, and snatched away half of the blanket.

"You just lie down and rest, brother. I’ll be going back in a bit."

"What’s wrong?"

Wu Wang asked softly, "Are you not comfortable here?"

"It’s okay," Jin Wei hummed. "It’s quite nice here actually, grand residences, and Maidens to serve you... But it’s also just okay. There are many rules: this is not allowed, that’s not allowed. Brother, do you like it here?"

"I prefer the atmosphere of the small town," Wu Wang said with a smile, "but as young people, we must come to places like this to try our luck."

Jin Wei asked, puzzled, "Why do we have to take the risk?"

Wu Wang was speechless.

Jin Wei curled up her legs, tilted her head to look at Wu Wang, and whispered, "Qiu Li also thinks so. She said that although the food in the small town is not as plentiful as here, and the scenery is not as good as here, without those bustling areas and towering pavilions, there is one good thing about it: it is more relaxing and leisurely than here."

"That’s true," Wu Wang said with a laugh. "The town is more suitable for retirement, while this place is more appropriate for the struggles of youth."

"But why struggle?"

"To live more comfortably, I suppose."

"But life is already comfortable in the small town, and we can be with our uncle and aunt. Why do we have to make this journey?"

"Missing them?" Wu Wang asked softly.

"Yeah," Little Jin Wei puffed up her cheeks. "But maybe they are more at ease without us at home... ever since our uncle and aunt started living together, they’ve been rocking the bed every day."

Wu Wang paused, looking slightly astonished at Little Jin Wei.

The young girl immediately realized she had spoken too much. Her face flushed, she turned her head to the side, and burst into laughter again.

Wu Wang clicked his tongue. "Qiu Li has taught you well."

"I asked on my own," Jin Wei said softly. "I know a lot. Brother, you told Aunt that you would marry me in the future; I have to prepare myself to be a wife."

"Prepare what? Do you also want to soar to the heavens?"

Wu Wang felt a bit embarrassed. "These things are premature for you; just focus on growing up."

Jin Wei stared at Wu Wang for a while then whispered, "Brother, you’re embarrassed."

"How could I be."

"You’re definitely shy! Hahaha!"

"Hey, I’m going to sleep!"

Wu Wang turned to his side, facing outwards, and pretended to sleep.

Little Jin Wei laughed and pounced on him, her belly pressed against his lower back, and Wu Wang mounted a playful resistance. The two of them frolicking just as they did in childhood.

After a bout of laughter and play, Jin Wei yawned and fell asleep hugging Wu Wang’s arm.

Wu Wang gently withdrew his hand with a slight sense of helplessness, looking at her somewhat unbridled sleeping posture. He bent his head to help adjust her clothes, drew the blanket over her, and then sat at the foot of the bed to start meditating and rejuvenating his spirit.

He could sense the unease and worry hiding behind Jin Wei’s laughter. Was she afraid that he would someday soar too high for her to follow? At this thought, Wu Wang also found himself amused; such a notion really was quite shameless. Love and career are two different things, even though they often interfere with one another. However, her unease was probably rooted in similar reasons. Worrying that the colorful world outside might blind her ’brother’, fearing that the promises made in the past could not be kept in the future. This silly girl.

Wu Wang closed his eyes, as a faint trace of Dao rhythm emanated from his surroundings, his behavior matching that which a Cultivator in the Martial Soul Realm ought to exhibit.

「High above the clouds.」

The Martial God sighed with admiration, "Childhood friends, innocent of the world’s complexities, that’s truly wonderful."

"Yes, truly wonderful," the Liuli god softly agreed.

"Hmm?" The Martial God turned his head to glance at her. "Aren’t you going to prepare? Tomorrow is the big exam."

The Liuli god: ...

"Your subordinate takes her leave."

The Goddess’s voice was cold and firm as she responded, bowing her head to plunge directly towards Liuli City.

"Liuli!"

The voice of the Martial God suddenly reached her, causing the Liuli god to pause abruptly and turn to look at this Strong God clad in Golden Armor.

"My lord, do you have any further instructions?"

"Thank you for your hard work this time," the Martial God said with a smile.

The face of the Liuli god noticeably softened, and a slight smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She nodded gently to the Martial God before turning into a beam of Divine Light and descending into the grand city below.

The Martial God scratched his head.

And to think, the Liuli sister is quite beautiful, though she seems a bit too ’fragile.’ That skin of hers looks so delicate that a gentle poke might just break it. What a pity, the Liuli god seems to despise male Deities; as far as I can recall, she has never spoken to any other male Deity. ’Where can I find a Goddess to experience this sweet romance?’

The Martial God let out a long sigh and fell into deep thought.

Being a Shen Sheng, he had already reached the pinnacle of his own strength. He had attained status, position, and influence; all that he lacked now was a partner.

"It’s really hard," he lamented, expressing the woes of a single God.

WOO—

The deep sound of the horn echoed through Liuli City at dawn.

The rising sun projected by the eyes of the Candle Dragon slowly ascended from the eastern sky, turning the glaze tiles atop the buildings of Liuli City into a golden ocean.

In the center of the great city, the hundred-zhang tall spire shimmered with rainbow light. An innumerable number of figures knelt on the vast plaza below it, chanting about the greatness and benevolence of the Divine Spirits.

Priests in long dresses walked barefoot through the streets, proclaiming to people that the Divine Spirits had descended to the mundane world.

Patrolling soldiers polished their armor and long spears, and numerous vibrant banners hung from the city walls.

The royal mansion was bustling with activity early on.

Wang Mianjin, a General and Elder of the Shrine Institute, had taken several confidants to the pinnacle of the spire while it was still dark.

The ladies of the royal household would also go to the viewing platforms around Liuli Plaza to witness today’s unprecedented Liuli Grand Exam.

Jin Wei had gone to bed early the night before, and now she was energetically fussing about.

Senior Sister Qiu Li was to dress up Little Jin Wei and then accompany her to witness Qing Shan’s ascent.

Being chosen by a God naturally meant ascending.

At this moment, perhaps the most composed was Wu Wang himself.

He changed into the robe sent by Wang Mianjin’s men. It was a rather lavish black robe with fabric that felt high-end to the touch, seemingly some kind of beast leather that had been specially processed to have the texture of cotton.

The lives of the powerful were thus—unadorned and skilled at ’doing too much.’

Inside the black robe was a white lining. The style of undershirt popular in Liuli City was somewhat similar to the shirts Wu Wang remembered from Blue Star, but with more intricate patterns.

The faintly visible beast patterns on the sleeves perfectly conveyed how a civilization that had existed for countless years could be so utterly bored.

Dressed neatly and stepping into a pair of boots, Wu Wang stood before a mirror and took a good look at himself.

Almost as handsome as his original self.

He pushed open the door and stepped outside where several guards stood, leading Wu Wang towards the carriages parked at the back gate.

"My lord!"

Captain Muhan, who had previously escorted Wu Wang and the others to Liuli City, came forward to meet him, quickly admonishing, "The Liuli Goddess descended last night, and the following procedures will not change. In the first two stages, you must try to perform to the best of your abilities and reveal your full strength. According to records of the Shrine Institute and the Priest group, the Liuli Goddess dislikes bloodshed, so during the fighting stage, you must take care not to get blood everywhere. Also, did you eat anything this morning?"

"No," Wu Wang replied succinctly.

"Here, take this," Captain Muhan placed a light red cloth package in Wu Wang’s hands. "This is specially crafted Spiritual Medicine. It can offer you a faint supply of Spiritual Power, but that’s not important. What’s important is that it can make you feel full for two days, so your stomach won’t suddenly grumble or you won’t involuntarily pass gas while being presented to the God."

Wu Wang almost laughed. He opened the package to see something resembling a rice cake, sniffed it briefly, and quickly gulped it down.

His breath became much fresher.

While they talked, they had reached the carriage. Captain Muhan patted Wu Wang on the shoulder, saying, "The carriage will take you to meet up with Young Master Mo Feng. Don’t be nervous, just show everything you’ve learned in your previous training—don’t worry about anything else."

"Thank you," Wu Wang responded with a bow. Captain Muhan smiled with squinted eyes, watching as the carriage left before beginning to prepare for the arrival of the next examinee staying in the royal mansion.

Today’s Liuli City truly lived up to the phrase ’a mountain of people, a sea of people’.

As the carriage left the alley, Wu Wang found himself engulfed in a tremendous clamor.

Mixed melodies of music, people dancing elegantly, petals fluttering everywhere, and figures both enchanting and robust could be seen all around.

Blessings from the Divine Spirits rained down from the sky; prayers from living beings transmitted from the rooftops.

Wu Wang lifted the carriage curtain to look outside for a while and was infected by the fervent atmosphere, a faint joy arising in his heart.

Fortunately, Liuli City had ample defense forces; maintaining order was effortlessly done.

The carriage moved steadily through the crowd at a uniform pace, smoothly entering the square. Wu Wang was taken by several Priests in long dresses to a high-rise building in a corner.

The seven- or eight-story pavilion was already filled with the figures of young people.

This place housed not only the three hundred or more candidates for the Earth Class examination but also several Sky Class hopefuls—the latter being the most dazzling presence today.

A few ’young people’ under eighty years of age from the Martial Spirit Realm would receive the blessing of the Liuli god, the cheers of the populace, and perform some exhibition matches on the stage.

In short, everything was arranged.

"Uncle Qing Shan!"

Mo Feng, accompanied by Fu Er, rushed down from the third floor to meet Wu Wang. He excitedly took Wu Wang back to the third floor to meet some friends of their fellow male and female Disciples.

And so, Wu Wang became a sort of young Elder.

The atmosphere here was harmonious as well; the young men tried to present themselves graciously, while the young ladies exhibited their magnanimity and elegance.

Wu Wang found a corner to stand quietly, showing a hint of nervousness, which he then shrouded with a layer of calmness.

’Multi-Layered Acting’—Written by Gou Zi.

Noise from the square reached in waves, and many figures within the high-rise crowded towards the windows facing the square.

Wu Wang listened carefully for a moment; it seemed that the Liuli god appeared atop the spire.

What is there to see? Haven’t they seen an Innate God before?

Wu Wang used his Divine Thought to sense around, and the Liuli god’s earthen Great Dao unfolded before his senses. The strength of this Liuli god was unsurprisingly weak. It was merely at the level of an average Innate God. This actually was the fundamental reason why the Luili Realm had long ranked low, causing a strain on resources.

「Meanwhile, at the very top of that magnificent spire.」 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Standing by the railing, the Liuli god gazed down at the dense mass of figures, slightly distracted, seemingly lost in thought.

Behind the Liuli god, several aged Priests sat or stood, most with expressions of reverence, waiting for the oracle to descend.

One floor below was where the Elders of the Shrine Institute stayed. At the moment, Wang Mianjin and others merely stood with their heads bowed, not daring to breathe loudly.

The closer one was to a Divine Spirit, the more acutely they felt their own insignificance. Only by becoming strong could one understand how powerful an Innate God truly was. They could only choose to follow and serve; to rebel against Divine Spirits would result in disaster and annihilation. Of course, more importantly, the gods have always been good to them.

"Today’s ceremony should not be too complicated," the Liuli god spoke slowly. The Priests behind her immediately bowed their heads, busily taking notes.

*The God speaks: Today’s rites should not be too intricate, lest we unnecessarily drain our resources and human efforts.—The compassion and benevolence of the gods accompany us at all times.*

"My God," an old Priest whose teeth had all fallen out spoke with a quivering voice, "You personally guiding these youngsters is a blessing for the tens of millions of Luili Realm’s people—your people don’t know how to express their reverence towards you."

"Hmm."

The Liuli god’s voice was light as she responded. She was about to say a few encouraging formalities, but her eyes suddenly brightened.

Her gaze fell upon Qiu Li and Dong Gao leading Little Jin Wei towards the edge of the viewing platform to meet with Dong Gao’s grandmother.

Today, Little Jin Wei was also dressed in ’formal attire’ for the first time. A tulle layer over her dress, pristine white cloth boots, her thick hair tied into simple twin ponytails, and her developing figure subtly emphasizing a girl’s gentleness.

The corners of the Liuli god’s mouth curved into an elegant smile, as she said, "Today, before those recommended youngsters take the stage, I will choose a Disciple. My true Disciple will follow by my side to cultivate, be endowed with Divine Power by me, and receive my teachings and guidance."

The Priests looked at one another confusedly.

The old Priest asked, "My God, do you mean... apart from those twenty-four youngsters, you will choose a pure soul to be the Disciple who follows you closely at all times?"

"Yes."

The Liuli god frowned slightly. "Is there a problem?"

The Priests knelt down hurriedly, with the old Priest leaning on his cane, trembling as he knelt.

"My God, your words are an order we cannot defy; I’m just rather astonished."

"Give the orders," the Liuli god said indifferently. "In choosing this Disciple, arrange her seat beside mine before all ceremonies formally start. She will be my spokesperson."

The Priests appeared even more shocked. Two younger Priests stood up, backed away a few steps, left the opulent hall, and hurried downstairs.

The smile on the corners of the Liuli god’s mouth became more pronounced.

The consort of the Martial God’s Disciple becoming my Disciple, doesn’t that make the Martial God... In her eyes, brilliant like ’the creator’s showpiece,’ a hint of obsession and fervor passed, but this obsession and fervor dissipated quickly, replaced by her usual composure and nobility.

She moved away from the railing, diminishing the clamor from the square by a third.

But inside the spire, the dignitaries of the Shrine Institute were thrown into disarray.

The spokesperson for the gods; the existence above the Priestly corps and the Shrine Institute; with just a few words from the Deity, a central authority was created, and everything in the Luili Realm would change, seeming to make unrest inevitable.

Wang Mianjin and several bigwigs of the Luili Realm furrowed their brows together, yet they didn’t hurry to say anything.

The Deity really is capricious, completely disregarding the hard work of these followers. However, this seemed to be their opportunity to overwhelm their opponents...

"ACHOO!"

On the viewing platform, Little Jin Wei pitifully sniffled. Qiu Li beside her helped wipe her nose with a smile.

"Did you catch a cold yesterday?" Qiu Li asked softly.

Seated in the chair that was spacious enough for her to curl up in, Little Jin Wei lamented pitifully, "It must be because my brother stole my blanket while sleeping."

A few noblewomen cast surprised glances their way.

This adorable young girl, at her age, still sleeps with her brother?

Qiu Li quickly covered Little Jin Wei’s mouth. Little Jin Wei’s eyes instantly curved into crescents as she smiled.

"Don’t talk nonsense, your brother was meditating next to you, and you were the one snoring," Qiu Li said reproachfully. "Even joking should have its limits. Your brother might become the focus of the Luili Realm today; if word gets out, it could lead to people badmouthing him."

Little Jin Wei looked puzzled. "Curse what?"

Dong Gao said seriously, "Child, don’t ask too many questions. But be aware of the differences between men and women, and don’t act as loosely and wildly as you do at home."

"Anyways, my brother and I are definitely going to get married," muttered Little Jin Wei. "We’re not blood-related. We just call each other siblings because we’ve done so since we were little."

The noblewomen then showed looks of realization.

Is that all? They thought it might be some explosive gossip, only to find out it was just a common childhood sweethearts story.

Just then, the sound of drums echoed from all directions, instantly suppressing the noisy clamor of the crowd in the square.

The sky itself seemed to fall silent. High above in the clouds, the Martial God, looking down, now had an expectant face, eager to see just how interesting the expression of that ’Qing Shan kid’ would be in a moment.

The figure of the Liuli god appeared once again at the railings of the spire, her surroundings radiating dense golden Divine Light, soft as a benevolent sun that made her visible for hundreds of miles around.

Beneath the spire, the ground shifted smoothly; the majestic spire began to fall silently and slowly.

Such a feat was trivial for an Innate God, but to the mortals witnessing it, it was met with endless exclamations of admiration.

Two hundred zhang, one hundred zhang, fifty zhang, ten zhang.

Once the spire had settled, massive ravines appeared around it, with edges so smooth and dust-free that they were clearly made up of huge stones piled together.

The Liuli God raised her hand slightly, and slabs of stone ten zhang in diameter rose slowly from below. The stones, bearing arenas, seats, and the solemn faces of the Divine Guards, swiftly filled the circular area that had appeared in the center of the square.

The Goddess, along with the Priests and the Shrine Institute’s Elders, stepped out of the spire, receiving the prostrations of the crowd around them.

The spire had sunk into the earth. Four stone slabs filled the last gaps before starting to rise slowly, forming stands ten zhang high.

The Liuli God took her place on the central throne. The Elders and Priests, along with the countless beings of Liuli City, bowed in unison.

Powerful Divine Thought was unnoticeably absorbed by the Liuli God.

Before everyone had risen, the Liuli God slightly raised her hand and a Priest stood up, his resonant voice spreading throughout the vast city:

"Our God!"

"Descend."

The voice of the Liuli God suddenly rang out. The Priest instantly prostrated on the ground, trembling all over.

"I’ll say it myself," said the Liuli God calmly. "Today, apart from the Sky Class and Earth Class candidates who will represent the Luili Realm in the grand competition of the Martial God, I will also take a Disciple. I will teach her the Martial Arts and the knowledge of Divine Spirits; she will become an outstanding Disciple of the Gods and will act as my spokesperson in the mortal world. Malice toward her will be taken as a declaration of war against me. My beam of light will guide her whereabouts. Come forth, little one, I have been watching you for a long time."

WHOOSH!

A beam of golden light descended from the sky, landing on the stand at the edge of the square.

Within the beam of light, Little Jin Wei stood with a bewildered face, slowly tilting her head, her features numb with shock.

In a high-rise on another side of the square, Wu Wang frowned as he watched this scene, suppressing the words ’Heavenly Dao’s arrival’ and fixated on the figure of the Liuli God.

The Liuli god taking Little Jin Wei as a disciple? Had she discovered Jin Wei’s identity, or was it simply the Martial God causing trouble from behind? He had said it before—despite the Liuli God being an Innate God with a gentle nature, it was unlikely she would personally get involved to trade her reputation for the prosperity of the Luili Realm. Wu Wang suddenly understood all the key points. That old fellow, the Martial God, was probably hiding somewhere, wanting to enjoy his current expression.

HMPH!

Wu Wang pondered for a moment, then still slightly opened his mouth and widened his eyes, uttering a surprised, "HUH?"

Just for the sake of amusing a fool.

"Hahaha! Hahahaha!"

Above the clouds, the Martial God burst into laughter, his voice full of delight.