Chapter 508: I Want to Take the Exam!

"I..." Yun Xiao hung his head low and said, "When I failed the Arbiter examination, I was too ashamed to face everyone and ran away."

He had barely finished speaking when suddenly a slap struck Yun Xiao's face, leaving him stunned.

Liu Mumu glared at him furiously and scolded, "How can you be so thoughtless? If you fail, you fail—life isn't made of only victories. Do you have any idea how much your brother has suffered these years searching for you? And your mother, it was her dream for you to become an Arbiter. Do you know how much she blames herself since your disappearance?"

Yun Xiao found himself speechless. A crowd was but a number. Yet, only by delving into each family could one understand that whether Immortals or mere mortals, they were all vividly alive, driven by emotions and desires.

Having chosen to use Lu Yao as an entry point to secure a local identity for himself, Yun Xiao could only accept everything.

"I was wrong, and so, I have returned to make amends," Yun Xiao said through gritted teeth.

"To admit one's error is a virtue unmatched." Hearing his apology, Liu Mumu quickly forgave him. After all, it seemed she too cared deeply for her disciple.

"But what is your cultivation level now?" Liu Mumu asked with a frown.

"Near a Yang Immortal..." Yun Xiao said, somewhat embarrassed.

"How have you regressed?" Liu Mumu said, speechless.

"I gave up on myself after the failure..."

"Enough!" Liu Mumu grabbed his collar, nearly roaring, "I don't care what kind of decade you've had, but now that you are back under my tutelage and still recognize me as your master, you will not be a failure again! You have today to reunite with your brother and mother. Starting tomorrow, come to the Skyruler Immortal Manor to find me, and I will guide your training!"

"Skyruler Immortal Manor?"

Indeed, the Skyruler Immortal Manor was within Sky Soaring City.

Liu Mumu’s words aligned perfectly with Yun Xiao's needs. Newly arrived, he needed to grasp a vine of the Celestial Court and climb it fiercely.

A responsible Liu Mumu was just that strong, reliable vine. She was a leader among Arbiters, a Rank 8 Heavenly Officer with a significant standing in Sky Soaring City, and from a powerful family.

"Master, rest assured, by choosing to return, I'm ready to bravely face the Immortal path," Yun Xiao declared with resolve.

"Don't brag too much. You know how brutal my training can be. Don't end up crying and begging like a weakling, bringing shame upon yourself, you little wimp!" Liu Mumu laughed heartily.

Yun Xiao was left speechless. Indeed, though Lu Yao was passionate at heart, he was somewhat tender, often bullied.

Little wimp was his nickname in Sky Soaring City. And so, he preferred to express his inner thoughts through painting and keeping a diary. Who would have thought that a fierce fugitive like him would now take on this nickname?

"Master, I promise to complete the task this time," Yun Xiao said earnestly.

"Promise?" Liu Mumu pursed her lips and asked, "Kid, is it still your dream to become an Arbiter?"

"Of course! Although an Arbiter is but a Rank 9 Heavenly Officer and the lowest at the Celestial Court, they are the sharp tools of the Celestial Court's will, the great foundation layer, the frontline heroes against sin and calamity, the defenders of the heavenly laws and order!" Yun Xiao's eyes shimmered with fervor.

"Ha! You sound just like you used to," Liu Mumu couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time.

Nonsense! Yun Xiao was simply reciting from Lu Yao's diary.

"Alright!" After laughing, Liu Mumu pondered and muttered, "This year's Arbiter examination is tomorrow. Starting as an Arbiter requires the strength of a True Immortal, and you're only near a Yang Immortal... Well, I'll set a goal for you!"

"Please tell," Yun Xiao said.

"Three years from now," Liu Mumu stared at him, "in three years, you must pass the Arbiter examination, or you'll indeed be too old, and you'll never have another chance to become a Heavenly Officer."

For someone of humble origins, becoming an Arbiter was the first step. Without this, the future was bleak, unless one had connections or a powerful background.

"Give me three years..." Yun Xiao scratched his head, "You just said this year's Arbiter exam is tomorrow?"

"Yes. So I'll send you to your brother's manor shortly, I need to get back. I'm an examiner for the first time this year, and there's much to prepare," Liu Mumu complained with a frown, "Lately, people keep inviting me out, offering gifts, testing my integrity. I firmly refuse!"

"They're going about it all wrong; they should have sent you a dao partner. You might have reluctantly accepted that," Yun Xiao smiled.

"Lu Yao," Liu Mumu glared at him, "Don't ever say that again."

"Why?" Yun Xiao was stunned.

Liu Mumu, embarrassed and blushing, whispered, "I—I and your brother are betrothed..."

"Uh," Yun Xiao was taken aback. He recalled the image of Arbiter Lu's body devoured till only his skin fluttered in the sky like a kite.

"Don't tell anyone!" Liu Mumu said sternly, "My family doesn't approve, so this matter... your brother has been under a lot of pressure. He's been taking missions abroad these past years, also to accumulate enough to gain the approval of my parents and clan."

Her background was impeccable, and she was Arbiter Lu's superior—a match made in a way that, in any society, would be hard for others to affirm.

But Yun Xiao knew, how could true love ever be merely a transaction, a mere comparison of conditions?

"Master, I understand," Yun Xiao nodded.

Liu Mumu bit her lip, whispering, "Privately, calling me sister-in-law wouldn't be wrong."

"Sister-in-law..." As Yun Xiao uttered these words, his heart was in turmoil.

The soft light in Liu Mumu's eyes dreamt of their future. But how could she know that the man had already perished in a whirlpool of sin!

Yun Xiao turned and exchanged a glance with Lian Xi.

Lian Xi was emotional; her eyes reddened again, perhaps the anger towards that dark vortex deepened much more.

The All Life Devouring Gu, the Ascension Technique, the Three Immortals... this was far from over.

Only a corner of a monstrous scheme had been unveiled, chilling to the bone.

Underneath this dark veil, an Arbiter like Arbiter Lu was merely a wisp of inconspicuous smoke, easily snuffed out.

"Ah, who is this?" Liu Mumu asked with a cunning smile.

"Well, my dao partner..." Yun Xiao said, bracing himself.

"Dao partner?" Liu Mumu beckoned Lian Xi closer, asking, "Why does the young lady wear a mask?"

Just as Yun Xiao was about to explain, Liu Mumu was quicker. A gust of wind came, and she tore off Lian Xi's white tiger mask.

"Ah…!?" Liu Mumu looked at the youthful and ethereal face revealed, visibly stunned.

She suddenly turned back to Yun Xiao.

"Master, because she resembles that person, she has attracted much misfortune, so she must wear a mask," Yun Xiao explained.

"Oh..." Liu Mumu observed Lian Xi for a moment before returning the white tiger mask to her, cautioning, "Wearing it like this isn't secure. Think of a way to weld the mask to her face, or even disfigure her."

"You can't be serious?" Yun Xiao said.

Liu Mumu said. "I'm not joking. Especially after the fall of Divine Dawn today, her appearance in this world is more serious than you imagine."

"Why?" Yun Xiao asked. "It's just a resemblance."

"Lu Yao," Liu Mumu warned with gravity, "You've just managed to come home. Concerning Divine Dawn, you must not harbor any curiosity, nor even mention it. And this girl..."

She looked at Lian Xi with utmost seriousness. "If you truly care for him and want a peaceful life, you really can't keep that face."

"Yes..." Lian Xi put on her white tiger mask obediently.

Seeing them so compliant, Liu Mumu's heart softened. "Alright, I'll look around these next few days, see if I can find some decent masks."

"Thank you, Master," Yun Xiao said.

"You're welcome," Liu Mumu sighed, looking at them. "Love is a beautiful thing. If your mother knew you were home and brought a little bride, imagine how happy she'd be?"

After speaking, she added, "Come on, hurry back to your Lu Immortal Manor."

Lu Immortal Manor was the home of Arbiter Lu. The manor was large, but Arbiter Lu was not the head of the household. He and his brothers were considered side branches, of lower birth.

From Lu Yao's diary, it was understood that their mother had been a concubine. The brothers had a harsh upbringing. It wasn't until Lu An became an Arbiter that things got somewhat better.

"Your brother's been out and about lately, probably not at home." As they walked, Liu Mumu spoke of this man, her lips curving into a small smile. "The fellow is foolish but sweet. Every time he returns, he brings me a little gift, quite thoughtful."

After a pause, seeing Yun Xiao not responding, she laughed. "Why so quiet?"

Yun Xiao grinned sheepishly. "Just remembered something."

"What is it?"

"Recently, didn't something big crash into the Celestial Court? I thought I heard people talking about it," Yun Xiao said.

The topic shifted swiftly, but Liu Mumu was also curious about this incident. "I've heard too. It's a black celestial column that struck the Empress Dowager's Kunlun Mountain. That area's been sealed off by the Celestial Court now, only high officials can investigate."

"Oh..."

The Empress Dowager's Kunlun Mountain!

Yun Xiao took note of that place. He was climbing the ranks in Sky Soaring City just to qualify to visit places like the Empress Dowager's Kunlun Mountain.

"By the way..." Liu Mumu pursed her lips and said, "It's said that the place where the seventh princess fell is also on Kunlun Mountain."

Yun Xiao's eyes flickered! That place surely held many truths he wanted to uncover! He also remembered something else! Since he had started asking, he decided to probe everything he wanted to know in one go.

And so, after chatting idly with Liu Mumu for a while, he suddenly asked as if by accident, "Master, what would happen if the stars in the sky shattered?"

"The people inside would all be gone," Liu Mumu said.

"That's too tragic. Doesn’t the Celestial Court have any way to protect them?" Yun Xiao asked.

"Of course, there is." Liu Mumu glanced back at him and said, "The lord of Sky Soaring City possesses an Immortal artifact, the Boundary Stabilizing Divine Needle, which can stabilize a mortal realm, prevent its shattering, and bless the living... This is precisely the mission of the Celestial Court."

"Impressive!" Yun Xiao nodded in admiration.

He hadn't come to the wrong place!

"We've arrived at Lu Immortal Manor." Liu Mumu pointed to a mansion shrouded in celestial mist ahead, then said to Yun Xiao, "Here's your home."

"Oh..." Yun Xiao lifted his head.

"Ten years away, and you hardly recognize the way, do you?" Liu Mumu smiled.

𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"You're right. I feel a bit lost," Yun Xiao admitted.

"Indeed!" Liu Mumu turned and pointed towards another mansion in the distance. "That over there is the Lu Immortal Manor."

Yun Xiao paused, then shook his head and chuckled bitterly.

Liu Mumu said nothing further, just waving her hand, "Go on, go home. Your mother has waited far too long."

Yun Xiao took a few steps forward, then turned back resolutely and asked, "Master, may I still come to you for further instruction tomorrow?"

"Yes," Liu Mumu said.

"Thank you!"

With that, Yun Xiao and Lian Xi hurried toward the Lu Immortal Manor.

After they left, Liu Mumu collapsed at a street corner, pulling out a hairpin, and tears streamed down like rain.

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