Chapter 263 – So the Top Scorer Was Already Decided

The Leader of the Black Lotus Sect, an existence ranked at the top of the Immortal Alliance’s most-wanted list.

This was not only due to the Leader’s Deity Transformation Stage cultivation.

But also because of the numerous bloody incidents he had committed within the Immortal Alliance.

Whether it was the “Luocheng Chaos” ten years ago or the recent “Luocheng High School Incident,”

Both had caused significant impacts on the Immortal Alliance.

Although the Leader of the Black Lotus Sect did not personally participate in either event,

As the sect’s Leader, the actions of his subordinates were naturally attributed to him.

Yet, such a Demonic Path cultivator, wanted by the Immortal Alliance for so many years,

Had managed to hide within the Immortal Alliance for a full thirty years.

To this day, no one knew his true appearance.

There were two prevailing rumors about this.

One claimed that the Black Lotus Sect Leader, the Black Lotus Holy Mother, possessed a unique Cultivation Manual, and only his Clone operated within the Immortal Alliance, while his true body was hidden in a special Secret Realm beyond the Alliance’s detection.

The other was simpler: everyone who had seen the Black Lotus Sect Leader’s true face was dead.

As for these two rumors, the followers of the Black Lotus Sect believed both.

Because the current form the Black Lotus Sect Leader displayed—a child with masculine features and a feminine aura—was something no one would believe to be his true body.

Especially since this boy only had Nascent Soul Stage cultivation.

What kind of antagonist organization would have a elementary school student carrying a backpack as its leader?

As the Black Lotus Sect Leader approached the bar, the followers who had been idly sitting around gathered together.

Everyone present here was a high-ranking member of the Black Lotus Sect.

Including three Nascent Soul Stage Protectors and the twelve Zodiac Altar Lords.

However, only two of the twelve Zodiacs remained now.

Three Zodiac destinies had been retained by Lu Chen, unable to return to the Buddha Mother’s Palm Buddha Realm or be transferred to other qualified believers.

If the Immortal Alliance were to discover the situation here and send a large number of experts to surround the place,

Even if they couldn’t uproot the Black Lotus Sect entirely, they could still inflict significant damage to their Origin Qi.

But they dared to appear here because they had the confidence to avoid being captured by the Immortal Alliance…

The Black Lotus Sect Leader flew onto the bar and sat on its edge, looking at the people around.

Finally, the Black Lotus Sect Leader turned to Lady White Bone Bai Ruolin and asked, “Lady White Bone, how is the task I assigned you progressing?”

Lady White Bone elegantly set down her wine glass and replied, “It’s mostly settled. On the day of the Qingzhou College Entrance Exam Ranking Tournament, you’ll be able to enter the venue directly as staff members.”

“Besides, I’ve also obtained the entire guest list for this ranking tournament.”

“There are no Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators on this list, so it shouldn’t affect our plans.”

The Black Lotus Sect Leader nodded, expressing satisfaction with Lady White Bone’s arrangements.

Then he looked at Faceless not far away and asked, “What about you? Have you prepared everything I asked you to?”

“You must understand this is crucial to whether we can successfully retrieve the Holy Son and withdraw unscathed.”

Faceless didn’t say much but took out a peculiar Bronze Fragment from his Spatial Ring.

The fragment had a unique appearance, with a circular protrusion at its center.

It seemed to be a piece taken from some kind of bronze artifact.Although this was merely a fragment, the intricate inscriptions remaining on it and the ancient aura it exuded made it clear that it was no ordinary object.

Faceless held the fragment calmly and said, “By the Leader’s command, after my breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Stage, I went to the Cui Clan Territory and retrieved the item you requested, Leader.”

The Black Lotus Sect Leader extended his hand, and the bronze fragment immediately flew into his grasp.

Looking at the fragment in his hand, the Black Lotus Sect Leader’s typically unreadable expression showed a rare change.

“After all this time, we’ve finally found it…”

After a pause, the Black Lotus Sect Leader asked, “Well? Was your theft of this item discovered by anyone?”

Faceless replied calmly, “Everyone who knew about this matter is dead. Moreover, the Cui Clan didn’t seem to value this item highly, keeping it stored in their family treasure vault for years.”

“To conceal the true purpose of my mission, I also took many other valuable treasures from the Cui Clan.”

“I doubt anyone would suspect that my real target was this small bronze fragment.”

“Good.”

The Black Lotus Sect Leader didn’t doubt Faceless’s words.

Given Faceless’s unique cultivation manual, unless he deliberately revealed himself, no one could possibly detect him.

After all, for someone who could even deceive his own ‘true self,’

fooling others was merely child’s play.

Nearby, Perfected Thousand Poisons, seeing how much importance the Black Lotus Sect Leader placed on this bronze fragment, couldn’t help but ask curiously, “Leader, what exactly is this object? And why do you say it’s related to our success in retrieving the Holy Son?”

Facing Perfected Thousand Poisons’s question, the Black Lotus Sect Leader replied calmly, “This… is a fragment of an ancient Celestial Artifact.”

“What?!”

His words sent shockwaves through the crowd.

Celestial Artifacts—they had only heard of such things in legends.

Why was the Immortal Alliance so dominant, suppressing all other races from easily entering their world?

While it was true that the Immortal Alliance had numerous powerful cultivators that other races couldn’t match,

another crucial reason was that the Immortal Alliance publicly possessed a genuine Celestial Artifact—the Nine Provinces Cauldron.

The existence of the Nine Provinces Cauldron meant that anyone wanting to enter the Immortal Alliance’s territory had to pay a heavy price, with their strength significantly suppressed.

And that was just one of the cauldron’s effects.

Some even said that if the Immortal Alliance truly unleashed the Nine Provinces Cauldron,

it could effortlessly destroy an entire province.

Even Deity Transformation cultivators would be powerless before it.

And that was only what was publicly known.

Rumors suggested that each of the Four Great Sacred Grounds within the Immortal Alliance also possessed their own respective sect-guarding Celestial Artifacts.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to suppress the ‘Forbidden Lands’ single-handedly.

It was important to remember that none of those Forbidden Lands were simple.

Thus, upon learning that the bronze fragment in the Black Lotus Sect Leader’s hand was part of a Celestial Artifact, everyone present showed complex expressions—

surprise, envy… and greed.

The Black Lotus Sect Leader paid no mind to this.

He stored the bronze fragment and said indifferently, “Alright, the preparations are nearly complete. All of you, return and make your final preparations.”

“This will be the last time we make such a conspicuous appearance in the Immortal Alliance for nearly a decade.”

“After this matter, we’ll need to lie low for quite some time.”Hearing the words of the Black Lotus Sect Leader, everyone nodded in agreement and then departed one after another.

At the thought of the grand event in a few days, some of them couldn’t help but feel excited.

They had a premonition that if they could truly cause a major stir in the upcoming Qingzhou College Entrance Exam Ranking Tournament,

it would undoubtedly shock the entire Immortal Alliance and elevate the reputation of their Black Lotus Sect to new heights.

“Thriving on chaos” described them perfectly.

On the day of the college entrance exam,

“Xiao Lu, Xiao Mu, do your best and don’t feel pressured.”

“Don’t worry, Dad. This exam is completely in the bag for us—easy and effortless.”

Mu Xiaoye raised her hand, squinted her eyes, and made a pinching gesture toward her father Mu Chengjun, radiating confidence.

On the other hand, although Lu Chen wasn’t as boastful as Mu Xiaoye,

he appeared equally calm and composed, as if the college entrance exam were as ordinary to him as having a meal at a roadside restaurant.

Seeing his daughter underestimate the exam so much, Mu Chengjun wanted to say something but had to admit,

given Mu Xiaoye’s current cultivation and strength,

those her age who could surpass her were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.

In fact, Mu Chengjun felt that if Lu Chen, that monster, were excluded,

his daughter could easily be considered the top high school student in the entire Immortal Alliance.

Second to none but one, reigning supreme over all—that described her perfectly.

Though he knew this well, Mu Chengjun couldn’t resist lightly tapping her forehead.

“Look at you, so full of yourself. ‘Easy and effortless,’ huh? Be careful not to trip over your own arrogance and end up with nowhere to cry.”

Even after being scolded by her old man, Mu Xiaoye remained unrepentant.

“Trip? There’s no way I, Mu Xiaoye, will trip this time!”

“Dad, you used to say I stayed in Luocheng too much and didn’t interact enough with peers from other places, which made me think I was invincible among my age group.”

“But after traveling to many places with Sister Jiang over the past six months, I suddenly realized… aside from Xiao Lu, I truly am invincible!”

“The college entrance exam? It’s just a formality.”

“Just wait and see, Dad. This time, I’ll definitely bring back the title of second place in the Qingzhou college entrance exam and make you proud in front of your colleagues!”

Looking at Mu Xiaoye’s boundless arrogance, Mu Chengjun could only laugh helplessly.

What else could he do but laugh, having such a daughter?

“Alright, Dad, the exam is about to start. Xiao Lu and I are heading in now. Remember to cook something extra delicious today to reward us.”

Hearing this, Mu Chengjun chuckled and scolded, “Go on, hurry up. If you really manage to place second in Qingzhou, not only will I cook you a feast, but I’d even give you all my savings without hesitation.”

“Hehe, that won’t be necessary. Keep your private savings for your own future marriage. As the Young Miss of the Myriad Enterprises Immortal Sect, I lack nothing, least of all money.”

With that, Mu Xiaoye didn’t wait for Mu Chengjun to respond and pulled Lu Chen toward the exam hall at Luocheng High School.

Watching their retreating figures, Mu Chengjun felt a sudden wave of emotion.

Unknowingly, the two little kids who once relied entirely on his care had now grown capable of standing on their own.

Though they were still high school students, their cultivation had long surpassed that of their old man.Time truly is something invisible and intangible…

The first day of the college entrance exam wasn’t particularly complicated.

The morning session consisted of the Comprehension Ability test, essentially a written examination.

For Lu Chen, who had undergone the trials of Book Mountain, this exam posed no difficulty whatsoever.

Had he not wanted to appear too unconventional, he could have submitted his paper just ten minutes after the exam began.

But even with appropriate restraint,

Lu Chen still handed in his test paper after merely half an hour.

The invigilator wasn’t surprised by this; in fact, he regarded it as completely expected.

This teacher happened to be an external staff member from the Linjiang Shanhai Bureau.

Although he hadn’t met Lu Chen personally, he had heard numerous accounts from Yan Lei, the Mountain and Sea Walker of Linjiang, about the achievements of Lu Chen and Mu Xiaoye during their Agent trials.

While it seemed like a long time had passed, in reality, it had only been half a year.

Thus, from the very beginning, this invigilator never considered Lu Chen and Mu Xiaoye to be on the same level as the other examinees.

If not for bringing honor to Luocheng High School and the entire city of Luocheng,

Lu Chen would have long been directly admitted to one of the Four Great Academies.

After completing the morning’s Comprehension Ability exam, the next tests would assess the cultivators’ cultivation level and Aptitude.

Afternoon, Luocheng High School, Cultivation Level Examination Hall.

[Foundation Establishment Perfection, Score… 100]

Gasp!

Upon seeing Lu Chen’s score, the examinees in the hall erupted in astonishment.

It’s important to note that the candidates appearing at Luocheng High School weren’t just from Luocheng.

Many had come from surrounding counties and towns.

These students knew nothing about Lu Chen before arriving.

They were unaware that such a monster had emerged from Luocheng.

But even the teachers and students from Luocheng High who were familiar with Lu Chen hadn’t expected his current cultivation to reach such terrifying heights.

Foundation Establishment Perfection? Hadn’t he just entered the Foundation Establishment Stage half a year ago?

How could he achieve perfection in just six months?

Just because he visited the Qingzhou Shanhai Bureau HQ?

Facing everyone’s astonishment, Lu Chen calmly walked to the rest area nearby, neither joyful nor sorrowful.

Shortly after Lu Chen left, Mu Xiaoye also approached the testing ‘Immortal Stone.’

Soon after, Mu Xiaoye’s cultivation level was displayed before everyone.

[Foundation Establishment Stage Fourth Layer, Score… 100]

If not for Lu Chen, Mu Xiaoye’s results might have shocked the entire venue.

But with Lu Chen as comparison, Mu Xiaoye’s Foundation Establishment Fourth Layer, while impressive, didn’t seem as astonishing.

Although both received perfect cultivation scores of 100, this wasn’t Lu Chen’s limit—it was the exam’s maximum score.

After completing the cultivation exam, Lu Chen quickly proceeded to the Aptitude test.

Aptitude testing was normally conducted for each student before enrollment.

However, since a cultivator’s Aptitude could potentially change through later cultivation,

the Immortal Alliance specifically included this component in the college entrance exam.

Having long enhanced his cultivation Aptitude to perfection, Lu Chen unsurprisingly achieved another perfect score in this assessment.

Mu Xiaoye, as the current generation’s Phoenix Calamity Cultivator, similarly achieved the same result.

One could say that even if both had scored zero in the morning’s Comprehension Ability test,

they would still ultimately receive an ‘A-grade’ exam Rank.

Thereby qualifying them to apply to the Four Great Academies.Although the first day of the Gaokao was tedious, the astonishing performances of Lu Chen and Mu Xiaoye made the atmosphere throughout Luocheng become lively.

Especially the faculty of No. 1 High, who had already begun preparing the victory banquet in advance.

Indeed, although the Gaokao had not yet concluded, in their view, there was no longer any suspense about its outcome.

If even Lu Chen, who had reached Foundation Establishment Perfection, couldn’t become the Qingzhou Top Scorer, then this world would be truly surreal!

By now, many people in Luocheng suddenly realized that the top scorer had essentially been predetermined by them all along!

(End of Chapter)