On the outskirts of Yunyang City.
In the living room of Luo Yue's House.
Luo Xiu activated the Jade Talisman and stared at the information flashing across the light screen, feeling utterly frustrated and confused. Luo Yue, standing by his side, could tell his mood was off and didn't dare to utter a sound.
After a long while, Luo Xiu put down the Jade Talisman. He stood up and walked out of the living room, needing so fresh air. He couldn't be completely certain that "Miss Lin" was the Lin Xiyue he was searching for, but his subconscious insisted that it was undoubtedly her.
Regardless, I still have to find a way to confirm it.
With that thought, Luo Xiu turned to Luo Yue and asked, "Is there a fast way to enter the Inner Plains?"
Luo Yue considered saying that simply barging in was the quickest thod, but that was obviously unrealistic. With Luo Xiu's strength, he could easily break in, but the problem was what would happen afterward. Any commotion would certainly alert Emperor Hao.
Luo Yue pondered for a mont before saying, "Under normal circumstances, it's very difficult for soone from the Outer Plains to enter the Inner Plains. However, with the Martial Arts Competition about to start, perhaps Your Majesty could try entering through the competition. Besides, you've ntioned wanting to participate in it before."
"Then let's proceed with that plan," Luo Xiu nodded.
Luo Yue added, "However, to participate in the Martial Arts Competition, you must first pass a test. A Loose Cultivator without any background doesn't even have the qualifications to sign up for the test. After all, this competition is directly related to Her Highness the Holy Maiden's marriage, so the Lingtian Plateau definitely won't allow young people without status or of low social standing to join in the spectacle."
"Those who can participate are inevitably the most outstanding young elites, the absolute cream of the crop!"
"Is it that complicated?" Luo Xiu asked, a hint of frustration in his voice.
Luo Yue thought carefully for a mont. "Your Majesty needn't worry about this. We can register through Awu's dojo. His dojo has a decent reputation here in Yunyang City. I can't boast about much, but it certainly has the qualifications to sign up for the test. We'll participate in the Martial Arts Competition under the guise of dojo disciples."
"Then make the arrangents," Luo Xiu nodded.
"No problem. I'll discuss it with Awu later."
Luo Xiu glanced toward the kitchen with an odd expression. "But your husband doesn't seem to get along with 'Bai Haoran.' Will he agree to help?"
A faint smile touched Luo Yue's lips. "He wouldn't dare to disobey ."
That one casual sentence was filled with ultimate authority and invincible confidence.
Luo Xiu decisively gave her a thumbs-up. "You're really sothing else!"
...
"What the hell?!" Wang Wu exclaid. "Yueyue, you can't be serious! This frail, sickly-looking pretty boy actually wants to participate in Her Highness the Holy Maiden's Martial Arts Competition?! That's utterly absurd!"
BANG!
Luo Yue slamd her palm on the table, startling Wang Wu into a dumbfounded silence.
"Enough of your nonsense! Just go if I tell you to!" she snapped. "If you dare to utter one more complaint, you can forget about sleeping in our bed ever again!"
Wang Wu instantly cowered. "Oh, my dear, it's not a big deal! I'll go, alright? I'll go! Honestly, every single day..."
Muttering under his breath, he shot a glare at Luo Xiu. Pretty boy, I'll see for myself what you're really capable of, trying to punch so far above your weight. With that weak body of yours, any of my disciples could probably pin you with ease! Hmph, dreaming of becoming the Saint Horse? In your dreams!
Luo Yue shot him a warning glance. "What 'Saint Horse'?"
Wang Wu shrugged. "The husband of Her Highness the Princess is called the 'Consort Prince,' so wouldn't the husband of Her Highness the Holy Maiden be the 'Saint Horse'?"
Annoyed, Luo Yue rapped him on the head. "Why not a 'public horse' then? Honestly, the nonsense you spout... Just eat your food! If you dare disrespect Her Highness the Holy Maiden again, I'll kill you!"
...
「The next day.」
Luo Xiu and Luo Yue arrived in the city district of Yunyang City early in the morning. Luo Xiu kept yawning the entire way, a clear sign he hadn't slept well again. As for why, Wang Wu and Luo Yue knew better than anyone else.
...
There was a vast square in the district that served as the testing site for the Martial Arts Competition. In the center of the square stood a ten-ter-tall boulder, its surface inscribed with mysterious runes that shimred with Spirit Light. Every young Cultivator who registered for the test was required to move this giant stone to determine if they qualified to participate.
"Here, pretty boy, this is your registration plaque," Wang Wu said, squeezing through the crowd to find Luo Xiu and Luo Yue. He reluctantly handed a wooden plaque to Luo Xiu. "Rember, you're just here for the experience. Know when to quit, and don't you dare bring sha upon our Yue Wu Dojo."
It had taken him all morning to get that plaque, costing him a good amount of Spirit Jade and calling in nurous favors.
At that mont, the Yue Wu Dojo disciples who had tagged along were all sizing up Luo Xiu, their eyes filled with mockery.
Suddenly, Luo Yue stomped her foot, driving her sharp high heel squarely onto Wang Wu's instep.
"AARGH!" Wang Wu cried out, nearly fainting from the pain. "Yueyue, you stepped on ! For this pretty boy!"
"Shut up!"
Shortly after, under the contemptuous gaze of Wang Wu and the other disciples, Luo Xiu took the wooden plaque, walked through the crowd, and stepped onto the testing square. A white-haired elder took the plaque and activated so kind of spell. The plaque flared with brilliant light, and a line of clear text materialized in The Void.
[Bai Haoran. Male. Twenty-two years old. From Yue Wu Dojo of Yunyang City.]
The elder's eyes widened in surprise. It was the first ti he had ever seen a participant who was only twenty-two.
By now, the crowd of onlookers in the square had also noticed Luo Xiu's information.
"This kid... no way, he's only twenty-two?"
"For a Cultivator, twenty-two is still just a baby!"
"A baby who hasn't even finished puberty wants to join the Martial Arts Competition and compete with the prodigies of the Hundred Clans?"
"Hahahaha! Say what you will, but we Yunyang People are going to be famous this ti!"
"Famous for what? For making fools of ourselves!"
"What was the Yue Wu Dojo thinking, sending a baby to compete?!"
...
Luo Xiu paid no attention to the crowd's chatter. Following the white-haired elder's directions, he walked straight toward the giant stone. The boulder was known as the Mighty Celestial Stone. It was far heavier than an ordinary rock, and the special runes inscribed on it caused its weight to increase the longer it was touched. To pass, a participant had to lift the Mighty Celestial Stone for more than seven and a half minutes.
"Hahahaha, hurry it up, baby! I've got to go grocery shopping later, so don't waste my ti!" Wang Wu shouted from the edge of the square.
He certainly didn't believe Luo Xiu could lift the Mighty Celestial Stone. Several days had passed since the testing began. In Yunyang City, more than five thousand people had attempted the test, but only five had succeeded. This first hurdle was designed to filter out all but the true one-in-ten-thousand talents, and he didn't believe for a second that Luo Xiu was one of them.
Just then, a few of Wang Wu's peers couldn't resist needling him. "I say, Wang Wu, what's your little dojo doing trying to get in on the action? It's one thing to show up, but to send a baby?"
Facing the ridicule from his peers, Wang Wu felt his face flush. He forced a response, "Hmph, this kid has no chance. He just joined my dojo, so I brought him here to broaden his horizons. You don't actually think my little disciple could lift the Mighty Celestial Stone and go to the Inner Plains for the competition, do you?"
"Heh, you sure know your place, Wang Wu."
"What do you an, 'know my place'?" Wang Wu shot back. "I was just letting this brat have so fun, that's all!"
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