How did a bastard like him become an immortal?

Shi Miaochan frowned slightly and pondered, "Among the successors of the four great warlords, Lü Chengyu has gained fame in recent years, but he is also the youngest, and therefore the weakest. Your Li family's eldest son, Li Tian'ao, became famous several years ago and now even holds an official title. I've heard that his cultivation level is around the fifth level of the Heavenly Profound Realm."

Huo Polu fought on the border for many years and repeatedly defeated the Kaiyuan Empire's army. He used the battlefield as his sacred place of cultivation and focused on killing and slaughter in his martial arts. Although his cultivation level was only at the second level of the Heavenly Profound Realm, he once tore apart a Kaiyuan Empire expert at the fourth level of the Heavenly Profound Realm, making the enemy army on the battlefield tremble with fear and retreat.

As for Zhuge Danqing, the descendant of Zhuge Liang, he is extremely mysterious. Zhuge Liang himself was very low-key, and the entire Zhuge Liang family was like a hermit in the capital. No news of him has been heard for ten years, so there is absolutely no way to find out anything about Zhuge Danqing.

As Shi Miaochan recounted the news of these individuals, Li Muyun nodded slowly. The opponents in this autumn imperial examination were increasingly formidable. He didn't know about the others, but Li Tian'ao had already become famous throughout the capital when Li Muyun was only ten years old. Everyone said that Li Tian'ao was the son most like the Marquis of Tiantu, both in martial arts talent and in temperament and methods.

The Heavenly Slaughter Marquis passed on all his unique martial arts techniques to this son who resembled him the most.

Putting everything else aside, the legacy of the Martial Saint is certainly not to be underestimated.

Originally full of confidence, Li Muyun felt the pressure increase. Fortunately, Li Muyun did not need to compete for first place. There were about five hundred people in the capital participating in the autumn examination. He only needed to enter the top ten to secure the position of Juren. If he could enter the top three, he could ask for the title of Lady for his mother.

“Young Master Yun, you don’t need to worry. My brother, the Prince of Qin, told me that if you return, you should go to his residence as soon as possible. He will naturally have a way to help you.” Shi Miaochan smiled sweetly, resting her chin on her hands, her beautiful eyes lingering on Li Muyun’s handsome face.

Li Muyun couldn't bear the intense gaze any longer. His face flushed red, and he said, "In that case, I'll hurry to Your Highness's residence. After all, the autumn examination is only a few days away."

Watching Li Muyun flee in disarray, Shi Miaochan playfully stuck out her tongue, then with a bored wave of her sleeve, she returned to her room.

Upon arriving at the Prince of Qin's residence, Li Muyun was somewhat surprised to see the extremely simple mansion. This was the residence of the first prince of the Tang Empire, the official residence of the contender for the throne, second only to the Crown Prince's palace, yet it was so ordinary.

The gate and lintel were made of ordinary rosewood, simple, grand, and unassuming. If it weren't for the three large characters "Qin Prince's Mansion" on the gate, it would be hard to imagine that this was the residence of the dignified Prince Qin.

There wasn't even a single guard at the entrance of the mansion, so Li Muyun had no one to ask and had to enter on his own. The first room he entered surprised him once again.

[Public Opinion Forum]

A giant three-legged cauldron sits in the main hall, containing many bamboo slips and letters.

The so-called "Hall of Public Opinion" was a place where any commoner could write down their thoughts and opinions about the Tang Empire and throw them into a large cauldron. His Highness Prince Qin would spend three days each month carefully reading these letters with his retainers and advisors. If there were any facts or good ideas, they would jointly decide on a plan, write it into a memorial, and submit it to the current emperor.

Li Muyun finally understood why His Highness the Prince of Qin was so popular and beloved by the people of the capital and even the Tang Dynasty. He had opened up a special channel for truly acting in the people's best interests. No matter where one suffered injustice, oppression, or even official collusion, as long as one could put the letter into this cauldron, there would be a way out.

It has long been said that His Highness the King of Qin loves his people like his own children, and worries about the well-being of all people. Now it seems that his reputation is indeed well-deserved.

Passing through the Hall of Public Opinion, Li Muyun continued forward, and suddenly his eyes were drawn to a magnificent mansion. Compared to the Qin Prince's Mansion outside, this place looked like the real Qin Prince's Palace.

Gold-lacquered jade beads, nanmu wood and colored bricks—it's incredibly luxurious.

Li Muyun looked up and saw that the plaque above the gate read "Lixian Hall".

On both sides is a couplet: "Concerned about the people, the country, and the nation; serving Guizhou, the emperor, and the world."

It turns out that this was a residence prepared by the King of Qin for his advisors, which was even more luxurious and magnificent than the King of Qin's own residence.

Li Muyun was amazed. This Prince Qin truly possessed the aura of a king, had the people of the world in his heart, and treated the virtuous and talented with respect. If such a person were to become the Crown Prince, the world would be at peace.

But now that he is the King of Qin, the Crown Prince's palace must be feeling uneasy. A bloody storm is inevitable in the future.

After passing through the Hall of Respect for the Worthy, Li Muyun finally saw a simple courtyard with two armored guards standing outside the door. This was the residence of the King of Qin.

Li Muyun approached the guard and said, "Please inform the guard that Li Muyun has come to visit His Highness Prince Qin."

"Please wait a moment, sir."

The two guards exchanged a glance, nodded, and one stood guard at the door while the other went inside to report.

Just then, a man walked out of the Hall of Respect for the Worthy. He was dressed in a magnificent robe and was only about thirty years old, but he looked old and arrogant. When he saw Li Muyun standing in front of the King of Qin's gate, he frowned and said coldly, "Who are you who wants to see the King of Qin?"

Li Muyun said calmly, "Li Muyun."

"Li Muyun of the Marquis of Tiantu's Mansion?"

Gao Lixue frowned even more deeply. He had heard of this name before; a few days ago, the man had almost severed ties with Tiantu Hou, causing a lot of trouble.

"You may leave; the Prince of Qin's residence has no need of you."

"Oh?" Li Muyun raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing the person before him. "Who are you? Can you make decisions on behalf of the King of Qin?"

Gao Lixue's expression changed slightly, and he immediately said aggressively, "Of course I can't. But do you think you can see His Highness? What qualifications do you have to make His Highness see you? Leave at once, or don't blame my formation for being ruthless!"

As he spoke, a talisman appeared in his hand, and the pressure of a human-level formation erupted from the talisman, directly suppressing Li Muyun.

Li Muyun's lips twitched. It was just a mere human-level suppression formation. This level of formation was not even as strong as his ten times gravity pressure. That's all?

Seeing that Li Muyun did not make any move, Gao Lixue assumed that Li Muyun was too shocked by the formation to speak. He slowly walked up to Li Muyun and said arrogantly, "I am a peak human-level formation master under the command of the King of Qin. What are you to think you can join the King of Qin's ranks? Now, get out of here!"

"I see you are one of His Highness Prince Qin's people, and I do not wish to harm you. You are just a lowly human-level array master, do not push your luck." Li Muyun looked at Gao Lixue with a calm and collected expression.

"What did you say? Hahaha!" Gao Lixue laughed in anger upon hearing Li Muyun's words. As a noble array master, he was respected wherever he went, yet Li Muyun, a mere bastard, dared to speak so arrogantly. "I think you're courting death!"

Just then, a flash of light appeared in Li Muyun's hand, and a talisman appeared in his hand. With a slight movement of his true essence, a pressure far exceeding that of a high-level human-grade array suddenly erupted, "Mid-grade spirit-level array - Thunder Lock Spirit Array".