Chapter 206: Chapter 205: Maze Array Assessment

"You don’t even know about the assessment? Didn’t Steward He tell you? She recommended you for the assessment so you could join the Celestial Pattern Pavilion, a place dedicated to cultivating Divine Runes." Yang Xixue looked at him with confusion, finding it a bit strange.

Of course, he knew that. The problem was, he wasn’t here for an assessment; he was here to see He Qianhan.

"Um, is Steward He here?" Yi Tianyun asked.

"Steward He hasn’t returned yet. If you want to find her, you’ll have to come back later. But it’s no use looking for her anyway. If you can’t pass the assessment, you can’t join the Celestial Pattern Pavilion!" Yang Xixue said with a frown. "As it happens, I’m heading back to the Celestial Pattern Pavilion, so I can take you to the assessment. If you pass, you’ll have to call me Senior Sister!" Yang Xixue’s pretty lips curved into a smile, her serious demeanor vanishing instantly.

"Senior Sister?" Yi Tianyun sized up Yang Xixue from top to bottom. The thought of her becoming his senior sister was rather amusing.

"This... Alright then, I’ll go with you to the assessment, Senior Sister." Yi Tianyun thought for a moment and quickly changed his mind. He had originally planned to reveal his identity, but on second thought, he decided against it.

’It’s a good chance to go with her and see what things are like here. I can get a comprehensive look at the inner workings of the Celestial Extreme Mansion and see exactly where it has fallen into decline.’

"You can only call me that after you pass the assessment!" Yang Xixue’s expression turned serious again. Realizing the young man before her hadn’t passed yet, she thought it best to maintain her sternness.

Yi Tianyun shrugged helplessly, deciding to let Yang Xixue have her way. In the end, it was just a title.

Yang Xixue then led him toward the Celestial Pattern Pavilion. After a winding walk, they reached the back of a mountain. A dense forest lay before them, looking quite ordinary with no distinguishing features.

"Xixue, what are you doing?" Just then, two young men appeared from behind, staring daggers at Yi Tianyun, who stood beside Yang Xixue as if he were a love rival.

The intimate way he said her name felt a bit strange to Yi Tianyun...

Yang Xixue frowned and corrected him, "Please don’t address me so familiarly. It might cause a misunderstanding."

"You’re my fiancée. Why can’t I call you that?" Feng Yulong said with a smile, his eyes narrowing. But as he looked at Yi Tianyun standing next to Yang Xixue, his expression soured with disgust, as if he had just swallowed a fly.

"Feng Yulong, I’m warning you. This engagement was arranged by our fathers. It has nothing to do with me. The only way I’ll accept is if you surpass me in inscribing Divine Runes! I will only marry a man who is stronger than I am, not one who is weaker!" Yang Xixue’s gaze was ice-cold, her dislike for Feng Yulong palpable.

Yi Tianyun’s eyes lit up as he stood to the side. ’This woman certainly has standards,’ he thought. ’And she’s right. If a man is weaker than her, what right does he have to marry her?’ This gave him a clear picture of Yang Xixue’s personality.

A cold glint flashed through Feng Yulong’s eyes, but he had to admit that he was a notch weaker than Yang Xixue in every aspect.

"This was a decision made by our two families. Do you really think ruining the relationship between our families is the right choice?" Feng Yulong sneered. "I suggest you think about that carefully. Speaking of which, what’s the deal with this kid? Why are you with him?"

When a man can’t win over a woman, seeing her with another man makes the flames of jealousy in his heart burn ever higher. Suddenly, everyone is an eyesore.

"I, Yang Xixue, mean what I say. We can talk again whenever you manage to become stronger than me," Yang Xixue said coolly. "He is a new junior-brother-to-be, recommended by Steward He, here for his assessment. If you have no further questions, you may leave."

"Someone recommended by Steward He?"

Only then did Feng Yulong and his companion take a closer look at Yi Tianyun, sizing him up with a hint of doubt.

"Are you sure you’re not mistaken?" Feng Yulong sneered. "He’s way too young. His skill level must be garbage. It’d be a miracle if he could pass the Maze Array. I bet he’s an impostor who found a Token somewhere. We should drag him to the Law Enforcement Hall right now before something bad happens!"

"Exactly! When has the Celestial Pattern Pavilion ever accepted a disciple this young? I suspect he’s an impostor too! Look at how shabbily he’s dressed. I bet he’s trying to sneak in and steal something!" Liao Wen, Feng Yulong’s companion, chimed in, wholeheartedly agreeing.

It was true that Yi Tianyun was dressed rather plainly. His clothes were very common, a world away from the magnificent robes they wore.

"I don’t want to get involved in your personal affairs. I just want to get this assessment over with," Yi Tianyun said, having been innocently dragged into their conflict. "Just because you couldn’t do it at this age doesn’t mean others can’t. There’s always a higher mountain and a stronger person."

’All this random drama, and I get dragged into it just by standing here. It’s ridiculous.’

"Oh? Quite the arrogant tone. So you’re saying you can definitely pass this Maze Array?" Feng Yulong’s gaze grew cold as he sneered, "With your skill level, you’ll be trapped in there for the rest of your life, won’t you? If you can get out in under an hour, I’ll walk backward from now on!"

"Feng is right. If he can get out, I’ll spend the rest of my life walking on my head!" Liao Wen chimed in.

Their words weren’t entirely baseless. Those who could cultivate Divine Runes were typically scions of great families. Yi Tianyun had none of the bearing of a young master; he looked more like a refugee from some remote village.

"Excellent. From now on, I’ll get to see you walking backward and him walking on his head whenever I go out." Yi Tianyun turned to Yang Xixue and said calmly, "So the assessment you mentioned is just crossing this Maze Forest?"

"That’s right. You just have to cross to the other side, regardless of how long it takes. However, the time you take will affect your final score..." Before Yang Xixue could finish her explanation, Yi Tianyun had already turned, walked into the woods, and quickly vanished from sight.

"Feng, that kid is way too arrogant! He talks as if he can actually pass it with ease!" Liao Wen said angrily. "Let’s go see for ourselves just how long it takes him to get out of that Maze Forest!"

With that, the two of them walked into the Maze Forest. Yang Xixue followed, and she too disappeared into the Maze Forest.

Meanwhile, Yi Tianyun, who had entered first, was already isolated. Yang Xixue and the others were nowhere to be seen. He was now inside the Maze Array, and the only way out was to break it.

’Using this as an entrance is certainly a unique choice. You have to break the array every time you come and go, though I suppose it becomes easy once you’re familiar with it.’

’So this is the Maze Forest. It’s real enough, I suppose, but it’s far too low-level. For a Fifth Grade Divine Rune Master, this is hardly worth a second glance.’ Yi Tianyun shook his head, completely unconcerned by the Maze Array.

Then, after getting his bearings, he set off, heading straight for the exit.