[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign":3,"chapter-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-104":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Eternal Green Immortal Sovereign",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2270112,4432,"Chapter 104: Establishing a Guard Battalion","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-104",104,"\u003Cp>Qinghe Branch Office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Qian and Kun shift in sequence; true qi hides within the abdomen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui sat cross-legged on a mat, palms clasped in a circle, five points facing heaven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The five points refer to the palms of both hands, the soles of both feet, and the crown of the head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hands and head were fine, but turning both feet upward required some skill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, Li Rui would have admitted he couldn’t do it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as a martial artist, his entire body had long been tempered to perfection, extremely supple, so it came effortlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thread of Xuanqing qi wandered through his body, again and again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thirty-six celestial cycles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only by practicing daily without fail could the qi take shape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Nine Mystical Celestial Map is truly profound!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During this period of cultivation, Li Rui clearly felt the Xuanqing qi had grown significantly stronger—his hair strands had thickened to the size of ropes, already quite impressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not much longer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True qi would take form within his dantian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its applications would be limitless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With increased reading and advancing cultivation, his insight was far beyond what it had been.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The divine weapon talismans mentioned by Han Qin and others were merely one application of true qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Warriors above the sixth rank could maintain true qi outside the body for extended periods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such talismans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Involved infusing true qi into talisman paper, then activating it with special techniques when needed to injure or kill enemies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were commonly carried by elders in wealthy households as life-saving charms for their juniors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, rumors spoke of a major sect in the Central Plains, deeply versed in talisman arts, with considerable renown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui patted his trousers, stood up, and stepped out through the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sun blazed at its hottest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Li, we’re getting old—we ought to get out more often, stretch our limbs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yong looked at Li Rui with concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, Li Rui often came out to practice, his “Old Man’s Fist” deeply pleasing to Yang Yong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for some reason,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>lately Li Rui had been going out less and less.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He woke later and later; sometimes he wasn’t seen until noon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he no longer practiced the “Old Man’s Fist.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yong was no longer young himself and knew the human body well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If one remained inactive for too long, the body would weaken further, and falling ill until bedridden was common.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this continued, he might not live many more years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he often urged Li Rui to go out and move around more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui smiled faintly: “Don’t worry—I know my old bones better than anyone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He understood Yang Yong’s intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the gap between a martial artist and an ordinary person was too vast; his current physical condition surpassed even a young man’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sitting in meditation and circulating qi was a common method among seventh-rank martial artists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet since seventh rank was so far removed from ordinary people, the public assumed all martial artists were merely brawlers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the two spoke,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a knock came at the courtyard gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Li.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two walked toward the gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yong opened the door and saw a young disciple standing outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He recognized him as one of Dao Xiong’s disciples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is Dao Zhubo asking for me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man nodded in surprise: “Deputy Zhubo Li, Dao Zhubo has urgent matters to discuss—please come with me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Dao Xiong requested it, it was best not to refuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>he followed the young disciple to the front of the Gathering Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Gathering Hall was not a specific branch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was where the Qinghe Branch Office held meetings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Li Rui entered, he found that besides Dao Xiong, Ge Hong, Zhang Yang, and Zhou Rui—all deputy zhubos—were also present. “This is quite the gathering.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui silently thought, taking the empty seat to Zhang Yang’s left without showing emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yang turned his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his back to Dao Xiong, he gave Li Rui a meaningful glance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui understood instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yang wanted to know what had happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shrugged, indicating he had no idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dao Xiong cleared his throat once all four were seated: “We’ve just received word from the main office—the Annan Army will establish a guard battalion here in Qinghe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guard battalion!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The brows of Li Rui and the other three rose in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>=9+book_bar\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Annan Army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was no ordinary force; “Annan Army” was a civilian term for the troops under Annan Garrison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Annan Regional Commander was a third-rank official.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His status was extraordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He commanded a full twenty thousand troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Annan Garrison had seventeen guard battalions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qinghe lay precisely between two of them, long a no-man’s-land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet now they were establishing a separate guard battalion here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dao Xiong laughed heartily: “The imperial court is cracking down on the Ghost Ming  Sect, so they’re placing the guard battalion right here in Qinghe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yang and the others immediately brightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was excellent news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guard battalions weren’t always established in prefectural capitals; sometimes, for strategic reasons, they were placed in major counties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whenever a county gained a guard battalion, its status soared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some even rivaled prefectural capitals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the battalion stationed within the city numbered over a thousand troops, it would inevitably boost local economic development.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In addition, the imperial court would offer considerable favors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would often attract martial artists from the jianghu seeking opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If one caught the eye of Annan Army officers, this could be a golden chance to secure an official post—true advancement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Annan Army was no ragged frontier force like the Guyuan Army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of the time, they didn’t need to risk their lives in battle; it was a genuinely lucrative post.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qinghe City’s status would rise sharply, and the Qinghe Branch Office would rise with it; their positions as zhubos and deputy zhubos would gain half a rank above other branches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention all the hidden benefits—city expansion, land allocation, and more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yang and the others grinned broadly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I wonder who the new Assistant Regional Commander will be—we should find out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yang rubbed his hands together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was already plotting how to befriend the Assistant Regional Commander.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Assistant Regional Commander was the highest-ranking officer in a guard battalion—ranked fifth, equal to a Prefect; his subordinates, Garrison Commanders, were sixth rank, a full rank above a County Magistrate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If one could climb this ladder, it wouldn’t just mean power in Qinghe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One could walk with impunity throughout Anning Prefecture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, such an opportunity didn’t exist—even if one wanted to bribe, no one would open the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Proximity grants the first glimpse of the moon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Assistant Regional Commander himself came to Qinghe County; on his own turf, of course he wanted to meet the local powers that be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The opportunity had arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Establishing a guard battalion was a massive undertaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just waiting for approval from the Ministry of Military Affairs would take a long time, let alone setting up an administrative office, building barracks, and other matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wouldn’t be finished in less than two or three months.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Life went on as usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui carried on as always—reading when he should read, cultivating when he should cultivate, utterly unaffected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few days passed, while he was cultivating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a loud clanging of gongs and drums sounded outside, full of festivity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s still months away from the New Year—why are they setting off firecrackers?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he pondered this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He heard someone pounding on the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he opened the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw a plaque, half a person’s height, inscribed with the bold, swirling characters “Yi Yong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1290,"2026-06-19T22:01:09.077Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","87522229b2f725afca2f88efa1b15e211b9ecea08862a0785dd288ff42ff5acd","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-105","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-103",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feternal-green-immortal-sovereign-cover.jpg"]