[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign":3,"chapter-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-128":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},2270136,4432,"Chapter 128: Blue Sky?","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-128",128,"\u003Cp>Tenth day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The New Year’s atmosphere in Qinghe had vanished completely; life returned to its ordinary, mundane rhythm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui rose early, circulated Qi through a full Great Circulation in his room before opening the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing beneath the courtyard tree, his blood and Qi flowed smoothly, easily contained, effortlessly circulating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next instant!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pushed both hands forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faintly, a dragon’s roar seemed to echo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thunderous crash sent dust swirling from a boulder ten zhang away, shattering it into fragments; when the dust cleared, two handprints, two chi deep, were plainly visible on the stone’s surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Amazing power!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui’s eyes lit up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Dragon Form was nearly complete; the true Qi’s power was now manifesting—this palm strike could shatter bones and tendons within ten zhang, truly formidable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder the Willow Sinew realm was so powerful; this true Qi alone was beyond the reach of an Eighth Rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Remember, the founders of the Great Alliance, a major organization, were only Seventh Rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yong and Wang Zhao burst out at the sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What happened?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s the tenth already—who’s still setting off firecrackers?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yong cursed under his breath, assuming it was just firecrackers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when he and Wang Zhao saw the boulder facing Li Rui, they both drew a sharp breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Li, this is—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yong stared at the two handprints on the boulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You did this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui nodded: “Got carried away during training.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yong stared at Li Rui as if he were a monster: “Old Li, this move of yours is stronger than any martial arts master in the city.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had once worked as a guard for the Zhu family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His understanding of martial arts far exceeded that of an ordinary person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he knew better than anyone the true weight of Li Rui’s feat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unbeknownst to them, Li Rui hadn’t even touched the boulder—he’d shattered it with pure true Qi from afar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Yang Yong and Wang Zhao knew, they’d likely think Li Rui had become a immortal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui said coolly: “Time’s up—I’m heading to the Martial Repository.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he stepped out the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving Yang Yong and Wang Zhao staring at each other in silence. What kind of opportunity had Old Li found? In just two years, his martial progress was this staggering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they hadn’t seen him daily, they’d have thought he’d been swapped out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was still too shocking for them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Li Rui arrived at the Ding-shaped martial repository.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang He had been assigned to the Night Scouts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The remaining three were still obedient, having cleaned the repository thoroughly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Li Rui was about to make his usual inspection, one of the subordinates approached timidly: “Master Li, we heard the new County Magistrate is remeasuring land and may redistribute fields—we were wondering if we could have a day off to help our families. Would you permit it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“New County Magistrate?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui raised an eyebrow slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumors had long circulated that Qinghe would get a new magistrate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, it was expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magistrate Zhang Linkang had been diligent enough, but his abilities were limited, and he wasn’t a martial artist—he’d been completely overshadowed by the Anning Guard. That meant he’d lost all real authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The imperial court would never allow such unchecked dominance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It typically sent an official of equal rank to counterbalance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Assistant Magistrate and Registrar of Qinghe County had long been replaced; only Zhang Linkang remained. Now, the new magistrate was finally arriving—every old official in the government office was gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go ahead. No problem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui wasn’t a cruel superior; he wouldn’t make trouble over something so minor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Master Li.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The subordinate turned to leave, but Li Rui called him back: “Tell me about the land redistribution.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They say the Magistrate is verifying household registrations and landholdings to reset tax quotas.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He wants to force the wealthy landowners to give back their stolen fields and redistribute them to the landless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even before he arrived, he sent tax inspectors to investigate—likely planning to make an example of a few big families.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is a great thing!” The subordinate was a temporary worker at the repository, from an ordinary family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Land consolidation happened in every dynasty; Yu State was no exception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wealthy families seized farmland from peasants through usury and brute force, turning them into tenant farmers or refugees, destabilizing society and reducing tax revenue for the court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The court had repeatedly reformed, but with little effect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because these so-called “blue sky” magistrates colluded with local elites, profiting from the corruption.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a good thing, admittedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, some tenant farmers would indeed regain land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Rui suspected the new magistrate was burning his first three fires—shattering Qinghe’s entrenched networks and realigning power and wealth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who knew?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>=9+book_bar\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More and more factions were entering Qinghe, including prominent schools like the Golden Light Sect and the Clear Wind Manor, both influential in Anning Prefecture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only a new magistrate could control these powerful newcomers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifteenth day of the first month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the bustling streets of Qinghe City, cries of astonishment rang out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What a massive carriage!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five steeds, each a zhang tall, like mountains, approached from the city gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They pulled a carriage fit for a palace; with every step, they exhaled long streams of white vapor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, Qinghe’s streets had been widened—otherwise, such grandeur couldn’t have fit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Demon horses!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui stood in the alley’s shadow, silently amazed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These five steeds were specially bred demon horses, far stronger in endurance and burst speed than even the famed Blood-Sweating Horses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were also truly expensive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each cost three thousand gold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tsk tsk—Magistrate Zhu has quite the flair.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he guessed right, the man in the carriage was the new County Magistrate—Zhu Renhe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard this Magistrate Zhu comes from a great clan in Yunzhou—truly extraordinary.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui had stepped out today just in time to witness this spectacle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Blue Sky!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Blue Sky!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around him, the sounds of prostrations and shouts never ceased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blue Sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not every official could be called a Blue Sky—only those the people believed truly stood for justice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Magistrate Zhu, even before arriving, had sent men to measure land and redistribute fields, earning himself a reputation as an upright official.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Blue Sky?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui was unconvinced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>inside the carriage,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the unique scent of Yaizhou sandalwood drifted, its light smoke curling slowly from the incense burner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magistrate Zhu Renhe sat cross-eyed, eyes closed, purple vapor rising from his crown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Excellent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike those civil officials, Zhu Renhe was himself a martial master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, martial arts flourished in Yu State; while lower officials were often non-martial, senior officials nearly all excelled in combat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he was a County Magistrate, his rank was not low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Fifth Rank County Magistrate held equal status to a Prefect—unique in Yunzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, with too low a rank, they would surely be crushed by the Anning Guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides County Magistrate Zhuang Renhe, there was another person in the carriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An old man clad in a black robe, with a bare arm as withered as dry firewood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Qi, your Beast Taming Art seems to have improved further.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1218,"2026-06-19T22:01:09.077Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","6eb2f0d861cba9e701c7df3dde2d9a27a25454d334e7b6cb8c082ee2ca65d19f","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-129","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-127",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feternal-green-immortal-sovereign-cover.jpg"]