[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign":3,"chapter-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-133":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},2270141,4432,"Chapter 133: Anning Guard Grand Competition","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-133",133,"\u003Cp>Cultivation knows no years; before he knew it, another autumn had come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The number of experts in Qinghe City kept growing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The people of Qinghe finally understood the joy of Anning Prefect’s favor— even a street-side tea vendor could chat about how a seventh-rank martialist had drunk a pot of tea at his stall the day before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To outsiders from other counties, they unconsciously grew a bit superior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, Master Li.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A young vendor approached with flattering deference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui smiled and said, “You know me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At seventy, you broke into eighth rank— who in Qinghe doesn’t know that? Don’t you remember? You used to drink noodle porridge at my stall.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui glanced at the flag hanging above the thatched shed, bearing the words “Zhou’s Porridge Shop.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he remembered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he was still a stable boy for the Zhu family, he had often come here for noodle porridge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nothing else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The owner was honest— whenever he saw a poor person, he’d deliberately add a little extra porridge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For those who labored hard, a full belly was everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where’s your father, little Zhou?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui remembered the previous owner of this porridge shop clearly: a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties, weathered and no younger than Yang Yong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man grew somber: “My father fell ill last month and passed away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Passed away, huh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui let out a soft sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first time he came here for porridge, he had just become a stable boy— back then, the shop’s owner was still a boy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, they were separated by life and death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Give me a bowl of noodle porridge. No need to add extra— I’m no longer short of that bite.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right away!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man beamed with joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately called over a young woman beneath the noodle stall to ladle out a thick bowl of porridge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had grown used to mountain delicacies and sea treasures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The taste of the porridge was plain indeed, yet Li Rui ate it with great relish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sipped it slowly along the rim of the bowl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Other diners at the stall saw this and exclaimed in admiration: “That’s the real way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only those who had known hunger understood this way of eating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Li, is the porridge to your liking?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Same taste as before.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui fumbled in his sleeve for a long while, then smiled wryly: “Put it on my tab— a young boy will pay tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man hurriedly waved his hands: “Master Li drinking porridge at my home is a great blessing— how could we charge you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not even a high-ranking official like Li Rui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the lowest clerk in the county office ate without paying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He just wanted to make a good impression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui said nothing more, rose, thanked him, and walked north along the street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he poor?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, he had too much money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Precisely put— he had too much: even the smallest coin was a silver ingot, far too large for a street vendor to change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the kind of rich man in novels who casually tossed down a silver ingot as payment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t bring himself to do it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Passing through Nanluo Street, he reached Willow Lane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui remembered every brick, every tile here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walk it three times a day for fifty years, and you’d remember too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The largest five-courtyard mansion in Willow Lane belonged to the Zhu family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui had passed through this lane daily while feeding horses— how could he not know it well?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The massive vermilion gate bearing the characters “Zhu Residence” appeared before him— but unlike before, it now displayed paper money flags and soul-guiding banners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These two items meant someone in the household had died.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui had lived in the Zhu residence for fifty years— he had seen this scene too many times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The paper money flags were offerings to the deceased, praying they might enjoy wealth in the afterlife; the soul-guiding banners led the dead to their final rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The paper money flags should be on the left… sigh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui stepped into the Zhu residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, he saw a group of Zhu family members in sackcloth and mourning, kneeling in the courtyard, weeping and wailing— the ancestral tablet read: “Spirit of Deceased Father Zhu Ping.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, Zhu Ping was dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, Zhu Ping should have died a year ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crimson Lian  Woman had slaughtered the Zhu family; Zhu Ping, already weak in martial arts, had his heart meridian shattered in that battle. At first, no symptoms showed— by the time he coughed blood and realized the danger, it was too late. He had clung to life only through potent medicines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Zhu Ping dead, the Zhu family had no elder left who could lead or uphold proper rites.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why they’d hung the paper money flags wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a deceased man, they must be placed on the left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder Zhu Ping, though suffering daily from pain, had clung to life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without him, the Zhu family would surely fall apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui had just entered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yue stepped forward: “Master Li, my father’s passing was sudden— forgive our poor hospitality.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No matter. You’ve worked hard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui nodded to Zhu Yue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yue returning to oversee the funeral was unexpected by the Zhu family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he not returned, they would have already fought over the inheritance, unable even to set up a proper mourning hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s matured quite a bit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yue had shed his youthfulness; he now bore the bearing of a head of household.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was said Zhu Yue had left Huaqing Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was no longer a disciple of Huaqing Sect— he was now the head of the Zhu family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hometown he once refused to return to had become his prison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui was older than Zhu Ping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no precedent for a younger person offering incense to an elder— so he merely stood and watched for a while, then guided Zhu Yue to rearrange the ancestral altar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did it look proper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yue looked at Li Rui with gratitude: “Master Li, I was young and arrogant before— I apologize.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All in the past,” Li Rui waved dismissively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The advantage of growing old was that one no longer held grudges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The road ahead won’t be easy— if you need help, say the word. I’ll lend a hand if I can.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui said “if I can.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qinghe was no longer what it once was. The Zhu family was already in decline— they’d struggle to take even a single step. He wouldn’t mind helping with small favors, but if they stirred up trouble with the wrong people, he wouldn’t dare intervene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yue’s heart warmed: “Thank you, Master Li.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These past days,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>he had seen nothing but cold indifference. As a Huaqing Sect disciple, he had been fawned over when he came to Qinghe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, as head of the Zhu family, even his father’s funeral drew hardly anyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui was among the very few who had come to pay respects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After staying about half an hour, Li Rui glanced once more at Zhu Ping’s token.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>=9+book_bar\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the second Zhu family head he had seen pass away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Life and death are uncertain. Only strive to cross— otherwise, no matter how splendid one’s life, in the end, all becomes a handful of yellow earth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Immortal Dao… eternal life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui felt a sudden clarity in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That day,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Hong knocked eagerly on Li Rui’s gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Li Rui opened the door,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Hong beamed: “I made it! I made it! Brother Li, you promised me wine— don’t you dare skip it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui studied Ge Hong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He quickly detected a faint trace of true qi on Ge Hong’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the sign of willow sinew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Congratulations!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui smiled and raised his hands in salute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A year ago, Ge Hong had felt his bottleneck loosen, but it took a full year before he finally broke through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This shows just how difficult willow sinew is.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone as effortless as Li Rui is extremely rare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could sense Ge Hong’s qi because Ge Hong had just begun cultivating true qi and had no distinguishing traits yet—his quality paled far beyond that of Xuanqing Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, even if he succeeded in qi cultivation, he’d still be far behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui carried the Changchun Art and the Dragon Soaring Through Nine Skies Diagram; in terms of rank alone, few in the world could surpass him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he could perceive others’ qi, but the reverse was impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a matter of bloodline suppression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Hong felt as if clouds had parted to reveal the moon—over these ten years, he had exhausted every method to break through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had it not been for the sixth-rank spirit pill bestowed by Ning Zhongtian, he might have needed another decade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is why wealth comes first in the four essentials: wealth, companions, methods, and location.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with superior talent, one still needs resources to build up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was even more glad he had left the Iron Knife Martial Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come, let’s drink!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Hong’s breakthrough filled Li Rui with genuine joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The kind of satisfaction one feels when a worthy junior achieves success.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Hong did not look down on Li Rui because of his breakthrough, nor did he distance himself—in fact, the very first person he sought out after breaking through was Li Rui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True friends are hard to find.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui reserved a private room at the Zui Xian Pavilion in town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Ge Hong arrived, Wei Ming’s large head appeared first; to Li Rui’s surprise, Ning Zhongtian had come in person to celebrate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But upon reflection, it made sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Ge Hong’s breakthrough, once his post is confirmed, he will almost certainly become Ning Zhongtian’s subordinate—and one only one level below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, Ning Zhongtian rarely attended Ge Hong and Li Rui’s drinking gatherings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was because their ranks were too far apart—one was eighth-rank, the other sixth-rank—and his presence might have done more harm than good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, with Ge Hong’s breakthrough, he had earned Ning Zhongtian’s respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Human relationships.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Equal strength comes first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, even childhood brothers, once their statuses diverge sharply in adulthood, become strangers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Hong had invited only Wei Ming and Ning Zhongtian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In such gatherings, fewer people mean more value—and deeper trust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, with a noisy crowd, conversation becomes impossible, and drinking becomes pointless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Hong would certainly host a banquet later—but not today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three sat down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Hong cautiously looked at Ning Zhongtian: “Chief Ning.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Zhongtian, by nature bold and open, laughed heartily: “Brother Ge, today is to celebrate your breakthrough—no bosses here. You’re in charge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Hong grinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, Ning Zhongtian would never have spoken to him like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that he had broken through, he had moved from being a close associate of Ning Zhongtian’s faction to a true confidant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Hong had broken through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, he became the target of toasts—alcohol was a fine thing; even martial cultivators could be intoxicated by certain wines, if one was willing to spend the silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After three rounds of drinks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere quickly warmed, and they began calling each other brothers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui, the eldest, was even called “Old Brother Li” by Ning Zhongtian for some time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Zhongtian was already three-quarters drunk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lowered his voice to the three: “Our guard battalion’s military and administrative evaluation begins in three months—I heard Head Jiang has requested several positions from the Ministry of Military Affairs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to Ge Hong and Wei Ming: “You two better make me proud!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He made no mention of Li Rui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simply because all these positions were seventh-rank—Li Rui couldn’t compete for them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Hong’s eyes lit up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew Wei Ming had waited five or six years for his seventh-rank platoon leader post.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he performed well in the competition and with Ning Zhongtian’s maneuvering, he might even secure a decent position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heaven is aiding me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Promotion depended not only on personal ability but also on timing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui listened quietly, his heart stirred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2037,"2026-06-19T22:01:09.077Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","0bfe9d7ff5f6a529f7ed444e687fd0666278d02d0d5df027266643ce8a1334c6","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-134","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-132",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feternal-green-immortal-sovereign-cover.jpg"]