[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign":3,"chapter-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-152":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},2270160,4432,"Chapter 152: Yaozi Fanshen","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-152",152,"\u003Cp>The next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Li, you’ve come?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A young man in the arms depot, seeing Li Rui, hurried out from the building to greet him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little Liu, where’s Manager Tian?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui stood with his hands behind his back, his smile warm and kind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he had been promoted and no longer served as manager of the Ding-class arms depot, as a former superior and an avid reader, he often returned to take a look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The new manager welcomed this warmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For no other reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui had been promoted, not transferred sideways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The new manager, unless he had water in his brain, would never provoke an officer a full rank above him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they were peers, the situation might be different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Liu youth, formerly a soldier in the depot, grinned: “Manager Tian usually arrives at noon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was common not just in Anning Guard, but throughout the Yu Empire’s bureaucracy: subordinates must report on time, but officers had far more flexibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as nothing urgent arose, they typically arrived after lunch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone like Li Rui, arriving so early, was rare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Liu youth beamed with flattery: “Master Li, what book are you here for today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui often came to borrow miscellaneous books.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These books held no value, so Manager Tian didn’t bother monitoring them—just take them, and remember to return them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui shook his head: “I’m here to exchange martial arts manuals.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the Liu youth said: “Master Li, we’re all family—I won’t verify it; as long as Master He agrees, it’s fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rules must be followed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui shook his head: “Even as a former manager, the verification steps are still necessary.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Liu youth grinned and nodded rapidly: “Yes, yes, Master Li is right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew perfectly well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But why say it that way?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simply to slip Li Rui a quiet favor—after all, even if he didn’t check, Superior He Shan would.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To claim important supplies from the depot required passing three checkpoints.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, the Military Supply Hall, where one exchanged military merit for a supply token; second, the arms depot, where the manager or soldiers verified the request; third, the depot guards—namely, He Shan, whom he’d greeted several times before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after clearing all three could one claim the item.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was to prevent impersonation or exploitation by those with ill intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui knew the path upstairs better than his own courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Liu youth had intended to lead him, but Li Rui waved him off: “Little Liu, go about your duties—I’ll climb up myself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Liu youth felt a pang of disappointment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had hoped to curry favor with Li Rui, perhaps one day securing a transfer to the Night Scouts, like Liang He had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui understood the boy’s thoughts, but he didn’t use just anyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like nails—some belong in critical joints to connect and stabilize, others only serve auxiliary roles on the periphery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He climbed the stairs steadily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He reached the third floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master He, long time no see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Shan sat as usual—not in his office, but at a simple table with a stool, positioned in the center of the open third-floor space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Rui, He Shan showed a rare, relatively gentle expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Li Rui still served as manager, their relationship had been cordial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui did not rush to the point; he exchanged a few pleasantries first: “Master He, this old man is troubling you again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Shan shook his head: “Master Li, you’re too kind. I heard you went to Qingfeng Manor—did all go well?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flicker of surprise crossed Li Rui’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t even brought it up, yet He Shan mentioned it himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s improved.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking this, he smiled and replied: “Fine. The food suited my taste.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Shan chuckled: “At seventy, Master Li still has such an appetite—truly a blessing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui suddenly slapped his forehead: “I forgot—you’re also from Anning Prefecture. I should’ve asked you before leaving.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Zhongtian had granted Li Rui permission to review Anning Guard’s household registers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Li Rui knew He Shan had once been from Anning Prefecture, his family seemingly well-off—though no one knew why he became a blade-for-hire before joining Anning Guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mentioning Anning Prefecture, He Shan’s eyes darkened with sorrow: “My parents passed long ago. No one remains there. No need to return.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui’s heart stirred slightly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master He, I spoke foolishly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he withdrew a small, finely crafted iron token from his sleeve: “Master He, I’m here to exchange a martial arts manual.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Shan took the iron token from Li Rui’s hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though they were well-acquainted, he still carefully verified it before stowing it away: “Verified. Master Li wishes to train in footwork?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each manual corresponded to a token, its name engraved on the back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Shan saw it at a glance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yaozi Fanshen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A famed martial art in the jianghu, its origins ancient, yet after a thousand years, still revered as a supreme lightness technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anning Guard naturally kept a copy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui: “I was preoccupied with sword training. Now that I’ve broken through, I want to address my weaknesses.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Shan nodded: “Master Li thinks very thoroughly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In martial combat, mastering one art suffices—but having more grants greater flexibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Internal arts can be limited to one, but external arts differ: most cultivators train two or three, to adapt to unpredictable combat scenarios.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some even claim to know a hundred arts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, those are extreme cases.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Generally, learning one lightness technique plus one martial art—fists, blades, or weapons—is sufficient. Lightness aids escape and pursuit; blades are the core of combat. This is the standard combination for most.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Shan immediately fetched the copied manual of “Yaozi Fanshen” for Li Rui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui took the manual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given He Shan’s lingering sorrow, Li Rui saw no reason to linger—he made an excuse and descended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His sinews had not yet shown signs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the ambush on the Decapitated Slaves at Qingfeng Manor, Li Rui realized his footwork lagged far behind Tan Hu and Dong Shen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had Li Rui not noticed this before?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had understood it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But without breaking through to Liujin, his lifespan wouldn’t noticeably extend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Life and death are uncertain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one could predict it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Li Rui had focused solely on cultivating internal and external arts, strengthening his body, and pushing for breakthroughs as quickly as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>=9+Book, okay?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He truly feared he might die of old age before breaking through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not want to die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now he had time. Qi condensation was proceeding steadily—no need to rush—and so he could finally address his old shortcomings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lightness techniques weren’t just for chasing enemies—they were vital for escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Li Rui chose to train in lightness first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yaozi Fanshen” was his deliberate choice after careful consideration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back at his residence,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui instructed Wang Zhao in the courtyard: he would enter seclusion; no visitors, unless absolutely critical, were to be admitted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he retreated into his room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The manuals in the arms depot were all copies, so their covers were pristine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes, the ink might still be wet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anning Guard frequently hired literate scholars untrained in martial arts to copy texts, to prevent anyone from secretly learning martial arts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If one of those scholars happened to be surnamed Huang, there was nothing to be done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui opened the martial art manual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes fell upon it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wind rises on the high ridge, the sparrowhawk soars through the air, feet tread empty space, qi strength naturally grows, leaping nine heavens, body a streak of light, eyes survey all six directions, agile without bounds.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The “sparrowhawk” in Sparrowhawk Flip refers to a bird resembling a hawk but smaller—a sparrowhawk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to the manual’s description.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elder who created this lightness skill lived amid towering mountains and deep valleys, where paths were steep and treacherous; a single misstep could send one tumbling into a precipice, crushing the body to pulp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially when traversing cliffside trails, falling rocks often shattered the path—then the best solution was to leap across.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was how the name Sparrowhawk Flip came to be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Excellent at high leaps, refined in endurance—good, very good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui grew more satisfied the more he read.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lightness skill is a general term; each specific technique varies greatly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some excel at long-distance running, others at high jumps, still others at agile maneuvering in confined spaces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui’s chosen Sparrowhawk Flip combined both endurance and high-leaping advantages, making it the most versatile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was also why Sparrowhawk Flip had endured for a thousand years without fading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spent the night turning pages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as the time came, Li Rui put down the book and began circulating qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not forget his foundation just because he had found something exciting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After circulating qi, he slipped into bed as usual and fell into deep sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning, he rose early.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After washing his face, he continued practicing swordplay in the courtyard, adding only a few Sparrowhawk Flip leg techniques after finishing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To cultivate lightness skill, one must first train the legs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Experts skilled in lightness often specifically train their legs to enhance endurance and explosive power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui was no different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After willow tendons, practicing lightness skill has one advantage: the seventh-rank body is already strong enough, so there’s no need to reinforce the foundation—excellent results come naturally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sparrowhawk Flip incantation from the previous night surfaced in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Force arises from the feet, travels up the thighs, passes through the waist and hips, then surges upward in a sudden leap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One zhang high!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui landed lightly, his heart leaping with joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On his very first attempt, he had already improved his force delivery through the incantation—and achieved such a clear improvement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he mastered it deeply, the results would be even more remarkable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Happened to be seen by Wang Zhao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“M-Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared at Li Rui, dumbfounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What just happened?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good heavens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That jump nearly reached the roof—it was terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Zhao suddenly understood why heroes in novels always claimed to leap onto rooftops and run along eaves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t exaggeration—Li Rui had just done it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui also saw Wang Zhao: “Little Zhao, you saw that, didn’t you? Training has its rewards—keep practicing diligently, don’t slack off.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Zhao mumbled a quiet “yes,” head bowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But whenever training was mentioned, his face fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it that he didn’t want to?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, he couldn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had tried before—still hadn’t even touched the threshold of martial cultivation; continuing now would only strengthen his body, nothing more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d never amount to anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Li Rui stopped urging him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, Yang Yong stepped out of his room, and the three had breakfast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui walked out of the compound, hands behind his back, strolling lazily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1812,"2026-06-19T22:01:09.077Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","c734b9ec13e6fd6e49669aab3faa67d275138f8d42b6a29763c45c412be66879","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-153","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-151",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feternal-green-immortal-sovereign-cover.jpg"]