[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign":3,"chapter-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-154":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},2270162,4432,"Chapter 154: Main Quest!","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-154",154,"\u003Cp>Amidst lush, emerald-green mountains and forests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two figures darted through the trees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They kept glancing back, as if fearing something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it, why are there beast monsters here?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strikingly handsome young man had his right sleeve torn open, blood streaming down, looking utterly disheveled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faintly, they could hear the hissing of beasts and the thudding of paws on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Brother Fang, hold on!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A tall woman with an icy, aloof demeanor cast a sidelong glance at the man, her brow slightly furrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister, I—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man opened his mouth to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Roar!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A beast roar rang out as a lithe creature, neither quite tiger nor leopard, leapt from the underbrush and lunged straight at the young man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the beast had no intellect, its killing instinct allowed it to pinpoint the weakest target and strike first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man’s eyes bulged, his pupils blazing red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tall woman’s heart sank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had originally been three ascending the mountain, but had been ambushed by beasts—two of them—and one companion had already gone missing; judging by the situation, he was almost certainly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No time to think.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tall woman gritted her teeth, drew a yellow talisman from her sleeve, and murmured incantations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Vast heavens, boundless cosmos, water and fire, five elements—obey my command: Fire!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the word “Fire” left her lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her slender fingers pinched the talisman and pressed it against the beast’s flanks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boom!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The instant the talisman touched the beast’s body, a massive flame erupted between the woman and the creature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman had anticipated this; she floated backward, untouched by the fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Sister.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man seized the chance to put distance between himself and the beast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, he was familiar with her method.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then came a furious roar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flames vanished in an instant; though the beast’s fur was charred, it had suffered little real damage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both their faces grew graver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A beast’s roar sounded from behind them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man’s face paled, his expression grim, his eyes darting toward the tall woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seemed ready to act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, a booming laugh rang through the forest: “Damn it, ate nothing but wild greens for ten days—finally found you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A burly man, shaped like a small pagoda, burst from the underbrush.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Hu’s serpent-like arm wrapped around the beast from behind and bellowed, “Up!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beast, no bigger than a kitten, was lifted and slammed hard into a nearby tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tall woman's eyes flickered with surprise: \"Natural Diamond?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several other figures emerged from the surrounding forest; a middle-aged man drew a slender, willow-leaf blade and charged the second beast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His aura linked with the dozens beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though individually weaker than Tan Hu, together they suppressed the beast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Formation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, the tall woman gave the young man a glance and slowly stepped back, clearly intending to slip away unnoticed amid the chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had barely retreated half a step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An old man’s voice sounded behind her:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss, you’re leaving without even saying thanks? That’s hardly proper.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifteen minutes later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both beasts lay dead in pools of blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the strength of an army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Numbers mattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More importantly, they had many experts—using martial masters as formation cores to overwhelm powerful foes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beasts were slain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Hu, Ge Hong, and the others now circled Li Rui’s direction, more precisely, the two unfamiliar experts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui looked at the boy and girl before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They appeared to be over twenty—not young.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at their chests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, quite sizable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in his eyes, they were still just children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui’s eyes narrowed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had seen the tall woman’s technique clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Talisman Dao...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this world, Talisman Dao was not as grand as imagined—it was a derivative of Martial Dao, a refined use of true qi; those skilled in it were called Talisman Masters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seventh-rank Talisman Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui knew every seventh-rank expert in Qinghe City—but he had no memory of this man or woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anning Guard on duty. State your identities.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui bowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man was startled—he hadn’t expected to encounter imperial troops deep in the wilderness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In contrast, the tall woman remained calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if she had already guessed Li Rui’s identity. At that moment, Tan Hu and Ge Hong stepped forward in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pressure intensified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To hunt the beasts that had slaughtered villagers in Willow Tree Village, they had first stayed five days in the village gathering intel—unsuccessfully—then spent six full days searching the mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heaven rewarded perseverance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had finally found them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had it not been for these two being chased by the beasts—and being nearby—they might have starved on wind alone for longer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tall woman bit her red lip: “We are Elders of Tianhuo Sect, dispatched by our Sect Master to Qinghe on official business. We were ambushed by beasts—thank you, sirs, for your rescue.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing they were from Tianhuo Sect,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Hu and Ge Hong were both surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a sect devoted solely to Talisman Dao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>=9+Book_Ba\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It held some renown in Anning Prefecture, and its disciples and elders rarely wandered the martial world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Talisman Masters were not rare, but their numbers paled beside those of martial cultivators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone could practice martial arts—fail or succeed, they’d still grow stronger; with medicinal aid, three or four out of ten could reach the ranks. The barrier was far lower than Talisman Dao’s, which is why Martial Dao thrived in Yu Kingdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Talisman Dao, merely using true qi to forge talismans meant their numbers could never be large.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumor said Talisman Masters could cultivate qi before seventh rank, but their bodies would be far weaker than martial cultivators of equal level, and their spiritual insight had to be extraordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Tianhuo Sect had only twelve or thirteen members total.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In summary:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Talisman Masters: scarce, refined—but not powerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially at the sect level, martial sects grew strong through numbers and generational accumulation; Talisman Dao sects were different—transmission itself was a problem, so their decline was inevitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Hu licked his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn, never seen a Talisman Master before—I gotta take a good look.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Hong chuckled: “Tan brother, you’re scaring the poor girl with that look.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was mocking the young man for looking like a woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man knew it, but circumstances were stronger than man—he was only an eighth-rank Talisman Master and had to swallow his pride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tall woman: “Your Excellencies, thank you for saving us. The green mountains remain, the clear waters flow—until we meet again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, she turned to lead the young man away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Rui blocked them: “Both of you, the mountains are full of demonic beasts. Since you are honored guests of the Heavenly Fire Sect, and my Anning Guard has the duty to protect all major sects, we’re heading to Qinghe too—let’s go together.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tall woman’s eyes flickered with conflict; finally, she forced a stiff smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then we are indebted to your Excellencies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man grew anxious: “But Master—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been about to say his senior brother’s life was still uncertain, but the woman’s stern gaze silenced him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two were now surrounded by Li Rui’s group, walking toward the mountain’s descent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui still wore a smiling expression: “Both of you, sharing the road means fate has brought us together. I’ve always admired the Heavenly Fire Sect—though my talent is lacking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He chuckled self-deprecatingly, then asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“May I ask your honorable surnames?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tall woman replied: “I am Yao Xue; this is my junior brother, Qu Chengfeng.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, so you are Senior Master Yao and Senior Master Qu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Li Rui address them as “Senior Master,” Qu Chengfeng’s lips finally curled with pride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yao Xue let out a muffled groan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui slammed his palm hard against her right shoulder; she flew backward and crashed onto the dry leaves, blood seeping from her lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qu Chengfeng’s smile froze. This happened too suddenly—not even Tan Hu and Ge Hong saw it coming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One moment they were chatting amiably, revealing their sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next, he struck without warning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Ge Hong and Tan Hu reacted instantly, drawing their weapons and pinning Yao Xue down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Qu Chengfeng was pressed in even tighter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui stepped forward with a cold smile, looking down at the delicate woman with no trace of pity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Speak. Who are you really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Anning Guard has a list of the Heavenly Fire Sect’s members—your names aren’t on it. Don’t tell me you just joined.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If the Heavenly Fire Sect takes on a Seventh-Rank Elder without reporting it to the Anning Guard, then the sect shouldn’t exist at all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yao Xue snapped her head up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stared at Li Rui in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hadn’t expected this old man to be so powerful—he knew every member of a sect she’d mentioned offhand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bitter twist touched her lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She sighed softly, then conceded: “Your Excellencies, I didn’t mean to conceal my identity—I have my reasons.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Reasons?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine. Since you have reasons, come back with us and explain it to General.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This old man doesn’t like forcing people.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Yao Xue realized she could not escape unless she revealed her true identity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she went to the Anning Guard, matters would grow far worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, she sighed: “Your Excellency, please ask the others to withdraw. The fewer who know, the better.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui paused, then waved to Tan Hu and the others: “Tan brother, Ge brother, let this old man handle it alone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Lao—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Hong started to speak, but ultimately stepped back under Li Rui’s firm gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when Ge Hong, Wei Ming, and the others had retreated over a hundred paces did Yao Xue speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She leaned close to Li Rui’s ear, her breath light as orchid:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I am a disciple of the Questioning Immortal Tower.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Questioning Immortal Tower!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A line of small characters appeared before Li Rui’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Congratulations, Host. Achievement Completed: Immortal Ancestry—Initial Trace of the Immortal Path.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1690,"2026-06-19T22:01:09.077Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","fc4d3cbdd909770960727672cc6eef23efb206dadcaf56b0084d0a7a41028ccb","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-155","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-153",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feternal-green-immortal-sovereign-cover.jpg"]