[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign":3,"chapter-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-155":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},2270163,4432,"Chapter 155: Immortal Inquiry Tower","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-155",155,"\u003Cp>Seeking immortality and the Dao to attain eternal life, at age ten you first encountered a fairy connection, thus opening a new world; though the path to immortality is elusive and ascension hard to achieve, you never chased unrealistic dreams, but steadily pressed forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Task completed: first glimpse of immortal traces. Reward calculation in progress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Task rating: B.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Obtained 30 achievement points!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Name: Li Rui\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Age: 10\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Talent: Martial Bone, Exceptional Comprehension, Insightful Eyes\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Technique: Changchun Art, Dragon Soaring Through Nine Heavens Diagram\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Achievements: 40\u002F100\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui’s pupils shrank sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First glimpse of immortal traces?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The system couldn’t lie—this Immortal Inquiry Tower truly had ties to the legendary immortals!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At seventy years old, even seeing the words “become an immortal ancestor” made his heart pound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He forcibly suppressed his shock, maintaining a calm exterior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lady, don’t deceive this old man—why have I never heard of the Immortal Inquiry Tower?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman Yao Xue bit her lip: “Have you ever heard of the Hidden Sect?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As an Anning Guard patrol officer, he had certainly heard of the Hidden Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Yu Kingdom’s court classified all sects into Manifest Sects and Hidden Sects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Put simply:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any sect you’ve heard of belongs to the Manifest Sects, all subject to court control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s not enough to just live in seclusion deep in the mountains to be called a Hidden Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hidden Sects typically have very few members, emphasize withdrawal from the world, and even when entering it, they conceal their identities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both the sect and its disciples are extremely mysterious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui hadn’t expected that this accidental encounter was with someone from a Hidden Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many Hidden Sects are obsessed with seeking immortality and the Dao; from the system’s prompt, he realized he’d encountered someone truly powerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not these two trying to deceive him for survival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t help but grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you’re a master of the Immortal Inquiry Tower.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, he reached to help Yao Xue up from where she sat on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One fulfills one’s duty in one’s post—I was merely concerned that demons of the Ghost Ming  Cult might have infiltrated Qinghe, so I acted out of necessity. I hope the lady will not take offense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yao Xue shook her head: “Your actions were entirely within your duty; it was I who deliberately concealed the truth. I beg your pardon, my lord.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The court had always been lenient toward Hidden Sects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On one hand, Hidden Sects were few in number and posed no real threat; on the other, it came down to the Imperial Preceptor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first master of “great concealment within the marketplace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Imperial Preceptor was the leader of all Hidden Sects in the world, which was why the court turned a blind eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui bowed: “Since you are reclusive masters, we shall not disturb your cultivation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No longer as domineering as before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned decisively to leave, showing no intention to linger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made it clear:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All his actions were official duties; whether the woman understood or not was none of his concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Respect was respect, but as an Anning Guard patrol officer, he had strength and the backing of the entire Anan Town—he wasn’t afraid of some Hidden Sect like the Immortal Inquiry Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yao Xue bit her lower lip, hesitation flashing in her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Li Rui was about to step away, she spoke:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, I have one more request.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Li Rui halted: “What is it, lady? Speak freely—might this old man be of any help?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We came down the mountain as three—there’s another senior brother who was separated from us during a beast attack. Could you help us search for him? I would be eternally grateful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui paused thoughtfully: “That’s easily done.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Li Rui agree, Yao Xue’s eyes lit up with joy; she bowed gracefully: “Thank you, my lord.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having learned the truth, Li Rui asked the two disciples to wait briefly while he explained the situation to his comrades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later, Li Rui walked up to Tan Hu and Ge Hong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gave them a brief summary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As agreed, he did not reveal they came from the Immortal Inquiry Tower—only that they were from a Hidden Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Ge Hong and Tan Hu were even more astonished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Talisman masters were already rare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hidden Sects were rarer still—yet today they’d encountered one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After brief discussion, the three led their troops to follow Yao Xue and Qu Chengfeng along the path they’d come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two hours later,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They finally found Yao Xue’s senior brother hidden in some bushes—but when discovered, he was already a mangled corpse, his body gnawed beyond recognition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Yao Xue and Qu Chengfeng were filled with grief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our senior brother truly met his end…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qu Chengfeng hadn’t expected his first descent from the mountain to bring him a deadly trial, and his senior brother had lost his life because of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yao Xue quickly composed herself and bowed again to Li Rui and the others:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, my lords. Your lifesaving grace is etched in my heart.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She took a jade pendant from her sleeve: “I have no valuable items, but this is called the Seeker’s Stone—it brings fortune and calms the spirit. I offer it to you all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui exchanged glances with Tan Hu and Ge Hong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he reached out and accepted it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt warm and smooth—not only because Yao Xue had worn it constantly, but because the jade itself was extraordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterwards,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yao Xue and Qu Chengfeng wished to remain to bury their senior brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hidden Sects avoided contact with the secular world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Staying longer might make them seem to have ulterior motives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After repeatedly asking if they needed help and receiving no answer,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui led his men down the mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the mountain path,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Hong finally spoke with enthusiasm: “I’ve heard of Hidden Sects before, but this is my first time seeing one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Hu nodded:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Looking at them, they don’t seem so extraordinary.” They didn’t ask Li Rui which Hidden Sect the two came from—either way, they wouldn’t know, and asking would break the rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui pulled out the jade pendant he’d received from Yao Xue:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Ge, Brother Tan, I have a special fondness for this jade. Let me have it—I’ll compensate you each with a seventh-grade spirit pill, valued at a sixth-grade spirit pill.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Hong and Tan Hu both waved their hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hadn’t that girl just said it was merely unusual, not edible, only good for bringing fortune and calming the spirit—no real practical use?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Li Rui took it, they had no objections whatsoever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing neither refused,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui didn’t pretend to decline further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought to himself he’d deliver the item to their homes another day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The system didn’t lie—since it said “first glimpse of immortal traces,” the opportunity was almost certainly this small jade called the Seeker’s Stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>=9+book_bar\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seeker…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two squads returned in grand procession to the Anning Guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soldiers from the Wu Company and the Running Tiger Cavalry carried the corpses of two tiger-leopard beasts through town, drawing gasps from passing troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that… a beast?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Two of them? That’s incredible!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn, two mid-merits—I wish I’d been in the Wu Company or the Running Tiger Cavalry!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Hu glanced at the two beast corpses behind him, standing tall and proud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, they’d listened to Li Rui and stayed at Willow Tree Village—only then could they claim this great merit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had slain a beast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it was a seventh-grade beast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For an officer like Tan Hu, this earned four mid-merits; if he could just earn one more, he’d have a full major merit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It can be exchanged for quite a few good things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In addition, the soldiers below will be rewarded according to rank and contribution; even the worst will earn at least a minor merit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For an ordinary soldier, that’s a tremendous merit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why others are so envious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since this was a mission issued by Ning Zhongtian, naturally we must report the outcome to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui led his men first to Ning Zhongtian’s official residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as they entered the gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They saw Ning Zhongtian discussing something with Lu Jun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Zhongtian turned his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First he saw the two tiger-leopards, then his gaze fell on Li Rui and the other two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He beamed with delight:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good! Very good!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had issued the mission himself; he knew full well that Li Rui and his team hadn’t just slain the beast—they’d slain two at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This brought him great face in the Anning Guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jun, watching, was also secretly astonished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slaying two beasts in one go—since the last major beast uprising, this was the greatest achievement in recent times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flicker of envy passed through his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ning Zhongtian is lucky to have such fierce subordinates.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A superior isn’t enough on his own—he can’t do everything himself; he needs subordinates to enhance his reputation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Zhongtian’s three men have done very well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Rui.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jun’s gaze finally settled on Li Rui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could see clearly: the recent string of extraordinary feats by the Running Tiger Cavalry all centered on Li Rui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Li Rui joined the Running Tiger Cavalry, it was infamous for causing trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jun quietly entertained thoughts of poaching him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re all Anning Guard anyway—where they serve doesn’t matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Zhongtian, of course, had no idea Lu Jun was plotting to steal his man right in front of him—he kept beaming: “Don’t worry, I’ll report this to Commander Jiang. Everyone gets credit!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Ning Zhongtian finished celebrating,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui stepped forward and whispered to Ning Zhongtian and Lu Jun, in a voice only they could hear, about his encounter with the Immortal Inquiry Pavilion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Ge Hong and Tan Hu, he could only say “Hidden Sect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But with Ning Zhongtian and Lu Jun as his superiors, holding back would only invite trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had promised Yao Xue he’d keep it secret if possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that obligation naturally didn’t extend to these top officers of the Anning Guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To protect someone else’s secrecy at the cost of his own interests—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such foolishness, Li Rui would never do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s what the old saying means: know what’s important.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After handling everything,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui returned to his residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After eating,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After practicing, crawling into bed, he finally studied the small text on his panel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First Glimpse of Immortal Traces.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui frowned slightly—he’d been pondering this all day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Logically,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had consumed an Immortal Treasure and heard rumors of Immortal Arts from the Decapitated Slave—he’d already encountered Immortal Fate long ago. Why had it taken so long to trigger the first storyline of becoming an Immortal Ancestor?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Unless—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui’s pupils contracted slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is all a setup by the Ghost Ming  Sect!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Immortal Treasure was fake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Immortal Arts were fake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything was a smoke screen planted by the Ghost Ming  Sect—to deceive the world, and perhaps even their own members, even the Ten Thousand Ghosts Mother herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui sensed the scent of conspiracy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Treat this as if you know nothing. Absolutely no involvement.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1871,"2026-06-19T22:01:09.077Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","5be48de6cf738054f4c0f64f954a35e4cb96c0cc4bbe236409d17a157d0f1ba5","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-156","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-154",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feternal-green-immortal-sovereign-cover.jpg"]