[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign":3,"chapter-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-171":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},2270179,4432,"Chapter 171: Ten Thousand Cultivate Qi, One Ascends (Bonus Chapter, Thanks to Nuan Yang)","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-171",171,"\u003Cp>How could Yao Xue write him a letter?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui took the envelope with slight puzzlement and slowly unfolded it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first thing he saw was elegant handwriting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior, Qu Chengfeng is not dead. All past events were the Ghost Ming  Sect’s scheme. He has now returned to our sect, unharmed. May we meet again by fate. —Yao Xue.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qu Chengfeng isn’t dead?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui stared at the pale yellow letter, frowning slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Truly bizarre.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no idea how Qu Chengfeng had escaped the Ghost Ming  Sect’s grasp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I underestimated him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Qu Chengfeng wasn’t dead, there was no need to avenge him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately took the letter to Ning Zhongtian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yao Xue had sent the letter only to him, but the news must be reported to Ning Zhongtian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, it would be a crime of deliberately concealing military intelligence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qu Chengfeng’s matter concerns both the Immortal Inquiry Tower and the Peace Guard—this isn’t just about Li Rui and Yao Xue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knocked on Ning Zhongtian’s door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long while, someone grumbled and opened the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Li?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Zhongtian greeted Li Rui listlessly: “Come in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lately, his subordinates had been falling one after another, and he’d borne immense pressure—he was deeply frustrated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui did not enter the room but pulled Yao Xue’s letter from his sleeve: “Yao of the Immortal Inquiry Tower sent this letter. Qu Chengfeng was indeed captured by the Ghost Ming  Sect; the corpse was a deception. He has now escaped and returned to the Immortal Inquiry Tower, unharmed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Zhongtian’s face lit up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was one of the rare good pieces of news in recent times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui smiled and handed the letter to Ning Zhongtian: “Proof from Yao of the Immortal Inquiry Tower.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Zhongtian took the letter, glanced at it, and his furrowed brow relaxed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good, good!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tell Grand Secretary Jiang—he’ll surely be pleased.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Zhongtian now desperately needed good news to restore his standing in Jiang Lin’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Peace Guard, though he was Jiang Lin’s right-hand man, don’t forget: his true patron was Assistant Regional Commander Lei Yong, not Jiang Lin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To solidify his position, he must deliver tangible achievements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Lin and Lei Yong’s bond wasn’t something he could squander freely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shuowan 。\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui, ever tactful, claimed urgent business and hurried away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Li Rui’s retreating back, Ning Zhongtian grew even more convinced Li Rui was his lucky star.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, he tidied himself and rushed off excitedly to find Jiang Lin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qu Chengfeng wasn’t dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no longer need to expend effort searching—he could now focus more on matters within the guard battalion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For him, this was good news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it had to be handled quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hidden currents beneath Qinghe gradually calmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chunyan Pavilion was once again full of guests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Jiang Lin’s intervention, Ning Zhongtian’s men retained six-tenths of their positions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the rest…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their crimes were so heinous that even Jiang Lin couldn’t ignore them—he directly ordered Chief Platoon Leader Zhao Wei of the Enforcement Camp to punish them severely according to military law.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then could Ning Zhongtian finally breathe easier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it was his own men who suffered, if this trend continued, Cao Wei would eventually turn on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why hadn’t Jiang Lin helped earlier?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On one hand, he wanted Ning Zhongtian to quickly capture Qu Chengfeng’s killer; on the other, perhaps he also intended to use Cao Wei to discipline Ning Zhongtian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Zhongtian was capable and his martial skill was solid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his early years spent among the underworld made him too reckless—he often crossed the line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All of this was Li Rui’s speculation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chief, the machinations of these powerful figures are truly terrifying.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang He, listening to Li Rui’s analysis of recent events, felt a chill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He suddenly realized he wasn’t suited for officialdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He might be killed without even knowing how.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the surface, it seemed Ning’s subordinates were corrupt and were uncovered and purged by Cao Wei in collusion with the county office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, it was all just a game among the powerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes, your superior is more dangerous than your enemy. Had Qu Chengfeng not inexplicably survived, Ning Zhongtian would never have escaped so easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui chuckled: “Little He, don’t be so discouraged. In the end, Grand Secretary Jiang always steps in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Jiang Lin, killing a seventh-rank official was a trivial matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a Regional Commander, any offense must be punished severely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, his authority would vanish entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if Cao Wei wanted to touch Ning Zhongtian, that crossed Jiang Lin’s line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His subordinates could only be disciplined by him—not by Cao Wei. If Cao Wei tried to overstep, he’d break the rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Ning Zhongtian being distracted by this matter and failing to complete his assigned duties—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sorry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That wasn’t Jiang Lin’s concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Ning Zhongtian’s own fault: his incompetence, his failure to control his men—he deserved punishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mercy cannot command an army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang He shivered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder officialdom is like a battlefield. The Peace Guard isn’t a frontier garrison that constantly faces enemies, yet the hidden dangers are no less severe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Ning Zhongtian, a sixth-rank Garrison Commander, must tread with extreme caution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How much more so for a lowly unranked soldier like him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at Master Li, his image grew even more noble and majestic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of the entire Peace Guard, the most stable is our Chief!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This storm swept through nearly all of Ning Zhongtian’s men, leaving everyone in fear—only Li Rui sat unmoved, practicing his sword, refining his qi as usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Little did they know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some people appear to rise early and sleep early, utterly disciplined, yet spend their nights wandering anxiously for security.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui would never tell Liang He about his daily stakeouts outside the county office. “Little He, how long have you been in the Peace Guard?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang He replied respectfully: “Two years, three months, and eleven days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui raised an eyebrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d asked casually, just small talk—he hadn’t expected Liang He to remember so precisely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cleared his throat: “I recall you’ve been ranked for over a year now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Chief.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui nodded with satisfaction: “You’re one of the disciples I brought from Tianyi Hall—you’re practically my half-disciple. Seeing you achieve this, I’m deeply pleased.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang He’s heart warmed: “It’s all thanks to your teaching, Chief.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was sincere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without Li Rui, he’d likely still be an overlooked junior disciple of Tianyi Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>=9+ Shu _ Ba\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui: “Little He, I’ve recently had an insight—I’ve created a new cultivation method. Would you like to learn it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Created a cultivation method.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If anyone else heard this, they’d laugh themselves silly—no one would even bother to look, let alone learn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Jiang Lin, a prodigy of his caliber, would never attempt such a thing—how much less Li Rui, a mere seventh-rank martial cultivator?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Generally, the higher a martial cultivator’s realm, the more complete the method they create.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For long-established sects, most have ancient masters’ established martial arts—they need only follow the path laid by their predecessors to advance steadily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why abandon a broad, smooth road to walk a thorny, dangerous path? That’s foolish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But… Liang He was an exception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only did he not think Li Rui’s words were absurd, he nodded seriously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, I want to learn!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t hesitate at all, his eyes burning with fervent desire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He truly admired and trusted Li Rui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui was stunned—he had already prepared how to persuade Liang He if he hesitated, but all his plans became useless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t help saying, “Little He, this concerns your foundation—you should think it over more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, I want to learn martial arts from you, Master. To learn your Wu Gong is my honor!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang He’s gaze was resolute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even more confident in the Changchun Art than Li Rui himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, Li Rui was going to transmit the Changchun Art to Liang He.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Excellent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui nodded with satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This idea of transmitting cultivation had begun three days ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While refining the Sword-Nourishing Posture, he accidentally discovered the subtleties of Xuanqing Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was letting others nurture Qi for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By leaving a thread of Xuanqing Qi inside another person, then transmitting the Sword-Nourishing Posture, that person would accumulate Sword Intent and warm his true qi during daily practice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could reclaim the true qi to strengthen himself, while the other person, through warming the Xuanqing Qi, would grow more attuned to true qi and cultivate it faster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A win-win.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But few in the world were willing to learn his self-created art, and fewer still had decent talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And they had to be trustworthy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After much thought, it seemed Liang He was the only suitable candidate nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why today’s scene unfolded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui squinted, smiling warmly at Liang He.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang He blinked, unsure what Li Rui meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui sighed softly and reminded him: “Since I’m transmitting the art, you can no longer call me Master—call me Master instead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang He’s eyes widened, then filled with ecstatic joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He dropped to his knees with a thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He banged his head three times, hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing he showed no sign of stopping, Li Rui grabbed Liang He’s shoulder: “Three bows are enough. More than that, this old man cannot bear it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ancients said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bow three, not four; bow four, disaster follows.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, when becoming a disciple, three hard bows suffice—any more is fit only for spirits and gods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too much fortune can become misfortune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just old customs of the elders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang He murmured “Oh” dazedly, then obediently stood up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui looked at Liang He and grew more pleased with each passing moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t without disciples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Zhao and the late Ma Yang were both, but they could only call him Master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master and Master differ by only one character, yet are worlds apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master is an elder who imparts a craft—Li Rui taught Wang Zhao how to raise horses so he could earn a living; the focus was on skill, not obligation. That’s Master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Master is different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang He truly regarded Li Rui as a father; Li Rui passed on his entire martial art to Liang He, and Liang He must daily offer tea and, if the day comes, care for him in old age and see him to his end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That day,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui transmitted the Changchun Art’s core cultivation method to Liang He.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Practice daily, never slack.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gave his final instruction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang He beamed and nodded firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was about to turn away when Li Rui called out: “Pack your things—move in here today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang He’s eyes widened—he hadn’t yet adjusted to his new status, but soon his eyes narrowed into slits:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Master!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui watched Liang He sprint off, shaking his head with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One person nurturing Qi has its limits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if his theory holds—ten thousand nurturing Qi, one ascends!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1831,"2026-06-19T22:01:09.077Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","935c1dbad937a5bf5a582707766a68f5256dd8f2364867e2427b93f1bd023894","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-172","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-170",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feternal-green-immortal-sovereign-cover.jpg"]