[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign":3,"chapter-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-177":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},2270185,4432,"Chapter 177: One person alone is not spring—when all things flourish, spring arrives!","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-177",177,"\u003Cp>Hai hour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bright moon hung high; the large red lanterns of Zui Xian Tower were hung aloft.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the private room on the top floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Zhen and Zhuang Renhe sat across from each other at the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Gao, I thought you’d choose Chunyan Tower or the Teaching Bureau.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhuang Renhe smiled faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He might be the only person in Qinghe City who knew Gao Zhen’s true identity—he was fully aware of Gao Zhen’s recent outrageous behavior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Zhen abandoned his usual playboy demeanor, appearing like a frail scholar, and spoke solemnly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s all just tasks assigned by the Ancestor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tasks?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhuang Renhe’s interest stirred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had suspected from the start that Gao Zhen’s arrival in Anning Guard couldn’t be so simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Zhen nodded: “Yes, my master ordered me to kill a few people. If County Magistrate Zhuang finds it convenient, I’d appreciate your help.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>he dipped his finger in his wine and wrote names on the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Green Robe, Peach Heart Tan Hu, Li Rui, Ning Zhongtian.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Zhuang Renhe saw Ning Zhongtian, his brows knitted into a deep “ Chuan .”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ning Zhongtian?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This list made no sense—first over a dozen prostitutes from Chunyan Tower, then officials and soldiers of Anning Guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes narrowed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Memories surfaced of the list of prostitutes his men had delivered him a few days ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of the names matched those Gao Zhen had written.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Impressive composure!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That list was of the women Gao Zhen had played with to death—clearly, Gao Zhen’s apparent debauchery was all deliberate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using the guise of lust to fulfill the Ancestor’s orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d nearly fooled Zhuang Renhe too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ning Zhongtian is the Garrison Commander of Anning Guard. If we act forcefully, the fallout will be too great.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhuang Renhe fell silent in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Zhen chuckled: “Brother Zhuang, you’re joking—I’m just a newcomer to Longmen. I couldn’t possibly defeat Commander Ning.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then how do you plan to do it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sensed Gao Zhen had another scheme.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Zhen raised his cup, took a sip, and grinned: “I can’t kill him—but someone else can.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cao Wei is of the Xuan Faction. As far as I know, Jiang Lin has an excellent relationship with Wenxian Tower—their tower master is now the Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t elaborate further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhuang Renhe narrowed his eyes and uttered two words: “Factional strife?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Zhen nodded with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In officialdom, killing someone doesn’t always require blades or spears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You must learn to leverage power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When two factions clash, isn’t it normal for some Louyi  to die?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhuang Renhe’s eyes flickered with surprise—he thought he knew this Gao Zhen. Word was he’d only been taken as a disciple by Xueying the Ancestor a few years ago, and before that, he’d been a quiet, obedient member of the Gao clan, never stepping into the martial world or officialdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d assumed he was a naive fool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he turned out to be so calculating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This boy is a born rogue.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He evaluated inwardly, yet spoke aloud: “Brother Gao, your ingenuity impresses me—but I still don’t understand: why these people?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Zhen smiled and said two words: “Immortal Lord.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Immortal Lord?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhuang Renhe’s pupils contracted sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Immortal Lord said he dislikes the karmic ties of Qinghe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Iron Pillar, you’ve entered the ranks?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui stared in disbelief at Liu Tiezhu’s earnest face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How long had he been training?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three months?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How had he entered the ranks already?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang He also widened his eyes, gazing at Liu Tiezhu as if he were a monster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You just waltzed into the ranks? What does that make me?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang He felt no envy—only admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d spent years under Li Rui’s guidance to enter the ranks; Liu Tiezhu, meanwhile, had stumbled into Ninth Rank without even trying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui bent over, scrutinizing him for a long while, then straightened up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The natural Golden Fruit truly is extraordinary.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ninth Rank’s Skin of Stone merely strengthens the body—if one’s physique is strong enough, one can enter the ranks without training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d read in books that those with the Natural Golden Fruit advance rapidly through the first three ranks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Hu was a perfect example.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Zhongtian was a genius, yet he was nearly thirty-five or thirty-six before he broke through to Willow Tendons using the resources of Annan Army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Tan Hu, in the northwestern frontier army, had reached Willow Tendons purely through relentless fighting, naturally and effortlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yet even Brother Tan took a full half-year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui questioned Liu Tiezhu in detail about his recent training, then confirmed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the Changchun Art and the Xuanqing Qi infused into Liu Tiezhu’s body that caused this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Changchun, Changchun—one tree rises, all things flourish.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui murmured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sudden insight stirred within him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One person alone is not spring—when all things flourish, spring arrives!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t expected his self-created Changchun Art to aid others’ cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Liu Tiezhu’s breakthrough, the Xuanqing Qi nurtured within him now received blood and qi nourishment; as time passed, Li Rui himself would benefit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps this was the true essence of Changchun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marvelous, marvelous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui nodded with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seemed to see a new door opening before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When one attains the Dao, even chickens and dogs ascend to heaven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His Changchun Art aids others’ cultivation—and in helping them, it nourishes himself in return. How wonderful!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tiezhu, keep going, train hard—you’ll surely amount to something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu scratched his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He still hadn’t left his room by noon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui and Liang He noticed something was off and rushed into the room to ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Liu Tiezhu laugh and tell them he’d entered the ranks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang He was genuinely delighted for Liu Tiezhu: “Younger brother, congratulations! When you rise in the world, don’t forget your elder brother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu’s eyes instantly turned red. Liang He, as the eldest brother, was momentarily at a loss—he naturally felt responsible for his only younger brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Younger brother, what’s wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This big, burly man choked up, unable to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because he was moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No lie—the Yu Kingdom enforced a household registration system, not merely registering names, but rigidly categorizing people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Low-status households remained low-status for generations; descendants of artisans were artisans; descendants of noble households were born into wealth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His father was a blacksmith; so was he.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the forge, any benefit gained brought no praise—only envy from the foreman. You’d feel joy for a moment, then be forced to give everything back, even endure beatings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where was there ever such warmth as this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>=9+ Shu _ Ba\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My master and senior brother offered their sincere blessings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui sighed lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu was a craftsman household, and he was even worse off—a lowly household—so he understood the coldness and warmth of it all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He patted Liu Tiezhu’s broad shoulder: “Now that you’ve been removed from your household register, you must change your way of life and sever ties with the past.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu’s snot hung down, falling onto his shoe surface as he nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough now. A grown man shouldn’t act like this anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don't be fooled by Liu Tiezhu's innate diamond-like physique and blacksmith background—he's actually a sensitive, emotional man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his hands behind his back, he strolled out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When disciples improve, the master can rest easier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether his martial skill is good or not is secondary; if his character is sound, he won’t go wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the military camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A circle of men gathered, chattering among themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What happened to this guy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He broke military discipline and was caught red-handed by Senior Gao—he lost an arm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Gao?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The new Garrison Commander, you idiot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A young man in armor lay in a pool of blood, his right arm severed; Gao Zhen stood behind him, hands clasped, smiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Disregarding military discipline, stealing weapons—deserves execution!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Zhen’s gaze instantly turned sharp, radiating righteousness and impartiality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A massive man, shaped like a pagoda, burst through the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes blazed like a tiger ready to devour: “Gao, what’s your meaning?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The injured man was a soldier of Benhu Cavalry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Zhen smiled faintly: “This man stole weapons—caught in the act with the stolen item. By military law, he deserves execution. This knife is the evidence.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Hu stared, bloodshot, toward where Gao Zhen pointed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A standard-issue longsword lay soaked in blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One sword is enough to prove he stole weapons?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Hu knew the habits of every soldier under him—he was certain none of them would steal weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Zhen’s face darkened: “I saw it with my own eyes. What of it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you, Tan Company Commander, no longer trusting your superior?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this was an abuse of authority, Tan Hu was merely a Company Commander—half a rank lower—so he had no right to question Gao Zhen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Hu erupted, veins bulging on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could accept his soldiers dying on the battlefield, but he would never allow them to be murdered without cause within the camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to Tang Hai, whose face was pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Hai shook his head frantically, trying to prove his innocence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Hu nodded at Tang Hai.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he was about to act—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui’s voice came from behind: “This matter hasn’t been investigated yet. Don’t disrespect Senior Gao.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Hu spun around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There stood Li Rui, already behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Li, this matter—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui cut him off, turning to Gao Zhen: “Senior Gao, even if this man deserves death, he should be handed over to the Enforcement Hall.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Zhen snorted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Enforcement Hall can execute him, but I as Garrison Commander cannot?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Hu’s face grew colder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could he kill him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Theoretically, no.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But everyone knew: theoretically no meant yes, depending on circumstances, it meant must.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Garrison Commander killing a soldier was a case of execute first, report later—merely inviting criticism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The army was not a civil office; evidence didn’t matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was common for several men to die during daily training. Even the Annan Army was mild—among frontier troops, an officer’s word decided a soldier’s life or death, with no consequences whatsoever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, he stepped aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Zhongtian appeared in the crowd; he looked from Tang Hai in the blood to Gao Zhen, then snorted:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Gao, if one of my men broke the rules, I’ll handle it myself. No need for your concern.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take him away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Hu panicked, but Ning Zhongtian’s gaze stopped him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no choice but to forcibly drag Tang Hai away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Zhen, seeing Ning Zhongtian, chuckled: “So he’s one of Senior Ning’s men. In that case, I won’t trouble myself further.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>he turned and walked away from the crowd without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew that with Ning Zhongtian present, killing Tang Hai today was impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought to himself:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pity. I could’ve crossed another name off the list.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1841,"2026-06-19T22:01:09.077Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","0d362dea0e4ec492c1e5042bd32c5e52ac17024adf6502b67d92b800f4444d6c","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-178","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-176",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feternal-green-immortal-sovereign-cover.jpg"]