[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign":3,"chapter-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-178":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},2270186,4432,"Chapter 178: Immortal Qi","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-178",178,"\u003Cp>“Ning Tou’er, Brother Li, I swear on my life that Xiao Hai could never have done something like that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Hu lifted Tang Hai as he spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui’s heart stirred slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He and Ning Zhongtian must have known.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since he heard of this today, he understood it was no longer something he and Tan Hu could handle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Zhen held substantial power as Garrison Commander.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He and Tan Hu were subordinates; if they confronted Gao Zhen face-to-face over Tang Hai, they would give him grounds to accuse them of insubordination and exploit it fully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if Ning Zhongtian eventually reported them, Tang Hai’s fate would be uncertain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So while rushing over, he also sent Liang He to fetch Ning Zhongtian immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A superior officer’s rank makes everything they say right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only someone of equal rank can resolve this matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Ning Zhongtian hadn’t been here today, the situation likely wouldn’t have ended so easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Zhongtian’s gaze was icy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He and Li Rui exchanged a glance, each understanding the other’s intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could Gao Zhen truly be so brutal and foolish?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Possibly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But today’s incident was most likely either deliberate or instigated by someone behind the scenes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was aimed squarely at Ning Zhongtian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Factional strife?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Zhongtian’s heart sank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Zhen entered and exited Cao Wei’s residence daily; anyone could see he was firmly in Cao Wei’s camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps Cao Wei deliberately used him to strike at Jiang Lin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Gao Zhen would serve no more than three years as Garrison Commander in Anning Guard before being promoted elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t matter if he made enemies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was the perfect tool for this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And given his previous reckless, spoiled behavior, people would merely think him an inexperienced newcomer, eventually dismissing it as bad luck and letting it drop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he could transform into a repentant prodigal, aided by the Gao clan, and his official career would be smooth sailing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A gentleman who does evil is forever disgraced, but a repentant prodigal is seen as having learned from his mistakes—great virtue indeed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Zhongtian sighed softly: “Hu Zi, first find a renowned physician to reattach the severed arm—it might still be usable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Hu realized Ning Zhongtian had no intention of pursuing this further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Zhen was a Garrison Commander; Tang Hai was just an ordinary soldier, utterly insignificant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would they really risk offending a Garrison Commander over a single soldier?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not worth it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s like a spoiled heir kicking an old man to death in the street—would the authorities dare offend a powerful family over it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Obviously not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Same logic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Hu looked at the severed arm in his hand, then at Tang Hai, already unconscious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if reattached, Tang Hai’s martial path would likely be finished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke: “Ning Tou’er, given how things stand today, what do you plan to do next?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Zhongtian understood the implication behind Li Rui’s words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui wasn’t asking how to handle Tang Hai—he was asking how to deal with Gao Zhen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Endure in silence?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Li, what do you think we should do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Zhen’s position was unshakable; fighting him head-on would be useless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At best, it would cost us a hundred to wound him eighty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui’s expression turned solemn:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Abandon illusions. Prepare for battle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Zhongtian froze, staring at Li Rui in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, Li Rui always advocated courtesy first, then force, favoring conciliation—why had he suddenly changed his stance?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Li, this—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui’s eyes grew sharper: “Do you think yielding will make Gao Zhen stop?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It will only make things worse. Gao Zhen isn’t a fool—the more you retreat, the more weaknesses you expose, the more chances he has to seize leverage, and eventually, it may burn back to you, Ning Tou’er.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Only by striking first can we have any chance of victory.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Zhongtian listened, his expression growing increasingly grave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui’s gaze turned even sharper: “Ning Tou’er—this is factional strife.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Factional strife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Zhongtian’s heart trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew it well—he simply couldn’t bring himself to make the decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once made, there was no turning back; factional strife was always a fight to the death, with no other outcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He instinctively didn’t want to place himself in such a position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as Li Rui said, he had no choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He bowed, voice low:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Brother Li, for your insight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui: “You’re just too concerned for your men, your mind is clouded—you could have seen it yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first two sentences were flattery, of course.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Zhongtian could have seen it—but by the time he made his decision, it would already be too late!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Li Rui’s forceful stance today was meant to push Ning Zhongtian into full preparation as quickly as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The official world is a battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Timing is crucial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once others seize the initiative, it’s too late to counter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In both past and present lives, Li Rui had seen too many examples—factional strife demands unwavering resolve; trying to please both sides or remain neutral is impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Be more careful in future—if you let someone slip away again—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Zhen glanced at the Platoon Leader behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Platoon Leader shuddered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That look had been truly cold!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His heart tightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until now, the Anning Guard had all assumed the new Garrison Commander was just a spoiled heir—but now it seemed this might have been nothing but a facade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What spoiled heir could make a Platoon Leader, hardened by death, feel as if plunged into ice?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Useless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Zhen shook his head inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today’s incident was arranged by his own men—he ordered them to lure the target, and he ordered them to bring weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He merely denied responsibility and framed them instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, he hadn’t planned to appear himself—he only intended to have his men kill and vanish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the little soldier from the Running Tiger Cavalry escaped, forcing him to step in and clean it up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was cold-blooded and ruthless—but not stupid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He commanded four battalions, all nominally his, but each harbored secret agendas; if he didn’t show up this time, the other watching Platoon Leaders would only grow even more reluctant to act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I really want to kill them all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Zhen returned to his quarters and rubbed his temples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sat cross-legged on the soft couch. In the next instant,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A wisp of green qi exhaled from his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thin as a hair, no longer than a finger, upon close inspection, this green qi seemed utterly alien to its surroundings, detached and solitary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A transcendent being is immune to all evil, above and beyond the mundane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Immortal qi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wisp was the Immortal qi he had obtained from his cheap master, Blood Shadow Ancestor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A disciple of the Ghost Ming  Sect with a clean background who could climb to power was hard to find.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Zhen, a member of the Gao clan, was perfect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He willingly joined Blood Shadow Old Ancestor’s ranks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Gao clan, he was merely an insignificant branch-line bastard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>=9+Book_Ba\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To others, the Gao clan lived in silk and jade, above all others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in truth, only the main line enjoyed such treatment; those of the branch lines were nearly indistinguishable from poor families.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you want something, you must fight for it yourself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Gao Zhen simply joined the Ghost Ming  Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was precisely the Ghost Ming  Sect’s resources that allowed him to cross the Dragon Gate before thirty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now he had even obtained a wisp of immortal qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood Shadow Old Ancestor’s twelve disciples were euphemistically called the Twelve Blood Disciples, but in reality, they were nothing more than kept enforcers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To gain benefits from Blood Shadow Old Ancestor, you must offer sufficient value.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such as completing missions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He still wanted more immortal qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No rush. There’s plenty of time. Everyone will die eventually.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After completing seventy-two major heavenly cycles, Li Rui exhaled a long breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He opened his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His brows furrowed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his Huiyan , the mist was deep crimson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why is there so much murderous intent?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recalling recent events, the most likely source of rising danger was Gao Zhen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But why would Gao Zhen want to kill him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though factional strife is described as life-or-death, that’s merely metaphorical—it doesn’t mean actual killing is required.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Generally, losing one’s post or being demoted, rendering one powerless, is enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There’s no need to drive someone to death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who doesn’t have people they care about? Once pushed too far, no one escapes unscathed. Thus, though official struggles are cruel, they rarely threaten an official’s life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, no one can be certain they’ll remain unshakably powerful forever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving a little room for others ensures future encounters—this is the principle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be that Gao Garrison Commander doesn’t understand officialdom’s rules?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Possibly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Rui always tended to assume the worst of people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even a lion uses full strength against a rabbit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you treat everyone as a fool, you are the greatest fool of all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Zhen may have other intentions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Li Rui pondered,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a flash of green light suddenly stirred in his sleeve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui raised an eyebrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled out the object from his sleeve—it was the Immortal-Seeking Stone that Yao Xue had given him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Immortal-Seeking Stone’s function, of course, was only one: to seek immortals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui’s pupils contracted slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Immortal…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until now, the Immortal-Seeking Stone had always been normal, indistinguishable from an ordinary stone. Today, it had suddenly changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was only one possible explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had sensed an immortal trace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Inside Anning Wei!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since obtaining the Immortal-Seeking Stone, Li Rui had paid extra attention whenever he read.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t expected to actually find a record about it in an ancient text.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Immortal-Seeking Stone: can sense immortal traces within a hundred zhang, glowing with green light.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That matched the current situation exactly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui narrowed his eyes slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was Anning Wei. His footsteps had covered nearly every corner of the garrison. If it were an inanimate object, the Immortal-Seeking Stone would have reacted long ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, the immortal trace had been brought into Anning Wei by someone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, Li Rui’s heart pounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was no saint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faced with an immortal trace, he could not possibly ignore it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did the world’s great sages scour the land for immortal traces?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surely to achieve transcendence and eternal life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immortality, coexisting with heaven—this was a temptation even the Emperor of the Dragon Court could not refuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The older one grew, the more one clung to life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Treasures of the world belong to those destined for them. This item is fated to me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately donned his outer robe, then wrapped himself in a thick, light-blocking coat before stepping out the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At night, the Anning Wei garrison, aside from patrolling soldiers,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>had only a few drunken officers wandering outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Commander Li, out so late?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The platoon leader on duty tonight was from Geng Company—he knew Li Rui well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui smiled and nodded: “Old age, can’t sleep. Came out for a walk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve got fine taste, old brother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two exchanged a few brief words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The platoon leader of Geng Company led his men away. Li Rui continued wandering through the garrison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His range was limited to within a hundred zhang of his residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui stopped before a grand five-hall mansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Immortal-Seeking Stone in his sleeve glowed nearly blindingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Residence!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1933,"2026-06-19T22:01:09.077Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","923cc7b701ddedc905dd32c78f92c1215e2990d371b81712e500536de85e5d14","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-179","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-177",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feternal-green-immortal-sovereign-cover.jpg"]