Chapter 193: The Ultimate Limit of Five Hundred Years

Delivering a book?

Sister Yao?

Li Rui's mind turned swiftly—he immediately understood the whole situation.

After Yao Xue left Qinghe.

She occasionally wrote him letters, and Li Rui replied to every single one.

After all, he had heard that the owner of Wenxian Tower had become the new Supervisor, and the old Daoist Zhang Gu and his two disciples had moved into the Imperial Palace.

Pay attention.

It's the Imperial Palace, not the Capital City.

Only imperial relatives or palace maids and eunuchs could live inside the Imperial Palace; the fact that Yao Xue and her two companions resided there showed just how deeply the Emperor favored the owner of Wenxian Tower.

Such a powerful ally must be clung to tightly—his letters were certainly worth replying to.

Li Rui stared at the book in the young man's hands.

The Qi of Immortals: A Guide

He was speechless.

In his letters, Li Rui had used the pursuit of immortals and the Dao as an opening, trying to learn more about immortal qi and the Immortal Court from Yao Xue.

After all, the books in the Anning Guard's armory were all scattered travelogues, little different from myths.

But Wenxian Tower was entirely different—it was a sect founded specifically for seeking immortality, and surely had studied the subject deeply.

Moreover, Yao Xue had entered the Imperial Astronomical Bureau; she could learn far more than he ever could—resources were right there.

He hadn't expected it.

Yao Xue had directly sent someone from the Capital to deliver the book to him.

The Qi of Immortals: A Guide—its name says it all: a book about immortal qi.

"Thank you, Master Fu."

"It's nothing. Sister Yao asked me to convey her greetings to you, Elder."

"Miss Yao is thoughtful."

Li Rui smiled faintly.

It seemed Yao Xue's inner demon had been completely eradicated—otherwise, she would never dare to maintain contact with someone like him, her own inner demon.

He accepted the book with both hands and invited Fu Huan inside: "Master Fu, the night is cold—come in and have a cup of hot tea."

"Then I shall trouble you."

Fu Huan's nature favored quietness; instinctively, he wanted to refuse.

But Li Rui was someone Yao Xue had personally instructed him to treat well—he couldn't rudely reject him on their first meeting.

The owner of Wenxian Tower was now his own master, and all three of Wenxian Tower's members had gained high status in the Imperial Astronomical Bureau—he had to take this seriously.

They entered the house.

Li Rui personally brewed a pot of tea for Fu Huan.

Thin wisps of white steam rose gently from the teacup.

Fu Huan took a small sip, his eyes brightening: "Excellent tea!"

It was not bitter on the tongue; afterward, a faint sweetness lingered—not cloying like white or brown sugar, but deeply refreshing.

Nothing like the tea he had drunk in the Capital.

Li Rui chuckled: "If Master Fu likes it, good—it's just some local wild tea."

Wild tea?

Of course not.

If wild tea could impress a senior official from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau who had seen the world, the tea pickers of Qinghe would have become rich overnight—how could they still suffer hunger and want?

This tea was specially obtained by him from the Southern Frontier.

The journey from the Southern Frontier to the Capital was long; it was usually transported as tribute.

Unless one was a royal prince or noble, one might not even get to taste this tea in the Capital.

Li Rui had only managed to obtain some because of his proximity to the region, and he kept it specifically to entertain guests from the north.

To treat someone well, one must prepare in advance.

Collect things daily—then, when the moment comes, you won't be helpless.

The more tools you have, the more likely one will come in handy.

The worst fear is having no tricks left.

Fu Huan grew to love it more with every sip, and before he realized it, his cup was empty.

He felt embarrassed.

Nobles drank tea with restraint—it was about savoring, not gulping like crude country folk.

It was uncouth.

Fu Huan came from nobility; behaving this way made him feel he had been disrespectful.

Li Rui noticed Fu Huan's discomfort but said nothing—only smiled warmly and refilled his cup without a word.

"Young people."

Fu Huan clearly spent his days buried in the Imperial Astronomical Bureau studying occult arts, rarely stepping outside.

He was inexperienced in the world.

Li Rui finally spoke: "Master Fu, are you in Qinghe because of a demonic disturbance?"

Fu Huan shook his head: "Master Li is also of the Anning Guard—I won't hide it from you: I'm here regarding the case of your Garrison Commander Gao Zhen."

Li Rui quickly cut him off: "This concerns classified matters—Master Fu, you needn't tell me."

"Master Li truly understands righteousness."

Fu Huan couldn't help but feel a flicker of admiration for Li Rui.

Few people can restrain their curiosity.

He knew that the entire Anning Guard's attention was now fixed on the Gao Zhen case—everyone wanted to know the details.

On one hand, it was a major matter for the Anning Guard; on the other, if Gao Zhen truly died, many interests were involved.

Fu Huan was inexperienced, but sharp.

He couldn't help but regard this old man with greater respect.

Li Rui shifted the conversation to Wenxian Tower.

He might be the only person in the Anning Guard who didn't care about the details of the Gao Zhen case.

He himself had killed Gao Zhen.

What was there left to learn?

As long as he knew Cao Wei and the others were still investigating, that was enough.

Compared to the case, talking about the Imperial Astronomical Bureau and Wenxian Tower brought Fu Huan no pressure.

The Imperial Astronomical Bureau seemed mysterious to outsiders only because its alchemists rarely appeared before the public—there was nothing truly secret. Wenxian Tower, now a renowned sect known across the land, was no longer the hidden sect it once was.

Nothing to hide.

Just idle chatter—of course, the atmosphere became relaxed.

To Fu Huan, it was ordinary.

But to Li Rui, it was all fascinating.

His knowledge of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau had been limited to written records; now, finally, he had met an official from it—and because of Yao Xue's connection, the man was willing to talk more. He wouldn't let this opportunity slip.

"Master Li, the Imperial Astronomical Bureau isn't as mysterious as people say."

"It's merely the clever application of martial arts—martial artists focus on using true qi for combat, while alchemists emphasize using true qi to harmonize with heaven and earth, imitating the methods of ancient cultivators."

When he spoke of ancient cultivators, Fu Huan's eyes shone with longing.

In ancient times, spiritual energy had not yet fully vanished; the Immortal Court and Immortal Gates stood wide open.

=9+Book, please

A ninth-rank cultivator could draw upon the energy of heaven and earth; now, one must reach the seventh-rank Sinew Strengthening stage to generate even a semblance of cultivator qi through self-cultivation.

Moreover, the true qi generated by one's own cultivation could never compare in quantity to the vast spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

Li Rui's heart stirred slightly.

"Does the Imperial Astronomical Bureau have any methods for extending life?"

He meant extending life, not immortality.

He knew there was no such thing as true immortality—if there were, Yu State wouldn't have so many emperors; it would have only one.

Fu Huan shook his head:

"Lifespan is determined by heaven—there is no method to extend it."

Li Rui: "Master Fu, why say that? I've heard many health-preserving arts in the martial world."

Fu Huan shook his head again:

"Strengthening the body to prolong life is a delusion of ordinary mortals. The elders of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau once conducted experiments: an ordinary mortal who does not cultivate martial arts, no matter how many fine elixirs he takes or how excellent his health-preserving methods, can live at most two full cycles of sixty years—that is the absolute limit of mortal lifespan."

"We martial artists extend our lives because true qi reverses fate—that's how we gain longevity."

"But now, with spiritual energy receding, one's personal power is ultimately limited—five hundred years is the absolute limit for martial artists."

"Techniques cannot extend life; it is true qi that does—techniques are related, but not the main cause."

Li Rui found this astonishing.

No wonder the Imperial Astronomical Bureau—they had turned this mystical concept into something like a scientific experiment, a theoretical framework.

Five hundred years is the limit of human lifespan.

Hearing Fu Huan's outpouring, Li Rui felt a subtle stir in his heart.

Once one enters the Willow Vein, a typical martial artist gains fifty years of life.

After crossing the Dragon Gate, one gains another half-century.

A typical Dragon Gate martial artist lives to a terrifying three centuries.

Li Rui, however, can live well beyond two hundred years.

To ordinary people, this is equivalent to living a second life.

But lifespan does not grow infinitely, nor does it accelerate.

A Rank-One Supreme can live only five hundred years—clearly because the initial acquisition of true qi yields a pronounced life extension, yet the effect weakens the further one progresses.

But Li Rui vaguely felt that the Changchun Art was different.

It seemed capable of breaking the lifespan limit.

As they talked, the two turned to Qu Chengfeng.

"Master Fu, may I ask how the young brother Qu is faring? Did the Ghost Ming Sect leave any lasting harm?"

At the mention of Qu Chengfeng,

Fu Huan's eyes suddenly showed reverence.

"Master Li, you may not know—Brother Qu is a once-in-a-millennium genius in occult arts; he may well become the next Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau."

Li Rui raised an eyebrow.

An occult arts prodigy?

This clashed entirely with his impression of Qu Chengfeng. Though their time together had been brief, Li Rui believed himself a fair judge of character—how could such a mediocre, spoiled brat suddenly transform so drastically?

Strange indeed!

From what he knew, Qu Chengfeng was no slouch, but by no means a genius among the empire's heroes.

Yet Fu Huan, a seventh-rank scion of a respectable family, showed such deep admiration for an eighth-rank man—this was truly odd.

Fu Huan noticed Li Rui's confusion and explained:

"Master Li, you may not know—after Brother Qu suffered his great calamity, he became as if awakened. Even the Director himself has taken a special interest in him."

"'Once-in-a-millennium'—that was the Director's own assessment."

Once-in-a-millennium.

Consider: how many millennia have passed since the Yu Kingdom's founding?

Does this not mean Qu Chengfeng's talent ranks among the top three in Yu's entire history?

That's too terrifying.

"What kind of miracle did Qu Chengfeng experience?"

Without realizing it, he voiced his inner question.

Fu Huan was equally curious.

But all he heard was that after returning, Qu Chengfeng had forgotten everything about those missing days.

The Director had examined him and said nothing.

The two chatted a while longer; night had deepened.

Only then did Fu Huan take his leave.

Li Rui saw Fu Huan out the door, then returned to his room.

He still circled his qi through one great heavenly cycle before sleeping.

Three days later, at dawn.

Li Rui set out as usual toward the Running Tiger Cavalry camp.

He had barely walked halfway.

When he saw Ge Hong leading fifty men of the Wu Company hurrying toward the camp's outer gate.

"Could something have happened?"

Li Rui quickened his pace to catch up with Ge Hong.

"Brother Ge, what's going on?"

Ge Hong turned his head, saw it was Li Rui, kept walking, and said:

"It's the Ministry of Justice."

"They were attacked by a mysterious strongman while investigating a case."

(End of Chapter)