Chapter 209: Dream Enlightenment, Half the Blade Forms Mastered

Wind and clouds shifted, and the Ying Dragon suddenly appeared.

In the dream, Li Rui's thoughts drew the scene—a hundred-zhang Ying Dragon coiled atop Mount Yuntai.

The next instant.

Li Rui suddenly opened his eyes.

"Bring me the blade."

In an instant, his right hand was wrapped in clouds, and the blade Zangfeng materialized in his grip.

His body moved like a jade dragon, the blade's edge sharp and unstoppable.

The hundred-zhang Ying Dragon no longer lay passive atop the clouds; its head lifted slightly, as if ready to soar.

"Nine Dragon Cuts, Second Form: Dragon Appears in the Field!"

Li Rui murmured softly.

The blade's light spilled like water, no longer focused on defense as in the first form, "Dragon Lies Hidden"—each strike was brutal, all its sharpness exposed.

He had only just created the first form.

Yet in one moment of enlightenment, he directly forged the second.

Progress surged forward in one leap.

But Li Rui's Zangfeng showed no sign of pause; the blade's momentum shifted instantly, transforming from intricate, fully exposed movements into broad, sweeping strikes, each one crafted with meticulous artistry.

"Third Form: The Gentleman Strives Unceasingly!"

The gentleman strives unceasingly all day.

Li Rui's form drew from the meaning of self-strengthening—no need for dazzling complexity, merely simple chops and slashes; mastered, they could still make one a master.

Though the form seemed ordinary, it concealed terrifying force, sweeping away vast clouds like a gale devouring the sky.

"Done!"

Li Rui couldn't help letting out a long, triumphant roar.

Awakening to two forms in one breath filled him with unmatched exhilaration.

The Nine Dragon Cuts had already reached three forms—progress was already over half complete.

This efficiency far exceeded Li Rui's expectations.

Li Rui stared at the blade in his hand, eyes filled with astonishment:

"Can one attain enlightenment within a dream?"

Such a thing was unheard of—at least, none of the ancient texts he'd read ever recorded dream-based enlightenment.

An unexpected boon!

This must be an added effect of Great Dream Immersion.

In the dream, one need not fear qi deviation or self-injury, and the effect is more than seven times stronger than in the real world.

The effect was terrifyingly potent.

Under normal circumstances, Li Rui would have needed four to five years to perfect just three forms of the Nine Dragon Cuts.

Yet now—

He'd accomplished it in the span of a dream.

He'd saved four or five years of grueling effort.

In truth, creating one's own martial art is an excruciatingly long process.

There's a saying in the martial world:

"Ten years is not long; a hundred years pass in the blink of an eye."

It refers to the process of creating martial techniques—countless masters spent a decade refining a single strike, and some spent a hundred years for one move alone. Take the master who founded the White Ape's Blade Art in Huayqing Sect; according to his own records, he watched monkeys in his Daoist temple for thirty years before creating the art.

Without meticulous refinement, how could a technique become a legacy passed through generations?

Compared to them, Li Rui couldn't even be called fast.

He was lightning-speed.

Though the Nine Dragon Cuts still fell far short of top-tier arts, its rank was already impressive—among sixth-rank cultivators, it was among the finest sword techniques.

Li Rui was not so arrogant as to believe his talent and Great Dream Immersion could let him create a sixth-rank technique rivaling a first-rank one.

The realm gap was too vast; his insight simply didn't reach the same level.

It was impossible to compare.

But he needn't undervalue himself either—among greats at the sixth-rank, few could create their own arts like Li Rui.

And the advantage lay in its origin: immense potential.

If Li Rui continued refining and improving it, he might yet forge a martial art that dazzled the world.

He had full confidence in this.

After all, he walked the path of the number one.

General's Mansion, back courtyard.

Pavilions, terraces, winding streams, cups floating.

In the center, a five-mu pond, its middle raised platform where over a dozen beautiful women danced gracefully.

Cao Wei sat on one side of a stone platform, smiling as he embraced a plump, radiant woman.

"Elder Shi, I entrust the trade matter to you."

Shi Zhou, elder of Divine Weapon Manor, laughed heartily: "General Cao, this matter is entirely in my hands."

Cao Wei's smile widened.

Today, he and Shi Zhou drank together solely for the sake of cross-border trade.

This was a matter of utmost importance.

As Assistant Regional Commander of Anning Guard and a man aligned with the Fifth Prince, he had known of the cross-border trade news long ago—in fact, the Fifth Prince had sent him to Anning Guard precisely to plan ahead.

Cross-border trade meant silver.

Uncountable silver.

Wealth, companionship, law, land—wealth came first. Even princes, even the Emperor, could not resist the lure of gold and silver.

If the imperial treasury were full, one could immediately equip a million armored troops; the northwestern frontier army would crush all resistance—no more headaches over the northwest campaign.

As the first major sect to settle in Qinghe, Divine Weapon Manor's advantages were undeniable.

After days of negotiation,

Shi Zhou and Cao Wei had reached an agreement.

They intended to monopolize Qinghe's weapons trade with Wu State.

Arms forging was already a highly profitable industry, let alone now, when Wu State's internal affairs were just stabilized and war raged everywhere—weapons were desperately needed.

When the trade opened, prices would be theirs to set.

The new emperor, so long as he held his throne, would pay any price.

As Assistant Regional Commander of Anning Guard, Cao Wei could not personally engage in arms trafficking—if his rivals caught wind, he could lose his head. So Divine Weapon Manor was the perfect front.

First, Divine Weapon Manor was founded on forging—this was their specialty. Second, they had deep ties within the military.

After the deal, profits would be split fifty-fifty.

In return, Cao Wei would turn a blind eye to their operations.

Anning Guard's duty was to guard Qinghe City.

Letting a few merchant caravans slip through unnoticed? Easy as breathing.

As the saying goes: one mountain cannot hold two tigers.

Divine Weapon Manor, a local force from Yunzhou, had never gotten along with Huayqing Sect.

Twenty years ago, Divine Weapon Manor tried to swallow Huayqing Sect—until Jiang Linxian appeared out of nowhere and stopped them.

The two sects had been at odds ever since.

So when Divine Weapon Manor needed an ally within Anning Guard, Cao Wei was the only choice.

=9+ Shu _ Ba

Shi Zhou laughed loudly, raising his cup: "General Cao, may our cooperation be fruitful. If we make the Marquis happy, wealth and honor will never run out."

Cao Wei narrowed his eyes:

"Elder Shi speaks wisely."

Indeed, Divine Weapon Manor belonged to the Marquis of Dingyuan's faction.

Both men were of the same party; alliance was inevitable, and the Fifth Prince had already instructed as much.

"Marquis of Dingyuan"

Cao Wei silently murmured those three words.

Though favored by the Fifth Prince, no one ever minded having more patrons.

If he performed well and won the Marquis's favor, a transfer back to the capital would be effortless.

Who would choose to serve as an outlying official when they could serve in the capital?

He came from the Ministry of War hoping to use this posting as a stepping stone—not to be permanently stuck in Qinghe, this tiny backwater.

If not for Gao Zhen, he'd have found a chance for promotion or transfer back to the capital long ago.

"Must seize this opportunity."

"Jiang Head, you wanted me?"

Li Rui looked at Jiang Linxian, who was sipping tea.

This morning.

He had been watching soldiers drill at the Tiger Charge Regiment when Jiang Yan arrived, saying Jiang Linxian wanted to see him.

Jiang Linxian slowly set down his teacup:

"Brother Li, have you heard of our empire's trade agreement with the Wu Kingdom?"

Li Rui replied: "I've heard a bit."

Jiang Linxian chuckled: "This time, we've established five Trade Offices—one of them is in Qinghe."

The Trade Office,

is a department specifically managing foreign trade; along the coast, it's called the Maritime Trade Office.

The trade between Yu and Wu doesn't mean Wu merchants can freely enter Yu territory.

Even if Wu wanted it, the Yu imperial court would never allow it.

If we opened the borders like that, how many Wu spies would flood into Yu?

So Wu merchant caravans can go no farther than the Trade Office, where they trade with Yu merchants; then Yu merchants transport the goods via the canal to every corner of the empire.

Everyone knows:

The location of the Trade Office will inevitably become extraordinarily prosperous.

Qinghe has turned misfortune into fortune—Ghost Ming Sect drew the attention of the powerful.

Thus, it became the compromise choice in their power play.

Li Rui's heart stirred slightly.

He hadn't expected Jiang Linxian to summon him today over the trade agreement.

Jiang Linxian continued: "His Majesty has ordered the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Revenue to draft documents establishing a Trade Office in Qinghe. Though our Anning Guard merely needs to assist, we must send someone to supervise the trade between the two nations. This person must be meticulous—I believe you, Brother Li, are the most suitable in Anning Guard."

"Sixth-rank Trade Officer."

Li Rui's eyebrows lifted.

Sixth-rank!

Equal in rank to the Anning Guard Garrison Commander.

Officer is a military honorary title with no fixed grade—some officers reach even third-rank; the differences are vast.

This sixth-rank Trade Officer is clearly a new title created after establishing the Trade Offices.

If Li Rui nods,

he can be promoted smoothly and gain Achievement Points.

But—

Li Rui was about to speak,

when Jiang Linxian preempted him: "Brother Li, if you fear revealing your strength and inviting envy, I can intervene. With your power, continuing to hide it would be a waste."

Li Rui narrowed his eyes slightly.

That was exactly what he intended to say.

A seventy-year-old man, in just six or seven years, broke through three ranks and crossed the Dragon Gate directly.

Even among young prodigies, this is exceedingly rare.

Only imperial princes or heirs to major sects might achieve such speed.

Originally, his plan was to wait three or five years of preparation before revealing his strength—everything would then flow naturally.

But if Jiang Linxian was willing to help him—

"If Head Jiang has such faith in this old man, then I accept with gratitude."

Jiang Linxian's smile deepened.

In truth, if Li Rui had immediately accepted the promotion, Jiang Linxian would never have offered him the Trade Officer post.

To reveal one's hand over a mere sixth-rank position—

too impulsive.

As Trade Officer, endless temptations will come.

One misstep, and he too will be implicated.

So there's one thing he didn't say: holding this post demands sufficient self-control.

Clearly,

Li Rui has passed the test.

"Brother Li, you're still in your prime!"

(End of Chapter)