[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign":3,"chapter-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-214":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},2270222,4432,"Chapter 214: Contest","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-214",214,"\u003Cp>In the General’s Mansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Wei and Jiang Lin sat at the very top of the great hall, with five Garrison Commanders lined up on either side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui sat on the edge near Ning Zhongtian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Opposite him sat a handsome young man in white robes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Zhongtian stretched his neck and lowered his voice: “This kid is that brat?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui nodded:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard the grandson of the Duke of Wei, Qi Ze, is strikingly handsome—this must be him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder great families have deep roots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Ze is barely over twenty, yet he has already crossed the Dragon Gate, far younger than Li Rui, who is seventy-six.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, if you compare years of martial training, it’s a different story.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These noble disciples eat elixirs like candy from childhood, soak in herbal baths even before they’ve outgrown their diapers, and begin training the Boy’s Art at age three.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some appear ten years old but already have seven or eight years of foundational experience—common people simply can’t compete at the initial stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Wei, seeing everyone assembled, smiled faintly: “Since all are present, let me state the first matter: Liao Wu’s appointment decree has arrived. From now on, you must cooperate fully and contribute more to Anning Guard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Yu and the others looked at Liao Wu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They all gave him friendly glances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Ning Zhongtian and the others merely sneered, pretending not to hear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liao Wu slowly rose and bowed to the group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Becoming a Garrison Commander was pure triumph:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gentlemen, please lend me your support in the future.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he sat back down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Wei’s lips curled slightly—not only because he was pleased to gain a capable subordinate, but also because he was delighted by what came next.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Second matter: This is Qi Ze. According to the Ministry of Personnel, the post of Trade Inspector is of great importance, and the capable shall hold it. After selection, the final candidates are Qi Ze, Ning Zhongtian, and Li Rui.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>expressions in the great hall varied widely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially Liao Wu and the others, who couldn’t hide their glee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, today was meant to announce the appointments of Liao Wu and Li Rui—but the Duke of Wei took interest in the Trade Inspector post, throwing everything into chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui’s Inspector post was now in jeopardy, yet his Garrison Commander title was already secured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this happened to me, I’d be half-dead with rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Wei paused:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Trade Inspector is a military post. Our dynasty was founded on martial strength—so the strongest shall hold this position. Qi Ze, Li Rui—you two begin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gave no chance for drawing lots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He simply arranged it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither Li Rui nor Qi Ze objected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Trade Inspector was always meant to be chosen between these two; Ning Zhongtian was merely Jiang Lin’s insurance policy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Better not to fight at all if possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Wei agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as Li Rui didn’t become Trade Inspector, he’d already succeeded in annoying Jiang Lin—whichever of them won didn’t truly matter to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Ze slowly rose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at the old man before him: “Lord Li, after you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui also stood: “After you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Ze glanced around the great hall: “Lord Cao, this space is too small—damaging objects would be unseemly. Shall we move outside to fight?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Agreed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Wei nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>they walked out to the training ground outside the General’s Mansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many soldiers were still drilling there, their shouts echoing continuously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd quickly spotted Cao Wei and Jiang Lin’s party and surged forward, eager to watch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They chattered excitedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Wei merely glanced at them indifferently and made no move to stop them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anning Guard revered strength and martial prowess—this duel would perfectly inspire the troops to train harder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Ze and Li Rui stepped to the center of the training ground, facing each other—outside observers saw tension crackling between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Ze had abandoned all courtesy; he made no pretense, his body coiling forward as if to pounce.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui still bowed and said: “After you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Ze snorted, flicked his folding fan with a sharp *swish*, and in an instant it transformed into a longsword. Simultaneously, a spectral shadow appeared behind him—a massive white crane slowly spreading its wings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>White Crane Spreading Wings Diagram!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Ning Zhongtian’s eyes darkened with seriousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The White Crane Spreading Wings Diagram is a top-tier Qi Flow Diagram.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Extremely high rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least far superior to his own Qi Form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Some skill.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Zhongtian’s heart tightened, sweating for Li Rui—and for himself, coming next.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by the crane’s form, Qi Ze’s was exceptionally refined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Excellent, excellent—Qi Ze would be quite suitable as Trade Inspector. What do you think, Lord Jiang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Wei smiled sweetly at Jiang Lin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This remark was clearly meant to provoke Jiang Lin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Lin stood calmly, his expression unchanged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui still chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But inwardly he shook his head:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Youngsters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d already made two pointless moves in the first moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First: pulling a weapon from his folding fan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He watched his disciple Liu Tiezhu forge blades daily—he knew weapons well. A fan that transforms into a sword means the blade is hollowed out inside to fit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’s no immortal or Buddha—he can’t fit the universe into a mustard seed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But designing it this way isn’t for show—it’s to surprise enemies in combat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second: revealing his Qi Form too early.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it were Li Rui, he’d unleash it only at the critical moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why he called him too young.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Ze’s brow twitched slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Laughing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, he felt Li Rui’s laugh was mocking him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Die!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Irritated without cause, he let out a low roar and lunged forward with his sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A crane’s cry pierced the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His longsword shot like a silver snake spitting venom, straight for Li Rui’s chest. Li Rui drew his longblade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body twisted nimbly, sidestepping Qi Ze’s thrust, and simultaneously slashed sideways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*Clang!*\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A metallic ring echoed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The longblade struck an inch away from Qi Ze’s true qi—and could not advance a single inch!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*Hiss!*\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The five Garrison Commanders instantly sat up straight, drawing sharp breaths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“White Crane Embracing Wings—impervious to blades and spears!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially Ning Zhongtian, whose face turned grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The White Crane Spreading Wings Diagram’s high rank stems from its ability, at advanced levels, to manifest two forms: White Crane Embracing Wings and White Crane Spreading Wings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>White Crane Embracing Wings uses true qi to shield the body, its hardness rivaling divine iron.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Truly impervious to blades and spears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>=9+books_ah\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t expected Qi Ze, so young, to have such mastery over Qi Condensation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No wonder the Duke of Wei took notice.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Wei’s eyes flickered with surprise—just this one technique alone was enough for Qi Ze to dominate among first-layer Dragon Gate martial artists, and even challenge some Nascent Soul cultivators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Ze stood up, loosening his shoulders: “What, scared?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he had just claimed he easily blocked the old man’s slash with White Crane Embracing Wings, it meant he had lost the exchange in technique to Li Rui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He, a genius of the Duke Prefecture, had lost to an obscure old man from Qinghe County?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made him furious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he decided to defeat Li Rui within ten strikes to wash away the shame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. You’ve successfully angered me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Ze was no longer the refined man he had been before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui still wore a calm smile: “Go ahead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two clashed again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Li Rui no longer relied solely on defense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His blade technique shifted from its usual defensive stance to wide, sweeping strikes, treating the blade like a hammer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It slammed into Qi Ze’s sword like a gale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, a hundred strikes passed, and Qi Ze’s grip on his sword began to tremble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at the blade—its center had visibly bent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, it had been crushed flat by Li Rui’s blows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How does he have such strength?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui’s strikes had seemed brutish, but each one struck straight at his vital points, leaving him no chance to counter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui would not tell Qi Ze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had planned this all along.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Ze’s sword, due to its design, was hollow in the center, weakening its strength—so Li Rui targeted that flaw, switching from cutting to smashing, denying Qi Ze any chance to draw his blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it the sword’s fault?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No—it was the man’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Li Rui had used this sword, he would never have revealed its weakness so early.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sword meant for cunning and deceit, when used openly, was doomed to be buried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Ze glanced at the strange expressions of the crowd around him, a fierce glint flashing across his face—he was truly enraged:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I had planned to save this move for last. Fine. Let you see it now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white crane’s spectral cry grew louder; its wings trembled, rising two zhang high as they beat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“White, Crane, Spread, Wings!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke each word slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd around them held their breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Zhongtian’s eyelids twitched violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had thought Qi Ze’s mastery of White Crane Embracing Wings was extraordinary—but he had never imagined Qi Ze had also awakened the killing technique: White Crane Spread Wings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze had grown deadly serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even he might not survive this move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Lin’s expression finally shifted slightly at those four words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white crane behind Qi Ze detached from his body, shooting toward Li Rui as a streak of light, the gale it stirred forcing the surrounding soldiers to shield their eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This technique was truly powerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet almost the moment the crane spread its wings—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thunderclap erupted suddenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone snapped their heads up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sky was clear and bright!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they looked again at the center of the training ground, a colossal divine dragon—ten zhang long, one zhang tall—appeared out of nowhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In ancient myths, it had been painted in bold strokes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu State revered the dragon above all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But dragons had always existed only in murals and carvings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that one stood alive before them, no one could resist the urge to kneel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that… a dragon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some soldiers’ hearts skipped a beat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The divine dragon obliterated the crane in an instant—its rank crushed the lesser form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dragon-shaped cultivators were rare, but among Yu State’s hundreds of millions, a few could still be found.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They usually gave off a sense of slow progress, massive but weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Rui’s dragon was both huge and strong!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When your spiritual form’s rank is higher—and stronger—defeat is already sealed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Ze’s eyes widened in disbelief:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Impossible. It can’t be.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the divine dragon gave him no chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was swallowed by the dragon, then seen flying like a sack of sand, tossed up three or four zhang into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Wei flashed forward and caught Qi Ze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at Li Rui with a complex expression, then spoke three words:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Rui wins!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1845,"2026-06-19T22:01:11.003Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","b12e4f8e07bbcf221996a0591291bf7e9cd1e7a6355925e3fb9f9e27dc784a87","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-215","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-213",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feternal-green-immortal-sovereign-cover.jpg"]