Chapter 227: Beast God Reincarnation?

Beast God Reincarnation

Li Rui's lips twitched wildly.

This girl looks quite nice, but she's clearly not right in the head.

Reincarnation?

You've listened to too many storytellers' fantasy tales—such a method of rebirth into a second life was legend even in the ancient Immortal Court era.

Li Rui certainly didn't believe it; he'd scoured every ancient text, and every claimed reincarnation had been proven false.

And he knew for certain he could never be the Beast God reincarnate.

"But what made her think I'm the Beast God?"

Li Rui's mind raced.

Quickly.

His eyes lit with sudden understanding.

"It's the Western Heavenly Gate!"

"No—also my talent for subduing demons and defeating monsters."

"Legend says the Beast God guarded the Western Heavenly Gate of the ancient Immortal Court, the supreme sovereign of all beasts, one man holding down all demons of the world."

Guarding the Western Heavenly Gate wasn't just being a gatekeeper—it meant ruling the Western Heavenly Gate, even the entire demon realm.

A top-tier powerhouse.

Just look at the greats guarding the other three gates—they were formidable even among the immortals.

Images of the Beast God's records surfaced in Li Rui's mind.

Then he froze.

His own traits matched the Beast God's almost perfectly.

No wonder Xia Xiaotang had taken him for the Beast God.

Li Rui cleared his throat, still silent.

Xia Xiaotang's face glowed with fervor, babbling nonstop: "Yes! Beast God reincarnation! It's definitely the Beast God reincarnation!"

"."

Fine.

Li Rui hadn't even started lying, and Xia Xiaotang had already trapped herself.

The young witch royal now firmly believed Li Rui was the Beast God reincarnate.

As for why the Beast God would reincarnate as an elderly human man?

That wasn't strange at all in the world of reincarnation.

For instance, an ancient Immortal Court elder had reincarnated nine hundred and ninety-nine times—been a man, a woman, even a non-human creature.

So reincarnating as a human was the most plausible scenario.

Looking at Xia Xiaotang's feverish face, Li Rui cleared his throat twice:

"Get up. My identity… must not be revealed to anyone. Remember—anyone!"

Xia Xiaotang's fervor peaked; her cheeks flushed crimson.

'He admitted it!'

'He admitted it!'

'The Beast God—he's the Beast God reincarnate!'

'The Witch Nation shall rise!'

Her breathing quickened; suddenly, a sense of destiny overwhelmed her.

The Beast God reincarnation was a widely known legend in the Witch Nation—nearly every old and young knew it.

But no one truly believed the Beast God could reincarnate; they all treated it as mere myth.

Xia Xiaotang never imagined she'd be the first to discover the Beast God's reincarnated form.

In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through her mind; soon, her face lit with epiphany.

"Everything makes sense now."

Ever since she learned Li Rui's name, she'd secretly investigated his identity.

Fifty years as a stable hand.

One year as Assistant Regional Commander of the Heaven and Earth Alliance.

Six years as patrol guard of the Anning Guard.

Now even a Trade Office Captain.

His promotions flew faster than arrows—as if, from age seventy, he'd become an entirely different person.

Now it was clear.

He really had become a different person—the Beast God had awakened!

Even his soul had been replaced.

"Yes, yes."

Xia Xiaotang nodded vigorously: "The Witch Nation still has many heretics. The Beast God's power hasn't fully awakened yet—he must hide his identity. Absolutely mustn't let outsiders know."

She instantly felt she was undertaking a monumental task.

Assisting the Beast God—wasn't that exactly the same as the Yu Nation's "supporting the dragon"?

Her big eyes sparkled with excitement.

Watching Xia Xiaotang, Li Rui fell silent.

The words he'd been about to say slipped back down his throat.

'How thoughtful—she even came up with the excuse for me.'

"Alright, get up."

Li Rui waved his hand.

Xia Xiaotang obediently rose, standing beside Li Rui like a little maid.

Li Rui looked at her and sighed: "Just treat me like a normal person. Don't treat me specially—got it?"

"Yes, Lord Beast Li."

Li Rui nodded, satisfied:

"That's better."

Xia Xiaotang's companion beast had triggered a mistaken perception, identifying him as the Beast God reincarnate.

Yet Li Rui's own talent perfectly matched the Beast God's.

Explain?

Impossible to explain.

Should he say he'd condensed the Immortal Form and opened the Western Heavenly Gate?

Or that he possessed the talent to subdue demons and defeat monsters?

Compared to that, the Beast God reincarnation theory was even more plausible—so Li Rui simply accepted the identity.

Xia Xiaotang's status was unique—she was of the Witch Nation's royal bloodline.

She might prove unexpectedly useful.

Besides, if he refused, she might cause an even bigger commotion.

If powerful figures then took notice of his possible connection to the Beast God, that would be a real disaster.

After speaking, Li Rui headed downstairs. Xia Xiaotang moved to follow, but he called out:

"Stay here."

Xia Xiaotang immediately halted.

"Finished chatting?"

Ning Zhongtian, below, watched Li Rui descend with a sly smirk.

Li Rui understood.

His fourth younger brother had jumped to the wrong conclusion: "It's not what you think."

He regretted saying it immediately.

No way to explain now.

Ning Zhongtian wore an "I understand" expression: "Big Brother Li, where to next?"

Li Rui rolled his eyes:

"Let's go. Take a walk."

Today was the first day the Trade Office market opened; as Trade Office Captain, he was expected to remain on duty until closing. The Trade Office had its own officials to oversee order.

But if chaos broke out, he, as Trade Office Captain, had to handle it.

Until market closure.

Aside from ordinary quarrels, nothing major occurred.

Smooth passage.

The sun dipped low, casting the buildings in golden hues.

"Lord Li, we won't be stationed long in Qinghe, but we'll surely meet again."

Dao Mo said: "Tomorrow, Xiao Tang and I will depart first for the Witch Nation. Until next time."

He'd already heard from Xia Xiaotang.

Li Rui had learned Xia Xiaotang's true identity, though not the matter of the Beast God.

=9+ Shu _ Ba

"Until next time."

Li Rui bowed with a smile.

"If you have any business, find Dao Meng—he's the temporary overseer here."

"Understood."

He turned to the burly man beside him, who looked simple and honest.

He was familiar with all the men from Wu Country.

He returned to his residence.

As soon as Li Rui pushed open the door, he faintly heard the sound of hammering iron.

He walked straight to the back courtyard.

There he saw Liu Tiezhu, half his face glowing red from the furnace.

He had converted the entire back courtyard into a blacksmith's shop; to prevent complaints from neighbors, he had built Liu Tiezhu a soundproof forge.

The roof and walls were lined with bamboo, stuffed full of cotton—just like his secret tunnel, forming a natural sound barrier.

At ten zhang away, the noise was nearly inaudible.

Only Li Rui's keen senses could detect it.

He watched Liu Tiezhu, face serious, swinging his hammer.

Li Rui's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Interesting."

Liu Tiezhu gripped a blacksmith's hammer, swinging it like a gale—sparks flew everywhere, his whole body moving as one.

To Li Rui's eyes, this scene.

Held deep meaning.

Each strike by Liu Tiezhu seemed effortless, yet his breath flowed seamlessly; each blow surpassed the last, building in power until even a sixth-rank cultivator like him felt alarmed.

"Exceptionally refined Wu Gong."

Li Rui's eyes lit up.

A technique with cumulative effect like this must be devastating in actual combat.

At that moment,

Liu Tiezhu, lost in his hammering, finally noticed Master Li Rui smiling at him.

He stopped his movements and looked at Li Rui, slightly embarrassed:

"Master, I got too absorbed just now."

Li Rui chuckled and waved his hand: "No matter. Keep going. Is this hammer technique the secret method your elder passed on to you?"

Liu Tiezhu nodded vigorously:

"Yes, Master. You won't believe it—this elder's method is incredible. It saves strength and delivers greater force; with just three strikes, even Xuanjin iron takes shape."

He grew more excited as he spoke.

But Li Rui was thinking:

If this hammer technique were used to strike a person, it would hurt terribly.

"Blacksmiths shouldn't be underestimated."

Otherwise, how could Divine Weapon Mountain Villa become a major sect? Those blacksmiths didn't just forge weapons—they could fight just as fiercely.

"Did that elder say anything else?"

Li Rui asked curiously.

Liu Tiezhu scratched his head: "I once couldn't help but mention I had a master. But that old elder said my talent was too poor to be his disciple. Since he had nothing better to do, he taught me randomly, and I learned blindly—don't take it seriously."

"."

Random teaching?

Li Rui didn't believe that for a second.

The technique Liu Tiezhu had just used was clearly of extremely high rank—even within Divine Weapon Mountain Villa, it would be top-tier.

But since that great blacksmith was willing to teach, Liu Tiezhu should learn it.

After all, there was no downside.

Li Rui patted Liu Tiezhu's solid biceps: "Train hard."

He was growing increasingly eager for his second disciple.

Three days later, morning.

Li Rui arrived early at the Runhu Cavalry camp and saw Tan Hu training as usual.

Although the Runhu Cavalry no longer belonged to the Night Scout unit, they still maintained their formation drills.

"Captain Li."

The group saluted Li Rui with military respect.

Among them were several unfamiliar faces—new recruits personally chosen by Tan Hu.

Li Rui turned to Tang Hai:

"You'll be assigned to the Weiheshimao Office from now on."

"Also, try not to use force if you can avoid it."

Tang Hai froze in surprise.

Then his eyes lit up with joy.

Li Rui was appointing him as the overseer of the Anning Guard stationed at the Weiheshimao Office—effectively a promotion.

"Thank you, Captain Li."

Li Rui smiled faintly.

Tang Hai was a veteran of the Runhu Cavalry, experienced, sharp-witted, and had once shielded Li Rui from disaster—he was the perfect choice for overseer.

The others looked at Tang Hai with envy.

Yet all accepted Li Rui's decision without reservation.

Tang Hai deserved the overseer position.

"Come on, let's go get acquainted with the place."

Saying this, Li Rui led Tang Hai out of the Anning Guard, and soon they stood before the Weiheshimao Office.

The marketplace had not yet opened.

But many Yu Country merchants were already waiting at the gate, eager to secure the first goods.

Li Rui walked confidently to Dao Meng's Wu Country merchant shop.

Dao Meng and the others came rushing out from afar.

Li Rui was about to speak,

When Dao Meng took a delicate wooden box from one of his men.

"Captain Li, this is what Xiaotang asked me to give you before she left."

(End of Chapter)