[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign":3,"chapter-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-232":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},2270240,4432,"Chapter 232: The Hammer Qi Method: Master and Disciple Taught Together!","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-232",232,"\u003Cp>“Hss, why did my back suddenly turn cold on a perfect sixth-day summer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui shivered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strange chill surged upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was mid-breath circulation—this sudden disruption nearly sent him into qi deviation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He muttered to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d thought it was some legendary external evil intrusion, but in that instant, nothing else happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui still wasn’t reassured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He waited until deep night, a full hour passed, before finally relaxing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He completed seventy-two celestial cycles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did he crawl into bed and enter the Dream Cloud Terrace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Keep practicing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as Li Rui opened his door, he saw Liang He standing outside, eyes brimming with excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little He, what’s this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, I’ve broken through.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang He was like a schoolboy who’d just memorized poetry, eager for approval from his old master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui raised his right hand and placed it on Liang He’s shoulder; divine qi circled around both of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His blood and qi were robust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Definitely a sign of breakthrough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After his second disciple Liu Tiezhu broke through, now Liang He had too—disciples breaking through one after another—did that mean he was a good master?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui grinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang He was barely twenty, already at eighth rank—by any standard in Anning Prefecture, he was a notable talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention Liu Tiezhu, the natural diamond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His third disciple Wang Zhao might be the slowest in martial progress, but he possessed the rare gift of horse-taming; his future wouldn’t be poor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Truly, his hall was filled with talent!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui thoroughly enjoyed being a master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu, Wang Zhao, and Yang Yong all learned of Liang He’s breakthrough and were genuinely happy for their senior brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Throughout the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one trained harder than Liang He.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He trained at least six hours daily—everyone in the courtyard saw it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one envied his eighth-rank achievement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui watched it all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang He was growing more like a true senior brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A senior brother doesn’t need the greatest talent—he must earn respect, or how else can he unite his junior brothers?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang He wasn’t clever, but he was diligent, steady, even clumsy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet that very clumsiness made him more trustworthy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As everyone celebrated Liang He’s breakthrough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu opened his mouth, then hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Li Rui noticed his hesitation—he looked at Liu Tiezhu: “Speak up. What’s wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu scratched his head:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, the old ironworker at the forge said yesterday to tell you to come by.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui’s pupils contracted slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment had finally come—to meet his master’s master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The “old ironworker” Liu Tiezhu mentioned was Tie Kuang of Divine Weapon Manor—a fourth-rank Primordial, the manor’s top forge-master; any one of those titles alone was terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To meet him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui paused, then nodded: “It’s time we met.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My disciple has trained under him for months—Liu Tiezhu is nearly at Iron Bone stage. Out of courtesy, I must pay my respects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tie Kuang is from Divine Weapon Manor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Divine Weapon Manor isn’t some hidden cult or heretical sect—you can’t run from the temple once you’ve entered it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So it was certain they wouldn’t dare act against Li Rui, an Anning Guard Captain—no need for caution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui followed Liu Tiezhu out the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They arrived at a forge so ordinary it could’ve been anywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui remembered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This shop had stood for decades—he’d once gone to the old ironworker to have horseshoes forged, but after the old man died and his son took over, he’d never returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then followed Liu Tiezhu through the curtain into the back room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though his disciple Liu Tiezhu had trained here for months, this was Li Rui’s first time entering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, a fourth-rank Primordial could see through one’s cultivation—better to avoid meeting unless necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui heard the clanging of hammers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu walked straight to the furnace and pointed at the bare-chested, white-haired old man quenching a blade:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, that’s the old ironworker.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui gasped at his disciple pointing at a fourth-rank master and calling him “old man.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tiezhu, you shouldn’t be called Tiezhu—you should be called Tiger.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You really are a tiger.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tie Kuang didn’t even glance at them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He kept hammering, focused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His iron hammer swung like a storm, clang-clang-clang striking the red-hot blade blank, sparks bursting in the dim room—violent, beautiful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Tie Kuang ignore them, Liu Tiezhu grew annoyed and shouted loudly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, Old Iron!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You can be arrogant on your own time—I’m your junior, I don’t care—but today I brought my master!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You can disrespect me, but not my master!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You call yourself Tie Kuang, and you’re really that arrogant???\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui saw his reckless disciple about to confront Tie Kuang and broke into a cold sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He quickly grabbed Liu Tiezhu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master isn’t in a hurry—wait a bit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To confront a fourth-rank Primordial?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He truly feared Tie Kuang would turn them into blade blanks and hammer them flat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Liu Tiezhu could only suppress his anger and scowl as he waited for Old Iron.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tie Kuang’s movements weren’t disturbed by the two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sparks flew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A full quarter-hour passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui began to notice something—he’d seen his disciple use a similar hammering technique; Liu Tiezhu’s forging was skilled, but nothing compared to Tie Kuang’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Divine skill!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every swing of Tie Kuang’s hammer subtly aligned with his true qi, striking precisely where the qi was weakest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, every strike wasn’t just forging metal—it was also cultivating qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What he’d taught Liu Tiezhu wasn’t forging—it was Qi Refining!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Liu Tiezhu hadn’t yet generated true qi, so the effect was hidden; on Tie Kuang, it was entirely different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui was instantly entranced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His own true qi flowed unconsciously, mimicking Tie Kuang’s rhythm; his hands imitated the hammering motions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tie Kuang caught this out of the corner of his eye and slowed his hammering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What should’ve taken two quarter-hours now took a full hour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hiss—the blade was quenched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tie Kuang finally looked at Li Rui and his disciple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu, impatient, grumbled: “Old Iron, you’re slipping—spent an hour on a piece of Xuanjin Iron? Didn’t you eat breakfast today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tie Kuang decisively ignored Liu Tiezhu, that brainless fool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu was about to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he heard his master, Li Rui, say: “Thank you, Elder, for transmitting the art.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu saw his own master bowing deeply to Old Man Tie, his eyes widening like copper bells.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was speechless. Old Man Tie glared at Liu Tiezhu: “Get lost, go to the back. I’ve got things to discuss with your master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu grunted, rolled up his sleeves, and stepped forward to argue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d worked in the forge for so long—he’d never coddled Old Man Tie. Respect, yes, but Old Man Tie’s words were always too rude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’d argued plenty of times, but Old Man Tie held no grudges—he still taught him forging just the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui grabbed Liu Tiezhu:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tiezhu, go ahead. Your master and Elder Tie need to talk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Truly, a calf unaware of the tiger’s might.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Liu Tiezhu, ignorant of Tie Kuang’s true stature, would dare act this way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He himself would never dare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Li Rui had spoken, Liu Tiezhu could only sulk off to the back courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt his master had lost face on his first visit—this left him ashamed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>=9+book_8\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Little did he know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui felt he’d received immense honor today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fourth-rank Primordial Martialist personally transmitting an art—this treatment, even the True Disciples of Divine Weapon Manor might not have received.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tie Kuang finally turned to Li Rui, his expression intrigued: “Damn if this isn’t strange—none of Divine Weapon Manor’s disciples could ever learn my Hammer Qi Art, yet you two master and disciple picked it up in one go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your talent is exceptional. Among all I’ve met, you rank among the top three—no one else could grasp the essence of my hammer technique after seeing it once.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui bowed again:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s due to your guidance, Elder. It proves our master-disciple pair are destined to meet you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Jiang Lin’s words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This elder of Divine Weapon Manor had lived at least two hundred years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before him, Li Rui was as green as a raw youth—proper respect for an elder must not be lacking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he hadn’t done this in decades, now he performed it with perfect ease, not the slightest hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tie Kuang glanced at Li Rui and sneered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re a shrewd master, always climbing the pole when you see one. Don’t bother testing me—I won’t take on disciples.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I taught the Hammer Qi Art to that idiot Liu Tiezhu only because I didn’t want the art to vanish.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now that you’re here, it doesn’t matter—I’ll give it to you. The art was found by chance; it doesn’t belong to Divine Weapon Manor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was almost laughable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lord of Divine Weapon Manor had sought him many times, begging him to teach the Hammer Qi Art to his disciples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it that he didn’t want to teach?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No—it was those wooden-headed fools at Divine Weapon Manor who simply couldn’t learn it. He’d sent over thirty or forty geniuses, yet not one succeeded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, these two from Qinghe had learned it. Truly, fate plays cruel tricks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui’s eyes lit up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could feel this art’s rank was extremely high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it was a supreme art capable of forging true qi—such arts were almost always the secret treasures of great sects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, he’d been given it outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d truly stumbled upon a massive windfall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a martialist like him, whose Qi Strengthening had reached peak completion and was about to condense his essence, this art was a pillow offered just as he fell asleep—perfectly suited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this Hammer Qi Art, Li Rui was confident he could complete Essence Condensation within three years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Less than ten years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d condense his essence and open his qi sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such speed—even prodigies would be left far behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui: “Elder, if there’s anything I can do, please command me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, when Liu Tiezhu had summoned him today, he’d already suspected Tie Kuang had some task for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tie Kuang’s white beard trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui hadn’t asked what needed doing—he’d asked what he could do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was subtly warning Tie Kuang: he couldn’t handle anything too difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re clever enough,” Tie Kuang said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I still prefer to be around fools.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d spent his life obsessed with forging iron, but that didn’t mean he was naive—he saw through Li Rui’s thoughts at a glance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He always kept his distance from “clever” men like Li Rui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In contrast, men like Liu Tiezhu suited him perfectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, Liu Tiezhu’s habit of calling him “Old Man Tie” would’ve earned him a beating long ago, let alone receiving an art.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui sighed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“People’s experiences shape their nature. If you’re not clever, you won’t survive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Tie Kuang’s gaze shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You kid, you still retain a sliver of your original heart.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he’d summoned Li Rui,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d already investigated Li Rui’s background in advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d spent decades as a stable hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Li Rui said—if you weren’t clever, you wouldn’t have lived this long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tie Kuang’s tone softened: “Good. I did summon you today for a reason.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tie Kuang’s nature, like forging iron, was always blunt and direct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui bowed deeper:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I am at your command.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, Tie Kuang had transmitted the Hammer Qi Art to him. Even if Tie Kuang didn’t care, Li Rui had received a genuine favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, both master and disciple were now Tie Kuang’s students.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having received this favor, he must repay it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he first arrived, he’d been weighing how to maneuver—now, whatever he could do, he’d do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tie Kuang spoke: “I want to do business with you. I supply the weapons; you sell them. Profit split seven to three—I take seven, you take three. Any objections?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An image flashed unbidden in his mind:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Opening a shop. Doing business.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Tie Kuang’s deal wasn’t an unfair contract—it was, in fact, remarkably fair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Weapon trade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d only need to handle sales—and earn thirty percent profit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a business with zero capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one else could do this weapon trade—but an officer of the Anning Guard could. Who would inspect an Anning Guard officer?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If caught, it wouldn’t be because you sold weapons—it’d be because your patron had fallen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tie Kuang stared at Li Rui, frowning:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t want to do it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Or is the share too small?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he hadn’t desperately needed gold to forge a divine weapon, and if he hadn’t feared that annoying lord-nephew of Divine Weapon Manor would demand a cut, he’d never have sought a partner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Selling weapons—especially to the Witch Kingdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even someone detached from worldly affairs knew he needed a clever, cautious man to handle this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t do it himself—he was a blacksmith, not a merchant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And even if he tried, he’d likely fail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why he’d thought of Li Rui, Liu Tiezhu’s master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A senior officer in the Anning Guard with a reputation for steadiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, he confirmed it—he was a shrewd one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old men do become cunning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui was perfect for this task.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui paused: “May I ask, Elder, why you wish to do this business?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A heavenly pie falling from the sky—especially one that could crush you—demanded caution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tie Kuang grinned, his eyes filled with longing, and he didn’t hide his thoughts from Li Rui:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m going to forge a sword.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A third-rank immortal sword.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A sword that can kill a Earth Immortal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2283,"2026-06-19T22:01:11.003Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","829158e7cec5c535d2eb643c96fb4d62ce56567b88038b45812c75f7d15487ed","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-233","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-231",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feternal-green-immortal-sovereign-cover.jpg"]