Chapter 242: Forging Iron, Seeking Dao, a Sparrow Reveals Its Form

The wooden frame creaked as it turned.

Zhuang Renhe walked out of the hidden passage with an expressionless face; the Blood-Picking General was dead, or rather, the Blood-Picking General in the secret chamber had been reduced to nothing but ash.

This time, he was truly dead—no trace of the Blood-Picking General would remain in this world.

'Immortal Sovereigns, you really know how to keep secrets!'

Zhuang Renhe never imagined that the Ghost Ming Sect had done so much behind his back.

He never imagined that the Immortal Sovereign had descended, and that he himself had been involved.

He understood now.

That order to find someone had never come from Blood Shadow Ancestor—it had come from the Immortal Sovereign.

'The Xuan Nation claims to be descendants of immortals—and damn if it isn't true.'

Zhuang Renhe's eyes flickered.

All along, he had treated the Ghost Ming Sect's doctrines as a joke—descendants of immortals? Just self-deception.

He joined the Ghost Ming Sect merely for mutual exploitation.

But the Ghost Ming Sect's depths were deeper than he'd imagined—they had actually resurrected the Immortal Sovereign.

Soon, greed filled his eyes.

'Immortal qi—now that's true immortality.'

Whether the Immortal Sovereign truly existed remained doubtful to Zhuang Renhe, but the existence of immortal qi was nearly undeniable.

'If the Ghost Ming Sect can take it, so can I!'

Inside Li's residence.

'The Nourishing Qi Pill tastes better than the Huangting Pill.'

Having consumed so many spirit pills, Li Rui had gradually learned to savor their nuances.

If Yaoshuo the best—

It had to be the fifth-rank elixir, utterly perfect in color, aroma, and flavor.

This mindset was much like that of a seasoned gourmand who has sampled every delicacy.

Li Rui glanced at a floor tile.

That was the entrance to the hidden passage; the pills were stored in the secret chamber, especially the two fourth-rank Nine-Turn Soul-Returning Pills.

He swallowed hard.

Now wasn't the time—wait until his true qi solidified enough to open the Qi Sea, then use those two Nine-Turn Soul-Returning Pills to help him break through in one go.

The Qi Sea demanded terrifying amounts of true qi—it couldn't be achieved overnight.

Only because Tie Kuang had provided so many pills, so potent,

Could Li Rui even have a chance at rapid advancement.

Such treatment—even the core disciples of Divine Weapon Manor might not have it.

True prodigy-level treatment!

This time, Tie Kuang had gone all-in for the Immortal Weapon.

Only if Li Rui opened his Qi Sea and could cultivate more Immortal Xuan Qi could the Immortal Weapon possibly manifest—so of course he must give full support.

But on the other hand, wasn't it essentially just swapping beast blood for pills? In a way, even more advantageous?

With massive pill support, Nourishing Qi progress naturally soared day by day.

He observed his dantian.

The dragon shape was now far more agile, lifelike, indistinguishable from the legendary Yinglong; likewise, the Immortal form, though hazy, already bore faint traces of Immortal aura.

The results were highly encouraging.

After swallowing the pill, he immediately activated Dragon Soaring Through Nine Skies to circulate qi—the Yinglong, highly energized by the pill's effect, zipped around his body in an instant, completing a full Great Circulation in just fifteen minutes.

Li Rui gazed out the window at the moonlight.

Still early.

He picked up the Divine Fire Burning Heaven Hammer and stepped outside.

Under the moonlight,

The old man swung the hammer.

'What a grand spectacle.'

Outside Anning Guard.

On the roof of an abandoned house, Fu Huai stood silently, gazing across Anning Guard, his eyes glowing with eerie purple light, a small jade vial in his hand—its liquid long since consumed.

To ordinary eyes, it was merely a guard battalion.

But to him, the scene was breathtaking.

To his right, a colossal sword loomed, barely restrained from drawing; to his left, a two-winged divine dragon slowly lifted its head, ready to soar into the heavens.

Fu Huai's heart could not settle.

In this tiny Qinghe County, two such terrifying figures had lain dormant.

If these two ever rose to prominence, Yu Nation would soon have two more monumental figures.

And they were both from the military.

The Ghost Ming Sect certainly wouldn't want this.

He narrowed his eyes slightly.

Though uncertain whether these two were the ones the Immortal Sovereign sought, one thing was certain—they were both targets for the Ghost Ming Sect to eliminate.

For a thousand years,

Yu Nation had seen certain prodigies vanish without explanation.

Some of them had been eliminated by the Ghost Ming Sect—preemptive strikes against potential threats.

'Jiang Lin, Li Rui'

Fu Huai pondered.

Both were exceptional, yet they still fell far short of the Immortal Sovereign's description of 'exiled immortals.'

What was an 'exiled immortal'?

An immortal who had descended to earth!

Their environment had changed, but their immortal essence remained utterly unchanged.

Their aura should be boundless.

Fu Huai had never seen a true immortal—the Immortal Sovereign was known only to a handful of high-ranking Ghost Ming Sect members.

So Fu Huai could only guess, only compare.

'So who, then, could it be?'

He murmured to himself, then leapt lightly off the roof and vanished into the darkness.

The Shangyuan Festival had arrived.

'The fifteenth of the first month is Shangyuan, the fifteenth of the seventh is Zhongyuan, the fifteenth of the tenth is Xiayuan—these are the Three Officials' birthdays. Heaven grants blessings, Earth pardons sins, Water relieves calamities. Altars are erected for worship.'

The fifteenth of the first month—Shangyuan, when Heaven grants blessings.

At this time, streets were lit with lanterns and decorated with colorful banners; people danced with lions and admired lanterns, gathering to eat yuanxiao.

Qinghe's streets had never been so lively.

Young men and women filled the streets.

Yu Nation's customs were open, and many women were martial cultivators, so there was no taboo against women appearing in public—but never before had so many young women been seen out together, except on Shangyuan.

Li Rui walked down the street.

An old man stood out as utterly out of place.

Soon,

He slipped into a narrow alley.

The atmosphere instantly grew quiet; after passing through a path between houses, not a single soul could be seen.

Moments later,

He arrived before a blacksmith's shop.

'Senior Tie.'

Tie Kuang was discussing a sword blank with Liu Tiezhu.

On the streets, all were carefree youths.

Craftsmen never celebrated Shangyuan.

Tie Kuang turned his head, saw Li Rui, and snorted: 'Still haven't opened your Qi Sea? Too slow.'

Li Rui was speechless.

Do you really think the Qi Sea opens on command?

Once you open the Qi Sea and stabilize it, the path ahead becomes smooth sailing—guaranteed Observation Sea Realm.

Observation Sea, Observation Sea—the prerequisite is having a sea.

Once you have the sea, everything else follows naturally.

That sea is the Qi Sea; for qi to become a sea, the foremost requirement is sufficient true qi.

Yet masters of the Observation Sea Realm are qualified to lead major sects in entire prefectures—how easily could one break through?

Li Rui grinned, lifting the food box in his hand.

'Eat yuanxiao.'

"Cook glutinous rice into balls, coat them in syrup, and call them 'yuanzi'."

The Lantern Festival is the time to eat yuanzi.

Tie Kuang rolled his eyes: "Who eats that girly nonsense?"

Fifteen minutes later.

Three figures tiptoed and crouched by the blacksmith's shop door, each holding a bowl in hand.

Tie Kuang's cheeks bulged as he chewed:

"Smells pretty good."

Li Rui: "Right? These are specially made by Zui Xian Pavilion—most people can't even buy them. I thought I'd bring some for you to try."

Tie Kuang ate with growing enthusiasm.

The fried yuanzi had a crisp outer crust, a soft, glutinous interior, and a filling of osmanthus, red sugar, and red bean paste—sweet, fragrant, and oozing.

Far more refined than the street vendors' versions. As he ate, Tie Kuang said: "You brat, don't think a few yuanzi can fool me. If you don't open your dantian within a year, you'll spit back double what you got. Oh, and that hammer was borrowed—you'll return it."

"Yes, yes."

Li Rui nodded vigorously.

He knew perfectly well Tie Lao was referring to the Divine Fire Burn Heaven Hammer.

That hammer was the treasured artifact of Divine Forge Manor—it couldn't possibly remain outside long-term.

Seizing the moment while Tie Lao was in good spirits, Li Rui asked: "Senior, why does my true qi always scatter whenever I try to open my dantian?"

Tie Kuang was a genuine fourth-rank Xiantian expert.

There weren't many in all of Yunzhou.

Now that he'd finally met one willing to guide him, he couldn't afford to miss the chance.

Tie Kuang chewed a fried yuanzi, then swallowed it whole:

"It's because you're cultivating too fast."

Then he added:

=9+ Shu _ Ba

"I've lived for centuries—I've never seen anything like your case."

"Only because I've spent my life hammering iron and know bone-reading can I tell you've trained no more than ten years."

"You've shattered your barrier too quickly—your true qi hasn't settled enough."

"Swinging the hammer I found for you ten thousand times daily will help refine your true qi and solve your problem."

Li Rui's pupils contracted slightly.

His true background had been uncovered by Tie Kuang all along.

The methods of a Xiantian cultivator were truly beyond mortal comprehension.

Tie Kuang gazed deeply at Li Rui: "Luckily I know bone-reading—if not, I'd have been fooled by you and Jiang Linxian."

"Pfft. Royal covert agent."

"Li kid, you're good at hiding."

Li Rui just smiled.

Yeah, playing dumb.

Tie Kuang glanced at him, rolled his eyes, then sighed softly: "Only someone like you might live long enough—keep pretending."

He'd seen too many prodigies with astonishing talent.

All of them perished early, their gifts exposed too soon.

Without enduring storms, one cannot become timber.

But if one truly endures storms, one might easily become fertilizer.

Even major sects couldn't solve this perfectly.

Even guardian spirits couldn't help.

He'd never seen anyone like Li Rui—someone whose mind had already matured fully before stepping onto the martial path, yet shattered barriers with unstoppable momentum.

This proved Li Rui's original talent was terrifyingly prodigious.

It was just buried by his humble origins.

Fortune and misfortune are intertwined.

Tie Kuang felt it wasn't all bad.

Li Rui put away his smile and bowed deeply to Tie Kuang: "Thank you, Senior."

Tie Kuang had seen through his origins long ago, yet never revealed it, and went to great lengths to procure the Divine Fire Burn Heaven Hammer for him—truly thoughtful.

"Open your dantian soon—better yet, leap straight into the Sea-Observing realm. Help me forge my immortal weapon sooner. No more idle talk."

Li Rui wasn't offended.

That was just Tie Kuang's nature.

His words were as hard and bold as his name, but his heart wasn't cruel—that's the advantage of true craftsmen.

Li Rui also enjoyed associating with men like Tie Lao.

Grounded.

Li Rui finished his bowl of fried yuanzi: "Senior Tie, what's your chance of forging an immortal weapon?"

Tie Kuang's expression darkened: "About one percent."

"I hope to forge one before I die—so when I meet that old man again, I'll have something to show for it."

Li Rui nodded.

One percent.

It seemed low, but it was already impressive.

Few in all of Yu Kingdom dared claim they could forge an immortal weapon.

Immortal weapons don't die—they're passed down through generations, accumulated over time. In truth, they're rarer than third-rank martial cultivators.

Tie Kuang had made forging an immortal weapon his dying wish.

After finishing the yuanzi,

the blacksmith's shop rang again with the clang of hammer on anvil.

Tie Kuang and Liu Tiezhu were, in a way, very similar—both were obsessed, never tiring of hammering iron.

Logically,

Tie Kuang no longer needed to work for money now that he had Li Rui.

But as Tie Kuang himself said, idle hands are restless.

One day without hammering made him feel uneasy.

Li Rui couldn't help with that, so he stood and returned to the brightly lit streets.

On the bustling street,

groups of boys and girls walked together.

Li Rui walked alone.

After the Lantern Festival,

the New Year was truly over.

Farmers began preparing for the spring plowing; merchants from the Weiheshimao Office had increased noticeably.

Days passed one by one.

In the Weiheshimao Office, Liang He handed a sheet of paper respectfully to Li Rui:

"Master, this is the list provided by County Magistrate Zhong."

Li Rui nodded: "Good."

He took the list from Liang He and studied it carefully.

The list marked all of Zhu Renhe's close associates.

'So who's spying on me?'

Li Rui murmured softly.

He gazed into the mist within his mind—it had turned deep red.

Danger approaches!

All of this began with that gathering at the county office before the New Year; since then, the mist's color had grown redder.

It was almost certain to be connected to Zhu Renhe.

Li Rui was puzzled.

He'd already handed over the immortal qi—why were the Ghost Ming Cult still haunting him?

'Or is Zhu Renhe after something else?'

Zhu Renhe was a county magistrate—every move he made was watched by countless eyes; he couldn't possibly spy on Li Rui constantly.

So it must be his subordinates.

That's why Li Rui used his connections to approach County Magistrate Zhong.

The county office was never a solid block—second-in-command trying to undermine the first to seize power was standard procedure.

County Magistrate Zhong had handed over the list without hesitation.

Today, Liang He had gone to the county office and brought the list back.

Li Rui narrowed his eyes slightly.

To Lianghe he said: "Copy this list and send it to the Second and Third Alliance Leaders. Have them assign people to shadow these individuals and report their movements to me daily."

"Yes."

Lianghe took the list and turned to leave.

Li Rui's gaze was deep.

He was no longer the man he had been back then—there were many ways to investigate someone now.

He could investigate that man.

Of course, he could investigate too.

The county office had power, but the Heaven and Earth Alliance had its own advantages.

The beggars on the streets, the vendors by the roadside, the underground Eight Gates within the city.

Those whom others saw as thugs were all the Heaven and Earth Alliance's spies.

These people were despised by the major factions, so the Heaven and Earth Alliance had bought them all—they were called "Sparrows."

All of this was Li Rui's doing.

Elsewhere he might be powerless, but in Qinghe County, he had fifty years of experience.

Perhaps in martial strength he was no match for that man.

But as a person, he must eat, he must buy things—anytime he stepped out, he would leave traces.

These traces could still be analyzed to uncover the truth.

Sometimes small things could have great power.

"Let me see—who you are!"

(End of Chapter)