Chapter 259: Uninvited Guest

'Yu Kingdom people?'

Li Rui's thoughts raced; in an instant, he understood the reason why the demon beasts had insisted on heading north to the Yu Kingdom during this period.

'So who is that person?'

He had grasped the key to resolving this demon beast movement.

That was to find that Yu Kingdom person and hand them over to appease the Demon Lord's anger.

Demon beasts are different from humans.

Their hierarchy is extremely strict; the status of a Demon Lord in the hearts of demon beasts is even higher than that of an Emperor. A single word can make demon beasts act instinctively.

It is the kind that is completely unafraid of death.

If it weren't for the fact that demon beasts couldn't form formations like human armies, their power would definitely be much stronger than an army.

"Brother Li?"

Tan Hu looked at Li Rui, who was lost in thought, and called out.

The other soldiers also looked at Li Rui in unison.

They didn't understand demon language, so naturally, they didn't know what Li Rui had heard.

Li Rui came back to his senses and called out to his subordinates around him: "Clean up the battlefield and continue patrolling."

A night of searching the mountains.

By the time Li Rui's party walked onto the official road, the sky was already bright.

Almost half of the people were carrying demon beast corpses on their shoulders, with fruitful results.

These were all military merits.

And the demon beasts themselves could also be used as medicine; they could be said to be treasures from head to toe.

The Anning Guard soldiers in the checkpoint saw Li Rui's party return, their mouths watering with envy; they wished that the people carrying the demon beast corpses were themselves.

"Lord Li, you've returned?"

Garrison Commander Wang, hearing the commotion, was the first to welcome them.

Seeing Li Rui's battle record, he secretly admired him.

He had guarded the pass for over ten years; in fact, he dealt with demon beasts more than people on a daily basis, so he understood better how difficult demon beasts were to deal with.

Li Rui had only gone for one night and had already killed so many demon beasts; it was enough to show his ability.

"Lord Wang."

Li Rui smiled, looked around, and found no sign of Jiang Linxian, asking: "Why don't I see Lord Jiang?"

Garrison Commander Wang explained: "Lord Jiang said he was going out to take a look, and then he left the city."

This was very much in line with Jiang Linxian's style of seeing the head but not the tail of a dragon.

Although he was the main officer of the army, Jiang Linxian didn't actually lead the troops much; most of the time, he preferred to act alone.

This was the pride of the strong.

Of course, it was mainly because the strength gap was too large; bringing ordinary soldiers was useless, so it was better to act alone for convenience.

With Jiang Linxian's strength, Li Rui didn't need to worry.

After giving instructions to Tan Hu, he chatted with Garrison Commander Wang for a while and then returned to the room prepared for him at the checkpoint.

The city was about a thousand yards square, not very big.

Being able to have a one-courtyard residence was already considered a luxury.

The best two rooms were naturally left for Garrison Commander Wang himself and Jiang Linxian, but for Li Rui, it was already enough.

Li Rui sat cross-legged on the bed.

He closed his eyes and began to circulate his Qi.

The homework he had missed last night had to be made up.

In the blink of an eye, day and night alternated.

Li Rui, who had been sitting with his eyes closed and breathing evenly, opened his eyes.

'Someone!'

Outside the room, extremely faint footsteps rang out.

'An expert.'

The footsteps were extremely light, making almost no sound, but Li Rui's five senses were far beyond those of ordinary people, which was why he could hear them and be startled awake from his dream.

Li Rui got up from the bed with light and slow movements.

This was a border town of the Yu Kingdom; which thief would dare to sneak in and commit a crime in the middle of the night? Had they eaten the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard?

Just as the person outside the door used true Qi to push aside the door bolt—

Li Rui's right hand, like an eagle's claw, suddenly reached toward the person at the door.

Just as his palm had accurately touched the person's neck, and he could crush their throat with a single exertion of force.

Naturally, when he saw the face of the person at the door clearly, the force in his hand relaxed.

"Miss Xia?"

Li Rui widened his eyes.

He never expected that the person sneaking into his room would be the Wu Kingdom youth, Xia Xiaotang.

'Wasn't she grounded by the Great Shaman?'

Xia Xiaotang was also startled by Li Rui's sharp strike just now.

But soon, excitement flashed in her large eyes.

'Lord Beast God has become stronger again; could it be that the Soul-Spirit Great Elixir I gave awakened Lord Beast God?'

"Lord Beast God, I have finally seen you."

Xia Xiaotang's long eyelashes fluttered, her face full of worship.

Li Rui's expression was somewhat strange: "Miss Xia, aren't you grounded? How did you appear here?"

Xia Xiaotang: "I heard Lord Beast God was here, so I came specially."

"..."

Li Rui: "Then why didn't Miss Xia use the front door?"

Xia Xiaotang blushed: "I actually snuck out. If people knew, I would definitely be caught back by the Great Shaman."

"Don't talk about this."

"Lord Beast God, can the Soul-Spirit Elixir help you awaken your past life memories?"

She had snuck here all the way from the Wu Kingdom's imperial capital, wasn't it just to ask this question.

When it came to the Soul-Spirit Elixir, Li Rui's old face flushed red.

He had a sense of guilt, like tricking a little girl out of her candy.

He straightened his expression and decided not to hide it anymore: "Miss Xia, there is something I need to tell you. I am actually not the reincarnation of the Beast God, nor do I have past life memories."

Xia Xiaotang was stunned.

"Not the Beast God?"

Then her small face showed a look of confusion: "But if you are not the Beast God, how could I..."

Halfway through, Xia Xiaotang frowned and began to think.

Recalling the scene in Qinghe.

The reason she was convinced Li Rui was the reincarnation of the Beast God was precisely because her companion beast, the Clear Water Golden-Eyed Beast, felt a supreme, trembling aura from Li Rui. This aura, apart from the legendary Beast God, no one could achieve.

That was what made her so certain.

Xia Xiaotang was not a stupid person; otherwise, she couldn't have been accepted as a disciple by the Great Shaman.

On the contrary, she was very intelligent.

Looking at Li Rui again, there was a bit more vigilance in her eyes, and she took half a step back.

Seeing this scene.

Li Rui had long been prepared.

Since he dared to clarify things to Xia Xiaotang today, he must have been fully prepared long ago. Did she really think he had no countermeasures for the Beast God reincarnation during the time Xia Xiaotang was grounded?

Li Rui didn't have the habit of acting on a hot-headed impulse.

The things he did were all planned long ago.

He had originally thought about telling her when Xia Xiaotang came to Qinghe, but since they met now, he didn't intend to continue deceiving her.

"Wrong."

"Wrong."

Xia Xiaotang muttered to herself in a low voice, saying 'wrong' twice.

Just as Li Rui was quietly waiting for the result of Xia Xiaotang's internal struggle.

Xia Xiaotang suddenly raised her head.

'He is a true genius!'

The Beast God was a demon who became an immortal, but before becoming a demon immortal, he was just an ordinary demon beast, becoming an immortal through step-by-step cultivation.

Once one becomes an immortal, there is no distinction between human and demon.

If Li Rui is not the Beast God reincarnation, then there is only one reason why the companion beast, the Clear Water Golden-Eyed Beast, could tremble—this person has the potential of the Beast God!

As a disciple of the Great Shaman, it wasn't that she hadn't seen geniuses.

But even the Great Shaman himself didn't have such a terrifying aura as Li Rui.

'Although he is not the Beast God reincarnation, this person is gifted; he might really be able to become an immortal.'

'It's definitely right to befriend him.'

Xia Xiaotang made up her mind.

Regarding this, she was full of confidence; who in the capital didn't know that Xia Xiaotang had many friends?

Li Rui then spoke: "Miss Xia, I know the Soul-Spirit Elixir is extremely precious; in the future, I will definitely repay you to the best of my ability."

Before the words had even faded.

He heard Xia Xiaotang wave her hand indifferently: "It's just an elixir; if it's eaten, it's eaten."

While making the gesture, she was secretly proud.

'The Great Shaman said, the first thing about making friends is not to be stingy.'

Li Rui was stunned; that was a Soul-Spirit Great Elixir, saying she didn't want it just like that; even the Great Shaman might not be so generous, right? He couldn't help but reiterate: "Miss Xia, I am really not the Beast God."

Xia Xiaotang smiled brilliantly: "I know, the Great Shaman told me, one should be generous to friends; from now on, we are friends!"

'Friends...'

Li Rui's expression was strange.

If the Great Shaman knew his disciple had sent a Soul-Spirit Great Elixir to make friends, he didn't know what he would think.

'A friendship across generations is a friendship across generations.'

Who told him to take people's things and be soft-mouthed.

Xia Xiaotang changed the subject:

"Senior Li, what are you doing here?"

Li Rui: "Hasn't Miss Xia heard about the demon tide?"

Xia Xiaotang thought for a while, then nodded: "I heard the Great Shaman mention it a few days ago; it was that old Jiao in the Ten Thousand Mountains who caused the trouble."

(In one look)

"Old Jiao?"

Li Rui narrowed his eyes slightly.

He had also heard of that old Jiao.

'There is a wicked Jiao in the Ten Thousand Mountains, smelling the fishy tide outside the hundred-mile town.'

This old Jiao had a great reputation in the Yunzhou martial arts world; a Jiao dragon in the Earth Immortal realm, with powerful strength, it was the hegemon within a thousand miles, and many demon beasts in the Ten Thousand Mountains were driven by the old Jiao.

No wonder the demon tide was so massive.

Xia Xiaotang: "It would be somewhat tricky if we were to deal with that old Jiao."

Li Rui: "Many thanks to Miss Xia for informing me."

"Just call me Xiaotang."

"Hmm, good."

Li Rui naturally couldn't deal with that old Jiao, but since he had already understood the ins and outs of the matter, at least there was a possibility of solving it.

'So who exactly is that person?'

Li Rui looked at Xia Xiaotang seriously:

"Xiaotang, I need you to do me a favor."

Wu Kingdom, Imperial Capital.

Black Crystal Palace.

"Great Shaman, Xia Xiaotang has already left the imperial capital and is now at Yugu Pass."

A man wearing beast robes said.

"Hmm, good."

An old voice came from deep within the palace.

The Great Shaman sat quietly on a stone platform.

Xia Xiaotang thought she had done it without anyone knowing, but in fact, everything was under the control of her Great Shaman master; the reason she could leave the imperial capital was all the Great Shaman's doing.

Li Rui.

Heartfelt admiration?

The Great Shaman naturally didn't believe the explanation for Xia Xiaotang.

He had already sent people to investigate Li Rui secretly; he was nearly eighty years old, how could Xia Xiaotang feel heartfelt admiration?

He understood this disciple of his.

Sending out the Soul-Spirit Great Elixir must have a reason.

Xia Xiaotang was not the kind of person who didn't know the severity of things and was easily deceived; there must be a reason, and the companion beast was the Clear Water Golden-Eyed Beast, which, besides being able to see through illusions, also had great fortune.

He just wanted to see what kind of person could make his disciple willingly send out the Soul-Spirit Great Elixir, and even help an outsider hide it from him, her master.

Of course.

If she was truly deceived... he didn't mind taking it back.

Ask how to take it back?

Just refine it again.

A look of melancholy appeared on the Great Shaman's face, which was like old tree bark:

"A grown daughter cannot be kept."

Deep in the Ten Thousand Mountains.

Li Rui looked at the small beast in Xia Xiaotang's hand, which was only the size of a palm, furry, and looked like a puppy.

"This is the Clear Water Golden-Eyed Beast?"

Xia Xiaotang nodded:

So small?

Li Rui couldn't help but be even more curious.

In terms of lineage, the Clear Water Golden-Eyed Beast was almost equivalent to a king among demon beasts in the world.

At this time, a shocking scene appeared.

The small beast jumped off Xia Xiaotang's palm, and the moment it touched the ground, it swelled against the wind; in a short while, it grew to a height of one yard.

Cute puppy?

Peerless fierce beast!

The tyrannical aura made Li Rui's breathing stagnate.

Xia Xiaotang patted the belly of the Clear Water Golden-Eyed Beast proudly: "Xiao Qing, it's up to you next."

After speaking.

She and Li Rui burrowed into the distant mountain forest and hid.

The Clear Water Golden-Eyed Beast roared to the sky, like a lion and a tiger, majestic and solemn.

"Can it really come?"

Li Rui looked at Xia Xiaotang curiously.

The favor he asked Xia Xiaotang to do was to lure that small Jiao out.

It wasn't that he had any bad intentions, he just simply wanted to know the ins and outs of the matter; no one knew better than that small Jiao what exactly had happened.

Instead of letting his imagination run wild, it was better to ask the main party directly.

Xia Xiaotang, as a disciple of the Great Shaman, had wide connections, so he had the idea of trying his luck; he didn't expect Xia Xiaotang to really guarantee it was no problem.

Now seeing it, Xia Xiaotang's confidence all stemmed from her companion beast.

"Senior, rest assured; Xiao Qing is a royal member of the Clear Water Golden-Eyed Beast, one rank higher than that small Jiao, and they have some friendship."

Li Rui's brows lifted slightly.

The Clear Water Golden-Eyed Beast was already amazing, but if you added the two words 'royal member', that was extraordinary.

According to Dao Mo.

There was a hegemon of demon beasts in the south of the Wu Kingdom, and it was precisely the Clear Water Golden-Eyed Beast.

Thinking about it, Xia Xiaotang's companion beast, Xiao Qing, should be the offspring of that Clear Water Golden-Eyed King Beast.

'This background is truly terrifying.'

The master is the Great Shaman, the companion beast's father is the Demon Lord; in the Wu Kingdom, she is simply a person who can walk sideways.

Xia Xiaotang didn't tell Li Rui.

In fact, it was because of a coincidence that she formed a companion bond with Xiao Qing, and only then was she valued by the Great Shaman.

Rather than being born into the imperial family and receiving special care.

She actually didn't lie.

She was really just a member of an inconspicuous branch of the Wu Kingdom imperial family.

Such clansmen were actually countless in the Wu Kingdom.

The Wu Emperor had lasted for ten thousand years; thirty percent of the Wu Kingdom's people could say their ancestors had imperial blood; this was not a strange thing.

One hour.

"Could it be that the small Jiao went out?"

Xia Xiaotang looked at the mountain forest without any movement, her heart beating like a drum.

Just now she had been so certain.

Just when she herself didn't believe herself.

A shadow fell from the sky.

A Jiao dragon, three yards long, covered in white scales, with a pair of wings, appeared in front of the Clear Water Golden-Eyed Beast.

Roar!

A sound like thunder exploded in the small Jiao's mouth.

"It's here!"

Li Rui and Xia Xiaotang immediately got into the spirit.

The Clear Water Golden-Eyed Beast and the small Jiao chatted one sentence after another.

Xia Xiaotang quietly glanced at Li Rui beside her.

She was secretly shocked in her heart.

'He can actually understand too.'

She could understand because her compatibility with the companion beast, the Clear Water Golden-Eyed Beast, was high, and the companion beast's bloodline was also sufficiently tyrannical.

In such a large Wu Kingdom, there were actually very few who could communicate with demon beasts.

'He clearly has no companion beast, how did he do it?'

'He is worthy of being a person with the potential of the Beast God!'

Li Rui, standing to the side, was listening seriously to the conversation between the two beasts and didn't notice Xia Xiaotang's gaze.

Very quickly.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

A name floated into his heart.

Duan Yu!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 260 =====