Chapter 261: Qi Sea Formed, Observing Waves

Once entering Sea-Observing, the four seas tide rises.

Li Rui's dantian Qi Sea first rippled, then surged like a tide, with immortal Qi misty.

The tide washed over his muscles and bones again and again; every time it washed, it became a bit clearer.

Li Rui felt so comfortable he almost groaned aloud.

A pond actually had the atmosphere of a vast sea; above the tide, a mirage like an immortal palace floated vaguely, and in a trance, a winged divine dragon circled the whole sky.

In a trance, it was like being in an immortal realm.

Not daring to delay.

Li Rui immediately took out the Fifth-Rank elixirs he had prepared long ago and stuffed them into his mouth by the handful.

He knew that this was about to break through.

In an instant—

The Qi Sea in his dantian seemed to boil, as hot as a furnace, and the terrifying scorching heat instantly burned through his entire body.

Li Rui's clothes were soaked at a speed visible to the naked eye, and black substances were precipitated from his skin.

Enduring the bitterness for a night.

The first ray of sunlight on the horizon passed through the window paper and shot onto the bed, sprinkling onto Li Rui's body.

At this time, Li Rui was very disheveled.

Covered in filth, the whole room reeked.

Throughout the night, the tide rolled up by the small Qi Sea washed away the impurities in his body, making his whole person clear and transparent, and even his bones became crystal clear; his originally withered skin gradually became smooth.

This was the Innate phase, the body without filth.

"The valley spirit does not die, it is called the mysterious female. The gate of the mysterious female is the root of heaven and earth. Innate One Qi, take spirit into the mysterious."

When a person is still in the mother's womb, it is the Innate phase.

At this time, life and nature are mixed as one, and vitality is strongest, but with birth, the spirit is covered in dust, and between drinking and eating, the turbidity of the world is constantly accumulated, and the Yin and Yang two Qi are biased, divided, separated, and scattered, and finally, the vitality dissipates completely.

Therefore, one must regain the Innate One Qi to enter the gate of the mysterious female.

Fourth-Rank Innate is to refine oneself into that body without filth.

The Qi Sea of the Sea-Observing realm constantly grows, washing away the filth of one's own body; the more the Qi Sea grows, the better the washing effect, and only then can one reach the state of no filth faster.

Of course, those who can truly reach the state of no filth are already Innate perfection experts.

Li Rui is still far from that realm.

However, one night of washing made his strength soar by more than two times.

"No wonder the Fifth-Rank Dao is so tyrannical."

Li Rui felt the surging power in his body and immediately understood why Zhuang Renhe was so certain he could kill himself.

If he met a Sixth-Rank martial artist, he might also think so.

The effect of the first washing with the Qi Sea is the best, especially having a great influence on combat power; once broken through, there is a qualitative leap.

This might also be a reward for the breaker; later on, wanting to cause a tide in the Qi Sea wouldn't be that easy.

After that, it is water-grinding effort.

First, continue to strengthen the Qi Sea until it can wash the spirit, which counts as entering Innate.

At this time.

Wang Zhao's voice rang out outside the door:

"Master."

"Master?"

"What happened? Did you forget to pour out the chamber pot? Why is it so smelly?"

Li Rui was somewhat embarrassed; his body was sticky and very uncomfortable, so he spoke: "Xiao Zhao, boil a few buckets of hot water; I want to take a bath."

An hour later.

Li Rui, having washed away the mud and filth, walked out of the room feeling refreshed.

Wang Zhao then curiously leaned forward and asked: "Master, did you break through?"

While Li Rui was taking a bath, he was pondering what was going on, and then he thought of the rumor that breaking through to the Fifth-Rank would cause this situation.

"You've made progress."

Li Rui looked at Wang Zhao.

Ever since the demon taming, his little disciple had been getting smarter day by day.

"Master, did you really break through?!"

Wang Zhao immediately widened his eyes.

Good heavens.

That was the Fifth-Rank.

The two biggest officials in the Anning Guard weren't they Fifth-Rank? In other words, now his own master was the Heaven of Qinghe?!

'Have I become a dandy??'

Wang Zhao felt it was somewhat unreal for a time.

Fifth-Rank, let alone in a county or a prefecture, even in a province, was a person of standing.

With such a master as a backer, couldn't he walk sideways in the Qinghe region? He never expected that he was born with a poor and humble life, but living to his twenties, he had instead become the high-gate noble son he had seen in the past.

Li Rui patted Wang Zhao, who was still in a state of shock: "Alright, Xiao Zhao, clean up the room; it's getting late, I'm going out first."

"Oh."

Wang Zhao nodded obediently.

The room was too smelly, and Yang Yong and Wang Zhao had lost their appetite for breakfast.

Li Rui simply walked out of the Anning Guard with his hands behind his back and bought two steamed buns at a roadside stall.

Eating while walking.

Eating is a big deal and cannot be neglected.

Before long.

He arrived in front of a blacksmith shop.

"Master, you've come."

Liu Tiezhu saw Li Rui appear and was immediately overjoyed.

Counting it up, his master hadn't come to the blacksmith shop for over half a month; he was afraid Li Rui had forgotten he had this disciple in the blacksmith shop.

"Tiezhu."

Li Rui first nodded at Liu Tiezhu. Ever since Liu Tiezhu followed Tiekuang, his realm had been rising all the way, and he was almost cultivating true Qi; by comparison, Tiekuang should be Liu Tiezhu's master.

He asked: "By the way, where is Senior Tie?"

Liu Tiezhu pouted:

"Inside."

"Good."

Li Rui answered while lifting the curtain and walking toward the back room.

Sure enough.

He saw Tiekuang squatting in the corner smoking a dry pipe, the room filled with smoke.

"Senior Tie."

Li Rui greeted him, and Tiekuang raised his head, pulling a pipe from behind him: "Smoke some?"

This time, Li Rui refused for the first time.

"Forget it, next time."

Tiekuang didn't mind, just about to put away the pipe, when his eyes suddenly narrowed, and he stood up slowly, sizing Li Rui up for a long time.

He even grabbed Li Rui's arm to feel his bones.

Finally, a series of tsk-tsk sounds came from his mouth: "Good for you, brat, you've broken through again."

Li Rui's brows lifted.

'Still seen through.'

He had come to the blacksmith shop to find Tiekuang as soon as he entered Sea-Observing, naturally not just to pay respects, but to see Tiekuang's reaction.

Fourth-Rank Innate can see through others' cultivation, so he wanted to try breaking through to the Fifth-Rank to see if the other party could still see it.

He asked the doubt in his heart: "Senior, can you still see it?"

Tiekuang grinned, looking at Li Rui like he was looking at a monster:

"You're Fifth-Rank, of course I can't see it, but it's precisely because I can't see through you that I'm sure you've broken through."

Li Rui was stunned when he heard this.

Tiekuang knew his background.

From being able to see through to not being able to see through, he could naturally infer that he had broken through.

Conversely, other martial artists above Innate were the same; at most, they couldn't determine Li Rui's realm, but they were definitely above the Fifth-Rank.

'Still need improvement.'

Li Rui pondered secretly.

He was now in the Sea-Observing realm and would definitely have many dealings with Innate martial artists in the future.

Tiekuang was somewhat curious: "What kind of good treasure did you get, brat?"

Li Rui didn't hide it: "It's the Jiao King's tear given by Lord Jiang." Hearing the three words 'Jiao King's tear', Tiekuang suddenly understood.

With such a divine object, plus Li Rui's heaven-defying aptitude, it was really possible.

"Jiang brat is also willing; if I remember correctly, that Jiao King's tear was something he sought everywhere to impact the Fourth-Rank, but he broke through just as he found it. The Jiao King's tear wasn't used, and it cheapened you, brat."

'So there's such an origin.'

Li Rui heard this and understood why Jiang Linxian didn't eat the Jiao King's tear directly but could keep it all along.

Jiang Linxian used it to impact the Fourth-Rank, and he gave it to him when he broke through to the Fifth-Rank.

It was truly extravagant.

However, if he had to choose again, Li Rui would still eat it on the spot.

Treasures that have entered the belly are considered one's own things.

"I heard Jiang brat say before that he wanted to keep it for his daughter, but he was actually willing to give it to you; it's an eye-opener."

Please... you... collect_(!)

Li Rui laughed.

Jiang Yan was already Seventh-Rank, but such a fierce medicine as the Jiao King's tear was still too tyrannical for Jiang Yan; at the very least, she would have to wait until she opened up her Qi Sea like Li Rui before she could use it; otherwise, if the true Qi reversed, it wouldn't be a small matter.

But by the time Jiang Yan opened her Qi Sea, it would take at least ten years, plus Li Rui had indeed solved a big trouble for Jiang Linxian this time, and the benefits Jiang Linxian obtained were only more, not less.

Therefore, Jiang Linxian was willing to give the Jiao King's tear to Li Rui.

However, even so.

Jiang Linxian could be considered generous.

Mixing with such a superior has a future.

Tiekuang: "You brat, you're thinking about how to hide your realm, right?"

Li Rui coughed lightly, without the slightest realization of his thoughts being seen through, and asked with a thick face: "Does Senior have a way?"

Tiekuang was laughed at by anger:

"You brat, the disciples you take are all honest, why is the master so insidious?"

"There really is a way."

"I'll have that blockhead Tiezhu send it to you another day."

He could guess that Li Rui wanted to hide his cultivation to do insidious things.

"Many thanks, Senior."

Li Rui was overjoyed.

With a ready-made technique, he didn't need to waste time pondering.

It was getting late.

Tiekuang didn't have the mind to continue joking with Li Rui, waving his hand repeatedly: "Get out, get out, don't disturb the old man's blacksmithing."

"Alright."

This visit to the blacksmith shop was full of harvest.

Li Rui walked out of the shop satisfied and then headed straight for the Trade Office.

Just as he walked into the market of the Trade Office.

He saw Dao Mo and Xia Xiaotang walking over together.

"This is..."

Li Rui blinked.

Ever since Xia Xiaotang snuck out, she had followed Li Rui back to Qinghe and lived there for over half a year.

During this time, Xia Xiaotang avoided Wu Kingdom people whenever she could.

Why did she appear openly with Dao Mo today?

Surprised in his heart, but there was no change on his face: "Brother Dao, when did you arrive?"

Dao Mo was in the Wu Kingdom most of the time and didn't come to Qinghe often.

"Arrived last night; the hour was too late, so I didn't want to disturb Brother Li."

After he finished speaking, he looked at Xia Xiaotang again: "Xiaotang is playful and snuck out; I'm sorry to trouble Lord Li, the Great Shaman asked me to come and see how Xiaotang is doing."

Li Rui nodded:

"Is the Great Shaman angry?"

Dao Mo: "Lord Li, rest assured, the Great Shaman can't bear to punish Xiaotang, this closing disciple."

Closing disciple?

Li Rui's brows lifted.

He didn't expect Xia Xiaotang's status to be so high.

Generally speaking, the first disciple is not necessarily the most talented, just needing to be steady, but the closing disciple is different.

They must be talented enough.

Closing means that this disciple is already good enough, and there is no need to take other disciples to carry forward the master's martial arts.

Being able to become the Great Shaman's closing disciple, Xia Xiaotang's talent must be extraordinary.

Xia Xiaotang proudly raised her small face: "Look, I said the Great Shaman wouldn't blame me."

"Xiaotang..."

Hearing Xia Xiaotang's words, Dao Mo couldn't help but have a headache.

Li Rui: "It's still early today, no rush to set off; why not go to the Drunken Immortal Building to eat some side dishes, which can be considered welcoming Brother Dao."

Dao Mo agreed readily.

He came to Qinghe this time besides looking for Xia Xiaotang, to get closer to Li Rui.

Half an hour later.

In the private room on the top floor of the Drunken Immortal Building, the fragrance of food drifted, making one's index finger move.

Xia Xiaotang buried her head in eating.

Don't look at her noble status, but she sat at the same table with the Great Shaman every day, and the key was that the Great Shaman didn't like enjoyment, eating green vegetables every meal, so she became a big glutton.

During this time in Qinghe, every once in a while, Li Rui would take her to eat delicious food.

Xia Xiaotang really couldn't bear to go back.

Looking at Xia Xiaotang with her cheeks bulging.

Li Rui and Dao Mo only found it interesting.

The two drank warmed yellow wine, chatting and chatting, and talked about the war in the Wu Kingdom now.

"Brother Li doesn't know, the Qi clan of the Southern Border is in league with the Ghost Ming Sect, and the Nine Souls Dharma King of the Ghost Ming Sect sits in Mangul City; it cannot be broken without an Earth Immortal expert."

"But Mangul City's location is special; whether going north or south, you can't bypass it, and it has been in a standoff for half a year."

Speaking of this, Dao Mo was very depressed.

Now the situation in the Wu Kingdom had become clear; other rebels had already been suppressed, leaving only the largest branch, the Seventh Prince's line, still resisting.

With the support of the Qi clan, the Seventh Prince occupied fifteen cities.

The strength was not bad.

Plus being in league with the Ghost Ming Sect, the new Emperor wanted to take down the Seventh Prince, but it wasn't an easy thing.

Of course.

This section was also related to the handiwork of that Grand Secretary Zhang.

After all, which Emperor or Prime Minister didn't want to expand territory?

A huge empire in the north was staring at them; if the Wu Kingdom's new Emperor and the Seventh Prince fought until both were injured, the Yu Kingdom would definitely take advantage of the situation; by then, even if the Wu Kingdom wasn't annexed, it would definitely become a vassal of the Yu Kingdom after thousands of years.

War is like this; it was never just a matter of two sides.

It involves too much.

However, as far as the current situation is concerned, the Wu Kingdom's new Emperor at least maintained a good relationship with the Yu Kingdom on the surface.

Dao Mo and Li Rui had no barriers.

Li Rui returned home at dusk.

Just in time to see Liu Tiezhu and Wang Zhao sitting in the courtyard talking and laughing.

"Master."

Liu Tiezhu saw Li Rui return, stood up quickly, and then fumbled in his bosom, finally pulling out a small booklet:

"This is what Old Man Tie asked me to give you, saying it's a technique that can disguise one's realm."

Li Rui's face was happy.

"Very good."

With this technique, he didn't need to worry about the problem of exposing his strength.

He had just entered Sea-Observing, his foundation was still shallow, and according to the theory of retaining seventy percent of his strength, he naturally couldn't let others see through all his details.

'It seems Senior Tie didn't do less insidious things when he was young.'

Otherwise, Tiekuang, a weapon caster, wouldn't need this kind of technique.

It must have been a past that couldn't be spoken of with others.

Li Rui took the small booklet back to his room.

A green lamp.

One flip lasted all night.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 262 =====