Chapter 261: Sea of Observation Forms, Waves Rise

Entering the Sea of Observation, the tides of all four seas rise.

Li Rui's dantian sea first rippled, then surged like a tide, spiritual qi swirling thickly.

The tide washed over his sinews and bones again and again, each pass rendering him clearer and clearer.

Li Rui was so comfortable he nearly groaned aloud.

A small pond had taken on the grandeur of an ocean; above the tides, a mirage of an immortal palace floated faintly, and for a moment, a two-winged divine dragon circled the heavens.

For a moment, he felt as if he had entered a fairyland.

No time to delay.

Li Rui immediately pulled out the fifth-rank elixir he had prepared in advance and shoved handfuls into his mouth.

He knew—he was about to break through.

In an instant—

The sea within his dantian boiled like molten lava, blazing hot, and a terrifying scorching heat instantly engulfed his entire body.

Li Rui's clothes were drenched at a visible rate; black substances seeped out from his skin.

He endured the agony through the night.

The first ray of dawn pierced the window paper and fell upon the bed, bathing Li Rui.

At this moment, Li Rui was in a sorry state.

Covered in grime, the room reeked foully.

Overnight, the tidal surge of his nascent sea had washed clean all impurities within him; his entire body became crystal-clear and transparent, even his bones turned luminous, and his previously shriveled skin gradually grew smooth.

This was the primal appearance, the immaculate body.

"The valley spirit never dies—it is called the mysterious female. The gate of the mysterious female is the root of heaven and earth. The primordial qi, drawing spiritual energy into the mysterious."

When a person is still in the womb, they are in the primal stage.

At this time, life and spirit are unified, vitality is strongest; but after birth, the spirit and soul become clouded, and with every sip and bite, worldly filth accumulates, yin and yang qi diverge, separate, and disperse, until vitality vanishes entirely.

Thus, one must reclaim the primordial qi to enter the gate of the mysterious female.

Fourth-rank primal is to refine oneself into this immaculate body.

The sea of the Sea of Observation continuously grows stronger, washing away one's impurities; the greater the sea, the better the cleansing, and the faster one reaches the immaculate state.

Of course, those who truly achieve the immaculate state are already masters of primal perfection.

Li Rui was still far from such a realm.

Yet after one night of cleansing, his strength had more than doubled.

"No wonder the fifth-rank blade is so formidable."

Li Rui felt the surging power within him and finally understood why Zhuang Renhe was so certain he could kill him.

If he encountered a sixth-rank cultivator, he might think the same.

The first cleansing by the sea is most effective, especially for combat power; once breakthrough occurs, there is a qualitative leap.

This may be a reward for those who break through; after this, summoning tidal surges in the sea becomes far more difficult.

What follows is slow, steady progress.

First, continue expanding the sea until it can cleanse the soul—only then is one truly entered into the primal stage.

At this moment,

Wang Zhao's voice sounded outside the door:

"Master."

"Master?"

"What happened? Did you forget to empty the chamber pot? Why's it so stinky?"

Li Rui felt embarrassed; his body was sticky and uncomfortable, so he spoke: "Xiao Zhao, boil a few buckets of hot water—I need a bath."

An hour later,

Li Rui, cleansed of all grime, stepped out of the room feeling refreshed and invigorated.

Only then did Wang Zhao eagerly approach and ask: "Master, did you break through?"

While Li Rui bathed, he had been pondering what had happened, and then remembered the rumors: when breaking through fifth rank, such things occur.

"I've made progress."

Li Rui looked at Wang Zhao.

Since taming the demon, his young disciple had grown sharper by the day.

"Master, you really broke through?!"

Wang Zhao's eyes widened in shock.

Good heavens.

That's fifth rank!

The two highest officials in the Peace Guard are both fifth rank—meaning now, his master is the lord of Qinghe County?!

'Am I becoming a spoiled noble now??'

Wang Zhao felt it was unreal.

Fifth rank—no matter in a county, a prefecture, or even a province—is a major figure.

With such a master as his backing, he could walk anywhere in Qinghe. He never imagined that, born into poverty, he would, by his twenties, become the very high-born noble he once looked up to.

Li Rui patted Wang Zhao, still stunned: "Enough, Xiao Zhao. Clean up the room. It's late—I'm going out."

"Yes."

Wang Zhao nodded obediently.

The room was too foul-smelling; Yang Yong and Wang Zhao both lost their appetite for breakfast.

Li Rui, unfazed, strolled out of the Peace Guard with his hands behind his back and bought two buns from a roadside stall.

He ate as he walked.

Eating is important—never neglect it.

Soon after,

He arrived before a blacksmith's shop.

"Master, you're here!"

Liu Tiezhu's face lit up upon seeing Li Rui.

It had been over half a month since his master last visited the forge—he had feared Li Rui had forgotten he had a disciple here.

"Tiezhu."

Li Rui nodded to Liu Tiezhu; since joining Tiekuang, his cultivation had risen steadily, and he was nearly cultivating true qi. In comparison, Tiekuang should be Liu Tiezhu's true master.

He asked: "By the way, where's Elder Tie?"

Liu Tiezhu gestured with his chin:

"Inside."

"Good."

Li Rui replied, then lifted the curtain and walked toward the back room.

As expected,

He saw Tiekuang squatting in the corner, smoking a pipe; the room was thick with smoke.

"Elder Tie."

Li Rui greeted him. Tiekuang looked up and pulled a pipe from behind his back: "Smoke?"

For the first time, Li Rui refused.

"No thanks. Next time."

Tiekuang didn't mind; he was about to put away the pipe when his gaze suddenly sharpened. He rose slowly and studied Li Rui for a long time.

He even grabbed Li Rui's arm and felt his bones.

Finally, he muttered: "You little rascal—you broke through again."

Li Rui raised an eyebrow.

'Still seen through.'

He had rushed straight to the forge after entering the Sea of Observation—not merely to pay respects, but to observe Tiekuang's reaction.

Fourth-rank primal cultivators can perceive others' cultivation levels, so he wanted to test whether, after breaking into fifth rank, Tiekuang could still see through him.

He voiced his question: "Elder, can you still see my level?"

Tiekuang grinned, staring at Li Rui as if he were a monster:

"You're fifth rank now—I can't see your exact level. But since I can't see through you at all, I know you broke through."

Li Rui fell silent.

Tiekuang knew his background.

From being able to see through him to being unable to—this alone confirmed the breakthrough.

Likewise, any other cultivator above primal would be the same: they might not pinpoint his exact realm, but they'd know he was above fifth rank.

'Need further refinement.'

Li Rui mused inwardly.

He was now in the Sea of Observation—he would surely encounter many primal cultivators in the future.

Tiekuang was curious: "What kind of treasure did you get?"

Li Rui didn't hide it: "It was the Tear of the Jiao King given by Lord Jiang." Upon hearing "Tear of the Jiao King," Tiekuang instantly understood.

With such a divine artifact, plus Li Rui's extraordinary talent, it's truly possible.

"Jiang Xiao's really generous— if I recall correctly, that Jiaowanglei was something he spent years searching for to break through to the fourth rank, only to breakthrough right after finding it, leaving the Jiaowanglei unused— and now it's gone to you."

"So that's the story behind it."

Hearing this, Li Rui finally understood why Jiang Lin didn't just consume the Jiaowanglei outright, but kept it all this time.

Jiang Lin used it to break through to the fourth rank; now he's giving it to me for my fifth-rank breakthrough.

Truly extravagant.

But even if given the choice again, Li Rui would still swallow it on the spot.

Only when a treasure's inside your belly does it truly become yours.

"I heard Jiang Xiao once said he was saving it for his daughter— and yet he gave it to you? I'm amazed."

Please... Your Excellency... collect_(!)

Li Rui chuckled.

Jiang Yan is already seventh rank, but the Jiaowanglei is too potent for her—even now, she'd need to open a Qi Sea like Li Rui before she could use it; otherwise, if true qi reversed course, it wouldn't be a minor matter.

But even if Jiang Yan opens her Qi Sea, it'll take at least another ten years— and Li Rui just helped Jiang Lin resolve a major problem, so Jiang Lin gained far more than he lost.

That's why Jiang Lin was willing to give the Jiaowanglei to Li Rui.

Even so,

Jiang Lin can still be called magnanimous.

Serving under a superior like this is the path to advancement.

Tie Kuang: "You're thinking about how to conceal your realm, aren't you?"

Li Rui cleared his throat, showing no awareness of being read, and grinned: "Senior, do you have a method?"

Tie Kuang laughed in exasperation:

"Your disciples are all obedient, yet you, their master, are so cunning."

"There is indeed a way."

"I'll have Tie Zhu, that fool, bring it to you someday."

He could guess— Li Rui wanted to hide his cultivation to ambush others.

"Thank you, Senior."

Li Rui's face lit up with joy.

With a ready-made technique, he wouldn't have to waste time figuring one out himself.

The hour was late.

Tie Kuang had no more patience for banter with Li Rui, waving him off: "Go, go, go— don't disturb my forging."

"Got it."

This visit to the forge yielded a rich harvest.

Li Rui walked out of the shop, satisfied, then headed straight for the Weiheshimao Office.

As soon as he entered the marketplace of the Weiheshimao Office,

he saw Dao Mo and Xia Xiaotang walking toward him together.

"This is..."

Li Rui blinked.

Ever since Xia Xiaotang sneaked out, she'd followed Li Rui back to Qinghe and stayed for over half a year.

During that time, she avoided Wugu people whenever possible.

Why, today, was she openly appearing with Dao Mo?

Though surprised, his expression remained unchanged: "Dao Brother, when did you arrive?"

Dao Mo spent most of his time in Wugu; he rarely came to Qinghe.

"I arrived last night— too late to disturb Senior Li."

He turned to Xia Xiaotang: "Xiaotang got restless and slipped out— I'm grateful you looked after her, Senior Li. The Great Witch sent me to check on her condition."

Li Rui nodded:

"Is the Great Witch angry?"

Dao Mo: "Senior Li, don't worry— the Great Witch would never punish Xiaotang, her final disciple."

Final disciple?

Li Rui raised an eyebrow.

He hadn't expected Xia Xiaotang's status to be so high.

Usually, the first disciple isn't necessarily the most talented— stability matters more— but the final disciple is different.

She must have exceptional talent.

"Final disciple" means she's already good enough that her master doesn't need to take any other students to carry on his entire martial legacy.

To become the Great Witch's final disciple, Xia Xiaotang's talent must be extraordinary.

Xia Xiaotang lifted her face proudly: "See? I told you the Great Witch wouldn't scold me."

"Xiaotang..."

Hearing her, Dao Mo winced.

Li Rui: "It's still early today— no rush to leave. Let's go to Zui Xian Pavilion for some small dishes— consider it a welcome feast for Dao Brother."

Dao Mo readily agreed.

His trip to Qinghe was not only to find Xia Xiaotang, but also to strengthen ties with Li Rui.

Half an hour later,

the top-floor private room of Zui Xian Pavilion was filled with the aroma of food, making mouths water.

Xia Xiaotang kept her head down, eating nonstop.

Though her status was noble, she ate daily with the Great Witch, who despised luxury and served only vegetables— she'd become a true glutton.

During her stay in Qinghe, Li Rui had taken her out for good meals every so often.

Xia Xiaotang truly didn't want to return.

Watching Xia Xiaotang's cheeks bulging with food,

Li Rui and Dao Mo found it amusing.

As they sipped warmed yellow wine, their conversation turned to Wugu's current war.

"Senior Li, you may not know— the Qi clan of the southern frontier has allied with the Ghost Ming Sect. The Nine Soul King of the Ghost Ming Sect holds Man Gu City— only a Land Immortal can break it."

"But Man Gu City's location is critical— whether heading north or south, you can't avoid it. They've been locked in stalemate for half a year."

Speaking of this, Dao Mo was deeply frustrated.

Wugu's current situation has become clear: all other rebels have been crushed, leaving only the largest faction— Prince Seven's line— still resisting.

With Qi clan's support, Prince Seven controls fifteen cities.

His strength is formidable.

Coupled with his alliance with the Ghost Ming Sect, the new emperor's task of defeating Prince Seven won't be easy.

Of course,

this situation also stems from Zhang Shoufu's machinations.

After all, which emperor or chancellor doesn't want to expand territory?

A vast northern empire watches closely— if the new emperor and Prince Seven exhaust each other in war, Yu Kingdom will inevitably strike. Then, even if Wugu isn't swallowed whole, it will surely become Yu's vassal after a thousand years of independence.

War is never simply between two sides.

Too many threads are involved.

But for now, at least on the surface, the new emperor of Wugu maintains good relations with Yu.

Dao Mo and Li Rui have no rift between them.

Li Rui returned home at dusk.

He found Liu Tiezhu and Wang Zhao laughing together in the courtyard.

"Master."

Liu Tiezhu stood up immediately upon seeing Li Rui, rummaged in his robe, and pulled out a small booklet:

"Tie Lao told me to give you this— it's a technique to disguise your realm."

Li Rui's face brightened.

"Excellent."

With this technique, he no longer needed to worry about exposing his true strength.

He'd only just entered the Sea Observation realm— his foundation was still shallow. According to the theory of retaining seven-tenths of one's power, he couldn't let others see all his cards.

"Looks like Senior Tie had his share of underhanded tricks in his youth."

Otherwise, why would a blacksmith need such a technique?

He must have had a past he couldn't speak of.

Li Rui took the booklet back to his room.

A single green lamp.

He flipped through it all night.

(End of Chapter)