Chapter 280: Jiangdong Sword Immortal, Nothing More!

Dao Mo and Xia Xiaotang returned to the Wu Kingdom.

Only seven days passed.

They heard intelligence from Wu Kingdom spies that the demon beasts in the Wu Kingdom were rioting, and the casualties were heavy.

The Qi clan could confront the new Emperor of the Wu Kingdom for so long, naturally not relying on the power of one family. Besides the Qi clan, there were many big shots in the Wu Kingdom who supported the Seventh Prince born of Imperial Consort Qi, the most famous of whom was the Wu Kingdom's Great Beast-Taming Grandmaster, Puda.

It was precisely because of Puda's support that the eight demon masters were willing to take action.

"The chaos in the Wu Kingdom is very likely to affect Yunzhou."

Cao Wei frowned.

Li Rui nodded: "It is indeed possible."

Unlike the previous Jiang Linxian, Li Rui and Cao Wei's relationship was not bad; at least they could often sit in a room and chat.

The document for the Assistant Regional Commander position had already been approved by His Majesty.

Afterward, it was just a matter of the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War going through the process. However, because of the friendship with the old Lord Duan before, it should be very fast.

Li Rui now, except for not having moved into the Assistant Regional Commander's mansion, had treatment almost no different from an Assistant Regional Commander.

"Old Brother Li, we need to plan early."

Cao Wei said in a deep voice.

If another city-attacking event happens, he, this Assistant Regional Commander, and Li Rui, this Assistant Regional Commander, might not last long.

Li Rui: "What Younger Brother Cao said is reasonable; everything will be deployed by you."

Hearing Li Rui's words, Cao Wei breathed a sigh of relief.

Now his relationship with Li Rui, this Assistant Regional Commander, is not bad. On one hand, because of external pressure, the two must cooperate, and there is also that he had learned some lessons from getting along with Jiang Linxian.

He was not as arrogant as before.

To some extent, Li Rui can be considered as the predecessor planting trees, and the successor enjoying the shade.

Li Rui: "I have some connections in the Wu Kingdom; let's see if we can seek help from the Wu Kingdom."

Hearing this.

Cao Wei was overjoyed: "That would naturally be wonderful."

Afterward, the two discussed the details of the defense until it was late at night.

Li Rui walked out of the gate of the General's Mansion.

The night wind was cool.

Being an Assistant Regional Commander and taking benefits naturally means having to put in more energy; this is unavoidable.

Marquis Yuan recruited him as a guest, and even took Li Rui as a tutor.

But Li Rui's status must still be Assistant Regional Commander.

This point will not change.

The reason why Marquis Yuan did this is because as the Marquis of Annan, he is responsible for maintaining the stability of the southern border, and Qinghe, as one of the major ports, is the inevitable path for the Wu Kingdom to go north, so it needs a confidant to guard it.

Li Rui is the confidant he planted in Qinghe.

Being a confidant is not as simple as flattering; more importantly, it is to handle things well.

Cao Wei is afraid that the city-attacking event will happen again, and Li Rui is the same.

"Being an official is not easy..."

Li Rui smiled and shook his head.

Of course, according to the several achievements in the system, being an official is already the safest plan.

Jianghu?

It's harder to mix.

There is such a saying: "Drifting in the Jianghu, who can avoid being stabbed?"

Those great sects have some swallowed or even destroyed every ten years; the risk factor is greater.

By comparison, the imperial court is at least much more decent.

Even if one doesn't do well, at most one loses the official position; it won't reach the point of losing one's life. Li Rui seeks longevity, and the first important thing is naturally to live.

If life is gone, everything is over.

Of course, it's best to be able to sit in a third-rank position.

"Punishment does not reach the Grand Master" does not refer to ordinary officials; at least one must be third-rank to have this treatment. As for higher, Li Rui's enthusiasm has decreased.

The risk is too great.

Third rank is the position with the highest cost-performance ratio.

'Strive for the third rank.'

Now he has completely gotten rid of the shortcoming of his stableman origin; working hard, it is still possible.

Returned to the residence.

Li Rui looked at the rooms of Wang Zhao and Yang Yong where the lights had been extinguished, and walked straight into his own room.

Old rules.

Circulate the qi for a large cycle, and then burrow into the quilt and fall into a deep sleep.

On the Dream Cloud Terrace.

Li Rui closed his eyes and lowered his head, holding the hidden blade and standing quietly.

Gather qi.

His fighting intent gradually climbed to the peak.

The next instant.

Three figures walked slowly out of the sea of clouds.

Zhuang Renhe, Yuan Gao, Qi Rui.

The qi of the three fifth-rank experts set off a wild wind on the cloud terrace, blowing away large groups of clouds and mist, killing intent soaring to the sky.

"Such great resentment."

Li Rui smiled lightly.

It's also right; they are all ghosts who died under his blade, now summoned, it's normal for the resentment to be great.

"Then I'll trouble the three of you to die again."

In an instant—

A mirage appeared on the cloud terrace, with magnificent immortal palaces appearing, giant dragons dancing between the palaces, a scene of the immortal world.

The qi form was completely revealed, magnificent and spectacular, truly shocking to the point of being unable to speak.

Li Rui only dared to fully open his qi form in the dream; no way, the special effects are too exaggerated.

Sometimes this is also a kind of sadness.

The magnificent immortal palace rose from the ground and pressed toward Zhuang Renhe and the others.

Condense immortal qi, enter the observation of waves.

At this moment, Li Rui's combat power was unprecedentedly strong, far superior to that time.

Boom!

A loud noise.

The three figures exploded with a bang and disappeared into clouds, killed in one move.

Suppressed with a raised hand!

Li Rui's mouth rose slightly.

"Not bad, not bad."

This is a method he newly realized after Foundation Establishment. It is not complicated; it is just directly suppressing the opponent with high-rank true qi and qi form. The effect is quite good.

Li Rui's interest surged, and his thoughts stirred slightly.

A figure resembling an immortal appeared on the cloud terrace.

Jiang Linxian.

To be precise, it should be Jiang Linxian in the fifth-rank state. As for why it is fifth-rank, of course, it is because Li Rui had never seen the fourth-rank Jiang Linxian take action, let alone the battle when he entered the Earth Immortal.

"Come on."

Li Rui was already eager to try.

His right hand raised slowly.

The immortal palace was condensed into shape by him again, the Ying dragon circling behind him, and he happened to stand on the dragon head.

Just see the opposite side.

Seven small swords slowly appeared around Jiang Linxian.

"Greedy Wolf, go!"

A soft whisper, the small sword Greedy Wolf shot toward Li Rui.

This time, Li Rui neither dodged nor was forced back by the small sword; the hidden blade fell steadily, colliding with the small sword Greedy Wolf in mid-air.

Clang!

A crisp sound exploded on the cloud terrace.

The small sword Greedy Wolf suffered a loss in this world for the first time, turning around and flying back to Jiang Linxian's side while spinning.

Jiang Linxian was still expressionless.

He merely said in a low voice again: "Giant Gate, Martial Tune, Army Breaker, strike!" This time, three small swords followed the Greedy Wolf to strike at Li Rui, pointing directly at the four vital points on his body.

The sword hadn't arrived, but it was already faintly painful.

Li Rui didn't dare to underestimate, the immortal palace phantom shrouded his whole body.

Clang, clang, clang, clang...

Four small swords flew back together!

"Wonderful."

Li Rui's pupils widened slightly, and he drank. This was the first time he had blocked Jiang Linxian's four flying swords in one breath.

"My turn!"

"Go!"

With a sharp cry, the immortal palace flew high and suppressed Jiang Linxian head-on.

For a time.

The wind and clouds changed on the cloud terrace, and purple-gold divine light appeared.

Please... you.... collect6... 9... book.... bar....!

The morning sun was extremely wonderful. Li Rui pushed open the door, and the warm morning light just sprinkled on his face.

A pleasant night.

Although he had insomnia, it was worth it.

Yes, he finally lost.

But he forced Jiang Linxian to use all seven swords, and he was not completely without the power to fight back; on the contrary, he only lost to Jiang Linxian by one move.

Defeated but glorious.

Although Great Dream Wandering Immortal cannot simulate Jiang Linxian's complete strength, there is no doubt that it is at least the Sea-Observing Realm that has already risen to the bright moon.

He, a Sea-Observing one still listening to waves, could challenge a small realm higher and fight back and forth with Jiang Linxian, which is enough to be proud of.

If this matter were known to outsiders, it would definitely drop their jaws.

It has always been Jiang Linxian challenging others across levels; when was it the turn of a lower realm to challenge him across levels?

It is simply reversing the heaven and earth.

Jiangdong Sword Immortal, nothing more?

Li Rui laughed.

It was the first time he could fight back and forth with Jiang Linxian.

Who isn't a genius?

Walked out of the room.

Li Rui started his morning practice again.

Golden bricks and glazed tiles, vermilion walls and jade steps.

A red sun just overlapped with the golden roof, the imperial city was brilliant, magnificent, and the palace maids and eunuchs under the vermilion walls were in a hurry, having no intention to look up and appreciate it.

Neglected scenery.

"Little Martial Uncle, Senior Jiang, Junior Brother Qu has already left the city."

Yao Xue stood obediently on the side and said.

A man with a feather fan and silk scarf, handsome and dusty, laughed: "No matter, Little Xue, you go back to rest first, I have a few words with your Martial Uncle Jiang."

Yao Xue nodded.

Then walked out of the small courtyard.

Gu Changsheng looked at Jiang Linxian with a smile: "Brother Jiang, your vision is indeed good. Li Rui was actually favored by Marquis Yuan and invited to be a tutor. Marquis Yuan has always had high vision. Being favored by you and Marquis Yuan, and also making my junior niece Little Xue miss him, I really want to go to Qinghe and take a look."

Jiang Linxian: "Don't, if you go, I'm afraid the State Preceptor will directly lift the city."

Gu Changsheng smiled awkwardly: "The State Preceptor's temper is a bit violent."

Jiang Linxian rolled his eyes.

A bit violent?

If it weren't for worrying that Gu Changsheng would ruin the State Preceptor's big event, the temper would actually be okay.

He was purely implicated.

Since coming to the capital, he hadn't had a moment of peace, first the Martial Ranking, and then he was pulled by Gu Changsheng to the Imperial Observatory.

Gu Changsheng was forty years older than him.

He was an extremely young existence among the first-rank Earth Immortals. Gu Changsheng took him as a confidant, saying they were the same kind of people, so they had always addressed each other as brothers.

"Don't talk about this."

Gu Changsheng: "I think this Junior Nephew Qu's trip to Qingzhou will be very promising."

Qu Chengfeng was the top graduate.

Afterward, he had been doing research in the Literary Pavilion, and now that he was sent out, he actually became a Department Magistrate.

Everyone said it was Gu Changsheng's credit.

Actually not, to thank him, he still had to thank his opponent, the State Preceptor of the Yu Kingdom.

Jiang Linxian squinted at Gu Changsheng: "Do you really not know, or are you pretending not to know? Didn't you notice Qu Chengfeng has a problem?"

Gu Changsheng didn't answer but turned to other things.

"Brother Jiang, do you know how the supervisor before the last of the Imperial Observatory died?"

Jiang Linxian: "I heard it was alchemy backlash."

Gu Changsheng shook his head: "He was a third-rank Earth Immortal; how could he refine himself to death? He peeped at the heavenly secrets and suffered backlash."

Jiang Linxian's eyes narrowed slightly.

Heavenly secret backlash.

Gu Changsheng continued: "My unlucky supervisor before the last, entrusted by the late Emperor, deduced the immortal machine, exhausted his heart and strength, calculated eight words, and then died suddenly."

Jiang Linxian's eyes narrowed slightly.

Although he had quite a few connections in the Imperial Palace, it was impossible for him to know too many secrets of the Imperial Palace.

This was the first time he heard about this.

Gu Changsheng seemed to think of something interesting, his mouth rose, and he didn't mean to hang his appetite, so he said:

"The Tianmen will open, and there will be immortals."

Tianmen, immortal!

Jiang Linxian's pupils contracted slightly.

He had already heard about this from Daoist Xu Xuan, and now it was said again from Gu Changsheng's mouth.

"Brother Jiang, have you heard of the Fallen Immortal?"

Jiang Linxian: "Immortal reincarnation?"

Gu Changsheng smiled: "Yes, but also not. The Imperial Observatory discovered an interesting thing a hundred years ago; perhaps there really are Fallen Immortals playing in the world."

Qinghe, Anning Guard.

In the center of the drill ground.

Li Rui and Cao Wei were standing straight in official robes, seemingly waiting for something.

Times are different now; Li Rui rarely stood side by side with Cao Wei.

Other guards of the Anning Guard stood behind the two.

The formation is not small.

In a quarter of an hour.

A carriage escorted by dozens of elite armored cavalry slowly drove into the Anning Guard and finally stopped in front of Li Rui and Cao Wei.

The two stepped forward two steps.

Then they saw the curtain of the carriage lifted; first, Xue Gui's advisor Han Zhen walked down, and then an elegant old man followed closely behind.

Han Zhen walked down the carriage and cupped his hands to Li Rui and Cao Wei.

"Lord Cao, Lord Li."

Afterward, he introduced the person who came with him: "This is Lord Liu of the Hanlin Academy,

Hearing that they were from the Hanlin Academy, neither Li Rui nor Cao Wei dared to be negligent.

"Lord Liu."

The Hanlin Academy was the place specifically responsible for drafting and reading imperial edicts; every scholar there was of noble and prestigious status, and some could even meet the Emperor directly, so how could the two of them dare to offend him?

Moreover, their etiquette was impeccable, not just because of this Lord Liu, but because of what he had brought with him.

Scholar Liu laughed heartily: "The two lords, this old man has come to Yunzhou specifically under the order of His Majesty."

Hearing the words "His Majesty."

Li Rui and Cao Wei were both shaken.

They saw Scholar Liu take the golden-yellow brocade scroll held by a young official beside him and clear his throat.

"Qinghe, Anning Guard, Li Rui, receive the edict!"

Immediately.

Everyone present, including Li Rui, knelt down in unison.

Not kneeling upon seeing an imperial edict was a sign of disrespect to the Emperor, which was a capital offense.

Regarding this, Li Rui, having received imperial edicts twice before, was already well-versed in the procedure.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Among the scholars, there are those who hold pure white hearts and live in seclusion in the hills; the law should honor them. Appointed as Commandant of the Anning Guard in the Southern Peace region, eleventh day of the first month, eighty-seventh year of Tianwu."

(End of chapter)