Chapter 284: Diverting Disaster Eastward

"Something happened?"

Li Rui's brows tightened further, yet he still listened patiently to Xu Chuan's words.

Xu Chuan swallowed the metallic taste of blood in his throat and explained: "I was sent by Marquis Yuan to track down the Black and White Killers, but I was ambushed and attacked by them halfway."

"I was badly wounded and stumbled blindly through the mountains, accidentally ending up in Qinghe's territory—that's when I came to seek Brother Li's help."

The Black and White Killers!

Li Rui's pupils contracted slightly.

He had certainly heard of the Black and White Killers' names—they were two formidable Foundation Establishment experts, and as twins, they had mastered an exceptionally refined combined technique, far beyond what ordinary cultivators could withstand.

Xu Chuan was actually quite capable, to have survived this long from the Black and White Killers.

"Brother Xu, you've got real skill—surviving the Black and White Killers."

Xu Chuan's face grew even more bitter:

"It was only thanks to some life-saving talismans from my sect that I managed to hold on until I found you, Brother."

Hearing "talisman," Li Rui instantly felt envy.

Major sects always gave their disciples life-saving measures to ensure their safe growth; the most common were talismans—easy to activate and far more powerful than the user's own strength. Important disciples even had protectors assigned to them.

With talismans on them, one could indeed hold off the Black and White Killers for a while.

Li Rui's heart sank immediately.

Given the Black and White Killers' nature, they were likely already infiltrating Qinghe City—if they found him here, the consequences would be dire.

Xu Chuan had dumped a hot potato on him.

Seeing Li Rui Chichi take no action,

Xu Chuan's tone grew colder, tinged with threat: "Commander Li, this is Marquis Yuan's order—dare you defy him?"

Li Rui's expression didn't change; he asked calmly:

"Brother Xu, did anyone else know you came to Qinghe?"

Xu Chuan froze, confused by Li Rui's question.

Though anxious inside,

he still needed Li Rui to block the Black and White Killers, so he forced patience and answered: "The incident happened suddenly—except for the Black and White Killers, no one should know."

Li Rui nodded: "What about the Marquis?"

"He doesn't know either."

"Good."

"Good?"

Hearing Li Rui's reply, Xu Chuan was even more stunned—he couldn't grasp the meaning behind Li Rui's words. He glanced out the window, urgently pressing:

"Brother Li, if you don't act now, it'll be too late!"

"Alright."

Li Rui nodded, raising his large hand and bringing it down fiercely upon Xu Chuan's head.

Xu Chuan: "??"

In a daze,

he saw a faint phantom image of an Immortal Palace hovering above Li Rui's palm—the terrifying divine aura nearly made him collapse.

Xu Chuan's pupils shrank sharply.

'What kind of technique is this!'

The thought had barely formed

when his pupils began to blur, then turned utterly vacant.

Hand raised, crushing!

Li Rui stared at Xu Chuan's corpse, a sneer curling on his lips—he had already entered the secret chamber.

Diverting disaster eastward?

You, a mere sapling, think you can trick this old dog?

Yes, he had killed Xu Chuan.

He struck with the Immortal Palace suppression—whether Xu Chuan was injured or at full strength, it was still one slap.

This point

he had tested many times on Zhuang Renhe, Yuan Gao, and Qi Rui.

He had ample practical experience.

If the Black and White Killers stormed Anning Guard, no one could stop them.

Perhaps the Qinghe fourth-rank experts might eventually join forces to kill them—but he'd most likely be dragged down with Xu Chuan.

Moreover, Xu Chuan's intentions were impure.

Xu Chuan was indeed ordered to go to Wu Country, and he was indeed investigating the Black and White Killers.

But his sudden, illogical intrusion into his home today was suspicious.

Perhaps Xu Chuan didn't know

that after arriving at Wu Bei City and meeting Dao Mo, Dao Mo had already sent a secret letter detailing everything about Xu Chuan to Li Rui.

Just yesterday, an urgent message arrived.

Xu Chuan had fled Wu Bei City—and then vanished.

He was sent by Marquis Yuan to track down criminals wanted by the imperial court—official matters, aboveboard.

He could've simply waited for Wu Country's assistance.

No need to risk his life.

Unless he had something to hide.

Either Marquis Yuan's secret—or Xu Chuan's own.

That's why Li Rui first asked if anyone else knew, then asked if the Marquis knew—to confirm whose matter this was.

Since it was Xu Chuan's matter,

Xu Chuan had to die.

This brat harbored malice—he caused his own trouble and tried to drag me down as his scapegoat.

Not happening.

Li Rui wasn't someone who'd let others use him as a weapon.

"It should be here."

With his Spirit Eye, Li Rui's corpse-searching efficiency was terrifying—he quickly stripped Xu Chuan of every valuable item.

Xu Chuan, as a major sect disciple,

carried plenty of treasures: besides elixirs, he had countless talismans.

No wonder he claimed he'd escaped the Black and White Killers thanks to talismans.

Li Rui narrowed his eyes slightly.

He returned every item to Xu Chuan's body exactly as it was.

Only keeping one palm-sized jade stone.

"This is..."

As Li Rui pondered, a line of small characters suddenly appeared before his eyes.

【Congratulations, Host—Achievement Completed: "Becoming an Immortal, Founding a Line" (Beginner Plot)—Spirit Root Test.】

【Spirit Root is the foundation of cultivation. As a lone cultivator, you've, by chance, obtained a Spirit Root Test Stone. Please determine your Spirit Root soon and begin your cultivation path.】

【Task "Spirit Root Test" completed. Reward calculation in progress.】

【Task rating: C.】

【Obtained 20 Achievement Points!】

【Name: Li Rui】

【Age: 10】

【Talent: Martial Bone, Extraordinary Comprehension, Insightful Eyes, Dream Wanderer Immortal, Demon-Slaying Advantage】

【Cultivation Technique: Long Chun Art, Dragon Soaring Through Nine Skies, Dragon-Elephant True Qi Power】

【Achievements: 80/100】

Li Rui's pupils shrank violently, his mouth slightly agape.

From his lip shape, one could tell

it was a loud "F***."

Anyone who's cultivated knows: the first step in cultivation is testing the Spirit Root.

He'd imagined Xu Chuan had acquired some incredible treasure, which is why the Black and White Killers pursued him.

Otherwise, the Black and White Killers had no reason to ambush him mid-journey.

But he never imagined Xu Chuan was carrying a Spirit Root Test Stone.

Spirit Root Test Stone—literally, a stone to test one's Spirit Root.

Li Rui's eyes instantly burned with heat.

This object had vanished since ancient times.

'Just drip a fingertip's blood onto the Spirit Root Test Stone, and your Spirit Root will be revealed.'

He recalled the method described in the ancient texts.

He gritted his teeth.

He bit his fingertip, letting a drop of crimson blood fall onto the Spirit-Testing Stone.

Then—

The Spirit-Testing Stone, dormant for countless ages, was reactivated at last, radiating brilliant golden light. Fortunately, it was inside a sealed chamber, or someone would surely have noticed.

Soon—

The stone's glow faded gradually, leaving two faint white marks on its surface. Li Rui: '…'

As expected.

Mid-grade spiritual root.

One white mark meant low-grade spiritual root, two meant mid-grade, three meant high-grade; beyond three, that was the legendary Dao Body—a rarity even in ancient times when spiritual energy was abundant, appearing only once every thousand years.

'Not bad.'

Li Rui's lips curled slightly upward.

Keep in mind, this world has completely cut off spiritual energy; without spiritual energy to nourish it, achieving a mid-grade spiritual root is already extraordinary.

As Li Rui pondered—

The white marks on the Spirit-Testing Stone slowly vanished, returning to their original state.

Li Rui crouched down.

!. Read

Then he slipped the Spirit-Testing Stone into Xu Chuan's bosom, slung the corpse over his shoulder, and vanished into the secret passage of the chamber.

Outside Qinghe City, in the woods beside the official road.

Two figures, each eight feet tall—one in black, one in white, both wearing tall hats—stood silently.

If any mountain villager had passed by, they would have been terrified out of their wits.

They looked exactly like the legendary Black and White Impermanents.

'Did that brat enter Qinghe City?'

Bai Sha spoke slowly.

'Probably.'

Hei Sha's gaze was gloomy.

They had chased Xu Chuan all the way from the Wu Kingdom's border to Qinghe; Xu Chuan had thrown away talismans like they were free, forcing them to miss their chance again and again.

Just when they were about to catch him—

He slipped into Qinghe City.

The thought made anger rise in their chests.

They had been ordered by the Immortal Sovereign to travel south into the Ten Thousand Mountains of Wu to retrieve something he desired. But they hadn't expected that the Yu Kingdom brat possessed a high-grade concealment talisman; in their momentary lapse, Xu Chuan had actually succeeded in stealing it.

Enraged, they had pursued Xu Chuan a thousand miles to Qinghe.

If it had been any other city, they could have simply stormed in and slaughtered everyone.

To steal from the Immortal Sovereign—that was the price.

But Qinghe was different; it housed many fourth-rank experts.

Their names were on Yu Kingdom's wanted posters; killing them would benefit an entire sect.

If they were surrounded, it would be troublesome.

Hei Sha's eyes flickered, then he gritted his teeth: 'No. We must retrieve the Immortal Sovereign's item. We'll go in, get it, and leave quickly. Judging by the direction, he headed for Anning Guard—that place has no primordial qi cultivators. If we can't take them alive, we kill them all!'

Bai Sha nodded.

Just as the two prepared to move—

Suddenly, something flew toward them.

Thud!

It landed heavily on the ground.

'Who's there?!'

Both were startled. Bai Sha was about to charge forward when Hei Sha held him back.

'Is that brat…?'

Bai Sha halted his advance, turned his head—and saw that the object flying toward them was Xu Chuan's corpse!

Xu Chuan appeared before them, fresh and lifelike.

Hei Sha flashed forward in an instant, arriving beside the body.

He crouched and searched.

He reached in.

His face lit up with joy—the Spirit-Testing Stone was clearly in his hand. Hei Sha exhaled deeply: 'The item's still here.'

Bai Sha, seeing the stone in Hei Sha's hand, was equally elated.

Though they didn't know what the stone did, if the Immortal Sovereign wanted it, it must be extraordinary.

Hei Sha slowly rose to his feet:

'Brother in the shadows—thank you.'

Then he vanished into the depths of the woods.

An hour later.

Hei Sha and Bai Sha returned, reappearing at the same spot.

'Quite cautious.'

Hei Sha's eyes hardened with killing intent—everything before had been staged for whoever lurked in the shadows.

They had left—but not truly left.

They had hidden nearby, watching.

The man had killed Xu Chuan, but they felt no gratitude; if possible, they would kill him too.

Bai Sha mused:

'Looks like this pretty boy had plenty of enemies.'

Hei Sha's eyes flickered, then after a long silence, he spoke slowly: 'Let's go. Handling the Immortal Sovereign's matter comes first.'

'Hmm.'

Bai Sha nodded.

That man was too cunning—or too hidden. Impossible to find in a short time. As for Xu Chuan, even without that man, we'd have killed him anyway. Let the blame fall on him.

But being framed like this didn't suit the Black and White Impermanents' nature.

Hence this little performance.

Said he.

The two vanished again into the night.

Until dawn.

A patch of ground covered in dead leaves trembled slightly. Li Rui slowly crawled out, shaking off the dirt.

Good.

Last night, he had carried Xu Chuan's corpse through the secret passage to the city's outskirts.

The mountain woods at night were empty.

Added to that, he possessed Spirit Eyes—he spotted the Black and White Impermanents as easily as if they were lighthouses.

After tossing Xu Chuan's corpse out—

He buried himself underground. Yes, he buried himself alive. With the Chang Chun Technique to rely on, even a trace of air was enough to sustain him for a long time.

The results proved—

He had done right.

Hei Sha and Bai Sha were cunning; they circled back four times before finally leaving.

Li Rui's lips curled slightly upward.

The matter was settled.

If the Black and White Impermanents had forcibly entered Anning Guard, they'd risk punishment—or death. To stop them from entering the city to kill, the best way was to throw out the culprit: Xu Chuan.

For his own life, Xu Chuan had to be sacrificed.

Had Xu Chuan not harbored ill intent, Li Rui might have considered alternatives. But Xu Chuan clearly meant to divert the danger onto others—so Li Rui had no reason to be merciful.

Moreover, given Xu Chuan's nature, even if Li Rui had saved him, he wouldn't have shown gratitude.

Once safe, he'd suspect Li Rui had discovered his treasure and plot against him.

This wasn't paranoia.

In danger, perhaps not—but once safe, it became possible.

Xu Chuan had been sent by Marquis Yuan to complete a task, yet he ruined it for personal gain. If Li Rui exposed him, he'd be doomed—so of course he'd choose to eliminate Li Rui.

Better to strike first than wait for Xu Chuan to seek revenge later.

One stroke, all ends.

No one knew anyway. The Black and White Impermanents weren't going to explain to Marquis Yuan or Guiyun Sect.

The outcome remained unchanged—only Li Rui had added this intermediate step.

Daylight broke.

People in Qinghe City stepped out of their homes, beginning their daily routines, utterly unaware that just last night, the Black and White Impermanents had nearly stormed the city.

Anning Guard was peaceful, with soldiers jogging in groups of three or five toward the mess hall.

Inside Li's residence.

When Wang Zhao finished cooking the meat porridge, Li Rui had already dressed and stepped out of his room.

He stretched lazily.

As if nothing had happened the day before.

Gazing at the warm sun, Li Rui squinted slightly:

"Another fine day."

Wang Zhao, seeing Li Rui step out, greeted him with a bright smile: "Master, come eat your porridge."

Li Rui laughed heartily:

"Coming."

(End of Chapter)