Chapter 309: Is Your Name Jiang Linxiang?

Li Rui's posture stood tall like a mountain peak.

He faced Jiang Linxiang across a distance.

Jiang Linxiang, as always, expressionless, raised his sword finger to his chest and softly murmured: "Tanlang, go!"

The moment he spoke.

The small sword Tanlang shot forward as a streak of light toward Li Rui's brow.

Li Rui had seen this scene countless times; he knew it by heart, and his Immortal Blade Zhanjiao drew from its sheath.

He brought it down in a precise vertical slash straight at Tanlang.

Clang!

A crisp metallic ring echoed.

This time, Tanlang—the sword that had never failed—spun backward in flight.

Li Rui no longer merely defended as before; he chose to attack, his form gliding like a phantom toward Jiang Linxiang, closing the distance between them rapidly.

For the first time, Jiang Linxiang's expression changed, his sword finger shifting:

"Jumen, Pojun, Wuqu, Wenqu."

"Go!"

Jiang Linxiang unleashed five flying swords at once.

The five small swords wove a net of blades in midair, seeking to engulf Li Rui.

Li Rui showed no fear.

His speed did not slow—not even slightly—he accelerated further, Zhanjiao forming a barrier that shattered the five flying swords and sent them flying back.

At the same instant.

He appeared before Jiang Linxiang.

"Open!"

Zhanjiao, surging with the power of a true dragon, crashed down with overwhelming force; a dragon's roar erupted.

Jiang Linxiang sidestepped, retreating half a step.

The Immortal Swordsman of Jiangdong retreated!

Li Rui's expression brightened—this was the first time he had forced Jiang Linxiang back.

Across Yunzhou,

few could make Jiang Linxiang retreat.

The Jiang Linxiang simulated in the Dream Cloud Terrace displayed a fifth-rank cultivation base; Li Rui himself had reached Mingyue, the peak of fifth rank, and could now match Jiang Linxiang in strength.

Jiang Linxiang excelled in flying swords.

Li Rui was inferior in that, but in close-quarters combat, Jiang Linxiang was no match for him.

At fifth rank, his combat prowess ranked among the very top.

A furious blade surge instantly engulfed Jiang Linxiang.

Jiang Linxiang's face shifted again and again.

He unleashed seven small swords at once; in mere instants, they clashed with Zhanjiao thousands of times.

Among experts,

battles always unfolded this way—so fast they blinded the eye.

Li Rui's battle fervor surged higher; his eyes gradually turned crimson, his entire being consumed by intense exhilaration, utterly unlike his usual calm.

Demonic Spirit Power!

It is said that demonic weapons wield great killing power because their masters absorb the demonic spirit's battle fervor, entering the realm of a hundred battles.

At this moment,

not just the blade, but every part of Li Rui's body became a killing tool.

Knees, elbows, even his head became weapons.

He resembled a human tyrannosaurus.

The full might of the Dragon-Elephant True Qi Power erupted, forcing even Jiang Linxiang, the great swordsman, into continuous retreat.

Finally,

as Li Rui roared, "Crush!"

A magnificent Immortal Palace descended from the heavens, utterly crushing Jiang Linxiang.

Li Rui quickly snapped out of his frenzied state.

After days of practice, he had mastered the use of the demonic weapon—harnessing its power without being fully corrupted by the demonic spirit.

"I defeated Jiang Linxiang?"

Li Rui's lips curled slightly upward.

After decades of cultivation, he had always watched Jiang Linxiang kill with a single sword, elegant and effortless—now, for the first time, he had slain Jiang Linxiang himself.

Even though the Dream Immortal Simulation could not fully replicate Jiang Linxiang's full killing power,

it still captured seven-tenths of it.

To defeat a Jiang Linxiang at seven-tenths strength—across all of Yunzhou, only Li Rui, among Sea-Viewing cultivators, could do it.

Jiang Linxiang is nothing special!

A surge of boldness rose within him.

Even at his age, he couldn't help but feel light-headed.

His cultivation had finally borne fruit.

Now, he truly had the confidence to stand in the Jianghu of Yu Kingdom—even beyond Yunzhou, he would no longer be treated like a grasshopper to be crushed at will.

'Old Man Li has finally made something of himself.'

Weiheshimao Office, main hall.

Yan Zhongxing wore a look of deep distress:

'Li my lord, you understand demonic beasts better—please help your younger brother. Every day, more demonic beasts escape the pens. I truly can't bear it anymore.'

Li Rui glanced sideways at Yan Zhongxing.

Clever move—admit fault first.

Government-run operations always suffered from poor quality.

Especially something as technical as demonic beast pens.

Weiheshimao had monopolized the demonic beast pen business, but its management was truly abysmal.

People frequently vanished, and demonic beasts disappeared without cause.

It wasn't that the pen's overseers were embezzling.

They simply couldn't do the job.

Demonic beasts lack human arrogance, but that doesn't mean they're stupid—in fact, they're often sharper in matters of great importance.

Controlling hundreds or even thousands of demonic beasts is no simple task.

The Heaven's Alliance had already lost several demonic beasts.

All major factions that traded in demonic beasts had paid Weiheshimao; when beasts vanished, Weiheshimao, as the operator, was obligated to compensate—this was only fair.

But before Li Rui could raise the issue, Yan Zhongxing preemptively complained.

He simply wanted to pay less.

Worse—he wanted Li Rui to personally retrieve the escaped beasts. What a shrewd calculation.

'No wonder he came from the Ministry of Revenue—he knows how to count.'

Li Rui chuckled: 'Yan my lord, the beasts that escaped are mine. If anyone should complain, it should be me.'

Yan Zhongxing, caught out, felt no shame and immediately pleaded:

'Big Brother Li, one sixth-rank Crimson-Eyed Black Tiger escaped from the pen. You know our office is mostly civil officials—we're no match for it. I beg you to go yourself.'

Li Rui narrowed his eyes.

That morning, he had received word: a sixth-rank Crimson-Eyed Black Tiger from the Heaven's Alliance had escaped the pen and likely left the city.

They took the money, but now he had to recover the beasts himself.

There's no such thing as an easy business like that.

They were fellow officials, and Qinghe wasn't that large—they'd keep crossing paths. It wasn't worth tearing each other apart over a few beasts.

Li Rui sighed: 'Yan younger brother, you don't know—I'm being targeted. You've heard of the Sandstorm Three Wolves?' Yan Zhongxing froze.

Of course he knew—the Sandstorm Three Wolves' corpses had hung on Qinghe's city wall for a full month, nearly dried to bone, causing a huge uproar.

But weren't they killed by Nie Siming? How does this involve Li Rui?

He asked with concern: 'Big Brother Li, what happened?'

Li Rui sighed again, rubbing his temple: 'Yes. The Sandstorm Three Wolves were hired assassins—their target was your older brother.'

At this,

Yan Zhongxing's mouth opened slightly.

He knew the Sandstorm Three Wolves consisted of one Primordial, two Sea-Viewing—such a force could easily kill Li Rui.

Even risk his life.

Li Rui continued: 'I've spent my life working hard, being kind—I've never made a mortal enemy. Why did this happen to me?'

'To be honest, younger brother, I'm too afraid to leave Qinghe now.'

No error in content, one by one, all correct!

I'm afraid if I step outside, my head will be taken in for the bounty.

Yan Zhongxing was momentarily speechless.

Regardless of whether it was true or not, he could no longer persuade Li Rui to act.

It was a matter of life and death, and he wasn't Li Rui's superior—Li Rui had no obligation to intervene.

He let out a faint sigh inside.

He understood that getting Li Rui to act today was now impossible.

Only then did Li Rui offer a helpful suggestion: "Commander Yan, there are several other merchants in this city dealing in beast goods. You might ask them—those elders would likely lend a hand."

Yan Zhongxing smiled bitterly:

"There's no other choice."

He had already considered asking the major factions in the city.

But he was only a fifth-rank official, and many of those major factions had fourth-rank martial cultivators guarding them.

They certainly wouldn't give him any face.

If they were to act, he'd have to pay.

At that point, the Trade Office would have to bleed heavily—so unless absolutely desperate, he wouldn't do it.

All under heaven bustle for profit.

If something can be done without spending money, no one will willingly spend it.

Yan Zhongxing still couldn't let go: "Brother Li, is it truly impossible to leave the city?"

Li Rui nodded sincerely:

"Younger Brother Yan, why would I lie to you? If it weren't for meeting you today, I haven't left Anning Guard in a full month."

"."

Yan Zhongxing said no more.

Facts speak louder than words.

Because he knew Li Rui had truly not left Anning Guard for a month.

It seemed the story of the Three Sand Wolves was likely true.

He couldn't help but feel a chill.

'The official path is hard—thankfully I'm not a martial officer. Being hunted like this is no fun at all.'

Yan Zhongxing guessed Li Rui had angered someone through his violent deeds.

But who would dare be so brazen as to hire assassins to kill an imperial official?

Looking at it this way, civil officials had it easier.

There were far too many desperate outlaws in the martial world.

Yan Zhongxing now understood Li Rui wouldn't act—he bowed slightly: "Brother Li, please be careful and take care of your health."

Regarding Li Rui's plight,

he sincerely expressed sympathy, sorrow, and helplessness.

Li Rui smiled, stood up: "Commander Yan, then I'll take my leave. Please give extra attention to the beast pen issue—you know, the Heavenly Alliance is a small business and can't afford losses."

Yan Zhongxing understood Li Rui's implied meaning perfectly.

It meant: if the missing beasts aren't found, I'll hold you accountable.

Li Rui didn't give Yan Zhongxing a chance to reply—he strode out of the hall.

Leaving Yan Zhongxing alone, frustrated.

Deep night.

Anning Guard, Assistant Regional Commander's Residence.

After dinner, Li Rui walked out of the residence, hands behind his back, strolling leisurely.

Tan Hu, seeing Li Rui emerge, immediately asked:

"Big Brother, going out?"

He was now Li Rui's top subordinate—or rather, his personal guard.

As a personal guard, besides guarding the gate,

he usually accompanied Li Rui whenever he went out.

"No need. Just going out for a walk."

Li Rui waved his hand.

Seeing this, Tan Hu said no more, grinned, and went back to playing paijiu with Tang Hai and the others.

He was merely a seventh-rank Willow Vein.

Accompanying Li Rui was for show, not because he was needed to fight—besides, if Li Rui couldn't beat someone, his presence would be useless.

Li Rui didn't need him tagging along; just obeying orders was enough.

He wasn't some frail civil official—there was no rule that the superior went first and the subordinate brought up the rear. If anyone had to cover the rear, Li Rui himself was far more suited for it.

Li Rui had just stepped out of the Assistant Regional Commander's Residence.

The patrolling soldiers saw him and immediately saluted.

"Commander Li." *n

Li Rui nodded casually.

As the commanding officer and Assistant Regional Commander, he didn't need to personally train troops—only needed to be strict with those one rank below him; lower ranks didn't warrant it.

His approach was approachability, like a spring breeze.

Thus, his reputation as Assistant Regional Commander in Anning Guard was fairly good.

Especially since Nie Siming and Cao Wei enforced discipline so harshly, his leniency stood out.

Seeing Li Rui nod to him,

each soldier in Anning Guard looked stunned and honored.

The Assistant Regional Commander just greeted me?!

Li Rui walked out of Anning Guard with a smile on his face.

The evening streets were nearly empty; stepping into the quiet alley, the muddy path didn't slow his steps at all.

Soon,

he reached the very end of the alley.

He stood quietly, as if waiting for someone.

A moment later,

a seven-colored sparrow flew from the horizon and landed directly on a branch before Li Rui.

Seeing the seven-colored sparrow appear, Li Rui's face broke into a faint smile.

Yes.

He wasn't waiting for a person—he was waiting for this little sparrow, or rather, a beast.

Li Rui spoke calmly:

"Tell me, where is he?"

(End of Chapter)