Chapter 345: Testing the Blade

Zi Jin Palace, Lesser Dharma Hall.

Deep within the palace.

Qu Chengfeng slowly opened his eyes, a smile curling at his lips: "A little ant has entered."

He gazed vaguely toward a certain direction.

Though walls blocked his view, he seemed to have passed through them, seeing Song Shi far away, staring in shock at the golden small tower.

Qu Chengfeng smiled.

Then he raised his hand, extended a finger, and lightly pointed toward Song Shi's position.

A beam of golden light shot forth from his fingertip, striking straight ahead.

Song Shi, seeing the sudden golden light, felt every hair on his body stand on end.

He tried to retreat.

But it was too late.

At the very instant the golden light appeared, a palm-shaped shadow erupted from Song Shi's chest and snuffed it out.

Song Shi let out a muffled groan.

He spat out a mouthful of blood, his face instantly turning as pale as gold paper.

He staggered backward repeatedly.

Fear in his eyes reached its peak.

A Transcendent Immortal!

Though the palm shadow had just saved him from a fatal blow, even the faintest residual ripple had displaced his internal organs and sent his blood surging upward.

Song Shi reacted instantly—he forcibly suppressed his discomfort, pulled a talisman from his sleeve, slapped it onto his body, and instantly transformed into a streak of blue light that shot skyward, racing toward the city's outskirts.

At the other end.

Within the palace.

Qu Chengfeng let out a soft murmur:

"Gu Changsheng's technique."

"Again, one of the Shadow Guards."

Almost simultaneously, several figures appeared within the palace.

Blood Shadow Ancestor was among them.

He glanced at the distant golden light and spoke slowly: "Immortal Sovereign, should we capture that man?"

Qu Chengfeng waved his hand:

"No rush."

He watched the light with interest: "Let him fly a little longer."

"Master, the matter is accomplished."

Liang He said respectfully: "The Tianyuan Trading Association has agreed to help our Heaven and Earth Alliance establish a trading association."

Li Rui nodded:

"Well done."

Ever since he told Lin Wan about this matter,

Liang He and Liu Tong had worked tirelessly on it.

After years of trials, these two had become the true decision-makers of the Heaven and Earth Alliance; nearly every major or minor matter was decided by them.

Liang He's face, rarely showing excitement, now lit up:

"Master, if we establish this trading association, our alliance's profits could double again!"

But Li Rui suddenly asked: "Xiao He, what realm are you in now?"

Liang He froze, then answered honestly: "Seventh Rank, Mid."

"Too slow."

Li Rui said bluntly.

Liang He instantly felt shame, lowering his head: "Disciple is unworthy, ashamed before Master."

Li Rui spoke softly: "Xiao He, I've already decided—Liu Tong will become the association's chairman, and you will be the Heaven and Earth Alliance's leader. As leader of an alliance, your cultivation is far too weak. I'm counting on you to make me a Grand Elder of a great sect."

Liang He's eyes widened.

He had never heard such words from his master before.

Though the Heaven and Earth Alliance has many leaders, only he and Liu Tong truly run things.

This situation, if prolonged, would inevitably breed gossip.

Many were guessing which of them—him or Liu Tong—would become the next leader of the Heaven and Earth Alliance.

Even within the alliance, two factions had formed, each backing one side.

He couldn't possibly be unaware of this.

Though neither he nor Liu Tong had ever spoken of it, resentment must have taken root.

But both knew well:

In the Heaven and Earth Alliance, only one person had the final say—his master, Li Rui.

Today,

Li Rui had finally given his answer.

"Master, I—"

Liang He felt a weight lift from his heart, as if a great stone had fallen.

Li Rui looked at Liang He seriously: "Xiao He, within five years, you must break through to Sixth Rank. Otherwise, even I will have difficulty helping you."

"Yes!"

Liang He nodded firmly.

These years, consumed by alliance affairs, he had indeed neglected his martial cultivation.

As Li Rui said, a Seventh Rank leader couldn't hold his ground in Qinghe.

Li Rui smiled lightly: "Don't worry—even if you don't become leader, you're still my disciple. I won't let you down."

Establishing a trading association isn't easy.

He wasn't a god.

Of course he didn't know everything—this path ran too deep, required martial cultivation, and he couldn't possibly handle every detail himself.

Besides cultivating Liang He and Liu Tong, he needed another helper.

The Tianyuan Trading Association was the helper he'd found; a sect alone couldn't extend its reach to other provinces, as seen from Qinghe's sects—all fiercely xenophobic, refusing even a single finger's touch, let alone founding a new school.

But a trading association could.

That was why Li Rui wanted to establish a trading association—Qinghe alone was no longer enough to fatten a Primordial Realm cultivator like him.

Liang He wasn't a guaranteed leader; Liu Tong wasn't guaranteed chairman.

Both positions were earned by their own merit.

Though his influence certainly played a role.

"I'm old."

"The future belongs to you young ones."

Li Rui had made up his mind.

In a few years, he would likely become a Grand Elder of the Heaven and Earth Alliance—not just him, but Ning Zhongtian and the other alliance leaders too.

Once these old men stepped down,

the Heaven and Earth Alliance would be ruled by Liang He and Liu Tong.

Liang He would manage internal affairs, gradually building the alliance's presence in Qinghe; Liu Tong would manage external affairs, leading the trading association to make profits.

Him?

He'd stay in the Censor's Office, waiting to collect his share.

He'd spent a lifetime toiling.

Now he deserved to enjoy himself.

Liang He, hearing Li Rui's words, felt warmth in his heart.

"Disciple will never betray Master's expectations."

He stayed in the Censor's Office half the day before finally being ushered out.

Not long after Liang He left,

one of Song Shi's subordinates arrived: "Lord Li, our master has returned. He requests your presence."

Li Rui nodded: "Good."

He had sought out Song Shi several days ago, but each time was told Song Shi was out of town, so he'd told the man to notify him when Song Shi returned.

He'd waited several days—today was the first time the man came.

Song Shi was the Ding Mountain Envoy, his direct superior. Even with Jiang Lin and Gu Changsheng protecting him, he couldn't afford to ignore his superior.

Proper reporting was still necessary.

He immediately followed the Song family's martial instructor to Huacai Residence.

The martial instructor knocked three times on the door.

"Master, Lord Li has arrived."

Soon.

Not a single error in the content of the first poem!

Then he heard Song Shi's voice: "Let him in."

The martial arts instructor finally opened the door and gestured for Li Rui to enter.

As soon as he stepped inside.

Li Rui slightly furrowed his brow.

Song Shi was injured.

Inside the room, Song Shi's face was pale, his expression listless; though he was trying hard to conceal it, Li Rui saw at a glance that he was wounded.

'Did he go to the Purple Gold Palace?'

Just as the thought arose in Li Rui's mind.

Song Shi spoke slowly: "Li Xunshan, I need these items—go prepare them."

Saying this,

he pulled a slip of paper from his sleeve.

It was covered in characters: spirit pills, spirit herbs—all for healing.

Li Rui silently tucked the prescription away.

Since Song Shi said nothing, he would not pry.

"Yes."

Li Rui bowed, then turned and left without hesitation.

Song Shi, in turn, smiled with satisfaction.

In his view, Li Rui was merely a Sea Viewing martial artist—so long as he handled these small tasks well, that was enough.

After Li Rui left,

Song Shi's face twisted in pain.

Then came a wave of dread.

"There's a Earth Immortal inside the Purple Gold Palace—strange, extremely strange."

That golden light inside the Purple Gold Palace

nearly killed him.

If Gu Changsheng hadn't left a life-saving safeguard on the covert agent, he would already be a corpse.

But soon,

excitement replaced the pain on Song Shi's face.

"A fairy treasure—actually a fairy treasure."

"The Purple Gold Palace must truly house a banished immortal; even if not, it must be tied to one."

A monumental achievement!

In the covert agents, those who have handled banished immortal incidents are called veterans; those who haven't are newcomers, no matter how long they've served.

Song Shi was a veteran.

He had once witnessed a fairy treasure—a rarity even beyond fairy weapons.

Its power was terrifying.

Once, a third-rank covert agent was crushed to death by a fairy treasure seal.

The scene still lingered in his memory.

Too terrifying.

So when he saw the golden small tower, he recognized it at once as a fairy treasure.

Where there is a fairy treasure, there must be a banished immortal.

All he needed now was to determine whether the banished immortal was remotely controlling the treasure—or was inside the Purple Gold Palace itself.

Then,

he could report in and claim his reward.

If the imperial court decided to act, the reward would be even greater.

As a veteran, he knew better than anyone how powerful banished immortals were—only a guest master could subdue such beings.

'Once I've recovered, I must go back.'

'This achievement is mine!'

In the Military Advisor's Office,

"Fourth brother, buy everything on this list—charge it to the Military Advisor's Office account."

Li Rui handed Song Shi's slip to Ning Zhongtian.

"Alright."

Ning Zhongtian took the slip and glanced at it.

Then he asked in surprise: "Big brother, are you injured?"

In the martial world, who doesn't get cut?

He had spent his early years traveling the world—he knew these healing spirit pills and herbs too well, and recognized them at a glance.

Li Rui shook his head: "Not me—a friend."

Hearing this,

Ning Zhongtian dropped the matter—he simply followed his big brother's orders, no need to overthink.

He went out with the list.

Li Rui had given his orders.

He returned to his room.

As usual, he practiced, but now added the Great Hardening Technique to his routine.

External arts demand grueling effort.

This hardship wasn't just physical pain—it was relentless daily discipline.

Not a moment's slack allowed.

Even He Qianian, a third-rank, lifted iron daily—he did the same.

Once Tie Kuang finished forging the iron bells, he could begin lifting them too.

After completing his daily routine,

Li Rui crawled into bed and fell into deep sleep.

When his awareness stirred, he was already in his dream.

With a thought,

a figure appeared amid the mist.

It was the hawk-nosed man from the Ghost Ming Cult he had slain.

"It's time to test the primordial sword."

(End of Chapter)