Chapter 350: Nie Siming

'Dragons are lustful and greedy for wealth.'

Due to their fondness for heavenly treasures, the dragon clan possesses far superior perception of rare artifacts compared to other beasts.

Hearing the scent of withered wood revived by spring, Li Rui's expression brightened.

Is there withered wood revived by spring air inside the Purple Gold Palace?!

This withered wood revived by spring air is no ordinary thing—it is itself a treasure capable of refining the body and strengthening the physique, not to mention its miraculous ability to enhance spiritual roots.

The young dragon nodded eagerly:

'It's definitely the scent of withered wood revived by spring—impossible to fake.'

Li Rui narrowed his eyes.

That is a peerless treasure!

'Big brother, why don't we sneak in and steal the treasure?'

The young dragon flicked its tongue, licking the air.

Its eyes glowed with excitement.

The withered wood revived by spring air is one of the supreme divine treasures of the world—not only beneficial to human martial artists, but also a great boon to beasts.

With this withered wood revived by spring air, perhaps I can undergo another transformation before ascending to the Primordial Realm.

An extraordinary fate.

'Big brother, what do you say?'

He came to Anning Guard specifically because he believed treasures shouldn't be taken alone—he must share a portion with his big brother, and also felt the Purple Gold Palace was too dangerous, so he needed his capable big brother's help.

Li Rui fell silent for a moment.

The young dragon had just said it.

The Purple Gold Palace doesn't just contain withered wood revived by spring air—it has a considerable amount.

One of the nine methods recorded in the Spirit-Enhancing Art requires bathing oneself in withered wood revived by spring air—something once deemed impossible now seemed within reach.

But no matter how excellent the treasure, you must have the life to use it.

Li Rui shook his head firmly: 'No.'

'I won't go, and neither will you—do you understand?'

Upon hearing Li Rui's refusal, the young dragon, who had been filled with anticipation, felt as if doused with a bucket of icy water—stunned, unable to believe it. This was a fate-altering opportunity, yet Li Rui dismissed it so casually.

'Big brother...'

It was about to speak further.

But Li Rui shouted sharply: 'I've already said it—don't mention it again!'

The young dragon knew Li Rui's temper.

In this state,

he had made up his mind—no one's persuasion would change it.

Seeing this, it could only give up.

After all, it was heartbound to Li Rui, and every decision Li Rui made had never been wrong—he had no choice but to trust him.

Seeing that the young dragon had completely abandoned the idea of sneaking into the Purple Gold City,

Li Rui's tone softened slightly:

'Little White, the waters of the Purple Gold City are too deep—we must not touch them. If we do, we'll die.'

'And do you think if you can sense the withered wood revived by spring air, your father cannot?'

'If your father can sense it, why hasn't he moved yet?'

'Have you ever considered these things?'

These questions from Li Rui struck the young dragon with dread.

Thinking carefully,

few things could make his father so restrained—not only had he not seized the treasure, he had even moved away, retreating three miles.

The Purple Gold Palace must be far more formidable than he imagined.

Otherwise, why would his father, who hadn't interfered in affairs for a hundred years, have specifically warned him not to clash with the Purple Gold Palace?

Li Rui spoke again: 'By the way, Little White, what else did you see?'

The young dragon immediately poured out everything it had witnessed.

Li Rui listened intently.

He pondered for a long time.

Then he said: 'Little White, stay in my mansion these next few days. Wait until things settle before you go downriver.'

He regarded the young dragon as his younger brother; when life was at stake, he naturally had to exercise his duty as an elder brother.

Having said this,

he ignored the young dragon and began practicing his cultivation.

Leaving the young dragon alone, sulking.

The next day.

Li Rui rose as usual, ate breakfast, then stepped outside.

Just as he was about to leave,

an unexpected visitor appeared at the gate.

'General Nie?'

Li Rui was surprised.

Nie Siming stood alone at the gate—he had clearly been waiting outside for a long time, having just pushed the door open.

This was unusual.

Until now,

Nie Siming always sent someone ahead to notify him, then either he went to Nie Siming's mansion or waited patiently in his own.

For Nie Siming to wait for him like this—this was the first time.

Li Rui was about to politely invite Nie Siming inside.

But Nie Siming spoke first: 'Lord Li, have you already broken through to the Primordial Realm?'

Li Rui's expression showed no change.

He nodded lightly: 'By luck.'

Hearing Li Rui confirm it, Nie Siming burst into delight: 'I knew it!'

Last night,

the coroner who examined the corpses at Huacai Pavilion told him one of the bodies was a Primordial Realm martial artist.

He immediately guessed Li Rui had likely broken through.

Coupled with He Qianian's earlier visit,

he became even more certain.

As expected.

Nie Siming laughed heartily: 'Good, good, good—come, come, let's fight right away.'

'...'

Although Li Rui had suspected as much, he was still taken aback when it actually happened.

No wonder he was the adopted son of the Martial Saint, Marshal Yuan—Nie Siming, like Yuan Xiong, was a martial fanatic.

Li Rui's lips curled slightly:

'Then I shall not refuse your kind invitation.'

The General's Mansion was vast, with a training ground inside.

Li Rui did not, like those heroes and warriors, fight anywhere and anytime.

This was his own residence.

If things were broken, he'd be the one paying.

So he naturally chose a place where nothing would be damaged. Li Rui bowed to Nie Siming: 'General Nie, after you.'

Nie Siming rubbed his wrists, made no move to draw weapon or spear, and grinned: 'I'll make this clear—I never hold back in a fight.'

'After you.'

Li Rui nodded.

Nie Siming's eyes gleamed with greater excitement.

He had waited a long time for this fight.

Yet Li Rui's breakthrough came far faster than he imagined.

Nie Siming, already massive in build, swung his fist the size of a mortar, howling through the air toward Li Rui.

Yuan Dingting's external martial arts were truly the best in the world.

His eight adopted sons all excelled in external martial arts over internal.

Not one of them lacked in external strength!

Nie Siming charged like a tiger descending the mountain, unstoppable.

Li Rui's gaze sharpened.

He drew the Immortal Blade, Dragon-Slayer, blade and scabbard together, sweeping upward toward Nie Siming's fist.

The immortal saber at his waist, sheath and all, swept upward toward Nie Siming's fist.

He had only just entered the Primordial Realm, while Nie Siming had long been immersed in it—his strength was inherently unequal; to still observe martial virtue would be foolish.

In an instant.

Li Rui slashed out over a dozen cuts in rapid succession.

Only then did he barely block Nie Siming's punch.

Seeing his full-power strike neutralized by Li Rui, Nie Siming's excitement grew.

Even among Primordial Realm cultivators, few could withstand his full strength.

"Again!"

Nie Siming roared.

Earlier, he hadn't been serious—now he was unleashing everything.

Faintly,

a mountainous silhouette could be seen.

Excellent—this was Nie Siming's Qi Form: the Mountain Form!

Unlike other martial artists who used the Mountain Form to enhance defense, his mountain was meant to crush opponents.

Each of Nie Siming's punches struck with the weight of ten thousand jin, falling like a sudden storm.

Li Rui retreated while blocking.

He was clearly struggling.

Soon,

the two had exchanged over twenty strikes.

Finally, Li Rui's strength faltered; his Blade of the Fanged Serpent slipped from his grip. Nie Siming's massive fist found an opening and slammed toward his face.

In the final instant before it struck Li Rui's body,

Nie Siming retracted his hand.

His face lit up with even greater delight: "Thrilling, thrilling! If you reached the Heart Refining Realm, it would be even better."

"No good—I'll have to bring my eighth brother next time. He'd love this."

Nie Siming thought,

if he and Li Rui were at the same realm, they'd be evenly matched.

"Jiang Lin was right—you're truly strong."

This was the affirmation of a martial artist.

Li Rui slung his blade back at his waist before speaking: "General Nie, your skill is formidable—I am far inferior."

Nie Siming waved his hand: "I used my realm to pressure you—this match doesn't count."

"When you break through, we'll fight again."

Li Rui nodded: "If General Nie is interested, I won't refuse."

Then he added: "General Nie, about my breakthrough—"

Nie Siming chuckled: "Don't worry. Only I and that coroner know. No one else is aware—I've already ordered the coroner to keep silent."

Hearing this, Li Rui smiled knowingly: "Thank you, General Nie."

"No trouble. It's only right."

Nie Siming understood so well because he had done the same himself.

He didn't want such a fine opponent to die uselessly.

Concealing one's strength is a mandatory skill.

"Alright, stay within the guard battalion for now. You've already killed a Primordial Realm cultivator—you've earned your merit. Don't get involved in anything else."

He Qianian had already intervened.

He owed the face of a Earth Immortal.

Moreover, as he'd said, Li Rui had killed a Primordial Realm cultivator from the Purple Gold Palace—perhaps he was already being watched.

Now, showing himself might invite targeting by the Purple Gold Palace.

As the saying goes: when the enemy wants something, you must deny them that satisfaction.

Nie Siming certainly wouldn't let Li Rui be exposed to lethal danger.

Besides, He Qianian had already hinted at some information—since it involved a Banished Immortal, there was no rush.

These matters were beyond the reach of a mere Primordial Realm cultivator.

His adoptive father would handle them.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have rushed here to spar with Li Rui despite facing a dead-end career.

Finished speaking.

Nie Siming departed in a flurry.

He'd come to the Guard Office solely to fight Li Rui.

Watching Nie Siming's retreating figure,

Li Rui smiled faintly.

'This world still has good people.'

Of course, only if you're strong enough will you find everyone around you is good.

Ten Thousand Mountains, Purple Gold Palace.

The Blood Shadow Ancestor sat cross-legged in a palace, before him a boiling pool of blood.

At this moment,

a disciple of the Purple Gold Palace entered.

"Ancestor, we've confirmed it."

"That day, an official named Li Rui appeared at Huacai Pavilion—he's the one who killed them."

"Elder Wu and the others are dead—none were taken alive."

Hearing this, the Blood Shadow Ancestor slowly opened his eyes and nodded.

"Alright, leave."

The Blood Shadow Ancestor closed his eyes again.

The name echoed in his mind.

"Li Rui…"

If he remembered correctly, this name had once been mentioned by the Immortal Sovereign.

He certainly remembered.

(End of Chapter)