Chapter 350

"The dragon nature is lecherous and greedy for wealth."

Because dragon-kind loves the treasures of heaven and earth, their perception of exotic treasures far exceeds that of other demon beasts.

Hearing about the Withered Wood Meets Spring Qi, Li Rui's spirits lifted.

There is Withered Wood Meets Spring Qi in the Purple Chai Jingong?!

This Withered Wood Meets Spring Qi is no ordinary thing; it is a treasure that can temper the body and strengthen the physique, not to mention its miraculous effect of improving one's spiritual roots.

The Little Bai Jiao nodded repeatedly:

"It's definitely the aura of Withered Wood Meets Spring Qi; it can't be mistaken."

Li Rui narrowed his eyes.

That is a peerless treasure!

"Big Brother, why don't we sneak in and steal that treasure?"

The Little Bai Jiao flicked its tongue, licking its lips.

Its eyes were filled with excitement.

This Withered Wood Meets Spring Qi is a top-tier divine treasure; it is not only useful for human martial artists, but also a great tonic for demon beasts.

If it could obtain that Withered Wood Meets Spring Qi, perhaps it could undergo another transformation before ascending to the Primordial Realm.

An incredible stroke of fortune.

"Big Brother, how about it?"

It had come to the Anning Guard this time thinking that it couldn't take the treasure alone and had to share a portion with its Big Brother. Besides, it also felt the Purple Chai Jingong was too dangerous and needed to call upon its capable Big Brother.

Li Rui pondered for a moment.

The Little Bai Jiao had just said it.

That Purple Chai Jingong not only had Withered Wood Meets Spring Qi, but the quantity was not small.

One of the nine methods recorded in the Spirit-Raising Technique required bathing one's body in Withered Wood Meets Spring Qi. Something that originally seemed impossible now actually had a possibility.

But... no matter how good a thing is, one must have the life to spend it.

Li Rui shook his head firmly: "No."

"I won't go, and you are not allowed to go either, do you understand?"

Hearing Li Rui's refusal, the Little Bai Jiao, which had been full of anticipation, felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over it. It was greatly astonished for a moment; that was a fortune that could defy heaven and change fate, yet Li Rui had so easily said he would give it up.

"Big Brother..."

It was just about to continue.

When it was scolded loudly by Li Rui: "I have already said it, do not speak of it again!"

The Little Bai Jiao was familiar with Li Rui's temper.

Looking like this.

It meant he had made up his mind, and it would be useless for anyone to persuade him.

Seeing this, it had no choice but to give up.

Who told it to be heart-to-heart with Li Rui now, and every decision Li Rui had made had never failed; it had to believe him.

Seeing that the Little Bai Jiao had completely abandoned the idea of sneaking into the Purple Gold City.

Li Rui's tone softened:

"Little White, the water in that Purple Gold City is too deep; we cannot touch it. If we touch it, we will surely die."

"And do you think that if you can perceive the Withered Wood Meets Spring Qi, your father cannot?"

"If your father could perceive it, why hasn't it made a move all this time?"

"Have you thought about these things?"

Being asked these questions by Li Rui, the Little Bai Jiao felt a chill in its heart.

Thinking carefully.

There were not many things that could make its father so restrained; not only did it not go to seize the treasure, but it even took the initiative to move house and avoid it.

This Purple Chai Jingong must be even more formidable than it had imagined.

Otherwise, why would its old man, who hadn't bothered with affairs for a hundred years, specifically instruct it not to have any conflict with the Purple Chai Jingong?

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

The Little Bai Jiao immediately poured out everything it had seen.

Li Rui listened carefully.

He pondered for a long time.

Then he said: "Little White, you will stay in my prefecture for these few days. Wait until the matter passes, then you can go patrol the river."

He treated the Little Bai Jiao as a younger brother; when it concerned life, he naturally had to exercise the duties of a Big Brother.

After speaking.

He stopped bothering with the Little Bai Jiao and began to practice his martial arts on his own.

Leaving only the Little Bai Jiao feeling depressed.

The next day.

Li Rui got up as usual, finished his breakfast, and then went out.

But just as he was about to leave.

An uninvited guest appeared at the door.

"General Nie?"

Li Rui was somewhat surprised.

He saw Nie Siming standing alone at the door; he had seen him the moment he pushed the door open, clearly having waited outside for a long time.

This was unusual.

All along.

Whenever Nie Siming looked for him, he would always send someone to notify him in advance, and then either he would go to Nie Siming's prefecture, or he would wait properly in his own.

Like today, this was the first time Nie Siming had taken the initiative to wait for him.

Li Rui was about to be polite and invite Nie Siming into the residence.

When he heard Nie Siming speak: "Lord Li, have you already broken through to the Primordial Realm?"

Li Rui's expression did not change in the slightest.

He nodded faintly: "By luck."

Hearing Li Rui admit it, Nie Siming was overjoyed: "I knew it!"

Last night.

The coroner who examined the corpses at the Hua Cai Building told him that one of the bodies was a Primordial martial artist.

He immediately guessed that Li Rui was highly likely to have broken through.

Coupled with the fact that He Qiannian had specifically looked for him before.

He became even more certain.

Sure enough.

Nie Siming laughed heartily: "Good, good, good. Come, come, come, let's have a fight quickly."

"..."

Although Li Rui had already roughly guessed it, when the matter actually happened, he was still somewhat stunned.

Worthy of being the adopted son of the Military Saint Marquis Yuan, Nie Siming, like Yuan Xiong, was a martial arts fanatic.

The corners of Li Rui's mouth lifted slightly:

"Then I shall respectfully comply."

The Li Canjun's Prefecture was huge, and there was a martial arts practice ground inside.

Li Rui did not, like those heroes and gallants, start fighting anytime and anywhere.

This was his residence.

If things were broken, it would be his own money spent.

Naturally, he had to find a place where he was sure nothing would be broken. Li Rui cupped his fists at Nie Siming: "General Nie, please."

Nie Siming rubbed his wrists, not intending to use any blades or spears, and grinned: "I'll say this first, when I fight, there is never any such thing as holding back."

"Please."

Li Rui nodded.

The excitement in Nie Siming's eyes grew.

To wait for this fight.

He had waited for a long time.

However, Li Rui's speed of breakthrough was much, much faster than he had imagined.

Nie Siming was already burly, and his bowl-sized fists whistled with wind as he smashed toward Li Rui.

Yuan Dingting's external martial arts could be said to be truly the best in the world.

His eight adopted sons were also all stronger in external martial arts than internal ones.

(Note: The source text here appears garbled/corrupted; translating the intent of a fierce attack.)

Nie Siming was like a fierce tiger descending the mountain, unstoppable.

Li Rui's eyes narrowed.

He drew his Immortal Blade, the Dragon-Slayer, and swept it, sheath and all, toward Nie Siming's fist.

He had only just stepped into the Primordial Realm, while Nie Siming had been immersed in it for many years; their strength was not equal, and if he still talked about martial virtue, that would be stupid.

In an instant.

Li Rui slashed out more than a dozen times.

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

Seeing his full-strength strike neutralized by Li Rui, the excitement on Nie Siming's face grew.

Even among those in the Primordial Realm, there were not many who could take his full power.

"Come again!"

Nie Siming roared.

He hadn't held back before, but now it could be considered full firepower.

Vaguely.

One could see the phantom of a mountain.

Correct, this was Nie Siming's Qi-Form—Mountain Form!

Only, unlike other martial artists who used the Mountain Form to increase defense, his mountain... was used to smash people.

Every punch of Nie Siming seemed to have the power of ten thousand jun, falling like a violent storm.

Li Rui retreated and blocked.

Appearing very strained.

Soon.

The two had exchanged more than twenty moves.

Finally, Li Rui's strength failed him; the Dragon-Slayer slipped from his hand, and Nie Siming's large fist found an opening, smashing down toward his face.

At the very last moment before it was about to land on Li Rui's body.

Nie Siming withdrew his hand.

The excitement on his face grew: "Satisfying, satisfying. If you could reach the Heart-Refining Realm, that would be even more wonderful."

"No, I must call the Eighth Brother another day; he will definitely like this."

Nie Siming felt.

If he and Li Rui could be in the same realm, it would definitely be an evenly matched fight.

"Jiang Linxian was right; you are indeed very strong."

This was an affirmation from a martial artist.

Li Rui sheathed his blade back at his waist and then spoke: "General Nie has great skills; I am ashamed of my inferiority."

Nie Siming waved his hand: "It was me suppressing you with my realm; this match doesn't count."

"Wait until you break through, and then we shall fight again."

Li Rui nodded: "If General Nie has the interest, I naturally won't spoil the fun."

Then he said: "General Nie, about my breakthrough..."

Nie Siming chuckled: "Rest assured, only I and that coroner know about this matter; no one else knows. Don't worry, I have already ordered that coroner not to spread this matter."

Hearing Nie Siming's words, Li Rui smiled knowingly: "Thank you for the trouble, General Nie."

"No trouble, it's only right."

The reason Nie Siming understood so well was, of course, that he had done the same thing before.

He didn't want such a good opponent as Li Rui to die in vain.

Hiding one's strength was a required skill.

"Alright, just stay in the guard station for this period of time. You have already killed a Primordial martial artist, you have your merit, there's no need to get involved in other things."

He Qiannian had already stepped forward.

He naturally had to give face to an Earth Immortal powerhouse.

And as he said, Li Rui had killed a Primordial martial artist from the Purple Chai Jingong; he might have already been targeted.

Showing his face now would inevitably lead to the possibility of being targeted by the Purple Chai Jingong.

Just as the saying goes, the more the enemy wants to do something, the less you should let them have their way.

Nie Siming naturally wouldn't let Li Rui be exposed to murderous intent.

And He Qiannian had already revealed some information to him; since it concerned a Transcendent Immortal, it wasn't that urgent.

These matters were not something he, a Primordial martial artist, could get involved in.

His adopted father would naturally worry about it.

If not for this, he wouldn't have come to spar with Li Rui with such enthusiasm even after facing the blow of having no hope for his official career.

After speaking.

Nie Siming left in a flurry.

Coming to the Li Canjun's Prefecture really was just to have a fight with Li Rui.

Looking at Nie Siming's back.

Li Rui smiled slightly.

"There are still many good people in this world."

Of course, the premise is that you must be strong enough, and then you will find that everyone you see around you is a good person.

Ten Thousand Mountains, Purple Chai Jingong.

The Blood Shadow Xueying Laozu was sitting cross-legged in a palace, practicing his arts; in front of him was a pool of boiling blood.

At this moment.

A disciple of the Purple Chai Jingong walked in.

"Xueying Laozu, it has been investigated clearly."

"That day, an official named Li Rui appeared at the Hua Cai Building; he should be the one who killed them."

"Elder Wu and the others are all dead; they were not captured alive."

Hearing the disciple's words, the Blood Shadow Xueying Laozu slowly opened his eyes and nodded:

"Fine, you may withdraw."

The Blood Shadow Xueying Laozu closed his eyes again.

That name echoed in his heart.

"Li Rui..."

If he remembered correctly, this name seemed to have been mentioned by the Immortal Venerable before.

He naturally remembered.

(End of chapter)