Chapter 356: Internal and External Cultivation

"Good, you've made further progress."

He Qian Nian regarded Li Rui with satisfaction.

Only see.

In the small courtyard of the Crane Thousand Martial Arts Hall, Li Rui casually seized a thread of sunlight and clenched it in his hand.

This was precisely a sign of the Great Iron Body's partial mastery.

He Qian Nian never imagined Li Rui's progress would be so swift—far exceeding his expectations.

Had he not feared Li Rui might grow complacent,

he would have burst out laughing.

Passing the Great Iron Body to this man was indeed no mistake; in terms of innate talent, he was no weaker than Jiang Lin, now famed throughout Dayu, and if judged solely by external martial talent, even stronger.

Li Rui: "All thanks to your elder's teaching."

He Qian Nian waved his hand: "Don't flatter me—it's your own ability, not mine."

Li Rui merely smiled, offering no argument.

He Qian Nian had taught him the Great Iron Body, granting him foundational enlightenment.

Though now, comparing Li Rui's Great Iron Body to He Qian Nian's original version, it was utterly transformed.

Only the essential intent remained unchanged; everything else bore little resemblance.

Martial arts are inherently individual—no fixed forms.

If Li Rui had trained himself into a rigid craftsman, He Qian Nian would have been troubled.

These past days,

Li Rui had studied the Five Spirits Body Refinement Scripture night after night, and unconsciously blended it with the Great Iron Body, so his Great Iron Body now carried a faint immortal aura.

Everyone has their own path.

Li Rui sought immortality and eternal life, not merely brute force or martial killing techniques.

He walked the path of internal and external cultivation.

The internal art derived from the Great Iron Body and the Five Spirits Body Refinement Scripture was like two legs—neither could be missing.

He Qian Nian himself trained solely in external arts due to his unique physique; had his bones been even slightly better, he would have unhesitatingly pursued internal and external cultivation together.

What Li Rui needed most was to take the strengths of the Great Iron Body and complement them internally.

This was the true Dao.

Until both internal and external reached peak perfection.

He Qian Nian had also noticed Li Rui possessed an internal art no weaker than his own Great Iron Body, and he welcomed it wholeheartedly.

Didn't this prove even more clearly that his external art was no inferior to the world's top internal arts?

Seeing He Qian Nian pleased,

Li Rui seized the chance to ask: "Elder, what's the current situation in the Purple Gold Palace?"

Five or six days had passed.

Aside from Nie Siming urging them to unite the martial sects, there had been no other developments.

He Qian Nian smiled at Li Rui: "You kid, what you really want to know is the Exiled Immortal's whereabouts, aren't you?"

Li Rui showed no sign of being caught out, still grinning:

"Elder, you hold high authority and know much—I merely wish to broaden my horizons."

He Qian Nian ignored Li Rui's excuse:

"True enough—we two little mice ate all the rice from the Exiled Immortal's granary; it's natural you'd fear he'd come looking. According to news from the Marquis House, the Exiled Immortal hasn't returned yet."

"Even if he does return, he won't harm you, kid."

"I carried top-tier talismans from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to conceal our qi. Everyone in the Purple Gold Palace who saw us is already dead. Even the Exiled Immortal can't trace us."

Li Rui chuckled.

He said nothing more.

He Qian Nian sipped his slightly chilled tea and continued: "The Purple Gold Palace is a major threat, but it's not our concern—someone taller will handle it."

"Someone taller?"

"Yes, like Gu Changsheng, or those few guest elders."

Li Rui immediately grew curious: "Elder, do you know why those seven guest elders are so mysterious?"

He was merely a Mountain Seeker.

Aside from learning their number from Yang Bing, he knew nothing else.

Naturally, he was curious.

He Qian Nian shook his head: "I have no idea."

Li Rui was even more surprised: "Even the Mountain Guard Commander doesn't know?"

"No, but one thing is certain—they are all extraordinary figures of the world."

For He Qian Nian, a martial arts grandmaster, to call them "extraordinary figures" spoke volumes of their power.

But it was understandable.

After all, according to Commander Yang Bing, those guest elders were the key to handling the Exiled Immortal.

To stand against the Exiled Immortal, they couldn't possibly be weak.

Li Rui wanted to ask more.

But He Qian Nian raised his hand to stop him: "Just focus on your training. Don't overthink other things."

"Yes, Elder."

Li Rui asked no further, then raised several other questions, and He Qian Nian answered each one, after which Li Rui departed fully satisfied.

A month passed in a flash.

Since that battle, the Purple Gold Palace had become much more restrained; news of it grew scarce in Qinghe.

Li Rui and the others pretended to visit martial sects daily for tea, but in truth, progress had stalled.

Nie Siming occasionally inquired, but no longer pressed them as harshly as before.

"Lord, Lin's girl's father has arrived in Qinghe and wishes to meet you."

Liu Tong came to the Assistant Regional Commander's residence to find Li Rui.

Lin's girl, of course, was Lin Wan of the Tianyuan Merchant Association; her father was none other than the young faction's vice-chairman of Tianyuan.

"Good."

Li Rui nodded and immediately followed Liu Tong to a grand riverside mansion on the banks of Qinghe River.

People everywhere love mountains and water.

Houses by the river were never cheap; a four-courtyard estate like this one was astronomical in price.

This was Lin Wan's residence in Qinghe.

More accurately, it was a temporary one.

According to Liu Tong, Lin Wan disliked staying in inns, so wherever she went, she would casually buy property—staying days or even years, but never long.

'The Tianyuan Merchant Association still has grandeur.'

This was Li Rui's first time here; the thought arose in his mind.

Liu Tong led Li Rui into the Lin residence with ease.

Even the gatekeeper recognized him and offered no resistance.

!

Soon,

Li Rui arrived in the main hall.

Two people sat inside: one was Lin Wan, the other a middle-aged man around forty.

Without needing to guess, he must be Lin Lang, vice-chairman of Tianyuan.

Indeed, he radiated noble bearing.

Seeing Li Rui, Lin Lang slowly rose and bowed politely: "Lord Li, a great honor to meet you."

Li Rui returned the bow: "Brother Lin, since you've come to Qinghe, stay a while longer."

"Then I won't be polite."

Lin Lang showed none of the shrewdness of a merchant; instead, he was bold and generous—anyone unfamiliar might mistake him for a martial artist, drawing one naturally closer.

Of course,

Li Rui would not lower his guard because of it.

To become vice-chairman of a giant like Tianyuan Merchant Association—could he be ordinary?

His martial skill might be average, but his mind was surely sharp as a razor.

They sat down.

Lin Lang finally spoke slowly: "My daughter is young and naive—if she has offended Lord Li, please forgive her."

"Your niece is wise and charming, Brother Lin—don't speak so."

Liu Tong and Lin Wan, two little foxes, sat quietly beside them, listening to the two old foxes exchange pleasantries.

An hour passed.

Lin Lang, slightly parched, took a sip of tea.

Li Rui finally spoke: "Brother Lin, you know Liu Tong—I've watched him grow up like my own son. He wants to open a merchant house and venture out—I, as his elder, must help. Tianyuan Merchant Association is the pillar of Dayu's trade, so I asked your niece for advice."

Liu Tong blinked beside him.

He was overjoyed.

Although Li Rui had already hinted to him that he would be the chairman of the Heaven and Earth Alliance Guild,

only now, with Li Rui willing to announce it publicly, was it truly settled.

As for the talk about having watched him grow up, it was merely empty formalities.

It was simply using Liu Tong as a bridge to bring the two sides closer.

Lin Lang slightly narrowed his eyes, a smile tugging at his lips.

Finally, the real matter was addressed.

He had traveled thousands of miles to Qinghe not to sightsee, but for the resources in Li Rui's hands.

He was here to do business.

The Tianyuan Guild had deep roots in Jingcheng and had long heard of Li Rui's name.

Beyond the business itself, his true priority was to befriend Li Rui.

In his view, Li Rui was even more valuable than the profits the deal might bring.

"Li my lord, what a coincidence—my daughter, whom I've cherished since childhood, wishes to find something to do outside. Why not let the two young people travel together?"

"Excellent."

Li Rui clapped his hands and laughed heartily.

In just a few words, a major deal was sealed.

Even Liu Tong was taken aback.

Do big shots really operate this casually?

The proportion of actual business discussed seemed less than half a percent.

After finishing the main matter, Li Rui and Lin Lang began chatting casually.

Lin Lang suddenly spoke up: "By the way, Li my lord, I've heard the Witch Kingdom has a Purple Gold Palace—quite formidable?"

Li Rui was surprised: "Has this even reached Jingcheng?"

"Indeed—word has it His Majesty summoned the ministers for a special deliberation."

Then,

Lin Lang lowered his voice with a hint of mystery: "Great changes are coming to Qinghe soon, Li my lord—you must seize this opportunity."

Li Rui narrowed his eyes.

"Thank you for the warning, Brother Lin."

Lin Lang: "Li my lord, to be honest, I've already discussed it with the chairman—we plan to settle permanently in Qinghe. Next time I come to the Military Office for tea, don't turn me away."

"Nonsense—I welcome you wholeheartedly."

Li Rui and Lin Lang exchanged glances.

Both burst into laughter.

It was as if they had known each other since childhood.

Of course, it wasn't genuine compatibility—Li Rui, a former stable hand turned martial officer, couldn't possibly share interests with a wealthy merchant from Jingcheng—that would be absurd.

It was simply that Qinghe was about to change.

The Tianyuan Guild sought greater profits, and he needed an ally like the Tianyuan Guild.

That was all.

(End of Chapter)