Chapter 361: A Boy

Crackling and popping

On the bustling Spring Wind Avenue in Qinghe City, a merchant association named Spring Wind Hall opened its doors.

Those who came to offer congratulations were none other than high-ranking officials and sect elders.

Many were curious: who was the true proprietor behind Spring Wind Hall, to summon such a grand assembly?

At this moment.

Liu Tong and Lin Wan stood at the entrance, greeting guests as a perfect pair of golden boy and jade girl.

It was extremely lively.

In contrast to the bustle of the front courtyard, the back hall was elegant and quiet.

Li Rui and Lin Lang sat in the back hall.

Only the tiniest elite of the city could meet these two.

They had just seen off the sect master of Baiqing Sect, a branch of Daoxuan Sect.

Lin Lang smiled at Li Rui: "Spring wind is like a noble guest; once it arrives, prosperity follows. Master Li, the name Spring Wind Hall suits me perfectly."

What Lin Lang had just said.

Was a poem written by a Grand Secretary a hundred years ago.

As the heir apparent of the Lin family, Lin Lang had been raised with exceptional care since childhood.

Quoting classics came as naturally as breathing.

He assumed Li Rui had chosen the name Spring Wind Hall from this poem, and it fit the association well.

Li Rui's face flushed.

In his past life, though he had been a college student, he was in the sciences.

Poetry and verse were entirely beyond him—he could barely manage half a line of plagiarism.

In this life,

He had spent most of his life as a stable hand; where was the chance to read books or poems?

Of course, he didn't care much for elegance.

The "spring wind" in Spring Wind Hall had nothing to do with literary grace.

It was simply because the most prosperous street in Qinghe used to be called Spring Wind Avenue.

When he worked as a stable hand for the Zhu family, he often told Yang Yong: "When I get rich, I'll open an apothecary on Spring Wind Avenue and call it Spring Wind Hall."

That was all.

A boy's dream, fulfilled in old age.

It was a wish finally fulfilled.

Li Rui cleared his throat and changed the subject: "Young Lin, why did you set the association's headquarters in Qinghe?"

Originally, according to Li Rui's plan,

The headquarters should have been in Yunzhou, as it was the capital of the province.

But after Lin Lang arrived in Qinghe,

He decisively moved the headquarters here, and Li Rui said nothing.

After all, in business, he was an outsider.

Let the expert, Lin Lang, decide.

Lin Lang chuckled: "Big Brother Li, I bet you this: within thirty years, Qinghe City will become one of the top three cities in the southern region, no worse than Jiangzhou City."

Li Rui fell silent:

"Young Lin is so certain?"

Jiangzhou was a major stronghold of the Yu Kingdom in the south.

Its status was unparalleled.

For a small city like Qinghe to rival Jiangzhou—if Jiangzhou's people heard it, they'd think it a fairy tale.

Though Li Rui himself also felt Qinghe had great potential.

After all, the newly annexed Annan Town was too powerful.

Lin Lang laughed heartily: "Big Brother Li, my luck at gambling has always been good."

Li Rui smiled faintly.

Funny—he never gambled in his life.

Ten Thousand Mountains, Purple Gold Palace.

After the previous war's devastation, the collapsed halls were rebuilt.

Even more magnificent than before.

The number of people within the palace had increased manyfold; nearly all of the Ghost Ming Sect's top experts had come to Purple Gold Palace, and most of the Qi clan of the Southern Frontier had arrived as well, giving it the aura of a supreme sect.

In fact,

In terms of strength, Purple Gold Palace now matched none of the ten-thousand-year-old sects in the Yu Kingdom's heartland.

The Blood Shadow Ancestor and a Qi clan elder stood before the grand black hall.

As if waiting for something.

"Qi Ying, what do you think the Immortal Sovereign would do if he knew you'd let a few little mice into his home?"

The old man Qi Bai looked at the Blood Shadow Ancestor with a half-smile.

Though the Ghost Ming Sect and the Qi clan of the Southern Frontier had merged into two branches of Purple Gold Palace,

They still disliked each other.

Friction never ceased.

Because of the Immortal Sovereign's presence, they dared not escalate matters, but seeing the Blood Shadow Ancestor humiliated still pleased Qi Bai.

The Blood Shadow Ancestor's gaze turned dark, but he merely snorted.

Said nothing more.

The two stood in silence for about half an hour.

Finally, two figures slowly appeared atop the black jade steps in the distance.

"Immortal Sovereign!"

The Blood Shadow Ancestor hurried forward upon seeing the strange man.

Qi Bai was startled.

He was from the Qi clan of the Southern Frontier and had always stayed within Wu Country; this was his first time seeing the Immortal Sovereign's true face. Without backing down, he also quickened his steps behind the Blood Shadow Ancestor.

Si Feng glanced at them coolly.

"This is Master Sheng, who has just arrived in this realm. From now on, he will be the Grand Elder of Purple Gold Palace."

"Also, do not call me Immortal Sovereign anymore. I am the palace master."

The Blood Shadow Ancestor stared in surprise from Si Feng to the unfamiliar old man who had suddenly become Grand Elder.

Grand Elder—that was a supreme position second only to the palace master.

Though puzzled, the Blood Shadow Ancestor and Qi Bai bowed respectfully: "Greetings, Palace Master, Grand Elder."

Whoever Si Feng addressed as "Master Sheng" could hardly be an ordinary mortal.

Si Feng merely nodded expressionlessly.

The old Daoist whom Si Feng called Master Sheng chuckled.

"This mortal realm is indeed interesting."

The Blood Shadow Ancestor promptly said: "Palace Master, some events occurred after you left."

Seeing the Blood Shadow Ancestor hesitate, Si Feng said: "Master Sheng is family. Speak plainly."

Upon hearing this, the Blood Shadow Ancestor recounted in full the day Liu Qing led the ambush, including the intrusion into Si Feng's sleeping chamber.

Si Feng spoke calmly: "Show me."

Moments later,

The Blood Shadow Ancestor hurried Si Feng and Master Sheng to a sleeping chamber deep within the hall.

In one corner of the chamber, a seven-foot-wide hole was plainly visible.

The Blood Shadow Ancestor said nothing, stepping aside obediently.

Awaiting punishment in silence.

But Si Feng remained cold and expressionless, showing no emotion.

It was Master Sheng who smiled again.

!

Then he followed Si Feng into the hidden passage behind the wall.

As for the Blood Shadow Ancestor and Qi Bai, no matter how curious they were, they dared not move from their spot.

Not long after,

Si Feng and Master Sheng arrived in the secret chamber.

When Master Sheng saw the withered wood reviving qi in the corner, he clucked in wonder, rubbing his hands: "The Ten Thousand Mountains truly are a paradise. To have such a treasure—this old Daoist's eyes have been opened."

Si Feng stared at the withered wood reviving qi, but frowned.

The withered wood reviving qi had diminished by more than half since he left.

A faint smile curled his lips:

"That little thief dares to steal and eat even more?"

A thought stirred.

Every detail of the room was now encompassed within his spiritual sense, and in an instant, he detected the changes within the secret chamber.

"Five Spirit Body Refinement Scripture"

Besides the stolen Wood Revival Qi, one more thing was missing: a cultivation technique he had casually written down—the Five Spirit Body Refinement Scripture.

Si Feng's smile deepened.

He had planted a trap within the Five Spirit Body Refinement Scripture.

The Five Spirit Body Refinement Scripture is one of the sacred techniques of Wan Fadian; not even in the Upper Realm could many obtain it, let alone this world.

So he was certain.

That person would not detect the flaw.

Once they began cultivation, they would become his puppet, bound to his will.

"Looks like my mouse trap still works well."

Of course, he had deliberately left behind the Five Spirit Body Refinement Scripture.

He had also deliberately lured the covert agents here.

If the name of Zi Jin Palace couldn't spread on its own, was he supposed to hunt down every disciple of Wan Fadian one by one?

At that moment,

the Daoist Sheng beside him suddenly let out a soft "hmm?"

Then his fingers moved rapidly as he formed hand seals, his expression growing more puzzled: "Someone here is using Wood Revival Qi to enhance their spiritual root. Such an exquisite method—how could anyone in the Lower Realm understand it? Strange, very strange."

Upon hearing this, Si Feng slightly narrowed his eyes.

Someone is enhancing their spiritual root?

He recalled the intelligence he had received days ago.

Jiang Lin had left Jingcheng several months ago, headed south, and then vanished.

The timing matched perfectly with that night.

Si Feng's smile widened further.

"So you truly come from the Upper Realm."

Then he waved his hand listlessly: "Enough, Daoist Sheng. This Wood Revival Qi was prepared for you—go cultivate properly in Zi Jin Palace."

As for the one who enhanced their spiritual root,

whether or not it was Jiang Lin, in a few days, once that person cultivated the Five Spirit Body Refinement Scripture and became his puppet, the truth would reveal itself.

Si Feng had always been patient.

The Military Advisor's Residence, main hall.

Li Rui sat cross-legged on a cushion.

These past days,

though he had been busy overseeing the expansion of Qinghe, he had not neglected his cultivation.

He heard the newly appointed Zhou Tingdu had departed from Jingcheng.

Traveling south along the Grand Canal, he would arrive in no more than ten days.

He needed to complete the new Tingdu Residence within ten days.

"Little bastards, one and all."

Li Rui chuckled as he muttered.

Since he took charge of building the new city three months ago, over eighty, if not a hundred, people had come to curry favor with him.

Who didn't know this massive construction was a golden opportunity to line one's pockets?

Everyone had their eyes fixed on it.

Li Rui spent most of his energy dealing with these matters.

Deciding who to assign and who to deny—this was a complex art.

For instance, the nephew of the Yunzhou Prefect had to be given a position.

But he couldn't be placed in a critical role.

Otherwise, if the Tingdu Residence collapsed, Li Rui would have to carry his head to present it to the Tingdu himself.

Balancing these considerations was no simple matter.

Fortunately, Li Rui had one trump card: the instructor from An Nan Marquis's household. Within Yunzhou, no one dared to pressure him—he had the backing to refuse.

Otherwise, even with the most skillful diplomacy, he would easily be dragged down.

Li Rui stopped thinking.

He took a deep breath; the cool air swept the clutter from his mind.

His inner state instantly became clear and still.

At the same time, the incantation for the Water Body in the Five Spirit Body Refinement Scripture began to activate.

Thick streams of water energy rose and instantly enveloped him.

Ever since becoming a top-grade spiritual root, he could finally cultivate the full version of the Water Body—his progress had been astonishing.

After months of arduous practice,

the results were still significant.

Li Rui formed hand seals, rapidly shifting them, murmuring incantations.

"Supreme dark water flows formless, the Milky Way reverses into the abyss, qi gathers the earth's essence, concealing the ice soul; Kan and Li intermingle, transforming into the Five Phases."

The next instant,

a strange phenomenon erupted.

The water vapor around him solidified into tangible waves, suddenly surging forth to engulf Li Rui's form.

This was the unmistakable sign of the Water Body's completion!

(End of Chapter)