Chapter 362: Mysterious Water Body, Complete!

Li Rui suddenly opened his eyes.

A deep blue, intricate rune appeared in his palm.

Even his pupils emitted blue light.

His entire body was now enveloped by water suspended in midair, swirling rapidly around him.

Yet outside the space he occupied, the room remained dry, everything unchanged.

Truly wondrous beyond words.

After days of cultivation, results finally appeared.

The mysterious water qi within Li Rui controlled the water energy of heaven and earth, flowing smoothly and effortlessly, as if it were an extension of his own limbs.

He shifted his thought again.

The water surrounding him suddenly splashed down, sinking into the ground and vanishing.

Yet not a single drop of moisture remained.

Li Rui couldn't help laughing aloud.

"It's done."

Having finally perfected this immortal art, how could he not be exhilarated?

But soon.

He suppressed his wild joy, his expression returning to calm.

'This top-grade elemental root is truly effective.'

With the Mysterious Water Body perfected, the Five Elemental Body Refinement Scripture is now within reach; in future battles, using the Mysterious Water Body will surely catch opponents off guard.

Yet this immortal art is of great importance.

Li Rui would not use the Mysterious Water Body lightly, unless certain he could kill the opponent outright.

No one must learn of his cultivation of the Five Elemental Body Refinement Scripture.

"Next, I'll cultivate the Green Wood Body."

He bore the Dragon Form, naturally attuned to water, which is why he could master the Mysterious Water Body so quickly.

The Five Elements generate and restrain one another.

Water generates Wood.

Cultivating the Green Wood Body with the Mysterious Water Body will double efficiency.

He wasn't foolish enough to stubbornly defy nature and cultivate the opposing Fiery Flame Body.

He wasn't a youth anymore; no need to suffer needlessly—when you walk, take the easiest path.

Li Rui did not rush to rise.

Instead, he continued using the lingering resonance of the Mysterious Water Body to sense the Green Wood qi.

This process lasted until dusk, when he finally stepped out.

Liu Tiezhu was idly squatting by the side of the courtyard.

His master had entered seclusion, and Old Tie had too.

It left him bored out of his mind.

Seeing Li Rui open the door, he beamed: "Master, you're out?"

"Say that again?"

"Bad omen. Childish nonsense."

Li Rui spat twice.

Of his three disciples, Liu Tiezhu spoke the most bluntly, but his nature was pure and honest—no need for pretense or subtlety; his straightforwardness suited him fine, and Li Rui had no intention of changing him.

Liu Tiezhu grinned and scratched his head:

"Master, I said something wrong again."

"It's fine. It's not the first time."

"."

"Oh, by the way, I got a letter from Little Master this morning—he's from Wu Country. He says he's doing well there, made many friends, and his spirit-controlling skills have improved."

Saying this,

Liu Tiezhu handed Li Rui a letter.

Li Rui took it and read.

As Liu Tiezhu said, it was all good news.

His lips curled slightly.

Wang Zhao's hidden motives were plain to him—he'd received a letter from Dao Mo days ago, describing Wang Zhao's situation, but it differed greatly from Wang Zhao's own account.

This letter was merely meant to coax Li Rui into recalling Qinghe sooner.

Li Rui had arranged for Wang Zhao to work in a beast-controlling shop in Wu Country, under a renowned beast-tamer from Wu Bei City.

That was a dream position for countless people in Wu Country.

Wang Zhao wanted to return.

But at least ten years were needed—time wasn't enough to temper his character.

Besides, Dao Mo was watching over him; nothing would go wrong.

Li Rui smiled faintly.

He had Liu Tiezhu fetch paper and ink, and wrote a reply to Wang Zhao, to be sent with the Spring Wind Hall's merchant caravan.

Liu Tiezhu, hearing it was for Spring Wind Hall, scratched his head: "Master, aren't we sending it to Heaven and Earth Alliance?"

Li Rui: "Heaven and Earth Alliance won't be involved in trade anymore. Letters must go to Spring Wind Hall."

Spring Wind Hall and Heaven and Earth Alliance have now split.

Heaven and Earth Alliance no longer interferes in business.

But due to Li Rui's status, he still receives a share of profits, and Heaven and Earth Alliance provides military support—this is a cooperative relationship.

Separating them was intentional on Li Rui's part.

Heaven and Earth Alliance is a martial sect; too many restrictions.

In Qinghe City, on Zhuque Avenue.

A line of cavalry advanced slowly.

Barely a hundred men, yet their presence evoked the might of a vast army.

At their head rode a middle-aged man, pale-faced and beardless, with a refined, scholarly air—if not for his military armor, one might mistake him for a scholar heading to the capital for the imperial exams.

Beside him, Xue Gui rode his warhorse, half a body's length behind.

Only someone of such stature could command such deference from a Regional Commander like Xue Gui—it had to be the newly appointed Provincial Military Commander, General Zhou Dinghai.

"General Zhou, we're almost there."

As Xue Gui spoke,

A magnificent wall came into Zhou Dinghai's view.

On it, three bold characters were carved: "Annan Town."

Zhou Dinghai, seeing the imposing gate, nodded approvingly: "Good."

It wasn't merely that Annan Town stood within Qinghe City—it was more accurate to say Qinghe was a city within Annan Town.

The new expansion had nearly surrounded Qinghe; wasn't that a city within a city?

The group rode slowly into the Annan Town military camp.

The vast training ground, paved with blue bricks, and the neatly arranged barracks struck the eye as fresh and impressive.

Zhou Dinghai's interest immediately sparked.

As General of the Pacifying Waves, he had seen many military garrisons and guard battalions, but few as elegant as this.

It wasn't merely due to skilled craftsmen—it was because the overseer had put in real effort.

He saw this clearly.

He himself had once overseen construction; he knew how complex it was—not something one could accomplish merely by being incorruptible. He grew curious: who was it?

"Commander Xue, who oversaw this construction?"

Xue Gui replied: "Li Rui, Assistant Military Advisor of Anning Guard."

"His Majesty has appointed him Deputy Commander of Annan Town, but the imperial decree was delayed en route and has not yet reached Qinghe."

!

"Li Rui."

Zhou Dinghai repeated the name, eyes narrowing slightly.

Speak of the devil.

He had barely finished speaking when Nie Siming and Li Rui arrived before him, bowing respectfully.

"Your humble servant greets General Zhou."

Xue Gui promptly spoke, pointing to Li Rui: "General, this is Li Rui, the one I just mentioned."

Zhou Dinghai studied Li Rui with curiosity: "Excellent. Mature and steady—you are a blessing to Annan Town."

Saying this,

He burst into laughter, squeezed his thighs against his horse, and rode toward the newly built Provincial Military Commander's residence.

Li Rui and Nie Siming followed behind.

'They say General Zhou is known as the Confucian General, born into a great southern clan, formerly Regional Commander of Haizhou, who earned great glory in the battle against the Eastern Sea clans. His Majesty was delighted, promoted him to Second-Rank General, and he excels in training troops, formations, and naval warfare—unmatched in the world.'

Thirty years ago, the Sea Clan came ashore, threatening the eastern border of Yu State and plunging the people into misery—this was suppressed by General Zhou.

The name "Fubo" was earned for this reason, and he is deeply favored by His Majesty.

His appointment as Commander of the Three Armies in Yunzhou is a sign of great trust.

It is foreseeable that Yu State will likely have no Viceroy for the next fifty years.

Thus, the Provincial Military Commander is already the pinnacle of a military officer's career.

This General Zhou clearly enjoys the Emperor's deep trust, which is why he was entrusted with this urgent mission and sent to Qinghe.

Know that.

This is Yunzhou, and the true master here is the Martial Saint, Marquis Yuan. General Zhou Dinghai's arrival in Yunzhou is by no means without restraint; on the contrary, he must balance multiple forces, or he will be caught between two stools.

General Zhou Dinghai's command post is extravagantly lavish, filled with pavilions, terraces, and towers, with gentle streams winding around the compound, serene and elegant.

It carries the refined charm of Jiangnan gardens.

Zhou Dinghai was thoroughly satisfied: "Excellent."

Hearing the Commander's praise, Li Rui smiled faintly.

How could he not be satisfied?

The craftsmen were brought directly from Jiangnan, and even every flower, blade of grass, and tree in the courtyard was transported from Jiangnan—truly worth its weight in gold.

For matters of importance.

Li Rui never handles affairs carelessly.

Xue Gui chuckled as well: "Deputy Commander Li handles things with impeccable care."

Other officials in the courtyard cast envious glances toward Li Rui.

First impressions in officialdom are crucial.

This veteran deputy commander may well be on the path to rapid promotion.

After that.

Of course, Li Rui and Nie Siming had nothing more to do; aside from Xue Gui and a few of Zhou Dinghai's personal guards, everyone else withdrew.

At this moment.

A burly, broad-shouldered man stepped forward to Li Rui and bowed his fists.

"Deputy Commander Li, I've long admired you."

Li Rui smiled: "General Fu, your reputation precedes you."

Fu Tao was delighted to see Li Rui recognized him: "Deputy Commander Li has heard of me?"

"I've heard of your heroic feat—slaying a monstrous whale across a thousand miles of waves."

Fu Tao scratched his head; he never expected his fame to have reached Qinghe, thousands of miles away.

How unusual.

It wasn't that he was particularly famous—it was that Li Rui had already memorized every fourth- and fifth-rank officer accompanying them.

Besides the original deputies, staff officers, and assistant commanders in Annan Town, Zhou Dinghai brought many of his own subordinates, and Fu Tao was one of them.

Qinghe now truly has the air of a major hub.

One second-rank official, one third-rank official, nearly a dozen fourth-rank officers, and even more fifth-rank officers—eight guard battalions guard the area, and Anning Garrison is one of them.

Such a massive display is clearly meant to intimidate the Purple Gold Palace.

Beyond the visible officials,

there are also masters like Liu Qing, along with powerful figures from subordinate sects of major clans.

It truly rivals the might of an entire province.

When everyone had left,

Nie Siming approached.

"Big Brother Li, watch out for that Fu—he's a smiling tiger."

Li Rui chuckled: "Little Brother Nie, I've noticed."

"Fu Tao and the others are all old subordinates of Zhou Dinghai. Zhou's arrival in Yunzhou was meant to contain my father; he must resent us. Be careful—he'll try to trip us up."

"Little Brother Nie, thank you for the warning."

Li Rui understood this situation perfectly.

Zhou Dinghai is a towering figure, far above—he would never personally target a lowly deputy commander like him.

As long as you do your job well, you'll be praised.

But it's easy to avoid the King of Hell; it's the petty demons you must fear.

Men like Fu Tao, on the same level as him, have entirely different intentions—they aim to drag these men from the Marquis's household into their own schemes.

Li Rui has long been accustomed to such things.

If Fu Tao didn't oppose Li Rui and the others, Zhou Dinghai would suspect his own men of disloyalty.

What happens above is one thing; those below must still act as they must.

Even the Grand Secretary and the State Preceptor are neighbors.

Has that stopped their subordinates from fighting to the death?

It makes no difference at all.

(End of Chapter)