Chapter 369: A mere Immortal Disciple—Take His Head

In the mountain forest.

Qi Tong's face turned deathly pale, staring at Li Rui in disbelief.

Or rather, the faint crack on the golden bell above his head.

"How is this possible?!"

He never imagined this old man before him was so ferocious—having actually slashed a crack into the magic treasure bestowed by the Sect Master.

That was the indestructible Divine Light Shield!

Li Rui raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Still tough?"

"Again!"

In an instant, the essence of his Great Hardening technique fully manifested.

Overwhelming power surged through the Sword of the Severed Dragon, pouring onto the golden barrier above the young man's head.

Though he didn't know what it was, if it could crack, it could be shattered.

Ding.

Ding.

Ding!

Terrifying echoes rang endlessly through the forest.

Finally.

The golden barrier could no longer hold—along with a crisp shattering sound from the jade scepter in Qi Tong's hand, it split cleanly in two.

The golden light faded.

Only then did Qi Tong realize his primordial cultivation was utterly powerless against Li Rui.

His Flame Body was effortlessly suppressed by the Sword of the Severed Dragon in Li Rui's hand.

At this moment, Qi Tong seemed to have lost all his means.

Martial arts—he was outmatched.

Even his prized immortal technique had failed against Li Rui.

Only eight strikes.

Qi Tong was already unable to stand.

Just as he prepared to activate his Flame Body and summon fire wolves to flee, a sapphire-blue light suddenly enveloped him.

His Flame Body extinguished in an instant.

Qi Tong's eyes widened in disbelief.

For he recognized that blue spiritual energy all too well—it was the Dark Water Body cultivated by Zhu Yun.

He pointed at Li Rui:

"How is this possible? Why do you know immortal techniques?"

But all that answered him was the Sword of the Severed Dragon in Li Rui's hand.

Water overcomes fire.

Li Rui's Dark Water Body shattered Qi Tong's Flame Body in an instant; without it, Qi Tong was like a lamb awaiting slaughter, utterly defenseless.

Ssssh!

The Sword of the Severed Dragon slashed across Qi Tong's neck.

Instantly severing his life force.

Qi Tong's head spun through the air before splattering blood onto the ground.

Dead beyond any doubt.

Having killed his opponent, Li Rui finally had time to examine the unfamiliar young man before him.

"Are all Zijin Palace members this strong?"

The young man's voice alone made it clear he was from Zijin Palace.

But he never expected.

This Zijin Palace disciple not only cultivated the Five Spirits Body Refinement Scripture, but also carried a strange jade scepter.

Had he not forcibly stolen the immortal energy from the jade scepter using Great Hardening, he might not have shattered the golden barrier so quickly.

The Five Spirits Body Refinement Scripture was of great importance.

So he waited until he confirmed the man had no hidden tricks before unleashing his killing blow.

No loose ends.

"Do all Zijin Palace members cultivate the Five Spirits Body Refinement Scripture?"

Li Rui then thought that too absurd.

He could sense the man's version of the Five Spirits Body Refinement Scripture was incomplete—modified, so even those without superior elemental roots could practice it, though it was hardly an immortal technique, merely a more advanced internal art.

Even so, the root requirement was still high—not everyone could cultivate it.

Li Rui glanced at the beasts slowly surrounding him again.

He waved his sleeve.

The man's corpse turned to ash and vanished.

Only the jade scepter, split in two, remained on the ground.

Li Rui also remembered—the strange golden light had emerged from this very jade scepter.

Suddenly.

A flash of lightning struck his mind.

"Could this be the legendary Immortal Treasure?"

As a Mountain Seeker, he had access to many scrolls on the Exiled Immortals.

From those scrolls, he learned the Exiled Immortals possessed an object called an Immortal Treasure—or a magic treasure.

Unlike martialists' immortal weapons, Immortal Treasures took countless bizarre forms and possessed abilities beyond comprehension.

This jade scepter before him was likely a defensive Immortal Treasure.

To avoid being traced through the jade scepter,

Li Rui had no intention of picking it up for study.

A flash of green light flickered in his eyes.

A vine sprouted from the ground, seized the jade scepter, and plunged into the earth.

Thus,

Even an Exiled Immortal would have great difficulty locating the jade scepter.

Having finished this, Li Rui turned to leave.

At that moment,

A line of small characters appeared before him.

【Congratulations, Host: Completed the Initial Plot of the Immortal Ancestor Achievement—Slain an Immortal Cultivator.】

【The path of immortality is long; conflict is inevitable. On your cultivation journey, you encountered a disciple of an immortal and slew him.】

【Task completed: Slain an Immortal. Reward calculation in progress.】

【Task rating: E.】【Obtained 10 Achievement Points!】

【Name: Li Rui】

【Age: 15】

【Talents: Martial Bone, Extraordinary Comprehension, Insightful Eyes, Great Dream Immortal Travel, Beast-Slaying Advantage, Dao Seed】

【Techniques: Long Chun Art, Dragon Soaring Through Nine Skies, Dragon-Elephant True Origin Force, Five Spirits Body Refinement Scripture】

【Item: Spirit-Ascending Book】

【Achievements: 50/100】

"Sss… E?"

Li Rui had used the system for a long time, but this was the first time he'd received an E rating.

'From the system's perspective, this immortal was weak—pathetically weak.'

!

Indeed.

This Zijin Palace disciple, though decent in martial arts—certainly at least primordial level—his so-called immortal technique was a crippled, bastardized version. An E rating was only logical.

'Wasted effort.'

Had Qi Tong heard this thought, he'd likely die again on the Yellow Springs Path.

Li Rui paused only slightly.

Then vanished into the forest.

"Lord Li."

Nie Siming and Yuan Xiong rushed forward as Li Rui returned to Qinghe Hunting Ground with Guan Xinrong and the others.

"No issue."

Li Rui waved his hand casually.

He did not tell anyone he had slain a Zijin Palace disciple.

He wasn't foolish enough to expose himself for a bit of military merit.

Didn't you hear that disciple from Zi Jin Palace? The palace master has his eyes on him.

That's all the more reason to keep a low profile.

Look behind you.

The army's defensive line has held back the beast tide.

At most one day.

The beast tide will vanish completely.

Nie Siming sneered. "Does Zi Jin Palace really think a single beast tide can derail our troop training?"

Yuan Xiong: "This beast tide cost us over three hundred dead and wounded, including one garrison commander."

Such losses.

Before the sheer scale of a hundred thousand troops, they're negligible.

Moreover, An Nan Town has begun counterattacking; most of the beasts in the mountains will likely be slaughtered.

The training objectives may be completed ahead of schedule.

This result is actually quite encouraging.

As the three spoke.

Fu Tao walked over.

He bowed to Li Rui: "Commander Li, thank you for saving my men. I won't forget this favor."

Li Rui was surprised.

The man Fu Tao meant must be the garrison commander rescued alongside Guan Xinrong.

'Could this be Fu Tao's own relative?'

He was still pondering.

Fu Tao gave the answer outright: "That boy is my distant nephew. I brought him along for training—he's a real worry."

Li Rui: "It was nothing. General Fu need not mention it."

Though he said so, Fu Tao thanked him again before leaving.

Seeing Fu Tao depart.

Yuan Xiong finally spoke: "Fu Tao clearly holds his young nephew in high regard."

Nie Siming: "Maybe he's an illegitimate son."

"."

Yuan Xiong and Li Rui both chose not to answer—given the tone, it might just come true.

Such situations aren't rare among military officers.

After this brief interlude.

Training resumed normally.

But due to the beast tide, very few beasts remained in the Ten Thousand Mountains, making the following battles much easier and posing almost no threat to An Nan Town's forces.

Smooth sailing.

Training lasted seven days; all beasts in the mountains were killed, then the troops returned to camp.

Some rejoiced, others grieved.

Families of soldiers killed by beasts received generous compensation, yet even so, sorrow could not be hidden.

Of course, most were rejoicing over their military merits.

"Big brother, with eighteen major merits this time, I swear I'll break through."

In the Assistant Regional Commander's residence.

Ning Zhongtian beamed.

This training had been immensely profitable for him—he encountered almost no danger.

That day.

He had returned with his men to Qinghe Enclosure long before the beast tide arrived, not a single man wounded.

Then, through Li Rui's maneuvering, he gained eight extra major merits.

With so much advantage, if he still couldn't break through, he might as well hang himself.

Li Rui: "Fourth brother, among us brothers, I've always had the most faith in you."

"."

Ning Zhongtian always felt this remark was odd.

Of their four brothers, aside from Big Brother Li Rui, Second and Third Brothers were both seventh-rank officers—so of course he was the most accomplished, leaving no choice but to favor him.

"Fourth brother, Big Brother will rely on you from now on."

"."

(End of Chapter)