Chapter 370: Flame Body

"Old Ancestor, Qi Tong has not returned, and we've sent people to search, but still can't find any trace."

Inside the Purple Gold Palace.

Zhu Yun spoke.

Blood Shadow Old Ancestor narrowed his eyes.

That day, a demonic tide suddenly appeared deep within the Ten Thousand Mountains; that alone was bad enough, but Qi Tong vanished that same day.

After days of searching, there was still no result.

"I understand. What does the Palace Master say?"

Zhu Yun: "The Palace Master says, then find another."

Blood Shadow Old Ancestor nodded: "Good. You may leave."

"I will send people to investigate this matter myself."

Zhu Yun bowed deeply, then turned to leave, a bitter smile curling at her lips.

Immortal Disciple?

It was merely an illusion she and Qi Tong had convinced themselves of.

Ever since she told the Palace Master that Qi Tong was likely dead, not a single emotion had shown on Si Feng's face.

Clearly.

To Si Feng, she and Qi Tong were no different from servants in the eyes of wealthy masters.

Dead is dead.

"Find another."

Si Feng's casual words echoed endlessly in Zhu Yun's mind.

Blood Shadow Old Ancestor wanted to find the killer not because Qi Tong held any noble status, but simply because he didn't want the Palace Master's reputation to suffer.

Qi Tong's death made Zhu Yun even more cautious.

Everything she now possessed could be lost with the slightest misstep.

'That day's demonic tide must have been triggered by Qi Tong.'

'Could he really have gone to find that Li Rui from Yu?'

'No, that man had only just entered the Primordial Realm—how could he possibly be a match for Qi Tong, who had cultivated immortal arts and possessed a magic treasure? But if not him, then who?'

Zhu Yun had not told Si Feng or Blood Shadow Old Ancestor about Li Rui right away.

Because she was afraid.

She feared Si Feng's detached, cold indifference.

If she spoke and Qi Tong returned, it might turn against her terribly.

If Qi Tong turned on her and convinced the Palace Master that she had murdered a fellow disciple out of jealousy, with the Palace Master's icy nature, she would surely die.

She had never truly been close to Qi Tong.

Whether Qi Tong lived or died meant nothing to her; revenge was even less relevant.

Protecting herself was all that mattered.

'Act as if I never heard it.'

"Last drill, we came in second-to-last—I'm ashamed! Train harder than ever!"

Ning Zhongtian patrolled the training ground, shouting loudly, though not with much real reprimand.

Last drill.

Anning Guard came in second-to-last.

The result was quite good.

After all, among the Eight Guards of Qinghe, four were personally commanded by General Xue of Annan Town—elite among elites, with recruitment standards far beyond ours.

The other three were also elite troops from Jiannan and Huaidong Towns, plus General Zhou Dinghai himself leading them—so for Anning Guard to finish second-to-last was truly a blessing.

But second-to-last was still second-to-last; on the surface, Ning Zhongtian still had to reprimand them.

"Commander Ning, good morning."

Cao Wei came up with a cheerful grin.

"Commandant Cao."

Ning Zhongtian clasped fists in greeting—but no longer as subordinate to superior.

Good.

He had broken through; thanks to Li Rui's maneuvering, he was now the new Assistant Regional Commander of Anning Guard.

Though the imperial decree had not yet arrived, the appointment was already sealed.

'I really picked the right person.'

Cao Wei gazed at the confident Ning Zhongtian with deep emotion.

Ning Zhongtian was just a rough, muddy-footed commoner.

First, Lei Yong recognized him, letting him enter the army and escape his bandit past; then he met Li Rui and took him as an elder brother—look at him now, sitting on equal footing with me. Cao Wei concluded: it was simply good fortune, picking the right person.

Picking the right person doesn't just mean they're strong—it means they're willing to lift you up.

Like me—I've attached myself to the Fifth Prince, a mighty tree.

But the Fifth Prince has too many followers, too many—ultimately, it all comes down to personal ability.

He could never help someone as wholeheartedly as Li Rui does.

As the two spoke,

a heavy, black lacquered carriage appeared within Anning Guard's grounds.

Both saw Li Rui slowly step down from the carriage.

'Brother looks far more imposing than before.'

Ning Zhongtian praised.

Since becoming Assistant Regional Commander, Li Rui no longer traveled on foot as before—he almost always rode in a carriage.

'Now this is the bearing of a master.'

Ning Zhongtian grinned and walked forward with Cao Wei.

"General." *2

Li Rui smiled and nodded: "Commander Ning, Commandant Cao, training the troops?"

"Mm."

Ning Zhongtian nodded.

With so many eyes watching, he had to use official titles.

After all, whether Anning Guard or Annan Town, they were all imperial troops—these officers were only temporary commanders; calling each other brothers in camp would invite gossip.

Privately, it was fine—but publicly, no.

When things are going well, no one speaks; but when misfortune strikes, enemies will seize on it.

Li Rui looked at the vigorous soldiers:

"Good. Their spirit is strong."

"Let's go inside and talk."

Ning Zhongtian and Cao Wei led Li Rui to the General's residence.

Li Rui naturally took the main seat.

The three sat down.

After sipping tea lightly, Li Rui spoke: "Fourth Brother, Brother Cao—the Imperial Astronomical Bureau has observed the Three Stars in Alignment—an omen. His Majesty has decided to launch a campaign against Dongwu. We must prepare."

Upon hearing this,

Ning Zhongtian and Cao Wei's expressions hardened.

Whenever Yu launched major military campaigns, it always began with an observation from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau. Three Stars in Alignment foretold war.

The Holy Emperor had clearly made up his mind to punish Dongwu.

Coupled with recent drills, they both felt a chill down their spines.

These weren't drills—they were pre-war exercises.

Li Rui quietly set down his teacup.

Three Stars in Alignment?

There's a saying: the Emperor's will is Heaven's will. In truth, the final interpretation always rests with the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.

These were just excuses.

In his view, it was plainly the Holy Emperor's desire to act.

He invented this pretext to justify his campaign.

Just another imperial trick.

!

Back in the time of the Founding Emperor, an official of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau had predicted something contrary to the Emperor's son's wishes—the Founding Emperor wanted peace, but the official predicted Mars lingering over the Heart constellation.

The Founding Emperor nearly beheaded the deputy director in rage.

Only the Imperial Master of that era intervened and calmed the Emperor.

All this he'd heard from Yao Xue.

Insider information from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau—guaranteed true.

Li Rui suspected that the Immortal from the Purple Gold Palace wished to install a ruler over Dongwu, and thus a kingdom under the Immortal's dominion would emerge.

The Holy Emperor, who had suffered greatly from the Immortal Calamity in his youth, would certainly not allow such a thing to happen.

Campaigning was thus inevitable.

"Enough, continue your drills. I'm just warning you in advance—be mentally prepared. This matter is not yet settled; do not spread it."

"Yes."

Ning Zhongtian and Cao Wei nodded solemnly.

Li Rui had finished his instructions.

Then he stayed at the General's Mansion, drank wine with the Assistant Military Commander and Assistant Regional Commander of the Anning Guard, before returning to his own residence.

He had just returned home.

A pretty little maid came forward.

"Master, warm water is ready."

Li Rui was undressed by his attendants.

After washing and grooming, he began his daily cultivation.

As soon as he focused his mind.

Crimson true qi slowly coiled around his body; though gaseous, it radiated an intense heat like blazing fire, while the Green Wood Qi seemed to add fuel to the crimson flames.

The scorching true qi burned so fiercely it warped the surrounding space.

The Flame Body was completed!

Wood generates Fire.

Having cultivated the Green Wood Qi, Li Rui naturally proceeded to refine the Flame Body.

The man from Zi Jin Palace had also cultivated the Flame Body.

But at most, he had only reached the entry stage.

Far inferior to Li Rui's current level.

Li Rui originally possessed a Middle-grade Spirit Root; after enhancing it with the Six Methods of Spiritual Ascension, his Upper-grade Spirit Root surpassed ordinary Upper-grade Spirit Roots by a wide margin.

This difference was clearly reflected in the speed of his cultivation.

Qi Tong's Flame Body, in his view, was no different from a tiny flame.

As Li Rui cultivated.

He suddenly felt something.

"Cultivating this immortal art actually greatly benefits the cultivation of the mind?"

This discovery astonished him greatly.

The Primordial Stage has three phases: Body Cultivation, Mind Cultivation, and Spirit Cultivation.

Body Cultivation, as the name implies, means using true qi to scour the body until it reaches a primordial physical state.

Entering Mind Cultivation.

Mind Cultivation does not mean training the heart alone—it means internal cultivation of the five viscera.

To achieve the state of nurturing the spirit.

The Five Elements of the Five Spirits Body Refinement Scripture correspond directly to the human five viscera, mirroring the method of cultivating the five viscera with primordial true qi—when combined, their effects multiply, greatly accelerating cultivation.

An unexpected boon!

At this rate, perhaps in just a few years, he could surpass the Primordial Mind Cultivation stage.

'Old Li really is a genius at immortal cultivation!'

Before he knew it, another summer had arrived.

Qinghe was peaceful and tranquil.

The pedestrians on the streets showed no sign of being affected by the tense atmosphere in Annan Town.

On the second floor of Zui Xian Pavilion, the private room overlooking the street offered a clear view of the bustling crowd below.

"His Majesty truly has grand ambition—he decides to wage war and immediately does so."

Lin Lang sipped slowly from a chilled plum wine.

In this sweltering summer, it had a uniquely refreshing taste.

Li Rui sat across from him.

Leaning his head toward the window.

He chatted intermittently: "Young Lin, our Chunfeng Hall has an excellent location."

From here, one could just see a corner of Chunfeng Hall.

"Indeed—I had a master specifically check the feng shui; it's excellent."

Li Rui fell silent.

As far as he knew, masters who frequently told clients their foreheads were dark with impending bloodshed rarely stayed in business long—they usually spoke only flattering words.

After all, even the master feared Lin Lang might get angry and have a Tianyuan Trading Association expert toss him into Qinghe to feed the fish.

"Have Xiao Liu and Lin's niece departed?"

"Yes, they left yesterday. I have connections in Jiangzhou—they'll be fine."

Lin Lang said.

Li Rui merely nodded.

Chunfeng Hall's business had grown steadily larger; Yunzhou was no longer enough.

Liu Tong had told him recently he wanted to go to Jiangzhou and take a look.

Jiangzhou is a great southern continent—any trading association that can establish itself there has truly entered the upper echelons.

Since establishing the trading association,

Li Rui had never truly worried about elixirs.

Naturally, he needed to pay attention.

Lin Lang suddenly remembered something:

"Master Li, have you heard? His Majesty plans to send envoys to Wu Country."

(End of Chapter)