Chapter 393: Born to Cultivate [Monthly Ticket Bonus Chapter — Request Monthly Tickets, Second]

The next morning.

Li Rui sat up on the bed, a satisfied smile on his lips.

Last night.

Though his immortal techniques made little progress, he learned much about the cultivation world from Wu De.

These things held no value to cultivation sect cultivators, but were immensely useful to him.

As always, information mattered.

He rose from bed, had his robes fastened by a maid, then stepped outside.

Today.

Yuan Xiong invited him to dinner at his residence, saying it was to welcome Nie Siming.

He had just stepped out.

His face showed surprise.

'What a coincidence?'

There stood Nie Siming, leading a group into the An Nan Town camp.

Nie Siming spotted Li Rui and greeted with a smile: 'Brother Li.'

Li Rui stepped forward in a few strides.

He glanced at the two Daoists—one old, one young.

Nie Siming promptly introduced: 'Brother Li, you've been in seclusion, so you've likely not met them. This is Daoist Zi Yang, and this is Daoist Chun Xu. Both are esteemed elders of Qing Wei Sect.'

Li Rui studied them silently, then smiled warmly: 'Gentlemen Daoists, I am Li Rui, Deputy Commander of An Nan Town.'

The old Daoist Zi Yang merely nodded with a smile in return.

The young Daoist Chun Xu ignored him entirely, not even glancing his way.

Arrogant.

Aside from being Qing Ding's disciple, his own cultivation was Tong Xuan realm.

In the martial world, it was said: beneath Tong Xuan, all were ants.

Nie Siming, being of the same realm, treated him with courtesy.

But Li Rui was merely a fourth-rank primordial martial general—not worth his time.

Nie Siming faintly frowned, then said to Li Rui: 'Brother Li, I'll take these two Daoists to the Regional Commander's office first, then return.'

'Official duties come first.'

Li Rui felt no loss of face.

He politely bowed, watching them depart.

Only then did he head to Brother Yuan's residence.

About an hour passed.

Nie Siming finally arrived late.

Seeing Li Rui and Yuan Xiong had already set up the copper pot, he chuckled and sat down.

He first said to Li Rui: 'Brother Li, don't take it to heart. Those two have lived in seclusion for years—they're lucky if they can speak clearly, and they never show anyone a good face.'

Li Rui: 'I'm not that petty.'

'Quick, add the meat.'

Nie Siming and Yuan Xiong were both northerners.

They greatly favored hot pot.

Especially lamb paired with sesame paste, scallions, and leek flowers—utterly exquisite.

Since the two once discovered Li Rui also loved hot pot,

they often gathered together.

Perhaps this was one key reason Li Rui bonded so closely with them.

Nie Siming generously dropped over a pound of meat into the pot. Having spent years in the army, he had no scholar's refinement—he preferred hearty, vigorous eating.

As he stirred the lamb, he said:

'Those two Qing Wei Daoists said the Yi Kai Sect opens on the sixth day of the second month, and soon after, Qing Wei Sect will begin accepting new disciples.'

'Daoist Qing Ding will take one hundred outer-disciple students.'

During this time, accompanying the Qing Wei pair through the Ten Thousand Mountains, he'd learned many inside details.

'Brother Li, I heard you're taking the examination—better prepare quickly.'

The officials sent by Yu State were restricted to below the upper third rank.

This was an unspoken agreement between the imperial court and Qing Wei Sect.

Li Rui: 'Thank you for the reminder, younger brother.'

Nie Siming waved his hand: 'Between us, no need for formalities.'

He and Yuan Xiong were genuine men.

They wouldn't waste a word on those they disliked, but if they deemed someone a true kindred spirit, they'd offer full support.

Li Rui had proven himself their equal.

Nie Siming and Yuan Xiong had both broken through—they had no chance of joining Qing Wei.

Besides, they were adopted sons of Yuan Dingting—they couldn't go anyway.

'It's done.'

'Eat while we talk.'

Yuan Xiong picked up his chopsticks first.

Li Rui and Nie Siming didn't hold back—the three ate with great delight.

Nie Siming, cheeks bulging, mumbled: 'Daoist Qing Ding is a celestial exiled to earth—his abilities are unfathomable. His willingness to reveal immortal arts and teach mortals is a blessing. Brother Li, you're sharp—perhaps your spiritual root is superior, a true cultivation talent.'

Yuan Xiong: 'Brother Li, don't miss this chance.'

Li Rui smiled: 'You two brothers stop flattering me—I'm no great talent.'

He was an Anwei.

He'd learned much.

As far as he knew, Daoist Qing Ding had descended to earth over a hundred years ago, hiding his identity all along.

Later, Gu Changsheng had persuaded him out of seclusion.

He played a major role in the Purple Gold Palace battle, which is why His Majesty and the Wu State Lord agreed to let him establish a sect in the Ten Thousand Mountains.

This sect was no ordinary martial sect.

It was a true immortal sect.

Its disciples would learn various immortal techniques.

Li Rui had cultivated the Five Spirit Body Refining Scripture—he knew that even below a top-tier spiritual root, one could cultivate immortal arts in a place rich with spiritual energy.

He guessed Daoist Qing Ding would set up a spiritual energy-enriching array.

At most, it wouldn't be as cruel as the Duotiandazhen.

In the days that followed,

Li Rui's luck remained good.

He kept running into Wu De, learning more about the cultivation world from him.

He even compiled it into a booklet.

'Stop, stop, Zhu Dao friend—I really can't chat today.'

Wu De spotted Li Rui.

He immediately waved him off.

Entering the Grand Void Dao Field was no easy task for him—he'd previously feared Li Rui's background, but no matter how much he feared it, he couldn't forget his duty.

The Grand Void Dao Field held many secrets.

'Wu Dao friend, I'm no flood or beast—why fear me so?'

Li Rui smiled faintly.

This was the Grand Void Dream—should Wu De kill him, it would merely be a bad night's sleep.

He naturally sought every way to gain more information.

Wu De kept shaking his head:

'Zhu Dao friend, time is short—let's hurry up the White Jade Steps.'

Li Rui raised an eyebrow:

'Wu Dao friend, do you know what lies atop the White Jade Steps?'

Wu De blinked: 'The Grand Void Dao Field is said to be where the Lord of the Immortal Court awakened and taught his doctrines. Its treasures are countless—but to obtain them, one must cross the White Jade Steps.'

'Rumors say, even the legacies of the Immortal Court's immortals remain here.'

Li Rui regarded Wu De with a half-smile: 'Wu Dao friend, telling me all this—aren't you afraid I'll snatch your opportunity?'

Wu De merely chuckled:

'Treasures of the world belong to those with destiny.'

'Zhu Dao friend, countless others have entered the Grand Void Dao Field over millennia—but most left empty-handed.'

'Do you know why?'

Li Rui: 'Why?'

"No fate, that's all."

Wu De spread his hands and said, "The White Jade Steps allow only ten attempts. If you fail to reach the summit after ten tries, you'll be rejected by the Grand Void Dao Field and never allowed entry again. Each attempt must be made with great caution."

Li Rui slightly raised his eyebrows.

'Ten times.'

He murmured silently to himself.

But according to Wu De, he had already exceeded ten attempts—he should no longer be allowed to enter.

Yet he could still enter the Grand Void Dao Field.

Li Rui's pupils contracted slightly.

There were two possibilities.

One: Wu De was lying, deliberately deceiving him.

Two: Great Dream Immortal Travel allowed him to ignore this rule.

Li Rui favored the latter.

Thinking of this, his heart began to thump hard.

Countless chances to try and fail meant his probability of obtaining the treasures within the Grand Void Dao Field was many times greater than that of other cultivators.

A great opportunity!

Li Rui forcibly suppressed his excitement.

He silently resolved that this secret must never reach Wu De's ears.

After speaking, Wu De no longer looked at Li Rui.

He began to focus intently on the matter of ascending the White Jade Steps.

He had already attempted it twice.

His remaining chances were few.

Who was Wu De? He had never entered a treasure trove and left empty-handed.

Li Rui watched from the side.

He waited until Wu De vanished, then sat cross-legged and began cultivating the Five Spirit Body Refinement Scripture and the Divine Dao Scripture.

He was already looking forward to meeting Wu De again next time.

That day.

Morning.

Li Rui awoke in his room, and a commotion came from outside.

As if he already knew what had happened.

He slowly sat up on the bed.

Then, under the maid's assistance, he dressed—though today he wore a fitted short tunic.

After eating breakfast carefully and sighing that meat porridge was still the best,

he stepped outside.

Before the central platform of Annan Garrison Camp, a crowd had already gathered.

Most of these people were not soldiers of Annan Garrison.

They were candidates here for the selection.

Indeed, today was the day for selecting officials to be stationed at the Qingwei Sect.

The powerful ones who had come from all corners of the land had arrived in Qinghe long ago.

Not many.

Just over thirty. This was, of course, the result of the imperial court's meticulous screening—but so many desired this position that even after filtering, over thirty remained.

Li Rui was one of them.

He was the candidate nominated by Annan Garrison.

The others were either elite generals from the other thirty-two garrisons, or court ministers skilled in martial arts, or core senior disciples of major clans or sects.

In short, none were weak.

Li Rui stood silently at the edge of the crowd, utterly unremarkable.

After waiting about half an hour,

he saw Provincial Military Commander Zhou Dinghai appear, accompanied by Xue Gui, Nie Siming, and Yuan Xiong.

Yes.

This selection was under Zhou Dinghai's charge.

But if Li Rui thought Zhou Dinghai would favor him, a mere Annan Garrison official, he was dreaming.

!

Who here didn't have connections?

They had all long since secured their ties with Zhou Dinghai.

Of course,

too many eyes were watching; even Zhou Dinghai wouldn't be too blatant in favoritism—at least not too obvious.

Zhou Dinghai ascended the platform.

He smiled warmly at the crowd below.

"All of you are the celestial talents of Great Yu. By His Majesty's decree, you are here to be selected for stationing at the Qingwei Sect."

He spoke at length.

Mostly urging everyone to strive hard and serve the nation.

When he finished,

he raised his voice and declared: "The selection begins!"

No sooner had the words left his lips

than two burly men carried forward a massive, translucent purple jade stone, taller than a man.

When Li Rui saw the purple jade,

his expression shifted slightly, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

'Spirit-Testing Jade?'

He hadn't expected Zhou Dinghai to bring out the Spirit-Testing Jade.

But then he calmed.

After all, he was going to an immortal sect—in the tales, the first step to joining an immortal sect was always testing one's spiritual roots; those with inferior roots were rejected outright.

Countless ancient demons and immortal sovereigns had failed at this very step.

Seeing the Spirit-Testing Jade appear, everyone's expressions varied.

At that moment,

Xue Gui, Nie Siming, and Yuan Xiong descended the platform and approached the Spirit-Testing Jade.

"Step forward in turn and let a drop of fingertip blood fall upon this jade."

With that,

the first man stepped forward immediately.

An old man.

Li Rui recognized him—he was an elder of a major sect, with formidable peak Pre-Nascent Soul cultivation.

He had come specifically for this selection.

Immortal cultivation held a fatal allure for dying old monsters.

The old man swiftly squeezed out a drop of fingertip blood and let it fall upon the Spirit-Testing Jade.

Instantly—

Golden light blazed forth.

When the light faded, a faint white mark appeared on the jade.

Nie Siming glanced and announced: "Low-grade. Eliminated!"

"This—"

The old man, taken aback by "low-grade," opened his mouth to protest—but under Nie Siming's murderous gaze, he reluctantly stepped back.

He had come to Qinghe with grand ambitions, only to be eliminated at the first step.

How could he accept it?

But what could he do, even if he resented it?

The old man looked desolate.

Seeing the old man's fate, the others grew solemn.

A full incense stick passed.

Then a young man stepped forward.

Like the old man before him, he let a drop of fingertip blood fall upon the Spirit-Testing Jade—the familiar golden light reappeared.

This time, two white marks.

Nie Siming's voice rang out again: "Mid-grade. Passed!"

Hearing "passed," the young man's eyes lit up with excitement, and he was the first to ascend the platform.

With the first person having passed,

The thoughts of the crowd below stirred once more.

Soon.

Dozens tried.

The pass rate was barely three in ten—pathetically low.

Li Rui observed all of this.

Three in ten.

Actually, that wasn't low at all; spiritual roots were already one in a hundred, and above-middle-grade roots were exceedingly rare in this age.

These people had been carefully selected, which is why the pass rate reached as high as three in ten.

Otherwise, it would've been lower.

Li Rui did not wait until the end; he stepped forward at a mid-point opportunity.

He gave a slight nod to Nie Siming and the other two.

Then he forced out a drop of blood from his fingertip.

"Middle-grade. Passed!"

Nie Siming announced the result with a smile.

Li Rui passed the first test without surprise.

As an upper-grade spiritual root, passing the Spirit-Testing Stone was no issue at all.

Moreover, having cultivated immortal arts, he could control the spiritual energy concentration in his blood.

An upper-grade spiritual root would be too conspicuous.

Middle-grade was just right.

After all, he was going to Qingwei Sect as an Elder—his resources would far exceed those of ordinary outer disciples; slightly inferior Zizhi didn't matter.

As long as it didn't hinder his cultivation.

Soon.

Everyone below the stage had been tested.

Of the thirty-plus participants, only eleven passed—the pass rate held steady at three in ten.

The remaining twenty-odd, though reluctant, could only retreat in silence.

Li Rui watched all this with indifference.

The path of cultivation was inherently cruel.

Elimination was common; testing spiritual roots was merely the first step—much harder trials lay ahead.

Zhou Dinghai regarded the eleven before him with approval.

The imperial court intended to cultivate immortal talents; even if these individuals failed to enter Qingwei Sect as Elders, they would still be heavily nurtured by the court.

"Good."

After the Spirit-Testing Stone.

The second trial began.

This selection sought immortal talent; a martial contest would be too mundane.

It was said there were three trials altogether, set by Gu Changsheng.

Two strong men had just carried away the Spirit-Testing Stone.

Then two more brought forth a massive black iron block, as large as a small hill.

As the crowd puzzled over it—

Zhou Dinghai spoke again: "Gentlemen, for this trial, you must lift the iron block without touching it. That alone is sufficient to pass."

Lifting an object from afar?

All eleven were taken aback.

Those who had come to this examination were all primordial martial artists—top-tier among primordial masters.

Their internal martial arts were naturally strong; their true qi was exceptionally robust.

Not even this small hill of iron—

Twice its size could be lifted effortlessly.

An older man stepped forward first.

"I'll try!"

Saying this, he raised both hands, channeling his potent true qi into a massive crimson hand, aiming to lift the iron mountain.

A shocking sight occurred.

The moment his true qi touched the iron, it instantly dissipated.

No one had anticipated this.

"This—"

Many widened their eyes, utterly baffled.

Zhou Dinghai spoke slowly: "This iron is called Spirit-Consuming Iron. True qi dissipates upon contact."

"True qi won't work."

The crowd exchanged glances.

Each saw shock in the others' eyes.

If not true qi, then what?

No one had an answer.

Li Rui narrowed his eyes slightly; he had already guessed Gu Changsheng's purpose in bringing this Spirit-Consuming Iron.

The greatest difference between cultivation and martial arts lies in the use of spiritual energy.

To lift the Spirit-Consuming Iron, one must use spiritual energy.

But—

Only those with top-three-grade spiritual roots can perceive spiritual energy.

Those who had already broken through to the Tongxuan realm would never appear here.

A dead end!

The crowd looked at each other, convinced no one could accomplish this.

Afterwards,

Several others stepped forward to try—but like the older man before them, their true qi collapsed the moment it neared the Spirit-Consuming Iron, yielding not a single ounce of force.

One man couldn't help asking: "Lord Zhou, if none of us can lift it, how shall we judge?"

Zhou Dinghai on the stage narrowed his eyes slightly.

This outcome was exactly what he had expected.

He had asked the envoy sent by Gu Changsheng.

According to that envoy's words: "Replace them."

He was deeply frustrated.

If no one passed the first trial, the court would lose face.

But since Gu Changsheng had specifically instructed this, he dared not say more.

Just as everyone believed the examination would end in failure—

A voice slowly rose:

"I'll give it a try."

(End of Chapter)