Chapter 395: The First Manifestation of the Dao Embryo [Monthly Ticket Bonus: Additional Chapter, Combined Update; Requesting Monthly

"Lord Li, this mountain peak shall be your cultivation cave."

The old Daoist Zi Yang Dao Ren led Li Rui and his party to a picturesque little mountain.

Li Rui's party walked along a newly cleared path paved with blue stone slabs.

They had arrived at Qingwei Sect.

Zi Yang Dao Ren had brought them here.

Qingwei Sect occupied a vast area.

It spanned over a dozen mountain peaks.

Standing atop the small peak, one could clearly see the endless range of mountains and the palaces built with white jade bricks, evoking the very image of an immortal palace.

The small peak where Yu State stationed its personnel, though modest in size, had one exceptional advantage.

That was its proximity to the main peak.

This point was crucial.

Grand True Person Qing Ding had already laid down a great array; the spiritual energy density within Qingwei Sect far surpassed that of any other region in the Ten Thousand Mountains, peaking at the main peak and thinning the farther one moved outward.

Thus, a clear distinction between inner and outer zones had been established.

The mountain peak where Li Rui was stationed was the innermost position.

This was precisely why so many sought to station themselves within Qingwei Sect.

The importance of location was self-evident.

Consider that newly admitted laborer disciples of Qingwei Sect could only reside twenty li away from the main peak, where spiritual energy was pitifully scarce.

In comparison, Li Rui's treatment was far superior.

Soon.

Under Zi Yang Dao Ren's guidance, Li Rui saw a serene and elegant residence.

Though not luxurious, it carried an air of transcendence.

Surrounded by a sea of bamboo, it refreshed the senses.

Zi Yang Dao Ren: "Lord Li, this is your residence. All matters of the sect have been written in this small booklet. You are honored guests, yet please abide by our sect's rules."

"Naturally."

Li Rui nodded with a smile.

After speaking, Zi Yang Dao Ren turned and descended the mountain.

He had no intention of staying longer.

It made sense—Yu State's stationing here was nominally for communication, but in truth, for surveillance.

It would be strange if Qingwei Sect's people were pleased.

Li Rui did not mind.

Likewise, he was sent by Yu State, paid by the imperial court, backed by His Majesty—the ways of Qingwei Sect mattered little.

He merely needed to maintain proper boundaries.

His true goal was to raise his cultivation as much as possible.

That was why Li Rui had come here.

Xue Gui had once privately warned him not to forget his identity as a Yu State official.

Li Rui was now an open spy.

A spy must have a spy's awareness—no spy who defected ever met a good end.

He would never do anything so foolish.

He came to Qingwei Sect to obtain scarce resources for cultivation, not to throw himself away.

Li Rui was fully aware of this.

Ning Zhongtian stared at the spotless room and muttered, "The immortals' dwellings sure are clean."

Tan Hu, Ge Hong, and the others also looked excited.

Soon.

Their rooms were assigned.

Stationing at Qingwei Sect required no real duties—or rather, the court's sole purpose was deterrence.

As long as Li Rui remained within Qingwei Sect, that was sufficient.

It was a leisurely post.

Li Rui's room was in the center, the second largest.

Though not as grand as the Deputy Commander's residence, the two-courtyard compound was more than enough for him and Liu Tiezhu.

The largest room, of course, was reserved for other uses.

Liu Tiezhu placed his many bags and bundles down.

Then he efficiently made the beds.

He arranged all the belongings.

Li Rui picked up the small booklet on the wooden table inside the room and read it carefully.

"Interesting."

A faint smile curled his lips.

The booklet detailed everything: Qingwei Sect had seventeen peaks and twenty-three halls, with thorough descriptions of each hall's functions and the duties of outer and inner disciples.

Of course.

None of this concerned Li Rui.

He only needed to pay attention to one thing.

Namely, where he must not go.

There was indeed such a place: the forbidden zone behind the main peak.

No one except Grand True Person Qing Ding could set foot there.

Soon.

Li Rui became captivated by the Six Arts of Immortal Cultivation described in the booklet.

The ultimate goal of cultivators was, of course, to attain immortality and live as long as heaven and earth.

But this process was exceedingly long.

It demanded vast resources and inevitably involved conflict with others.

Thus arose the Six Arts of Immortal Cultivation.

The Six Arts were: alchemy, artifact crafting, talisman writing, array formation, beast taming, and spirit plant cultivation.

Yu State had its own corresponding sects.

But compared to true immortal sect techniques, they were worlds apart.

Though martial artists possessed great combat power, in terms of diverse methods, they fell far short of cultivators, and thus were often regarded by them as crude, brutish fools.

Li Rui gazed at the text, his heart stirred.

'I must find a way to obtain and try these.'

Three days later.

At the auspicious hour, Qingwei Sect's founding ceremony began.

Grand True Person Qing Ding led his seven disciples in prayers and offerings to the Three Pure Ones.

The next day.

Qingwei Sect's immortal selection trials began.

Aspiring cultivators from across the land nearly filled one entire mountain peak.

It was bustling with activity.

Li Rui, as Yu State's envoy, attended the ceremony.

The trials consisted of three stages.

First: Spirit Verification.

Second: Illusion Realm.

Third: Trial Ground.

From those who passed all three, the best hundred were chosen as outer disciples.

As for those who failed.

They could either leave or stay as laborer disciples.

If they performed exceptionally well, they might earn promotion to outer disciple status—though they would inevitably be exploited by Qingwei Sect for many years.

Compared to others.

Li Rui paid special attention to those unremarkable yet calm and composed candidates who failed.

If any of them bore the surname Han, he would have taken them as disciples without hesitation.

One must cultivate goodwill.

Alas, his wish went unfulfilled.

The trials lasted three days.

As an observer, Li Rui was relaxed, but the candidates were anything but calm.

In the end.

One hundred succeeded in joining Qingwei Sect.

What surprised Li Rui was that there were a thousand laborer disciples.

After being suppressed for ten thousand years, the dream of cultivation exploded with unimaginable force.

Among them were even fifth-rank martial artists who volunteered to become laborer disciples.

It left Li Rui both amused and exasperated.

The following days became much more ordinary.

Qingwei Sect had become very lively.

But all of this had little to do with Li Rui.

One day.

At the front of the Transmission Hall on Shenhua Peak.

Chunxu Zi sat cross-legged on the high platform, while a hundred outer disciples eagerly awaited his words.

Chunxu Zi spoke loudly:

"The immortal is the Dao. To cultivate immortality, one must first cultivate truth—this truth is the unity of life and nature, with the spirit radiant yet inwardly contained, only then can spiritual energy be drawn into the body."

Chunxu Zi was a top disciple of Qingding True Person.

He himself was a top-tier third-rank master.

Only because Qingwei Sect had just been founded could one witness him personally teaching the Dao.

Li Rui listened with Ning Zhongtian and others at the very edge of the crowd; not far away, he could see the Wu Kingdom's stationed officials.

He listened very carefully.

He pondered silently in his heart.

'So this is the Minor Primordial State.'

Compared to martial arts, the way cultivators enter the Primordial State is far simpler and more direct: elixirs plus direct transmission.

Of course, one's body cannot be too weak.

At the very least, one must be at eighth rank.

After that comes fetal breathing, Qi Refining, Qi Condensation, and so on.

After listening to teachings for many days, Li Rui gradually gained insight—no wonder Yuan Dingting said all paths converge; the key lies in the person.

The merging of the two paths begins at the Miao Xuan Realm.

This corresponds precisely to the Tong Xuan Realm.

Only from the Miao Xuan Realm can one be called a True Person.

All follow the path of using spiritual energy to resonate with heaven and earth; the difference lies only in the methods—some prefer weapons, others prefer magic treasures.

Who is stronger?

Before Tong Xuan, cultivators hold great advantage, but once reaching the top three ranks,

the difference is negligible.

If one could crush the other, would Chunxu Zi treat Nie Siming with such courtesy?

In the end, strength is the true foundation.

Because Qingwei Sect was established within the territories of Yu and Wu, it adapted to local customs, renaming the realms above Miao Xuan as Tong Xuan and Tian Xiang.

Every day, Li Rui came to the lectures.

He often gained new insights.

He loudly declared that joining Qingwei Sect was truly worth it.

He listened to the Dao by day and trained at the Grand Void Dojo by night—Li Rui's days were wonderfully joyful.

His cultivation progress advanced by leaps and bounds.

Most worthy of pride was

the stone embryo atop his dantian, which had shed a fragment of its outer crust.

This change was no small matter.

It meant Li Rui was very likely about to enter the Dao Embryo Realm.

Through the exposed corner of the shed crust, he could faintly glimpse the tender skin within.

Li Rui felt a quiet anticipation.

The day when the stone crust fully fell away, and the Dao Embryo emerged—Changqing Peak, courtyard.

"Lord Li, your Changqing Peak must have richer spiritual energy—why are even the spirit bamboos growing better than those on my Mandala Peak?"

A middle-aged man laughed heartily.

Li Rui sipped his tea:

"Master Sang, growing bamboo requires sincerity of heart."

"Sincerity of heart?"

"Mm."

Li Rui looked utterly earnest.

Qingwei Sect had assigned him this small peak, so he named it Changqing Peak.

The most praised feature of Changqing Peak was the exceptionally vigorous growth of its bamboo.

Everyone said the fengshui here was excellent and the spiritual energy abundant.

!

Only Li Rui knew these bamboos had grown so well because they had consumed his cultivation's Xuan Qi.

The man before him was Sang Kong.

Like him, he was an official dispatched by the Wu Kingdom to Qingwei Sect.

With similar circumstances and Li Rui's great reputation in Wu, they had gradually become tea companions.

Sang Kong snorted.

"Who doesn't know your boss Gu is close friends with True Person Qingding? It's clearly favoritism."

Though envious, he did not harbor jealousy.

Li Rui did not refute him.

Because it was true.

Sang Kong drained his cup, then said: "Lord Li, warn your subordinates to be careful—the Shiwan Mountains are becoming unstable."

"Oh?"

"What happened?"

Li Rui raised an eyebrow slightly.

Sang Kong: "A few days ago, Qingwei Sect lost two outer disciples who went out on missions. Investigation revealed they were killed by remnants of Zijin Palace."

"Zijin Palace?"

"Mm."

Sang Kong nodded: "You know Zijin Palace still has many survivors—Blood Shadow Ancestor and two great demons from the palace still lurk in Shiwan Mountains."

"Yu Kingdom is the main force; Zijin Palace knows you're stationed in Shiwan Mountains—they'll surely seek revenge."

Li Rui nodded: "Thank you for the warning, Master Sang."

Shiwan Mountains were vast.

It was far too easy for a few people or demons to hide—impossible to find.

The enemy was hidden; we were exposed.

All one could do was be more cautious.

Sang Kong suddenly chuckled: "Lord Li, if you're ever in danger, come find me—I've been working hard and am about to break through."

Li Rui understood.

Sang Kong's "breakthrough" wasn't a minor milestone—it meant stepping directly into Tong Xuan.

Becoming a top three-rank Grand Master.

Qingwei Sect's agreement with Wu Kingdom was the same as with Yu Kingdom:

Only martial artists below Tong Xuan could be sent.

But rules were rules—there was always room for flexibility.

When Sang Kong came to Qingwei Sect, he was indeed a Primordial State cultivator—but he had already broken through the Liang Shen barrier, and then happened to break through.

Yes, pure coincidence.

If they replaced him, Wu Kingdom would have to select a new official, which would take time.

That time could be long or short.

It was common to spend seven or eight years selecting one person.

So during this period, Qingwei Sect would have to bear with it.

Qingwei Sect could only pretend not to notice.

Even as an immortal sect, Yu and Wu Kingdoms' foundations could not be underestimated—otherwise, the fallen Zijin Palace was the best example.

This was also the practice of Grand Secretary Zhang's theory on water management.

Better to divert than to block—but one must also make an example of someone.

Li Rui: "Congratulations, congratulations."

Sang Kong grinned triumphantly.

If it were anyone else, he wouldn't have said a word.

No Yu official would ever be allowed to get this close.

Li Rui was an exception.

Who else but Li Rui, who enjoyed close ties with the Grand Shaman and the Third Princess, knew he possessed a Black Dragon Token?

Only the people of Wu could truly understand the value of the Black Dragon Token.

And rumors had spread—no one knew from where—that Li Rui had once soaked his feet alongside the Grand Shaman.

Goodness.

Such a connection was certainly worth cultivating.

Qingwei Sect couldn't station here forever; they'd eventually rotate back. Who knew? Maybe through Li Rui, he could forge a bond with the Grand Shaman, that colossal power—how could he not pay close attention?

The two conversed with great delight.

It lasted until evening.

Sang Kong finally departed, reluctant to leave.

Li Rui rose with a smile and returned to his room.

He began cultivation again.

Beyond Qingwei Sect, at the edge of a vast mountain range.

A crimson-red toad, its body a full zhang tall, lay sprawled on the ground, looking utterly at ease.

At that moment,

an old man in black robes approached.

The Crimson Red Toad slowly opened its eyes and spoke in human voice: "Xue Ying, so you're still alive."

Xue Ying Laozu gazed at Tian Niu Zhu Ha, once one of the Three Pillars of Zi Jin Palace, and said coldly: "Have you forgotten the Immortal Sovereign's grace?"

Tian Niu Zhu Ha squinted.

Grace?

He'd been forced into Zi Jin Palace, wasn't he?

If Si Feng hadn't been absurdly powerful, he'd have fled long ago.

Isn't basking in the sun comfortable enough?

Why get dragged into human conflicts?

Of course, Tian Niu Zhu Ha wouldn't voice his true thoughts. He chuckled: "The Immortal Sovereign's been captured. So what do you suggest we do?"

Xue Ying Laozu snorted: "Of course, we rescue the Immortal Sovereign."

Upon hearing this,

Tian Niu Zhu Ha nearly cursed aloud.

Did Si Feng surrender voluntarily?

He was taken by force!

Even Si Feng couldn't stand against them—what chance did he and Xue Ying Laozu have together?

So he chose to remain silent.

Xue Ying Laozu took a deep breath; he saw that the Tian Niu Zhu Ha before him was far from eager.

But now he desperately needed allies.

He said coldly: "There's something I need inside Qingwei Sect. Send some minor demons to watch a man named Li Rui. If any Qingwei disciple leaves the sect, kill them if you can."

"Make Qingwei Sect pay in blood for their blood debts."

True.

He had followed Li Rui all the way to the Ten Thousand Mountains.

He was determined to obtain the Thousand Souls Banner.

Yet he also knew this couldn't be rushed—it required careful planning.

Tian Niu Zhu Ha grunted twice: "Understood."

Hearing Tian Niu Zhu Ha agree,

Xue Ying Laozu's expression softened slightly.

He had spent the whole day gathering considerable strength; besides the Tian Niu Zhu Ha before him, the third pillar, the Three-Eyed Ghost Elephant, had already moved.

Could he not defeat Qing Ding True Person? Could he not target his disciples and apprentices?

Having finished all arrangements,

Xue Ying Laozu turned and left, vanishing into the dense, layered forests of the Ten Thousand Mountains.

Watching Xue Ying Laozu depart,

a minor demon stepped forward, timidly addressing Tian Niu Zhu Ha: "Your Majesty, are we really going?"

Tian Niu Zhu Ha lazily rolled over:

"No reward, no risk. Why risk my life?"

The minor demon blinked: "Your Majesty, then what should we do?"

Tian Niu Zhu Ha flipped entirely onto his back, belly exposed to the sun, speaking with feigned timidity: "What else? Send a few demons to loiter near Qingwei Sect—just avoid fighting if you can."

The great demon instantly bowed in awe before Tian Niu Zhu Ha.

"Your Majesty is wise!"

After dismissing the minor demon,

Tian Niu Zhu Ha's face beamed with pride: "Among the Three Pillars, I'm the smartest. That old elephant is a fool."

Qingwei Sect, Yunxiao Peak.

In a vast hall, heads swarmed.

Besides outer disciples, many miscellaneous disciples were present.

This was Qingwei Sect's Transmission Hall.

In simple terms, it was where Qingwei disciples obtained immortal techniques.

Whether outer disciple or miscellaneous disciple, the only way to acquire a technique was by exchanging merit.

Qingwei Sect also had another hall, called Merit Hall.

Both outer and miscellaneous disciples could take tasks there; completing them earned merit.

Merit could be exchanged for immortal techniques, elixirs, talismans, and more.

Tasks at Merit Hall included tending to spirit plants and demons for the sect's Elders, as well as rewards offered by Yu and Wu nations.

Li Rui walked among the crowd.

Judging by his age, many cast curious glances his way.

He was long accustomed to it.

Fortunately, elderly men who joined Qingwei Sect weren't unheard of—several were even miscellaneous disciples—so it didn't cause much stir.

Though a Yu official stationed here, he rarely showed his face.

Thus, few knew his true identity.

Li Rui found a young disciple.

"Young friend, I wish to sell an immortal technique. May I ask—"

Before he finished speaking,

the young disciple impatiently pointed to a wall:

"It's all clearly written up there. Say what you want. Have merit? Buy it. No merit? Get lost."

With that, he said

he hurried off, bustling through the hall.

Li Rui paid no mind to the youth's brusque manner.

Normal. Who wouldn't go mad after eight straight hours on duty?

Everyone went through this in their youth.

He raised his head, gazing at the ten-zhang-tall wall, covered densely with tiny script.

It listed countless techniques, each with its required merit.

Without merit, one could exchange elixirs, talismans, and other items at the Elixir Hall or Talisman Hall for merit.

Li Rui studied it for a long time.

Most of these techniques were mere martial arts—immortal cultivation required martial training too. Many miscellaneous disciples had low realms and needed to first elevate their martial cultivation before stepping onto the immortal path.

At the top were the techniques.

Talismans, arrays, artifact forging, immortal incantations—all were there.

Li Rui squinted for a long while.

Finally, he chose one: "Complete Guide to Talismans."

(End of Chapter)