Chapter 405: The Eternal Greening Art [Monthly Ticket Bonus, Requesting Monthly Tickets, Part 2]

The Eternal Greening Art!

Li Rui stared at the five characters on the panel, his pupils contracting slightly.

Just from the name alone, you could tell.

Solid.

Then he turned his gaze to the Ascended Master Reincarnation.

His lips twitched slightly.

This system really knows how to play fancy.

Only because he was certain he wasn't any Ascended Master reincarnated—otherwise he might actually have been fooled.

But since the system said so, it only further highlighted the extraordinary nature of the Eternal Greening Art.

The next instant.

A flood of unfamiliar information surged into his mind.

The essence of the Eternal Greening Art manifested as rows of tiny golden characters floating in his mind—obscure and difficult to comprehend, totaling thousands of characters.

At this moment.

Li Rui's spirit was fully immersed in it; the sound of the doctrinal debates gradually faded from his ears.

The more he read, the more delighted he became.

'The Eternal Greening Art is calm and balanced; though not suited for combat, it grants longevity and health.'

Note.

This 'longevity and health' is vastly different from the mundane kind.

As everyone knows, martial cultivators live at most five hundred years.

Five hundred years is the absolute limit of lifespan.

Even in the cultivation world, though lifespans are longer, most barely reach a thousand years.

But if one cultivates the Eternal Greening Art, one can break through this limit.

It greatly raises the upper bound of lifespan.

Just this one point makes it a supreme immortal art to Li Rui!

He seeks immortality.

Not invincibility.

Living longer is what matters most—and from this perspective, the Eternal Greening Art was tailor-made for his heart.

How could he not be delighted?

Put it this way:

A typical Profound Realm cultivator lives for five jiazi; but if he cultivates the Eternal Greening Art, his lifespan can reach a staggering six jiazi.

That's sixty years extra.

And the deeper his cultivation, the greater the lifespan increase.

If he reaches the First Rank, living a thousand years won't be a problem.

A true ancient monster!

At this moment—

Another line of small characters appeared.

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'Big brother, what are you laughing at?'

Ning Zhongtian blinked, watching Li Rui grin like an idiot.

Li Rui finally pulled his gaze away: 'I broke through. Big brother's happy.'

Speaking of breaking through—

Ning Zhongtian and the other three instantly grew excited.

They lowered their voices: 'Big brother, when exactly did you break through?'

Li Rui smiled faintly: 'These past few days, listening to the State Preceptor and True Master Qingding expound the Dao, I gained insight. When I returned at night to cultivate, I just naturally broke through.'

Envy!

The envy in Ning Zhongtian's four eyes was about to overflow.

That's Upper Three Ranks.

Li Rui has already shattered the Soul Refining barrier; within no more than a few years, he'll enter the Upper Three Ranks. In the martial world, calling him a terrestrial immortal is no exaggeration.

He'll surely make the next World Martial Ranking.

They never dared dream of such a thing.

Li Rui's expression remained calm, a warm smile on his lips.

He didn't say that he had already broken through long ago—and had already entered the legendary Dao Embryo realm.

A minor interlude passed.

The Great Luo Heaven Ritual continued as usual.

At first, only disciples from immortal sects took the stage; gradually, the speakers became elders from major immortal sects.

Each one was extraordinarily powerful.

Under the brilliance of these experts, Li Rui's breakthrough became less conspicuous.

Even so,

Li Rui still chose to leave the Great Luo Heaven Ritual and return to Changqing Peak to close himself off in solitude, no longer showing himself.

He had already forged the Dao Embryo; he would soon enter the Profound Realm.

He truly needed more time in seclusion to absorb spiritual energy.

Staying hidden in his room brought peace, and he could also study the newly acquired Eternal Greening Art.

Days passed in quiet ease.

Outside, the Great Luo Heaven Ritual raged with excitement, sharply contrasting the stillness of his room.

Yet Li Rui felt not the slightest stir.

In the blink of an eye, the Great Luo Heaven Ritual neared its end.

The doctrinal debates were over.

It was said the final victor, who bested countless Daoists with his eloquence, was an elder from the Nanhua Sect.

The disciples were merely there for the spectacle; the real key players were the elders of the major immortal sects.

In the end, True Master Qingding helped that man with an initiation.

This sight made countless onlookers envious.

'Big brother, you didn't see it—if I'd received initiation from True Master Qingding, I might already be Primordial now!'

Ning Zhongtian and the other three clustered around Li Rui.

Talking animatedly.

They had been there in person, watching clearly.

Initiation meant a great cultivator summoned spiritual energy and forcibly poured it into the recipient's body—saving at least a decade of arduous practice.

Who wouldn't be envious?

Li Rui had spent these past days locked in his courtyard on Changqing Peak and hadn't been present.

That's why Ning Zhongtian and the others specifically told him about it.

'Brother Li, I've gained some insight this time. Maybe I'll break through in a few days.'

Out of nowhere, these words.

All eyes turned to Ge Hong.

Well, well!

Since arriving at Qingwei Sect, Ge Hong had seemed like a different person—his progress in immortal arts was the fastest among the four.

Now he was about to break through.

Especially Wei Ming, who grew anxious watching.

Ge Hong advanced so quickly, yet Wei Ming couldn't even master the basics.

He might yet enter the inner sanctum and even achieve the True Person of Mysterious Profundity in ten years.

It wasn't that he was narrow-minded—everyone in such a situation would feel disheartened.

Originally, he had been the first among the four to become a Platoon Leader.

Ning Zhongtian, Tan Hu, and Ge Hong were all under his command.

Now look at this:

Ning Zhongtian had become an Assistant Regional Commander, Ge Hong was showing promise in cultivation, while he remained a Platoon Leader.

He had hoped to use immortal cultivation to defy fate—but fate had slapped him hard again.

Li Rui glanced at Wei Ming.

He sighed inwardly.

Sometimes, one's fate isn't determined by effort alone.

He spoke: 'Brother Wei, if you have nothing else to do, come sit with me more often. I've recently gained some insights that might help you.'

Wei Ming heard this.

His dejected expression eased slightly.

He forced a faint smile: "Thank you, Brother Li."

Li Rui patted Wei Ming on the shoulder.

Do what little you can.

Otherwise, Wei Ming may no longer be considered a brother by them.

The reason they still call each other brothers is ultimately because of Li Rui—but if Wei Ming falls too far behind, even if others don't mind, he himself will quietly withdraw.

In the end, relationships between people hinge on strength.

The Luotian Grand Ceremony had ended, but the guests had not yet departed.

According to the ceremony's rites, these guests could tour and visit friends within Qingwei Sect for seven days before leaving.

This group included the Yu Kingdom's State Preceptor and his entourage.

That day.

Li Rui was sitting in meditation in his room.

He heard a knock at the door.

When he stepped out of the room,

Liu Tiezhu had already opened the courtyard gate, where a young Daoist stood outside.

The young Daoist bowed respectfully to Li Rui: "Excuse me, are you Lord Li?"

Li Rui was startled.

He had never seen this young Daoist before, yet he nodded: "I'm not the young Daoist—what do you want?"

The young Daoist said: "Lord Li, my senior brother wishes to invite you for a chat."

Before Li Rui could respond,

Liu Tiezhu frowned: "Who's your senior brother? Does he expect my master to go to him? That's extremely rude!"

The young Daoist looked embarrassed.

He knew it was improper.

But remembering his senior brother's threats and promises, he still forced himself to say: "My senior brother… he says his name is Song Ming."

Two quarters of an hour later,

Li Rui arrived beside a clear, picturesque lake at the outermost edge of Qingwei Sect.

This was a favorite spot for many of Qingwei Sect's laborer disciples to relax.

A few figures could be seen here and there.

In one corner,

a tall, thin Daoist stood silently, gazing at Li Rui with a faint, ambiguous smile.

Li Rui walked up to the tall, thin Daoist without expression:

"Who are you?"

He asked this.

Because this tall, thin Daoist had clearly been killed before his eyes by that giant toad—reduced to nothing—and now stood alive before him.

"Song Ming" smiled faintly: "You're clever, little one. You hid well that night."

Li Rui narrowed his eyes slightly.

Tian Niu Zhu Ha!

He understood.

This "Song Ming" was likely a projection created by Tian Niu Zhu Ha through some method.

Li Rui felt no fear.

This was still within Qingwei Sect's territory—if Tian Niu Zhu Ha revealed itself, it would surely be suppressed by the grand array.

That was why he dared to come.

Song Ming was dead.

His immortal sect would know, and this young Daoist had come to him, establishing contact.

If mishandled, he himself would be implicated.

So he came.

He couldn't hide—and now, he was no different from Tongxuan. Solving the problem was the only way forward.

Tian Niu Zhu Ha chuckled: "Friend, don't panic. I'm here to offer you a great favor."

"A favor?"

Li Rui raised an eyebrow.

This Tian Niu Zhu Ha was interesting.

He smiled slightly: "Go on."

Tian Niu Zhu Ha: "I wish to surrender."

"I heard you're close with that Gu fellow. Help me make some connections—give me a title as Mountain God or River God, anything, just not as a mount."

Then it added:

"It must be decreed by your Holy Emperor!"

When it killed Song Ming in the mountains,

it had already sensed Li Rui watching from the shadows.

And because Xueying Laozu had gone mad searching for Li Rui, it knew his face and identity.

But unlike other Zijin Palace humans or demons,

it had no intention of capturing Li Rui for a reward.

What was Xueying Laozu?

Did he dare command this frog?

If Zijin Palace was no longer safe, it would find another place to stay.

This place won't keep me? There are other places that will.

It knew that if the human Holy Emperor issued a decree, it would never be treated as a mount—and could live in comfort.

Surrender?

Li Rui hadn't expected that the "favor" Tian Niu Zhu Ha offered was itself.

Tian Niu Zhu Ha grinned.

"Well?"

But the moment its grin formed, it saw Li Rui turning away without even glancing back.

It panicked.

"Hey, hey!"

"Don't go!"

Tian Niu Zhu Ha didn't want to go back to being hunted every day.

It grabbed Li Rui's arm.

Li Rui turned: "I think you've misunderstood something. Director Gu is my superior—I have no authority to command him. This matter is truly difficult."

Tian Niu Zhu Ha sneered inwardly.

Any other demon would have been dismissed with that line.

But it was different.

It might be the demon who understood humans best.

Li Rui had said "difficult," not "impossible."

That distinction mattered greatly.

Tian Niu Zhu Ha quickly spoke: "I heard Xueying took something from you. I can help you get it back."

Hearing this,

Li Rui turned around, smiling warmly at Tian Niu Zhu Ha.

"Since you show remorse, my great Yu is merciful—I'll ask on your behalf."

Then he changed the subject:

"By the way, friend, about this Song Ming matter..."

Tian Niu Zhu Ha instantly knew there was hope.

It immediately said: "Don't worry—he'll be ambushed by a great demon on his way back and die. Yes, it'll be that black elephant."

Good!

Li Rui couldn't help but raise his estimation of Tian Niu Zhu Ha.

He'd never met a demon so cooperative.

"Wait for word."

Saying this,

he turned and left.

Though Tian Niu Zhu Ha was stronger than him, the situation favored him—he held absolute initiative in this conversation.

Back at the Changqing Peak courtyard,

Liu Tiezhu finally asked curiously: "Master, do you know someone from the Southern Sea Immortal Sect?"

Li Rui: "I just met him at the Grand Ceremony."

He finished speaking.

He entered the house.

He didn't mention the earlier incident to Liu Tiezhu—not because he didn't trust his own disciple, but because the Changqing Peak housed the Empire's Third-Ranked State Preceptor.

Who knows what kind of tricks he might possess?

One must remain vigilant.

Seven days passed quickly.

The Luotian Da Jiao was officially over, and the elders and disciples of the immortal sects who had come to observe departed.

The State Preceptor also descended from Changqing Peak with his disciples and officials.

At the foot of Changqing Peak.

"Your Excellency, have a safe journey."

Li Rui bowed to the State Preceptor.

The State Preceptor glanced at Li Rui coolly.

"You're quite impressive."

"Gu Changsheng has good taste."

"Since you're already familiar here, stay on."

He finished speaking.

Then he turned and left with his entourage.

Fang Hua cast a subtle glance at Li Rui before quickly following them down the mountain.

Li Rui noticed that glance.

Clearly,

a grudge had been formed.

But Li Rui didn't care—he who has nothing to lose fears nothing; compared to Fang Hua, he was the barefoot one.

Someone like Fang Hua, with such a privileged background, is actually easy to handle.

Because he has something to fear, something he can't afford to lose, so he dares not act recklessly.

Moreover, Li Rui is now quite strong himself.

The State Preceptor's parting words

were telling him that he could continue serving as an elder of Qingwei Sect.

Had his performance at the Luotian Da Jiao failed to satisfy the State Preceptor, the troubles would have been substantial.

Officialdom works this way.

It thrives on sudden upheavals.

To remain secure, you must be cautious in every detail and possess sufficient strength.

Neither can be lacking.

Afterwards,

life returned to its usual rhythm.

Li Rui mostly stayed on Changqing Peak, only descending at night for walks.

Most people in Qingwei Sect didn't even know Li Rui existed.

Another year passed.

After several years, Qingwei Sect took in another hundred outer disciples and hundreds of laborers.

During this time,

many laborer disciples who saw no future chose to leave the sect.

In response,

Qingwei Sect did not stop them at all.

They merely needed to file a notice—no one's permission was even required to depart.

Laborer disciples are like floating weeds by nature.

Qingwei Sect simply didn't care.

The path to immortality is elusive—not just empty words.

Countless seekers of the Dao have fallen at the laborer disciple stage.

Becoming an outer disciple is already a great fortune.

But even outer disciples are merely at the beginning.

In comparison, Li Rui was far better off.

Late at night,

Li Rui returned to his room, washed his face with clean water, and fell into a deep sleep.

In the Tai Xu Dao Field, before the white jade steps,

he sat cross-legged, serene and composed.

"In spring, gather the Green Emperor's wood; in summer, draw the light of Zhu Rong; in autumn, absorb the White Emperor's metal; in winter, store the dark essence of Xuan Ming; as the four seasons turn, the central Wuji endures."

The next instant,

a green aura circled his body.

After months of quiet cultivation,

he finally made progress.

At this moment, the Wan Gu Chang Qing Technique had clearly been mastered.

The Wan Gu Chang Qing Technique was never meant for combat—it focused on cultivating a single vital energy.

The Evergreen Qi.

It transforms into the Immortal Xuan Qi and fuses the Five Elements Qi of the Five Spirits Body Refinement Technique into one.

This Evergreen Qi possesses extraordinary vitality.

It can even cause withered trees to bloom.

Perhaps only such a mystical energy could achieve the miraculous feat of surpassing the limits of lifespan.

Moreover, the Wan Gu Chang Qing Technique is a late-stage cultivation method.

Though weak in early combat power, it excels in stability.

As long as you continue practicing, its benefits grow ever stronger.

Indeed,

after living a thousand years, even the most mediocre person could achieve something.

Sometimes, simply living long is a great skill.

Time flew by.

One day,

Li Rui descended from Qingwei Sect with Wei Ming and Tan Hu, informing Master Zi Yang before leaving.

This was vastly different from his previous caution.

The difference lay in the fact that Li Rui had now firmly established himself.

Moreover, he had gained the State Preceptor's approval and no longer needed to be overly cautious.

All three rode demonic horses.

They galloped through the forests like the wind.

That same day, they returned to Qinghe City.

As they gazed upon the familiar Qinghe, Wei Ming and Tan Hu were struck with a sense of unreality, as if they had lived through lifetimes.

They say cultivation erases the passage of time.

Only when you truly experience it do you understand.

Tan Hu scratched his head in frustration: "Damn it, Aunt Chen's baozi shop is closed!"

He had noticed it while riding past and looked again.

It was indeed shut.

Many things in Qinghe City had changed.

But because of cultivation, neither Tan Hu nor Wei Ming realized how much had shifted until they reached the streets, suddenly struck by the passage of time.

Li Rui, however, remained calm.

He had already lived through fifty years of societal change and was long accustomed to it.

Perhaps that was why,

his spiritual fortune had always been good.

Back in Annan Town,

he still went to see Xue Gui as usual, but this time Xue Gui no longer called him Li Rui—he addressed him as "Lord Li."

The news of Li Rui's achievement at the Luotian Da Jiao had reached him.

Since Li Rui had now advanced,

he could no longer be considered his subordinate.

That was the rule.

From now on, Li Rui was his peer.

Then the two of them went to see Zhou Dinghai again.

Zhou Dinghai heaped great praise on Li Rui.

This was not because Li Rui had done anything remarkable in Qingwei Sect, but because he was about to become a Tongxuan powerhouse.

Top-tier third-rank experts were targets every faction sought to court.

Li Rui, however, remained unperturbed.

Having finished all this,

he returned to the Assistant Regional Commander's residence and did not leave until deep into the night, when he vanished using Earth Submergence Technique, slipping away quietly from Qinghe.

He finally reappeared at the same desolate mountain as before.

Li Rui gazed at the Taiyin Star, which had changed little in sixty years.

He let out a long breath:

"It's finally my turn, old Li, to become a terrestrial immortal."

(End of Chapter)