Chapter 423

Outside the Ten Thousand Mountains, in a desolate temple.

A young cultivator stepped through the temple gate.

Just as he walked inside.

He heard a voice that was extremely unpleasant to the ear: "How is it?"

The young cultivator's spirit lifted, and he hurriedly bowed and said, "Senior, that Li Rui stays in the spirit mine for one month every three months; it has never changed."

The old Daoist priest with the Daoist name Wan Gui revealed a satisfied smile.

"Very good."

Li Rui's routine was very regular.

Regularity is good.

The more regular he is, the smoother the conversion will be.

In his view, this kind of regularity made it easier to turn that lower-realm martial artist named Li Rui into his puppet.

If Li Rui never went to the spirit mine, the methods he had exhausted his heart and blood to prepare would become useless.

"Very well, this is your reward."

After speaking.

The Wan Gui Daoist pointed into the void.

A streak of red light shot into the young cultivator's body.

The young cultivator's pupils instantly turned crimson, and his breathing became heavy and rapid.

Very quickly.

The pain was replaced by excitement.

The young cultivator felt so comfortable he almost groaned aloud.

The spiritual energy within his body became full at an extremely fast speed.

Where else in the Profound Clarity Sect could he obtain such good fortune!

The young cultivator was an outer sect disciple of the Profound Clarity Sect. He had accidentally encountered the Wan Gui Daoist while out on a mission. At first, he thought he had encountered a demonic cultivator and would surely die, but he never expected the other party not only spared him but gave him a significant stroke of good fortune.

It was precisely because of that good fortune that he became an outer sect disciple.

Otherwise, he would be nothing more than a lowly servant in the Profound Clarity Sect.

Then he became the Wan Gui Daoist's eyes and ears within the Profound Clarity Sect.

In return, the Wan Gui Daoist would continue to infuse him with spiritual energy.

In just a few short years.

He had broken through from the seventh rank to the peak of the sixth rank, and it wouldn't be long before he reached the fifth rank.

Entering the inner sect by then was not impossible.

His future was bright.

And all of this was because of the terrifying old Daoist before him.

To the young cultivator, it didn't matter if the other was a demonic cultivator or not; as long as he could become stronger, that was enough.

Moreover.

'Once I become an inner sect disciple, I will cut ties with this demonic Daoist.'

The smile at the corner of the young cultivator's mouth faded as he calculated in his heart.

"Senior, then I shall return first."

He bowed in salute and then turned to leave.

He did not want to stay in this dilapidated temple for even a moment longer.

Watching the young cultivator walk away, the Wan Gui Daoist let out a cackling laugh.

"Little beast!"

He was an old monster who had lived for over two hundred years; if he couldn't even see through that little bit of intent, then those long years might as well have been lived by a dog.

He really thought every infusion of spiritual energy was a gift.

It was nothing more than a slow-acting poison.

With just a single thought from him, that young cultivator would become his puppet.

Whatever he ate of his, he would have to spit it all back out with interest.

The Wan Gui Daoist withdrew his focus.

He stopped thinking about it.

But just as he prepared to continue cultivating in peace.

A ripple suddenly appeared in the space before him.

The Wan Gui Daoist's pupils shrank violently.

"Minor Teleportation Talisman!"

Black energy exploded from his entire body, intending to swallow that spot completely.

Yet he saw a brilliant golden light explode, completely dispersing his ghost energy, and then he saw a young, fair-skinned Daoist walk out from the spatial ripple.

The Wan Gui Daoist looked at the young Daoist before him with wariness.

From that young, fair-skinned Daoist, he felt an extremely strong pressure.

Second rank!

The Wan Gui Daoist's eyes were filled with wariness.

Yet he heard the young, fair-skinned Daoist speak slowly: "A rogue cultivator?"

Upon hearing these two words, the Wan Gui Daoist's expression changed instantly, and almost without any hesitation, he transformed into a black shadow and flew toward the sky.

The young, fair-skinned Daoist took out a yellow talisman from his sleeve without any rush.

He threw it into the air.

Instantly.

The black shadow seemed to have been struck by a heavy blow, and it was smashed fiercely to the ground.

The Wan Gui Daoist stood up looking disheveled.

What an overbearing talisman!

The young, fair-skinned Daoist looked at the Wan Gui Daoist standing quietly before him: "What, not running anymore?"

The Wan Gui Daoist said nothing.

The young, fair-skinned Daoist then continued with a grin: "I am not concerned with how you descended to the lower realm, but now I give you a chance: serve the Wan Fadian, and I can protect you."

Hearing the three words "Wan Fadian," the Wan Gui Daoist's expression changed again and again.

The reputation of the Wan Fadian was too great; it was simply not something a rogue cultivator like him could provoke.

The reason he, a rogue cultivator, was able to descend to the lower realm was, of course, because he used unscrupulous methods.

He killed a young cultivator from a large family and then disguised himself as that person.

He was almost discovered the moment before descending to the lower realm.

Fortunately, the great array was already in operation, which was how he managed to survive.

The Wan Gui Daoist's eyes flickered.

Although he still had some life-saving methods, he finally lowered his head: "Very well."

Hearing the Wan Gui Daoist agree, the smile on the young, fair-skinned Daoist's face grew wider:

"Very good."

"It was not in vain that I spent so much effort to find you."

"By the way, keep a close watch on that Li Rui for me."

After speaking.

The young, fair-skinned Daoist turned and left.

The Wan Gui Daoist opened his mouth.

He never imagined that he would be targeted by people from the Wan Fadian because of a lower-realm martial artist he had casually taken a fancy to.

Was this luck too good, or too bad?

The Wan Gui Daoist was left between laughter and tears for a moment.

Seeing the young, fair-skinned Daoist about to walk out of the desolate temple, he spoke up: "Then I should at least know your name and how to contact you."

The young, fair-skinned Daoist had his back to the Wan Gui Daoist, the curve of his mouth widening:

"When I need you, I will naturally contact you."

"Also... my name is Ji Lei."

At the other end.

Li Rui, who was cultivating in the spirit mine residence, suddenly frowned.

"What's the situation?"

Just a moment ago.

He sensed a ripple in the Evil Puppet Array.

Clearly.

Something had happened to the master of the Evil Puppet Array.

But it stabilized very quickly.

This process was very fast, and ordinary cultivators would not be able to sense it at all; only a fifth-rank array master like Li Rui could have some perception of it.

"What on earth happened?"

Li Rui pondered to himself.

The one who set up the Evil Puppet Array must be an evil array master, a presence that everyone would want to beat up, whether in the cultivation world or this realm.

Being hunted down was also a common occurrence.

He pondered to himself what kind of situation that Evil Puppet Master might be in.

Having been at the spirit mine for so long, this was the first time such a situation had occurred.

Naturally, he had to get to the bottom of it.

Just as Li Rui was pondering, he heard Ning Zhongtian's voice outside the door: "Big Brother, His Highness the Prince of Wei has arrived."

A flash of surprise crossed Li Rui's eyes.

The fifth prince, Zhu Gan?

Since arriving at the spirit mine, the number of times he had met with Zhu Gan could be counted on one hand.

Why would he suddenly come to the door today?

Li Rui tidied his clothes slightly and then walked out the door with quick steps.

At this time.

Ning Zhongtian had already welcomed the Prince of Wei inside.

"Your Highness the Prince of Wei."

Li Rui cupped his hands in salute.

The Prince of Wei was the same as always, surrounded by beauties, with a middle-aged martial general following behind him who looked broad-shouldered and thick-waisted—at a glance, he was a fierce general.

This person was the personal guard of the Prince of Wei, Zhu Gan.

It was said his name was Ben Shi.

He was a fierce general of the Northwest Army and a powerhouse of the Tongxuan Realm.

He was also the fourth guardian in the spirit mine.

The most trusted of Zhu Gan's confidants.

The Prince of Wei waved his hand, and the surrounding palace maids retreated one by one; Li Rui could smell the rouge on Zhu Gan from three feet away.

He had always heard that Zhu Gan was a man of loose morals, and now it seemed it was indeed true.

Zhu Gan spoke: "Lord Li, I heard you understand the art of talismans?"

Li Rui was somewhat surprised.

But he still nodded: "I know a little."

Zhu Gan: "Very good, from now on, you will teach this Prince."

Li Rui frowned slightly.

Imparting knowledge and teaching is a major matter.

Not only for the disciple but also for the master.

If he were to teach talismans, he would inevitably expose some things, and Zhu Gan might discover his secrets.

This fifth prince looked absurd, but one could never be sure what secret royal methods he might have.

In short.

It was not a good errand.

In just an instant, Li Rui made a decision: "Your Highness, this official is only just beginning, only at the seventh rank, and I fear I might lead Your Highness astray; it is truly inappropriate."

He then added:

"This official does know some masters of the talisman path in the Profound Clarity Sect, and I can recommend them to Your Highness."

These words.

could be described as watertight.

Since Zhu Gan came to learn immortal arts, Li Rui first stated that his own abilities were insufficient.

But this step alone was not enough.

He then provided other feasible plans.

In this way, even if Zhu Gan were displeased, he could not find any fault.

Sure enough.

Upon hearing this, a flash of displeasure crossed Zhu Gan's eyes.

"Seventh rank."

He himself was at the peak of the Primordial Realm, just one step away from taking that final leap.

The reason he wanted to learn talismans.

was that he heard talismans were beneficial for sensing spiritual energy, which was why he had this impulse.

This was not the capital.

It was not easy to find a good talisman master, and after learning that Li Rui understood talismans, he had come here excitedly.

"Forget it, then go find them."

He already had a bad impression of Li Rui, and now it was even worse.

With a flick of his sleeve.

The Prince of Wei, Zhu Gan, turned and left.

Without the slightest hesitation.

Seeing Zhu Gan leave, a smile finally appeared on the corner of Li Rui's mouth.

Compared to leaking secrets, he would rather choose to offend Zhu Gan.

Although Zhu Gan was the Prince of Wei and might become Emperor in the future, at least he was not now, and the possibility within a hundred years was not high.

By that time.

He would naturally have the capital to be fearless.

Ning Zhongtian looked at Li Rui and blinked.

Teaching a Prince was an opportunity others couldn't even beg for, yet Li Rui had given it up just like that.

However, he could roughly guess.

His big brother was too cautious, perhaps not wanting to be too deeply involved with this fifth prince because of teaching talismans.

Li Rui: "Fourth Brother, help me investigate who told His Highness the Prince of Wei that I still understand talismans."

Ning Zhongtian's eyes showed more surprise, but he still nodded:

"Very well, I will think of a way to ask."

After Li Rui finished giving instructions.

He returned to the room.

Some karmic ties must be avoided no matter what.

Night fell.

Li Rui sat cross-legged on the bed, a pile of spirit stone fragments stacked before him.

The Wan Gu Chang Qing Art squeezed out the last trace of spiritual energy from these spirit stones.

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

This feeling of steady growth in cultivation base was truly great; there was no need for rapid leaps, as long as he was always progressing, that was enough.

Cultivation is about long-term, persistent effort.

Just as Li Rui finished cultivating and prepared to sleep.

Suddenly.

A black shadow broke through the window and entered.

Li Rui's reaction was faster; the immortal blade Zhan Jiao hanging on the wall sensed his intent and suddenly unsheathed.

At this moment.

He saw the appearance of the person who had broken into the room clearly.

Chen Ming??!

(End of chapter)