Chapter 424: Uninvited Guest

Beyond the Ten Thousand Mountains, in a ruined temple.

A young cultivator stepped through the temple gate.

As soon as he entered.

A horribly grating voice spoke: "Well?"

The young cultivator's expression brightened; he bowed quickly and said: "Senior, Li Rui visits the spirit mine for one month every three months—never changed."

The Daoist known as Wan Gui smiled in satisfaction.

"Good."

Li Rui's routine is very regular.

Regularity is good.

The more regular, the smoother the transformation.

In his view, this routine made it easier to turn that lower-world martial artist, Li Rui, into his puppet.

If Li Rui never went to the spirit mine at all, all his painstaking efforts would be wasted.

"Alright, here's your reward."

Saying this,

Wan Gui pointed into the air.

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

The young cultivator's eyes instantly turned crimson; his breathing grew heavy and rapid.

Soon,

Pain gave way to exhilaration.

The young cultivator was so comfortable he nearly moaned.

His spiritual energy filled his body at an astonishing speed.

Where in Qingwei Sect could one gain such a boon!

The young cultivator was an outer-disciple of Qingwei Sect; he had encountered Wan Gui by chance while on an external mission. At first, he thought he'd be killed by a demonic cultivator—but instead of killing him, the man granted him a great boon.

It was because of that boon that he became an outer-disciple.

Otherwise, he'd have been nothing but a lowly laborer in Qingwei Sect.

Since then, he became Wan Gui's spy within Qingwei Sect.

In return, Wan Gui continued to infuse him with spiritual energy.

In just a few short years,

He had advanced from seventh rank to the peak of sixth rank, and soon would reach fifth rank.

At that point, entering the inner sect might not be impossible.

His future shone brightly.

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

To the young cultivator, whether the old man was demonic or not didn't matter—as long as he grew stronger, that was enough.

Besides,

'Once I become an inner-disciple, I'll sever ties with this demonic Daoist.'

The young cultivator's smile faded; he plotted in his mind.

"Senior, then I'll take my leave."

He bowed deeply, then turned and left.

He didn't want to stay a single moment longer in this ruined temple.

Watching the young cultivator vanish into the distance, Wan Gui let out a cackling laugh.

"Little brat!"

He was an ancient monster who had lived over two hundred years—if he couldn't see through such simple thoughts, his long life had been wasted.

He truly believed each infusion was a gift.

It was merely slow poison.

With a single thought, the young cultivator would become his puppet.

Whoever eats his food must repay every last bit—with interest.

Wan Gui pulled his thoughts back.

He stopped thinking about it.

Just as he prepared to resume his cultivation in peace,

A ripple suddenly appeared in the space before him.

Wan Gui's pupils shrank sharply.

"Minor Teleportation Talisman!"

Black qi exploded from his body, ready to swallow the spot whole.

But brilliant golden light erupted, scattering his ghostly qi entirely—and from the space distortion stepped a young, pale-faced Daoist.

Wan Gui regarded the young Daoist with caution.

From the young, pale-faced Daoist, he felt overwhelming pressure.

Second rank!

Wan Gui's eyes filled with dread.

Then the young, pale-faced Daoist spoke slowly: "Sectless cultivator?"

Hearing those two words, Wan Gui's face turned ashen; without hesitation, he transformed into a black shadow and shot skyward.

The young, pale-faced Daoist calmly withdrew a yellow talisman from his sleeve.

He tossed it into the air.

Instantly,

The black shadow was struck as if by a massive force, slammed violently to the ground.

Wan Gui rose, disheveled and battered.

What an oppressive talisman!

The young, pale-faced Daoist looked at Wan Gui, standing silently before him: "What, not running anymore?"

Wan Gui said nothing.

The young, pale-faced Daoist then grinned and continued: "I don't care how you descended to this realm—but now I offer you a chance: serve Wan Fadian, and I'll protect you."

Upon hearing the name Wan Fadian, Wan Gui's expression shifted again and again.

Wan Fadian's reputation was too great—he could never afford to provoke such a force.

The reason a sectless cultivator like him could descend to this realm was, of course, through illicit means.

He killed a young cultivator from a powerful clan and assumed his identity.

He nearly got caught just before descending.

Fortunately, the great array had already activated, allowing him to survive.

Wan Gui's eyes flickered.

Though he still had some survival tricks, he finally bowed his head: "Alright."

Hearing Wan Gui's agreement, the young, pale-faced Daoist's smile widened:

"Good."

"Not wasted the effort it took me to find you."

"By the way, keep a close eye on Li Rui."

Saying this,

The young, pale-faced Daoist turned and left.

Wan Gui opened his mouth.

He never imagined he'd been targeted by Wan Fadian because of some lower-world martial artist he'd casually chosen.

Was this good fortune—or terrible luck?

Wan Gui was momentarily torn between laughter and despair.

Seeing the young, pale-faced Daoist about to leave the ruined temple, he called out: "At least tell me your name—how do I contact you?"

The young, pale-faced Daoist, back turned, smiled wider:

"When I need you, I'll find you."

"And… I'm Ji Lei."

Elsewhere,

Li Rui, cultivating in his spirit mine residence, suddenly frowned.

"What's going on?"

Just now,

He sensed a disturbance in the demonic puppet array.

Clearly,

The array's master had encountered trouble.

But it stabilized quickly.

The process was brief—ordinary cultivators wouldn't notice it at all; only a fifth-rank array master like Li Rui could sense it.

What exactly happened?

Li Rui pondered silently.

The one who set up the Evil Puppet Array must be an Evil Array Master—a being despised by all, whether in the cultivation world or this realm.

Being hunted down was common.

He wondered what kind of situation this Evil Puppet Master might be in.

After arriving at the spirit mine so long, this was the first time such a thing had occurred.

He certainly had to get to the bottom of it.

As Li Rui was thinking, he heard Ning Zhongtian's voice outside the door: "Big brother, Prince Wei has arrived."

Li Rui's eyes flickered with surprise.

Prince Zhu Gan, the fifth prince?

Since arriving at the spirit mine, he had met Zhu Gan only a handful of times.

Why had he suddenly come today?

Li Rui tidied his robes slightly, then stepped out quickly.

At that moment,

Ning Zhongtian had already welcomed Prince Wei inside.

"Your Highness, Prince Wei."

Li Rui bowed with clasped fists.

Prince Wei was as usual, surrounded by court ladies, with a middle-aged general trailing behind him—broad-shouldered, thick-waisted, unmistakably a fierce warrior.

This man was Prince Wei's personal bodyguard.

His name was Ben Shi.

A fierce general from the Northwestern Army, a powerhouse of the Spirit Penetration realm.

He was also the fourth guardian of the spirit mine.

The innermost confidant of Zhu Gan.

Prince Wei waved his hand, and the palace maids withdrew one by one; Li Rui, standing three feet away, could still smell the rouge on Zhu Gan's person.

He had long heard Zhu Gan was a womanizer; now he saw it was true.

Zhu Gan spoke: "Lord Li, I hear you understand talisman arts?"

Li Rui was slightly surprised.

But he nodded: "A little."

Zhu Gan: "Good. From now on, you will teach me."

Li Rui frowned slightly.

Transmitting the Dao is a serious matter.

It matters not just for the disciple, but for the master as well.

If I were to teach you talismans, I would inevitably expose certain things—perhaps even reveal my secrets.

This fifth prince may seem frivolous, but who knows what imperial secrets he might possess?

In short,

This is no good assignment.

In an instant, Li Rui made his decision: "Your Highness, I am merely a beginner, only at the seventh rank. I fear I would lead you astray—it would be inappropriate."

He added:

"I know several great talisman masters in Qingwei Sect. I can introduce you to them."

This response

Was flawless.

Since Zhu Gan had come to learn immortal arts, Li Rui first made clear his own inadequacy.

But that alone was not enough.

He offered an alternative solution.

Thus, even if Zhu Gan was displeased, he could find no fault.

Indeed,

Upon hearing this, Zhu Gan's eyes flickered with displeasure.

"Seventh rank?"

He himself was at the peak of the Primordial Foundation realm, just one step away from breakthrough.

He wanted to learn talismans

Because he'd heard they aided spiritual energy comprehension—that's why he'd come in such haste.

This was not the capital.

Finding a good talisman master here was difficult; upon learning Li Rui knew talismans, he'd rushed over.

"Fine, then go find one."

He had never liked Li Rui; now he liked him even less.

He swept his sleeve aside.

Prince Wei Zhu Gan turned and left.

Without a moment's pause.

Seeing Zhu Gan depart, Li Rui's lips finally curled into a smile.

Rather than risk exposing his secrets, he preferred to offend Zhu Gan.

Zhu Gan may be Prince Wei, and perhaps someday become emperor—but not now, and not within the next hundred years.

By then,

He would have his own unshakable strength.

Ning Zhongtian looked at Li Rui and blinked.

Teaching a prince was an opportunity others would beg for—and Li Rui had just thrown it away.

But he could guess why.

His big brother was too cautious—he likely didn't want to become too entangled with this fifth prince through teaching talismans.

Li Rui: "Fourth brother, find out who told Prince Wei I know talismans."

Ning Zhongtian's eyes widened further, but he nodded:

"Alright, I'll think of a way to ask."

After giving his order,

Li Rui returned to his room.

Some karmic ties must be avoided at all costs.

Night fell.

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

The Eternal Greening Technique squeezed out the last trace of spiritual energy from them.

A faint smile touched his lips.

This steady, gradual increase in cultivation was truly satisfying—no need for sudden leaps; just consistent progress was enough.

Cultivation is a matter of persistent effort.

Just as Li Rui finished his practice and prepared to sleep,

Suddenly,

A dark shadow shattered through the window.

Li Rui reacted faster—the Immortal Blade Zhanjiao, hanging on the wall, sensed his intent and leapt from its sheath.

At that moment,

He saw the intruder's face.

Chen Ming??

(End of Chapter)