Chapter 528: Zhuxian Tower

"Nine towers pierce the clouds, to suppress the Profound and Yellow; Heaven and Earth lend their law, to command the eight wildernesses; the Dao expands without limit, the Five Elements return to the Origin."

Inside the room.

Li Rui's hand seals moved with lightning speed.

The Fire of the Great Dao spewed from his mouth, currently refining the small tower.

This was, of course, the refining method for the Zhuxian Small Tower taught to him by the little old man, the artifact spirit.

It would only take forty-nine days of refining to achieve preliminary mastery and use it in combat; naturally, reaching a state of minor accomplishment would require much more time.

Although he walked the path of combining Immortal and Martial arts, he was not averse to magic treasures.

He had always been a pragmatist.

He previously had the Thousand Soul Banner, but as his strength grew, it had become somewhat inadequate. Of course, he could have chosen to refine the Ten Thousand Soul Banner just like that Daoist Sheng did before.

But Li Rui felt that such a method harmed the harmony of heaven and would incur unnecessary karma.

By comparison.

This small tower suited his taste much better.

With this small tower, the magic treasure could be used for a long time.

This was, after all, a magic treasure left behind by a Daoist Lord, so it was naturally extraordinary.

After a round of refining.

Li Rui's heart stirred.

The magic treasure small tower established a connection with his spiritual sense, and with a *whoosh*, it transformed into a divine light and was stored in the brocade pouch within his sleeve.

Not bad.

This item was the famous storage bag of the immortal cultivation world.

It possessed the effect of "Mount Sumeru contained within a mustard seed."

Although not everyone in the immortal cultivation world possessed one, there were quite a few who did. However, in this world, because a key primary material was missing, they were impossible to find, except for those carried by the three thousand cultivators from the lower realms.

This storage bag could hold almost the entirety of Li Rui's assets.

He no longer needed to worry about where to hide his treasures.

It was extremely practical.

Li Rui put away the small tower and only then pushed the door open to walk out.

As soon as he stepped out.

He saw Yuan An chatting idly with Liu Tong.

"Our Fourth Imperial Prince actually has some ability; I heard he is already preparing for his tribulation."

"Indeed. In this way, there are now three Second-Rank Imperial Princes. Our Holy Emperor is formidable himself, and the sons he has sired are also extraordinary."

"Indeed."

"Once you, Junior Brother, break through to the Tongxuan Realm, you certainly won't be inferior to them."

"Senior Brother Liu, such words must not be spoken."

"Master." *2

As the two were speaking, they heard Li Rui's light cough.

"Saying these things at home is fine, but do not speak them to outsiders."

Li Rui advised.

"Yes, Master."

Yuan An and Liu Tong immediately became well-behaved.

Li Rui: "You are both no longer children; when will you be able to produce a Top Three Ranker for me?"

Hearing "Top Three Ranker."

Both of them looked like frost-bitten eggplants.

Especially Yuan An.

He was the son of Yuan Dingting and had been stuck in the Primordial Realm for a long time, failing to take that final step; the pressure in his heart appeared much greater.

Although Liu Tong's pressure was not as great as Yuan An's, he had already reached the peak of the Sea-Observing Realm, not far from the Top Three Ranks.

"Alright, go and practice your martial arts."

Li Rui waved his hand.

Yuan An and Liu Tong bowed, having no heart to speak further, and returned to their own rooms to cultivate diligently.

Li Rui looked at his two disciples and shook his head with a smile.

Being a master, one always needs to keep them on their toes.

He walked out of the residence.

Before long.

He appeared in a secluded residence in the capital.

Just as he knocked on the gate.

Soon, a young man who looked very sharp opened the door; he was fair-faced and beardless—not because he lacked the habit of growing a beard, but because he was clearly a eunuch.

The young eunuch said in a somewhat feminine voice: "Lord Li, His Highness and the Princess Consort have been waiting for you for a long time."

He then led Li Rui into the courtyard.

The Fourth Imperial Prince, Zhu Ting, and his wife, Xia Yun, stood up together to welcome Li Rui.

Xia Yun looked no different from when they first met decades ago, at most possessing a bit more maternal radiance.

Not bad.

Last year.

Xia Yun gave birth to a son for the Fourth Imperial Prince, completely securing her position as the mistress of the household.

The two were extremely affectionate.

Their relationship was spoken of as a beautiful tale by the men and women of the capital.

Li Rui smiled and cupped his hands: "Your Highness, I heard you are about to step into the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm. Congratulations, congratulations."

Zhu Ting laughed heartily: "Lord Li, you jest. It is merely an attempt; who knows what will happen."

The three sat down.

Zhu Ting asked Li Rui for advice on many aspects of crossing the tribulation.

Li Rui did not hold anything back and spoke of everything he knew.

The relationship between the two was very harmonious.

As for Xia Yun, ever since entering the Prince Wu residence, she seemed to have completely become a virtuous wife and a good mother, not saying a word, just listening with a smile. Where was the demeanor of the Eldest Princess who helped the young sovereign of the Wu Kingdom establish his nation back then?

*'She is indeed a formidable woman.'*

Li Rui observed Xia Yun secretly.

Over these years.

The relationship between the Wu Kingdom and the Yu Kingdom had become better and better, and her weight as the Eldest Princess of the Wu Kingdom had become heavier and heavier. It was precisely by relying on this that the Fourth Imperial Prince was able to rise so quickly.

If Xia Yun wanted to use the power of the Wu Kingdom to interfere in court politics, that would undoubtedly be courting death.

Xia Yun acted extremely intelligently.

She focused entirely on internal affairs and had no intention of intervening at all.

Of course, this was also inseparable from the talent the Fourth Imperial Prince himself displayed.

Moreover, both of them acted with great restraint.

This was the reason Li Rui was willing to maintain a good relationship with them.

The current Holy Emperor was in the prime of his life; in Li Rui's view, an overly ostentatious Imperial Prince was not a very wise approach.

Three days later.

The Fourth Imperial Prince, Zhu Ting, truly crossed the tribulation.

There were no twists or turns.

Countless experts in the capital guarded the path, and he passed the heavenly tribulation without alarm or danger, achieving the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm.

He even received praise from the Holy Emperor.

It was easy for Imperial Princes to be compared with one another; with the Fourth Imperial Prince's performance, the performance of the Fifth Imperial Prince, Zhu Gan, appeared somewhat inferior.

These rumors even reached Zhu Gan's own ears.

"That trash, the Fourth, is worthy of becoming a Heavenly Phenomenon?!"

"It must be that woman Xia Yun who used some kind of witchcraft!"

"A bitch's son is also worthy of competing with me?"

Inside the room.

Zhu Gan appeared somewhat frantic.

Over these years, although he had been diligent in cultivation and his realm had been steadily improving, he could already feel a bottleneck. Following this path, opening up the Purple Mansion would be his limit at most.

As for the First Rank of Dao Integration, that was simply a pipe dream.

The bone structure he had obtained through the soul-shifting and blood-swapping method could only support him to this point.

In fact, for ordinary people, this was already something they dared not hope for.

But unfortunately, he had an older brother with extremely good martial fortune.

Just a short while ago, his older brother had already opened the Purple Mansion, and after that, he would attempt Dao Integration, putting too much pressure on him.

With a great mountain in front, and now Zhu Ting breaking through, Zhu Gan could no longer remain calm.

He turned his head to look at the old man beside him, his words carrying urgency: "Old Zhou, how is the search for a candidate going?"

Zhou Tong said indifferently: "Your Highness, the other two candidates can at most increase the possibility of breaking through to the First Rank by twenty percent."

"Twenty percent?"

Zhu Gan frowned.

Too little.

Truly too little.

Ever since Li Rui broke through, he only had two candidates left, but the bone structures of those two were not satisfactory.

If it was only twenty percent, the gain was not high, but the risk was too great.

Zhu Gan was unable to make up his mind for a moment.

"Hold back."

He took a deep breath.

He had not even formed his embryo yet; being too eager for success would only bring disaster upon himself.

*'I cannot lose my composure because of the Fourth.'*

Zhu Gan forcibly suppressed the urge to act.

But just when Zhu Gan was about to give up, Zhou Tong spoke: "Your Highness, I have discovered a secret rumor: that Li Rui actually possesses a Dao Embryo. If you can obtain his bone and blood, Your Highness will definitely be able to step into the First Rank."

"A Dao Embryo?!"

Zhu Gan's eyes widened.

That was a legendary top-tier constitution!

Subsequently, his eyes were occupied by greed.

Ten percent was already enough to make people risk their lives for it.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 529 =====