Chapter 528: The Immortal-Slaying Tower

"Nine towers reach the heavens, to suppress the Su Xuan and Huang. Borrowing the laws of heaven and earth, to command the eight wildernesses. The Dao expands without limit, the five elements return to their origin."

Inside the room.

Li Rui's hand seals moved at 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 Immortal-Slaying Small Tower taught to him by the little old man, the artifact spirit.

It would only take forty-nine days of refining to be considered initially mastered for use in combat; naturally, if he wanted to reach a small success, it 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 to use, but as his strength grew, it had become somewhat inadequate. Of course, he could have chosen to refine a Ten Thousand Soul Banner just like that Daoist Sheng from before.

But Li Rui felt that this method was harmful to the harmony of heaven and would incur unnecessary karma.

By comparison.

This small tower was more to his liking.

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 Dao Lord; naturally, it was extraordinary.

After a round of refining.

Li Rui's mind 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 inside the brocade pouch in his sleeve.

Not bad.

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

It had the effect of containing Mount Sumeru within a mustard seed.

Although not everyone in the immortal cultivation world possessed one, those who did were not few. However, in this realm, because of the lack of a primary material, apart from those carried by the three thousand cultivators from the lower realms, they were simply impossible to find.

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

He no longer needed to worry about hiding 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 with Liu Tong.

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

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

"Indeed."

"Wait until you break through to the Below Tongxuan Realm, Junior Brother; you certainly won't be any worse than them."

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

"Master." *2

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

"It is fine to say such things at home, 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 young; when will you be able to produce an Upper Three Ranks for me?"

Hearing "Upper Three Ranks."

Both of them were like frost-bitten eggplants.

Especially Yuan An.

He was the son of Yuan Yuan Dingting and had been stuck in the Primordial Realm for a long time, failing to take that step for a long time; the pressure in his heart looked 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 and was not far from the Upper Three Ranks.

"Alright, go and practice your cultivation."

Li Rui waved his hand.

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

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

Being a master, one always needs to keep them in check.

He walked out of the residence.

Not long after.

He appeared in a hidden residence in the capital.

Just as he knocked on the wall door.

Soon, a young man who looked very clever 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 effeminate voice: "Lord Li, His Highness and the Princess Consort have been waiting for you for a long time."

Afterward, he led Li Rui into the courtyard.

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

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

Not bad.

Last year.

Xia Yun had given birth to a son for the Fourth Prince, completely securing her position as the mistress of the house.

The two were extremely affectionate.

It was spoken of as a beautiful story 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 insights regarding tribulation crossing.

Li Rui did not hold anything back and said 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 mother, not saying a word, just listening with a smile. Where was the demeanor of the Princess who helped the young ruler of the Wu Kingdom establish the nation back then?

*'She is indeed a formidable woman.'*

Li Rui observed Xia Yun in secret.

Over these years.

The relationship between the Wu Kingdom and the Yu Kingdom had become better and better, and her weight as the Princess of the Wu Kingdom had become heavier and heavier. It was precisely by relying on this point that the Fourth 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 seeking death.

Xia Yun behaved extremely intelligently.

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

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

And both of them behaved very restrainedly.

This was the reason Li Rui was willing to be on good terms with them.

The current Holy Emperor was in the prime of his life; in Li Rui's view, a prince who was too ostentatious was not a very wise approach.

Three days later.

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

There were no twists and turns.

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

He even received praise from the Holy Emperor.

Princes were naturally easily compared to one another; with the Fourth Prince's performance, the performance of the Fifth Prince, Zhu Gan, appeared somewhat inferior.

These rumors even reached Zhu Gan's own ears.

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

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

"Is the son of a lowly woman also worthy of competing with me?"

Inside the room.

Zhu Gan appeared somewhat frantic.

Over these years, although he had been diligent in his cultivation and his realm was steadily improving, he had already felt a bottleneck. If he continued like this, at most, opening the Purple Mansion would be his limit.

As for the First-Rank Harmony with the Dao, that was simply wishful thinking.

The previous soul-shifting and blood-changing bone structure could only support him to this step.

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 luck.

Just a short while ago, his older brother had already opened the Purple Mansion, and afterward, he would attempt to harmonize with the Dao, putting too much pressure on him.

With a great mountain in front, and now Zhu Ting also 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 candidates going?"

Zhou Tong said indifferently: "Your Majesty, the other two can at most only 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 structure of those two was not satisfactory.

If it was only twenty percent, the return 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.

Now, he had not even formed the fetus; 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 thought of taking action.

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 Fetus. If you can obtain his bone and blood, Your Highness will definitely be able to step into the First Rank."

"A Dao Fetus?!"

Zhu Gan's eyes widened.

That was a legendary top-grade constitution!

Afterward, his pupils were occupied by greed.

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

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