Chapter 576: Net Worth Skyrockets

East Sea City, Marquis Wu'an's Prefecture.

Returning to East Sea City.

Li Rui began his seclusion again.

This was the normal state for cultivators; besides nourishing the Dao foundation, there was also the refining of the Executioner small pagoda.

"Temper it daily with Dao fire until the immortal patterns appear; only then will it be complete."

Li Rui thought about the refining method given by the artifact spirit old man.

This step.

He had long been familiar with it.

In the room, Li Rui spat out Dao flames, having tempered it for a full half-year; the Nine-Star Glazed Pagoda shed its original glazed color, turning into a pure emerald green, looking elegant and otherworldly, with complex runes appearing on it.

These were the immortal patterns.

"It's done!"

Li Rui put away the Dao flames, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

With a thought.

Another golden pagoda flew out from the storage bag.

It was the Executioner small pagoda he had obtained from He Jiuxuan.

In an instant.

The two small pagodas seemed connected by flesh and blood, their auras flowing into each other, as if they were biological brothers who hadn't seen each other for many years.

They were originally from the same source.

Now that they were both refined by Li Rui, they were naturally as one.

Also at this time.

Nine patterns appeared in Li Rui's mind; these were the nine changes of the Executioner Array map.

It was roughly similar to the sword array of a flying sword.

The Executioner Array map was the cultivation of a pagoda array.

"Tai Chu, Xuan Huang, Gui Xu, Six Paths, Fen Yu, Tai Yin, Star Dou, Gui Cang, Tai Xu."

A total of nine types of array maps.

When practiced to a profound level, one could even combine the nine types of array maps at will, leading to infinite changes.

Of course.

For Li Rui now, this was naturally impossible.

First, his foundation was not enough.

Even figures like Dao Lord Pagoda-Bearer could not fully comprehend this Executioner Pagoda; he was only in the Dao Body Realm, so he could do it even less.

Second, he only had two small pagodas in total.

What he could practice were the Tai Chu Array map and the Tai Yin Array map.

However, if Li Rui could practice these two arrays, it would be enough for the Dao Body Realm.

In this way.

He could confuse his opponents even more.

At that time, he would use the small pagodas as a first move, then seize the opportunity to engage in hand-to-hand combat, catching the enemy off guard.

Li Rui pinched his hand seals and began to practice according to the method on the array map.

The two small pagodas circled and danced in the air.

Golden light surged in the room.

Cultivation has no concept of time.

In the blink of an eye, ten years passed.

For mortals, a teenager might have already married and had children, becoming middle-aged, but for cultivators, it was just a fleeting moment.

For the Dao Body Realm, it was even more so.

With a lifespan of nearly sixty years, ten years was no different from one year.

"Li Hou, tell me, it really is 'people compared to people, infuriating'; I've been a Marquis for the longest time, right?"

"Yet I'm the one who's doing the worst."

Marquis Dingyuan Liao Qi came to East Sea City.

He came specifically to drink with Li Rui.

Li Rui laughed and finished the wine in his cup: "Marquis Liao, don't say that; there's still me at the bottom, isn't there?"

Liao Qi squinted at him.

He hummed and said: "Your lineage is the most unreasonable; when your master was still in the Dao Body Realm, beating me was like beating a dog; when you reach the Harmony Realm, it'll probably be about the same."

Li Rui was speechless.

He could see.

Liao Qi was very depressed.

Back then, he was also a figure as famous as the State Preceptor, the Great Shaman, and the Sword Emperor; Gu Changsheng, Yuan Dingting, and the others had to be counted as juniors.

Although the State Preceptor died, he died only after stepping into the Heaven-Human Realm.

I heard the Sword Emperor of Shu went to the Profound Mystery Sect and also made a breakthrough in recent days.

Not to mention Yuan Dingting, who came from behind.

Coming from the Jin Ting Small Cave Heaven, they were like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, accumulating and bursting forth.

Yet he was stagnant. How could he not be depressed?

Li Rui didn't comfort him, instead saying: "Marquis Liao, I heard you plan to go to the Heaven Beyond Heaven?"

"Hmm."

Liao Qi nodded: "The Liao family's children have grown up, and there are no regrets; one must always fight for it, otherwise, wasting a hundred years, what's the point?"

"In this point, I am indeed not as good as that kid Yuan Dingting."

Li Rui was silent.

That Heaven Beyond Heaven was a trial ground in Taihua Province, rumored to have extraterrestrial demons.

Great danger, but naturally also great fortune.

Those who could walk out of the Heaven Beyond Heaven could at least be in the Heaven-Human Realm.

Of course.

More would just stay in the Heaven Beyond Heaven and become a pile of withered bones.

Liao Qi was seeking death to find life.

"Li Hou, the Emperor is broad-minded; I always have to do something, and it just so happens that our Yu Kingdom needs to send people to the Heaven Beyond Heaven; I look at it, and I am the most suitable."

Liao Qi laughed loudly.

Just like the Demon-Sweeping of the Sixty-Year Cycle, the Heaven Beyond Heaven was a major event for the entire Taihua Province.

Regardless of righteous or demonic, they all had to send cultivators to go.

It was even more important.

To put it bluntly.

The righteous-demonic struggle was a small struggle.

At most, it was just changing people, but if extraterrestrial demons invaded, that would be true devastation of life.

Liao Qi's heart for the Dao was sincere, and Li Rui respected him very much, bowing his hands:

"Wishing Marquis Liao victory and return."

Liao Qi's eyes were full of vicissitudes, and he laughed at himself: "It's just a futile struggle."

"Actually, I came here today, besides finding Li Hou to drink, there is one more thing."

Li Rui raised his eyebrows slightly: "Marquis, please speak."

"Li Hou should know that this Marquis title of mine has been passed down to the ninth generation; although in my view it's a burden, I must be worthy of my ancestors."

"After I go to the Heaven Beyond Heaven, the Marquis title will be passed to my second grandson."

"He has a steady temperament."

"But I am ultimately uneasy, and I hope Li Hou can look after him; if he is not to your liking, Li Hou can replace him."

Liao Qi spoke sincerely.

This was clearly entrusting an orphan.

Li Rui didn't speak, just looked at him faintly.

Liao Qi didn't have any hesitation, readily promising conditions: "The Liao family's industries in the Yu Kingdom will all belong to Li Hou."

As soon as these words came out.

Even Li Rui was a bit surprised.

Truly great courage!

One must know, the Liao clan had operated in the Yu Kingdom for thousands of years, and their foundation was extremely deep.

Liao Qi had actually waved his hand and given it all away.

"This is to completely retire from the Yu Kingdom."

Li Rui saw through Liao Qi's thoughts.

Rebellion, once done, was an indelible stain; even if this generation's Emperor didn't pursue it, the next generation's Emperor would still settle the score.

So the more influence the Liao clan had in the Yu Kingdom, the greater the possibility of being liquidated after Liao Qi died.

Rather than holding onto such a hot potato, it was better to just give it away.

Moreover.

Liao Qi was very smart.

He didn't say that Li Rui must protect the new Marquis Dingyuan at all costs, but only that as long as the Liao clan's bloodline was still there, it was enough, and even allowed Li Rui to replace the Marquis Dingyuan.

Everything was arranged very comfortably.

But Li Rui still didn't nod, instead asking: "Marquis Liao, why me?"

Liao Qi said sincerely: "In the entire Yu Kingdom, Li Hou is the one who understands the word 'rules' the best."

In his view.

Every word and action of Li Rui had his own principles, not rigid or pedantic, but true knowledge and action as one.

Such a person was the most trustworthy.

Li Rui nodded: "Since that is the case, then I will protect the Liao clan for five years, quietly waiting for the Marquis's return."

When he finished saying this sentence.

His net worth had suddenly risen by several levels.

In the entire Jin Ting Small Cave Heaven, he could rank in the top five.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 577 =====