[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign":3,"chapter-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-59":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Eternal Green Immortal Sovereign",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2270067,4432,"Chapter 59: Wealth, Companion, Method, Land","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-59",59,"\u003Cp>\"Bearing supreme bone, one attains the path to heaven.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jade Bone realm is accessible only to a very few warriors with special physiques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coincidentally, Wu Gu is one of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reaching the Jade Bone realm greatly aids one’s ascent to higher realms; Li Rui certainly had no intention of letting this opportunity slip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, for him, it would not take much time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only problem was that the quantity of elixirs required for Jade Bone was far too great for his current means.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I still need to make money.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui sighed lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Yu Kingdom’s martial world, there is a saying: \"Wealth, Companion, Method, Land.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first, \"Wealth,\" needs no explanation—money can solve over ninety percent of the world’s troubles; no one toils day and night just for a few silver coins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second, \"Companion,\" does not merely refer to a romantic partner—it also includes masters, relatives, and influential figures in court; with someone to guide you, countless detours can be avoided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Method\" refers to martial arts techniques; a profound and well-suited technique can double one’s cultivation efficiency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The final \"Land\" refers to spiritual soil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As is well known, to forge spiritual elixirs, apart from the alchemist’s exceptional skill, one must also possess spiritual herbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And spiritual herbs grow only upon spiritual soil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, spiritual soil is not as mystical as legend claims—it is simply fertile land imbued with special spiritual matter, exceedingly rare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was said that a herb gatherer first discovered this pattern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the same location, peculiarly potent herbs would appear every few years, known as spiritual herbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Similar to the fungal nests where mushrooms grow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Experienced herb gatherers would memorize these spiritual herb nests and thus continuously reap substantial profits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, this drew the attention of some alchemists; after generations of research, they confirmed the root cause lay in the soil upon which the herbs grew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Note: it is the soil, not the land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only a thin surface layer qualifies as spiritual soil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Major sects that seize vast tracts of land do so to monopolize spiritual soil; the quantity of spiritual soil a sect controls reflects, to some degree, its foundational strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To seize spiritual soil, these factions have clashed repeatedly; bloodshed and death are commonplace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet such conflicts have never ceased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To become a strong one, one must fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the manner of fighting matters greatly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Chief, Sun Ming and his crew are truly despicable—they’ve colluded with human traffickers, trafficking people, ruining countless virtuous women by selling them to brothels.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang He spoke with indignation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These past few days he had stayed up late reviewing ledgers, his eyes shadowed by dark circles; though exhausted, his anger remained unmistakable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui’s expression was calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps it was numbness from witnessing too much suffering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Human traffickers are vile, but without these underworld figures, where would wealthy households get their servants, or brothels their women?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How would the magistrates in the government office enjoy themselves?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is merely human nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All Li Rui could do was hold fast to his own heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Rui show no reaction, Liang He grew anxious: \"Chief, these people don’t just traffic boys and girls—they sell fake elixirs, watered-down meat... and, and...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rattled off many offenses, yet Li Rui remained unmoved; Liang He grew even more agitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Youth is most intolerant of such filth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And they sell smuggled salt!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui’s lips curled slightly, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Smuggled salt? That truly is a grave crime.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"????\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang He’s face was full of question marks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So all those dozens of crimes he listed, and the chief only heard the part about smuggled salt?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several days passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang He assumed Chief Li would take some action.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever the crime, at least some clarity could be restored to the black market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to his surprise, after learning of everything, Li Rui remained as if nothing had happened, continuing to read as usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He even went out less often.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This left Liang He baffled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he understood: the black market had operated for so long that the masterminds could not possibly be just a minor figure like Sun Ming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not him, nor even Li Rui, could topple them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is that all we can do?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more he saw Sun Ming, the angrier he became; had he not remembered Li Rui’s words, he would have already beaten Sun Ming senseless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Big Brother Sun.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang He nodded amiably at Sun Ming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ve truly matured.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Ming was taken aback; he had expected trouble when submitting his ledger, but days passed with no incident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the boy who came with Li Rui bowed and scraped before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Ming immediately relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s clear: those who become overseers aren’t fools. The black market’s business is backed by Deputy Commander Zhao, the county magistrate, even the Grand Headquarters’ master.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How could a mere overseer dare interfere?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone who \"understands the situation\" chooses to turn a blind eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The previous overseer did the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"An old-fashioned man.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Ming grinned, offering Liang He what he thought was a kind smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang He, recalling the sounds he’d heard in the alley, felt nauseous; he quickened his steps, unwilling to look at Sun Ming’s fat face again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this scene struck Sun Ming’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The old man’s scared.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Look, even his little brother runs away when he sees me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Ming straightened his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stay humble, stay patient. Tomorrow I’ll send some gifts. But at seventy, can he still...? This batch of live goods has two top-grade ones. Still... what if he’s fond of boys?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Ming’s small eyes darted back and forth, trying to discern Li Rui’s preferences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once you understand your superior’s tastes, half the job is done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Li Rui arrived on the fifth floor of the black market, a delicate box already sat on the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as large as a human head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui walked to the table and lifted the lid; a golden glow filled his vision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Gold?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised an eyebrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wooden box was filled solidly with gold bars—easily a hundred taels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One tael of gold equals ten taels of silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meaning, this box contained a full thousand taels of silver!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui licked his lips: \"The black market really is wealthy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mere minor commander could produce a thousand taels—even Li Rui, as chief, couldn’t muster that much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bribing me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui smiled and shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A clever man.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Ming’s actions were perfectly understandable—and he didn’t stint; he was willing to spend heavily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Li Rui was tempted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Too bad—we’re not on the same side.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could never allow a man loyal to Zhao Wei to remain near him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How can one allow another to sleep in one’s own bed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Loyalty is a fundamental issue; no personal skill can compensate. Just as he would never think of flattering Zhao Wei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No amount of gold or silver would suffice unless one was willing to defect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what good fate awaits a traitor?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus Li Rui’s philosophy has always been: either don’t make enemies; if you do, crush them to death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be merciful to an enemy is to be cruel to oneself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1205,"2026-06-19T22:01:09.077Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","2edb82723d7fd5ec97d42b609f496748792a490ba55faef79acdf7757b2d26fe","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-60","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-58",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feternal-green-immortal-sovereign-cover.jpg"]