[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign":3,"chapter-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-77":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},2270085,4432,"Chapter 77: Do Not Stand Beneath a Leaning Wall","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-77",77,"\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His five fingers curled like an eagle’s talons; the hard rock fragments shattered piece by piece in Li Rui’s hands, finally cracking into a pile of powder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A thousand catties of strength.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now he could truly smash bricks with ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui estimated that after reaching Golden Bone, his strength had finally crossed the threshold of a thousand catties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His qi power had doubled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a sign of perfected Copper Bone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most martial masters at this stage would attempt to break through to Willow Tendon Realm, but for Li Rui, who bore martial bones, this was far from enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now he had ample resources, superior bones, and a suitable scripture—he must attain Jade Bone Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A solid foundation in the early stages allows one to go farther.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To settle for merely a seventh-rank level would be to waste a divine gift; such martial bones given to him would be squandered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the finest talent cannot be achieved overnight—it demands relentless training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui stared at the empty wooden box.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had just consumed the last Strength-Bone Pill to break through to Golden Bone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had expected it to last at least two months, yet it was all gone in just seven days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the progress was highly encouraging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I need more pills.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alchemy Chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the alchemy furnace, crimson flames hissed as if cracking with burning resin and wood fat, a scene of intense heat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui and Jiang Cheng watched the furnace with tense expressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait, just a little longer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ten.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Done!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost the instant Li Rui spoke, Jiang Cheng rushed to the furnace, lifted the lid, and pulled out the pills inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, the aroma of the pills filled the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The medicinal potency has increased by at least forty percent—nearly seventh-rank pill quality.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After confirming the pill’s grade, Jiang Cheng himself found it unbelievable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His alchemy skills had surged during this period.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was inseparable from Li Rui’s exquisite control over the fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Here’s your share of the pills.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Cheng selected seven pills from the dozen and handed them to Li Rui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their cooperation model had improved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui provided some herbs bought from the black market, helped Jiang Cheng refine the pills, and after completion, took pills of equivalent value, leaving the rest at the pharmacy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this way,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui obtained a wider variety and higher-grade pills, while Jiang Cheng could find more pill formulas for Li Rui to refine the fire control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A win-win.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui received the pills, delighted, and prepared to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Jiang Cheng showed no sign of leaving—he had already started another furnace of ordinary pills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After this period of exposure,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui had gained some understanding of pill formulas; from a quick listen, this one seemed to be for treating sword wounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was already the third furnace today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sensed something odd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While healing pills for sword wounds were commonly used in the Heaven and Earth Alliance, where fighting was frequent, today’s quantity was excessive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The branch must be facing some trouble—otherwise, why suddenly stockpile so many healing pills?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui probed: “Little Jiang, who requested these pills?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Cheng, obsessed with alchemy and simple-minded, answered without hesitation: “Commander Dao himself ordered them—he said we’re about to strike the Ghost Ming  Sect, and they’ll be needed soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As expected.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui’s eyes narrowed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had previously heard rumors that County Magistrate Zhang had summoned all major figures in Qinghe for a meeting to jointly confront the Ghost Ming  Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed an attack was imminent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Should I pretend to be sick again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui pondered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, due to his advanced age, Commander Dao had not included him in operations against the Ghost Ming  Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But with manpower shortages, they might revive the idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They won’t send an old, sick man into battle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui fell ill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He caught a cold and lay in bed for several days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During this time, Wu Tu and Zhang Yang both visited—he was clearly suffering from a cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Martial artists have strong bodies, but that doesn’t mean they’re immune to illness; in this world, they still fall sick, and without treatment, they die just like anyone else—eighth-rank was far from invulnerable to all evils.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pretending to be sick would eventually be discovered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If word reached Commander Dao—or even Tang Sheng—the situation would become very troublesome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To catch a cold,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui had stayed in the ice cellar for four full days and nights before succeeding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A little physical discomfort could spare him from danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought it well worth it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just days after he fell ill, Commander Dao summoned the Qinghe branch of the Heaven and Earth Alliance to launch a raid on the Ghost Ming  Sect—this time, all supervisors and hall masters were deployed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui had originally been on the list.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But upon hearing Li Rui was ill, Commander Dao personally came to Li’s residence to check.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then considered that Li Rui was indeed elderly and sick, making him unsuitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, upon reflection, the raid on the Ghost Ming  Sect was top secret, known to very few; Li Rui couldn’t possibly have timed his illness so precisely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he let it drop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui understood clearly: Commander Dao’s visit was ostensibly to check on him, but in truth, to confirm whether he was faking illness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if he were young and strong, even a real cold wouldn’t have saved him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the combined effect of both factors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Being old does come with privileges.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qinghe branch of the Heaven and Earth Alliance moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tianyi Hall had too few personnel—Liang He and Zhou Shulin didn’t go—but the black market contributed many.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li’s residence, room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Li, you’re so old now—stop running around all day. Our bodies aren’t what they used to be.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yong entered carrying a bowl of hot soup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Quick, drink it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui took the hot soup and sipped from the rim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had told no one about faking illness, so Yang Yong and Wang Zhao knew nothing of the truth; for an elderly man to fall ill was perfectly normal—Li Rui’s previous vigor was the exception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yong looked deeply worried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He genuinely feared Li Rui would die before him, leaving him the last person left to talk to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As one grows old, loneliness is the greatest fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where’s Xiao Zhao?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t seen Wang Zhao for half a day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yong: “He’s in the kitchen—he boiled this soup for five straight hours, never closing his eyes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s a thoughtful boy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui smiled faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Wang Zhao wasn’t clever, he was sincere and willing to endure hardship—who wouldn’t like such a child?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui drank the medicine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He picked up the nearby Great Void True Scripture and began flipping through it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Practicing martial arts right after falling ill would be too conspicuous—reading Daoist scriptures was better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spent the night reading books.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dim candlelight flickered, but Li Rui now had no shortage of money for oil, otherwise the long night would have been unbearable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without realizing it,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>he fell into a drowsy sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt like a dream, yet unreal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before him stretched an undispelling thick white mist; in the distance, he glimpsed a corner of a palace’s upturned eaves, where dragons and phoenixes seemed to dance amid the clouds, and the joyful cries of celestial birds and spiritual beasts reached his ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thin blue smoke rose, settling before a bamboo platform strung with strings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What a magnificent immortal mountain scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An old Daoist softly chanted:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rest the essence, still the qi, nourish the spirit; essence nourishes the dantian, qi nourishes the body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoever learns this art becomes immortal, free from death.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1296,"2026-06-19T22:01:09.077Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","6085b676d7ba3456e5fcf8542c5947794341f8e6be40c3063bd213c3cc4e4a29","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-78","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-76",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feternal-green-immortal-sovereign-cover.jpg"]