Chapter 88: Qi Enters the Immortal Realm, Prodigies Weep

"Warriors differ in constitution, temperament, and preferences; true qi varies from person to person. Dreams are places where heavenly patterns are reflected—perhaps one may glimpse a thread of heavenly insight."

Li Rui’s eyes lit up.

"Truly, it’s fresh with every reading!"

Since returning from Ge Hong’s home, he had sought out many ancient texts detailing the flow of qi.

After cross-referencing them with Ge Hong’s words, everything suddenly became clear.

"Entering dreams."

Li Rui carefully recalled.

"When entering a dream, if you see a thread of qi, that dream is pointed to by heavenly insight."

"A thread of qi."

He suddenly widened his eyes.

But when he awakened the Xuanqing qi, he had seen an entire Immortal Realm!!

"Could it be I’m meant to cultivate qi into an Immortal Court?"

"Wouldn’t the form I awaken be an Immortal shape!"

Li Rui was startled by his own thought.

"Absurd!"

According to the texts, the larger the qi form one cultivates, the greater the difficulty; most people condense qi into weapons, animals, or similar forms—legendary figures sometimes shaped mountains and rivers, and the strongest managed dragons and phoenixes.

What the hell is an Immortal Realm?

And.

There isn’t even a single recorded qi-form of an Immortal Realm in this world!

Li Rui was dumbfounded.

Even the strongest prodigies of the Immortal Realm would silently wipe away tears upon seeing what he cultivates.

It’s not even the same league.

Though reason told him it was wrong, his intuition faintly pointed back to that dream.

Setting one’s ambition too high isn’t always a good thing; many have lofty aspirations, but the key is to build a ladder to the clouds—otherwise, all is empty.

He had seen too many youths in his life who began with grand ambitions but ended up accomplishing nothing.

In comparison, it’s better to choose a lower-tier qi-form—something that can at least condense into a tangible shape and be more practical.

He sighed lightly:

"Let fate decide."

After all, he hadn’t yet obtained the qi-forming method.

There was still time to think.

He closed the ancient text.

Li Rui felt his mind in chaos, his chest heavy; he pushed open the door.

Rows of ancient, elegant bookshelves came into view, instantly easing his heart.

Though now deputy commander, he still preferred reading in Tianyi Hall.

"Deputy Commander Li."

A wiry, goateed middle-aged man approached.

He was the newly appointed head of Tianyi Hall, Yang Deliu.

Tianyi Hall had improved.

Once a place shunned by all, it had now become a coveted post; Yang Deliu had previously been an overseer stationed outside, until Dao Xiong summoned him back to the branch.

Though the deputy commander lacks the head’s authority to decide, he holds the right to advise.

Dao Xiong had consulted Li Rui.

Li Rui had instantly chosen Yang Deliu from the list.

It wasn’t because Yang Deliu was exceptionally skilled in martial arts or adept at flattery.

But because he was timid.

Yes, timid.

Yang Deliu was mediocre in character, mediocre in martial skill, mediocre in appearance—but one strength: extreme caution.

Of course, in other halls, this wouldn’t be a strength.

But in Tianyi Hall, it was.

Tianyi Hall was a place that sought only to avoid failure, not to achieve glory.

And Zhao Wei’s lesson was still fresh in memory.

Li Rui had risen to deputy commander.

Those eager to ally with him would be many; choosing them became a complex art.

Choose poorly, and trouble would drag him down as deputy commander.

If he accidentally angered someone with the surname Long or Ye, he might end up being the villain himself.

Li Rui had killed many; the world held no rule that he couldn’t be killed in return.

So Li Rui’s principle was stability—avoiding trouble was achievement.

By this standard, Yang Deliu was a perfect candidate.

"Little Yang, are you settling in well at Tianyi Hall?"

Li Rui asked.

Yang Deliu beamed with flattery: "Perfectly, perfectly—I’m delighted every day to see Deputy Commander Li."

He deliberately omitted the word "deputy."

Li Rui nodded: "Good, then."

Watching the new head’s sycophantic demeanor, Zhou Shulin sneered: "Dog."

Beside him, Liang He smiled faintly: "Li Ye has his reasons."

Since Li Rui became deputy commander,

Liang He had returned to Tianyi Hall.

He went to the black market not for the market itself, but because it was the closest place to Li Rui.

His gains these past months surpassed those of the last decade.

Zhou Shulin rolled his eyes: "You’re beyond saving."

Liang He’s behavior, in Li Rui’s past life, would have been called a brain-dead fan.

Li Rui stepped out of Tianyi Hall.

Yang Deliu’s flattery was so crude even Zhou Shulin could see through it—how could Li Rui not?

But such men were precisely the ones to use.

Like a pilgrimage team heading west: you need a capable monkey, but you need more pigs who can charm and dogs who are utterly loyal.

Yang Deliu was that dog.

Li Rui needed many more dogs like Yang Deliu.

Otherwise, if everyone was defiant, Li Rui as superior would never sit easy.

"It’s all learning."

"Live long, learn long."

Leaving Tianyi Hall,

Li Rui went to the pharmacy to chat with Jiang Cheng, and generously advised him on an elixir formula.

It wasn’t that he was stingy.

But Jiang Cheng had only so many formulas—if he improved them all, his usefulness would vanish; how then could Li Rui control him to work for him?

Personality charm? Nonexistent. Pure calculation.

Without new formulas to refine, Jiang Cheng wouldn’t obey obediently.

So Li Rui had no choice but to drip-feed him.

As he stepped out,

He happened to meet the pharmacy head.

"Li Ye."

Xu Xiang gazed at Li Rui with obsequiousness.

Times had changed.

Previously, they called him "Li Hallmaster," even refusing to say "brother"—now they upgraded to "Ye."

Xu Xiang was a mix of pig and dog.

In any case, he was a necessary role in the team.

Li Rui nodded: "Go about your business."

But unexpectedly,

Xu Xiang hurried forward, leaned close, glanced left and right to ensure no one could overhear, then lowered his voice:

"Li Ye, I have something."

Seeing the mood set, Li Rui lowered his voice too:

"What is it? Speak."

Xu Xiang looked serious and solemn: “Master Li, our pharmacy has business dealings with the factions in town. This morning, Deputy Incense Master Ma of the Blood Tiger Gang came to me, saying he hoped to learn some information about your movements.”

Li Rui regarded Xu Xiang with a faint, knowing smile: “What did he offer you?”

Xu Xiang looked embarrassed: “Four eighth-grade spirit elixirs.”

Li Rui raised an eyebrow.

Quite a lavish sum.

That’s two thousand taels—just for word of where you’re going.

“Then why didn’t you tell him? Why tell me instead?”

Xu Xiang lifted his head, puffed out his chest, and slapped it loudly: “Master Li, I’m not that kind of man—I wouldn’t betray you for a few paltry benefits.”

Li Rui chuckled lightly.

“I see. It’s because Ma’s payment still isn’t enough.”

Of course, he wouldn’t say that aloud.

He patted Xu Xiang on the shoulder: “You’ve done well. I trust the pharmacy to you.”

Xu Xiang’s heart leapt with joy.

“I’m truly clever!”

Thank you to all the discerning readers supporting this novel—it’s about to be featured on the Sanjiang list. I’m stockpiling chapters through September. Thank you for your support; please keep reading and let’s push forward together!

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(End of Chapter)