[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign":3,"chapter-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-9":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},2270017,4432,"Chapter 9: Entering the Ranks","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-9",9,"\u003Cp>“I’ve entered the ranks?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui stared in disbelief at everything happening to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These signs all confirmed he had entered the Stone Skin realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jade-coated skin, blood surging to the crown!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had devoted himself to practicing the Eight Section Brocade, never expecting he would naturally break through to the Stone Skin realm without realizing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Qinghe martial arts circles, a saying had long been passed down:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Three years for skin, ten years for bones, a lifetime for tendons.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It meant an ordinary person needed at least three years to enter the Stone Skin realm—but Li Rui had done it in just one month!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This speed was truly terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It likely surpassed even the prodigies of the great sects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Isn’t it reasonable for me to stand out, given my perfect life?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the more extraordinary his achievement, the more Li Rui must guard his secret—he was seventy years old, had never trained in martial arts before, and now suddenly entering the ranks? Any sharp-eyed person would sense something amiss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If anyone discovered he bore martial bones, disaster would follow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Never grow arrogant or complacent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To possess ten parts but reveal only three or four to outsiders is the threshold of entry; to be like that Han elder demon, hiding even more, is to step fully inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After entering the ranks,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>his path had widened considerably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Great Yu state was founded on martial strength and held martial artists in high esteem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The best path, of course, was to take the martial imperial examination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master the arts of literature and martial skill, and sell them to the imperial house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The founding emperor of Great Yu, to attract talent from across the land, established the imperial examination system, where the martial examination stood equal to the civil one; anyone who passed as a Provincial Graduate could at least become a Registrar, an official formally registered with the Ministry of Personnel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A lifetime of blessings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With an official status, Li Rui could gain more time to seek immortality and the Dao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, even with a world-shaking martial bone, in another ten years he would still turn to dust—everything would be lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait until next spring to ask Master Zhu for a favor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In three months, he would turn seventy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Yu state law, slaves who reached seventy could be freed from servitude and become commoners, as a sign of filial piety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he had now entered the ranks and could gain freedom by revealing his strength,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>he was nearly seventy—others of his age were already buried, yet he had become a martial artist? To speak of it would be too shocking; he feared someone might suspect he had gained great fortune and draw the attention of villains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m not afraid of thieves stealing—I’m afraid of them watching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui didn’t want to sleep with a knife under his pillow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as a martial artist, he was still flesh and blood—a single stab would kill him, so no amount of caution was too much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve endured decades—what’s three more months?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After years of hardship, Li Rui had no shortage of patience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What a fine horse!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui stroked the four new chestnut stallions in the stable, silently praising them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their coats were pure, not a single stray hair—proof of excellent bloodline, purebred Dayuan horses; Ze , Ze , each worth at least a thousand gold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had another, more famous name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood-sweating steeds!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder Zhu’s disciple from Huaqing Sect is so extravagant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In all his years tending horses, he’d only ever glimpsed them when Zhu’s eldest son returned home for visits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A clear voice sounded behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Strange—my Little Red has a temper; she’s always kept strangers at bay, yet she’s so fond of you, stable boy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master Zhu, your household truly produces no shortage of talent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui turned to see Zhu Yue and the three Huaqing Sect disciples standing not far off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui turned with a look of deep respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having received Han Qin’s praise, Zhu Yue was in high spirits:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Li, you’ve done well. I recall you’re nearly seventy in a few months?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Young Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yue secretly delighted in his own memory: “I’ll tell my father soon—I’ll raise your stipend.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Young Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui beamed with obsequiousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These wealthy young masters were foolish with money—just a few compliments from a Huaqing disciple had broken a decade-long stagnation in his stipend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wealthier the household, the more they valued face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, Zhou Hu couldn’t help urging: “Senior brother, let’s hurry—we can’t let that traitor escape.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Qin nodded slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master Zhu, why not bring this old stable boy along? Someone must tend the horses.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the Huaqing disciple’s words,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui’s heart tightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had just heard the word “traitor”—clearly, these people were hunting that fugitive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhu Yue gave him no chance to refuse: “Senior Han, your foresight is impeccable. Old Li, come with us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui could only reluctantly agree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was still Zhu’s stable boy—he had no right to refuse; if Zhu Yue grew angry and punished him, he couldn’t withstand it—even death was possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, he’d only be watching the horses on the periphery—there should be little danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the city, in the mountain forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Esteemed masters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A middle-aged man in deep blue official robes hurried forward as Zhu Yue and the others rode up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chief Liu, thank you for your efforts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yue dismounted with the grace of a light swallow, swift and elegant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhu family held great power in Qinghe and had deep ties with the government, allowing them to mobilize over a dozen constables to search for clues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No trouble at all—a herbalist saw the thief hiding in the abandoned temple halfway up the mountain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chief Liu pointed into the forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the traitor’s location, Zhu Yue grew even more delighted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Hu rubbed his hands: “That brat injured his fellow disciples and stole Master Ma’s secret technique—sent Master Ma into a rage. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have offered four Blood-Transforming Pills as a reward.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mentioning the Blood-Transforming Pills, Zhu Yue’s smile widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One Blood-Transforming Pill greatly aided cultivation, worth a thousand gold—and even then, they were unobtainable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he obtained one, his progress toward the Eighth Rank would accelerate dramatically, saving at least a year of grueling practice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Qin spoke: “Young Master Zhu, take the southern slope. Senior Zhou, take the northern. Sister Jiang, take the western.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chief Liu, please have your men surround the temple while we engage him—don’t let him escape.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chief Liu nodded, secretly impressed—Huaqing Sect disciples were truly exceptional: meticulous planning, flawless deployment—the man was trapped, with no chance of flight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group discussed their strategy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui had nothing to do—he tied the four Huaqing Sect blood-sweating steeds to a tree stump. As he turned, he met the gaze of the Huaqing girl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the way, the group had spoken freely, not hiding anything from him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he knew the Huaqing girl’s name was Jiang Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yan cared nothing for the details of the pursuit—instead, she had been secretly observing Li Rui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Rui had noticed her, Jiang Yan turned her head away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui was even more puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What could she possibly see in him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A line of small characters appeared before his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Gained the favor of a sect noblewoman, achievement +2】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1246,"2026-06-19T22:01:09.077Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","4e84f5ce7d649f042dc8eb91e882fefe2e717652a20eaad976714b67eb129c5d","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-10","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-8",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feternal-green-immortal-sovereign-cover.jpg"]