[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign":3,"chapter-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-94":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},2270102,4432,"Chapter 94: Huaqing Sect Recruitment Contest","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-94",94,"\u003Cp>“Whoa, surname Jiang, and good-looking too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This kid is not to be trifled with.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui rubbed his chin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to rumors, Jiang Linxian was about forty, his physique truly astonishingly fine; it was said that in his youth, he had bewitched countless female disciples of Huaqing Sect, then married young, only for his wife to die in childbirth, after which he never remarried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was practically the protagonist archetype.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Li Rui didn’t care about any of this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He merely wanted to see if he could gain some insight from Jiang Linxian, the Seven-Form man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Onstage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>County Magistrate Zhang stepped forward first, three strides at a time, running up: “Elder Jiang, you’ve finally arrived! Your humble servant, Zhang Linkang, has long heard of your great name—now that I see you in person, you truly exude noble bearing and commanding presence.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Linxian gazed at County Magistrate Zhang with a faint, ambiguous smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s got quite the gift for words.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>County Magistrate Zhang led the way ahead, while Jiang Linxian finally took his seat, unhurried, in the very center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yan, seeing her father arrive on time, finally let out a breath she’d been holding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given Jiang Linxian’s temperament, she’d truly feared he might suddenly cancel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Elder Jiang, your journey must have been tiring—I’ve prepared some autumn tea; would you care for a cup?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, he signaled to a subordinate nearby, making no mention of the recruitment contest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huaqing Sect’s disciple selection was official business.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as appearances were maintained, that was enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But drinking tea was personal business—the real way to help his promotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Have a cup of tea, chat a while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Opportunities arise precisely like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing County Magistrate Zhang refuse outright to mention the contest, Jiang Linxian had no choice but to interrupt: “No need. The hour is late—we should begin soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then we shall follow Elder Jiang’s wishes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the magistrate’s signal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Assistant Magistrate Li cleared his throat: “The contest begins. Bring forth the scholar-candidates.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Scholar-candidate” was a term from the imperial examinations; every year, the government oversaw Huaqing Sect’s recruitment contest, and the name had stuck through habit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had he spoken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A clerk led three men onto the stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>County Magistrate Zhang’s smile widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, Huaqing Sect’s recruitment slots were chosen from Qinghe County and three surrounding counties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This year, because Qinghe County had been instrumental in suppressing the Ghost Ming  Sect, the slots were awarded solely to Qinghe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Producing even one Huaqing Sect disciple was a major achievement to report to the prefectural office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A free merit point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He naturally welcomed this outcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Linxian glanced at Zhong Lei, then at the two youths, and immediately understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just fodder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yan had already told him everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huaqing Sect had its rules—age was an unbreakable red line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even thirty-five was too old.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their bone structure and cultivation path were already set; even if one wished to nurture them, they could never amount to much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From eighth-rank to seventh-rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What good would that do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huaqing Sect didn’t lack seventh-rank warriors—it sought potential masters who could become pillars of the sect; everything else were merely loyal worker ants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From any angle, Zhong Lei did not meet the criteria.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Jiang Linxian appeared reckless in his conduct, he actually held rules in the highest regard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason he gave such an impression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was because he had reached the point where every action and movement naturally conformed to the rules—he had attained the realm of acting freely without transgressing them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to Han Qin beside him: “Little Han, isn’t it? Go and spar with each of these three.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Qin bowed, drew his sword, and stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huaqing Sect’s disciple selection judged combat ability—but not solely on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, contestants varied greatly in age and cultivation base; Huaqing sought potential geniuses, not mere brawlers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mutual duels were unsuitable, so typically a Huaqing senior would take turns sparring with each candidate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gentlemen, who shall go first?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Qin smiled gently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Wenxuan and Liu Tong from the Blood Tiger Gang exchanged glances, both hesitant—Han Qin was already eighth-rank, while they were only ninth-rank; the gap was too wide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll go!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While they hesitated, Zhong Lei strode forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His twin hammers were already gripped tight, battle aura surging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Qin remained calm and refined, slowly drawing his longsword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Forgive me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Lei growled, lunged forward, and in an instant swung his massive hammer in a full arc toward Han Qin’s crown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Qin’s eyes flashed with sharp light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Weapons are dead; people are alive. What breaks a hundred weapons is not the weapon—it is the person!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui’s words echoed in Han Qin’s ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strike!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Qin abandoned his usual elegant, flowing Falling Petals Sword technique, crouched low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He slipped directly beneath Zhong Lei’s crotch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simultaneously, his blade sliced open Zhong Lei’s pant leg.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What kind of move is that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several Huaqing disciples stared blankly—they had no memory of Senior Han ever using such a low-blow technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Lei frowned, glancing at his torn pant leg.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That strike had seemed dishonorable—and indeed it was—but it was also brutally effective; had the blade pierced his groin, he’d have been castrated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cold sweat broke out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huaqing Sect’s elite are truly formidable—I, Zhong, yield.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Lei, however, was magnanimous, conceding defeat without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Qin looked slightly embarrassed: “You’re too kind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t wanted to fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Rui’s words rang in his ears like a curse—he simply couldn’t resist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Linxian’s lips curled slightly upward:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Falling Petals Sword is a woman’s art—but this boy has made it seem manly. Good, good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Jiang Linxian’s comment,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>no one dared to agree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Falling Petals Sword technique carried considerable prestige within Huaqing Sect—only Jiang Linxian would dare to critique it so bluntly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Lei lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Wenxuan gritted his teeth, stepped forward: “Master, please instruct me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Qin nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, having seen the precedent, he fought far more gently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He exchanged over twenty strikes before finally disarming He Wenxuan with a single flick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Wenxuan stared at his fallen sword on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took a deep breath, bowed: “Master, your swordplay is exquisite—I am in awe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only by experiencing it firsthand could one grasp the true power of Han Qin’s sword art.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had sparred before with eighth-rank sword masters in his own gang—but this was entirely different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The depth of a great sect is truly extraordinary.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Wenxuan grew even more nervous, his desire to join Huaqing Sect burning hotter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your turn.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Qin smiled at Liu Tong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tong took a deep breath, bowed: “Master, please.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For this grand competition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had prepared thoroughly; even his brother-in-law Zhang Yang had specially trained him with sparring for a full month, greatly improving his blade technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as He Wenxuan had done before, Han Qin slowed her swordplay considerably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tong wielded his Tiger Guard Blade with considerable skill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could barely hold his ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After thirty moves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was defeated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The match ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Below the stage, many martial artists marveled at the exquisite swordplay of Han Qin, a top disciple of Huaqing Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>County Magistrate Zhang cleared his throat:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Elder Jiang, do you have any preferred candidates?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1209,"2026-06-19T22:01:09.077Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","c03423069dd57bc40a70bcfbfc895ae42abe749a76481341407f00245b59aea9","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-95","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-93",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feternal-green-immortal-sovereign-cover.jpg"]