[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign":3,"chapter-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-97":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},2270105,4432,"Chapter 97: Repel Demon Beasts, Slay Demonic Evildoers","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-97",97,"\u003Cp>In the black night, a cloud obscured the moon, plunging Qinghe City into darkness; occasionally, a few warm red lanterns could be seen along the streets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A rapid pounding of footsteps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Zhang, what’s going on?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui was woken in the dead of night by Zhang Yang, who gave no specifics—only ordered him to come along and bring his weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He threw on an outer robe and reached the branch’s entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He found Tang Sheng, Dao Xiong, two deputy branch masters, and several hall masters already assembled; together, they left the branch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yang shook his head helplessly: “I don’t know either.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They say it’s the county magistrate’s order. The branch master said nothing more—we’ll find out when we get there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui’s eyes narrowed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Such caution—it seems the county magistrate is about to make a major move.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even at the city gate, they showed no sign of stopping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are we really leaving the city?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui followed Tang Sheng and the others out of Qinghe City; after walking about a li along the official road, he saw disciples of Huaqing Sect and members of the Blood Tiger Gang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Sheng stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He bowed to the middle-aged leader of Huaqing Sect: “Exalted Envoy, all members of the Heaven and Earth Alliance are assembled.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The middle-aged man nodded: “Good. Follow me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swift and decisive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heaven and Earth Alliance had barely arrived when, without further words, he led his men into the woods beside the road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui did not see Jiang Lin’s figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He quickened his pace and found Han Qin in the crowd: “Little Han, what are we doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Qin’s face was grim:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ambush the Ghost Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Paozi Ridge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flames lit the forest crimson; the clashing of weapons and cries of battle never ceased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn Ghost Sect—die!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yang kicked a fleeing Ghost Sect disciple to the ground and brought his blade down on his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood spurted high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He dropped dead instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui had already drawn his longsword; he slashed away one charging Ghost Sect disciple, retreating subtly backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He remained always in the center of the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This position offered both offensive advantage and defensive security—an ideal spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the Ghost Sect’s stronghold; they had no shortage of experts. If someone targeted him, trouble would follow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He watched Ghost Sect disciples pouring out of the cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’ve actually found the Ghost Sect’s hideout!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ghost Sect persisted because, whenever they vanished into deep mountains, they became impossible to find.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like this cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Paozi Ridge had at least eighty, if not a hundred, such caves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless someone leaked the location, they’d never be uncovered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Li Rui knocked down approaching Ghost Sect disciples, he subtly reached out and snatched items glowing with golden light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He silently regretted it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d left in a hurry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He should’ve worn an outer robe with hidden pockets—this one couldn’t hold much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could only selectively take items rich in spiritual essence, ignoring the rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Too much—far too much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yang glanced warily toward a distance: “Ghost Mask Blade, Hu Yanzhao!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui turned his head at the sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw a massive, pot-bellied man, eight feet tall, swinging a colossal blade as tall as a man, shaped like a coffin lid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just the sight of him struck fear into the heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before him, a Huaqing Sect disciple floated like a falling leaf, locked in fierce combat with the Ghost Mask Blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two were evenly matched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Impressive footwork.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui silently praised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huaqing Sect truly was exceptional. Ghost Mask Blade was a notorious killer across several counties near Qinghe, yet the Huaqing disciple handled him with ease, pinning him down relentlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yang clicked his tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhao Wei didn’t die unjustly—no wonder his bones were never found.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui nodded: “Ghost Mask Blade lives up to his reputation. Today, we’ve avenged Deputy Branch Master Zhao.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yang laughed loudly and slashed another Ghost Sect demon to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strange, animalistic roar echoed—unidentifiable in origin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His pupils shrank sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s a demon beast!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the words left his lips, over a dozen ferocious monsters burst from the cave—some as tall as ten feet, like hills, instilling dread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui braced himself as if facing a dire enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These must be the demon beasts raised by the Ghost Sect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demon beasts were enormous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They charged through the crowd; the stronger fighters held their ground, but the weaker ones were flung dozens of feet away, collapsing and spitting blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s a Nine-Horned Silver Lizard!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui’s gaze sharpened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the massive lizard lunged at him, memories of the Nine-Horned Silver Lizard’s details surfaced in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Demon beasts were entities beyond ordinary animals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They dwelled in deep forests and remote mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most village legends of ghosts and spirits were actually caused by demon beasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People classified demon beasts from first to ninth rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Nine-Horned Silver Lizard had two main horns; upon closer inspection, small bumps clustered beside them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A rank-eight Nine-Horned Silver Lizard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When it grew nine horns, it became a rank-one demon beast capable of summoning storms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, this Nine-Horned Silver Lizard fixated on Li Rui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reluctantly, Li Rui had to fight the giant lizard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Demon! Die!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui uttered a sharp cry, his longsword weaving as he struck at the Nine-Horned Silver Lizard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was his first time facing a demon beast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the Nine-Horned Silver Lizard knew no martial arts, its hide was thick and its strength terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any ordinary martial artist would suffer grievously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With one tail lash, it deflected Li Rui’s powerful slash; sparks flew as the blade scraped across its scales.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His pupils contracted slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Incredible defense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui concealed his true strength, revealing only six-tenths of his power—yet the Nine-Horned Silver Lizard’s defense still startled him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He recalled the creature’s weakness from memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The belly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui twisted his blade, changing from a downward slash to an upward thrust, targeting the softest part of the lizard’s underbelly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After several strikes, the Nine-Horned Silver Lizard retreated repeatedly, growing cautious and hesitant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After more than a dozen moves,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui found an opening; he thrust upward, slicing a gaping wound into the creature’s pale belly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Nine-Horned Silver Lizard let out a piercing roar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its primal instincts surged; it twisted its body and bolted into the nearby woods, vanishing quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That slash had struck a vital point—the Nine-Horned Silver Lizard, even if it escaped, would not live long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The forest ahead was uncertain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The situation in the forest is unclear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui did not rashly chase after them, and let out a breath of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he was about to find an opportunity to withdraw from this chaos—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A piercing roar came from the direction of the cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Lin, do you truly intend to wipe us out completely?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, he saw a humanoid monster, its gender indiscernible, its body black-green and bloated, standing a full zhang tall, bursting out of the cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The earlier roar had come from that monster’s mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could this thing even be called a human?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui stared at the monster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He drew in a sharp breath:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wan Gui Laomu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1211,"2026-06-19T22:01:09.077Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","6196457f04472754d9d4502368e5a9096d4954cccd7e0f9d6dd6086a5ddbb0aa","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-98","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-96",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feternal-green-immortal-sovereign-cover.jpg"]