Evergreen Immortal-Chapter 47: Comprehending the Dao in the Pavilion, Reforming a Martial Art

The grand assessment was fast approaching.

The number of disciples training at the Qinghe Branch's martial arena grew by the day. Occasionally, even Hall Masters and deacons could be seen among them.

This assessment concerned the distribution of benefits, everyone wanted to earn a good ranking.

“Let’s see who can stop me this time.”

Zhao Wei looked at the pill in his hand, the corners of his mouth lifting uncontrollably.

This pill had been sent to him by Kong Xianian from the Splendid Purity Sect.

In the matter of killing Xu Hua, he had assisted Kong Xianian considerably. As a gesture of gratitude, Kong had searched through his sect after completing the mission and gifted Zhao Wei this spiritual pill.

The pill was called the Vajra Pill.

It was said to be refined by a high-ranking monk of the Buddhist sect and was immensely beneficial to martial artists at the Eighth Grade Bronze Bone Realm, on par with even some Seventh Grade pills.

Although Zhao had paid for it himself, being able to purchase such a pill still left him highly satisfied.

“The Splendid Purity Sect truly is a wonderful place.”

In Qinghe, even with money, one could not buy a pill like the Vajra Pill.

In the recent operation against the Ghost Nether Sect, his subordinates had suffered the highest casualties—even Ying Liu, the vice hall master, had perished. This forced the Tianyi Hall’s plans to be put on hold.

But none of that mattered now.

With this Vajra Pill, he might just achieve perfection in the Bronze Bone Realm and gain the strength to challenge the Branch Master.

At that point, a mere Tianyi Hall would no longer be worthy of his attention.

He was determined to seize victory in this assessment!

The rapid rise of the Heaven-Earth Alliance was not only due to the unity of its three leaders, but also closely tied to its aggressive assessment system.

As Li Rui might have put it in his past life, the promotion channel was wide open, naturally, those at the bottom were highly motivated.

Each branch would begin by holding its own assessment, ranking members based on martial prowess and contributions to the branch, with the results reflected in the number displayed on their waist tokens.

Deputy Branch masters, hall masters, deacons, and even regular disciples were all required to participate, it was essentially a massive reshuffle.

Those with high rankings among the deputy branch masters and branch masters would qualify for the general headquarters' assessment.

The best could even rise to become the fourth alliance master.

To put it in modern terms: from wage worker to business partner.

Zhao Wei glanced at the number “4” engraved on his waist token.

“Spread the word, this time, Qinghe has one open spot for entry into the Splendid Purity Sect. The branch master is too old to qualify. As long as I get second place, I’ll have a chance to be recommended.”

Given a chance to enter the Splendid Purity Sect, who would be content remaining in the cramped shell of the Heaven-Earth Alliance?

Large sects like Splendid Purity Sect valued innate talent, miss the window in youth, and the opportunity was gone for life.

Zhao Wei was born a mud-legged commoner and only began practicing martial arts in his thirties; under normal circumstances, he had no chance of ever joining Splendid Purity Sect.

Now that an opportunity had finally come, he had to seize it with both hands.

He raised his head and swallowed the Vajra Pill.

“Splendid Purity Sect’s people are here again, could it be the Ghost Nether Sect affair isn’t over yet?”

Li Rui frowned in thought.

After seeing Zhu Yue and the others that day, he had gone out of his way to speak with Wang Zhao and Yang Yong.

As expected.

The trio had indeed arrived in Qinghe and were staying at the Zhu estate. Not only that, they had visited the Heaven-Earth Alliance and the Blood Tiger Gang, Qinghe’s two most powerful factions.

The details of their conversations were unknown.

Presumably, they had promised benefits to both factions, otherwise, given what had happened before, no one would want to be the next scapegoat.

“No matter, relying on oneself is the only true path.”

The tempests of the outside world were beyond his control. Only by cultivating strength within could one stand firm amid the storm.

As for the upcoming assessment, he honestly didn’t care.

He had the physique, the comprehension, and the techniques. He had no desire to dive into the bloodbath of the assessment.

Zhang Yang's promises were tempting.

But the risks were equally great.

Li Rui had survived this long by holding to one principle, stability.

Though the position of honored elder in the Civil and Martial Hall was prestigious, it came with great risks and would entangle him in countless trivial matters. Compared to that, his current post in the Tianyi Hall was far more comfortable.

So long as he achieved a passable score in the assessment, he wouldn’t offend Zhang Yang, nor would he draw too much attention from others.

He once again picked up the Daoist scripture.

“Old man, all I seek is to cultivate immortality, leave your worldly troubles behind.”

Elsewhere.

The Zhu Estate.

All three of the Splendid Purity Sect disciples had gathered in the grand hall of the Zhu family.

Han Qin was the first to speak. “We’ve sent people out. We should have news soon.”

He glanced calmly at the junior sister, Jiang Yan, standing to one side.

Had it not been for her forceful intervention, they couldn’t possibly have convinced two top Qinghe factions to act in unison within a single day.

“Ferocious, this one,” Han Qin thought inwardly.

He had rarely interacted with Jiang Yan before, beyond knowing she was the daughter of Elder Jiang, he knew little else.

Now it was clear: like father, like daughter.

The last time they met, Jiang Yan had still been at the Ninth Grade. But when she displayed her Empty Palm Strike at the Heaven-Earth Alliance, it was clear—she had broken through. She was now, like him, a Bronze Bone Realm martial artist.

Her rate of advancement was terrifying.

Perhaps years from now, he would feel honored just to have once gone on a mission with her.

With that thought, Han Qin couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

Ahem. “Junior Brother Zhu, you grew up in Qinghe and know the lay of the land well. Let’s not sit idle, why don’t we go out and search for some clues?”

Zhu Yue nodded. “Of course.”

At that moment, Jiang Yan interjected, “Senior Brother Zhu, what’s the story with that old stablehand from before?”

Zhu Yue was slightly taken aback, he hadn’t expected the calm and aloof Jiang Yan to show such concern over a mere stablehand.

If Li Rui weren’t already in his seventies, he might have considered him a romantic rival and sought to eliminate him discreetly.

“I asked around. He really was once our family’s groom. After redeeming himself from servitude, I don’t know how, but he managed to enter the martial ranks. He’s now a hall master of the Heaven-Earth Alliance’s Qinghe branch.”

Han Qin was surprised.

Such an unusual rise was certainly rare.

But he didn’t give it much thought, a seventy-something-year-old martial artist, even one who had entered the ranks, wasn’t worth his attention.

Jiang Yan nodded slightly, seemingly lost in thought.

“What’s his name?”

“I think it’s Li Rui.”

Li Rui slowly closed the True Commentary on the Southern Blossom.

“Overly rigid things snap easily, balance between hardness and softness is the key.”

The founder of the White Ape Phi Blade had possessed a clear intention: a path of brute strength and ferocious blade work, domineering, sweeping, overwhelming the enemy with wild force.

But perhaps because of insights gained in a Daoist temple, there was a hidden thread of softness within the technique.

Li Rui had only discovered this nuance after immersing himself in various Daoist scriptures.

Of course, it also had much to do with his improved comprehension.

“When things reach their extreme, they reverse; misfortune turns to blessing; ultimate yin is also ultimate yang, and vice versa, when yin and yang circulate, true mastery is achieved.”

A flash of understanding passed through his heart.

All martial techniques were created by others. No matter how well they suited him, they could never be a perfect match.

A thousand people, a thousand methods.

The White Ape Blade’s creator must have had a nature very different from Li Rui.

By contrast, Li Rui was far more steady and reserved.

Rather than blindly pursue overwhelming force, it was better to take a balanced, centered path.

Others sought wealth, power, martial greatness but he sought immortality.