Green Emperor Indestructible Scripture

That morning, all the soldiers were summoned to the parade ground.

The eight thousand surviving defenders of North-Rejecting City, combined with the forty thousand regular troops from the capital, stood in a dense, dark mass that filled the entire grounds.

On the high platform, the Seventh Prince stood with his hands behind his back.

His complexion had returned to a healthy glow, and his aura was as steady as a mountain; clearly, his injuries had fully healed.

The frail, near-death appearance he once had was nowhere to be seen.

Below the platform, everyone was watching him.

Li Jinshui stood among the crowd, his gaze also fixed upon that figure.

Over the past few days, he had heard more bad news—the General of the North-Suppressing had led his troops out to fight again, and had been defeated once more.

The losses in this battle were even greater, and the General himself had barely managed to return alive. As for Yanmen Pass, they could now only hold their ground, no longer daring to engage in open battle.

With both the northern and southern fronts crying out for help, the Great Zhou court and the public were in an uproar.

At a time like this, the Seventh Prince calling a grand assembly was clearly intended to boost morale.

Sure enough, the Seventh Prince began to speak.

His voice was not loud, yet it reached every person's ears with perfect clarity:

"You have all worked hard these past few days."

The parade ground was so quiet that the sound of the wind could be heard.

"The Di People besieged the city for a month, and you held it for a month. How many enemies you have killed, how much blood you have shed—This Prince has seen it all."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the crowd below:

"I have summoned you today for one reason—rewards!"

"Those with merit shall be promoted and granted land and silver!"

"For those who died in battle, the compensation shall be doubled, and their families will be supported by the Imperial Court!"

"Those who fought bravely shall be rewarded on the spot; there will be no delays!"

As his words fell, the crowd below erupted into a clamor.

Some began to cheer, others were so moved their eyes turned red, and many more clenched their fists tightly, staring fixedly at the platform.

Next, names were called out one by one, and soldiers were summoned to the stage to receive their rewards.

Qin Lie was promoted to centurion and awarded fifty taels of silver.

Although Zhao Tieniu had not yet recovered from his injuries, he was carried up and awarded thirty taels. Even Monkey, due to his outstanding performance during this period, was rewarded with ten taels of silver and a Blood-Qi Pill.

With every name called, a wave of cheers erupted from the crowd.

Li Jinshui stood in the throng, watching those familiar faces head to the stage one by one, the corners of his mouth curling slightly.

Then, he heard his own name.

"Li Jinshui."

The entire field suddenly fell silent for a moment.

Countless gazes swept over in unison, landing on Li Jinshui.

People began to whisper among themselves.

"Is that him? The one who was chased and beaten by a Pulse-Opening Realm expert and still managed to run back alive?"

"That's the one! I heard about that day; it was a miserable sight! That Di Pulse-Opening expert chased him for nearly half an hour, landing palm strike after palm strike—he must have broken countless bones, yet he somehow didn't kill him!"

"Not just didn't kill him! He even made it back to the city in the end! The Seventh Prince personally intervened to save him!"

"Damn... an Inner Strength Realm soldier escaping from a Pulse-Opening expert? Is he even human?"

"He's no human! I saw it with my own eyes; the kid was covered in blood, cursing as he ran. By the time he crawled back, he was practically falling apart, yet he was out of bed after only three days of rest! Three days!"

"Damn, what kind of monster is this..."

The regular troops from the capital, who had previously looked at the North-Rejecting City soldiers with contempt, now looked at Li Jinshui with expressions that had completely changed—surprise, awe, and even a hint of admiration.

Being able to escape from a Pulse-Opening expert, no matter the method, was a feat of true skill.

Li Jinshui listened to the chatter with a blank expression, simply walking toward the high platform.

But inside, he was cursing up a storm:

Damn it, is being chased and beaten something to be proud of? If you're so capable, why don't you try it!

He stepped onto the platform and cupped his fists: "This subordinate is here."

The Seventh Prince looked at him, his gaze filled with undisguised appreciation.

"I have heard of your affairs. At the late stage of the Inner Strength Realm, to be chased and beaten by a Pulse-Opening expert for nearly half an hour and still return alive—out of the hundred thousand people in North-Rejecting City, you are the only one who could do it."

A low hum of discussion rose from the crowd again.

Li Jinshui kept his head down, thinking to himself: Your Highness, are you praising me? Because it sounds like you're just describing how badly I got beaten...

The Seventh Prince continued: "You came out of the Death Squad Camp, fought your way from Body Forging to the late stage of the Inner Strength Realm in three months, killed over a hundred enemies, took down more than twenty Inner Strength Realm foes, and even escaped the hands of a Pulse-Opening expert. This record is unique in all of North-Rejecting City."

He paused, his voice rising a notch:

"By military merit, you should be promoted to centurion. But this prince feels that a mere centurion is not worthy of you."

Li Jinshui jerked his head up, shock flashing in his eyes.

Not worthy?

What did that mea—

The next moment, Seventh Prince pulled a thin booklet from his robes and held it out to him.

"This is the Green Emperor Indestructible Scripture, a cultivation technique for the Pulse-Opening Realm. It is the next stage of the Evergreen Art."

Li Jinshui was completely stunned.

He looked down at the booklet, a surge of wild joy washing over him.

A Pulse-Opening Realm technique?

The next stage of the Evergreen Art?

He had thought that receiving some reward money and a promotion to centurion would already be a heaven-sent blessing.

Yet Seventh Prince had actually given him a Pulse-Opening Realm technique directly?

And a compatible one at that?!

Hahahahaha!

His hands trembled slightly.

"Your... Your Highness..." His voice went dry as he reached out and quickly tucked it into his robes. "This... this is too precious, this humble general..."

Seventh Prince waved a hand, cutting him off.

"The Evergreen Art and the Green Emperor Indestructible Scripture share the same origin; they are among the foundational techniques of the Heavenly Cloud Sect. The Heavenly Cloud Sect has long-standing ties with the Great Zhou imperial family, and many imperial descendants and guest elders throughout the generations have joined the sect. This technique is a gift from the Heavenly Cloud Sect to the imperial family, intended specifically for those with talent."

He looked at Li Jinshui, a flicker of anticipation in his eyes:

"However, this technique is extremely difficult to cultivate and has high requirements for aptitude. The imperial family has obtained many copies over the years, but those who have truly mastered it can be counted on one's fingers. That you could bring the Evergreen Art to great completion shows you have the aptitude. Giving this technique to you means it has found the right person."

The foundational technique of the Heavenly Cloud Sect.

An imperial treasure.

A peerless technique that countless geniuses failed to master.

He cupped his fists and bowed deeply:

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Seventh Prince patted his shoulder and pulled a palm-sized jade tablet from his robes, handing it to him.

The tablet was emerald green, with the character "Yun" carved on the front and intricate patterns on the back; it was clearly no ordinary item.

"This is an entry token for the Heavenly Cloud Sect," Seventh Prince said. "Take it, and in the future, you may go to the Heavenly Cloud Sect to seek a master. But remember, this is only a token; it only grants you the qualification to participate in the entrance examination. Whether you can truly be accepted into the Heavenly Cloud Sect depends on your own ability."

Li Jinshui took the jade tablet, feeling its weight in his hand.

An entry token for the Heavenly Cloud Sect.

He, an orphan from the Death Squad Camp, a mud-legged soldier sold into the cannon fodder battalion, had actually obtained an entry token for the Heavenly Cloud Sect.

Li Jinshui stood up and turned to leave the stage.

He gripped the technique and the jade tablet so hard his knuckles turned white.

As he walked off the stage, the crowd automatically parted to make way.

The gazes that fell upon him were filled with envy, jealousy, and awe.

Even a few Inner Strength Realm experts from the capital took the initiative to nod at him, with one even calling out, "Brother Li, well done!"

Li Jinshui ignored those gazes.

He simply clutched his belongings and walked back to his position, step by step.

But he could no longer suppress the corners of his mouth.

As he passed Yun Ruoxi, he paused and glanced to the side.

Yun Ruoxi stood there in her purple robes, still high and mighty.

But the expression on that face—

In his seventeen years of life, Li Jinshui had never known a person's expression could look so ugly.

It was not anger, nor jealousy, but a complex emotion that was hard to describe.

She stared at the technique and the jade tablet in Li Jinshui's hands, her lips pressed tightly together, the corners of her mouth slightly downturned as if she were struggling to control something. The light in her eyes dimmed and brightened, brightened and dimmed, finally settling into a deep, gloomy darkness.

Her hands gripped her sleeves, her knuckles white.

Three days ago, she had looked down on him with condescension, saying she would grant him a position as a guest elder of the Yun Family and allow him to marry into the Yun Family.

Three days later, Seventh Prince had personally placed the Heavenly Cloud Sect's foundational technique and entry token into his hands.

The Heavenly Cloud Sect.

The Heavenly Cloud Sect, which stood at a level far above the Yun Family.

The jade token in his hand was something the disciples of her Yun Family couldn't even dream of obtaining.

Yet, just three days ago, she had been flaunting how formidable the Yun Family was right in front of him.

Li Jinshui withdrew his gaze and continued walking forward.

He did not smile, did not speak, and did not even quicken his pace.

He simply walked back to his position with that calm demeanor.

Yet that calmness was more agonizing to Yun Ruoxi than any display of triumph.

Behind him, a faint, cold snort drifted over.

It was the voice of Yun Ruoxi, kept very low, yet Li Jinshui still heard it:

"What is there to be smug about? Is the Green Emperor Indestructible Scripture really that easy to master? Countless geniuses have been broken by it; a peasant like him... even if he takes it, it's useless if he can't cultivate it."

Li Jinshui's footsteps faltered for a moment, but he did not turn back.

A slight curve tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Can't cultivate it?

He glanced at his panel, where a new line had already appeared:

[Green Emperor Indestructible Scripture: Not Yet Initiated (Cultivation Requirement: Evergreen Art at Perfection)]

He had the panel, he had points, and he had an endless supply of enemies to kill.

What did he have to fear about failing to cultivate it?

He continued walking forward.

Back at his spot, Monkey was already flushed with excitement, tugging at his sleeve and chattering incessantly.

Li Jinshui didn't take any of it in.

He simply tucked the Green Emperor Indestructible Scripture and the jade token close to his body, placing them alongside the pouch of fifty taels of silver.

Then he raised his head and looked toward the stage.

The Seventh Prince had already begun to continue the conferral of rewards.

But he knew that he would never forget anything that happened today for the rest of his life.

From this day on, he was no longer the cannon fodder of the Death Squad Camp, waiting to be slaughtered at will.

From this day on, he possessed a cultivation technique for the Pulse-Opening Realm and an entry credential for the Heavenly Cloud Sect.

From this day on—

He was one step closer to those who stood high above.

Behind him, Yun Ruoxi's gaze pricked at his back like needles.

Li Jinshui did not turn around.

He simply said to himself, softly:

Lady Yun, just you wait and see.

See how I master the Green Emperor Indestructible Scripture.