Green Emperor Indestructible Scripture

That morning, all the soldiers were summoned to the drill grounds.

The eight thousand surviving defenders of North-Rejecting City, together with the forty thousand regular troops from the Capital City, packed the entire drill grounds, a sea of dark uniforms.

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

His complexion had regained its healthy color, and his presence was steady as a mountain. Clearly, his injuries had completely healed.

The frail figure who had once nearly died was nowhere to be seen.

Below the platform, everyone watched him.

Li Jinshui stood among the crowd, his gaze resting on that figure as well.

Over the past few days, he had heard another piece of bad news—the General of the North-Suppressing had left the city to fight again, and had lost once more.

The losses in this battle were even greater. Even the general himself had barely made it back. Over at Yanmen Pass, they could only hold the line and defend to the death; they no longer dared to launch attacks recklessly.

Both the northern and southern fronts were in crisis, and the whole of Great Zhou was shaken.

At a time like this, the Seventh Prince had called everyone together, clearly to boost morale.

Sure enough, the Seventh Prince spoke.

His voice was not loud, but every word carried clearly to everyone present:

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

The drill grounds were so quiet that the wind could be heard.

"The Di People besieged the city for a month, and you defended it for a month. I saw how many enemies you killed and how much blood you shed."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the crowd below:

"I've gathered you here today for one reason—to reward you!"

"Those who distinguished themselves will be promoted and ennobled, and rewarded with silver and land!"

"Those who died in battle will receive double compensation, and the Imperial Court will provide for their families!"

"Those who fought bravely will be rewarded on the spot, without a single delay!"

As his words fell, the crowd erupted in an uproar.

Some began cheering, others were so moved their eyes reddened, and many more clenched their fists tightly, staring fixedly at the platform.

One by one, names were called, and one by one, soldiers were summoned to the platform to receive their rewards.

Qin Lie was promoted to a hundred-man commander 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, for his outstanding performance during this time, was awarded ten taels of silver and a Blood-Qi Pill.

Every time a name was called, a wave of cheers rose from the crowd.

Li Jinshui stood among them, watching familiar faces go up one by one. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

Then he heard his own name.

"Li Jinshui."

The entire crowd fell silent for a moment.

Countless gazes swept over and landed on Li Jinshui.

People began whispering among themselves.

"Is that him? The one who got chased around by a Pulse-Opening Realm warrior and still made it back alive?"

"That's right! I heard about it. It was gruesome! That Di People Pulse-Opening Realm warrior chased him for nearly half an hour, slamming him with palm strikes over and over. Who knows how many bones he broke, but the guy still couldn't kill him!"

"Not only did he fail to kill him, he even let him escape back into the city! The Seventh Prince personally stepped in to save him!"

"Holy crap... Someone in the Inner Strength Realm escaped from a Pulse-Opening Realm warrior? Is he even human?"

"He's not human! I saw it with my own eyes. That kid was covered in blood, cursing as he ran. By the time he crawled back, he was practically falling apart, but after lying in bed for three days, he was back on his feet! Three days!"

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

Before this, the regular troops from the Capital City had looked down on the soldiers of North-Rejecting City. But now, when they looked at Li Jinshui, their eyes had completely changed—surprise, awe, and even a measure of respect.

Anyone who could escape from a Pulse-Opening Realm warrior, by whatever means, had real skill.

Li Jinshui listened to the chatter without changing his expression and simply walked toward the platform.

But inwardly, he was cursing up a storm:

Damn it, what's so glorious about getting chased and beaten? If you think you can do better, go up there yourselves!

He climbed onto the platform and clasped his hands. "Your subordinate is here."

The Seventh Prince looked at him, undisguised admiration in his eyes.

"I've heard what happened to you. You were in the late stage of the Inner Strength Realm, yet a Pulse-Opening Realm warrior chased and beat you for nearly half an hour, and you still made it back alive. Among the more than a hundred thousand people in North-Rejecting City, you're the only one who could have done that."

Another ripple of murmurs rose from below.

Li Jinshui lowered his head, but inwardly he thought, Your Highness, are you praising me? Because it sounds like you're saying I got beaten to a pulp...

The Seventh Prince continued, "You came out of the Death Squad Camp, went from Body Forging to the late stage of the Inner Strength Realm in three months, killed over a hundred enemies, slew more than twenty Inner Strength Realm warriors, and even escaped a Pulse-Opening Realm warrior. No one else in North-Rejecting City has a record like yours."

He paused, raising his voice a little:

"Based on your military merits, you should be promoted to a hundred-man commander. But I think such a lowly position is beneath you."

Li Jinshui abruptly raised his head, a look of astonishment flashing in his eyes.

Beneath him?

What did that mea—

The next moment, the Seventh Prince took a thin booklet from his robe and held it out to him.

"This is the Green Emperor Indestructible Scripture, a Pulse-Opening Realm cultivation method. It's the next stage after the Evergreen Art."

Li Jinshui froze.

He looked down at the booklet, his heart bursting with joy.

A Pulse-Opening Realm cultivation method?

The next stage after the Evergreen Art?

He had thought that getting some silver and a promotion to a hundred-man commander would already be a tremendous blessing.

But the Seventh Prince had actually given him a Pulse-Opening Realm cultivation method outright?

And one that went with his current art?!

Hahahahaha!

His hands trembled slightly,

"Y-Your Highness..." His voice was dry as he swiftly reached out and took it, tucking it against his chest. "This... this is far too precious. Your subordinate..."

The Seventh Prince waved a hand, cutting him off.

"The Evergreen Art and the Green Emperor Indestructible Scripture share the same origin. The latter is one of the Heavenly Cloud Sect's foundational cultivation methods. The Heavenly Cloud Sect has long-standing ties with the Great Zhou Imperial Family. Many members of the royal family and imperial retainers throughout the generations have joined the sect. This cultivation method was a gift from the Heavenly Cloud Sect to the Imperial Family, reserved for those with talent."

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

"However, this method is extremely difficult to cultivate and demands exceptional aptitude. The Imperial Family has received quite a few copies over the years, but those who have truly mastered it can be counted on one hand. You managed to cultivate the Evergreen Art to great mastery, which proves you have the aptitude. I'm giving you this method because it has found the right person."

The Heavenly Cloud Sect's foundational cultivation method.

A treasured possession of the Imperial Family.

A peerless cultivation method that countless geniuses had failed to master.

He clasped his hands and bowed deeply:

"Thank you, Your Highness."

The Seventh Prince patted his shoulder, then took a palm-sized jade token from his robe and handed it to him.

The token was jade-green all over, with the character "Yun" engraved on the front and an intricate pattern on the back. It was clearly no ordinary item.

"This is an admission token for the Heavenly Cloud Sect," the Seventh Prince said. "Keep it. Someday, you can take it to the Heavenly Cloud Sect and seek a master. But remember, it's only a token. It grants you the right to take the entrance examination. Whether you can truly join the Heavenly Cloud Sect will depend on your own ability."

Li Jinshui took the token and held it in his hand. It felt heavy.

An admission token for the Heavenly Cloud Sect.

He was an orphan from the Death Squad Camp, a nobody sold into a cannon-fodder battalion, yet he had somehow gotten an admission token for the Heavenly Cloud Sect.

Li Jinshui stood and turned to leave the platform.

He clutched the cultivation method and the jade token in his hand, his knuckles turning white.

As he reached the crowd, people automatically made way for him.

The gazes fixed on him held envy, jealousy, and awe.

Several Inner Strength Realm experts from the Capital City even nodded to him of their own accord. One of them called out, "Brother Li, you've got some real skill!"

Li Jinshui paid no attention to those gazes.

He simply clutched the things in his hands and walked step by step back to his place.

But he could no longer suppress the smile tugging at his lips.

As he passed Lady Yun Ruoxi, he paused and glanced sideways.

Yun Ruoxi stood there in purple, still as haughty as ever.

But the expression on her face—

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

It wasn't anger or jealousy, but something complicated that defied explanation.

She stared at the cultivation method and jade token in Li Jinshui's hands, her lips pressed tightly together, the corners of her mouth drooping slightly as if she were struggling to hold something back. The light in her eyes dimmed, then brightened, then dimmed again, until it finally turned into a deep, sullen gloom.

Her hand clenched her sleeve, her knuckles turning white.

Three days ago, she had looked down from on high and offered him alms, saying she would give him a position as a retainer of the Yun Family and have him marry into the family.

Three days later, the Seventh Prince had personally placed the Heavenly Cloud Sect's foundational cultivation method and admission token in his hands.

The Heavenly Cloud Sect.

A sect in a league far above the Yun Family.

The jade token in his hand was something the Yun Family's own disciples could beg for and never obtain.

And three days ago, she had still been bragging to him about how powerful the Yun Family was.

Li Jinshui turned his gaze away and continued walking.

He didn't smile, didn't say a word, and didn't even quicken his pace.

He simply walked back to his place, perfectly calm.

Yet that calmness hurt Yun Ruoxi more than any show of pride could have.

Behind him came a soft, cold snort.

It was Yun Ruoxi's voice, lowered, but Li Jinshui still heard her:

"What's there to be so pleased about? Is the Green Emperor Indestructible Scripture easy to cultivate? Plenty of geniuses have failed at it. A nobody like him... He won't be able to master it. It'll be useless to him."

Li Jinshui paused but didn't turn around.

The corners of his mouth curled into a faint smile.

Can't master it?

He glanced at his status panel. A new line had appeared there:

[Green Emperor Indestructible Scripture: Not yet initiated (cultivation requirement: Evergreen Art perfected)]

He had his status panel, his points, and an endless supply of enemies to kill.

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

He continued walking.

When he returned to his place, Monkey was already red-faced with excitement, tugging at his sleeve and chattering away.

Li Jinshui didn't take in a word.

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

Then he raised his head and looked toward the platform.

The Seventh Prince had already continued handing out rewards.

But Li Jinshui knew he would never forget what had happened today.

From this day on, he was no longer cannon fodder from the Death Squad Camp, prey for others to slaughter at will.

From this day on, he had a Pulse-Opening Realm cultivation method and an admission token for the Heavenly Cloud Sect.

From this day on—

He had drawn one step closer to those lofty people.

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

Li Jinshui didn't turn around.

He simply said softly to himself:

Lady Yun, just you wait.

You'll see how I master the Green Emperor Indestructible Scripture.