Evergreen Immortal

[There’s shade beneath a tall tree—joining a faction is a must for starting your perfect Jianghu journey. Congratulations on joining a martial sect. A young and energetic faction is a good choice.]

[Mission Completed: Join a Faction – Calculating Rewards…]

[Mission Rating: C]

[You’ve received 20 Achievement Points!]

[Name: Li Rui]

[Age: 70]

[Talent: Martial Bones]

[Cultivation Method: White Ape Phi Blade Technique]

[Achievements: 20/100]

“As expected.”

He had suspected that joining a faction would grant him achievement points.

“C rank, huh?”

It seemed the Heaven-Earth Alliance still wasn’t quite strong enough. If he’d joined the Splendid Purity Sect, maybe the score would’ve been higher?

Li Rui pondered this.

Of course, he would’ve liked to take a shortcut and go straight to the top—but unfortunately, sects like Splendid Puriy had extremely strict requirements when it came to accepting disciples. They practically never recruited those already grown or trained outside.

For a sect, talent was important—but loyalty was just as critical.

A disciple who came in midway through life would have a formed temperament and would likely lack loyalty to the sect. When trouble came, they’d be the first to flee—so major sects preferred to train blank-slate youths with untapped potential and stronger allegiance.

Li Rui didn’t expect every mission to be an S+ anyway.

Completion is more important than perfection.

The Heaven-Earth Alliance was certainly bold—they had taken over a full hundred mu (about 16 acres) of land as their branch headquarters. There were at least seven or eight martial training fields alone. In terms of sheer scale, probably only the Blood Tiger Gang, Severed Blade Gang, and the local authorities could compare.

He couldn’t even see the end of the compound from where he stood.

Just as he walked past the nearest training field, a familiar figure appeared.

“Master Li! You’re finally here!”

It was Ding Liang, running up to greet him.

Li Rui’s eyes fell on the wooden token hanging at Ding Liang’s waist, number 278.

“You joined the Heaven-Earth Alliance too?”

Ding Liang nodded eagerly. “Master Li, I owe it all to you and Master Wu. He had official business and specially ordered me to wait for you here.”

He called him “Master” with practiced ease.

Li Rui replied, “Brother Wu’s very thoughtful.”

In truth, Ding Liang’s joining had nothing to do with him and not much to do with Wu Tu either.

The Heaven-Earth Alliance had strict requirements for accepting members, especially now that they were newly establishing themselves in Qinghe. No branch master with a brain would allow random cronies to flood the ranks and mess things up.

If Ding Liang hadn’t had decent potential, he wouldn’t have stood a chance of becoming an outer disciple.

Wu Tu himself was just a deacon. To join the Alliance, he had to sever all ties with his former faction, the Hidden Eight Gates. At best, he could give a recommendation.

The Heaven-Earth Alliance had a clear hierarchy. Aside from the Alliance Leader and Vice Leader at headquarters, each county had a Branch Master. Beneath the Branch Master was the Vice Branch Master, followed by Deacons like Li Rui and Wu Tu, and finally outer disciples.

Though they did recruit a few wandering Jianghu martial artists, those were usually Guest Elders or Honorary Protectors, people who already had notable reputations.

A Deacon was just middle management, responsible for carrying out tasks.

Afterward, Ding Liang led Li Rui to the Civil and Martial Hall.

The Heaven-Earth Alliance had seven main divisions, each responsible for different aspects. The Civil and Martial Hall managed personnel and supplies, it wielded significant authority.

“You’re Li Rui?” the disciple on duty gave him a once-over.

Seventy years old?!

He blinked, rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn’t seeing things wrong, and then clicked his tongue in disbelief.

This guy was old enough to be his grandpa.

The disciple’s shock only lasted a moment. Deep down, he looked down on Li Rui a bit, but on the surface, he remained respectful. After all, Li Rui outranked him—if he pushed things too far, it would backfire.

“Master Li, your registration is complete. Here’s your residence tag. Your monthly stipend will be delivered to your place.”

“Alright.”

Li Rui nodded and accepted the token.

Now that the Heaven-Earth Alliance had assigned him a place to live, he could move out of the place he’d rented from the agent. He probably wouldn’t get back the full tael of silver deposit, but half a tael shouldn’t be a problem.

Even if he was doing well now, there was no reason to spend wastefully.

Noticing that Li Rui wasn’t carrying any weapons, the disciple asked, “Master Li, would you like to collect one of the standard-issued weapons from the Alliance?”

A flicker of joy flashed in Li Rui’s eyes.

Big factions really did think of everything.

In the end, he received a uniform and a standard saber from the Heaven-Earth Alliance. Only then did he leave, satisfied.

Just like that, the issue of buying a saber was resolved.

His registration was now complete, meaning he could officially take up his post.

However, before heading to Tianyi Hall, there was still one step left—he had to pay a courtesy visit to the Vice Branch Master, who oversaw both the Disciplinary Hall and Tianyi Hall.

Inside the Heaven-Earth Alliance, in a lavish residence.

A burly man with a thuggish air and a face full of flesh was lounging between two soft, beautiful women, a lecherous grin on his face.

Just then, a disciple in dark robes entered.

Seeing the steamy scene, the disciple’s face flushed and he quickly lowered his head.

“Vice Branch Master Zhao, Hall Master Li Rui of Tianyi Hall requests an audience.”

The burly man, named Zhao Wei, replied impatiently, “Just let him in.”

“Yes.”

The disciple stepped out, and in less than the time it took to burn a stick of incense, he returned with Li Rui.

Li Rui took one look at the scene inside, his expression calm.

“Your humble servant, Li Rui, greets Vice Branch Master Zhao.”

Zhao Wei grinned broadly. “Old Brother Li, now that you’ve joined our Heaven-Earth Alliance, we’re all one family. You, go keep Brother Li company.”

He casually pushed the beauty on his right toward Li Rui.

Li Rui stepped half a foot to the right, just enough to catch the woman by her slender waist, barely wider than a handspan. The woman giggled softly.

Zhao Wei roared with laughter. “Old Brother Li, if you like her, feel free to take her back to your place.”

Li Rui replied calmly, “This old man has not been close to women for many years, I'm afraid I'm not blessed to enjoy it.”

“I’ve got a few special pills that can make you stand tall again, Brother Li if you like…”

Li Rui quickly waved his hand. “No need.”

It wasn’t that he was trying to act like a saint. He just wasn’t in the habit of this sort of thing.

After some small talk, he found an excuse to take his leave.

Tianyi Hall was a leisure post, and Zhao Wei wasn’t going to waste attention on it. In fact, since becoming Vice Branch Master, he had never even set foot in Tianyi Hall.

Once outside.

Ding Liang came up to greet him. “Master Li, did Vice Branch Master Zhao give you any trouble?”

Li Rui asked, “Why do you say that?”

Ding Liang sighed, “That Vice Branch Master Zhao used to be the Gourdhead of Heng Gate, and he’s had beef with Master Wu. After he left the area and trained under a high-level mentor, he became an Eighth Grade Martial Artist and took the Vice Branch Master seat.”

“Master Li, since you’re under Vice Branch Master Zhao now, I suggest you keep your guard up.”

Li Rui narrowed his eyes slightly.

No wonder.

He had felt something was off just now, that Zhao guy was clearly testing him. If he had accepted that beauty, he’d probably have found a spy from Zhao Wei planted in his residence by morning.

That man had a deep mind.

Still…

You think that bit of charm is enough to bribe your grandpa?