[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-after-fifteen-years-of-secret-cultivation-i-star":3,"chapter-after-fifteen-years-of-secret-cultivation-i-star-after-fifteen-years-of-secret-cultivation-i-star-chapter-23":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","After Fifteen Years of Secret Cultivation, I Start as a Top-Grade Ultimate Peak!",{"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},2282131,4464,"Chapter 23: Chief","after-fifteen-years-of-secret-cultivation-i-star-chapter-23",23,"\u003Cp>Li Muxian nodded slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This statement is quite straightforward, but…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss Cang, have you forgotten our agreement?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Yinyue looked at Li Muxian, a flicker of hesitation passing through her eyes; then she turned her gaze forward and sighed softly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Never mind. I’m limited in ability, and these branded characters on my face have been there for years—I’ve grown used to them. Whether they’re removed or not doesn’t matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Muxian smiled, idly patting the horse’s back:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the time we reach Shangyang City, you’ll be my only familiar face.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Cang Yinyue said nothing. After a moment of silence, she drew a deep breath, as if finally making a decision, and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine. Since I’m the one who brought you out of Shun’an City, our agreement stands.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, she turned to face Li Muxian:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But from now on, you’ll follow my arrangements. I can’t promise it’s for your benefit, but at least I won’t harm you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Muxian rubbed his chin and nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, which girl doesn’t care about beauty?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And to carry such a large “ Jian ” character—how could anyone endure it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that case, Cang Yinyue, this living encyclopedia, can still be useful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Muxian raised an eyebrow; of course, he didn’t absolutely need her for anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, her strength was limited, and only her position in the Shadow Spy Bureau and her far-above-average knowledge occasionally proved useful in answering his questions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When will you remove the branded characters from my face?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Cang Yinyue spoke again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her cold, clear eyes fixed directly on Li Muxian, a hint of anticipation flickering within them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had never truly believed Li Muxian could help her remove the brands—she’d merely been testing the waters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But along this journey, he had given her too many surprises; now, she held considerable hope in him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, she wouldn’t have taken such great risks and still chosen to uphold our prior agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Muxian thought for a moment, his eyes slightly narrowing, and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Once we reach Shangyang City, I’ll act for you, Miss Cang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“However, for safety’s sake, I suggest you first obtain the martial art ‘Bone-Eating Yin Wind Finger.’ That way, I can act with precision and greater certainty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Cang Yinyue frowned in thought, then gave a slight nod:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll do my best.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the rest of the journey, the two returned to their previous “harmonious” dynamic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And after Li Muxian had prepaid one favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though Cang Yinyue grew weary of his endless questions, even feeling like vomiting, she still gritted her teeth and answered everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet whenever Li Muxian tried to subtly probe what secrets she was hiding from him,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>she remained tight-lipped, never revealing a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the two rode their two mules until they finally reached the outskirts of Shangyang City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Once inside the imperial capital, don’t trust anyone in the Shadow Spy Bureau except me—even me, you shouldn’t trust lightly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Yinyue reined in her horse before the towering black citadel, speaking with solemn gravity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Li Muxian looked up at the imperial city before him—vastly more magnificent than any city he’d ever seen—and couldn’t help but marvel:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed, one must travel far and wide to broaden one’s horizons.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The imperial city before him, a feudal dynasty’s colossal fortress, lay like a slumbering beast across the land—its walls towering, endless, stretching far beyond sight into the distant mountains and earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though this martial world lacked advanced technology, it pushed human potential to its extreme.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet to build such a magnificent city required centuries of accumulation—impossible without them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss Cang, didn’t the Shadow Spy Bureau send you to find me? Then why don’t you even trust your own superiors?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Li Muxian turned to ask, he dismounted alongside Cang Yinyue and led the reins toward the ten-zhang-high wide city gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the gate, civilians streamed in and out; dozens of armored guards stood at the entrance, each checking and verifying travel permits—only allowing passage after confirming no issues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Yinyue stared at the imperial capital looming ahead, her expression shifting; then, using qi to form a silent thread, she spoke:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I originally had no intention of telling you this, but now, I think you should know some things.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you know who holds authority over the Shadow Spy Bureau?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Li Muxian nodded slightly and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Naturally, the great favorite of Emperor Yuanwu—the Dark Chancellor of Da Li, whose true face no one has ever seen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over these days, Li Muxian had learned much about Da Li’s affairs—large and small—through Cang Yinyue and various Jianghu  gossip reports.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was said this Dark Chancellor’s identity was extremely mysterious; only Emperor Yuanwu and a handful of others had ever seen him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, legend claimed he possessed a Seven-Holed Wondrous Heart, mastered all schools of martial arts, achieved divine cultivation, and over decades of commanding the Shadow Spy Bureau, had slaughtered countless enemies, striking fear into neighboring nations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re correct. But you only know our bureau’s chief is favored by the Emperor—you don’t know he is also the Seventh Imperial Prince’s master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Yinyue’s gaze was dark and unreadable as she fixed her eyes on Li Muxian and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Seventh Imperial Prince I mean is the false prince now imprisoned in Da Li’s Heavenly Prison.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, she sighed softly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Seventh Imperial Prince and the bureau chief have shared over a decade of master-disciple bonds. Now you should understand why I said that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Li Muxian’s expression cleared with sudden understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought for a moment, then stared at Cang Yinyue for a while and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Given the Dark Chancellor’s nature, this should be the ultimate secret—few in all of Da Li likely know of it, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Yinyue nodded slightly and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t doubt it. I stumbled upon this by accident myself. Until today, I’ve never told anyone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Li Muxian gave her a thumbs-up and praised:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss Cang, telling me this shows real loyalty!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Yinyue’s eyelid twitched; she snorted and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m just making sure you understand your current situation. After all, you promised to remove my branded characters—I must do everything I can to keep you from dying.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they spoke, the two arrived before the city gate guards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Cang Yinyue reached for her token, she silently transmitted a message:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The imperial capital is already a sea of hidden currents; now, with the false prince affair, countless factions are watching closely. Not just the Shadow Spy Bureau—you must also beware other powers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, she handed her Six Gates Constable token to the gate guard and pointed to Li Muxian beside her:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Returned from a mission. This is the wanted criminal I captured.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Li Muxian blinked in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not bad—not bad. Before even entering Shangyang City, this girl had already taught him a lesson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1150,"2026-06-20T01:43:38.503Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","c69a100543f1653f262f5f0829e7be0fe6c45b18282effc3bd3480937b218320","after-fifteen-years-of-secret-cultivation-i-star-chapter-24","after-fifteen-years-of-secret-cultivation-i-star-chapter-22",259,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fafter-fifteen-years-of-secret-cultivation-i-star-cover.jpg"]