[{"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-48":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},2282156,4464,"Chapter 48: Deputy Commander","after-fifteen-years-of-secret-cultivation-i-star-chapter-48",48,"\u003Cp>Cang Yinyue today denied her engagement to Fu Yu in front of all the constables at the Six Ministries Bureau.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond drawing a clear line and venting her anger, her most important goal was this very moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chief lady of the Cang Yuan Marquis Mansion had long ago strictly forbidden her from stepping even half a step inside the mansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the mansion housed numerous experts; even if Cang Yinyue wished to sneak in secretly to steal the secret manual of the Bone-Eroding Yin Wind Finger, it was utterly impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So she thought of this method.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing her cowardly father as she did, only by doing this would he become furious and take the initiative to drag her into the mansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for Cang Yinyue, this was precisely the opportunity she needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the bustling street, merchants shouted their wares, and pedestrians flowed continuously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A squad of disciplined, armored soldiers escorted a carriage swiftly forward; inside the luxurious vehicle, Li Muxian and the senior eunuch Sun Changyu sat facing each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Muxian leaned casually against the soft pillow behind him, appearing lost in thought, but in truth he was continuing to refine and create the Life-and-Death Mark martial art in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Opposite him, the senior eunuch Sun Changyu sat upright, his narrow eyes half-lidded, occasionally glancing at the young man before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by his appearance, the likelihood that he was the son of Imperial Consort Jing was extremely high—he was very likely the seventh imperial prince who had been lost among the common folk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master Li, the journey to the Tianjin Guard Headquarters will take about an hour. Shall we chat?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The senior eunuch Sun Changyu suddenly spoke, picking up the teapot already boiling on the side table and pouring a cup of tea for Li Muxian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Muxian lifted his eyes slightly, glanced at the man, then took the cup and sipped lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, his eyes brightened—ah, this tea was quite fragrant, probably quite valuable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you want to talk about? Better pick something I’m interested in, or I’ve got no time to idle with a eunuch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Muxian said lazily, grateful for the decent tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The senior eunuch Sun Changyu’s eyelid twitched; after a brief pause, he spoke slowly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve reviewed Young Master Li’s dossier and know you’ve spent the past dozen years in a small martial arts school in Wanzhou.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yet Young Master Li somehow acquired an extremely profound acupuncture technique—even I am powerless against it, which truly astonishes and intrigues me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Li Muxian raised an eyebrow and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’re intrigued, then be intrigued. Do you plan to learn this martial art of mine?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The senior eunuch Sun Changyu’s expression froze, then he awkwardly coughed and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master Li misunderstands. The imperial palace’s martial arts repository holds countless supreme manuals; I would never covet the arts in your possession.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But… such a powerful acupuncture technique could never remain unknown in the martial world. I’m curious—may I ask, where is your master from? And what level have you reached in your cultivation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Muxian stared for a moment at the eunuch’s pale face and affected mannerisms, then rubbed his chin and asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this question your own curiosity—or did the Empress Dowager send you to ask it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the senior eunuch Sun Changyu glanced at Li Muxian in surprise, then his gaze shifted slightly as he nodded:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Empress Dowager had a close bond with the late Imperial Consort Jing and is deeply concerned about the seventh imperial prince’s fate, hence this inquiry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Muxian gave a slight nod, seemingly unconcerned with how much truth lay in the eunuch’s words, and merely waved his hand:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m always straightforward. You may tell the Empress Dowager that I have no background, no powerful sect or lineage behind me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I once learned some basic martial arts in the school, but the techniques I use now are all self-created.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, Li Muxian paused, then smiled meaningfully:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for your question about my current cultivation level—I can only say… it’s very high.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the senior eunuch Sun Changyu frowned deeply and fell silent, no longer speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long while, he shook his head and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I understand what Young Master Li has said. I will report it truthfully to the Empress Dowager.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Muxian glanced at Sun Changyu, knowing the man didn’t believe him—but he didn’t care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes it’s like this: he speaks honestly, yet others assume he’s boasting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When people lack even the most basic trust in one another, it’s a tragedy of this world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere inside the carriage grew quiet again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But not long after, Li Muxian seemed to remember something and suddenly spoke thoughtfully:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s one thing I forgot to mention earlier—I think it’s still timely to tell you now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the senior eunuch Sun Changyu pursed his lips, still slightly put off by Li Muxian’s earlier “arrogant words,” and replied coolly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master Li, please speak. I’ve been listening all along.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Muxian drained the tea in his cup, placed it back on the table, and gestured for the eunuch to refill it:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You mentioned earlier that the young man was a demon heart seed. I just recalled seeing the Guard Commander who appeared with you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, Li Muxian narrowed his eyes slightly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I sensed a similar aura of demonic cultivation on him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, the senior eunuch Sun Changyu’s expression changed slightly as he looked up at Li Muxian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But quickly, he lowered his gaze and shook his head slowly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Commander Song has served in the Tianjin Guard for many years, with spotless integrity and unwavering duty. He is also a trusted confidant of the Commandant—there is absolutely no possibility he has any connection with demonic cultivators.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, the senior eunuch Sun Changyu did not believe Li Muxian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether in the martial sects or the Great Li court, demonic cultivators were met with absolute intolerance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These people, in their pursuit of demonic arts, spared no means—abandoning wives and children, severing emotions and attachments were minor matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some, steeped in demonic nature, had lost all humanity: killing to cultivate, tormenting the people, causing endless suffering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the Great Li had long decreed: anyone who practiced demonic arts would be executed without mercy; naturally, no demonic cultivator could ever infiltrate the court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Muxian raised an eyebrow as he saw the senior eunuch Sun Changyu dismiss his words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earlier, his mind had been absorbed in refining his new martial art, so he hadn’t paid close attention to this detail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now that he remembered, he had informed him promptly—it was more than enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the man refused to believe him, that was his problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Li Muxian suddenly felt something stir within him. He reached out and pulled back the carriage curtain, gazing outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The carriage, previously escorted by armored soldiers, had now left the bustling street and entered a quieter alley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just as it neared the fork ahead, it suddenly veered away from the soldier escort and turned down a side lane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately after, another carriage—identical to Li Muxian’s—emerged from the side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It replaced Li Muxian’s carriage and continued forward under the escort of the soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1210,"2026-06-20T01:43:38.503Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","8b13e43a425c1c16155f8bb832019d2bca71019186991e4ac655724bf4ed4a5f","after-fifteen-years-of-secret-cultivation-i-star-chapter-49","after-fifteen-years-of-secret-cultivation-i-star-chapter-47",259,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fafter-fifteen-years-of-secret-cultivation-i-star-cover.jpg"]