[{"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-55":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},2282163,4464,"Chapter 55: Emperor Yuanwu","after-fifteen-years-of-secret-cultivation-i-star-chapter-55",55,"\u003Cp>Upon hearing this question, Fu Qiwén lightly shook his head and replied evasively:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I believe this matter may be due to an error in the official records, or perhaps my own investigation was flawed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, he paused, then continued:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“However, before I met Your Majesty, the eunuch Sun Changyu, who oversees the Ji Guang Pavilion, mentioned something to me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without any concealment, Fu Qiwén then recounted in full detail what Sun Changyu had told him: about being ambushed by five martial masters on the road, only for those five masters to be instantly slain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing his words, Emperor Yuanwu’s previously calm expression stirred slightly, and he murmured:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A single slash, its aura nearing the Heavenly Realm, slew two swordsmen; without a sound, fingertip force killed three martial masters from afar…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emperor Yuanwu spoke softly, yet offered no further comment on the matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I believe the Prince may not be as simple as he appears.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Qiwén paused to recall, then said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When facing me, the Prince showed no restraint in his actions or speech; on the contrary, whether addressing others in the Tianjin Guard or myself, his words were casual, even to the point where I vaguely sensed…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, Fu Qiwén’s expressionless face paused slightly, his deeply lined forehead furrowing as if weighing his words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, the figure behind the bamboo curtain seemed to take a slight interest and asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tell me, what kind of feeling is this? Why does it trouble you so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Fu Qiwén fell silent for a moment, then spoke:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I am not certain, but I feel the Prince seems to… look down on me, never once regarding me as worthy of notice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, the figure behind the bamboo curtain clearly froze for a moment, then replied coldly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So he is this arrogant, this dismissive?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Qiwén thought for a moment, then shook his head:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It is not that the Prince is boastful or overbearing; I have never felt this way about anyone else. The Prince’s conduct toward others is perfectly normal, yet there seems to be an innate, instinctive contempt for all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, the grand hall fell silent for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The figure behind the bamboo curtain remained thoughtful, and Fu Qiwén, sensing he had spoken too harshly, immediately bowed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty need not dwell on this—it may merely be my delusion. The Prince has lived for years in a small town; he may have had some opportunities, but likely lacks broad experience and has never seen the wider world. Such behavior is understandable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Emperor Yuanwu nodded slightly, seemingly accepting Fu Qiwén’s explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced toward the jade box held by the old eunuch nearby, his gaze steady, and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Originally, I thought him merely a student from a small martial school, intending to make him a carefree prince, granting him endless wealth and luxury as compensation for his twenty years of hardship.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But from what you have described, he may not be content to remain so.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, his gaze passed through the bamboo curtain toward Fu Qiwén:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you think I should do with him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Qiwén’s expression shifted slightly, then he shook his head gently:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I dare not presume to advise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Emperor Yuanwu did not press further; instead, his gaze turned to the three yellow scrolls on the small table before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment’s thought, his eyes settled on the middle scroll. The old eunuch standing nearby immediately stepped forward and picked it up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Give this to Qiwén. I entrust you with full authority over the matter of the Eighth Prince.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emperor Yuanwu watched as the eunuch handed the scroll to Fu Qiwén, then said slowly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will be entering seclusion soon and have no time to handle this. These are my provisional arrangements for the Eighth Prince. I trust you will give it your full attention.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Fu Qiwén held the scroll in his hand, his expression clearly surprised, and asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why does Your Majesty refer to him as the Eighth Prince?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The figure behind the bamboo curtain, as if expecting this question, replied calmly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The truth behind the prince-switching has not yet been settled. My bond with Zhi over these many years cannot be reduced to mere blood ties.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Moreover, twenty years ago, Zhi was still an infant; he had nothing to do with the switch. Over these years, Zhi has contributed greatly to state affairs. If I were to punish him for this, it would make me appear cruel and ungrateful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Therefore, I must still consider this matter further. For now, I must ask the son of Lady Jing to bear the burden.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Fu Qiwén fell into thought, his expression now composed, and bowed respectfully:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty’s benevolence is profound; such consideration is entirely fitting. I have been shortsighted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emperor Yuanwu glanced at him through the bamboo curtain and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Qiwén, you are the one I trust most. Between us, such formality is unnecessary.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I am deeply honored by Your Majesty’s favor, but the distinction between sovereign and minister must be maintained. I dare not overstep.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Qiwén bowed slightly, then, after a moment’s thought, asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Does Your Majesty have any other instructions regarding the Eighth Prince?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emperor Yuanwu pondered for a moment, then said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“According to what you just said, we must first temper his disposition. If you have any difficult tasks among your subordinates, assign them to him and observe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let us first watch his conduct. Other matters can wait until after I emerge from seclusion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Headquarters of the Tianjin Guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Muxian sipped the tea brewed by the Commandant Yu Jin, leaning back in his high-backed chair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had temporarily set aside studying the Life-and-Death Mark’s martial art, instead pondering how, now that he was a prince, he might leverage this identity to pursue the realm beyond martial transcendence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had previously tried to find clues about martial transcendence through figures and events in the martial arts world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But discussions of the Heavenly Realm were far too elite; nearly no one in the martial world spoke of them, let alone martial transcendence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, most could not even reach the Primordial Realm, and even those who did were fixated on becoming a Master or Grandmaster—discussing only matters at that level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the Masters and Grandmasters themselves, they had no time to idle away their days gossiping in the martial world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, at their level, the Heavenly Realm was an insurmountable chasm; many spent decades struggling to cross it, with no energy left to ponder the elusive concept beyond it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, martial transcendence might well be a question only Li Muxian contemplated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even at times, he wondered if the concept was merely his own fabrication.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The so-called martial transcendence from a thousand years ago may have been entirely different from what he imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Regardless, I must keep trying. Now that I have the prince’s identity, it is far more convenient.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Muxian’s expression turned thoughtful. Still, if being a prince brought too many troubles, he would certainly flee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1185,"2026-06-20T01:43:38.503Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","f363ef14d61b1dafb8dfa3975f9f26fa90339aaae0d8c1e9bff9766162eab33e","after-fifteen-years-of-secret-cultivation-i-star-chapter-56","after-fifteen-years-of-secret-cultivation-i-star-chapter-54",259,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fafter-fifteen-years-of-secret-cultivation-i-star-cover.jpg"]