[{"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-71":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},2282179,4464,"Chapter 71: Shock","after-fifteen-years-of-secret-cultivation-i-star-chapter-71",71,"\u003Cp>The old eunuch slowly glanced at the surrounding imperial consorts, hesitated a moment, then took a deep breath and spoke in a low tone:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just now, I went to Yixin Palace and found everyone dead—including Imperial Consort Ji—each with a horrific death.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, the Empress, who had been sipping tea, froze in place; the other consorts in the hall suddenly lifted their heads, and silence fell like a needle dropping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Say that again. What happened?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, the Empress snapped out of her shock, leapt to her feet, her expression fraught with disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew full well that the old eunuch beside her would never dare lie—especially not about an Imperial Consort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet she simply could not believe what he claimed was true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I saw it with my own eyes. No one survived in Yixin Palace. Imperial Consort Ji and all the servants were surely murdered.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old eunuch’s face was equally grim—he too found it unbelievable, yet it was what he had witnessed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the manner of Imperial Consort Ji’s death was so gruesome that even now, recalling it sent a chill through him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old eunuch bowed his head and spoke again in a low voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, as mistress of the inner palace, you must now take charge of this matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, the consorts in the hall erupted into chaos, each face twisted with terror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the Great Li Imperial Palace was heavily guarded—even a mosquito could not fly in; it was the safest place in all of Great Li.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now, an Imperial Consort had been murdered within its walls—this was utterly horrifying!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All of you, be silent!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress snapped at the consorts, her expression shifting for a moment before she turned to the old eunuch and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Emperor has entered deep seclusion since last night and cannot be disturbed for at least half a month. Go at once and inform Li Tianyi of the Office of Ceremonial Affairs—he must go to Yixin Palace himself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old eunuch bowed in response, then added softly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The killer’s whereabouts are unknown—he may still be hiding somewhere in the palace. You must be extra cautious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he vanished in an instant like a shadowy gust of wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress’s face darkened. She then summoned several eunuchs and ordered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Carry out my decree: immediately seal off the inner palace with the Imperial Guard, and command the Palace Commander, General Shenwei, to search every corner of the palace for the killer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having spoken, she swept her gaze over the consorts before her and said coldly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No one is to spread word of this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cangyuan Marquis Mansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Above a pit littered with bleached bones, the Chief Inspector Guan Tianqian stood with a grim expression, staring down in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nearby, Fu Yu—the head of the Ten Famous Captains of the Grand Inspectorate—and other captains including Ji Feiyun were also present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This morning, before dawn, a constable on duty at the Six Ministries had found Guan Shanxue lying unconscious at the mansion’s entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After barely reviving her, they discovered she was dazed, unable to recall why she had fainted—her only clear memory was declaring that Cang Yunning was a woman-rapist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon learning this, the Six Ministries immediately sent men to question the Cangyuan Marquis Mansion—only to find this scene before them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given the gravity of the matter, the constables dared not act on their own and reported it up the chain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The case drew not only Fu Yu and the others, but even Chief Inspector Guan Tianqian arrived at once upon hearing the news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What did the servants and maids say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Tianqian frowned, turning to Fu Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Yu shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Marquis ordered everyone to stay in their rooms at night. Someone did hear fighting last night, but no one dared step out—so no one knows what truly happened.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Tianqian nodded slightly, then asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Has Cang Yunning’s identity as a woman-rapist been confirmed?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Yu hesitated, then nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was about to speak when Guan Tianqian’s gaze suddenly shifted—he had noticed something—and he barked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everyone, step back!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though confused, Fu Yu and the others quickly retreated from the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same moment, Guan Tianqian shot upward without wind or aid, rising dozens of feet into the air. He flipped his palm and lightly slapped downward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next instant, a massive hand-shaped shadow, the size of a house, descended from the sky and crashed into the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dirt flew, dust shook—the ground cracked open in deep fissures, forming several lines of characters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Tianqian, hovering above, scanned the characters, his expression changing slightly, then slowly descended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around him, Fu Yu and the others had now seen the words on the ground—each face turned pale with shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Feiyun was stunned—the few lines of writing revealed the hidden truth behind the bones in the Cangyuan Marquis Mansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he could hardly believe it—this case involved an Imperial Consort from the palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Yu hurried to Guan Tianqian’s side, hesitated, then asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Should we continue investigating this case?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Tianqian glanced at him but did not answer immediately. Instead, he said slowly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The killer’s strength is immense. From what I observed, he killed purely with true Qi—his martial style is untraceable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze returned to the characters on the ground. He added:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I can confirm this man is a Tianren cultivator. The fact that he left these words beneath the earth without leaving a trace means his control over the true Qi of heaven and earth has reached the level of microscopic precision.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Yu said nothing, only frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Guan Tianqian shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since he left these words, he wants us to keep investigating. We have no reason to offend such a man—don’t you agree?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But what if we anger the one in the palace?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Tianqian waved his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Six Ministries investigate according to law—we don’t owe allegiance to anyone. We only seek the truth. What happens after is the Ministry of Justice and the Emperor’s concern—not ours.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he looked at Fu Yu, clapped his shoulder, and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know you’re close to the Cangyuan Marquis Mansion—but public duty is public duty, personal ties are personal ties. Don’t disappoint my trust in you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Guan Tianqian turned and left without further delay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet no one noticed that in his hand, Guan Tianqian held a small stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after leaving the Cangyuan Marquis Mansion did he slowly open his palm—on its surface was carved a single line of characters:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Imperial Consort Ji is dead. Investigate well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Interesting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Tianqian narrowed his eyes, then gazed toward the palace:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’d like to see if Imperial Consort Ji is truly dead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words on the stone clearly carried a threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Guan Tianqian had never intended to bury this case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But so many powerful figures were involved—he would face immense pressure going forward, and it was hard to guarantee he could investigate to the end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Tianqian’s face darkened with thought, then he shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could not break into the palace and kill a consort—but if the killer could, then he might well need to take that threat seriously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1211,"2026-06-20T01:43:38.503Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","c017737a5a7e5b4bcaca2cd867acb2de4319b04c5a3ab55fa6abaf66b900973e","after-fifteen-years-of-secret-cultivation-i-star-chapter-72","after-fifteen-years-of-secret-cultivation-i-star-chapter-70",259,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fafter-fifteen-years-of-secret-cultivation-i-star-cover.jpg"]