[{"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-81":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},2282189,4464,"Chapter 81: Underground Floating Vessel","after-fifteen-years-of-secret-cultivation-i-star-chapter-81",81,"\u003Cp>Li Que frowned; the death of Imperial Consort Ji was undoubtedly a matter that would shock the court and the realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this leaked out, it would severely damage the reputation of the Li imperial family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, he quickly turned and bowed to the Wu Xiang Elder and the Zhe Elder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This matter concerns my third brother’s mother and the Great Li imperial palace—I beg both elders not to spread word of it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Wu Xiang Elder waved his hand, his face stretched into an exaggerated smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rest easy, old man isn’t one to gossip.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhe Elder nodded, then added a warning:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whether the killer is someone inside the palace or a skilled assassin who infiltrated it, killing an imperial consort in the heart of the palace is no simple feat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If the Great Li imperial palace can uncover this person, so be it; if not, I advise Your Highness to avoid stirring trouble altogether.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Li Que paused to think, then gave a slight nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the broad blue-brick streets of Shangyang City, a luxurious carriage drawn by four majestic white horses rolled forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The carriage body was crafted from premium nanmu wood, faintly fragrant; at each corner hung warm, lustrous white jade wind chimes that chimed softly with every sway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after, the carriage halted before a grand complex of towering pavilions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yuanling pulled back the carriage curtain, glanced outside, then waved to Li Muxian to follow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She lifted her green gauze skirt with both hands, unlike other noble young ladies or lords who relied on servants as stepping stools—she leapt lightly down from the carriage in a single graceful bound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Li Muxian stepped down after her, scanning the surroundings, his gaze fixed on the towering, palace-like octagonal tower before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then his eyes narrowed slightly—he saw a gilded plaque hanging above the building, boldly inscribed with three large characters: “Jiaofang Si.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, the sounds of singing birds and dancing swallows, mingled with decadent melodies, swept over them along with a pleasant scent of rouge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Muxian turned to Li Yuanling, stroked his chin, and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No wonder you’re my adopted sister—you brought me to a place that looks so refined.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Li Yuanling smiled, revealing two dimples, then grabbed his hand and pulled him toward an alley beside Jiaofang Si.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry—the most refined part is still ahead. I guarantee you won’t regret this trip.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Muxian’s gaze shifted. Though he didn’t understand why Li Yuanling, a Great Li princess, was so familiar with such places, he was happy to approach with a critical eye and observe the mystery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering the alley, Li Yuanling began searching intently, muttering to herself:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, her eyes suddenly lit up as she walked toward an unremarkable iron door deep in the alley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The iron door was pitch-black, carved with a massive ship under sail, yet it looked ancient, scarred and worn, clearly old beyond measure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yuanling hurried to the door, pulled an ancient copper coin from her sleeve, felt along its surface, found a narrow slit the width of a thumb, then carefully slipped the coin inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, a soft mechanical click sounded—and the black iron door slowly swung inward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Li Muxian raised an eyebrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So secretive? It only made him more eager to explore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when he saw Li Yuanling hesitate at the threshold after opening the door, his expression turned suspicious:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why aren’t you going in?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s my first time. I’m nervous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yuanling stared into the pitch-black interior beyond the door, her delicate brows furrowed tightly—her earlier smile had vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Muxian waved his hand and laughed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who said I’m not nervous too? But life demands courage to try.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, he pushed Li Yuanling forward into the doorway, thinking to himself:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This girl, dawdling like this—isn’t she just getting in the way?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Y-you…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yuanling, caught off guard, stumbled forward several steps under Li Muxian’s push.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as they entered, the black iron door slowly closed behind them, and at the same time, dim yellow oil lamps flickered to life, illuminating the scene ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the end of a several-zhang-long corridor, a set of stairs descended downward, and from below came a soft, sweet female voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please, esteemed guests, come down and board the vessel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Li Yuanling shot Li Muxian a glare; he shrugged and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister, come on—don’t keep them waiting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he strode confidently down the stairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Li Yuanling pouted and snorted:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she didn’t linger—she hurried after Li Muxian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Li Muxian had just said, since they’d come this far, they might as well take a look first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t walk so fast—wait for me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yuanling called out, and soon they passed several winding staircases to reach a vast underground platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On one side of the platform, torches burned along the rock wall, lighting the entire underground space as bright as day; on the other side lay a sudden cliff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the cliff’s edge hung thick iron chains, each tied to a wooden boat nearly ten feet long—and there were five such boats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, besides Li Muxian and Li Yuanling, about a dozen others stood on the platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Men and women, young and old—some were wealthy young lords and ladies, others were martial artists carrying swords and blades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Muxian and Li Yuanling arrive, one burly martial artist shouted loudly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hurry over—you’re just in time for the last boat. We’re about to set sail.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Li Muxian glanced around, frowning slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This didn’t look quite like what he’d imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yuanling, however, upon seeing the underground scene, beamed with excitement, blinking eagerly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is it! They say this place is thrilling and fun!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Muxian looked thoughtful, his gaze shifting to the wooden boats ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a young woman in a rose-red palace gown stepped out from the shadows beside the platform and sang softly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Launch the boats—esteemed guests, please board!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As her voice faded, the iron chains began to writhe rapidly, and a clattering sound of metal scraping against metal echoed above the platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the five suspended wooden boats settled gently onto the platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, the waiting crowd immediately split into four groups, each rushing eagerly to board the boats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yuanling immediately grabbed Li Muxian’s hand and hurried toward the last remaining empty boat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1090,"2026-06-20T01:43:38.503Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","50bc961ec1e89acf1cf7b13408543deeb048e1fd61e0709c14ce2865dcc195df","after-fifteen-years-of-secret-cultivation-i-star-chapter-82","after-fifteen-years-of-secret-cultivation-i-star-chapter-80",259,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fafter-fifteen-years-of-secret-cultivation-i-star-cover.jpg"]