[{"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-84":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},2282192,4464,"Chapter 84: Saintess","after-fifteen-years-of-secret-cultivation-i-star-chapter-84",84,"\u003Cp>After several dozen breaths, all the wooden boats sank into the underground river beneath the cliff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of flowing water filled his ears, while the iron chains securing the boats were struck by gusts of wind, one by one detaching from the boats, then swiftly writhing and tightening before vanishing into the air above the underground river.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after, another burst of wind pierced the air, and jade tablets flew out from the darkness, landing precisely on the floating wooden boats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yuanling reached out and snatched a jade tablet just before it fell onto the boat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She glanced down and saw the characters “Twenty-One” written on it, along with countless tiny boat patterns; among them, forty patterns glowed with faint luminescence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This meant their boat was numbered Twenty-One, and after successfully completing the first trial, they had earned forty patterns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Li Muxian looked up at the jade tablet and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are characters on the back of the tablet—probably the rules for the second trial.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Li Yuanling immediately flipped the jade tablet over, scanned it quickly, and murmured softly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After entering the dark current lake, keep the candle on your boat lit; you may also seize jade tablets from other boats. Each tablet acquired adds one pattern.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This trial lasts half an hour. If the candle is extinguished, you may relight it within three breaths, but must subtract ten patterns. The ten boats with the most patterns at the end will advance to the final trial.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, thirty wooden boats drifted downstream along the underground river, soon reaching a vast, dark subterranean lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lake was enormous, connected on all sides by seven underground rivers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the ends of these rivers, another thirty wooden boats, each lit with candles, slowly entered and merged into the underground lake before them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, the lake’s surface was dotted with countless flat boats, each emitting a dim yellow candlelight, resembling countless prayer lanterns drifting with the current.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are two hundred and ten boats altogether—what a magnificent sight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yuanling held the jade tablet and gazed around the vast subterranean lake; the surrounding candlelight flickered like stars in a dark celestial river.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, she had long heard from princes and noble youths and maidens in the imperial capital that this was the largest underground river in all of Shangyang City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet seeing this scene with her own eyes for the first time, she was still stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Muxian also scanned the surroundings, and finally a look of mild satisfaction appeared on his face as he nodded:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This sister-in-law isn’t entirely useless—seeing this view alone makes the trip worthwhile.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Li Yuanling pursed her lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But knowing she would need Li Muxian to keep the candle lit, she held her tongue and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“According to the jade tablet’s rules, a fierce battle is coming. You just need to keep the candle burning—leave the task of seizing jade tablets to this princess.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Muxian said nothing, stroked his chin, and slowly nodded at her:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister-in-law, it seems you still want some game experience.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Li Yuanling furrowed her brows, eyeing Li Muxian suspiciously:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What game experience? I don’t understand what you mean.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Muxian waved his hand, grinning:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Game experience means your personal involvement in this trial.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, you don’t need to understand—I’m not ignorant of human nature. When you no longer want game experience, I’ll know at a glance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Li Yuanling seemed to grasp part of his meaning, yet still felt confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now she was brimming with energy, eager to seize more jade tablets, so she didn’t dwell on it, gripping the tablet tightly and watching the nearby boats warily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She did this both to guard against surprise attacks from other boats and to secretly scout targets, planning to pick off the weakest ones first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, in another corner of the subterranean lake, a wooden boat lit with candlelight carried a man and woman facing each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman wore an elaborate palace gown, seated on a soft cushion, her face veiled in gauze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the half-draped veil, her delicate brows and eyes glimmered with allure, her gaze shifting with charm, tender and pitiful…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Opposite her sat a dandy in brocade robes, fanning himself with a painted folding fan depicting a court lady, asking:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Saintess, as soon as you returned to Shangyang City, you dragged me here. I’ve helped you pass the first trial smoothly—won’t you tell me now why you brought me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the woman gazed at him with tender eyes, yet her voice turned icy and cold:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this helping me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you can’t even handle this small task, I see no need to continue evaluating your status as Saint Disciple.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At once, Zhang He flashed a servile smile, waving his hands:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Saintess, don’t be angry—I was only joking. If you won’t let me be Saint Disciple, how will I ever be honest with you and practice the Six Desires Sacred Scripture together?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Meiyan glanced at him, her tone shifting instantly from icy to sultry:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then you’d better obey me. Many in the Sacred Sect covet the Saint Disciple position—you could be replaced at any moment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Zhang He’s face lit up with obsession, nodding vigorously:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will follow Saintess’s every command—I’ll be your most obedient loyal hound.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as soon as he finished, he suddenly shook his head hard, realizing something, and hastily waved his hands:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No no—that wasn’t me speaking. That doesn’t count.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Meiyan regarded him with cold indifference, then slowly nodded:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your ‘Immortal Blood Sacred Art’ is well practiced—you recovered quickly from my ‘Enchanting Gaze and Misty Steps.’ No wonder I noticed your unique physique.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Zhang He’s expression shifted, then he bowed deeply, his tone earnest:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thanks to Saintess’s discerning eye, you found me among countless others. Otherwise, if I’d remained the wastrel I was before, I’d have been buried long ago.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Meiyan gave a slight nod, then asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Song Shanyue told me you once approached him, ordering him to assassinate the exiled imperial prince of Da Li?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang He’s gaze flickered, then he nodded:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s true—but he arrived too late. He saw the five martial grandmasters sent to ambush the prince all dead, and immediately cowered, refusing to act.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Han Meiyan’s eyes darkened, her voice cold:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I spent considerable effort securing a high-ranking officer of the Heavenly Brocade Guard. You interfered with my people—shouldn’t you be punished?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang He’s expression changed. Then Han Meiyan gazed at the subterranean lake and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I came to Floating Boat City for one thing. If you help me obtain it, I’ll forgive your offense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1120,"2026-06-20T01:43:38.503Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","f656b978cf2f1069a336f8aa0d38c7d47c4772567e4f471419fd1f030f1bd770","after-fifteen-years-of-secret-cultivation-i-star-chapter-85","after-fifteen-years-of-secret-cultivation-i-star-chapter-83",259,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fafter-fifteen-years-of-secret-cultivation-i-star-cover.jpg"]