[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-don-t-mock-the-poor-old-man-gains-a-year-of-cult":3,"chapter-don-t-mock-the-poor-old-man-gains-a-year-of-cult-don-t-mock-the-poor-old-man-gains-a-year-of-cult-chapter-37":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Don't Mock the Poor Old Man: Gains a Year of Cultivation Every Day!",{"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},2312529,4520,"Chapter 37","don-t-mock-the-poor-old-man-gains-a-year-of-cult-chapter-37",37,"\u003Cp>\"Master Zhang is indeed a wise man.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man’s scar, shaped like a centipede, writhed with his smile—ferocious and triumphant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He casually tossed Zhang Tao onto the ground like a rag.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Tao lay slumped, trembling silently, blood seeping steadily from his lips like a dying beast trapped in despair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tao'er...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang He’s heart clenched; he instinctively lunged forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shhh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint, piercing whistle of air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man flicked his finger; a black pill, reeking of foul stench, shot precisely into Zhang Tao’s open mouth and slid down his throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You... what poison did you just feed Tao'er?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang He’s eyes bulged, nearly bleeding from the strain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glared at the old man—rage, terror, and a despair on the verge of collapse burned in his gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to rush forward, but his legs felt leaden, rooted to the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rest easy, Master Zhang,\" the old man chuckled, his grin grotesque under the moonlight:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ve merely given your son a poison pill. If you cooperate properly tomorrow night and get the job done, I’ll give you the antidote.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused, leaned close to Zhang He, his grotesque face nearly touching his own, voice a whisper like a serpent’s hiss:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But if you so much as twitch dishonestly... prepare to collect your son’s corpse.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, by the way—when the poison takes hold, it’ll rot your son’s intestines, and he’ll scream in agony for seven full days and nights before he dies.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"His mouth is already ruined—he won’t even be able to cry out. He’ll just endure it, silently.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he straightened, satisfied by Zhang He’s ashen face, then vanished like a wraith into the darkness beyond the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang He sat stunned in the room for a while, then took a deep breath, suppressing his fear, and lifted Zhang Tao, whose face was twisted in utter despair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, a fire of rage burned within him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All of them are useless! Useless!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially Huang Tong, the Qi-Condensation cultivator the Zhang family had paid tens of thousands of taels to protect them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was said to be enough to make the Zhang household impregnable—yet what happened?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seven Kill Cult slipped into the estate like it was their own backyard, and that old fool didn’t even stir.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That useless waste—he’s fired tomorrow!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang He had just thought this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, by the way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A chilling, eerie laugh—like an owl’s cry—suddenly echoed behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang He’s hair stood on end; he spun around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white-haired old man, who had just left, now stood in the center of the room—unseen, unannounced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He still hunched his back, still wore that sinister grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this time, he held something new.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drip... drip...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crimson blood oozed steadily from the severed neck, staining the blue bricks below in a dark, horrifying patch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man tossed the head carelessly—it rolled to Zhang He’s feet, facing him directly, as if silently staring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang He looked down, and under the pale moonlight streaming through the window, he finally recognized the face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Tong!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qi-Condensation cultivator the Zhang family had employed for eight years—the man who traveled far and wide, famed for his vast experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, his eyes wide open, unblinking in death, his lips slightly parted—as if he’d tried to scream but never got the chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood still trickled from his severed neck, soaking the ground, seeping into Zhang He’s shoe soles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This... this is...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang He’s voice choked in his throat, emerging as a short, choked cry like a rooster’s dying squawk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes widened, pupils shrinking violently—he froze as if struck by lightning, breath forgotten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was a Qi-Condensation cultivator!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the top fighters in Anxi County!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now, this Qi-Condensation cultivator’s head had been tossed at his feet like a freshly picked watermelon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man bent low, leaned close to Zhang He, grinned, revealing yellowed teeth, voice a whisper like a cold wind:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just as I stepped out, I caught this old fool sneaking around, peeking.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I figured, why keep him around?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So I took care of him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood, clapped his hands, as if he’d merely brushed off dust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he turned again, vanishing soundlessly into the darkness beyond the door, just as he’d come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang He remained frozen, motionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Qi-Condensation cultivator... just died?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An unprecedented chill surged from his soles to the crown of his head, freezing his body, as if his blood had turned to ice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ye rose early, as usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But today, he didn’t practice fistwork. He simply packed his few belongings, then stood outside the gatehouse, gazing at every blade of grass and tree in the martial academy, his eyes filled with complex thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long while, he slowly walked to the academy’s main gate, opened it with practiced ease, sat on the small stool by the threshold, and stared blankly at the empty street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike Jiang Ye, who owned nothing, Liu Yiyi’s belongings were far more numerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boxes and trunks filled half the room—clothes, books, daily utensils, even training equipment—everything took painstaking effort to pack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mother and daughter worked from dawn until afternoon before finally finishing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qingshi had even arranged a spacious carriage, now parked at the academy gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today they would stay at the Su household, so they could leave Anxi County quickly tomorrow morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qingshi stood before the academy gate, gazing one last time at the martial school he had founded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The setting sun bathed the eaves in warm gold and crimson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wooden training dummies in the courtyard stood silent, as if waiting for tomorrow’s disciples to train.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he knew—they would never come again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heavy hearts weighed down everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Get in the carriage.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qingshi took a deep breath, suppressing his turmoil, his voice calm—as if this were just an ordinary journey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet his hands, hanging at his sides, clenched slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His wife, Huang Xiyu, turned back to glance at Qingshi Martial Academy before boarding, her eyes reddening, tears spilling over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yiyi showed no expression on her face, but her bloodshot eyes betrayed her deep sorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ye, however, showed no emotion beyond two fleeting glimmers in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the carriage, the atmosphere was stiflingly heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qingshi watched the street blur past the window, then spoke softly, trying to break the suffocating silence:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When I was young, I had a friend who’s done well in the Tianqing Sect.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Once we reach Fucheng, I’ll use his connections. With your talent and bone structure, you should be able to enter the Tianqing Sect.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Xiyu’s eyes lit up instantly; her sorrow faded slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Yunling Prefecture, the Tianqing Sect was heaven itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even she, a woman who knew nothing of martial cultivation, understood: if a cultivator joined the Tianqing Sect, their future was bright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yiyi was moved, yet she spoke, her voice cool but stubborn: \"Father, why can’t I just train with you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qingshi chuckled slightly and shook his head:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yiyi, training with me, you’ll hit the ceiling at Qi-Condensation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In a small place like Anxi County, a Qi-Condensation cultivator is still someone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But in Fucheng? Qi-Condensation means nothing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked deeply at his daughter, his eyes filled with hope and solemnity: \"With your talent, you have a real chance to surpass me—to break past Qi-Condensation, and form a Golden Core!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yiyi froze. \"Golden Core?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had never before heard Liu Qingshi mention a realm beyond Qi-Condensation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside her, Jiang Ye, eyes closed as if napping, listened more intently than Liu Yiyi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes,\" Liu Qingshi nodded slowly. \"Martial cultivation begins with external training—forging blood and qi into strength! Ming-Jing is fierce and direct; An-Jing is subtle and yielding; Qi-Condensation harmonizes both, flexible and free!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Beyond Qi-Condensation, one turns inward, cultivating 'qi' within the body.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When the body’s qi reaches sufficient maturity, one can gather it into a Golden Core—entering the Golden Core realm!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, Liu Qingshi’s face lit with longing; he sighed softly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This realm holds a touch of mystery. Once entered, a cultivator is free from illness and decay, easily living two full lifespans—and with the right longevity techniques, even longer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This realm carries a hint of mystery; once a martial artist enters it, they are free from disaster and illness, easily living two full lifespans, and if they know methods to extend life, they may live even longer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But...\" Liu Qingshi changed tack, his expression turning grave, his voice lowering slightly: \"Reaching this realm is exceedingly difficult—the most crucial thing is the Qi Nourishment Method!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is a secret tightly guarded by the imperial family and cultivation clans!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To obtain the Qi Nourishment Method, there is almost no other way except to join a cultivation clan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In my youth, I once sought the Qi Nourishment Method—I was severely wounded and nearly lost my life.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So if you wish to break through beyond the Hua Jin realm and advance further on the martial path, you must enter the Tianqing Sect.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qingshi gazed at Liu Yiyi with a solemn expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yiyi listened in silence, a flicker of determination shining in her beautiful eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She gave a slight nod, saying nothing more—but her gaze said it all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Qi Nourishment Method...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ye, feigning sleep, murmured the phrase softly in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>About half an hour later, the carriage slowed to a stop before a grand mansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its vermilion gates gleamed with polished bronze nails; above the lintel hung a plaque inscribed with the characters \"Sufu.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Chen, head of the Su family, waited at the gate, beside him stood a slender figure—Su Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Master Liu, you’ve traveled far and endured hardship!\" Su Chen stepped forward with a smile, bowing respectfully. \"Please come in—the feast is ready; rest awhile.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qingshi leapt down from the carriage, exchanged a few pleasantries, then signaled everyone to disembark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Old Jiang!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Yan, standing nearby, politely greeted Jiang Ye, a flicker of unusual emotion in her beautiful eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, since that night, every time she saw Jiang Ye now, she felt a strange sense of dissonance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Miss Su, I apologize for the intrusion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ye lowered his head, his voice hoarse and humble—just like the unremarkable gatekeeper he had always been.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep night. All was silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After dinner, everyone retired early.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bed in Su’s guest chamber was soft and comfortable; the bedding carried a faint, subtle incense scent—utterly unlike the hard wooden pallet in the martial academy’s gatehouse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Jiang Ye still sat cross-legged on the bed, not lying down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having slept on a hard bed for so long, this soft one kept him awake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He closed his eyes, breathing slow and deep, as if in meditation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moonlight spilled like water over the garden’s rockeries and ponds, serene and tranquil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Distant, occasional beats of the night watchman’s wooden clapper echoed—\"dub, dub\"—carried far through the night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"BOOM!!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A roar, like thunder, ripped through the night’s stillness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It came from the eastern city, laden with boundless malice and murderous intent, making the window frames vibrate with a hum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heaven gives all things to nourish man, yet man has no virtue to repay heaven!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill—!!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The seven \"kill\"s rose one after another, like seven consecutive thunderclaps, sending chills down spines and shattering courage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an ancient, mad, blood-soaked cry—the hallmark of the Seven Kill Cult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That roar seemed to carry the wails of countless vengeful spirits, freezing the blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ye snapped open his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The eastern city gate has fallen!!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Seven Kill Cult has broken in!!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everyone, run!!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Piercing screams, terrified wails, frantic footsteps, clashing weapons, collapsing buildings—like a bursting dam, the chaos surged from the east, engulfing the entire county.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Trouble!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ye’s form blurred—he was already at the window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He flung it open, gazing toward the east.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, flames roared skyward; thick smoke turned half the night into a terrifying crimson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The screams drew nearer, denser, flooding toward the west and south like a tide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Seven Kill Cult moved so fast?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cold, lethal glint flashed in Jiang Ye’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The horrors of Lushan County—the ten households left with one survivor, the bloody scenes from rumors—flashed rapidly through his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud-thud-thud!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A frantic knocking erupted, accompanied by Liu Qingshi’s hushed, urgent voice: \"Old Jiang! Hurry! Pack up—leave now!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ye did not hesitate. He grabbed his already-packed satchel and stepped out the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside, Liu Qingshi’s face was ashen, his eyes filled with gravity and urgency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him, Huang Xiyu was pale as death, clutching Liu Yiyi’s hand tightly, trembling all over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yiyi remained calm, yet in her clear, cold eyes burned unprecedented shock and alertness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Su family is already gathering! Follow me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qingshi seized Jiang Ye’s arm and dragged him toward the front courtyard of the Su mansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through corridors, past rockeries—the scene in the front yard came into view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Chen stood at the courtyard’s center, directing family and servants with a grave expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several stewards hurried about, counting people and distributing weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Yan stood beside her father, dressed in martial attire, a short sword hanging at her waist; her face, usually gentle and smiling, now wore only icy vigilance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Master Liu!\" Su Chen hurried forward as they arrived. \"There’s no time for pleasantries!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My family has a secret passage—we leave at once, through the passage, out of Anxi County!\"\u003C\u002Fp>",2231,"2026-06-20T12:57:27.461Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","be0abedcac678e7e779e780736eb503fe5c465fcedc09988193d3c054f27e812","don-t-mock-the-poor-old-man-gains-a-year-of-cult-chapter-38","don-t-mock-the-poor-old-man-gains-a-year-of-cult-chapter-36",268,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdon-t-mock-the-poor-old-man-gains-a-year-of-cult-cover.jpg"]