[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-subdue-the-immortals-with-strength":3,"chapter-i-subdue-the-immortals-with-strength-i-subdue-the-immortals-with-strength-chapter-18":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","I Subdue the Immortals with Strength",{"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},2295320,4490,"Chapter 18: Fifth-Rank Realm","i-subdue-the-immortals-with-strength-chapter-18",18,"\u003Cp>“Hmph!” Liu Xiaoqiang’s expression softened slightly as she let out a cold sniff, gently tapping Xia Daoming on the shoulder. “Younger Brother Xia, don’t listen to Yuchi Shixiong’s nonsense. You’re young, your blood is hot—you can’t hold it in forever. When you need to relax, relax.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Come sit with me for a bit, and I’ll find you a sweet, gentle girl to sing you a tune and share a drink with.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though Xia Daoming had come from a far more liberal world in his past life and had often flirted with women in various settings, facing this senior sister now, he still felt painfully naive—and his face flushed red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah! Only Sister Liu understands men, truly cares for us. When tonight’s gathering ends, why not arrange something at your Yaohua Tower?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If Elder Brother Zhuo speaks up, little sister has no choice but to obey,” Liu Xiaoqiang smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You two—just after meeting…” Yuchi Xiao pointed at Zhu Xingji and Liu Xiaoqiang, who were playing off each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just answer: are you going or not?” Zhu Xingji cut in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course I’m going! How could I miss a night of music in the brothel?” Yuchi Xiao answered without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This…” Xia Daoming stared at Yuchi Xiao, speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is Gu Ren. You’ve met him at the martial school. He’s a year younger than you—twenty-three this year—but he entered before you, so you still must call him Senior Brother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t let his youth fool you—he’s the second strongest in our school. He became a Fifth-Rank Great Martial Master at twenty-one, and has a strong chance of reaching Sixth-Rank before thirty. If fortune favors him, even Seventh-Rank isn’t out of reach.” Yuchi Xiao quickly pointed to the last man in the private room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he mentioned Seventh-Rank Great Martial Master, Yuchi Xiao’s eyes clearly flickered with awe and longing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Ren was the young man Xia Daoming had first seen in the inner courtyard of the martial school—his facial lines sharp, eyebrows like swords, clad in white robes, radiating coldness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Greetings, Senior Brother Gu,” Xia Daoming bowed in greeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need,” Gu Ren replied—cold as ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master has taken fifteen disciples in his lifetime. Besides the six of us here, three are pursuing their fortunes in other cities—I’ll introduce you to them if the chance arises. Six others are no longer with us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Xia Daoming’s heart sank slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Six out of fifteen dead in their prime—that’s a terrifying ratio!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, if I don’t train hard and raise my strength quickly, I won’t survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The food and wine arrived soon after.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though everyone except Yuchi Xiao was meeting Xia Daoming for the first time, the bond of fellow disciples made them act as if they’d known him for years—laughing, joking, clinking cups.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Gu Ren, the cold genius, was the exception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke sparingly, watched silently, but drank without hesitation—any offer, he accepted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Daoming initially struggled to fit in; after all, he came from another world and still couldn’t fully grasp what “fellow disciple” truly meant to Yuchi Xiao and the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhu Xingji, who had traveled far and wide, after a few drinks, began boasting wildly—no topic too crude or refined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Xiaoqiang, who ran a brothel, could outdo even Zhu Xingji in lewd banter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiao Yongbao, who owned a restaurant, was smooth, charming, and eloquent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With these three setting the tone, Xia Daoming soon began to feel like he was back in his past life, hanging out with a group of shady friends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After dinner, the group walked to Yaohua Tower in Liujin Fang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Xia Daoming’s surprise, Gu Ren had several lovers at Yaohua Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse, he shed his quiet, aloof demeanor from the restaurant and became wildly unrestrained—his flirtations so cloying that even Xia Daoming shuddered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Looks like Senior Brother Gu has been starving for release. Finally got a chance to let loose,” Zhu Xingji muttered, glancing at Gu Ren, who was now embracing two women, hands roaming everywhere, utterly distracted from the music.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What can you do? So many talented youths ruin themselves through wine and lust. Master has placed all his hopes on Gu Ren, so he’s kept him under tight control.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A few days ago, Sister Liu was severely scolded by Master for letting Gu Ren indulge here. If it weren’t for Xia Daoming’s arrival, do you think Sister Liu would dare bring him here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sigh… Master’s burden is heavy. If Elder Brother Liang Kai were still alive, he wouldn’t have to worry like this—he’d already be doting on grandchildren, enjoying his twilight years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now he can only hope that Senior Brother Gu reaches Sixth-Rank soon, so Master can finally rest in peace,” Zhu Xingji sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuchi Xiao’s expression darkened at this, but he quickly shook it off, smiling and clapping Xia Daoming on the shoulder. “We’re all brothers. Tonight, Sister Liu’s treating us—don’t hold back. Relax.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This tune is excellent, Miss Wanqing plays beautifully—I feel perfectly relaxed already,” Xia Daoming said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, he closed his eyes, swaying gently to the rhythm, utterly absorbed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In beauty and figure, Liu Qiaolian far surpassed the girls at Yaohua Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And she was skilled at cards, with excellent manners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most importantly, he now had feelings for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why indulge here when he could return home and play cards with Liu Qiaolian?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re disciplined, pity…” Yuchi Xiao murmured, but left the rest unsaid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Daoming pretended not to notice what Yuchi Xiao meant to say, continuing to listen to the music with a blissful expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, Gu Ren stayed at Yaohua Tower. Xia Daoming listened to the music, then returned home early.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he got home, the courtyard light was still on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qiaolian sat in the front hall, reading a yellowed scroll. Seeing Xia Daoming enter, she happily set it down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master’s back!” Liu Qiaolian stepped forward with a curtsey, her delicate nose twitching slightly, her expression subtly shifting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Today, the fellow disciples had a meal—Sister Liu Xiaoqiang treated us at her Yaohua Tower to listen to music. I was the guest of honor, couldn’t refuse, so I went along.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But don’t worry—I only listened to the music,” Xia Daoming said with a smile, knowing full well she’d smelled something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master is the master—you don’t need to explain yourself to your servant,” Liu Qiaolian said, her cheeks flushed red, radiant in the lamplight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Xia Daoming found the girls at Yaohua Tower vulgar, their youthful bodies had stirred some heat in him. Now, seeing Liu Qiaolian’s tender, alluring demeanor, that heat flared violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh. Words mean nothing—you don’t believe me? Then I’ll prove it with action.” Xia Daoming wrapped his arms around her slender waist and lifted her up, striding purposefully toward the back courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, the back courtyard bloomed with spring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The days that followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peaceful, tranquil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every day, Xia Daoming cultivated dark force according to the secret diagram’s essence, at home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every few days, he visited Qianjiao Gymnasium—first to seek guidance; second, as Liang Jingtang’s direct disciple, he had duties overseeing and teaching in the outer courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuchi Xiao was the full-time disciple managing the gymnasium for Liang Jingtang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every half-month, Liang Jingtang gave Xia Daoming a secret potion, boiled into a paste called Longyuan Ointment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After taking it once and seeing no effect on his dark force cultivation, he stopped using it and gave it to Liu Qiaolian to store.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Daoming’s progress in cultivating dark force was astonishing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But dark force is inherently reclusive, dormant, hidden—unless unleashed, it’s nearly impossible to detect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only a Great Martial Master of the same or higher realm could deliberately sense it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang Jingtang never imagined Xia Daoming had already cultivated dark force so quickly—he had no reason to probe his energy. Moreover, Xia Daoming had already glimpsed the secrets of the seventh and eighth layers of the Dragon-Snake Scripture; his dark force was not only denser and purer, but his ability to conceal it surpassed even Liang Jingtang’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if Liang Jingtang had probed deliberately, he’d likely have found nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, no one at Qianjiao Gymnasium knew Xia Daoming had not only cultivated dark force, but had done so at an incredible speed—within two months, his accumulated dark force already exceeded that of a Fifth-Rank Great Martial Master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night marked the fourth month since Xia Daoming had joined Qianjiao Gymnasium.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bright moon hung in the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Daoming slowly opened his eyes. The fifth meridian flowing through his body emitted a flickering, shifting aura of force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lightly stomped his foot on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost no sound arose, and the spot beneath his foot remained flat—but radiating outward from where he’d stepped, a network of cracks spread across the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Finally—Fifth-Rank Great Martial Master! The power and quality of my dark force have clearly improved,” Xia Daoming said, gazing at the cracks, a pleased smile forming on his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as he looked at the simple system interface in his mind, his smile vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Daoming—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cultivation Base: Fifth-Rank Martial Master\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Level One Meridian Enhancement Progress: Zero Percent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now I need massive supplementation to strengthen my meridians! I wonder how many Fifth-Rank enhancements eight thousand taels of silver can cover,” Xia Daoming muttered, stroking his chin, deeply troubled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After several windfalls, before formally becoming a disciple, he had saved around six thousand taels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qiaolian had amassed roughly six thousand taels as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Together, they had twelve thousand taels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After paying three thousand taels as initiation fee, nine thousand remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over these three months, he’d spent one thousand taels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Xia Daoming only cultivated dark force and didn’t enhance meridians, his expenses were minimal. That one thousand taels covered the Xia family’s daily needs and mostly went toward buying blood-boosting supplements for Liu Qiaolian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This massive investment made Liu Qiaolian feel deeply guilty and moved each time she took the supplements—she trained harder and played cards with even greater devotion to please him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Living off her wealth to this extent weighed heavily on Xia Daoming’s conscience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I need to find a way to earn money—but with this system’s insatiable hunger, only robbery and murder might keep up. What other profession could possibly fill the gap?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But robbery and murder? Fine as occasional acts, but turning them into a livelihood? That’s a path with no return!” Xia Daoming frowned, utterly at a loss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: During this new book’s launch, please help share and comment. Thank you.\u003C\u002Fp>",1737,"2026-06-20T05:15:29.288Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","ed780095b4e34cd94e32b33cfc171e7c0bcae65672aa1616f742bf8693d230d4","i-subdue-the-immortals-with-strength-chapter-19","i-subdue-the-immortals-with-strength-chapter-17",484,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-subdue-the-immortals-with-strength-cover.jpg"]