[{"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-40":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},2295342,4490,"Chapter 40","i-subdue-the-immortals-with-strength-chapter-40",40,"\u003Cp>Seven days later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qingyu City, one of the southernmost towns of Mangzhou, closest to the Cangmang Mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zhiji sat astride his horse, gazing at the distant mountains—layer upon layer, intertwined like coiling dragons and serpents, stretching endlessly without end—and pointed northeast toward Xu Shixiong beside him: “Today we split into two groups. You take a party northeast; I’ll lead one southwest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Granduncle!” Xu Shixiong nodded, swiftly selecting a group of men—including the seventh-rank Great Martial Master—and rode off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang Jingtang and his apprentice remained with Xu Zhiji; Xu Sisen also stayed behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Xu Shixiong’s party vanish into the mountain path’s end, Xia Daoming quietly exhaled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, he’d thought everyone would move together; only later did he learn they were heading to two separate locations and needed to split up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that Xu Shixiong had finally taken his men away, the oppressive weight hanging over Xia Daoming lifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An octogenarian eighth-rank Great Martial Master—if anything went wrong, Xia Daoming was confident he could handle it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Xu Sisen, who had just advanced to sixth-rank Great Martial Master, Xia Daoming didn’t even consider him a threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, if the opportunity arose, he wouldn’t mind quietly eliminating him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go!” After watching Xu Shixiong’s group disappear, Xu Zhiji raised his whip, pointing southwest, and gave the order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!” The group responded in unison, clustering around Xu Zhiji as they headed southwest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five days later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Western range of the Cangmang Mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Towering trees blocked out the sun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fallen branches and rotting leaves formed a thick layer on the ground, exhaling a damp, decaying stench.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A group moved cautiously through this dark forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their footsteps crushed the decayed foliage, producing a rustling sound in the silent hills that stirred primal dread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five factions, twenty Martial Masters in total, spread out into a loose encirclement, shielding the seven Xu family Martial Masters at the center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the very core, protected by six Xu family Martial Masters, stood Xu Zhiji—the eldest and strongest of the clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zhiji held a tiger-head saber in one hand and a map made of unknown beast hide in the other, issuing orders to Liang Jingtang and his apprentice, who led the advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A piercing scream shattered the forest’s stillness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A middle-aged fifth-rank Great Martial Master collapsed, clawing frantically at his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lines of centipedes—three to four inches long, black everywhere except for a single red line along their bellies—crawled over his neck and face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Da Fu!” An elder cried out, stepping forward to help—only to hear a rustling beneath the rotting leaves, as more identical centipedes surged upward, thick as a swarm, sending chills down every spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Run, run—it’s Bloodline Centipedes!” Someone grabbed the elder, retreating in terror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others swiftly distanced themselves from the screaming man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within seven or eight breaths, his cries ceased. Turning back, they saw his face utterly black, motionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Daoming’s face darkened; his vigilance sharpened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had officially entered the mountains two days ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet in just two days, two of their party—including the man just killed—were dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One had yesterday wandered into a mist glowing with dreamlike hues under sunlight; the moment he stepped in, his muscles began rotting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mist was a noxious miasma formed by the decay of countless toxic creatures’ corpses and rotting leaves in the deep forest, evaporated by the sun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Daoming had felt his flesh crawl at the sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, blinding sunlight poured unobstructed down; the Martial Masters instinctively squinted, exhaling deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had finally left the damp, shadowy primeval forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before them stretched a wide valley, flanked by sheer cliffs, littered with colorful stones, wildflowers, and tangled shrubs; a swift mountain stream cut through, and far off, a colossal waterfall cascaded like a silver river inverted from heaven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The view ahead was open, the scenery novel and majestic, the air fresh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gloom in their hearts seemed to lift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Liang Jingtang, Xia Daoming—you two lead the way again,” Xu Sisen called out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang Jingtang’s face darkened slightly, but he nodded silently and led Xia Daoming forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Sisen, young and newly promoted to sixth-rank Great Martial Master, had become one of the Xu family’s key proteges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse, Xu Zhiji—the expedition’s leader—was his own paternal great-uncle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this Xu family contingent, Xu Sisen’s status ranked second only to Xu Zhiji.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang Jingtang knew full well Xu Sisen was settling personal scores, yet he had to swallow it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d even warned Xia Daoming twice, fearing the youth’s temper might flare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet later, Liang Jingtang realized it was himself who nearly lost control—until Xia Daoming lightly nudged his elbow, jolting him back to sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang Jingtang and his apprentice resumed leading the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The unobstructed view and dazzling scenery gradually lulled Liang Jingtang’s vigilance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most others did the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Daoming remained hyper-alert, his senses—sharper than any normal man’s—scanning every subtle shift around them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, watch out!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Xia Daoming’s hairs stood on end; without thought, he yanked Liang Jingtang’s arm sideways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they moved left, a green shadow shot up from the rushing stream—a monstrous creature, entirely emerald-green, armored in grotesque scales, shaped like a crocodile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Liang Jingtang had escaped, it didn’t pursue; instead, it opened its mouth and spat a green ice blade at the fifth-rank Martial Master who had been right behind Liang Jingtang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attack came too fast; the Martial Master had no time to dodge, frantically drawing his sword to block.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clang!” A sharp metallic ring rang out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sparks flew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man's broadsword flew from his grip, his tiger's mouth bleeding profusely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He staggered backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shhh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he reeled back, the monster spat another green ice blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Granduncle, save me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fifth-rank Martial Master turned toward Xu Zhiji, who stood just behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xu Zhiji’s face was cold; he gripped his saber in one hand and seized Xu Sisen beside him, leaping sideways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Puff!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The green ice blade pierced through the Martial Master’s body; he collapsed, blood streaming from the wound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The monster, scenting blood, its eyes glowing green, lunged forward, pinned the corpse with its claws, and opened its jaws to tear into it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go!” Xu Zhiji ordered, his expression icy, showing not a trace of pity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one spoke; they fled swiftly from the monster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when they’d put twenty to thirty zhang between them did they dare turn back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the sunlight, they could still see the monster devouring the fifth-rank Martial Master, blood splattering everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Granduncle, you’re an eighth-rank Martial Master—you could’ve saved him! Why didn’t you help Xiong Qi?” A sixty-year-old sixth-rank Great Martial Master stared at Xu Zhiji, face twisted with grief and fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s a Bishui Crocodile—its hide is thick as armor, impervious to blades and spears, a first-rank high-grade beast. If I moved, it would fixate on me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Xu family summoned you here to clear obstacles and hunt Frost Rabbits—not for me to risk my life protecting you!” Xu Zhiji snapped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if the Bishui Crocodile is powerful, it’s still a mindless beast! If you’d just held it off for a moment, we could’ve killed it together!” The elder’s fury deepened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine!” Xu Zhiji nodded, then suddenly leapt skyward; mid-air, his tiger-head saber flashed in the sunlight, slicing toward the elder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You—!” The elder’s eyes widened in horror; he drew his sword from its black scabbard to block.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clang!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His sword shattered under the tiger-head saber’s blow; the saber paused only a fraction before continuing its arc.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elder’s head fell to the ground; blood gushed upward from his severed neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence fell over the group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who else thinks I should’ve saved him?” Xu Zhiji landed, tiger-head saber dripping blood, his gaze sharp as knives sweeping over each face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sweat broke on every brow; all lowered their heads, eyes downcast, fear and hatred mingling in their depths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Daoming also bowed his head, his heart chilling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“An eighth-rank Great Martial Master truly is formidable—even at his age, his blade moves so fast, strikes with such force—I wonder how long he can sustain it?”\u003C\u002Fp>",1340,"2026-06-20T05:15:29.288Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","df40667ea52cbe6905cbea9238bb77da435009b61cd6aff5ee433b2133701f7e","i-subdue-the-immortals-with-strength-chapter-41","i-subdue-the-immortals-with-strength-chapter-39",484,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-subdue-the-immortals-with-strength-cover.jpg"]