[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s":3,"chapter-immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-1":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Immortal Through Martial Path, I Who Cannot Die Shall Ultimately Be Invincible",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":18,"prevChapterSlug":19,"totalChapters":20,"novelImage":21},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":12,"translator":16,"content_hash":17},2325219,4549,"Chapter 1: The Fallen Heir","immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-1",1,"\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou dug three feet into the ground and dug up ten taels of silver to buy gifts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The money wasn’t much, so the gifts had to be grand—the grander, the more respectable. He bought two dried chickens, two dried ducks, worried the recipient might look down on them, added two pieces of braised pork, sealed a packet of silver, and headed to the back alley of the Pingjiang Marquis House to visit Liu Guanshi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arriving at the Liu residence, hey, what a grand estate—two courtyards deep. A mere steward of the Marquis House lived in a mansion fit only for masters—unbelievable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Pingjiang Marquis House is rich indeed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped up three stone steps, grabbed the bronze ring on the main gate, and knocked three times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the side door beside the main gate opened, and a young gatekeeper stuck his head out, eyeing him. Seeing he was unfamiliar and poorly dressed, his expression instantly turned haughty, his eyes lifting to the heavens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou hurried forward, smiling politely, “Could you please announce me to Liu Guanshi? I’m Chen Guanlou from the east alley next door, son of Chen Chengzong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, he pulled out a few copper coins from his pocket and clumsily slipped them into the young gatekeeper’s hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten copper coins—Chen Guanlou’s heart ached. But his face showed nothing; his hand didn’t tremble, projecting an air of generous means.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gatekeeper took the money and instantly changed his attitude, flashing a smile, “Wait.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had he spoken than the side door slammed shut with a snap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou: …\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could only stand before the gate and wait patiently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Pingjiang Marquis House bore the surname Chen, and so did Chen Guanlou—they shared the same ancestor. But unfortunately, Chen Guanlou was born too late, missing the good times. By his father’s generation, they were already five generations removed from the main branch. In the past, during ancestral rites, they could still meet the main household; now, they weren’t even allowed to attend the rites. The Marquis House no longer recognized them as kin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Calling them kin was merely polite talk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A direct descendant of the first Pingjiang Marquis now couldn’t even match the status of a servant in his own house. When trouble came, he had to beg a steward for help, carefully preparing gifts, terrified the man would refuse out of disdain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou’s family had fallen into ruin since his grandfather’s generation, becoming a destitute household. With no other choice, he took up a lowly trade, securing a post in the Tianlaomiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This job was excellent—father passed it to son, son to grandson, a true hereditary system, a guaranteed lifetime position, as solid as iron. Safety was assured. As long as one didn’t mind the low status and public scorn, one could work at it until old age and death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If one died mid-career, it was just bad luck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou’s father was one such unlucky man. When Chen Guanlou was ten, he died on duty. The next year, his mother fell ill from grief and passed away too. He was raised by his elder sister. Years ago, she married and took him along as a burden, enduring constant mistreatment from her in-laws.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, at eighteen, Chen Guanlou had reached the age to inherit his father’s post. As a man, he couldn’t keep living off his sister and brother-in-law—he had to stand on his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For his first eighteen years, Chen Guanlou had drifted aimlessly, influenced by societal attitudes and others’ words, stubbornly resisting his father’s trade, constantly calling it lowly—causing his sister to weep secretly many times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until two months ago, he suddenly awakened his past-life memories and recalled his former life in the modern world, where “lowly” or “respectable” didn’t exist—this was a guaranteed iron rice bowl, and only a fool would refuse it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More crucially, when he awakened his past-life memories, the Longevity Dao Fruit in his mind-sea also revived, granting him Longevity—not immortality, but agelessness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Great Xia Dynasty was founded and upheld by martial prowess, where martial skill was revered. From childhood, people were tested for martial veins. Those with innate martial veins could train in martial arts. Upon minor mastery, they advanced to First Rank martial artist, then Second, Third… up to Ninth Rank. Above Ninth Rank, it was said, lay the Grand Masters; beyond them, the mysteries were too obscure for common folk to know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Becoming a martial artist granted status and privilege far above ordinary people. Thus, violence flooded the streets. Without even basic self-defense skills, one could be killed at any moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou had no martial veins, yet he refused to accept it. He already possessed Longevity—the very thing the Emperor himself craved but could never obtain. As a past-life awakened soul, he was surely a chosen child of heaven; how could he not train in martial arts, not become a martial artist?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Studying Confucianism to enter the Jixia Academy and become a Confucian martial artist was too late—he lacked the talent and the money. Learning required vast sums.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this world, where could one learn all martial arts without spending a single coin?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After much thought, only the Tianlaomiao fit the bill. It held nothing but talents, all of whom spoke fascinatingly, endlessly entertaining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, he must inherit his father’s post and enter the Tianlaomiao as an official.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two months ago, he submitted his application to inherit the position—but received no response. Recently, his brother-in-law, worn down by his sister’s begging, made some personal inquiries and discovered the truth: his father’s post had long ago been purchased and taken by someone else. One carrot, one pit—there was no room for him. Their message was clear: he should be reasonable and find another job.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou flew into rage!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To make him abandon the Tianlaomiao post, abandon his chance to become a martial artist, just like that? Dream on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why he turned to the Pingjiang Marquis House—they shared the same ancestor. Now that he was in trouble, wasn’t it natural to ask the Marquis House for help?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The main household of the Marquis House surely looked down on him, a destitute, and wouldn’t even grant him an audience. He wouldn’t waste energy or money on them—he promptly shifted focus to Liu Guanshi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Guanshi was the Marquis House’s Second Steward. Even a steward’s gatekeeper held seventh-rank status; a steward of the Marquis House wielded immense power. A single word from him could secure the Tianlaomiao post.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For that one word, Chen Guanlou was willing to bow low, to act as a grandson. As long as he entered the Tianlaomiao, anything was acceptable. In his past life, he’d been a career man—he’d long since honed his thick skin and discarded his pride. Earning money? No shame at all!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this age, no matter what you did, money was hard to earn and hardship was hard to swallow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had already prepared himself for humiliation, for the most humiliating scene possible!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after, the side door opened again—the same young gatekeeper said, “Madam invites you in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, young sir!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou exhaled deeply—he’d finally stepped into the Liu household. Hearing the gatekeeper address Liu Guanshi’s wife as “Madam,” he couldn’t help but marvel. What a grand air—even a steward’s wife dared to be called Madam. Then he recalled: Liu Guanshi was a Second-Rank martial artist. A Second-Rank martial artist’s wife being called Madam wasn’t excessive—it was fitting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering the Liu residence, passing through the ceremonial gate, walking down the corridor, he saw ornamental rocks, rare flowers, and lush trees—how lavish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What a life this Marquis House steward led! Chen Guanlou envied him deeply. Far superior to his own destitute state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder some worthless descendants of the Marquis House called Liu Guanshi “Master Liu” or even “Grandpa Liu.” A servant riding over the heads of his master’s own descendants—had Chen’s ancestral patriarch known, would his coffin lid have flown off?\u003C\u002Fp>",1328,"2026-06-20T17:39:56.967Z","Qwen3-Next 80B","05b2cfd5a7b49c23717c83196597a9258c63c170756ae0522e64c309b355ce93","immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-2",null,1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fimmortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-cover.jpg"]