[{"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-216":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Immortal Through Martial Path, I Who Cannot Die Shall Ultimately Be Invincible",{"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},2325434,4549,"Chapter 216: Secret Manual","immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-216",216,"\u003Cp>Lu Datou borrowed twenty taels of silver from Chen Guanlou, and Chen Guanlou did not refuse. But he couldn’t help lecturing him a bit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You can’t go on like this—every month when your salary comes in, at least save something!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Datou hurriedly replied, “I saved, I saved! Just lately my luck’s been bad, I keep losing. This time I’ll definitely win it all back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou let out a dry laugh and rolled his eyes upward. “Don’t gamble in the Jia-1 Cellblock—it’s impossible to win.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean?” Lu Datou perked up—he sensed insider info—and leaned forward, ears straining, almost pressing himself against Chen Guanlou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou pulled away, repulsed by his stench. “Let me put it this way: if your skill rates five points, the veteran gamblers in Jia-1 Cellblock average ten.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Datou sneered. “Bullshit! I don’t believe you. I gamble with them all the time—I know their skill level.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou snorted. “Have you ever won money in Jia-1 Cellblock’s gambling den?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Datou fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was half-skeptical, struggling to accept it. “Am I really that bad? Can the gamblers in Jia-1 Cellblock really be better than me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou nodded. “I have no reason to lie to you. From now on, stick to Bing-1 Cellblock—you might still win a little. Gambling in Jia-1 Cellblock? You’ll eventually lose everything down to your underwear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Datou felt a pang of sorrow and still refused to give up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why wasn’t he good enough?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d always thought he was excellent—exceptionally excellent, explosively excellent!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He scratched his head, his mind buzzing. He needed to think this through carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, are you still collecting martial arts manuals?” Lu Datou asked casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou raised an eyebrow. “Of course I am. You got something good?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Here’s the thing: recently, a group of bandits were imprisoned—murderers, robbers, utterly wicked. They’ll all be executed soon. The bandits’ second-in-command asked me for help, but he had no money, so I ignored him. But he dropped a hint—he said there’s a manual. I don’t need manuals, but if you do, I’ll take you to meet him. Do whatever you want. He’s going to the execution ground anyway—no need to be polite.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou’s interest dipped slightly—he knew some prisoners fabricated stories to gain favors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, he asked, “What kind of manual?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know. He mumbled something about it being carved into a cave wall. You’ll have to ask him yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou wiped his mouth. “Lead the way. I’ll take a look.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re actually interested? He might just be making it up to trick you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can tell truth from falsehood. A man in his position, desperate and with nothing left, would only offer a manual if it had real value. Still, I need to see it myself. I’ve got time to spare—consider it a revisit to old ground.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Datou suppressed his urge to head straight to the gambling den and took Chen Guanlou to Bing-1 Cellblock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All familiar faces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guards of Bing-1 Cellblock greeted Chen Guanlou warmly, completely unlike their former arrogance toward new recruits. It was as if they’d always treated him this way—never changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that moment, Chen Guanlou felt a ridiculous sense of “returning home in glory.” Those who once looked down on him now fawned over him; those who once ordered him around now hoped he’d lift them up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many secretly envied Lu Datou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since Lu Datou attached himself to Chen Guanlou, he’d never lacked for cash. Whenever he was broke, he’d just ask Chen Guanlou for a loan—no matter the amount, he always got it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The key point? He’d never repaid a single coin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such treatment made countless others envious, wishing they could replace Lu Datou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They cursed themselves for not being the one to bring Chen Guanlou in, for not seeing sooner that the young Chen was no ordinary man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the eyes of Bing-1 Cellblock’s guards, the head of Jia-1 Cellblock was unquestionably superior. He could easily net a few hundred taels a year—over a thousand in good years. No nine-rank official would trade places with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bing-1 Cellblock couldn’t compare at all—not even close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many simply couldn’t understand: what merit did Lu Datou have to earn Chen Guanlou’s such favor? He never refused a loan, even knowing Lu Datou used the money for gambling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such friendship, such a god of wealth—may heaven grant him the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Datou strode proudly, leading Chen Guanlou down the long corridor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s locked up ahead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cell 72? I know it well!” Chen Guanlou smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the cell, a blood-splattered brute lay sprawled on a pile of straw, reeking of filth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tortured?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course. All bandits must pass through the torture chamber—it’s an old rule,” Lu Datou said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou observed as he asked, “Disabled?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Both legs broken, but medicine’s been given—he’ll live until execution.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou smiled. Bing-1 Cellblock still reeked of blood. There was none of Jia-1 Cellblock’s false warmth—there, officials were pampered like masters once bribed. Most crucially, Jia-1 Cellblock rarely used torture; even when punishing disobedient officials, they cut off water and food instead—never breaking skin. Whether organs were damaged? That was beyond their concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why officials preferred Tianlao Temple over the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s prison—anyone entering the latter was guaranteed torture; peeling off skin was the bare minimum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Datou slammed his staff against the cell bars. “Hey! Wake up! You wanted help? Here’s the man who can help you. Miss this chance, you won’t get another.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before his words finished, the brute on the ground stirred, rolled over with difficulty, and finally revealed his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He dragged himself to the bars, straining to lift his head and gaze at the unfamiliar Chen Guanlou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is Chen Tou—he’s obsessed with collecting martial arts manuals. If you’ve got something real, your problem might still be solved,” Lu Datou blustered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second-in-command pushed aside the hair covering his eyes, trying to see clearly. “Chen… Chen Tou.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou slowly crouched down, letting the man see him better. “Tell me about your manual.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I… I… the manual’s carved into the cave wall. No one can understand it. But since it’s hidden so well, it must be valuable. We’re just rough brutes—no talent to decipher its secrets.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where’s the cave?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First, promise me!” The second-in-command tossed out a bait, demanding terms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guanlou rose slowly. “How do I know your manual’s real? Empty words mean nothing—unless you prove it exists.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1082,"2026-06-20T17:39:59.050Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","6a4b212d90f9ea3f315b9f7a8739a907b0f518c2fe370c944fdccd5481c6345d","immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-217","immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-215",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fimmortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-cover.jpg"]