[{"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-236":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},2325454,4549,"Chapter 236","immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-236",236,"\u003Cp>“I’ve heard. But what does this have to do with the Emperor’s orders?” Jiang Tu asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiu Defu stepped forward; Jiang Tu hurried to follow. Behind them trailed a string of eunuchs and palace maids, keeping at least ten paces back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiu Defu whispered, “Do you know, Lord Jiang, that the heretics’ stronghold lies in Dongzhou? For years, the Dongzhou heretics have caused extreme unrest. The task the Emperor assigned you carries deep meaning.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Tu’s face darkened instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were both clever men—he had already heard the heavy intent to kill in Qiu Defu’s words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiu Defu looked at him, understanding fully. “Since Lord Jiang understands, go carry it out. Do your duty well—this time, you may act freely. Even if others impeach you, the Emperor will protect you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Jiang Tu’s expression grew even darker. “Eunuch Qiu, you’re making me the villain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiu Defu smiled faintly, gazing at the horizon, his voice cold. “It is the Emperor who wants you to be the villain. If you have the skill to incite a rebellion in Dongzhou, the Emperor will count it as merit. Over the years, Lord Jiang, you’ve done far more hateful deeds than this—now you suddenly care about your reputation? Too late!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Tu sighed. “I’ve ultimately been burdened by my reputation. The Emperor ordered me to plunder Dongzhou—I will carry out my duty diligently. But let me ask: is there a deadline?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiu Defu tucked his hands into his sleeves; the cold wind cut like knives against his face. He spoke without emotion: “The season between harvests is when unrest Zuirongyi  arises. Your time is short—only a few months remain. The incident in the Imperial Prison last night enraged the Emperor. The Dongzhou heretics must be utterly eradicated. The Embroidered Uniform Guard will assist you—act without restraint. Some heretics hide too deeply; Dongzhou must erupt in rebellion, forcing every last one to surface, so we may net them all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aren’t you afraid of harming the innocent?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To appease the Emperor, the sacrifice of the innocent becomes worthwhile,” Qiu Defu uttered the cruelest words, then turned and left, leaving Jiang Tu standing alone beneath the corridor, enduring the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Tu let out a bitter laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew well how court officials cursed him—called him a sycophant, accused him of selling his ass, nicknamed him Jiang Imperial Consort. But not once in all these years had anyone called him a traitor to the state. He was a thief—he stole from the old Emperor, so he was merely an internal thief, not a traitor to the nation. Yet now, he would become the Emperor’s blade, turned against the people of Dongzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he carried this out, without doubt, he would bear the curse of “traitor to the state.” His life would have no redemption.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mouths of scholars were like smeared arsenic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Tu gritted his teeth. What could he do? The Emperor had ordered it—he had no choice but to obey. Not only obey, but perform it well, flawlessly. In the season between harvests, Dongzhou must erupt in rebellion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant, from this moment, he must unleash his most corrupt, most ruthless enforcers to plunder Dongzhou without restraint—to bring ruin to families, to turn the wealthy into the poor, the poor into beggars, the beggars into bandits, the bandits into rebels who rise up to kill officials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This entire scheme must unfold in mere months. Jiang Tu was overwhelmed with despair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would not only need to plunder wildly—he must also plant his own men among the bandits. Otherwise, if rebellion fails to erupt on schedule next year, he will fail the Emperor’s command, and the Emperor will not be pleased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had served the Emperor for so many years—he had never seen the Emperor so furious. The more silent the Emperor, the heavier the killing intent, beyond any plea to soften. If the Emperor had shouted and raged, there might still be room to plead, perhaps even to escape blame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could not fathom which hornet’s nest the prison-breakers had stirred—how could they provoke such rage, rage so intense the Emperor wished to erase Dongzhou from the map?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With no time to lament his fate, Jiang Tu hurried out of the palace to make arrangements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jingcheng remained unchanged, but the people of Dongzhou would endure the most brutal, darkest moment in a hundred years—worse than the eighteen layers of hell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Impeachment memorials flew into the palace like snowflakes—all were retained by the old Emperor, never issued. When they piled up, he ordered Qiu Defu to burn them all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiu Defu dared not utter a single word of counsel. He personally carried baskets to the furnace, dumping the memorials into the flames—perfect fuel for the alchemical furnace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lately, the old Emperor appeared calm; some courtiers even felt the once-wise and mighty ruler had returned. Yet only those close to him, like Qiu Defu, understood: the old Emperor had entered a phase of unrestrained slaughter. Any palace servant who made the slightest noise was executed on his command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was not calmness—it was darkness. His innermost evil had fully surfaced; he had lost all humanity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As an old servant, Qiu Defu moved with extreme caution every day, trembling with fear. Once he dared offer advice; now, he spoke only when spoken to. If the Emperor did not ask, he kept his mouth shut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All palace servants around him were sharp-witted—the foolish were all dead. They communicated without words, merely by glances. The Taiji Palace was so silent not even a pin could drop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after the old Emperor executed several Daoists did the slow-witted courtiers finally realize: the Emperor had not regained his wisdom—he had gone mad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it good or bad?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Few ministers remained who had witnessed the late Emperor’s final years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Right Chancellor was barely one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sent word to Prince Jin: stay away from the old Emperor—keep your distance, as far as possible. Do nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Jin, confused, tried to press for details. The Right Chancellor replied only: “Trust me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Similar words echoed in every corner of Jingcheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Hou Fu, the eldest master suddenly ordered total house arrest: cancel all banquets, refuse every invitation outside. The entire household must cultivate virtue and tranquility. Business could continue if possible; otherwise, withdraw temporarily until next year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one in Hou Fu understood the eldest master’s order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second branch stormed to the old matriarch’s chambers. Year-end was near—the busiest season of the year—with banquets everywhere. Hou Fu had already prepared several, even sent out invitations. Now to cancel them all—what madness was this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If some great state matter had occurred, such a move might be justified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the court was perfectly peaceful—why impose house arrest?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old matriarch also thought the eldest master’s order unreasonable. She summoned him and asked: “I won’t ask for details. I’ll ask you this: is it truly this serious? The court is calm—what madness is this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you truly believe I’ve gone mad?” the eldest master replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old matriarch had been about to say yes—but meeting his gaze, she hesitated, then asked: “Has something truly happened?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eldest master grunted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her heart leapt. “More serious than the Jinzhou rebels?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He grunted again. “Ten times worse.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jinzhou rebels raged, shouted, fought among themselves—nearly tearing each other’s brains out—yet did the Emperor execute anyone?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, if you accidentally offend the old Emperor, you’ll have nine chances to die—and one to live.\u003C\u002Fp>",1245,"2026-06-20T17:39:59.050Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","9c10a56bf7a4408ded5b76a6e496064ceb279e32fd61edee86100d91ee1e7a08","immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-237","immortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-chapter-235",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fimmortal-through-martial-path-i-who-cannot-die-s-cover.jpg"]