Unbeatable Martial Emperor

C1 – Min Zhenkang

In the sweltering heat of midsummer, the sun blazed high in the sky.

In the Bacia Dynasty, within the town of Whalespell, stood Min’s mansion.

“I… I’m actually alive?!” Min Zhenkang’s eyes snapped open, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings as waves of emotion surged within him.

A fierce killing intent flashed in his gaze, reminiscent of a wild beast ready to pounce.

His memories were vivid; he distinctly recalled his own death, betrayed by the brother he trusted most and the woman he loved dearly.

Min Zhenkang was among the elite of Suanikos, a supreme expert whose peers could be counted on one hand. His martial prowess was extraordinary, and his alchemy skills were nothing short of miraculous.

A rare talent who excelled in both alchemy and martial arts, he achieved legendary status, mastering both paths to a degree that could define an era. Yet, at the moment of his ascension, he perished in the lightning tribulation.

“The world believed I was defeated by the Heavenly Dao, perishing in the lightning tribulation. But they were unaware that at the pivotal moment of my ascension, I witnessed a scene so shocking that it threw my mind into disarray and all my efforts came to naught.”

“Lyi Xinyou, Guo Qilin… your hearts are truly cold and ruthless.”

“Hahahahaha… What does it matter if I was a peerless talent, a genius in alchemy? In the end, I was still bested by you both…”

As Min Zhenkang dwelled on the double betrayal by his beloved wife and his most trusted brother, he couldn’t contain a bitter, mirthless laugh, laden with profound sorrow.

“Young Master, you’ve awakened!” The maidservant, who had been dozing off at the bedside, was startled awake by Min Zhenkang’s deep, angry bellow. “Oh, thank goodness, Young Master, you’re finally awake. I must go tell the master and madam right away. They will be overjoyed to hear this.” She hurriedly scampered out of the room.

“Where am I?” It was only then that Min Zhenkang, previously consumed by his vengeful thoughts, began to take stock of his current predicament.

“Whose body is this? Have I taken possession of it? But how could I have succeeded so effortlessly?” Min Zhenkang was deep in thought when a sudden, sharp pain pierced his brain.

“Ah~~”

The sole heir to the master of Min’s mansion in Whalespell, he began his martial arts training at three, reached the ninth level of Martial Spirit by five, and at six, he successfully condensed his own Martial Spirit, a testament to his extraordinary talent. Yet, a single accident rendered all his achievements void.

At seven, while practicing as usual, Min Zhenkang inexplicably entered a bizarre state, leaving him oblivious to an ambush. By the time he became aware, it was too late. His Profound Qi spiraled out of control, ravaging his veins and shattering his formidable Martial Spirit, inflicting irreversible damage upon his body. In an instant, a prodigy was reduced to a cripple, unable to pursue the path of cultivation any longer.

In the months following his fall to mediocrity, Min Zhenkang languished in despair. It was only through the unwavering support and guidance of his parents, the silent companionship of his fiancée, and the daily efforts of his loyal friend to lift his spirits that he gradually overcame his grief.

Once his spirit mended, Min Zhenkang dedicated himself to mastering the family’s most basic martial skills. These skills, though ordinary, when honed to perfection, enabled even a non-cultivator like him to hold his own against a third-level cultivator.

Over seven years, not a single day passed without Min Zhenkang diligently practicing his martial skills, bringing each one to the pinnacle of mastery.

Min Zhenkang’s betrothed, Chu Keke, had come to Whalespell as a child with her grandfather. Upon their arrival, they sought out the former head of Min’s mansion—Min Zhenkang’s own grandfather—to propose an engagement between Min Zhenkang and Chu Keke. Initially, Min Zhenkang’s grandfather was hesitant, unfamiliar with the family and unsure of their intentions. However, he eventually became a fervent supporter of the match, the reasons for which were known only to the two patriarchs. Little did they know, Chu Keke would grow up to be Whalespell’s most stunning beauty, with a talent for cultivation that rivaled that of a genius.

After Min Zhenkang was reduced to an ordinary man, he still hadn’t approached Min’s Mansion to call off his engagement, stirring a mix of resentment and envy among those in Fairwick who coveted Chu Keke.

Guo Tao, the obstinate scion of Guo’s Mansion in Whalespell, was notorious for his misdeeds. Captivated by Chu Keke at first sight, he found himself unable to shake her from his thoughts.

Yet, Chu Keke’s heart belonged solely to Min Zhenkang; she never offered a smile to any other suitor, which infuriated Guo Tao. He vowed to erase Min Zhenkang from Whalespell for good.

Half a month earlier, while hunting on Antigough Rise with his close friend Chang Tai, Min Zhenkang was blindsided by an ambush from Guo Tao, also on the hunt. The assault sent him plummeting off Antigough Cliff to his death. By a twist of fate, at that very moment, Min Zhenkang’s soul, having failed its tribulation, seamlessly took possession of the fallen body.

Upon learning the full circumstances, Min Zhenkang was struck by a profound sadness. In his past life, he was betrayed and killed by his brother and beloved, and now, in this life, he was murdered for love. The theme of “love” was inescapable in both his lives.

“Brother, may your journey be peaceful. I will seek justice for you,” Min Zhenkang silently vowed.

“Zhenkang, you’re finally awake. You had me worried sick!” Lang Huan and Min Qi burst in at that moment.

“Mother, I’m alright now. I’m sorry for causing you concern,” Min Zhenkang reassured her, recalling the memories of his parents.

“Zhenkang, what exactly happened? Who would dare to lay hands on you not once, but twice in Whalespell?” Min Qi asked, barely containing his rage.

“Father, I’m not sure who ambushed me. By the time I realized what was happening, I was already being thrown off Antigough Cliff,” Min Zhenkang explained to his father.

“In Whalespell, no more than two families would dare such an act. Rest assured, I will get to the bottom of this. For now, Zhenkang, you need to rest,” Min Qi said, before turning to Lang Huan with a concerned glance. “My dear, Zhenkang has just regained consciousness. Let’s allow him some time to recuperate.”

“Yes, yes, yes, my son, take some time to rest. I’ll go make your favorite dish to help you regain your strength,” Lang Huan said, her heart aching as she noticed her son’s still-pale complexion.

“Alright.”

Min Zhenkang watched Min Qi and Lang Huan, feeling a warmth in his eyes. In his past life, he had no parents and rose from a lone commoner to a martial arts supreme master. Now, back at square one, he was blessed with loving parents. His heart swelled with joy at this turn of fate.

He composed himself and began to assess his current body. Unexamined, he was unaware, but with each look, his feelings grew more tangled. The body before him was beyond repair, severed from the martial path. Even as a supreme alchemist, Min Zhenkang could only shake his head in dismay.

He racked his brain for a way to set this body back on the path of cultivation. From martial musings to pill refining, from the low-level Yellow techniques to the God-level ones he mastered, nothing seemed capable of restoring this body’s ability to cultivate.

With a rueful chuckle, Min Zhenkang realized the irony of his situation. In his previous life, a mere glance would tell him who could cultivate and who couldn’t, and what their ultimate potential might be. He could elevate even the least gifted individuals to prominence within a realm.

But just as he was about to abandon all hope, a forgotten cultivation technique surfaced in his memory. A technique without rank, untried and daunting — the Heavenly Imperial Immortality Spell.

Upon opening the text, he was immediately confronted with two stark sentences: To cultivate this technique, one must rearrange their meridians as specified. For a normal person, this meant breaking and reforming every meridian in their body.

Secondly, one must possess unwavering perseverance.

It’s crucial to meet both criteria simultaneously; failure to do so could lead to catastrophic consequences. At best, one might perish, but at worst, one’s soul could be utterly annihilated.

Yet, when mastered to perfection, this cultivation technique has the potential to eclipse even God-level high-tier techniques, granting immortality. Even amidst the chaos of a collapsing universe, the cultivator would remain unscathed.

The stringent prerequisites of this technique are evident from the description alone, and to date, there are no known practitioners.

Min Zhenkang stumbled upon this method in a burial ground before ascending to the pinnacle of martial arts in his past life. At that time, he merely committed the method to memory before returning it to its resting place.

Unexpectedly, it has now become his lifeline, and his current physical condition aligns perfectly with the requirements for the Heavenly Imperial Immortality Spell.

With resolve, Min Zhenkang began to realign his Profound Qi according to the Immortality Spell, mending his bones and sinews. This practice involved dismantling the body’s innate meridian pathways and reconstructing them—a feat no one on Suanikos had ever dared attempt.

“Ah~” As he commenced his cultivation, a sudden, intense pain wracked his body, prompting an involuntary cry from the unprepared Min Zhenkang.

“Young Master, what’s the matter?” The maidservant, hearing his cry, rushed in.

“I’m alright, just feeling a bit under the weather. Please leave me be; I need to rest,” Min Zhenkang reassured her, then added, “And remember, I’m not to be disturbed while resting.”

“As you wish, Young Master.”

Watching the maidservant retreat, Min Zhenkang resumed the painstaking process of meridian and bone realignment.

Learning from his earlier ordeal, he deliberately slowed his pace to a fraction of before, making the pain just tolerable. However, this adjustment meant that his recovery would now take tenfold longer.