The Ultimate Celestial Martial Emperor: An Isekai Cultivation Progression Fantasy Novel: The Ultimate Celestial Martial Emperor, #1

By De Yun Piao Dang

Jiang Yuan, an ordinary person from Earth, finds himself transported to another world, becoming a different Jiang Yuan in a realm filled with mystery and fantasy. In this world, individuals can cultivate their abilities to perform feats as miraculous as turning rivers and capturing the stars. However, Jiang Yuan's existence in this new world is far from stable. He inherits the identity and a series of troubles and challenges of his predecessor.

In the beginning, Jiang Yuan only wants to fully enjoy his new life, but fate doesn't afford him much respite. By a stroke of luck, he acquires a mysterious wooden carving, which seems to conceal the deep secrets of this world...

 

If I stand with humanity, then humanity shall flourish for hundreds of generations without end!

 

If I enter the path of demons, demonic flames will surge, and oceans of blood will flow!

 

As a sage, I shall help all beings, offering salvation to the world!

 

As an emperor, I shall be revered, with all directions submitting to me alone!

 

As an enlightened one, I shall follow in the footsteps of the sages before me, singing a war song of a prosperous yet melancholic era, shedding blood on the path to immortality!
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: He Qiao Qiao
• Release date: Mar 9, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224872596

Book preview

Chapter 1: NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE

Azure Jiao Lake, with its boundless green and rippling waves, was filled with slowly floating pleasure boats and the incessant sounds of revelry.

In a room on one of those pleasure boats sat Jiang Yuan, with the windows wide open. The refreshing breeze from the lake blew in, stirring his hair. He greedily inhaled the fresh air, picked up the silver wine flagon in his hand and took a sip of wine. That’s the life! he proclaimed in satisfaction, as if savoring every drop. I was almost driven crazy by being cooped up for a whole month.

He ran a hand over his temple and felt the faint, still-visible, dark green scar on his forehead.

Just as Jiang Yuan was engrossed in the thought that he had been stuck at home for a full month after his reincarnation, there was a loud bang and a servant girl dressed in blue pushed open the door and walked in.

Jiang Yuan quickly hid the wine flagon in his hand behind his back and turned to look at the intruder with a smile on his face. Ruyi Girl, who’s the master, you or me? he said, chuckling. You should think about changing this habit of yours of barging into other people’s rooms.

Ruy curled her lip and took a series of short sniffs. She appeared next to Jiang Yuan in a flash and extended her small hand to retrieve the wine flagon he was hiding behind his back and tossed it out of the window with a casual flick of the wrist.

Jiang Yuan rushed to the window in a vain attempt to catch the flying wine flagon, but Ruy was already a step ahead. He could only watch helplessly as his beautiful wine sank into the lake after creating a few circular ripples on the surface.

Hey hey! Little girl, give me back my wine!

Jiang Yuan bared his teeth and charged at Ruy. But Ruy casually raised her dainty foot and kicked him squarely in the chest. Jiang Yuan was sent flying across the room before tumbling onto the bed.

Ruy’s lips curled into a slight smile. Young master has just recovered from his injuries, she said. It would be best to abstain from drinking and taking in the cold air.

As she spoke, Ruy reached out towards the open window and, with a clang, it slammed shut. She glared at Jiang Yuan and said, It’s time for your medicine. Young master, wait here while I fetch it.

Jiang Yuan watched as Ruy left, her slender waist swaying enticingly. It was only then that he reacted and cried out, Heavens, I’m the master! Someone switch her out! Someone get me a new servant!

He rolled over and jumped to his feet, then rushed to the window and pushed it open again to enjoy the refreshing breeze. As he did so, he recalled the way Ruy had closed the window with a wave of her hand. He reached out and made a few feeble attempts to do the same over the lake, but to no avail.

Heavens, I’m a good-for-nothing, he lamented dejectedly. With such a great opportunity to cultivate, I can’t even match the strength of my own servant girl. It wouldn’t be unfair if I died. Well then, I’ll make a name for you in this world.

A month ago, Jiang Yuan was still an ordinary person on Earth, working hard to make ends meet. Although his life was difficult, as an orphan, he was open-minded and didn’t feel particularly dissatisfied.

In a rather bizarre turn of events, he ended up making a wish during a lunar eclipse and was reincarnated into a man with the same name and surname as him, Jiang Yuan. Fortunately, his predecessor had died after falling from a rockery, allowing him to smoothly integrate his memories and adapt to this strange new world in the past month.

Looking out over the boundless expanse of water, Jiang Yuan sighed and muttered, I’ve heard that there are powerful people in this world who can live for thousands, even tens of thousands of years. With a flick of their wrist, they can overturn oceans and pluck the stars from the sky...

In Jiang Yuan’s hand was a perfectly round wooden carving that had clearly been played with by someone. For some reason, there was a deep crack in the carving. Normally, such a crack would have caused the carving to break in two, but it had no effect as Jiang Yuan unconsciously played with it.

As he was thinking about this, a gust of wind came from behind him. Ruyi Girl, you’re back already? Jiang Yuan exclaimed.

But soon, he realized that something was wrong. The person behind him struck him with a palm, sending him flying out of the pleasure boat and into Azure Jiao Lake with a splash.

Help! Someone has fallen into the water! Help!

Splash! On the pleasure boat, one of the Jiang family’s servants reacted the fastest and jumped into Azure Jiao Lake. Close behind, Ruy, who had returned with the medicine, also jumped into the lake with a sharp cry.

Jiang Yuan flailed about, desperately trying to resist the gravitational pull of the lake. He swallowed a few mouthfuls of water and slapped at the surface, but he was unable to catch his breath and passed out.

When Jiang Yuan groggily regained consciousness, he felt a great force pressing down on his abdomen. With a heave, he vomited up a large amount of lake water.

After taking a few deep breaths and feeling as if he had just returned from the brink of death, Jiang Yuan opened his eyes to see a drenched Ruy looking at him with concern.

Upon seeing that Jiang Yuan had woken up, Ruy’s face broke into a radiant smile. Young master, you scared me to death! she exclaimed with joy. How could you be so careless? You actually fell into the lake yourself. Thankfully, you’re unharmed, or else the madam would never have forgiven me.

Jiang Yuan frowned and, after a moment of thought, turned to Ruy with a smile. It’s all my fault. Don’t worry, I’ll explain everything to my mother.

As he spoke, a cold wind blew past and Jiang Yuan shivered involuntarily. Ruy noticed and said, Young master’s health has not yet fully recovered, and now you’ve been soaked in water. Let’s not swim in the lake anymore. I’ll go and inform the young masters and young ladies, and we’ll return home first.

After the recent dangerous encounter, Jiang Yuan had many questions on his mind and was not in the mood for swimming. So, he nodded in agreement.

As Ruy left, Jiang Yuan slowly raised the strange object in his hand to his face. When he saw what it was, he almost dropped it.

What the devil? Wasn’t this thing perfectly intact before? It’s one thing to have one crack, but now there’s another.

Jiang Yuan was very familiar with the wooden carving in his hand because his predecessor had treated it like a precious treasure, holding and playing with it almost constantly, except when he slept. It was only after the predecessor fell to his death from the rockery that Jiang Yuan, who had transmigrated into his body, inherited all of his memories and became extremely familiar with the wooden carving.

Originally, the wooden carving was smooth and unblemished, devoid of any marks. However, for some reason, a crack appeared on it after I transmigrated. Jiang Yuan didn’t pay much mind to this at first, habitually fiddling with it in his hand.

Yet, during the recent assault that caused him to fall into the river, the wooden carving, which had never left his palm, mysteriously developed another crack.

Such a crack was not something that could be easily made, and just like the first one, it penetrated deep into the wood. Looking at it, Jiang Yuan began to worry it might split in half.

Frowning and lost in thought as he caressed the carving, footsteps suddenly approached, prompting Jiang Yuan to quickly put it away.

The vast Jiang Mansion covered several square miles, making it one of the few residences in Panshan Town, a town with tens of thousands of residents, that could rival its grandeur.

In one of the courtyards of the Jiang Mansion, Ruy, who usually bore an overbearing demeanor in front of Jiang Yuan, was now kneeling in front of Chen Shuyue with a face full of guilt.

Jiang Yuan interceded on her behalf, Aunt Shuyue, it was my carelessness. It has nothing to do with Ruyi.

Chen Junhua glanced at Jiang Yuan, and the doting look in her eyes made his heart flutter. Although it had been only a month, the affection he had never experienced before, combined with the memories of his predecessor, nearly convinced Jiang Yuan to regard Chen Shuyue as his own kin.

Had it not been for this, Chen Shuyue, serving as Chen Junhua’s personal maid and having watched Jiang Yuan grow up, would have surely noticed something off about him, given her indulgence and understanding of Jiang Yuan.

Chen Shuyue reached out towards Jiang Yuan, who was accustomed to her gestures and stood still without moving.

No sooner had she spoken than Chen Shuyue grabbed Jiang Yuan’s cheeks, chiding him, You scoundrel, I told you to stay put at home, but you just had to go out and pretend to be sophisticated. Look where that got you.

Lady, lady, Aunt, Ruyi is still here!

With a bitter smile, Jiang Yuan endured Chen Shuyue’s rough handling, reminding her.

Chen Shuyue turned around, her demeanor changing instantly. The gracious and composed air she now exuded was a stark contrast to her previous behavior.

Ruyi, with her head bowed, seemed as if she hadn’t witnessed the playful interaction between her mother and Jiang Yuan.

You can’t escape punishment for the young master’s fall into the water, but since it’s not your fault, you’ll receive ten strikes with the paddle.

Upon hearing Chen Shuyue’s verdict, Jiang Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. Although Ruyi was Chen Shuyue’s daughter, Chen Shuyue was very strict with her. Just receiving the paddle was already quite lenient.

After Ruyi left to receive her punishment, Chen Shuyue turned to Jiang Yuan and said, Yuan’er, you too need to be more careful. Do you want to scare me to death? If something were to happen to you, how would I explain it to your mother? You’re supposed to be a cultivator, yet you fell from a rockery and now into a lake. Is this something that should happen to someone who practices cultivation? Tell me, are you keeping something from me?

Hearing Chen Shuyue’s words, Jiang Yuan couldn’t help but think of his formidable mother and instinctively grinned.

Chen Shuyue’s eyes sparkled as she stared at Jiang Yuan, her inherent authority naturally manifesting itself. She truly was befitting of her position as his mother’s maid.

Jiang Yuan slowly shook his head, Aunt, you’re worrying over nothing. It was just my carelessness. I understand your concerns, but have you considered who in Panshan Town would dare harm a member of the Jiang Family? Although I’m not the eldest legitimate son, I’m still the seventh young master of the Jiang Mansion. Among my peers, there aren’t many with a higher status than mine. Who would dare to harm me?

Chen Shuyue snorted, Your father has been missing for nearly three years, and there are already rumors circulating outside. But as long as you have your mother and aunt here, we’ll see which demons dare to show their faces!

Chapter 2: The Mysterious Wooden Carving

Upon hearing those words, Jiang Yuan broke out in a cold sweat. His aunt really was no ordinary person, sharing a strikingly similar personality with his mother. Truly, they were a maid and her mistress through and through.

While he was lost in thought, Ruyi Girl entered the room, moving awkwardly, a clear sign she had just been punished.

Seeing her, Chen Shuyue said, Ruyi Girl, remember to always remind your young master to diligently practice his cultivation. We can’t have him fainting from falls or tumbling into lakes again. If there’s a next time, be careful or your little behind will blossom.

Ruyi instinctively covered her buttocks under her skirt, just in time to catch Jiang Yuan snickering at her. She immediately bared her teeth at him and, behind Chen Shuyue’s back, waved her little fists in the air.

Their subtle exchanges hardly escaped Chen Shuyue’s notice. Though Ruyi’s actions might seem presumptuous, Jiang Yuan allowed it, leaving no room for others to comment.

Waving her hand, Chen Shuyue instructed, Go and tidy up, change your clothes and don’t catch a cold. Remember to practice your cultivation tonight, and, tomorrow, I’ll be returning to the Changbai Mine Cave to see the miss, so no need for you two to see me off.

Jiang Yuan soaked in the bathing tub, surrounded by steam, while Ruyi, clad in a light garment, stood behind him washing his hair.

Fiddling with the wooden carving, Jiang Yuan couldn’t help but fix his gaze on it. It was as smooth as jade and as heavy as metal, and if not for the grain that identified it as wood, Jiang Yuan might have doubted whether it was carved from some unknown type of jade.

Though the craftsmanship was rough, it had a unique charm that captivated anyone who looked at it for too long.

Hey, young master, isn’t your wooden carving damaged?

Ruyi’s face showed surprise when she saw the wooden carving in Jiang Yuan’s hand. After all, besides Jiang Yuan, she was probably the one most familiar with it.

Jiang Yuan couldn’t help but say, Look at this, has a new crack appeared on it?

Ruyi responded, A month ago, after you fell from the rockery, this wooden carving seemed to have been damaged, a crack appeared on it. But that was just one crack, and now...

Jiang Yuan silently toyed with the carving, speculating that his predecessor had died from a fall from the rockery, and he himself had almost drowned in the lake. With these two accidents, the carving had developed two cracks, suggesting an extraordinary tale behind them.

Considering this recent fall into the lake was due to someone’s deliberate action, the fall from the rockery a month prior might not have been so simple either. As Chen Junhua suspected, being a cultivator, even with limited strength, one shouldn’t simply die from a fall off such a minor height.

Despite his thoughts, Jiang Yuan had no clues. Speaking out would only cause unnecessary worry, so he resolved to be more cautious in the future.

Distracted, the wooden carving fell into the tub. As Jiang Yuan picked it up, an idea struck him. He quickly stood up from the tub, addressing the visibly annoyed Ruyi, Ruyi, fetch my clothes and remember to bring a sharper dagger.

Ruyi ran off, and Jiang Yuan stepped out of the tub, dried himself, and slipped into the clean clothes laid aside. Soon, Ruyi returned with his garments.

Jiang Yuan, now dressed, extended his hand, The dagger?

The flash of the blade in Ruyi’s hand sent a chill through Jiang Yuan, causing him to take a few steps back in fright, his eyes wide as he stared at the dagger now pointed at his throat.

After glaring at Ruyi, Jiang Yuan took the dagger into his hand, warning her with a sense of pride, You little miser, the day I surpass you in strength, you’ll see what’s coming.

Ruyi, following behind, waved her little fists at Jiang Yuan, clearly indicating that threatening him with the dagger was a retaliation for his earlier naked mockery of her.

Stepping into the room, Jiang Yuan gripped his dagger and scanned his surroundings. Ruyi gave him a strange look, then saw him abruptly plunge the dagger into the bluestone floor. It sank in as if through tofu, requiring almost no effort from Jiang Yuan.

He realized with astonishment that the dagger had buried itself deep within the stone, a testament to its incredible sharpness.

From the side, Ruyi commented, Young master, that was unnecessary. This dagger is no ordinary object. It can cut through gold and jade as easily as mud.

Rolling his eyes at her, Jiang Yuan pulled out the dagger and eagerly placed the wooden carving on the table. He then carefully stabbed down with the blade.

Ah, young master, that’s your precious treasure, what are you...

Before Ruyi could finish, the dagger had already pierced the carving. She had expected the blade to cut through it effortlessly, but to her surprise, Jiang Yuan let out an exclamation: What a strange carving! It won’t even scratch.

Ruyi looked closer and saw that the carving remained flawless. Not even a single scratch could be found.

Jiang Yuan mused, Indeed, even with such a sharp dagger, it can’t leave a mark on this carving. Yet, somehow, these two cracks have appeared on their own. It’s uncanny, there must be something more to this.

Examining the carving, Jiang Yuan asked, Ruyi, do you think this carving could be considered a treasure?

Ruyi replied, It’s definitely strange. But it doesn’t seem to have any particular value. The key is that it’s something the master specially found for you. Even if it’s ordinary, it’s still your treasure.

Jiang Yuan laughed, You’re like a little honey pot, always sweet-talking me. Keep that up for your mistress and you’ll do just fine.

The melodious sound of bells filled the air. At the sound, Ruyi turned to Jiang Yuan. Young master, it’s time to start cultivating. The mistress specifically asked me to supervise you. If you faint from falling again, your maid will be the laughingstock of all the other maids.

Jiang Yuan rolled his eyes. Why can’t you say something nicer?

With that, he entered the meditation room. Underneath a large cauldron, flames roared. Ruyi gently pushed open the cauldron’s lid. The cauldron weighed ten thousand pounds, and the lid alone a thousand pounds. Yet, Ruyi opened it with apparent ease.

A thick medicinal fragrance wafted through the air, accompanied by the sound of bubbling. The pale green liquid inside was boiling vigorously.

The thought of having to jump into the cauldron for cultivation filled Jiang Yuan with dread. He recalled how terrified he had been the first time, almost fainting out of fear to avoid discovery. Fortunately, he had gained some experience and now remained relatively calm.

Stripping down to his shorts, he leaped into the