[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-starlight-professional":3,"chapter-starlight-professional-starlight-professional-chapter-14":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Starlight Professional",{"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},2308674,4512,"Chapter 14: Ability","starlight-professional-chapter-14",14,"\u003Cp>\"Thank you for purchasing Gaofei Toy Company products, dear! Please give us a like!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing opened the delivery box and removed the drones and surveillance equipment inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A soft, sweet voice sounded, then fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Fang Xing’s request, all these drones were shaped like simulated birds, and the surveillance equipment had been loaded with camouflage functions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My wallet...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He silently mourned for his wallet for three seconds, then prepared himself and began to cross over!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flash of silver light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Temporary camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The camp had already been concealed, covered in camouflage that made it indistinguishable from the surrounding forest when viewed from above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had done this because a flying monster had startled him earlier, prompting him to urgently upgrade the camp’s camouflage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After all, this is only a temporary camp—it’s not safe enough...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I need to consider setting up a permanent camp—perhaps a cave in a cliff face or digging underground... the deeper, the better.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Fang Xing, there was no such thing as being trapped with no way out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, the deeper the cave, the more time he gained for escape—three seconds meant greater safety!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait—does this mean... I’m going to become a burrowing mouse?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, hamsters seem cuter...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing muttered a joke, then turned to the surveillance screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After glancing a few times, his eyes suddenly brightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following the route of the previous four-person team, he directed the drones to conduct heavy reconnaissance in the direction they came from—the east—and indeed found something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One hundred li eastward, traces of a human settlement appear!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing looked at a photograph showing the outline of farmland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around the farmland were houses built of wood and thatch; people seemed to be tilling the fields.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Farmland?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Looks like these surveillance devices will come in handy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These farmers, even if they’re cultivators, are all ancient and frail, likely weak in blood and qi, possibly deaf and blind—they probably won’t immediately spot the surveillance. I can deploy the bird-shaped drones to drop disguised monitors resembling stones or beetles...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Fang Xing’s estimate, only the leader of the previous four-person team—the Jade Essence cultivator—had any real chance of detecting the surveillance equipment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, cultivators at the Jade Essence stage usually possess an innate spiritual sense, skilled at detecting hostile gazes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the surveillance devices resemble inanimate objects, there’s still a small chance of detection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If this were a Jade Essence cultivator from the Blue Star Federation, the detection probability would be higher...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But these native cultivators probably don’t understand technology and lack interference or reconnaissance gear—the detection probability is low... Let’s do it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing programmed the drones and ordered each simulated bird to take flight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If observed closely, one would notice tiny objects—stones, beetles, and similar items—clutched in the drones’ talons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These simulated birds would fly over a hundred li to reach the farmland area and drop the stone and beetle surveillance devices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then... quietly collect data and information...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several days later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yucai High School.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing stood motionless in a stance, his awareness focused on his attribute panel:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【First Stage: Skin and Muscle (Skin Refinement: 99\u002F100)】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Military Boxing Twelve Forms: 9\u002F100 (Proficient)】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Great Dragon Stance: 29\u002F100 (Proficient)】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just a little more—skin refinement will be complete!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at his martial cultivation level, Fang Xing felt deeply satisfied: \"But the Great Dragon Stance hasn’t reached the next tier—the third stage Master Xia Long mentioned. It’ll likely only grant me Bronze Skin... Fortunately, skin and muscle are in the same stage; after refining the muscle, if the Great Dragon Stance reaches the third stage, it will silently refine the skin membrane, turning Bronze Skin into Jade Skin.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, he caught a pair of eyes brimming with unmistakable hatred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eyes, bloodshot, belonged to a tall white youth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kol...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing smiled faintly: \"So, still want to spar?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, let’s wait until the final exam.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kol withdrew his gaze and replied politely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This restraint made Fang Xing raise his estimation slightly, and a trace of caution stirred in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A-Xing, be careful—Kol’s family has some money. After losing to you last time, he hired a private coach and spent heavily on blood-qi supplements...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wei came beside Fang Xing and whispered a warning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Martial cultivation demands steady progress—there’s no such thing as instantly gaining supernatural power from a sudden spiritual breakthrough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with a master’s guidance and sufficient resources, time is still required for results to manifest!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing could even sense that Kol’s strength was undergoing rapid growth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the final exam, he might shock everyone!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t worry—in the face of absolute power, any scheme or trick is useless.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing replied confidently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He possessed an entire other world as a resource base, with a cultivation environment akin to a cosmic secret realm—his growth rate would outpace Kol’s!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Kol’s family background was nothing special—probably worse than Gu Yun’s!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Kol truly waited until the final exam to strike, Fang Xing wouldn’t mind letting him experience true despair!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A-Xing, you’ve changed a lot.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wei fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"People change.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes... people change. I hope I can become stronger too. I have no resources or talent like you, A-Xing—I can only pray that one day I’ll suddenly awaken as an Ability User.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wei spoke as if joking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ability Users? That evolutionary path isn’t very promising...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So-called 'Ability Users' can also be called 'Mutants,' and their origins are unusual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although most scientific research indicates that Ability Users’ powers are wildly varied, mostly stemming from random gene mutations,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>it cannot be denied that Ability Users appeared not after humanity entered the cosmic age, but after the 'Great Catastrophe Day!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although gene mutation was always possible, and human evolution after contact with the greater universe seemed logical, according to Blue Star Federation simulations, such slow genetic evolution should take millennia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet after the Great Catastrophe Day, this 'process' seemed accelerated a thousandfold by some unknown entity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some cults also claim Ability Users are the chosen of extraterrestrial deities—the 'New Humans!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Precisely because of this, locating the extraterrestrial demon god suspected of wielding the 'Ability' authority has become one of the Blue Star Federation’s key strategic priorities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since the origin of Ability Users is unclear... suddenly awakening one isn’t necessarily a good thing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I think Ability Users have nothing to do with extraterrestrial demons—just normal gene mutations, and the probability is so low it’s just talk... Besides, last year’s top scorer in our Chu Ying Star’s college entrance exam was an Ability User too—no restrictions or discrimination...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wei’s face showed skepticism, but his inner feelings were complex and hard to describe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He recalled the black-robed cultist who had suddenly approached him, offering to help him awaken a flesh-and-blood Ability in exchange for joining their sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it was 'Steel Body,' 'Super Regeneration,' or even the lowest-tier 'Strength Doubling,' all offered tremendous benefits to a cultivator!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once obtained, his cultivation progress could skyrocket!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, even a lowly 'Strength Doubling' Ability, in ancient times, was equivalent to 'naturally divine strength'—a rare martial genius!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was indeed hesitating...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, compared to spontaneous awakening, actively induced awakening is 100% tied to extraterrestrial demons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once entangled, one falls into the abyss!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'But... if I don’t awaken an Ability, how can I surpass A-Xing?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'If I can’t even surpass A-Xing, how will I pass the college entrance exam? How will I escape the flesh-and-blood battlefield?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'How... will I make Lian Yi notice me?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wei clenched his fists tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why bring this up suddenly? Did you... awaken?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing suddenly looked at Lin Wei, suspicious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If only I had awakened...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wei answered frankly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was still in the undecided phase and hadn’t accepted any 'blessing,' so he was completely open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he went to the infirmary for a gene test, it would detect nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"True... spontaneous awakening is dangerous, but for people like us, success demands a gamble...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even becoming a psychic is better than being cannon fodder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, maybe the emergence of psychics is simply a natural law, and the Federation is overthinking everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing thought his classmate might have truly awakened some psychic ability, and changed the subject with a hint of comfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet this very comfort stung Liu Wei’s pride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah… if only I had one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Wei murmured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had originally been hesitant, but watching his classmates advance at breakneck speed,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>especially seeing Fang Xing—someone from the same background—surpass him, finally spurred him to make up his mind!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if I fall into the abyss, I must see a moment of light!”\u003C\u002Fp>",1440,"2026-06-20T11:03:20.053Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","729fe7b33ce10d20a2f16401a3534cf7b7be560743cd53d72e12b9767e4b768e","starlight-professional-chapter-15","starlight-professional-chapter-13",726,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstarlight-professional-cover.jpg"]