[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-starlight-professional":3,"chapter-starlight-professional-starlight-professional-chapter-19":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},2308679,4512,"Chapter 19: Practice and Abilities","starlight-professional-chapter-19",19,"\u003Cp>“I’ve felt your spirit…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing such an opponent, Fang Xing could not help but show respect, then clenched his five fingers together, his body arcing like a bow, leaping forward a single step and crossing several meters to seize the position Phoenix was about to reach: “But if spirit alone were enough, what need is there for matter?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thunderous crack echoed through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bow stance, Cannon Fist!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cannon shot is worth ten thousand gold!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Fang Xing slightly took the fight seriously, Phoenix flew backward faster than she had come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, she landed directly off the platform, collapsing unconscious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn, Fang Xing from Class Two isn’t even human—he knocked Phoenix out cold…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll remember you. See you on the platform!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a beautiful girl, Phoenix had many admirers, and immediately a clamor erupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing always ignored such buzzing flies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hmph, if I hadn’t won so cleanly, given her personality and her habit of resorting to self-mutilation just to secure victory, she’d have lost even worse and been injured far more severely…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He snorted inwardly and stepped down from the platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, louder shouts erupted from the adjacent platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So brutal!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This… Complete Skin Refinement? And not just ordinary cowhide—this is bronze-skin martial artist level?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s Cole from Class Two, right? Class Two really struck luck—producing two martial powerhouses in a row!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing walked toward the adjacent platform and saw Cole standing with both fists raised, roaring, while a classmate lay unconscious at his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The classmate looked utterly horrific, as if crushed head-on by a road roller.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the spectators’ chatter, he realized that during the match, Cole had displayed terrifying power—unmoved by any strike his opponent landed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such defense could only mean Complete Skin Refinement—and not ordinary cowhide at that!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even more terrifying was how brutally Cole acted once he gained overwhelming dominance!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Roar!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cole raised his fists and roared like a beast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His slightly bloodshot eyes turned toward Fang Xing, and he sneered, making a throat-slitting gesture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Really… arrogant.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing crossed his arms, expression icy, utterly unfazed by the provocation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, to him, Cole was no different from an ant on the roadside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A person doesn’t argue with ants—they simply step on them without a second thought!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He soon faced his second opponent: a classmate named Qian Xun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Xun wore her training uniform, still sporting her pumpkin-head appearance: “Fang classmate, please go easy on me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, she knew how highly Xia Long regarded Fang Xing, and knew she was no match for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, she still sought to challenge her own limits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Proceed!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing raised his hand slightly, and Qian Xun leapt forward, delivering a rapid double kick—the “Dual Snake Legs” from the Twelve Forms of Military Body Boxing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He subtly shifted his hands, opened his palm, and seized her ankle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a slight tug, he flung her off the platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Xun’s face flushed slightly, then gave way to unmistakable shock: “Complete Skin Refinement?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only at this level of defense could one casually catch her techniques without flinching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cole the idiot reached Complete Skin Refinement—I’m hardly surprising, am I?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing smiled in reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t know—Cole’s family took out loans just to support his training…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Xun stood up, brushed off the dust, and replied with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t tell me his mother quit her job to stay home full-time caring for him, and even took out a loan to buy a house…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing’s expression turned strangely uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These two things, plus the obsessive tiger-parenting, were the three classic traps of middle-income families in his past life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How could that be? Louise was a full-time housewife, but after Cole’s training costs skyrocketed, she had no choice but to find a job again…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Xun clearly didn’t catch Fang Xing’s joke and answered seriously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What a pity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing shook his head, then heard a voice beside him and his expression changed instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Platform 9: Liu Wei vs. Cole!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hurried to the platform’s edge and saw Liu Wei stepping up, facing Cole, who now wore only a tight vest and looked significantly bulkier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Liu Wei… Perfect. You’re Fang Xing’s best friend, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cole slowly clenched his fists, bones grinding with a sharp crack: “Perfect. I’ll take you out first, then kill him!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fang didn’t cripple you back then—he was far too lenient…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Wei’s eyes flashed with coldness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cough, cough… Students, you may begin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A nearby teacher overseeing the platform coughed disbelievingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just high schoolers, yet each one’s boasting grew louder than the last, talking of killing and maiming—did they think the martial arts teachers were dead?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he knew martial artists needed momentum, there was a limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Die!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cole charged forward like a tank, or a rampaging grizzly bear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From his footwork and fist patterns, he clearly had learned a new combat style—completely different from before, and brutally aggressive!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Combined with Complete Skin Refinement, he could easily contend for the top freshman spot at Yucai High!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? This Cole is impressive!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A martial arts teacher adjusted his glasses: “Complete Skin Refinement, plus ‘Black Snake Combat Art’—he’d have been a lock for first place in past years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Long’s ears twitched, catching a faint sound from far away: “From what I know, Cole took ‘Black Mamba Extract’—not officially banned, but close enough. His coach is clearly short-sighted, obsessed with immediate gains while ignoring long-term potential and development…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the two teachers spoke, the platform erupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Wei and Cole clashed, both drawing back their arms and striking simultaneously!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cole’s fist surface was rough, faintly tinged with bluish-black, like an iron mallet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before it even landed, the fist wind was ferocious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Wei likewise clenched his five fingers and punched forward!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as his fist launched, the muscles on his right arm seemed to come alive—writhing, swelling wildly…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>THUD!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deafening crash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cole screamed, his right arm shattered into multiple pieces!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse—he was blasted off the platform like a cannonball.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing, witnessing this, was taken aback: “Liu Wei defeated Cole?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though they hadn’t been in close contact lately, the progress he’d made was terrifyingly extreme.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>WHOOSH!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several figures moved at speeds invisible to the naked eye, rushing to the platform to check Cole’s condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Arm broken, ribs cracked too… serious injury, but treatable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A female teacher examined Cole’s wounds and spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Long stared at the living, writhing muscles on Liu Wei’s right arm, his eyes gleaming slightly: “An adept? Liu Wei… you’ve awakened an ability?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Power-type—Muscle Activation!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Wei answered calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Excellent. Though this ability has limited potential, it lets you unleash nearly all your body’s strength—and greatly accelerates Skin Refinement progress… judging by your level, you’re nearly at Complete Skin Refinement, aren’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Long praised without restraint: “Keep working hard—my class finally has a student with a real shot at university.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, in Xia Long’s eyes, Fang Xing—who had hidden his strength all along—still hadn’t met this standard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Liu Wei, with his awakened ‘Muscle Activation’ ability, had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rest assured, Teacher, I’ll work hard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Wei grew much more composed, slowly descended the platform, and seemed to glance toward Fang Xing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That idiot Cole… said he’d teach me a lesson, but got eliminated first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing muttered a comment and turned to face his next opponent—Ouyang Qianqian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the third round, he again drew a classmate, continuing the internal battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fang classmate, please instruct me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Qianqian was full of vigor and spirit, clearly having undergone rigorous cultivation; now she struck, her Flying Orchid Fingers flowing endlessly, carrying a soft, yin force far surpassing her previous performance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ouyang classmate has improved greatly…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing sighed in admiration, immediately withdrawing his defense and taking her eighteen finger strikes head-on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zing! Zing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The finger force, capable of tearing tendons and dislocating bones, struck his body—yet was blocked by an extraordinarily resilient force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing felt as if someone were massaging him; the spots touched by her fingers tingled pleasantly, even soothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Huh? Is this also a special effect of the Jade Skin?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, if one had Ox Skin or Bronze Skin, they could withstand Ouyang Qianqian’s finger strikes, but would still suffer some penetration and counter-shock damage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Fang Xing felt the skin struck tremble slightly, dispersing the highly concentrated finger force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Qianqian unleashed her ultimate technique, only to fail—she stared at Fang Xing as if he were a monster: “I’ve worked so hard, yet I’m falling further behind you…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She felt a pang of gloom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it was Fang Xing or Liu Wei, both had leaped forward in their martial cultivation at a speed she could not imagine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In comparison, as a natural-born human, she felt like trash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I yield!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Qianqian raised her hand to signal the referee, then looked at Fang Xing: “I will surpass you.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1477,"2026-06-20T11:03:20.053Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","8cefdf6f06af60648e1f7c049e23e0632a63708fd86d42fd144e6253caf5505d","starlight-professional-chapter-20","starlight-professional-chapter-18",726,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstarlight-professional-cover.jpg"]