[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-starlight-professional":3,"chapter-starlight-professional-starlight-professional-chapter-22":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},2308682,4512,"Chapter 22: Breakthrough to the Second Realm","starlight-professional-chapter-22",22,"\u003Cp>The Small Talisman Hall is indeed very “small.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After entering the shop, you see row upon row of wooden shelves, each glowing with colored spiritual light—nothing else remains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the protective glow of the shelves lie talismans of varying colors and patterns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the center stands a counter, behind which sits only a young servant, who barely glanced at Fang Xing as he entered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The service culture in this cultivation world desperately needs improvement… Is Qingdan Fang just an exception?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing muttered inwardly, then spoke directly: “How much for a Spirit-Testing Talisman?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One spirit stone per talisman.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The green-clad servant answered without looking up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why so expensive? Outside, stalls sell them for eight spirit sands—haggle a bit, you can get them for six or seven.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph… Every talisman in our hall is a masterpiece painted by a master—how could it compare to those inferior goods outside?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The servant perked up, gesturing wildly as he pulled out a talisman: “Look at this paper, this ink… every detail is premium. Can the outside stuff match? Can it? Take this Spirit-Testing Talisman—if you buy a shoddy one and the reading is wrong, you could ruin a young genius’s entire life… let alone attack or defense talismans—if they fail at a critical moment, it’s fatal! The paper outside? Who knows which wild cultivator drew it—would you trust it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though his attitude was poor, Fang Xing felt the servant had a point, so he quietly pulled out spirit stones and bought one Spirit-Testing Talisman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, his earnings from selling Zhu Long Grass were completely gone—not a single coin returned home, all spent in the marketplace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sigh… You earn in the marketplace, you spend in the marketplace—not a single coin makes it home!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stepping out of the Small Talisman Hall, Fang Xing sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, today’s observations were sufficient; he felt no lingering attachment and strode out of the marketplace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once beyond the shantytown, a yellow sparrow immediately flew from his backpack, monitoring his surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing had only added it as a precaution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But soon, he could no longer smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the surveillance feed, a furtive figure clearly appeared—following him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The figure was hunched, with a tobacco pipe at his waist—it was the old man from the stall!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s only two spirit stones!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where is human trust?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing muttered a complaint, then suddenly accelerated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With aerial surveillance, losing him wouldn’t be hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the man was merely an ordinary martial artist, old and frail, he might still have a few tricks—or even talismans!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll settle accounts with you later…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing’s figure accelerated and twisted several times, vanishing without a trace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later, the old stall vendor arrived at Fang Xing’s last position, staring at the vanished footprints on the ground—a flicker of regret crossed his face…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Temporary camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The camp had long since been modified; all ground structures were gone, replaced by a patch of grass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing arrived at one spot, lifted the grass, and revealed an entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Descending through the entrance led to a cave, its walls carved with ventilation shafts, and a smart computer working inside—nine screens displayed real-time surveillance footage of the surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He checked the system logs: aside from a few animals coming to drink water, nothing unusual—satisfied, he nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quietly recalling today’s observations, Fang Xing opened a document and began recording today’s prices, marketplace geography, and his insights…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the end, he marked the old stall vendor’s face in deep detail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He remembered this grudge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Obtained one Spirit-Testing Talisman, one bottle of Blood-Essence Pill—can now quietly cultivate for a while; breaking into the Second Realm won’t be a problem, hmph…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing set down the pills and stared at the Spirit-Testing Talisman in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The paper glowed a bright yellow, its inscribed runes seemingly hiding spiritual light, with a faint ink fragrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In cultivation, low-tier talismans activate upon tearing—some even ordinary mortals can use them…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But slightly higher-tier ones, like a Grade One Mid-Class Gold Bell Shield Talisman… only cultivators or those with Primordial Martial Qi can use them—must be activated with Primordial Qi…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even higher-tier talismans—except for special types deliberately lowered in usage requirements—mostly require a cultivator’s spiritual energy to activate; non-cultivators simply cannot use them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These common knowledge points about talisman usage were all obtained by Fang Xing, shamelessly demanding “after-sales service” from the green-clad servant!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, if you sell me a talisman, shouldn’t you tell me how to use it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was slightly embarrassing to be treated like a country bumpkin, but Fang Xing never cared about face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Spirit-Testing Talisman is a common type—just tear it open to use. It detects spiritual roots: if you have one, light will appear, its color and intensity indicating your cultivation potential…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Many martial artists toil endlessly in frontier expeditions—not just to gather spirit sands for pills to break their own martial boundaries, but mostly to place their hopes for cultivation on the next generation…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My body was forged from the finest sperm and egg cells of the Blue Star Federation, and I’ve been blessed with the cosmic fortune of reincarnation—I must have a spiritual root, at worst just a lower-grade one… I will definitely cultivate! Otherwise, why would the Gates of the Multiverse have targeted this world? I will cultivate…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing silently cheered himself on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cultivators wield countless methods and possess long lifespans—they are the premier evolutionary path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention flying on swords, achieving immortality—how many children dreamed of that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who would painfully train martial arts if they could cultivate?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a hint of anticipation, he tore open the Spirit-Testing Talisman!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A glow fell upon him, then dimmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One minute passed…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two minutes passed…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five minutes passed…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nothing happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this Spirit-Testing Talisman broken?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing scratched his head: “Sigh… Cultivation may be great, but its combat power develops too slowly—each cultivation session takes years, even decades, and you might only advance one level after a hundred years. Where’s the rapid progress of martial arts?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What trash cultivation method? Trying to shake my martial resolve? Get out, get out, get out!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After venting, Fang Xing calmed himself: “Train martial arts! This cultivation path… one day, my martial arts will crush it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several days later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing set up the Great Dragon Post, his consciousness quietly focusing on his status panel:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Name: Fang Xing】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Age: 16】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Profession: Martial Artist】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【First Realm: Skin and Muscle (Muscle Refinement: 99\u002F100)】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Twelve Forms of Military Boxing: 33\u002F100 (Proficient)】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Great Dragon Post: 3\u002F200 (Mastered)】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Gates of the Multiverse (Charging)】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since mastering the Great Dragon Post, progress has become increasingly difficult… Without other aids, it might take a year to reach the fourth stage and awaken the ‘Dragon’s Essence’!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But my martial realm is advancing rapidly…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the combined effect of the Mastered Great Dragon Post and Blood-Essence Pills, Fang Xing’s Muscle Refinement surged like a thousand-mile gallop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, he was on the verge of breakthrough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He opened his eyes and silently swallowed a Blood-Essence Pill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A warm flow surged—but unlike before, the pill that once boosted his blood qi and rapidly increased proficiency now felt noticeably weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s the bottleneck between the First and Second Realms!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing realized this clearly, pulled the stopper, and poured pill after pill into his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His lower abdomen burned like a fire; he heard the sound of blood surging through his body like a great river.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, his skin and muscles felt as if melting—powerful heat engulfed his tendons and bones, finally forcing them to undergo refinement, producing a loud crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On his status bar, the column representing his martial realm blurred, then displayed new information:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Second Realm: Tendons and Bones (Tendon Refinement: 1\u002F100)】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Broken through… Second Realm of Martial Arts!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing clenched his fist, feeling the powerful force surging from his tendons and bones, a faint smile tugging at his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Second Realm martial artists can learn B-Class or even A-Class martial arts. The martial techniques of this world are still crude, far inferior to the advanced systems forged by the Federation through bloody battles… Once I master even one A-Class martial art, I believe I can rival Primordial Martial Artists in the Second Realm without external aids!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Too bad I’m still on vacation…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Due to vacation, with no master to guide him, Fang Xing didn’t know if Muscle Refinement had sub-levels like Skin Refinement—Leather Skin, Bronze Skin, Jade Skin, etc.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He certainly couldn’t directly receive instruction in A-Class martial arts like Ghost God Blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I chose cultivation, in this world, could I really receive the same systematic training as the Federation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not to mention, martial arts can eventually unlock mechs—destructive power is staggering, even capable of one-shot planetary annihilation. Most cultivators probably can’t even imagine it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Blood-Essence Pills are nearly exhausted from breaking the bottleneck; next, I’ll properly adapt to this new realm, then return to the marketplace…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing looked at his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His once slender frame had grown noticeably more muscular; without his shirt, clear muscle definition was visible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, he seemed to have grown taller.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Dressed, you look slim; undressed, you've got muscle... If I'd had this body in my past life, women might have chased after me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing patted his lean, muscular frame, feeling a touch of nostalgia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, the days of his past life were gone forever.\u003C\u002Fp>",1553,"2026-06-20T11:03:20.053Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","421b4479b825d8592cf81a5b3597eef60a73a4d3a6ae8d58bf00ec58e369a34a","starlight-professional-chapter-23","starlight-professional-chapter-21",726,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstarlight-professional-cover.jpg"]