[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-starlight-professional":3,"chapter-starlight-professional-starlight-professional-chapter-39":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},2308699,4512,"Chapter 39: Ning Shen Dan","starlight-professional-chapter-39",39,"\u003Cp>“Leave this place?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing was slightly startled: “Madam, do you have enough funds?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qinglin Market was established by the Qingxuan Sect to reclaim the wilds, located deep within the barbarian wastes, surrounded by danger on all sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from the Qingxuan Sect’s own airship caravans, which came at intervals, there was simply no other way out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was relatively easy for cultivators to come to Qinglin Market, but to leave, even the boat fare was exorbitant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Selling off our belongings will surely be enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yuxin replied calmly, but her tone was firm, clearly having already made up her mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, not only are we, the Five Righteous of Cangshan, bound to fall apart, but we’ve also deeply offended the Black Tiger Gang—soon we may not even dare step outside the market. Staying here is merely walking into our own grave!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only way out is to leave!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Here, one spirit stone—as a token of mourning. Please don’t think it’s too little…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing thought for a moment, then pulled out a low-grade spirit stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This… how can I accept it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yuxin’s eyes grew redder, her voice trembling with tears: “How many years have we been sworn sisters? Yet not one of them compares to Brother Fang, a neighbor I’ve known only a few days. Hah… righteousness…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she was sharp-witted; after expressing her thanks, she led Fang Xing to the back chamber: “All our belongings are here. Brother Fang, take whatever you find useful…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing had given such a generous gift precisely for this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced around and saw that Meng Yi and his wife’s “possessions” were meager: a few weapons, five secret manuals, some pills, talismans, herbs, and other miscellaneous items.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? There’s ‘Illusion Heart Orchid’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing pointed at the freshly picked orchid, his tone surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This was obtained at great risk by my husband and me. If Brother Fang wants it, ten spirit stones and it’s yours…” Shen Yuxin replied. With ten spirit stones plus her savings, she could afford two boat tickets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she and her son were safe within the market from the Black Tiger Gang, how could one guard against thieves for a thousand days?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Better to leave early.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ten spirit stones? Not expensive… Coincidentally, I’m training a martial art and need ‘Ning Shen Dan’…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing sighed, took out ten spirit stones, and took the Illusion Heart Orchid in hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A low-grade spirit stone was no larger than a fingernail; many could fit in a small pouch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet ten spirit stones were still quite rare among free cultivators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Shen Yuxin glanced at Fang Xing twice, but said nothing, completing the transaction without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Got it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving Shen Yuxin’s home, Fang Xing’s lips curled into a faint smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed he already had an Illusion Heart Orchid; buying another appeared redundant—but in truth, it was vastly different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least, the origin of the orchid in his possession was now “cleansed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was not stolen from the Black Tiger Gang, but purchased—no matter how arrogant and brutal the gang was, they couldn’t reasonably harass him over this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And who knew how many Illusion Heart Orchids Shen Yuxin had sold him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the mother and son left, it would become a matter of no witnesses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qingdan Market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Esteemed guest…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A smiling maid approached, but Fang Xing ignored her outright: “Is Xiao Rui here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiao Rui? I’ll go call her…” The maid’s smile froze slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later, Xiao Rui appeared before Fang Xing: “Esteemed guest, you’re the one who previously sought Ning Shen Dan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her memory was good—she still recognized him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Correct. Do you have any in stock?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m truly sorry, Ning Shen Dan is still out of stock…” Xiao Rui offered an apologetic smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? But I recently acquired an Illusion Heart Orchid. What if I commission you to refine it?” he added.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What excellent fortune—you actually obtained an Illusion Heart Orchid?” Xiao Rui was slightly surprised, then smiled: “If you commission us, naturally there’s no issue… You provide the Illusion Heart Orchid, we supply the auxiliary materials. If successful, you receive half the pills. If it fails, no additional spirit stones are required.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing frowned slightly, sensing this shop was a bit of a scam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he had no choice—other private alchemists were worse, and their skills were even poorer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rest assured, our alchemist’s success rate for Ning Shen Dan exceeds seventy percent…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Fang Xing’s hesitation, Xiao Rui immediately added.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine, let it be this way…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing pulled out one Illusion Heart Orchid, ready to give it a try.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he still had another one, so he wasn’t overly anxious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if this shop cheated him, it would at least show him the true nature of these market vendors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, there will come a day for reckoning!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After wandering the market, Fang Xing returned to his shack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he was about to open his door, he froze—outside Shen the widow’s house stood a crowd of people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each one looked menacing, with tiger heads embroidered on their chests—clearly members of the Black Tiger Gang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where did the woman and child living here go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The leader growled, glaring at Fang Xing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shen the widow lost her husband; they say she’s leaving Qinglin Market with her child…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing trembled as if terrified, immediately betraying Shen Yuxin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Left? Smart. Let’s go!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Black Tiger Gang members, having already questioned other neighbors, now confirmed it and left grumpily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed, among gang members, kill one and you’re rarely wrong…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing shut his door and shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his current strength, he must endure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he can crush this place, he’ll act as he pleases—that is his martial way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Xia Long spoke of martial spirit—how the weak strike at the stronger—Fang Xing wasn’t impressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His martial way was simple: grow stronger, protect himself, then, once capable of self-defense, do what he could.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>★￠o\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Practice punches, practice punches!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing cooked a full pot of spirit rice and began training the Great Dragon Stance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At midnight, a knock came at the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Who now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was annoyed, peered through the crack—and froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment’s thought, he opened the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fragrant breeze swept in as a woman with peach-bright cheeks, almond eyes, curved eyebrows, and a sultry gait entered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She carried the aura of a mature woman, like a ripe, sweet peach—she was Hua Feiyue, the second of the Five Righteous of Cangshan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss Hua… no, Sister Hua, we meet again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing had met Hua Feiyue only once, so he remained cold: “What do you want?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little Brother Fang, I came to see my fifth sister, but I hear she’s already gone—what a wise woman…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Feiyue’s breath was uneven—her injuries had not fully healed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss Shen didn’t elaborate, only said Brother Meng died gathering herbs. As a widow with a child, she wondered how the Five Righteous of Cangshan would handle this…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing droned on, recounting what Shen Yuxin had done today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Left? Good. The Five Righteous of Cangshan—this name will vanish from Qinglin Market!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Feiyue offered a bitter smile, then fixed Fang Xing with a clear gaze: “Little Brother Fang, you’re upright and brave—I admire you. If you have free time, come visit me at Yi-66…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She bowed gracefully and withdrew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing’s expression turned strange: “This woman couldn’t have taken to me after two meetings… Is she in secret contact with Shen Yuxin, testing me? Or… has she truly decided to retire from this life of blood and blades? But how can a martial cultivator in this market survive without it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Herb gathering was already perilous; now, with beast floods rampant, it’s ten times harder!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For cultivators without savings, it’s even worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’ve heard many beautiful female cultivators supplement their income by taking on half-prostitution work…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing rubbed his chin, lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three days later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is ‘Ning Shen Dan’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing picked up a jade vial and poured out a pill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pill was entirely emerald green, yet carried a strange, pungent spiciness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He waited two days, then went to Qingdan Market—luckily, they hadn’t broken their word, informing him the refinement succeeded, yielding four vials total.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As agreed, they gave him two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Actually... who knows what the real success rate of that alchemist is? But since he provides pills, his reputation is already decent—don’t ask for too much... after all, the moral baseline of this world is far too flexible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing shook his head and prepared to test the effects of this hard-won 'Ning Shen Pill'.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sat cross-legged, his mind lake calm as an ancient well, and attempted to enter a meditative state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, he silently visualized the imagery: \"One knife in hand, no ghost or god survives.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, his previously clear mind lake churned with countless ripples; the once-pure water turned entirely black, and boundless thoughts surfaced as countless faces—each expressing joy, anger, sorrow, or pleasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just meditating is already this troublesome... what if a true demonic obsession arose? How terrifying would that be?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing sighed inwardly, his hands moving swiftly as he swallowed one 'Ning Shen Pill'.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a spicy taste spread across his tongue and palate, he immediately felt his spirit grow crystal clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The myriad distracting thoughts that had surfaced were instantly suppressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even... he felt he could now 'inner-see' every part of his body—the meridians, bones, internal organs—even the most minute details!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Could this... be the cultivator’s 'spiritual awareness'?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this state of 'absolute control', Fang Xing smoothly gathered his spirit, overcame the first hurdle of mastering the 'Ghost God Blade', and began to hypnotize himself, gradually transforming his spirit into something 'ghost-like and god-like'.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This hypnosis was no mere hypnotic technique—it truly altered the very nature of his spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It even unlocked immense latent potential buried deep within his flesh and blood!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Knife in hand, slay ghosts, slay gods, battle ghosts and gods—all in a single thought!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing’s mind stirred, and a hundred-forged steel blade appeared in his hand; he leapt up instantly and slashed downward: \"Slay Ghosts!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hss!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like lightning born in an empty room!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sliver of brilliant blade light suddenly appeared in midair!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Qi expelled outward, forming blade light!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing sheathed his blade and stood still, his eyes gleaming faintly: \"This isn’t me ascending to the Primordial Realm—it’s that I’ve finally entered the basics of the 'Ghost God Blade' and now possess Primordial-level combat power!\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1750,"2026-06-20T11:03:20.053Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","74a36165cc26b217ef5659ded906354d5b5d1218dc5e53b5e586eba584b2d549","starlight-professional-chapter-40","starlight-professional-chapter-38",726,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstarlight-professional-cover.jpg"]