[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-starlight-professional":3,"chapter-starlight-professional-starlight-professional-chapter-574":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},2309234,4512,"Chapter 574: Five Years","starlight-professional-chapter-574",574,"\u003Cp>The terrain of Poison Dragon Slope slopes higher in the east and lower in the west.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After surveying the area, Fang Xing selected a large flat stretch on the western side as his territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This entire region totaled nearly a thousand soccer fields in size, nearly occupying half of Poison Dragon Slope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to the agreement, future land vein energies, toxic spots, and similar features were all allocated to East Peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This land alone could support ten thousand mu of bamboo forest…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing leveled a plot of several mu, sighed contentedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rome wasn’t built in a day; he had no intention of planting ten thousand mu of bamboo overnight, so he first built himself a wooden cabin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he planted the Three Saints Oak and Green Spirit Bamboo around it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he released mutated ants… effectively creating a small druidic ecological zone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is the blueprint for future expansion… I can just replicate it later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a flurry of activity and laying out a rough plan, Fang Xing nodded in satisfaction: “Just need to acquire another insect-controlling inheritance… then I’m set.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the five hundred talisman coins the Floating Cloud Five had scraped together, he unhesitatingly embezzled most of it, planning to buy a beast-taming inheritance— insect control was merely one chapter within it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the druid’s animal domain is vast; it can’t be confined solely to insect cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Per our prior agreement with the Fei family, the first ten years of reclamation are self-reliant—no tribute required annually…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For now, I’ll farm here for ten years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using his “Plant Growth” talent, Fang Xing spurred the growth of countless young Green Spirit Bamboos, preparing them to appease the Floating Cloud Five; then he stood upright, gazing at the emerging ecological zone, and sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time flowed like water; years passed like a shuttle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the blink of an eye, five years had passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Poison Dragon Slope had changed dramatically since before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On East Peak, a ring of buildings had risen, and a patch of spirit farmland had been cultivated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the western slope, lush greenery now covered hundreds of mu of bamboo forest, occasionally punctuated by a few oak trees amid the green.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pair of teenagers slowly approached the bamboo forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big Brother Feng, my mother told me to stay away from here…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A girl in a snow-white dress, no more than eleven or twelve, stared ahead at the bamboo forest, hesitating: “Is there really a giant black snake here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course… I’ve seen it once—it was thicker than a water barrel… slithering through this bamboo forest like a black dragon surging through emerald seas…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Big Brother Feng, a year or two older than her, beamed with excitement: “And the bamboo shoots here? Delicious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Maybe we should just go back… I barely escaped; let’s go play somewhere else first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl in white hesitated, yet her eyes sparkled with curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like a child fleeing a strict parent, she longed to do something forbidden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry—we six families of Poison Dragon Slope are bound by blood. The hermit here is one of us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Big Brother Feng strode into the bamboo forest; the girl in white followed immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, a green bamboo viper dropped down, landing on Big Brother Feng’s shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah! Poisonous snake!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy’s shrill scream echoed through the entire bamboo forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I told you so…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl in white was near tears: “West Slope isn’t like East Peak—here, the venomous snakes haven’t been cleared at all… many people have been bitten, which is why they banned us from coming…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside her, Big Brother Feng lay on the ground, lips turning blue-black, nearly foaming at the mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a flash of green light appeared, and a figure stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He appeared as a young man, dressed in stitched leather, holding a bamboo staff with several untrimmed branches still clinging to its top.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle Fang, save me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Fang Xing, the girl in white looked as if she’d found a savior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re… Song Yunqian’s daughter, Song Yunyun? You’ve grown so much?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing looked at Song Yunyun, recalling the tiny, doll-like girl from before, and smiled: “Oh? You’ve already absorbed Qi into your body—you’re at Qi Absorption Level Two now. Impressive, very impressive…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle Fang…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yunyun pleaded: “Lv Feng is almost dead!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry—he won’t die.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing smiled and handed her a berry and a packet of snake venom antidote: “Feed him this… see if he dares steal bamboo shoots again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yunyun quickly gave the antidote to Lv Feng, pouting: “Uncle Fang, why are there so many venomous insects and snakes here? I’m too scared to come play anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I prefer quiet. Besides… venomous snakes are part of nature.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing replied solemnly: “You still want to come play? Didn’t your mother drag you off to practice Qi Absorption and embroidery?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the mention of this, Song Yunyun’s face fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And… what did Lv Feng do to upset you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing pointed at the still-unconscious Lv Feng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew Song Yunyun had a mischievous streak; on the surface, Lv Feng had come to steal bamboo shoots for stir-fried pork, but secretly, she might have egged him on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nothing… Big Brother Feng treats me well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yunyun lowered her head, fiddling with the embroidered sash on her dress: “He even helped me sneak out from Mother—so I could play for hours.” “But you won’t get that chance again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing shook his head: “Someone’s already arrived beyond the bamboo grove. Let’s go meet them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, Uncle Fang! My mother will kill me!” Song Yunyun’s face paled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry—she won’t kill you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing grabbed Lv Feng by the scruff like a piece of trash and led Song Yunyun to the edge of the bamboo grove.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There stood Song Yunqian, looking anxious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five years had passed, making her appear even more mature—like a ripe, juicy peach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Song Yunyun, Song Yunqian’s relieved expression instantly turned to a frown: “Yunyun, you ran out again? Did you finish your basic talisman drawings? Did you complete your daily embroidery?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yunyun stuck out her tongue, face twisted in despair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please, Sister Song, take this boy back to the Lv family…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No mistake, no error, no content issue!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing handed Lv Feng over, speaking casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s been months since we last met—your cultivation seems even deeper.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yunqian bowed respectfully to Fang Xing, her expression grave: “My daughter has disturbed your cultivation—I apologize deeply…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After years of interaction, the Floating Cloud Five knew Fang Xing’s nature well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No problem… since you’re here, take some spirit bamboo shoots with you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yunqian’s smile froze—no matter how delicious, eating them daily for years had grown tiresome…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This woman’s cultivation must have reached Qi Absorption Level Five. Since she successfully opened that toxic spot two years ago, the Floating Cloud Five’s progress has surged…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Song Yunqian depart, Fang Xing’s eyes flashed with sharp light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over these five years, Poison Dragon Slope had been fully stabilized; the “Green Spirit Bamboo” he planted had grown to ten, even dozens of years old, and began purifying the toxic mists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A common spirit gardener, with sufficient investment, could achieve the same in five years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once Poison Dragon Slope became habitable for ordinary people, the Floating Cloud Five immediately brought their kin here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them, Old Lv’s Lv family was the largest—over a hundred people, divided into multiple branches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumor had it they had six generations under one roof; while family feuds—sister-in-law vs. sister-in-law, aunt vs. sister-in-law—weren’t daily occurrences, they happened often enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yunqian had brought only one daughter; Iron Luo Hermit had brought his brother’s entire family of six.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Liuniang and Lin Xu had originally been alone, but Hu Liuniang had brought along several human servants and attendants, occasionally hosting banquets that turned a section of East Peak into a chaotic mess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xu had once been a lifelong bachelor, but recently, over the past one or two years, he seemed to be considering starting a family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing saw all this clearly, yet chose to ignore it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as they didn’t disturb his trees, he didn’t care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My druid level is about to hit five. Each five levels in this druid inheritance is a major milestone… but I’ve deliberately suppressed my breakthrough, stacking layers of Qi Absorption cultivation first to maximize my innate lifespan…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Level Five druid, I gain the talent “Eternal Youth”—my appearance will never age, and the rate of life decay will halve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That means my lifespan doubles!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And any lifespan gained before acquiring “Eternal Youth” counts as innate lifespan; any gained afterward through cultivation is acquired lifespan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing naturally chose to delay his druid breakthrough, focusing instead on the “Green Wood Art” to increase his innate lifespan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one ever has too much lifespan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The difference between innate and acquired lifespan is like the original capacity of a cup versus water added later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Due to his past life as a paper servant, Fang Xing feared his innate lifespan had been damaged, so he sought to compensate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, leaning on his bamboo staff, he entered a refined pavilion, sat cross-legged, and gradually lost himself in stillness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Astonishing plant essence surged into his limbs and marrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shush!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sssss!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even between the bamboo groves, a rustling sound arose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One after another, green bamboo vipers thrust out their heads, exhaling faint traces of poison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The seventh level of Qi Sensing, ‘Sha Qi,’ requires infusing a thread of sha qi into one’s own spiritual energy to elevate its quality…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This hundred-poison snake sha is a relatively common variety…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing watched the sha qi taking shape in the void, but did not draw it in; instead, he lunged forward himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sssss!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A green serpent, dozens of zhang long, emerged!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wild Transformation — Green Snake Form!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The massive green serpent slithered forward, like the king of ten thousand snakes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the [Wild Transformation] talent, Fang Xing truly became a green snake, silently cultivating, seeking to inhale and exhale sha qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this state of insight, his spiritual energy circulated in a specific sequence, quietly acquiring a trace of sha qi’s nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was ‘Green Snake Sha!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In quality, it naturally surpassed the hundred-poison sha, and being born from within himself, it fused perfectly with his spiritual energy, effectively raising its quality once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This could rival some supreme evil qi!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This Green Snake Form is still merely an ordinary creature…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After reverting, Fang Xing resumed his human form and silently sensed the differences from the transformation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed, Druid Level 5 is a major threshold — at Level 5, [Wild Transformation] upgrades all forms: carp can become fish spirits… combat power surges.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now, the Green Snake Form is merely an ordinary beast… compared to transcendent species like the Level 10 Mountain Viper or Water Wyrm, it’s vastly inferior — it might not even defeat a fish spirit…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1824,"2026-06-20T11:03:22.760Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","9b0db05f7b6312d74b987650f89c44ba443b7f32d41ce7d68b838ff1f90e9970","starlight-professional-chapter-575","starlight-professional-chapter-573",726,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstarlight-professional-cover.jpg"]