[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-starlight-professional":3,"chapter-starlight-professional-starlight-professional-chapter-584":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},2309244,4512,"Chapter 584: Assistance","starlight-professional-chapter-584",584,"\u003Cp>The next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Poison Dragon Slope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Black Snake carried Fang Xing to Dongfeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Friend, you’ve returned?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tie Luo Sanren, Song Yunqian, and other cultivators, seeing Fang Xing in a pitiful state, were stunned: “You were only supposed to wipe out the White Bone Alliance—what went wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s more than just a mishap… the Fei family will be crippled even if they don’t die.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing’s face was pale, his expression filled with dread: “Everything was going smoothly at first, but I never expected the White Bone Elder to hide a Dao Foundation corpse-body—it killed Fei Cai…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? Fei Cai is dead?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Feng’s face turned ashen: “The Fei family will unleash thunderous rage!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes… Fei’s ancestral elder was lurking in the shadows, and then it seemed another Dao Foundation cultivator intervened…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing said: “I was severely wounded, nearly killed—only thanks to the Black Snake carrying me out… but in the end, it seemed a Dao Foundation beast appeared and killed the Fei ancestral elder…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Fei ancestral elder… perished?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Liuniang widened her eyes, utterly incredulous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Would I lie to you about something this big?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing smiled bitterly: “I’ve been badly hurt—I need to return home and rest thoroughly… Also, the Green Li Marsh won’t be peaceful for a while—none of you should venture out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is truly… the calm before the storm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tie Luo Sanren murmured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about Cuigū and Yunyun?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Feng sounded anxious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s first hold fast to Poison Dragon Slope and send out scouts to gather information…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing sighed and returned to his bamboo grove.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thousand mu of lush bamboo pulsed with dense plant essence, flowing steadily into his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed, no gold nest or silver nest compares to one’s own doghole…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stretched comfortably and slapped his flying squirrel pouch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A verdant Dragon King Ginseng materialized in his hand, its roots crystal-clear, its main stem resembling a plump, blessed doll.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fragrant scent spread, making Fang Xing unconsciously swallow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Yuan Dragon Snake Qi within him stirred restlessly—he had a premonition: if he swallowed this Dragon King Ginseng, he would surely break through to Dao Foundation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Fang Xing did not open his mouth—he activated his Nature Affinity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ginseng’s tendrils gently brushed his hand, transmitting a faint thought:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t eat me! Don’t eat me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Relax—I’m a Druid. Why would I eat you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing chuckled: “From today on, you may roam freely within the bamboo sea—but remember… don’t leave the grove, and don’t let anyone see you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pointed casually; the power of plant growth settled upon the Dragon King Ginseng. Streams of plant essence rose and flowed into it, repairing the spiritual damage caused by transplantation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After this, the Dragon King Ginseng seemed to finally accept Fang Xing. Carefully, it extended a tendril and touched his wrist again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smiled and gently released his grip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Dragon King Ginseng landed on the ground and vanished in a flash of green light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing was not in a hurry—he simply sat cross-legged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, after a moment, a ginseng sprouted behind the blue rock, as if peering out curiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This little thing’s almost become a spirit, isn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t help but chuckle, then his expression turned grave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Swallowing the Dragon King Ginseng outright could certainly serve as a Dao Foundation spiritual object… but I’m a Druid.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Druids revere the Way of Nature, naturally gaining the favor of beasts and spirit beings—but this comes at a cost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Dragon King Ginseng was brimming with spiritual awareness, nearly on the verge of becoming a spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Druidic tradition, it was akin to a tree spirit, fairy, flower fairy, or nature spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he devoured it alive, his Nature Affinity would surely decline, and it might harm him long-term.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless Fang Xing intended to walk the path of a Fallen Druid, he would never consume such a being blessed by Nature and awakened to sentience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A mere Dao Foundation… at most it delays me for a while—I’ll wear it down slowly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing glanced at his status bar:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Age: 28\u002F260】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm… over two hundred years of lifespan left… and I’m still young—thirty years still remain before the so-called Sixty-Year Limit…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shouldn’t I seek a Dao Foundation spiritual object? Perhaps it’s better to directly comprehend Heaven’s Dao and Nature, forging my Dao Foundation naturally?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if I abandoned this world’s cultivation path entirely, I would never abandon my Druidic…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the Druidic Way is a transcendent lineage!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the cultivation methods Fang Xing had learned, their upper limits remained uncertain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several days later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Fang Xing meditated on Nature, he saw a paper crane fluttering toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He caught it, listened briefly, then his expression changed into a wry smile: “Two parties have arrived? How interesting…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment’s thought, Fang Xing’s aura shifted—his spiritual power now carried a taint of murderous intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had falsely “broken through” to Sensing Stage Seven, the kind of fresh breakthrough where murderous energy still raged uncontrollably. He stepped out of the bamboo grove and arrived at Dongfeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Fei and Yin families have both sent people… each has settled in…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Liuniang approached, chattering away, then suddenly sensed something wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, Fang Xing carried an indescribable authority—so much so that for a moment, she felt as if she were facing her second brother, fresh from his own breakthrough, brimming with vigor!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fang Daoist, have you… broken through?” Hu Liuniang nearly wept with joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm. A few days ago, I had a sudden insight—and finally succeeded.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing nodded calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Liuniang’s eyes filled with tears, then she quickly composed herself and bowed solemnly: “Congratulations, Daoist, on breaking through to Sensing Stage Seven—may your immortal path endure forever!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you,” Fang Xing returned the bow. “Now, I’ll go meet the Yin family first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He entered a reception hall and saw Yin Shou, the Yin family’s Grand Elder, sipping tea in the guest seat, with Tie Luo Sanren accompanying him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Old foxes really do become cunning… I heard the Xu family patriarch is still bedridden, yet this old man looks perfectly unharmed…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not a single word of content is correct! [73] He mentally scoffed, then smiled forward: “Yin Daoist…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He mentally grumbled but smiled as he stepped forward: “Comrade Yin…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fang Daoist… Huh? Old man observes your spirit full and energy complete, your aura faintly tainted with murderous intent—have you… broken through?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yin Shou was startled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed. After facing death, I finally shattered a long-standing bottleneck.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing replied calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After surviving death, sudden enlightenment and breakthrough were common enough—other cultivators would merely deem him lucky, never suspecting deceit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s still your fortune…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yin Shou smiled, then lowered his voice: “That day, I nearly died. Seeing you unharmed now, I’m truly overjoyed… By the way, have you heard about the Fei family’s troubles?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve heard—apparently plagued by bandit cultivators?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing said: “How true—what was once, is no longer…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, he rolled his eyes—he suspected the Xu, Yin, and Song families were behind this, but said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the Dragon King Ginseng was still in his bamboo grove!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed. The Fei family, though a Dao Foundation clan, has suffered grievously after their ancestral elder’s death—but they still have several Sensing Stage Rear-Stage experts. Rumor says they’ve summoned a master from Green Wood Ridge to slay many bandits—like the Ma family’s Three Fiends, Jiejiezi…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yin Shou spoke with righteous indignation: “This bandit cultivator plague must be cleansed thoroughly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Surely… the ones who started it weren’t those wandering cultivators… they were merely the later arrivals, the patsies who took the fall—but they were bandits all the same, so they died as they deserved…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing’s mind stirred: “What are you suggesting, Daoist?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We swore an oath in our youth: the Xu family of Clear Wind Ravine, the Yin family of Three-Month Pond, the Song family of Green Water Pool, and your Poison Dragon Slope—all stood with the Fei clan as one. Now that the Fei clan is in peril, it’s as if our own flesh and blood are suffering—I am heartbroken…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yin Shou said: “We must send our strongest to assist the Fei clan in defense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Damn, so you’re here to finish them off too…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tie Luo Sanren beside him was stunned silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Fei family might now be a junk stock, its tangible assets plummeting—but its intangible assets remain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such as… its ties to Green Wood Ridge, its various lineages, and its authority as lord of the Green Li Marsh…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before, the Fei clan used righteousness to devour its five subordinate families, reveling in dominance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, the four subordinate families prepare to “overthrow their master”—for even in the mortal world, when a master proves weak, servants seize control, the master must flatter them, and the household wealth is drained—this is not unheard of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But Green Wood Ridge is watching.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing sounded hesitant: “Besides… our Poison Dragon Slope is kin to the Fei family!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Precisely because we are kin, we must help now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yin Shou smiled inwardly—this Fang Xing was still too young. The demonic path cared nothing for appearances, but these orthodox subordinate factions still pretended to uphold propriety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the four families, Poison Dragon Hill was actually the most critical—precisely because of this marital alliance!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The righteous path values decorum; everything must be done with a justifiable cause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes, the difference between having and not having a veil of legitimacy is immense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This matter—we Poison Dragon Hill always deliberate collectively. I must consult with several household heads first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing exchanged a few polite remarks but gave no firm reply, then stepped out of the reception hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Liuniang came forward to greet him, leading him through winding corridors into another secret chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the secret chamber, there was likewise one host and one guest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they were a mother and daughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yunyun’s eyes were red-rimmed, as if she had been crying; Song Yunqian beside her was the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Niece Yunyun, what is this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing looked at Song Yunyun and noticed she was dressed entirely in mourning attire, making her appear even colder and more elegantly refined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alas… my son-in-law was a short-lived man. The Fei family was recently attacked, and he died outright—leaving behind a widow and orphan. What shall we do now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yunqian wiped away more tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Niece, please bear your grief with fortitude…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing had nothing to say; he could only think that living longer meant seeing many new things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard that Lü family’s little Cui also died at the hands of raiding cultivators… alas…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Yunqian sighed again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mother, Uncle Fang…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Song Yunyun suddenly spoke: “I have come this time to represent the Fei family in seeking aid from our natal home. The Fei family can barely hold onto its main estate; if Poison Dragon Hill is willing to lend a hand, the Fei family is prepared to permanently waive all future tribute—and even cede Green Water Wang to Poison Dragon Hill…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1836,"2026-06-20T11:03:22.760Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","84e886d93ed93fa03986f84f39910bfc3f544839d6097a8c0eb07b36a26e12e4","starlight-professional-chapter-585","starlight-professional-chapter-583",726,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstarlight-professional-cover.jpg"]