[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-starlight-professional":3,"chapter-starlight-professional-starlight-professional-chapter-598":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},2309258,4512,"Chapter 598: War Begins (Happy New Year!!!)","starlight-professional-chapter-598",598,"\u003Cp>Several years later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qingmu Ridge suddenly began military preparations; the prices of medicinal herbs and magical artifacts, once depressed, soared uncontrollably, driving countless merchants who had sold at a loss to spit blood in rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qingyu Garden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fei Changnong arrived as usual to collect spiritual herbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gazed at the Qingyu grass, now multiplied five or sixfold to one hundred and fifty-six plants, over a hundred Qinglong flowers, and dozens of Sansheng fruits, a flicker of surprise crossing his face: “This newly opened herb garden produces so abundantly?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If farming could yield such returns, why would Foundation Establishment cultivators endure hardship to join the Four Seas Hall, guard distant regions, or accept dangerous combat missions from the Reward Virtue and Punish Evil Hall?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master Fang, your cultivation of spiritual agriculture is truly wasted if you don’t stay stationed at the herb garden…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fei Changnong looked at Fang Xing with a smiling face: “The sect desperately needs large quantities of spiritual materials; your output here is so abundant, the rewards will be substantial. How about five thousand merit points this time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Senior Brother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing replied with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did this both to prepare for obtaining the Divine Art’s foundational diagram and to demonstrate his value.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had remained as garden supervisor only because of sect regulations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But regulations are meant to be broken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When war eventually breaks out and Foundation Establishment cultivators die in battle, many will surely envy his position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But with real, tangible achievements, he cannot be replaced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or rather… he possesses the ability to sabotage!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing guaranteed that if anyone dared replace him, Qingyu Garden’s output would immediately plummet back to its original level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sect’s higher-ups, weighing costs and benefits, would naturally make a decision pleasing to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This time, each of you Sensing-stage disciples will receive several hundred merit points…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fei Changnong gave Fang Xing a deep look, then turned to Dong Meier and the others, speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had already given the bulk to Fang Xing; he wouldn’t slight these connections.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Senior Brother Fei!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Meier and the others rejoiced, thinking their years of backbreaking farming had finally yielded rich returns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few disciples exchanged glances, relieved: ‘This situation clearly means war is coming. Farming is hard, but at least it won’t get us killed… Besides, with Senior Brother Fang, our yields have multiplied several times over—no worse than fighting on the battlefield…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Fang Xing calmly submitted his assignment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the edge of Qingmu Ridge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A desolate mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thunderclap suddenly split the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Burning paper figures and tattered shadow puppets rained down from the heavens, occasionally mixed with strange wooden puppets and severed limbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xueying Men…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several emerald streaks roared as they retreated: “This time, you’ve chosen your own death!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiejie…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sky seemed draped in a crimson glow, layers upon layers of paper figures and shadow puppets playing and laughing grotesquely: “The Outer Lands are too small to hold too many sects… better one sect bleeds than all bleed… Your Qingmu Ridge is already weak; why not choose you this time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The emerald lights charged wildly but could not escape the blood-red sky, eventually screaming as they fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Paper figures and shadow puppets descended, beginning to construct arrays upon this nameless desolate mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, more Xueying Men disciples arrived, clearly treating the site as a forward base for attacking Qingmu Ridge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after, a strange shadow puppet stage was erected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A stunningly beautiful woman stood silently upon the stage, dressed in opera robes, like a famed performer about to take the stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the stage knelt a group of Xueying Men Foundation Establishment cultivators, all bowing respectfully: “We pay homage to ‘Xi Lian Zhenren’!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the lips of the exquisite woman came a man’s voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, the woman was merely a skin-deep illusion: “From today, war draws near… a perfect chance to gather shadow puppets and living souls. We evil cultivators delight most in the suffering of the people, hehe…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He ended with a woman’s shrill laugh: “Go, each carry out your plans. Huangpizi stays.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Foundation Establishment cultivators hurriedly rose and departed, as if chased by bloodthirsty demons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only one Foundation Establishment cultivator, with yellow whiskers, remained on the stage, his face grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xi Lian Zhenren spoke again, his voice now male: “How are the spies planted in Qingmu Ridge? Their skin-changing technique is my specially improved version—undetectable by any magical artifact or spell.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thirteen targets have been selected, their skins successfully peeled; our disciples now infiltrate Qingmu Ridge under their identities…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huangpizi bowed in reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Excellent… Within Qingmu Ridge lies the ‘All Grass and Trees Are Soldiers’ Array, anchored by a ten-thousand-year Evergreen Tree; each additional Evergreen Tree increases its power… At the critical moment, we must destroy as many as possible…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough. Go… I wonder if this war will let me successfully peel the skin of an Yinshen True Immortal…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xi Lian Zhenren chuckled softly: “To fully peel an Yinshen True Immortal’s skin and retain their Divine Art is exceedingly difficult… My last three attempts all failed. Do you think I’ll succeed this time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cold sweat immediately trickled down Huangpizi’s forehead…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qingyu Garden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young man Fei Changqing pays homage to Senior Brother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A young man with a simple face and dark skin bowed repeatedly before Fang Xing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re the one Fei Yong sent?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing sized up Fei Changqing, noting his Sensing Fifth Layer cultivation, unremarkable appearance, and lack of standout traits. He wondered inwardly why Fei Yong had sent this boy—perhaps due to some familial tie to Fei Changnong?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, after verifying Fei Yong’s token, he accepted him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dong Meier.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He called the girl in the red dress forward: “This Fei Changqing, your junior, will be under your care for now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This woman had always disliked farming duties and sought every excuse to avoid them; Fang Xing now dumped another burden on her: “You must personally oversee all matters concerning the herb fields and teach him step by step.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Meier’s face contorted in pain, while Fei Changqing, seeing several hostile glances, inwardly groaned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This woman clearly looked troublesome; this Senior Brother, supposedly a senior of Fei Yong’s generation, was clearly enjoying the spectacle by assigning her to guide him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the elder had spoken; he had no choice but to grimace and say: “Please, Senior Sister, guide me…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Meier was a clever girl; she immediately sensed Fei Changqing’s reluctance—and it only stirred her rebellious streak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One word, one sentence, one line, one content, one look!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since childhood, she had been adored by her peers; encountering someone who didn’t care was oddly enticing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After assigning the duties, Fang Xing prepared to return to planting trees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A firework shot into the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An unusual glow shimmered upon the valley’s ten-thousand-year Evergreen Tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this… the sect’s alert?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meng Tiandong counted the flashes, his face turning pale: “Nine changes… it means war with one of the Top Ten Orthodox or Evil Sects!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A stone cast into a thousand waves!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All disciples of Qingyu Garden stared at each other: “Are we really at war with Xueying Men?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard Xueying Men cultivators are the worst of the evil cultivators—they peel captured cultivators’ skins to make shadow puppets… and collect living souls to forge soul-paper figures…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank heaven we’re herb garden disciples—we won’t have to fight on the battlefield for a hundred years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph, Qingyu Garden lies at the sect’s edge—it may not be safe after all…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing frowned at the chaotic scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As garden supervisor and the highest-ranked cultivator present, his sharp command silenced the garden instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All eyes turned to him, this Foundation Establishment elder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From today, all leave is canceled. Everyone must remain within the valley—no one leaves!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing issued his orders directly: “Night watches are required—two people per shift!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Otherwise, everything proceeds as usual. Dismissed!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After assigning duties, Fang Xing followed his usual habit, going to an open patch of land to plant trees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He dug a row of soil pits, transplanted the cultivated Evergreen saplings into them, and watered them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hummm!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a green glow entered the saplings, they instantly took root, their root systems growing vigorously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Fang Xing, heaven and earth were nothing compared to planting his own trees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the threat of Xueying Men?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing didn’t give it a second thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Qingyu Garden isn’t any important asset; by the principle of equivalence, even if the Blood Shadow Sect advances all the way to the Qingmu Ridge headquarters, they can’t send more than a few Foundation Establishment Initiation cultivators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And assuming the worst, even if several Foundation Establishment Mid-Stage or even Foundation Establishment Late-Stage cultivators arrive, Fang Xing couldn’t defeat them openly—but with his Druid class, he still has a fighting chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This is the advantage of a hidden class: on the surface, I’m just a Foundation Establishment Initiation Spirit Farmer, but in truth, I’ve already reached Foundation Establishment Mid-Stage…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Even if the enemy discovers I’m a Foundation Establishment Mid-Stage cultivator, secretly… I still have my Druid class up my sleeve.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Level 15 Druid is equivalent to a Yin Spirit True Person; Fang Xing is now Level 14, meaning he’s comparable to an ordinary Foundation Establishment Late-Stage cultivator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Added to that, the Druid’s innate abilities have never been seen by any cultivators of this world—catching them off guard would be extremely easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If they push me too far, I’ll just awaken that ten-thousand-year Evergreen Tree into a Tree Person… I might even gain another Yin Spirit True Person’s combat power!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing thought calmly, and continued planting trees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Days passed one after another, yet the outside world was rocked by three shocks daily!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially the Poison Dragon Slope and even major Foundation Establishment clans all knew the Blood Shadow Sect had openly gone to war with Qingmu Ridge, and that the flames of battle had already reached the heart of Qingmu Ridge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a time, nearly every cultivator lived in fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In contrast, Qingyu Garden, after its initial panic, had regained calmness and now operated with orderly precision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several months passed in the blink of an eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing picked up a yellow-skinned gourd, took a casual sip of spirit wine, and scanned the many disciples bustling in the medicinal fields.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lingered a moment longer on Fei Changqing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This kid’s got some inner wit—he’s broken free from Dong Meier… and none of those senior brothers have troubled him.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He chuckled, then fixed his gaze on another person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Druid’s perception alerted him to something off about this man: ‘This person…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1777,"2026-06-20T11:03:22.760Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","8e56fb02718b18a5a228bcf0870e252563f18a1595a5801b073b5af492802935","starlight-professional-chapter-599","starlight-professional-chapter-597",726,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstarlight-professional-cover.jpg"]