[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-starlight-professional":3,"chapter-starlight-professional-starlight-professional-chapter-610":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},2309270,4512,"Chapter 610: Longevity Demon","starlight-professional-chapter-610",610,"\u003Cp>\"Thank you, Manager Uncle, for your help.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Santián helped Yu Hua to his feet; the man looked as if he had aged decades, his essence and spirit completely drained, yet he mustered the strength to thank Fang Xing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Hua’s failure to break through to the Dao Foundation meant all the years of investment by the Yu family had gone to waste; added to his age, the fact he hadn’t spat blood and died outright already spoke of his formidable willpower and qi-nourishing discipline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm, one failure doesn’t mean anything—you’ll have plenty of chances in the future.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing offered casual words of comfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had resolved not to support Yu Hua’s breakthrough to the Dao Foundation, but he still had to say the proper formalities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, he glanced toward the valley entrance: \"Your Master Fei has arrived—go greet him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the calendar, it was time for the once-in-a-decade harvest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing sensed Fei Changnong’s aura and was slightly startled—he had assumed the man should have been dead long ago; he had even been waiting to attend his funeral.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing led the group to the entrance of Qingyu Garden and saw Fei Changnong descend slowly on a verdant cultivation light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing internally let out another surprised exclamation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Fei Changnong still appeared frail and ancient, the decay and deathly aura clinging to him had largely dissipated—he now resembled an elderly man well-kept, one who might live another decade or two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Wrong... he’s concealing something with a secret technique.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'If I weren’t an Yin Spirit True Person with exceptionally keen perception, I might have been fooled... certainly no ordinary Yin Spirit True Person could see through it.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped forward and bowed: \"It’s truly a burden for Senior Brother Fei to come personally—I am unworthy...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hehe, no need to worry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fei Changnong forced a faint smile: \"This is merely my duty...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing noticed Fei’s deliberate expression of gloom and asked a few probing questions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fei Changnong sighed again: \"Alas... your Red Sister has passed... she worried over my lifespan and heard rumors of a market auctioning a longevity pill effective even for Dao Foundation cultivators—she went to investigate, but... never returned!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Senior Brother... please take care. I’m sure Red Sister wouldn’t have wished this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing quickly offered comfort, and as he spoke, he lightly patted Fei’s arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, goosebumps rose on his skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'His internal life force is abnormal—though his aura blends, it is clearly foreign...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'This Fei Changnong has changed—he has become a \"Longevity Demon\" in his desperate quest to extend his life!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this world, truly effective methods to extend the lifespan of high-level cultivators without side effects are exceedingly rare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All other methods carry horrific side effects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing knew Fei Changnong had almost certainly murdered his own consort, using dual-cultivation techniques to drain her lifespan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the consort of Tao Hong from the Blood Shadow Sect had done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse still, since it wasn’t targeting a Dao Foundation cultivator, the conditions were even more stringent and the side effects more severe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Red Sister was Fei Changnong’s consort—they had cultivated together for years, their qi and essence intertwined, which is why her lifespan could be stolen at all... even so, the loss was immense; retaining one-third would be generous...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'If he were to drain a random female Dao Foundation cultivator, he’d be lucky to retain one-tenth...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'And practicing this demonic longevity technique gradually drives the mind insane—turning one into a \"Longevity Demon\"!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Longevity Demon will spare nothing to gain more lifespan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Consorts may be killed, descendants sold—nothing is beyond reach, and one is no longer the person they once were.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'The world is ever-changing...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing watched Fei Changnong cheerfully tallying the medicinal herbs, recalling scenes from decades past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he looked the same, his core was utterly different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Just a dozen years ago, Fei Changnong had willingly sacrificed his own lifespan to protect his consort—how could he have changed so drastically?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'No, perhaps it was the burden of his decaying body, watching himself age day by day, death drawing ever closer... eventually driving him mad, breaking him down?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing had never experienced it himself, but he knew the terror of facing one’s own relentless aging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The body becomes a prison for the soul, aging ceaselessly, losing everything...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Instant death terrifies few, but slow, agonizing death is far more painful—it can shatter any mind.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This harvest totals over five hundred merit points—I’ll count it as six hundred for you. You must work harder, Younger Brother...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fei Changnong spoke with solemn gravity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing’s Concealment Technique had reached Master-level perfection, and after integrating other methods he’d learned, his aura was now perfectly hidden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Fei Changnong, Fang Xing, though appearing young, carried the faint scent of a candle guttering in the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His encouragement was deeply suspicious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'A Longevity Demon will spare no effort to acquire resources for his own lifespan... perhaps he covets my inheritance, planning to devour my entire lineage?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing recalled Fei’s earlier insinuation—that he should falsify output to gain massive merit points—and sneered inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'No, this obsession likely existed long ago—but now, after his corruption, it’s been amplified a thousandfold.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'In other words, unless he consumes my entire lineage, his mind cannot find peace?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Fei Changnong depart, Fang Xing shook his head and ordered the garden disciples to return to their duties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many talented disciples had been reassigned; Meng Tiandong was dead; the elder caretakers had been replaced by Yu Santián.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Yu Hua had just failed his breakthrough, Yu Santián still forced himself to rally and assign daily farming tasks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing glanced over the scene, deemed it acceptable, and returned to his treehouse. Now at Level 17 Druid, he had gained additional talents; though his Wild Shape ability had improved less dramatically than his Tree Shepherd talent, it had improved nonetheless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Level 17 Druid is already a high-level Druid.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'The \"Miniature Transformation\" talent is similarly straightforward.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing thought for a moment, and a spherical white paper ball appeared in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only upon close inspection would one realize it was a paper house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The paper house was exquisitely carved, its interior a self-contained realm, filled with countless paper laborers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were pre-processing talisman paper; some even crafting paper armor and paper soldiers...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nearby stood a fully armed paper army, led by a paper general, subtly forming a battle array.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Spiritual Illusion Paper House Realm!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have mastered the art of origami.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, this realm was forged by a single cultivator’s effort; compared to the Blood Shadow Sect’s clearly patched-together legacy, its power far surpassed theirs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was only because Fang Xing refused to limit himself to origami alone that he hadn’t fused his Yin Spirit with the Spiritual Illusion Paper House Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One mistake, one slip, one flaw—no content here!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, with origami alone, he could rival Qingyu Zi, that Yin Spirit Late-Stage True Person!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing flung the paper house—countless talisman papers instantly covered the surrounding treehouse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From a spatial perspective, his treehouse had now been entirely replaced by the Spiritual Illusion Paper House Realm, transformed into a deadly trap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even an ordinary Yin Spirit True Person entering would gain no advantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after completing all this did Fang Xing move leisurely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Wild Shape!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, he transformed into a jade-green beetle, flapping his wings, flying out of the treehouse, even moving beyond the valley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The valley’s array stirred faintly—a beetle flew out, attracting no notice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The \"Miniature Transformation\" talent had this advantage: weak life force, minimal disturbance, unlikely to draw attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More crucially, this jade-green beetle was a mutant insect Fang Xing had meticulously cultivated over decades!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though lacking other talents, its concealment and array-piercing abilities had been pushed to their absolute limit!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master-level Beast Taming, combined with the Druid’s communion talent, was this terrifying!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Buzz!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing flapped his wings, flying near Shennong Hall to a cave dwelling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tiny! Tiny! Tiny!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, the jade-green beetle shrank from thumbnail-sized to a sesame seed, its aura fading to near-nonexistence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After waiting a moment, Fang Xing saw the array ahead glow faintly—a disciple walked over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He recognized the disciple: one of Fei Changnong’s students, once exiled to the herb garden, later reassigned after the great calamity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing gently flew onto the disciple’s sleeve and was carried into the cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sensed the disciple, who had cultivated Hunyuan Qi, trembling slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if facing not a revered master, but some monstrous demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, Little Eighteen...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the cave, Fei Changnong’s voice echoed, low and chuckling like an owl at night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Master, I pay my respects.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Little Eighteen immediately knelt before Fei Changnong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everything handled?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fei Changnong sat before a purple sandalwood desk, brush in hand, writing without looking up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"All done.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The disciple quickly replied, offering a flying rat pouch—its surface faintly stained with blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fei Changnong put down his brush, gazing at the flying squirrel pouch, and sighed: “Your Red Shu has passed, and I am deeply saddened—but her disciples are truly unworthy… and they keep shouting nonsense. In my sect, loyalty comes first!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will serve my Master with all my heart and soul.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The disciple immediately knelt to pledge his loyalty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, go now. Among your fellow disciples, I have the greatest hope for you… I have only a few years left to live. This vast legacy, and the Dao foundations and spiritual items—all are yours.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fei Changnong offered a few more words of reassurance and gestured for the disciple to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing landed silently, like a speck of dust, upon the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after, several more disciples entered, each handing over their flying squirrel pouches, then being fed large flatbreads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So Fei Changnong says the same thing to every disciple?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No wonder these disciples are terrified yet excited—they’ve probably been secretly ordered to do something vile.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing watched as Fei Changnong opened each flying squirrel pouch and removed some resources—several items faintly pulsing with blood qi, suspected to be demonic in nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Brother Fang… why haven’t you died yet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Fei Changnong muttered to himself, arranging several demonic items into an altar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He placed a fragment of tattered beast hide upon the altar, his expression instantly turning icy…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1716,"2026-06-20T11:03:23.251Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","b2e969b5d0f57df0620db51bc01851afd6105e5fd90977b4c4275db50eca3b0e","starlight-professional-chapter-611","starlight-professional-chapter-609",726,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstarlight-professional-cover.jpg"]