[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-starlight-professional":3,"chapter-starlight-professional-starlight-professional-chapter-613":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},2309273,4512,"Chapter 613: Compensation","starlight-professional-chapter-613",613,"\u003Cp>“Thank you, Manager Uncle, for your assistance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Santián helped Yu Hua to his feet; the man looked as if he had aged decades overnight, his vitality and spirit utterly 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 been for naught; added to his age, the fact he hadn’t spat blood and died outright already spoke of his formidable willpower and qi cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, one failure doesn’t mean anything—you’ll have other chances in the future.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing offered the words offhandedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had resolved not to support Yu Hua’s advancement 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 surprised—after all, the man should have been dead long ago; he had been waiting to attend his funeral feast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing led the group to the entrance of Qingyu Garden and saw Fei Changnong descend slowly on a verdant flight aura.\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 himself with some secret technique.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If I weren’t a 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: “I’m truly indebted that Elder Brother Fei came personally—I dare not accept such honor…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha, no need to worry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fei Changnong forced a faint smile: “It’s merely my duty…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing watched him deliberately adopt a gloomy expression 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>“Elder Brother… please take care. I’m sure Red Sister wouldn’t wish this upon you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing quickly offered comfort, and as he spoke, he lightly patted the man’s arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, he broke out in goosebumps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Life vitality within him is abnormal—though qi and essence blend, it’s clearly an external presence…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This Fei Changnong has changed—he’s become a “Longevity Demon,” resorting to any means to extend his life!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this world, truly side-effect-free methods to extend the lifespan of high-level cultivators 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 betrayed 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’s not targeting a Dao Foundation, the conditions are even more stringent and the side effects more severe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Red Sister was Fei Changnong’s consort—years of cultivation had fused their qi and essence, making her lifespan drainable… even so, the loss was immense; retaining one-third would be generous…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If he’d kidnapped some random Dao Foundation female cultivator, he’d be lucky to retain one-tenth…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Moreover, practicing such demonic longevity arts 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 weight of his decaying body, watching himself age day by day, death drawing ever closer… until the despair drove him mad, shattered him?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Fang Xing had never experienced it, he knew the terror of facing one’s own relentless decay!\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 worse—it can shatter any mind’s sanity…’\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; later, he integrated other methods of qi suppression, rendering his aura utterly flawless.\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 longevity… perhaps he covets my inheritance, planning to devour my entire lineage?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing recalled Fei Changnong’s earlier insinuation—hinting he should falsify harvest yields 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 magnified a thousandfold.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘In other words, unless he consumes my entire legacy, his mind remains unfulfilled?’\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>Indeed, many talented disciples had been reassigned; Meng Tiandong was dead; the elder gardeners had become Yu Santián.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Yu Hua had just failed his breakthrough, Yu Santián still forced himself to rally and assign daily cultivation tasks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing glanced over briefly, found it passable, and returned to his treehouse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now at Level 17 Druid, he gained additional specializations; though his Wild Shape talent improved less noticeably than his Tree Shepherd ability, it had improved nonetheless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Level 17 Druid is already a High-Level Druid.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The [Miniature Transformation] specialization is equally 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 could one discern it was a paper house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The paper house was exquisitely carved, its interior a self-contained realm where countless paper figures labored.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were pre-processing talisman paper; some even crafted 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 patchwork inheritance, its power far surpassed theirs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was only because Fang Xing refused to limit himself to origami alone that he fused his Yin Spirit with the Spiritual Illusion Paper House Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, with origami alone, he might rival Qing Yuzi, that Yin Spirit Late-Stage True Person!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing tossed the paper house—countless talisman papers instantly covered the surrounding treehouse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spatially, his treehouse had now been 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 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 leaving 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] 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 carefully cultivated over decades!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though lacking other talents, its stealth and ability to penetrate arrays had been pushed to the extreme!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master-level Beast Taming, combined with the Druid’s communion talent, was this terrifying!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Buzzing!\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>In an instant, the jade-green beetle shrank from thumbnail-sized to a sesame seed, its aura fading to near nothingness.\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 dwelling.\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>From within 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>“Is it done?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fei Changnong sat before a purple sandalwood desk, brush in hand, writing without looking up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s done.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The disciple quickly replied, offering a flying-squirrel pouch, faintly reeking of blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fei Changnong put down his brush, gazing at the flying squirrel bag, and sighed: “Your Red Shu has passed, and I am deeply saddened—but her disciples are truly unworthy… and they keep blabbering nonsense. In my sect, loyalty comes first!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I swear to serve my Master with all my heart and soul.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The disciple quickly knelt to pledge his loyalty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. Go now. Among your fellow disciples, I have the greatest hope for you… I have few years left to live. This vast legacy, and the Dao foundations and spirit items—all are yours.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fei Changnong offered a few more words of reassurance and waved his hand for the disciple to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing landed on the ground like a speck of dust, utterly inconspicuous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after, several more disciples entered, each handing over their flying squirrel bags and 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 bag and took out some resources—several items radiating faint blood qi, unmistakably of demonic origin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Brother Fang… why won’t you just die?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Fei Changnong muttered to himself, arranging several demonic items into an altar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He placed a torn corner of a beast hide upon the altar, his expression instantly turning icy…\u003C\u002Fp>",1689,"2026-06-20T11:03:23.251Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","3952302051996b4ccf854b210c5e695036c1d548d5d7f33e5ca80332dcea50ee","starlight-professional-chapter-614","starlight-professional-chapter-612",726,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstarlight-professional-cover.jpg"]