[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-starlight-professional":3,"chapter-starlight-professional-starlight-professional-chapter-64":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},2308724,4512,"Chapter 64: The Great Beast","starlight-professional-chapter-64",64,"\u003Cp>Desolate, ruined…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The former site of Qinglin Marketplace now seemed to have become a vast expanse of ruins!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This… where’s the Qingxuan Sect’s protective formation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gazing at the surveillance screen, Fang Xing suddenly thought of a question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qinglin Marketplace was protected by a grand formation! When fully activated, it was like a giant bowl, firmly guarding the entire marketplace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now… that formation’s mist and spiritual radiance were completely gone, revealing the peak of Qingxuan Mountain, usually hidden from view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse still, several low-grade beast beasts now prowled around the marketplace, occasionally storming in to hunt cultivators, treating the place as their hunting ground!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The number of beast beasts… is too high.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this another beast tide? Has Qinglin Marketplace fallen?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing was stunned—he never expected such a massive change to occur in Qinglin Marketplace while he was distracted by his final exams!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The key question… where’s the Golden Core true cultivator of Qingxuan Sect?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing rubbed his chin, thoughtful: “Looks like… I need to find a cultivator and ask…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qinglin Marketplace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perimeter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Xia, the former beast hunter, cowered behind an ancient tree, filled with regret: “I’ve lost my mind—coming out at a time like this…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But my spiritual rice and Bigudan  are nearly gone. What else can I do but starve to death?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unseen for a while, this once robust beast hunter now had a sallow, gaunt face—clearly, his recent life had been miserable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aowu!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, accompanied by wolf howls, a pack of “Qingfeng Wolves” dashed past him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long after they passed, Yu Xia stepped out and pulled out a jade vial: “I don’t have much Jingwei Powder left… better save it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jingwei Powder was a secret formula passed down in his lineage of beast hunters, capable of masking one’s scent and fooling most beast beasts’ noses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only beast hunters daring to venture out now carried one or two special tricks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Yu Xia prepared to leave—suddenly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A ripple of spiritual energy surged from the grass, followed by several green wind blades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Xia instantly activated his Jin Guang Barrier talisman; golden light flared over his body, barely holding off one wind blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the second… the third…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wind blades kept coming endlessly, accompanied by wolf howls!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aowu!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the dark depths of the dense forest, over a dozen pairs of blue or green eyes suddenly appeared, glowing with bloodlust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn… it’s the same wolf pack—they never left? That wolf is truly cunning!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Xia had only one thought—then came a wet tearing sound as the golden light on his body shattered into fragments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gale struck his head—he rolled desperately on the ground, barely avoiding most blades, but his body was now drenched in blood, one arm severed and flying away…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So my life ends here…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Xia’s face was hollow, calmly accepting his fate of being devoured by wolves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Free cultivators in the marketplace were like roadside weeds—never knowing when they’d be swept away by the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ooooh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, the wolf howls in the forest changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the excited hunger of hunters, they turned to terror…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Another powerful beast? I wonder which one will kill me—hope it’s not a ‘Kaishan Boar’… that thing stinks worse than death…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Xia’s consciousness was growing dim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later, a figure appeared before him, followed by a talisman being torn open—emerald light flooded out, turning into gentle drops of rain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Ganlin Talisman!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I… thank you, fellow cultivator!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Xia felt his wounds slowly stopping their bleeding; he rose, pale-faced, to thank the stranger—yet still wary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Free cultivators feared other free cultivators far more than beast beasts!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if this man saved him, he might not have good intentions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when he saw the man, his expression froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Massive, muscular, face covered in coarse flesh—clearly dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Xia instinctively sensed extreme danger, and his smile grew even warmer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough talk!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing held the Wolf King’s corpse, impatient: “I was hunting beast beasts outside, got lost deep in the Wilds, and lost some time—how did the marketplace end up like this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t know? Sigh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Yu Xia’s heart filled with bitterness: “It’s all the damned Qingxuan Sect’s fault! They explored some secret realm and somehow attracted a third-rank beast… that Golden Core witch and her disciples fled, leaving us here—with no way up, no way down…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Third-rank great beast?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing’s heart leapt—such a beast rivaled a Golden Core true cultivator, and beyond third rank, beast beasts could form a beast core and awaken innate spiritual abilities, their power exploding!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Maybe it’s not even an ordinary third-rank beast—if it were, the Qingxuan Sect’s Golden Core cultivator wouldn’t have fled… maybe there’s more than one?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing’s heart jumped again: “How much do you know about that secret realm? Are there still people in the marketplace buying beast materials or selling pills?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had little interest in cultivator secret realms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But whether he could buy future pills was critical—it determined whether his Puyu Realm cultivation could still surge forward!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Secret realm? I know little—only that it’s inside Five Scorpion Valley, hiding a Foundation Establishment opportunity…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Xia smiled bitterly: “But Qingxuan Sect disciples might know more…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing asked a few more questions and learned Qingxuan Sect had fled in panic—almost like a rout—and possibly even faced a third-rank flying beast that shattered several flying vessels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, many Qingxuan Sect disciples remained stranded here, unable to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of this, these disciples were seen as fallen dogs—rich in wealth, and thus coveted by every free cultivator in the marketplace. They hid their identities, disguised themselves as ordinary free cultivators, and were nearly impossible to find.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing wasn’t surprised at all. Though free cultivators bowed humbly to sect geniuses in daily life, when the knives came out, even true disciples were fair game for murder!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention, those Qingxuan Sect disciples were all richly stocked—some even carried sect scriptures, spiritual pills, and other treasures—perfect targets!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Though sect disciples have higher cultivation, if they haven’t faced real combat, they might not beat free cultivators several ranks lower—especially when bandits strike, they always outnumber, ambush, and use poison without mercy.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing silently mourned the Qingxuan Sect disciples, then asked: “Where’s the trading place?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The original marketplace is mostly ruins… only at dawn, when mist rises, do a few scattered cultivators occasionally set up stalls—called the ‘Ghost Market’…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Xia replied: “Besides that, every three days, in a cave beneath the southeast of the marketplace, there’s a black market… the goods there are often better than the Ghost Market, but far more dangerous…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing nodded and walked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Xia watched Fang Xing’s retreating back, licked his lips, and immediately slipped into the dense forest…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qinglin Marketplace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking through the ruins, Fang Xing felt a pang of sorrow: “Such a fine marketplace reduced to this… this place has truly suffered misfortune… Huh? Is the secret realm’s exposure somehow tied to me? Well, never mind then…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But now I think about it, Shen Yu’s choice—to leave early with Meng Zijin—was clearly the best. Hua Feiyue lacked the courage… I wonder if that woman is still alive?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no intention of seeking her out—only if he happened to meet her would he lend a hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he didn’t meet her… then her fate was simply bad luck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Meow!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the ruins, atop a beam, a cat-like cry suddenly sounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing looked over and saw a two-tailed cat beast, shaped like a small leopard, its green eyes fixed on him, its claws glowing with dark luster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He snorted, unleashing a terrifying aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two-tailed cat instantly leapt as if stepped on, fur standing on end, and vanished into the depths of the ruins…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The marketplace’s spiritual vein must be low-grade—it can’t attract third-rank beast beasts… so many cultivators still cling to life among the ruins, since the outer Wilds are even more dangerous!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for leaving the marketplace and heading to Qingxuan Sect’s main base?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That distance was far too great, and the path filled with peril—ordinary Qi Condensation cultivators had no hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s somewhat like the black market of Chu Ying Star…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Proven again: any order is better than no order at all…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing carried the wolf corpse, deliberately passing by his old wooden hut—only to find the spot now a deep pit, charred black, unknown what had happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked past without expression, as if he didn’t recognize the place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the way, almost no one was around—but Fang Xing’s hearing and sight were sharp, and since reaching Puyu, his spiritual sense was extraordinary—he sensed eyes watching him from all directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made him sigh: “Humans truly are stubborn weeds—capable of surviving anywhere.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing pressed deeper, found Qingdan Alley—only to discover it was already in ruins, ransacked countless times…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, this was the work of other free cultivators during the marketplace’s disaster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All of them are scum… but at least they can’t steal the spiritual energy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing arrived at a small courtyard—this was the premium cave dwelling zone of the marketplace, where even martial artists could sense the fresh, vibrant aura in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He casually picked a courtyard that looked relatively intact, opened the door, and walked in with casual confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who dares trespass into my cave?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A late-stage Qi Condensation cultivator emerged, wielding a flying sword, his anger fading as he glanced at Fang Xing and relaxed noticeably: “A martial artist?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately scanned the surroundings, fearing Fang Xing might be a decoy for some bandit sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is your cave? Show me your Spirit Contract…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Fang Xing’s lips curled into a faint smile.\u003C\u002Fp>",1613,"2026-06-20T11:03:20.053Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","751c08313a98a69996e945188e1c0f313bc76d2c2b5204811e68ecedaa8d5ac4","starlight-professional-chapter-65","starlight-professional-chapter-63",726,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstarlight-professional-cover.jpg"]