[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-starlight-professional":3,"chapter-starlight-professional-starlight-professional-chapter-690":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},2309350,4512,"Chapter 690: Torment","starlight-professional-chapter-690",690,"\u003Cp>The next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Black Tiger… come on, let’s do the striking drills!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Fengchun had been exhausted like a dead dog yesterday, but boys who had made it this far all had a ruthless streak; he got up early today and actively invited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes were eager, as if saying: “Come on… have some fun… hurt each other…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xun Heihu glanced at him, shook his head, silently apologized in his heart, and found Jade Instructor: “Jade Instructor… I’ve entered the ranks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though his voice was quiet, the square was filled with martial artists, all with sharp senses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jade Instructor’s eyes lit up; her hands moved like flying, pressing at various points on Xun Heihu’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xun Heihu’s skin tensed as if in a reflex, his bronze hue deepening further, an inner force hidden within, poised and ready to unleash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good, good… body like a bronze statue, strength like an ox… definitely a Ninth Rank achievement.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jade Instructor sighed in admiration: “Pity you’re not a girl—I’d have taken you as my disciple.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s… Xun Heihu? He broke through?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s only been here a few months?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The youths and maidens murmured among themselves; some fell silent and began their striking drills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He… he broke through?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Fengchun gaped, bitter and helpless…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuyan, witnessing this, showed no expression on her face, only walked to the nearby wooden post.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud! Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each strike seemed stronger than the last; soon her arms swelled and reddened. But the girl felt nothing, letting the post grind her skin raw so the medicinal effects could fully penetrate…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come with me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jade Instructor ignored them; in her view, letting the martial apprentices endure more stimulation was beneficial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She led Xun Heihu to the back of Bai Lu Courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This Jade Instructor… is definitely an Internal Force expert!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following behind her, Xun Heihu stared at her graceful back, her full hips, and began to drift into idle thoughts: “If this instructor didn’t have that scar on her face, she’d be beautiful… Wait, what am I thinking? Even if martial cultivators have vigorous blood and qi, there must be boundaries…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He forced his gaze to the buildings on either side, noticing a row of elegant Jiangnan-style tiled houses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Red bricks, green tiles, horse-head walls—each had its own charm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some villas had small bridges over flowing streams, passing through lotus-filled ponds, paved with blue stone slabs; atop the bridges stood adorable lion statues, and he couldn’t help but marvel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Black Tiger… come on, let’s do the striking drills!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Fengchun had been exhausted like a dead dog yesterday, but boys who had made it this far all had a ruthless streak; he got up early today and actively invited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes were eager, as if saying: “Come on… have some fun… hurt each other…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xun Heihu glanced at him, shook his head, silently apologized in his heart, and found Jade Instructor: “Jade Instructor… I’ve entered the ranks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though his voice was quiet, the square was filled with martial artists, all with sharp senses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jade Instructor’s eyes lit up; her hands moved like flying, pressing at various points on Xun Heihu’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xun Heihu’s skin tensed as if in a reflex, his bronze hue deepening further, an inner force hidden within, poised and ready to unleash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good, good… body like a bronze statue, strength like an ox… definitely a Ninth Rank achievement.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jade Instructor sighed in admiration: “Pity you’re not a girl—I’d have taken you as my disciple.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s… Xun Heihu? He broke through?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s only been here a few months?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The youths and maidens murmured among themselves; some fell silent and began their striking drills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He… he broke through?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Fengchun gaped, bitter and helpless…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuyan, witnessing this, showed no expression on her face, only walked to the nearby wooden post.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud! Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each strike seemed stronger than the last; soon her arms swelled and reddened. But the girl felt nothing, letting the post grind her skin raw so the medicinal effects could fully penetrate…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come with me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jade Instructor ignored them; in her view, letting the martial apprentices endure more stimulation was beneficial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She led Xun Heihu to the back of Bai Lu Courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This Jade Instructor… is definitely an Internal Force expert!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following behind her, Xun Heihu stared at her graceful back, her full hips, and began to drift into idle thoughts: “If this instructor didn’t have that scar on her face, she’d be beautiful… Wait, what am I thinking? Even if martial cultivators have vigorous blood and qi, there must be boundaries…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He forced his gaze to the buildings on either side, noticing a row of elegant Jiangnan-style tiled houses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Red bricks, green tiles, horse-head walls—each had its own charm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some villas had small bridges over flowing streams, passing through lotus-filled ponds, paved with blue stone slabs; atop the bridges stood adorable lion statues, and he couldn’t help but marvel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though Xun Heihu had already broken through, he dared not show it even once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t need to become someone’s disciple… but I’m short on silver—that’s a big problem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ninth Rank martial artists have many ways to earn money: becoming a bodyguard, joining a escort agency, for example.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But each requires immense time and energy—unsuitable for Xun Heihu right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no choice but to take it one step at a time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After visiting Zhang Kaitai, Xun Heihu followed Jade Instructor to register and select an empty villa to live in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t need to become someone’s disciple—I already know the martial techniques, and as for silver… I can’t really be as shameless as the spirit said, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xun Heihu was nervous, about to speak, when Jade Instructor said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those martial apprentices outside can’t even see the backs of the aristocratic youths—they’ll never amount to anything. But for a genius like you, seeing it yet unable to grasp it—that’s true despair…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But… Jade Instructor, didn’t you take Jiang Yuyan as your disciple?” Xun Heihu seemed to realize something: “So you also dislike this…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Correct. You’re sharp. Had someone supported me back then, how could I have remained stuck at Sixth Rank my whole life?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jade Instructor said: “I advise you to accumulate well over these next few years, then immediately join the Five Beasts Army—you might still have a chance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you for your guidance, Jade Instructor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xun Heihu bowed his thanks and went to his small courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After closing the door, he exhaled a long breath and thought silently: “Others might despair… but I won’t.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have the True Martial Talisman—it’s an unimaginable stroke of fortune. Even if I only train ten times harder than others each day, I’ll never fall behind the aristocratic youths!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several days later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Lu Courtyard, main gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dad?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xun Heihu stared at the weary Xun Liusix, his eyes reddening: “I… I’m Ninth Rank…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those martial apprentices outside can’t even see the backs of the aristocratic youths—they’ll never amount to anything. But for a genius like you, seeing it yet unable to grasp it—that’s true despair…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But… Jade Instructor, didn’t you take Jiang Yuyan as your disciple?” Xun Heihu seemed to realize something: “So you also dislike this…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Correct. You’re sharp. Had someone supported me back then, how could I have remained stuck at Sixth Rank my whole life?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jade Instructor said: “I advise you to accumulate well over these next few years, then immediately join the Five Beasts Army—you might still have a chance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you for your guidance, Jade Instructor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xun Heihu bowed his thanks and went to his small courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After closing the door, he exhaled a long breath and thought silently: “Others might despair… but I won’t.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have the True Martial Talisman—it’s an unimaginable stroke of fortune. Even if I only train ten times harder than others each day, I’ll never fall behind the aristocratic youths!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several days later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Lu Courtyard, main gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dad?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xun Heihu stared at the weary Xun Liusix, his eyes reddening: “I… I’m Ninth Rank…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah! Good boy! No wonder you’re my son—in just a few months, you’ve entered the ranks!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xun Liusix clapped Xun Heihu on the shoulder, equally stunned inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew better than anyone what his son was truly like.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he misjudged him all along?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it because he’d been constantly traveling these past years, never observing closely enough?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought for a moment and handed over a bundle: “These are clothes and shoes your mother made for you… training is hard; eat more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xun Liusix stepped forward, lowering his voice: “Sewn inside the clothes are a thousand taels in silver notes—all five-tael Baochao bills from Bao Yuan Bank, redeemable on sight… don’t be stingy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dad, where did you get so much silver?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xun Heihu was stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had indeed been secretly anxious lately, almost ready to sell himself into servitude…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He never expected his father to be a wealthy man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Borrowed from a friend…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xun Lao Liu brushed it off casually, then hesitated and added, “Also… never sell ‘Jin Gong Dan’ on your own! If you must sell it, I have connections!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Xun Lao Liu’s retreating back, Xun Heihu fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He returned to his small courtyard, shut the door and windows, tore open his clothes, and saw stack after stack of gleaming silver notes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bao Yuan Hao — it’s the monopoly bank in Chuzhou, backed by the Five Beasts Sect…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A thousand taels, real money — if you’re careful, it’ll last a long time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My dad just now… he clearly knows martial arts, and he’s strong!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xun Heihu gripped the Zhenwu Talisman around his neck, eager to ask his father about this treasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But remembering he had sworn a deadly oath never to reveal anything about the Zhenwu Talisman, he was torn…\u003C\u002Fp>",1633,"2026-06-20T11:03:23.251Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","9dee40607f1302fe3c18e3f033967c57c42e978cdb6958b0cc97c5d9e16afdf3","starlight-professional-chapter-691","starlight-professional-chapter-689",726,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstarlight-professional-cover.jpg"]