[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-starlight-professional":3,"chapter-starlight-professional-starlight-professional-chapter-699":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},2309359,4512,"Chapter 699: Contemplation Method","starlight-professional-chapter-699",699,"\u003Cp>In the 1137th year of the Jiuzhou Calendar, the Lotus Elder betrayed the Great Black Temple, slew the Four Sacred Monks of the Buddhist Order, and shook the entire world!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In 1138, the Lotus Elder changed his name to “Black Lotus Elder,” founded the Black Lotus Sect, worshipped the “Panwu Supreme True Sovereign,” used forbidden demonic arts to control a large number of experts, and subdued many underworld masters from the Three Teachings and Nine Streams; once one joined, their cultivation surged instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The righteous martial world branded the Black Lotus Sect as a “demonic sect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The martial world, once divided among nine major sects, gradually evolved into a clear divide between orthodox and demonic forces…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In 1140, the Man Province fell, and the Great Black Temple was reduced to ashes…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In 1142, the Black Lotus Elder personally ascended to the Yin Yin Sect, snapped the famed sword “Yi Qi” of the “Sword of Heaven,” Yin Yin Zi, within a hundred moves, and utterly subjugated Yin Yin Zi through the “Panwu Great Black Heaven Method” in a spiritual assault—right there, he shaved Yin Yin Zi’s head and appointed him as a protector of the Black Lotus Sect; the entire Yin Yin Sect submitted, renamed itself “Yin Yin Hall,” and became a subordinate hall under the Black Lotus Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In 1145, the Black Lotus Elder was ambushed by numerous Dragon-Tiger List masters—including the Dragon King of Qinglong and the Tianqin Elder—and fought for three days and three nights, slaying three Grand Masters in battle, earning the title “Half-Step Supergrade”; many already believed the Black Lotus Elder would surely ascend beyond the Supergrade, forge a new realm of martial arts, and unify the world completely!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time swiftly passed, and it was now 1150.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lingzhou, Baicao Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sigh… the demonic army marches south, and the whole land is filled with whispers of dread.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gazing at the now-deserted streets, Jiang Yuyan sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mother…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside her, a ten-year-old boy with a round, sturdy face tugged at Jiang Yuyan’s hand: “I want a sugar figurine—why isn’t Sugar Figurine Zhang around anymore?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sugar Figurine Zhang? He was probably conscripted to fight. His ‘Plucking Flower Finger’ martial art was decent… still couldn’t escape this fate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now that the demonic army marches south, once they cross the Huanglong River, the world will be theirs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuyan’s heart stirred, but she forced a smile: “Good boy, Ao’er, Uncle Zhang is visiting family. Mother will buy you pastries instead…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She led her son back to Baicao Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the back courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, Xun Liusan, his hair entirely white, sat smoking a pipe, smiling as he watched Xun Heihu crouched on the ground, letting a little girl—no more than five or six, with a red ribbon tied in her hair—ride him like a horse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Biao’er, how can you do this again? This is disgraceful!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuyan could not help but be furious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s fine, it’s fine… I enjoy it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xun Heihu stood up laughing, his face unchanged from over a decade ago, leaving Jiang Yuyan momentarily stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew her husband had secretly ascended to the Upper Third Rank as a Grand Master, which was why Baicao Hall had remained this rare oasis amid the orthodox-demonic war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But with the demonic army advancing south, such peaceful days were clearly coming to an end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nightfall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the study.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You really intend to go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuyan looked at her husband.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course I must. If we lose this battle, the martial world will fall silent forever, and the righteous path will have no place left to stand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xun Heihu spoke with firm resolve: “Your Wuhen Sect will perish too…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tell the truth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuyan rolled her eyes—she knew from the day he ran away before even entering Wuhen Sect that he was no righteous hero!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xun Heihu scratched the back of his head, grinning sheepishly: “I promised my master I’d deal with those Panwu demonic disciples… and they won’t let me live either.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuyan pondered: “Indeed… those demonic troops have burned, killed, and looted as they marched south—and they’re clearly searching for someone, or some legacy… it must be you. I’ve never even met your mysterious master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry—I have good odds of succeeding. I don’t want to leave Biao’er or Ao’er either…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After comforting his wife, Xun Heihu fell silent, then entered the Zhenwu Talisman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhenwu Talisman’s space seemed much larger than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing sat cross-legged atop a stone staircase, gazing at Xun Heihu: “Oh… our savior, our great hero, finally ready to move? You’ve been hiding so long—it’s time the world learns you, Xun Heihu, weren’t just the former #1 on the Qianlong List…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qianlong List ranked only martial artists under thirty; Xun Heihu naturally dropped off after turning thirty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And since he remained low-key afterward with no notable victories, he became the classic example of “a brilliant child, a mediocre adult.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in truth…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he hadn’t already broken through to become a Supergrade, how could Xun Heihu dare act?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t foolish—even if the Black Lotus Sect unified the world, if he hadn’t reached his limit, he’d still be hiding and cultivating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Reputation doesn’t matter. The life I lead at Baicao Hall now was unimaginable luxury for my younger self…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xun Heihu said calmly: “Also… the Black Lotus Sect is acting strangely. Those martial artists who worship their deity become wildly fanatical, loyal, and their cultivation surges—could this be the ‘Panwu Corruption’ you mentioned?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If it were true corruption, the situation would be ten or a hundred times worse,” Fang Xing smiled. “Those worshipers are negligible—they’re merely ‘secondary corruption.’ Once you eliminate the true source of corruption, they’ll collapse instantly… Doesn’t that sound wonderful? The demonic army may be tightly organized, but it has a fatal flaw: strike down the core, and the Black Lotus Sect crumbles. Cherish this—such an opportunity wouldn’t exist in any normal faction.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Defeating the demon king and watching his army dissolve—always a hero’s fantasy. In reality, when one deputy dies, another takes his place, and when that one dies, a third appears…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mature faction always has multiple backups.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Black Lotus Sect is exceptionally unusual—it was born from corruption, or rather… the Black Lotus Elder is a corruption signal tower. Destroy him, and the sect collapses instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The source of corruption? The Black Lotus Elder?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xun Heihu sighed: “He’s at least Half-Step Supergrade—perhaps even already surpassed it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The martial path: Third Rank shatters mountains, Second Rank forms the Divine Sea, First Rank achieves indestructibility… ‘Indestructibility’ means spiritual indestructibility. Thus, every First Rank master is a spiritual grandmaster, capable of locking souls from a thousand li away, sensing sudden heart-pulses…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing said: “As for Supergrade beyond First Rank? You vastly underestimate the suppression of the Zhenwu Talisman and the world—or overestimate the Black Lotus Elder.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hearing you say that, I feel much better.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xun Heihu exhaled deeply. If he had climbed the Dragon-Tiger List step by step, he’d have longed to fight the world’s strongest. But now he had a wife and children—he wanted peace, quiet, and smooth sailing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The source of corruption must be the Black Lotus Elder… but if I kill him, what happens to the Black Lotus Sect’s experts?” Xun Heihu asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nothing dramatic… they’ll likely suffer mental chaos, depending on their level of corruption. Those deeply infected will go mad instantly; the lightly infected can be saved, but will remain unstable for a while. So, you can teach them a ‘Contemplation Method.’ I name it the ‘Zhenwu Contemplation Map.’ Observing this map cultivates the spirit, hones the will, slightly increases the chance of breaking through to First Rank, and calms the mind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing said: “The Xuanwu True Art paired with the Zhenwu Contemplation Map is the most suitable cultivation method for the ‘Zhenwu Holy Body’ in my Zhenwu lineage…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not very well... they might suffer mental confusion or become obsessed, depending on depth; those who delve too deep can't handle it and go straight mad... those who take only a little can still be saved, though they'll be in poor condition for a while... Therefore, you may teach them a 'Contemplation Method,' which I have named the 'True Martial Contemplation Map.' Observing this map can cultivate the spirit and forge the will... to some extent increasing the probability of breaking through to Wu Dao Rank One, and of course, it also calms the mind.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xun Heihu was conflicted—his son hadn’t inherited his martial talent; it had gone to his daughter instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t the answer to that question obvious to you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing chuckled, and a streak of light shot into Xun Heihu’s third eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xun Heihu froze—suddenly, an indescribably majestic presence filled his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It sat atop a black tortoise, clad in Daoist robes, its face blurred, yet unmistakably resembling Fang Xing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This Contemplation Method carries risk: those who learn from me live; those who imitate me die… the true ‘Zhenwu’ must be your own face. If you become my face, things get… interesting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing’s warning echoed gently in Xun Heihu’s ears, snapping him back to reality: “I… I’m already Supergrade, yet I still felt drawn in… but every line of that Contemplation Map is profoundly mysterious. If studied daily, it could indeed induce spiritual transformation, unlock spiritual abilities… and break through to the First Rank’s Indestructible Realm!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This Contemplation Method carries risk: those who learn from me live, those who imitate me die... the true 'True Martial' can only be your own face; once it becomes my face, things won't be fun anymore...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing waved his hand, ejecting Xun Heihu from the space, his eyes holding a trace of anticipation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The world… has gained a new variable…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He taught the Zhenwu Contemplation Method primarily to save those worshipers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in truth…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Contemplating the true Zhenwu is also a legitimate path—faster, stronger!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet if one slips into demonic madness, they might become a puppet of the true Zhenwu…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After so long—from being unable to perceive anything beyond the Zhenwu Talisman, to seeing clearly beyond it… now, though I still can’t move the Talisman with my own power, if I have a host of ‘martial servants’…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s almost the same…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If someone truly goes mad, fully attuned to Zhenwu… perhaps I can finally step outside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing held cautious hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, according to his simulations and calculations, such a genius might appear only once every several eras—and even then, only if they strayed into error, which was even rarer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the world is unpredictable—and time is the greatest magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, according to his simulations and calculations, such a genius might appear only once every several eras, and to stray off the path? The odds are even smaller.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing felt nothing for potentially poisoning some future martial genius.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This world is part of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Controlling a single cell—is that poisoning? No—it’s keeping the fertilizer in the family!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I am One, and I am Ten Thousand…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My struggle with Panwu will last a long time…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xing’s gaze drifted far: “Panwu leaked only a sliver of corruption—it’s also planting seeds… betting on the future too…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The world’s origin is immensely strong!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is still newborn, and will keep expanding!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The future eras will be dazzling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is only just born and will continue to expand!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The future era will be quite spectacular!\u003C\u002Fp>",1892,"2026-06-20T11:03:23.251Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","de385fa5199aa5af519dac593536bcea7a30b7926889aa3ecb80d9c11c332143","starlight-professional-chapter-700","starlight-professional-chapter-698",726,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstarlight-professional-cover.jpg"]