[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-immortal-path-among-the-stars":3,"chapter-the-immortal-path-among-the-stars-the-immortal-path-among-the-stars-chapter-102":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Immortal Path Among the Stars",{"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},2320034,4537,"Chapter 102: Talent","the-immortal-path-among-the-stars-chapter-102",102,"\u003Cp>In the afternoon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black-robed elder appeared outside the forging chamber, pacing back and forth rapidly, his expression dazed, as if he had just witnessed something unimaginable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Puff.” “Puff.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The seals on both large doors flickered and vanished simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elder’s gaze snapped instantly, fixed firmly on one of the forging chamber doors, his brow betraying a barely concealed impatience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other door was pulled open first; a short-haired woman stepped out, cradling a massive blade, her face alight with excitement. Seeing the black-robed elder at the doorway, she beamed and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Sun, I’ve inscribed three runes. Please take a look.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she spoke, she extended the massive blade toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Master Sun reluctantly tore his gaze from the other forging chamber door, glanced at the three shimmering silver runes on the blade, then waved his hand dismissively:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. Since you’ve completed the test, I’ll keep my word—but wait here until your Wang brother emerges.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the elder’s gaze returned to the other forging chamber door, as if he would never move it again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did Wang brother also inscribe three runes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Wei froze, glanced at the closed door next door, then suddenly remembered something. She swiftly sheathed the blade and stood quietly to the side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet after stealing a few glances at the black-robed elder, a hint of confusion still lingered on her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Sun’s expression seemed strangely odd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A full teacup’s time later, the other forging chamber door opened too. Wang Yu stepped out, holding a short yellow ruler, smiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the two figures at the door, his smile faded—but he quickly stepped forward to pay his respects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Apologies for keeping you waiting, Elder. After completing the runes, I was unfamiliar with the final finishing steps, so I took longer than expected. I hope Master doesn’t blame me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah! With such talent in rune-inscribing, what is there to blame? Quickly show me your completed artifact—did you finish the sixth rune?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black-robed elder joyfully seized Wang Yu’s arm, his eyes darting swiftly to the ruler in his hand, utterly impatient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The short-haired woman beside him looked bewildered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Sun, please look.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yu paused, then suddenly understood, handing over the yellow ruler.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Sun took the ruler, brushed his fingers across its surface—and instantly, a red glow spread across it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, the short-haired woman couldn’t help but stare intently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the yellow ruler, six silver rune symbols glowed brightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Wei couldn’t believe her eyes; she rubbed them twice, then strained her gaze with all her strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One, two, three, four, five, six…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The short-haired woman stood frozen, like a wooden statue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Wang brother had inscribed a six-rune artifact in a single day!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These runes… they looked familiar—weren’t these the same fire-spark runes on the Fire Dragon Sword she’d seen before?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah! Wang Yu, you truly did it. After watching you inscribe the first five runes, I knew the sixth would be no challenge for you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether or not you’d studied the Fire Spark Rune before, your talent in rune-inscribing is unmatched in my lifetime. The first three runes were inscribed flawlessly, perfectly on the first try—something even I cannot do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a booming laugh, Master Sun declared on the spot: “From today, you are my forging apprentice. Call me ‘Master Sun’ from now on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Disciple Wang Yu bows to Master Sun.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yu had no objection—he immediately knelt and performed the full kowtow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Sun, what about me? I passed the test too!” The short-haired woman finally snapped out of her shock and hurriedly called out to the black-robed elder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? Since you passed the test, you’re naturally also my apprentice.” The elder paused, as if recalling something, then nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Disciple Xiao Wei bows to Master Sun.” The short-haired woman beamed and knelt down as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good, good. Unlike other forging masters, I will teach you everything I know—if you’re willing to learn and study hard. After all, I’m an old man now; I must pass on my forging arts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there are two additional conditions. First: you must never teach anyone else the forging techniques I impart, unless I give explicit permission. Can you both agree to this?” The elder suddenly turned solemn, addressing them both.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Disciple can agree.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Disciple can also agree.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yu and the short-haired woman answered without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Excellent. Since you’ll be learning forging from me, you’ll surely intend to craft artifacts for sale. My second condition: for the next ten years, every artifact you forge must be sold through me, and I will take one-third of the profits as your apprenticeship fee.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t think it’s excessive—nearly every forging apprentice goes through this. Without an elder master vouching for you, a novice’s artifacts rarely fetch high prices,” Master Sun added after stating his second condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman immediately agreed without a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yu hesitated slightly, then asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Sun, if I forge an artifact for my own use and don’t plan to sell it, will I still be charged?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course not. If you’re using it yourself and not selling it, how could I possibly charge you?” Master Sun chuckled lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I have no objections.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yu nodded, and both disciples, before the black-robed elder’s eyes, bit their fingers and swore blood oaths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, the black-robed elder was overjoyed. He rummaged in his robes and pulled out two thick volumes, handing them over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since you’ve taken me as your master, I must give you a gift. These are my compiled forging insights. Take them and study them slowly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both bowed in thanks and accepted them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wang Yu, you seem to lack proper rune-inscribing tools. Long ago, I owned a set of artifact-grade tools—I no longer use them. I bestow them upon you.” Master Sun glanced at Wang Yu again, then pulled out a wooden box from his person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Master Sun, for this gift.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yu beamed, accepting the box as the short-haired woman watched with envy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough. Return to rest now. Tomorrow morning, I will begin instructing you both in full.” The black-robed elder concluded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yu and the other disciple bowed and departed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Sun watched Wang Yu’s retreating figure, unable to suppress the smile on his face. He stroked his sparse beard and murmured:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Such terrifying rune-inscribing ability… can only come from one of the legendary forging talents. Is it not just ‘Golden Jade Hands’ or ‘Immovable Heavy Bones’—but also ‘Reproducing Eye’ or ‘Ruyi Chanxin’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black-robed elder fell into deep thought—but after a moment, he slapped his forehead:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Why overthink it? Whatever talent he possesses, he will surely go far on the forging path. If his cultivation keeps pace, he might even forge second-rank artifacts one day.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1121,"2026-06-20T15:44:30.991Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","03c9b29e7ec5174e21d5d4befe46e37fb07e799fcd85fb7808f83fc166cc4ba3","the-immortal-path-among-the-stars-chapter-103","the-immortal-path-among-the-stars-chapter-101",530,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-immortal-path-among-the-stars-cover.jpg"]