[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-star-martial-era":3,"chapter-the-star-martial-era-the-star-martial-era-chapter-137":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Star Martial Era",{"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},2274995,4448,"Chapter 137","the-star-martial-era-chapter-137",137,"\u003Cp>Amidst shimmering starlight, Xu Jin appeared directly inside the Star-Picking Tower where he had originally entered the Huoxuan Star Region.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a single step forward, he instantly materialized outside the Star-Picking Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the Jinshan County Star-Picking Tower branch, Zhang Yunliang, who had been on duty for over ten days, suddenly sensed something amiss behind him—he saw the Star-Picking Tower branch, previously hidden in empty space, flicker in and out of view as a figure stepped out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xu Jin!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yunliang’s eyes widened, and he immediately pulled out his Star-Picking Token.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next instant, Xu Jin saw two streaks of starlight rise one after another from the Jinshan Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One shot straight upward, then crossed the stars toward him at incredible speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other rose and fell, darting erratically as it approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xu Jin, you’re finally back!” At the fourth second of Xu Jin’s return to the mortal realm, Headmaster Dong Zhao appeared before him, face filled with delight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the sixth second, with a thud, an iron cane struck the ground—Ning Yuchan also appeared before Xu Jin, her veiled face brimming with surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Headmaster Dong Zhao looked at the returning Xu Jin, then at Flag Master Zhang Yunliang, about to speak—when suddenly, the Jinshan County Star-Picking Tower branch, previously hidden in empty space, began to flicker again, appearing and vanishing within the void.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next instant, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao, clad in straw sandals and white robes, his long hair flowing over his shoulders, stepped out directly from the Star-Picking Tower branch and appeared before them all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grand Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group hurriedly bowed in greeting—Dong Zhao, Xu Jin, and Ning Yuchan were composed, but Flag Master Zhang Yunliang was utterly stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin—our county academy’s disciple—what had he done?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d merely returned from the star region, stayed a bit longer than usual; for Headmaster to come greet him was understandable, but why had the Grand Master himself come in person?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Zhang Yunliang was stunned, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao suddenly pointed a finger at the Flag Master’s forehead—Xu Jin’s Mingji Star Pattern instantly alerted him, sensing a powerful soul resonance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that single touch, Zhang Yunliang’s eyes grew vacant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do not mention Xu Jin to anyone. If you speak any information about Xu Jin, you will die. If anyone asks about Xu Jin, you know nothing.” Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao whispered, his voice carrying an indescribable enchantment as his fingertip pressed against Zhang Yunliang’s brow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yunliang’s eyes remained vacant, as if sleepwalking, repeating the Grand Master’s words in a daze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Zhao and Ning Yuchan exchanged glances; Ning Yuchan closed her eyes slightly, preparing herself for the Grand Master’s manipulation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after conditioning Zhang Yunliang, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao smiled and said, “I’ve merely implanted a mental restraint using soul power, just as a precaution—you two need not be touched.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin, however, fell into deep thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Need not?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or “Cannot?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just now, as Xu Jin’s Mingji Star Pattern had briefly activated, he’d gained a rough sense of the Grand Master’s soul power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was strong—several times his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he dared not sense further, unsure of the exact state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mingji Star Pattern had only stirred for an instant before he suppressed it, while simultaneously activating the Guicang Star Pattern to fully conceal the aura of his own soul star.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A being as powerful as the Grand Master—likely sixth-rank or higher—could potentially uncover his secret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next instant, Xu Jin felt as if he were riding clouds and mist; when he landed, he stood in Headmaster Dong Zhao’s courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Flag Master Zhang Yunliang, beside the Star-Picking Tower branch, slowly regained consciousness ten breaths after Xu Jin and the others had left—he seemed to recall something, then suddenly shuddered, took a moment to compose himself, and finally walked away slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now came Xu Jin’s account.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He recounted the major battles within the Huoxuan Star Region to the Grand Master and Headmaster, but most importantly, he described the statue and the jade box, then handed the jade box to the Grand Master for inspection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although he was certain the contents of the jade box were immensely valuable, he dared not use them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who knew what harmful secrets might be hidden inside?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is a second-rank Yuanpo Pearl—directly usable to enhance soul power. Judging by its quantity, even a Canxia cultivator who consumes it has a chance to forge a Soul Star. In effect, it surpasses the Lianshen Golden Core by three tenths.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“However, it conceals something else within.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao took it, and suddenly, brilliant starlight bloomed on his palm, surging into the second-rank Yuanpo Pearl, sweeping through it several times—until a wisp of black smoke abruptly shot out and vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, the Yuanpo Pearl appeared far purer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The previous cold, sinister aura was gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your spoils—yours now. You may absorb it directly. When you reach its limit, you must choose one Soul Star Pattern to engrave; only after engraving may you continue absorbing, and then you may forge your Soul Star.” The Grand Master tossed the purified pearl straight to Xu Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Grand Master,” Xu Jin said quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao waved his hand. “Absorb and use this quickly. And never tell anyone else! Even a whisper of this item’s existence could ignite a bloody storm across the cultivation world.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even third-, fourth-, fifth-, or sixth-rank experts might come to seize it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Headmaster Dong Zhao nodded. “Forging a Soul Star is incredibly difficult! Even after I consumed Dingshen Golden Core and Lianshen Golden Core consecutively, it took me eleven years to forge my Soul Star.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re lucky, boy—this single Yuanpo Pearl is worth ten to fifteen years of cultivation for a third- or fourth-rank expert.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is soul power so hard to improve?” Xu Jin stared in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course. Soul power is the foundation for breaking through fifth and sixth ranks. Many cultivators spend their entire lives stuck at the peak of Ningxing Ninth Layer, simply because their soul power is insufficient.” Cheng Yuexiao said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking, the Grand Master examined the jade tablet. “This is ordinary—it only records one technique: Soul Splitting, which allows one to sever a fragment of soul and preserve it once soul power reaches a certain level.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Together, these two items must have been the price offered to Chi You to betray us!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First, use the Yuanpo Pearl to boost Chi You’s soul power and forge his Soul Star, then have him cultivate this Soul Splitting technique—so that even if I activate control over Chi You’s soul within the Chilin Heart, I can only kill one of his soul fragments.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chi You would escape death from my grasp!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A grand scheme indeed!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Grand Master sighed. “Yuanpo Pearls are typically found only in the Worshiping Stars Cult, and only the sect’s Patriarch, True Persons, or True Immortals can obtain them. This confirms the Worshiping Stars Cult’s involvement.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then fixed his gaze on Xu Jin. “Xu Jin, be cautious of the Worshiping Stars Cult in the near term. Stay safe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since you’ve obtained this, and Soul Star forging is imminent—but you have no Soul Star Pattern! Xu Jin, remember I once promised you: if you returned alive from the Huoxuan Star Region, I’d let you choose any high-rank star pattern to learn. Why not learn one of my Soul Star Patterns to aid your Soul Star forging?” Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao suggested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin thought for only an instant, then nodded immediately. This was something he absolutely could not refuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Refusal would immediately arouse the Grand Master’s suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides—he’d be a fool to refuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Old Qi had said, Soul Star Patterns were extremely precious, each a secret transmission; even powerful cultivators who had forged their Soul Stars and reached mid-to-late Star Refining stages might not have engraved all their patterns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin’s current Soul Star, at Refining Sixth Layer, could theoretically hold seven Soul Star Patterns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in reality, his Soul Star bore only three: Chengpo, Guicang, and Nixiang—four slots still empty!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in reality, Xu Jin’s Soul Star currently bears three Soul Star Runes: Cheng Po, Gui Cang, and Ni Xiang, with four empty slots still available!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Disciple bows in thanks to the Grand Master!” Xu Jin instantly bowed deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao did not refuse the gesture—he accepted Xu Jin’s bow fully and solemnly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xu Jin, I currently have three Soul Star Patterns I can teach you: Zhenyi, Posha, and Wenmeng. Which do you choose?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After offering the choices, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao briefly explained the functions of each Soul Star Pattern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhenyi: a defensive Soul Star Pattern, capable of resisting ordinary soul attacks, protecting the soul, enhancing cultivation efficiency, and possessing various subtle benefits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Posha: an offensive Soul Star Pattern, as the name suggests—able to condense soul power into a Posha Arrow to strike an enemy’s soul. In battle, it can achieve remarkable results, though it consumes great energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After forging a Soul Star, most cultivators can only form two to three Posha Arrows—but these often enable the weak to defeat the strong, especially against opponents below peak fourth-rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wenmeng: a slightly unique pattern, capable of inducing rapid sleep in a target for interrogation and information extraction; it can also soothe one’s own or others’ souls through dreams, offering partial healing for soul injuries and slightly accelerating soul power recovery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Meng Star Rune is a slightly unique rune that can induce rapid dreaming in a target to interrogate and extract desired information, can soothe the Soul Stars of oneself and others through dreams, has some efficacy in healing Soul Star injuries, and can slightly accelerate the recovery of Soul Star energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin froze, glancing involuntarily at Ning Yuchan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, he wanted to learn all three.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If only he’d been able to haggle with Headmaster Dong Zhao like before—turning one second-rank Star Weapon into two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, if someone had helped him haggle the Grand Master into granting three patterns instead of one, it would have been perfect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But today, no lucky ally was present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither Ning Yuchan nor Headmaster Dong Zhao dared to provoke the Grand Master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it was perfectly reasonable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second-rank Star Weapons were merely valuable items—worth at most ten to twenty thousand taels of silver, equivalent to one or two hundred Star Tower starlight threads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Soul Star Patterns? Each was priceless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Xu Jin’s pleading gaze, Headmaster Dong Zhao suddenly chuckled, “Too bad I don’t have this luck—if I did, I’d choose Wenmeng—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao’s gaze turned toward him, Dong Zhao promptly fell silent. “Grand Master, forgive me—I spoke out of turn. I was just thinking of my old master!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Grand Master shook his head with a wry smile and let the matter drop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiao Dong’s choice isn’t bad,” the Grand Master said directly. “Wenmeng has the highest growth potential—the stronger your cultivation, the greater its utility. The other two patterns offer significant immediate benefits. Choose wisely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Grand Master, thank you, Headmaster—I choose Wenmeng!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Headmaster Dong Zhao openly hinting under the Grand Master’s stern gaze, Xu Jin would be a fool not to choose Wenmeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the Grand Master pulled out a jade tablet and handed it to Xu Jin, his tone grave: “This Wenmeng Star Pattern was passed down by my master—it is a rare and unique pattern. You may learn it alone, but you must never teach it to anyone!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Without my permission, if you teach this Wenmeng Pattern to another, I will personally come and purge you both—do you understand?” As he spoke, he shot a sharp glance at Dong Zhao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had always said \"three patterns,\" so he had chosen Wenmeng—the only one he could barely offer—thinking Xu Jin wouldn't pick it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t expected Dong Zhao to nudge him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Disciple understands!” Xu Jin accepted the jade tablet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the Grand Master tossed the jade tablet containing the Soul Splitting Technique to Xu Jin. “This is your spoils—yours to keep. But remember: do not attempt to cultivate this Soul Splitting Technique unless absolutely necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless your soul cultivation breaks through to Ningxing, or your future cultivation reaches seventh-rank or higher, do not try.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless you have a special need, do not attempt to cultivate unless your spiritual soul cultivation base breaks through to the Star Condensation realm, or unless your future cultivation base surpasses the seventh realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, you’ll only destroy your future Dao path,” warned Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin thanked him, nodded again in agreement, and silently warned himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao nodded in satisfaction, his gaze finally left Xu Jin and turned to Ning Yuchan. “Yuchan,” he asked suddenly, “have you decided your path?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Replying to Grand Master, I have decided!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even death, I do not regret!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether Cheng Yuexiao or Dong Zhao, upon hearing the words “even death, I do not regret,” fell silent. Only Xu Jin grew frantic—what was happening?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where is Instructor Ning going?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If we speak truly, the Dao Academy still owes you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao looked at Ning Yuchan’s severed leg, his expression complex. “Since your resolve is firm, I will say no more—follow the procedure.” With that, he pulled out two elixir vials and handed one each to Xu Jin and Ning Yuchan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yuchan, this is the Spirit-Refining Golden Core you earned by exchanging two of your three top-tier autumn exam scores. It’s meant for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xu Jin, this is the Spirit-Refining Golden Core you earned as number one in the fourth trial of the autumn exam—the Ascending Stairway. I happened to be coming here, so I brought it for you. You’d best take it soon—don’t keep it too long!” Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao instructed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Grand Master!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both bowed again in thanks. Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao added, “Xu Jin, the Star Pattern reward I just gave you was a personal gift. Now hurry to the National Dao Academy and report. Your merits will be properly rewarded then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have urgent matters to attend to—I’m leaving!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dong Zhao, ensure Xu Jin’s safety.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Grand Master stepped forward. In the distance, the Star-Picking Tower’s branch flickered—and Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao’s aura vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Headmaster Dong Zhao was about to speak, Xu Jin—who had spent a full minute in inner turmoil—finally made a momentous decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Instructor Ning, may I see your Spirit-Refining Golden Core?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Here, what’s there to look at? They’re all the same!” Ning Yuchan tossed the vial to Xu Jin without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I must compare them. Even though both are Spirit-Refining Golden Cores, their efficacy still differs. I need to pick the better one—Instructor, you don’t mind, do you?” Xu Jin said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s such a thing?” Ning Yuchan was stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course there is, Instructor. I’m heading home now—I’ll choose slowly there!” With that, Xu Jin bowed to Headmaster Dong Zhao and dashed off like a streak of wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Yuchan stood frozen for several breaths before realizing, “Hey, this guy—my Spirit-Refining Golden Core! Taking more than one is useless!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Instructor, don’t worry—I’m just looking, picking the prettiest one, won’t take more!” Xu Jin’s voice drifted back from the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Ning Yuchan and Dong Zhao stared at each other—could elixirs really be chosen like this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next instant, Dong Zhao sighed at Ning Yuchan. “Yuchan, you’ll have to work hard these next few days—continue secretly protecting Xu Jin. This boy’s got more and more valuable things on him now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, this really…” Ning Yuchan could only agree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2593,"2026-06-19T23:56:29.689Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","c345e489008033aea8175d3502f07e8e69d8da0bee940b717bd5198b33b32da0","the-star-martial-era-chapter-138","the-star-martial-era-chapter-136",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-star-martial-era-cover.jpg"]