[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-star-martial-era":3,"chapter-the-star-martial-era-the-star-martial-era-chapter-14":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},2274872,4448,"Chapter 14: Meal-Mist Level One","the-star-martial-era-chapter-14",14,"\u003Cp>The quota is limited!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin previously knew little about the Dao Academy’s rules, but recently, by eating and attending classes daily with the youths who had successfully Star-Touched, he had come to understand them thoroughly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Dao Academy admits at most fifteen students into the Middle Courtyard each season.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifteen may seem like many, but the actual number of available slots for competition is quite small.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first rule for entering the Middle Courtyard is that those rated Yi-Zhong automatically qualify.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Academy’s rule states: those who Star-Touch within three days receive Jia-Shang evaluation; within ten days, Jia-Zhong; within thirty days, Jia-Xia; within forty days, Yi-Shang; within fifty days, Yi-Zhong; within sixty days, Yi-Xia; within seventy days, Bing-Shang; within eighty days, Bing-Zhong; beyond eighty days, Bing-Xia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This makes a total of three grades with nine tiers of talent evaluation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those rated Jia should enter the Inner Courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So far, six youths have Star-Touched between thirty and fifty days; these six will enter the Middle Courtyard directly, leaving nine slots open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second rule for entering the Middle Courtyard is that those rated Yi-Xia may enter directly if they break through to Meal-Mist Level One by the end of the Star-Touch season.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are also six youths rated Yi-Xia; among them, only one named Song Ye has not yet broken through to Meal-Mist Level One, but he is on the verge and highly likely to break through by the season’s end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three slots remain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The third rule is that those rated Bing may be selected into the Middle Courtyard if they break through to Meal-Mist Level One by the season’s end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is where selection and competition begin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All other youths, including Xu Jin, Star-Touched after sixty days—that is, they are rated Bing—and these youths are competing for these three slots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the Bing-rated youths, two have already broken through to Meal-Mist Level One: Qiao Ruonan and Fang Zixing. If Xu Jin breaks through as well, exactly three slots will be filled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the problem is, only four days remain, and within these final four days, more than one or two will likely break through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially the Bing-Shang-rated youths—those who Star-Touched within seventy days, like Luo Geng and others—there are over a dozen, many on the brink of breakthrough, all desperately cultivating to force their way through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If two or three more break through in these four days, the competition will become fierce.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But worrying now is useless; Xu Jin must break through to Meal-Mist Level One before the Star-Touch season ends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, he won't even have the qualification to compete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On June 15, during morning class, the last of the six Yi-Xia-rated youths, Song Ye, broke through to Meal-Mist Level One, securing his place in the Middle Courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On June 15, during evening class, Luo Geng, rated Bing-Shang, broke through to Meal-Mist Level One, adding one more competitor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On June 16, during morning class, Hong Gang, rated Bing-Shang, broke through to Meal-Mist Level One, adding another competitor, while Xu Jin had not yet broken through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet after morning class, Xu Jin felt no urgency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He understood well the principle: haste makes waste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more critical the moment, the less one must rush; haste leads to mistakes and delays progress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>June 16, evening class.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before evening class began, Ning Yuchan came over specifically to check Xu Jin’s body-refinement progress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good, don’t rush. You’re already on the verge of breakthrough. This step is about shattering the invisible barrier within the body, sending Star-Power from the torso into the limbs. Breakthrough means breaking—this step hinges on shattering.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve noticed you’ve already grasped a hint of the essence of the Five Stars Killing Fist. If you can unleash a Star-Art, using the surge of force from the Star-Art to break through, your chance of success increases greatly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Yuchan cared deeply for Xu Jin—not just because she lent him silver, but mainly because she had high hopes for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Ning Yuchan left, Xu Jin took a deep breath and began practicing the Five Stars Killing Fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, during morning class today, Xu Jin had already sensed the invisible barrier within his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After these past few days of intense cultivation and elixir use, his Star-Power now covered his entire chest and back with each breath—like wearing a garment; otherwise, it would have drawn gasps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The youths who Star-Touched a few days earlier had Star-Power covering only a watermelon-sized area on their chests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over these past few days, Xu Jin had trained over four hours daily within the Star-Lamp, and his mastery of the Five Stars Killing Fist had risen sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the Star-Lamp, all fist forms had reached Minor Mastery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Yin-Yang Form, perhaps due to its fixed Star-Art enhancement, had progressed fastest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without activating the fixed Star-Art, he occasionally managed to generate two Star-Shields with a single three-form sequence, progressing toward Major Mastery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Xu Jin did not rush to break through; instead, he practiced the Five Stars Killing Fist steadily, restored his Star-Power, then resumed practicing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over these days, as Xu Jin cultivated intensely, his body’s maximum Star-Power capacity had increased further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By morning class today, when his Star-Power was fully drawn from the Star-Light, he could now complete three full rounds of the Five Stars Killing Fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, he could now unleash six Star-Shields.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin felt his Star-Power, guided by the Five Stars Killing Fist, spreading outward from the star-mark on his chest, permeating every part of his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had sensed the invisible barrier—roughly at the joints connecting limbs to torso—a barrier he could not touch or see, yet his surging Star-Power could strike it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like waves crashing against a seawall, each strike hit the barrier, yet none could break through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xu Jin felt no urgency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During morning class, he could only touch the barrier once after completing a full three-form Yin-Yang sequence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, the frequency with which his Star-Power struck the barrier was increasing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After completing the second round of three full forms, every movement of the Five Stars Killing Fist generated Star-Power waves that struck the barrier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After completing the third round of three full forms, he still had not broken through, but he now perceived the barrier with even greater clarity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After swallowing a Wakeful Spirit Pill, his mind cleared, and he began practicing the Drink-Brilliance Form to draw Star-Light and restore his Star-Power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over twenty minutes later, his Star-Power was full; he took a deep breath, swallowed a Blood-Replenishing Pill, then a Foundation-Strengthening Pill, and resumed his Five Stars Killing Fist stance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After three rounds, the Star-Power in his star-mark was depleted; with a mere thought, it was instantly refilled by Star-Light from the Can-Dou Altar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He continued the Five Stars Killing Fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the sixth round, he felt his Star-Power could touch the invisible barrier without needing to activate it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a thought, the Star-Light on the Can-Dou Altar shimmered slightly, refilling his star-mark once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seventh round of the Five Stars Killing Fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for this seventh round, Xu Jin slightly altered his rhythm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, to avoid wasting Star-Power by unleashing Star-Shields every time, he had slowed his movements; now, he returned fully to normal speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fast and slow, fists linked in defense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a thought, a brilliant Star-Shield suddenly appeared on Xu Jin’s right shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The instant the Star-Shield formed on his shoulder, the invisible barrier he had sensed there shattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After days of relentless training, he had fully comprehended it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To break through, one needs not only persistent accumulation, but also a moment of explosive release.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Star-Art is the explosive release of accumulated Star-Power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If one understands and unleashes Star-Art, breakthrough becomes simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Xu Jin’s breakthrough now was natural, inevitable, like water flowing downhill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost the instant the Star-Shield appeared, under the night sky, it drew the attention of youths all around, who immediately turned to look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In recent days, whether unleashing Star-Art or breaking through to Meal-Mist Level One, both drew countless envious glances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Look, Xu Jin just unleashed a basic Star-Shield!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“His Five Stars Killing Fist has reached Minor Mastery!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I recall Xu Jin Star-Touched on day eighty-three—only six days later, his Killing Fist is already Minor Mastered?” Luo Geng paused his practice and stared at Xu Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, it’s more than just Minor Mastery.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Ye, rated Yi-Xia and already broken through to Meal-Mist Level One, stared fixedly at Xu Jin: “Look at the position of the basic Star-Shield—on the right shoulder. Normally, only after breaking through to Meal-Mist Level One can one project a Star-Shield to that location.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? Xu Jin broke through to Meal-Mist Level One? He only Star-Touched a few days ago!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Zixing looked astonished; beside him, Luo Geng’s expression darkened instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another competitor had joined the race for the Middle Courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few breaths later, Fang Zixing’s face also turned grim—he had just realized it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big Brother Xu, did you just unleash a basic Star-Shield? They say you broke through?” Qian Xiaohu, who had also moved over to train nearby, asked in delight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin did not hide it; he nodded openly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hadn’t he trained so hard all these days precisely to break through?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next instant, with a thought, the Star-Shield vanished, and the Five Stars Killing Fist resumed; warmth, numbness, itch, pain—all sensations began spreading from his right shoulder down his right arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had broken through, but cultivation could not stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, Sha Youtian, who had Star-Touched only two days after Xu Jin, stared at his own chest—where Star-Light covered only a watermelon-sized area, still underdeveloped—and then at Xu Jin, utterly baffled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gap is too wide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1617,"2026-06-19T23:56:29.689Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","4aa6f8c6007a32bdf3389ec8aecc8352bb29453e33bcdf4037f8d7ff5c254f53","the-star-martial-era-chapter-15","the-star-martial-era-chapter-13",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-star-martial-era-cover.jpg"]