[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-star-martial-era":3,"chapter-the-star-martial-era-the-star-martial-era-chapter-156":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},2275014,4448,"Chapter 156: Ning Yuchan and the Poison Elixir (Request Subscription)","the-star-martial-era-chapter-156",156,"\u003Cp>\"Within the Star-Taking Realm, our Chen Guo Dao Academy has gained two more silver stars.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao, upon receiving the report, wore a look of delight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two silver stars added five days ago held little significance, but two more added five days after that changed everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It meant someone could produce silver stars steadily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten silver stars could enable one to manifest the Dao once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If used well, the entire Dao Academy’s strength could rise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, two key points mattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first was identifying who earned the silver stars; the second was whether two more would appear five or six days from now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first point was easy to investigate; the second spoke to sustainability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sustained acquisition of silver stars was where true value lay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over the years, the Dao Academy had produced many geniuses who plucked silver stars, but most could only do so sporadically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If one could consistently pluck silver stars, it meant not only stable cultivation growth but also potential to pluck a golden star!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Chen Guo Dao Academy could gain two or three more golden stars, Cheng Yuexiao might even gain greater leverage to weaken the Selective Advancement policy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Peng Lao, who earned these silver stars? Any leads?\" Cheng Yuexiao asked casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My Lord, among the senior, middle, and junior generations of the Dao Academy, the elders can be ruled out—higher cultivation makes plucking golden or silver stars harder.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the elders never had the ability to pluck silver stars in their youth, let alone now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The middle generation is much the same—most have exhausted their potential.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cui Jing, currently in the Star River Battlefield, is a possible candidate,\" said Director Peng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cui Jing dominated the Dao Academy’s geniuses for a decade and plucked fifteen silver stars ten years ago—he certainly fits. Any others?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wang Rusong, last year’s autumn exam champion, now has seven star cores and has broken into the fourth layer of Star Refining. He once plucked six silver stars during Star Refining and has already reported three this year.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He’s also a possibility.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao sighed deeply. \"Pity about last year’s autumn exam champion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Director Peng remained silent. \"Kou Jing previously reported that student Meng Qingqiu plucked one silver star, but I doubt Meng Qingqiu has the potential for consecutive plucking.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then who is most likely?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The most likely is this year’s autumn exam champion, Xu Jin.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I didn’t notice it five days ago, but tonight I saw that within fifteen minutes after Xu Jin reached the ninetieth gate of the God-Slaying Battlefield, two silver stars appeared on Chen Guo’s Star-Taking Tower.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm, keep watching. Whether it’s him or not, don’t alert him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After all, fewer than ten silver stars are useless.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao’s expression shifted. \"Peng Lao, should I nudge this student forward?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We’ve seen the consequences of forcing growth before.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Director Peng whispered, \"But if he maintains this momentum, and you nudge him once he reaches mid-to-late Star Refining, he might even pluck a golden star.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the evening of September 5, Xu Jin’s Central Star Palace gathered its star core, its third star halo flowing like a celestial river, spinning around the core, breathtakingly beautiful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peak of Star Refining Third Layer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin was considering which star pattern to inscribe into his Central Star Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Currently, five patterns were available: Spiral, Blazing Flame, Star Transformation, Whale Devour, and Meteor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Meteor pattern enhanced speed—he planned to inscribe it into his Lower Star Palace. The Whale Devour pattern gave star techniques a strange clinging, absorbing quality and boosted combat power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But not now—wait until a slot freed up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The remaining options were Spiral, Blazing Flame, and Star Transformation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All three enhanced combat power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blazing Flame, combined with his newly learned Star Burst Technique, would greatly amplify power but reduce speed—useless if he couldn’t hit the enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That flaw could be compensated by the Spiral pattern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After thought, Xu Jin decided to inscribe the Spiral pattern first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Spiral pattern enhanced the speed and power of all star techniques; he could always inscribe Blazing Flame once he reached Star Refining Fourth Layer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Master, how have you been lately? Are you well? How is your injury recovering? I have a question I’d like to ask ahead of time: how does spirit-star formation work? Is a new scripture required?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After inscribing the pattern, Xu Jin sent a starlight message to Qi Shanye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, the Star Refining Golden Elixir he’d received last time had been fully refined to the third layer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, this was excellent news—but now Xu Jin felt uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin had already ascended the Heavenly Stair ten times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The results were better than he’d expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After just seven ascents, his spirit cultivation had advanced one layer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Xu Jin sensed this layer wasn’t entirely due to the Heavenly Stair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must be tied to the Clear Soul Star Pattern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Shanye had said before that once the Clear Soul Star Pattern was refined, it continuously purified the spirit—slowly, but over time, the effect was astonishing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a secret technique of the Spirit Record Star Palace, never passed on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the stronger the spirit, the stronger the Clear Soul Star Pattern’s effect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before spirit-star formation or in early Star Refining, under passive enhancement, it took roughly two years to advance one layer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after late Star Refining, one layer could be gained per year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, Xu Jin’s spirit cultivation had broken into Star Refining Seventh Layer, and the Clear Soul Star Pattern’s passive boost had noticeably strengthened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, after the Heavenly Stair’s trials, his spirit-star had just broken into Star Refining Eighth Layer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two more layers remained to reach the peak of Star Refining Ninth Layer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, when Xu Jin took the third-layer Calm Spirit Golden Elixir, his spirit cultivation surged two layers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the Spirit Refining Elixir was far superior to the Calm Spirit Elixir.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he took it now and his spirit-star reached Star Refining Ninth Layer’s peak, but he didn’t know what came next, wasting the elixir’s power was minor—but damaging his spirit was grave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hence, he specifically consulted Qi Shanye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This matter, Xu Jin could only ask Qi Shanye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three minutes later, Qi Shanye’s starlight message arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You brat, don’t reach too high. Spirit-star formation isn’t difficult in theory—you need a star pattern and vast spirit energy—but it’s extremely hard to achieve.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[In our Spirit Record Star Palace, many cultivate the Clear Soul Star Pattern, using Calm Spirit Golden Elixirs, Spirit Refining Elixirs, Dragon-Tiger Spirit Forging Elixirs, and the Heavenly Stair. Even the fastest took ten years to have a chance at spirit-star formation.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Your master, me, took eleven years to achieve it—among the Spirit Record Star Palace, I’m already top-tier.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[In other star palaces, without twenty years of grueling effort and extraordinary cultivation resources, spirit-star formation is impossible.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Ninety-nine percent of fifth-rank experts haven’t achieved spirit-star formation; even many sixth-rank experts haven’t. Don’t even think about it.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[But given your past performance, you might have a chance in five years.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin stared at Qi Shanye’s message, speechless—he’d said nothing useful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Helpless, Xu Jin pressed again: \"Master, I just want to know—curiosity, I can’t cultivate it anyway?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You brat! Fine, I’ll tell you—spirit-star formation isn’t a secret. It simply requires vast quantities of pure spirit energy.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[In other words, you need external aids to inject massive spirit energy.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Neither self-cultivation nor the Heavenly Stair can achieve it.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[When forming the star, simply inscribe another Clear Soul Star Pattern.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Many spend lifetimes failing because they lack such external objects containing massive spirit energy.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Don’t rush—I’m already working on a solution for you.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Within five years, I’ll find you a treasure to aid your spirit-star formation.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Thank you for your trouble, Master—but please remember: safety first! Safety first! Safety first! If you risk your life again for me, no matter how good the item, I won’t use it.] [You brat, just cultivate properly.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far away in the Man Tribe lands, Qi Shanye had successfully infiltrated a Man noble’s household as a tutor. Now, as he chatted with Xu Jin, he ate grapes peeled by a maid—life was still comfortable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After reading Qi Shanye’s message, Xu Jin began calculating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The third-layer Calm Spirit Golden Elixir boosted his spirit cultivation by two layers; the third-layer Spirit Refining Elixir would raise it by more than two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin estimated at least three.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But would taking it now allow him to form his spirit-star in one go? Uncertain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raising his spirit cultivation from early Star Refining Eighth Layer to its peak would likely consume most of the Spirit Refining Elixir’s power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He feared he still wouldn’t form the star.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Master Qi, such external aids were so rare that even he needed four or five years to secure one for Xu Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, Xu Jin absolutely could not waste this third-layer Spirit Refining Elixir.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, Xu Jin made his decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would not take the third-layer Spirit Refining Elixir for now—he’d keep it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin still had five Heavenly Stair ascents left; he estimated that after five more, his spirit-star would be near, if not at, Star Refining Eighth Layer’s peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, taking the Spirit Refining Elixir would greatly increase his chance of forming the star.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Xu Jin remembered his teacher Liu Qingzhu’s wager with Vice Academician Song Ziye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It included two opportunities for Heavenly Stair trials and thirteen Dragon-Turtle Spirit Forging Elixirs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dragon-Turtle Spirit Forging Elixirs were among the few elixirs that boosted spirit cultivation; though they could be taken consecutively, their effect was far weaker than the Spirit Refining Elixir—but they always raised cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After refinement, their effect would be even better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If possible, Xu Jin wanted to raise his Spirit Star’s cultivation to the peak of Star Refining Ninth Layer, then consume a Three-Variant Spirit-Refining Golden Core Pill—perhaps he could break through directly to the Star Condensation Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After thinking it over, Xu Jin rose and walked toward Ning Yuchan’s meditation chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lately, Ning Yuchan had been leaving early and returning late, cultivating daily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She claimed she had newly inscribed a high-grade star pattern, boosting her combat power, yet her cultivation remained stuck at the peak of Star Condensation Ninth Layer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for her Spirit Star cultivation, she had used up both her rewards of Heavenly Ascension Stair opportunities, yet still had not forged a Spirit Star.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister Yuchan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin knocked and entered. Ning Yuchan, seated on a meditation cushion, slowly opened her eyes. “What is it? Something wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister Yuchan, you can take this pill now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin handed her a pill vial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Spirit-Refining Golden Core Pill?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Yuchan opened it and suddenly looked surprised. “Huh? This pill looks different—it’s surrounded by countless starlights, so beautiful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ve never seen a pill this beautiful before.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin was stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beautiful? Pretty!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s what women care about!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister Yuchan, you’ve already inscribed your Spirit Star pattern, right?” Xu Jin said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Calming Star Pattern? Long ago. But without a forged Spirit Star, its effect is minimal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right. Then take it now—it should let you forge your Spirit Star.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Yuchan pinched the starlit Spirit-Refining Golden Core Pill between her slender fingers, frowning. “What did you do to this pill?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I poisoned it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin joked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Ning Yuchan burst into laughter. “You little rascal, trying to poison your master? How wicked!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she spoke, she swallowed the starlit Spirit-Refining Golden Core Pill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next instant, Ning Yuchan’s expression changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vast Spirit Star medicinal power surged straight to her skull, making her momentarily dizzy and disoriented.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hold your Upper Star Palace. Focus on forging your Star,” Xu Jin said sternly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Yuchan blinked her delicate brows, then concentrated fully on forging her Spirit Star.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only half a quarter-hour later, a powerful Spirit Star aura rose from Ning Yuchan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing this familiar aura, Xu Jin knew she had successfully forged her Star.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Ning Yuchan’s Spirit Star aura continued to rise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin’s Mingji Star Pattern glowed faintly, slowly rotating—every subtle shift in Ning Yuchan’s Spirit Star cultivation he felt clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After half a quarter-hour, Ning Yuchan’s Spirit Star reached the peak of Star Refining First Layer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a full quarter-hour, it reached the peak of Star Refining Second Layer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After two quarter-hours, her Spirit Star aura finally stabilized—at late Star Refining Third Layer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This increase seemed normal to Xu Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, it was a Three-Variant Spirit-Refining Golden Core Pill. After forging her Spirit Star, it had boosted her cultivation by two and a half layers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if Xu Jin took it himself, the result might not be the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Yuchan had gained two and a half layers because her Spirit Star power had already been cultivated for six or seven years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if Xu Jin used it to forge his Star, it would be a process from nothing to something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, to guarantee a full breakthrough to Star Condensation, Xu Jin should first raise his Spirit Star cultivation to Star Refining Ninth Layer—or even its peak—before attempting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xu Jin, what exactly did you do to this Spirit-Refining Golden Core Pill? Normally, even four or five pills—no matter how much their efficacy is reduced—wouldn’t produce this effect!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she added in wonder, “I’ve never taken a Spirit-Refining Golden Core Pill myself, but my friends, teachers, senior and junior disciples, and even the Headmaster have all told me its effects!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even for someone who’s already forged their Spirit Star, one pill can’t boost cultivation by even a full layer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I said I put in deadly poison!” Xu Jin grinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Yuchan rolled her eyes at him. “Xu Jin, I see you’ve grown bold since entering the State Dao Academy. Should I ask the Master to give you special instruction again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Never mind!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Xu Jin pulled out another pill vial and handed it to Ning Yuchan. “Sister Yuchan, here’s another pill I’ve poisoned. Dare you take it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Yuchan took the vial and found it contained a starlit Spirit-Stabilizing Golden Core Pill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The starlight surrounding it resembled the previous Spirit-Refining Golden Core Pill, yet was subtly different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Yuchan’s beautiful eyes shimmered with curiosity as she stared at Xu Jin, filled with unspoken questions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, she had a thousand doubts—but didn’t know how to ask or what to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As her eyes flickered, Xu Jin stared, momentarily entranced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those beautiful eyes—truly remarkable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They seemed to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister Yuchan, I know what you’re thinking. But don’t ask about this again. Don’t tell anyone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s a secret technique I gained in the Huoxuan Star Realm—a costly method to enhance pill efficacy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So far, I’ve only told you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you tell anyone else, one day you might have to bury me,” Xu Jin warned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Yuchan froze, then nodded firmly. “After today, I’ve never seen such a pill. I’ve never eaten one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? You gave me these pills made with your secret technique—what about you?” Ning Yuchan asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have some too. Don’t worry. Just take it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Yuchan’s eyes flickered as she studied Xu Jin for a moment, then swallowed the starlit Spirit-Refining Golden Core Pill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, her Spirit Star aura surged again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin still activated his Mingji Star Pattern, carefully sensing every change in her Spirit Star cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was an experiment he was conducting on pills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to know: how much would the efficacy drop if one took a regular Spirit-Stabilizing Golden Core Pill, then followed it with a Three-Variant one?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was known that the effect of a second Spirit-Stabilizing Golden Core Pill was at most twenty percent of the first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2608,"2026-06-19T23:56:29.689Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","fea708210022bcf0a7ea56c85a4b57371d059c4cabf715f6fdc473ee4a652d81","the-star-martial-era-chapter-157","the-star-martial-era-chapter-155",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-star-martial-era-cover.jpg"]