[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-star-martial-era":3,"chapter-the-star-martial-era-the-star-martial-era-chapter-157":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},2275015,4448,"Chapter 157: The Grand Master","the-star-martial-era-chapter-157",157,"\u003Cp>In the quiet chamber, Ning Yuchan’s spiritual soul aura rose again, swiftly breaking through to the peak of Star Refining Third Stage, then naturally advancing into the early stage of Star Refining Fourth Stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, Xu Jin exhaled in relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it ended here, the effect of this Dingshen Golden Elixir had not been wasted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Yuchan had previously taken one ordinary Dingshen Golden Elixir, and her master Liu Qingzhu had given Xu Jin an extra one, so Xu Jin wanted to test the drug on her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To see how much the effect diminished when a third-layer elixir was taken after an ordinary one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the main goal was still to raise Ning Yuchan’s cultivation base.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it only raised her spiritual soul cultivation by half a stage, it would be worth it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Ning Yuchan was about to enter the perilous Star River Battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifteen minutes later, Ning Yuchan’s spiritual soul star cultivation reached the peak of Star Refining Fourth Stage, just breaking into Star Refining Fifth Stage, when the elixir’s power vanished completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The effect of this third-layer Dingshen Golden Elixir on Ning Yuchan was one and a quarter stages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin’s own previous gain had been two stages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Calculated this way, the reduction was extremely limited—less than forty percent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin instantly grinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Qi will have good fortune ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Xu Jin gets the chance someday, he’ll hoard one Dingshen Golden Elixir and one Lianshen Golden Elixir—perhaps he can boost Old Qi’s cultivation by a notch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Old Qi could personally defeat Hu Xuechuan and avenge himself, that would be utterly satisfying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you laughing at?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Yuchan had awakened, her beautiful eyes open, fixed on Xu Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How do you feel?” Xu Jin asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Like a dream!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Yuchan tilted her lovely face, her gaze shining as she looked at Xu Jin, “Six years of arduous cultivation and spiritual soul tempering amount to less than one-tenth of today’s advancement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It feels like I’m in a dream.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so? Let me wake you up then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin sat beside Ning Yuchan, one hand gripping her jade-like hand, the other pinching the delicate skin and twisting hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In pain, Ning Yuchan instinctively yanked her hand free; Xu Jin held tight, and the force sent him flying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she exerted herself, she realized something was wrong—Xu Jin was just teasing her. Had she overdone it by throwing him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worried she’d hurt him badly, she yanked him back hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The quiet chamber was small; this yank and pull sent Xu Jin crashing through the window. He braced for impact, but Ning Yuchan pulled him back again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin immediately dropped his defensive stance, his body suddenly light—this caused Ning Yuchan to overexert herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin, pulled and flung like a rubber band, snapped back and landed squarely atop Ning Yuchan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin didn’t hesitate—he wrapped his arms around her waist. Summer clothing was light; the direct contact made Ning Yuchan’s heart race and her limbs go weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What happened, Yuchan-jie?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Er, hearing the shattering window from next door, rushed over—and just as she arrived, she saw Xu Jin pinning Ning Yuchan to the ground. Qing Fan also emerged and saw it too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Keep going. Come on, Qing Fan, let’s go play.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Er, mischievous as ever, dragged Qing Fan out the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Yuchan’s face had long turned flushed and hot, her whole body limp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In all these years, no man had ever embraced her so closely—especially with Xu Jin’s breath so near.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You—you’re not getting up? How long are you going to keep holding me?” Her limbs weak, Ning Yuchan panicked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin leaned close to her hairline and inhaled deeply. “So fragrant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did he rise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin stood, but found Ning Yuchan still lying there, motionless. Worried she might have entered a deviant state, he rushed to pull her up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he pulled, he felt her small hand burning hot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yuchan, are you… in a deviant state?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re the one in a deviant state! Don’t touch me!” Ning Yuchan blushed fiercely and snapped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, Xu Jin pulled her up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You explain it to Jiang Er yourself,” Ning Yuchan said, turning her back as she sat up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Explain what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just now…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just now, you were the one pulling me. I didn’t do a thing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Yuchan was furious and raised her fist to strike Xu Jin—he leapt out the window and escaped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yuchan, quickly consolidate your spiritual soul cultivation! Your spiritual soul star has now reached Star Refining Fifth Stage. Besides the Zhenyi Star Pattern, you should try to engrave as many spiritual soul star patterns as possible before heading to the Star River Battlefield,” Xu Jin said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Yuchan remained silent, staring fixedly at the direction Xu Jin had vanished. Long moments passed before the flush on her face faded, and only then did she resume her meditative posture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, Jiang Er and Qing Fan wandered the Dao Academy for an hour and a half before returning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh! Sister-in-law, you’re cultivating again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had Jiang Er spoken than she shrieked in pain—Ning Yuchan had leapt up and grabbed her ear, forcibly silencing her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re just a child—who told you to shout like that?” Ning Yuchan’s face flushed again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister-in-law, I didn’t shout randomly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You didn’t? I’m your elder sister—when did I become your sister-in-law?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, we saw it with our own eyes—you two were like that!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Like what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do I have to spell it out? You were like that! Qing Fan saw it too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the courtyard gate, Qing Fan, hiding at a distance, nodded vigorously. “They were definitely like that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin pressed his hand to his forehead. These two girls were too much trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop fooling around. Go to sleep.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Xu Jin appear, Ning Yuchan released Jiang Er.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Er made a face as she slipped away. “Brother, sister-in-law, I’m off to bed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait, you haven’t had your Zhong Xing Gong warmed tonight yet…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within moments, Jiang Er’s room echoed with her shrieking laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin listened, and grinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This courtyard was full of joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back in his room, Xu Jin stole a little time from his busy schedule to begin refining the fourth-rank star artifact, Luansheng Pendant, given to him by the Grand Master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These past few days, with daily ascents of the Heavenly Stair, his cultivation schedule was packed—he could only spare a little time each day to refine the Luansheng Pendant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after several consecutive days, Xu Jin felt he was nearly done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half an hour later, the Luansheng Pendant in his palm suddenly formed a faint connection with his spiritual soul star.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt as if it were fused with his flesh and blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a mere thought, the pendant emitted a faint glow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin fastened the Luansheng Pendant, then infused a thread of star force—immediately, the star force flowed continuously; unless struck by an extremely powerful external force, the pendant could not fall off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, Xu Jin could activate it with a mere thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had fully refined it—the usage of the Luansheng Pendant became clear to him in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A true treasure is an artifact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the mortal world, only star weapons with special functions are called artifacts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fourth-rank star artifact possesses one basic ability and one special ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By extension, a fifth-rank star artifact has one basic ability and two special abilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sixth-rank artifact has three special abilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These special abilities often refer to engraved, fixed star patterns or star arts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The value of a star artifact depends not only on its rank, but also on the rank of the special abilities engraved within it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fourth-rank star artifact Luansheng Pendant is a defensive artifact, possessing the fourth-rank defensive star art Golden Bell Protection, and one special star art—Luansheng!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fourth-rank defensive star art Golden Bell Protection is simple: it can withstand a full-power strike from a fourth-rank, Nirvana Ninth Stage cultivator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once destroyed, it regenerates naturally in one day, but the refiner can accelerate recovery by channeling star force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It also offers some defense against fifth-rank cultivators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if struck directly by a peak fifth-rank or sixth-rank cultivator, it may shatter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is the Grand Master’s gift to Xu Jin for survival—this alone grants him a sliver of life even before fifth-rank mid- or early-stage cultivators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the true lifesaver is this special star art—Luansheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When activated, it instantly teleports the refiner a hundred li away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Xu Jin perceived it, he was stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A divine technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Luansheng is unquestionably a divine survival technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s essentially teleportation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When facing an unstoppable enemy, you can teleport a hundred li away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hundred li—even for a fifth-rank Gathering Stars cultivator with exceptional speed—takes about a hundred breaths, equivalent to two hundred seconds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two hundred seconds is more than enough for Xu Jin to escape alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, after one use, it takes a full day to recover.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, due to its connection with the profound space-star force, cultivators cannot accelerate recovery by charging it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin felt that this Luanching Pendant was deliberately chosen by the Grand Master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just for its unique ability, this fourth-rank star artifact, the Luanching Pendant, is undoubtedly a top-tier fourth-rank star artifact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A top-tier fourth-rank star artifact is worth more than an ordinary fifth-rank star artifact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made Xu Jin feel the Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao’s heartfelt care, and gave him a genuine sense of security.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On September 8th, in the morning, Xu Jin’s Lower Star Palace cultivation reached the peak of Star Refining Third Stage, and he casually inscribed another fourth-rank upper star pattern, Meteor, onto his Lower Star Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From then on, Xu Jin’s Lower Star Palace bore four star patterns: Mingji, Liuxu, Jingtun, and Meteor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fourth-rank upper Meteor star pattern was indeed exceptional for speed and burst.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After inscription, Xu Jin’s speed surged by over thirty percent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, his maximum range for Flying Star Step was one hundred fifty meters; after inscribing the Meteor star pattern, his speed exploded, and one burst of Flying Star Step reached two hundred meters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This surge in speed was, for Xu Jin, effectively a surge in power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, Xu Jin went straight to challenge the God of Killing Arena.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, at the ninetieth level, Xu Jin could have defeated the opponent, but he had chosen to hold back, playing it safe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he still needed to demonstrate his strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Star Refining Third Stage and two star patterns inscribed, the difficulty of challenging the ninetieth level dropped drastically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fifth-rank star cultivator, once nearly impossible to kill, was now effortlessly slain by Xu Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was simple: the Spiral Star Pattern increased the power and impact speed of all his star techniques by over thirty percent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His output nearly doubled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And his speed allowed him to maneuver effortlessly amid attacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, Xu Jin began challenging the ninety-first level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the ninety-first level, Xu Jin had expected a Nucleation Stage cultivator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But unexpectedly, it was still a Star Refining cultivator—a peak Star Refining Ninth Stage prodigy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin slew him effortlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ninety-second level featured two peak Star Refining Ninth Stage prodigies; Xu Jin slew them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ninety-third level featured three peak Star Refining Ninth Stage prodigies; Xu Jin slew them with difficulty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ninety-fourth level featured four peak Star Refining Ninth Stage prodigies, who also used a combined technique; Xu Jin was slain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After reviewing the battle, Xu Jin believed he still had a chance to win.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He redesigned his tactics, formulating a strategy based on the power traits of the four peak Star Refining Ninth Stage prodigies he had faced, and challenged again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Xu Jin suffered another crushing defeat!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the four peak Star Refining Ninth Stage prodigies who appeared had changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【First: Xu Jin, Level 94】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Second: Meng Qingqiu, Level 79】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Third: Yan Chen, Level 78】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Fourth: Ji Hongli, Level 78】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin glanced at the rankings and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by this, Second-place Meng Qingqiu was still stuck at Level 80—Level 90 was out of the question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now, no one in the God of Killing Arena ranking could threaten him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master, someone has delivered a letter.” Suddenly, Qing Fan knocked on the door of Xu Jin’s quiet chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where is he?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In the front hall. I kept him here, as you instructed, under the pretense of a reward from you.” Qing Fan said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few breaths later, Xu Jin appeared in the front hall—it was a temple attendant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He casually handed over one tael of silver and asked about the origin of the letter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the letter’s content, Xu Jin had already read it—it left him deeply displeased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, a child delivered this letter, along with a ten-tael silver note, and asked me to deliver it to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm? A child?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, Xu Jin activated the Wenmeng Star Pattern, plunging the attendant into a dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He asked again—same story.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the dream, a child holding a sugar-coated hawthorn berries handed the letter to the attendant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a snap of his fingers, he woke the attendant and dismissed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xu Jin’s face was grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The content of this mysterious letter was becoming increasingly outrageous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Xu, at the third watch of the evening, I await you on the fourth floor of Zhaoxing Tower. I have urgent matters to discuss—matters concerning your future and your family’s safety. Please, Lord Xu, do not refuse. Do not bring ruin upon yourself!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The previous mysterious letter had been somewhat polite; this one was an outright threat, using his family as leverage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the one method Xu Jin could not tolerate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who could it be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking back, besides Lu Kun, he had not offended anyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or perhaps the Worship of Dou Sect, or one of the Three Kings and Seven Marquises—the Yangdu Marquis?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Plus, the escaped remnant of the Jinshan County’s wealthiest family: Zhao Weizhen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who could it be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made Xu Jin exceedingly agitated!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the threat were aimed only at him, he wouldn’t be afraid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the Dao Academy, even if not absolutely safe, ordinary dangers couldn’t reach him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Including his sister—as long as she remained within the State Dao Academy, she was safe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his father was still in Jinshan County.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, you can’t guard against thieves forever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he brought his father here, could he make him and his sister spend their entire lives inside the State Dao Academy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How should he handle this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long pause, Xu Jin made his decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half a quarter-hour later, Xu Jin appeared inside Danxia Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Brother Pang, I need to see the Grand Master urgently!” Xu Jin arrived, his face tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Xu, please wait—the Grand Master is in council.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Pang Yu finished speaking, Peng Zongguan, whose white hair and beard rarely appeared, suddenly stood before Xu Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come with me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pang Yu stared, stunned—Peng Zongguan, so rarely seen, had come personally for Xu Jin!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it? Tell me—it’s the same.” The white-haired Peng Zongguan smiled warmly at Xu Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin’s face was tight, grave. He presented the mysterious letter. “This is what I received half an hour ago—this is the second mysterious letter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a single glance, Peng Zongguan’s expression darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Autumn Examination Secret Realm of the Chen Guo Dao Academy, where the Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao waited for the Star Lords of Tianyang Star Hall and Cangming Star Hall to begin the Selection Meeting, suddenly frowned and left the realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next instant, he appeared before Xu Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go back. Before midnight, I will give you an answer!” Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao took the letter and said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Disciple thanks the Grand Master!” Xu Jin bowed deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2641,"2026-06-19T23:56:29.689Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","0e566e8e24a93cc34031ad1e3d680296438fe0e34dc8d20e30bd62bacf79b810","the-star-martial-era-chapter-158","the-star-martial-era-chapter-156",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-star-martial-era-cover.jpg"]