[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-star-martial-era":3,"chapter-the-star-martial-era-the-star-martial-era-chapter-198":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},2275056,4448,"Chapter 198: Cheating","the-star-martial-era-chapter-198",198,"\u003Cp>In the secret realm of the Grand Dao Academy’s Great Competition, all senior and mid-level officials of the academy had arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao sat in the main seat, with Left Sacrificial Officer Meng Yanhui and Right Sacrificial Officer Song Bing seated beside him, while the Four Academic Heads and Twelve Deputy Academic Heads sat below opposite them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For this competition, these sixteen Academic Heads were the ones being evaluated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the competition was among the students, the true subjects of evaluation were them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It amounted to a six-month performance review of these sixteen Academic Heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Grand Dao Academy’s style was straightforward: the rankings of all Academic Heads—including the Four Academic Heads—were determined by their positions in the Spring Great Competition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sitting in the top seat was Fang Shi, Academic Head of the Southern Academy, who now chatted amiably with several other Academic Heads, relaxed and at ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a teacher, this was likely the most proud moment of his life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The top four positions were naturally held by the Four Academic Heads: Kou Jing ranked second, Gao Xuan, the Imperial Family’s Academic Head, ranked third, and Pan Hong ranked fourth—the last of the Four Academic Heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the Twelve Deputy Academic Heads, the most prominent was naturally Song Ziye, the First Deputy Academic Head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Ziye had held fifth place for two consecutive cycles, ranking first among all Deputy Academic Heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Ziye had quietly become a top contender for the next vacancy among the Four Academic Heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If a position among the Four Academic Heads opened up and Song Ziye’s cultivation base broke through to the Sixth Realm, his promotion to Academic Head was highly likely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sixth-ranked seat belonged to Deputy Academic Head Tang Hui; the other Deputy Academic Heads sat in order below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, seeing Liu Qingzhu arrive late, Fang Shi suddenly turned serious and said, “Deputy Academic Head Liu, being late to an important meeting is not the way of a teacher.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a reprimand!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether by seniority, age, cultivation base, or official rank, Academic Head Fang had every right to rebuke Liu Qingzhu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But regardless, they were colleagues; to publicly berate Liu Qingzhu like this carried the tone of humiliation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Academic Head Fang spoke, every senior and mid-level official in the room turned their gaze to Liu Qingzhu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qingzhu, however, acted as if he hadn’t heard, slumped silently in his seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Wei, seated right next to Liu Qingzhu, nudged him with his elbow. “Academic Head Fang is talking to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that instant, Liu Qingzhu sat up straight, his listless demeanor vanishing; a speck of starlight flicked from his fingertip, illuminating the timing clepsydra suspended high in the secret realm with brilliant radiance. “Academic Head Fang, we still have dozens of breaths left before the meeting time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is your vision failing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard the Wanbao Pavilion has newly crafted a pair of reading glasses for those with dim eyesight—would you like me to send you a pair?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This retort instantly jolted everyone awake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone’s curiosity flared with delight; all eyes turned gleefully toward Academic Head Fang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Academic Head Fang had one flaw: he loved to lord over others with his age. Over sixty percent of the Deputy Academic Heads, instructors, and drillmasters in the academy had been publicly scolded by him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most people, in most cases, swallowed their pride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Be cautious, and your path ahead will be smooth—who cares if his strength, status, achievements, and age all surpass yours?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no one expected Liu Qingzhu to retort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he retorted so sharply!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Academic Head Fang was stunned!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he deliberately targeting Liu Qingzhu?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually, no.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d merely noticed Liu Qingzhu’s tardiness and habitually muttered a rebuke—wasn’t it normal for the head of the Four Academic Heads to correct a junior?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he hadn’t expected to be retorted to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the first time a junior had publicly rebuked him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Academic Head Fang wanted to lash out, but he had no prepared reply—he’d only spoken offhand, yet Liu Qingzhu had directly called him blind with age, and worse, the time truly hadn’t yet arrived. He was left speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face darkened, his eyes flashing with sharp light as he swiftly considered how to punish this disrespectful junior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to everyone else, it looked as if Academic Head Fang had been silenced by Liu Qingzhu’s retort!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the time truly hadn’t yet come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as everyone waited for the spectacle, Kou Jing, the duty Academic Head, suddenly chuckled. “I didn’t notice the time either, but since everyone is here, Grand Master, shall we begin?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the Grand Master nodded slightly, the Chief Instructor Yu Da instantly barked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Autumn Great Competition begins! All disciples of the various academies, enter!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Chief Instructor Yu Da issued the order, disciples waiting in their respective academies flooded into the secret realm; nearly two thousand disciples surged in simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the disciples began entering the secret realm, Chief Instructor Yu Da bowed deeply. “Your Grace, please seal the Grand Dao Academy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the Grand Master nodded lightly, his fingers pinching lightly—the Nine Sheng Bells instantly flew from his fingertips and vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, high above the Grand Dao Academy, the Nine Sheng Bells appeared, slowly rotating; the sixth bell trembled slightly, releasing an infinite luminous barrier that faintly enveloped the entire academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire Grand Dao Academy was instantly sealed off from inside and out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same moment, Chief Instructor Yu Da announced the next procedure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Academic Head Fang was left utterly speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was quick-witted—he’d already devised a sharp retort to counter Liu Qingzhu and reprimand him again while still appearing justified—but the problem was, he had no chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kou Jing’s single remark had already launched the Great Competition; thousands of disciples had entered. If he now spoke up to retort Liu Qingzhu, he’d only lose face and dignity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that point, it would truly be “lorded over others with age.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Academic Head Fang helplessly swallowed the retort he’d just crafted, with great difficulty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glared coldly at Liu Qingzhu, having now firmly memorized this junior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When his gaze returned, it swept briefly over Kou Jing—slightly cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This old friend and rival had been unusually active lately whenever matters involving him arose!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Chief Instructor Yu Da had already displayed the rules and format of this year’s Great Competition on a starlit screen before all disciples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin had clearly understood them—and was somewhat surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin had assumed the Great Competition would involve combat between disciples of various academies, with final rankings determined by individual disciple standings—something similar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, it was based on each academy’s average score.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The specific rules were these: disciples of all academies would enter the Star River Secret Realm to fight, for a duration of one day and one night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Killing alien races of different cultivation bases yielded different scores.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The key point: Xu Jin had assumed it would be total accumulated score.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the final ranking was determined by average score.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That is, each academy’s total score divided by the number of its disciples, yielding an average.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The final rankings of all academies would be determined by this average score.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You know what? After careful thought, Xu Jin realized this method had merit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its most important benefit was resource balance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This ranking system forced Academic Heads not to concentrate most resources on two or three prodigies, nor to ignore the lowest-tier inner-court disciples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like the class ranking system based on average scores in Xu Jin’s past world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the maximum score was 120, raising a top student’s score from 100 to 110 was difficult, but raising a failing student’s score from 20–30 to 50–60 was far easier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This forced Academic Heads to earnestly teach inner-court disciples and allocate cultivation resources toward them, rather than merely cultivating two or three prodigies to dominate the top rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the Grand Dao Academy could develop evenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this world, though ultimate power rested in the individual, the more solid middle-tier strength, the better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for why Senior Sister Yang Miao had sought him out, Xu Jin now understood from the scoring rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When inner-court disciples performed similarly, the combat strength of a Fourth Realm Condensing Star cultivator became decisive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The alien races simulated in the Star River Secret Realm ranged from Second Realm Casting Star to Fourth Realm Condensing Star’s ninth peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Killing a Casting Star alien yielded the least score: regardless of sub-tier, each granted one point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third Realm Refining Star aliens, from first to ninth peak, yielded two to ten points respectively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fourth Realm Condensing Star aliens, from first to ninth peak, yielded eleven to nineteen points respectively—the score gaps were small.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But killing aliens of different ranks carried score multipliers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were divided into Common Aliens, Elite Aliens, and Prodigy Aliens, corresponding to low-, mid-, and high-grade Casting Star aliens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Killing any Common Alien yielded the base score; killing an Elite Alien doubled the score; killing a Prodigy Alien quadrupled the base score.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among all sources of points, killing Prodigy Aliens yielded the highest score.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Senior Sister Yang Miao’s intent in approaching Xu Jin was clear: she wanted him to kill more Prodigy Aliens to offset the Flying Swallow Academy’s shortage of Fourth Realm cultivators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Academic Head Fang, for instance, there were already six disciples at Fourth Realm Condensing Star Mid-stage!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their average score alone could far surpass the Flying Swallow Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was fortunate it was average score—if it were total score, the gap between the Flying Swallow Academy and Academic Head Fang’s academy would be tenfold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After reading the rules, Xu Jin frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for scoring, Xu Jin wasn’t worried—he had the strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now the problem was: Xu Jin feared exposing his true strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The assassination incident caused by his four golden stars had only ended a few days ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Xu Jin stood out dramatically in the Great Competition, would other Star Academies once again focus their attention on him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the assassinations might be even fiercer than now!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made Xu Jin hesitate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should he hold back his strength?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But holding back would make his teacher, Liu Qingzhu, lose face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or perform just right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this balance is too hard to gauge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After thinking it over, Xu Jin glanced at the Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao seated high above, and formed an idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let the Grand Master worry about it—he sent a Starlight Message directly to the Grand Master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Grand Master, in the Grand Hall Competition, should I give my full strength or hold back to avoid drawing attention?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【It’s best to hold back—the assassinations triggered by the four Golden Stars haven’t ended. If you perform too well, you’ll draw attention again and invite danger.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao now replied to Xu Jin’s message instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Grand Master, but I want my teacher to be happy—I don’t want her to lose face. She’s been truly kind to me.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon seeing Xu Jin’s Starlight Message, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao sat up straight at once, his face filled with satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What do teachers fear?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What do they love?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They don’t fear students disrespecting them, nor do they fear students being ungrateful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teaching disciples is inherently a teacher’s duty—they ask for nothing in return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Generation after generation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But teachers are still human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So what teachers love most are disciples who respect their teachers, cherish their kindness, and value their bonds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Students like Xu Jin, who genuinely consider their teacher’s honor and reputation, are the teachers’ absolute favorites!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unconsciously, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao had placed himself in the role of Xu Jin’s teacher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This behavior must be supported!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This mindset must be fulfilled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Here’s what I’ll do: give your full effort. I’ll keep watch from outside. When the average score of your Flying Swallow Academy reaches a decent rank, I’ll send you a message to stop. Otherwise, you may seek out other classmates—if you find them, help raise their scores; that too can prevent this situation.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao’s reply made Xu Jin grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To have the Grand Master of the Chen State Dao Academy personally devise ways to help him cheat—Xu Jin was truly unique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao had given him a brilliant idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t reveal himself, but he could raise the scores of other classmates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the problem was, according to the introduction, the Star River Realm was vast—within a single day, the chance of encountering fellow academy members was extremely slim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin even considered using the Crimson Scale Heart Armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But wouldn’t that be going too far?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Xu Jin pondered, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao sent another Starlight Message: 【I’ll monitor your score. If you show signs of having more capacity, I’ll inform you of your classmates’ locations.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this Starlight Message, Xu Jin was overjoyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having the Grand Master help him cheat was absolutely thrilling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, Chief Instructor Yu Da spoke: “Grand Master, there are 3,463 combatants meeting the criteria—all have arrived. Please open the Star River Realm portal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the authorities of the Chen State Star-Picking Tower, the Grand Master held the highest power—many portals required his direct activation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao lightly waved his hand, and a swirling star-gate instantly appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enter the Realm!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Chief Instructor Yu Da’s command, over three thousand disciples instantly transformed into streaks of light and surged into the swirling star-gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin followed suit and rushed in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he entered, light swirled before his eyes, and a Starlight prompt appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering the Star River Realm, each combatant is granted two Four-Xuan Star-Recovery Pills and may select two third-grade Star Weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond this, everything else is identical to real combat!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin unhesitatingly chose third-grade Star Boots and third-grade Arm Shield—he was already accustomed to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, Xu Jin landed within the Star River Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a flat plain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After landing, Xu Jin activated his Mingji Star Pattern and swiftly sprinted toward a distant elevated area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to prior knowledge, in star realms, the denser the star energy, the stronger the alien species that dwell there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Star River Realm should be the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half a minute later, Xu Jin encountered his first alien.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a third-grade Star-Refining third-layer alien.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when he saw this alien, Xu Jin did not attack—he let the alien charge toward him, shouting wildly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He even allowed the third-grade Star-Refining third-layer alien to strike him, defending but not retaliating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The alien kept shouting incessantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five breaths later, Xu Jin saw more and more aliens surging from the distant plain toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin thought: enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He flicked his finger lightly and obliterated the third-grade Star-Refining third-layer alien. At the same instant, a sonic boom erupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin dashed forward, fingers flicking rapidly—in an instant, over twenty aliens summoned by the shouting were slain with a flick of his fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin looked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Xu Jin; 121 points, Rank 463】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This first wave of points—acceptable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin activated his Mingji Star Pattern to sense the surroundings, then continued sprinting forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He needed his score to reach a certain level before the Grand Master would help him cheat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, it would be embarrassing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, within the Grand Hall Competition Realm, as disciples departed, the Academy Heads and Deputy Heads began monitoring the changes in disciples’ scores and chatted idly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Xuedazheng, who had earlier been humiliated and held a grudge, spoke again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2581,"2026-06-19T23:56:29.689Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","3a6e90362121f8067c844cab4656ce799e4963efdf5d3b7d9ce8550eb2197cd6","the-star-martial-era-chapter-199","the-star-martial-era-chapter-197",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-star-martial-era-cover.jpg"]