[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-star-martial-era":3,"chapter-the-star-martial-era-the-star-martial-era-chapter-199":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},2275057,4448,"Chapter 199: The Crazy Woman","the-star-martial-era-chapter-199",199,"\u003Cp>\"Grand National Teacher, everyone, the biannual Grand Hall Competition is upon us again. The students are still battling within the Secret Realm, and the results are far from settled. Rather than sitting idly here, let’s take this opportunity to hold our biannual teaching review meeting.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Especially since you all are usually so busy and rarely get together—now that we’re all here, why not seize this chance to summarize the past half-year’s gains and losses and exchange teaching experiences? If any of you have difficulties, feel free to raise them; we can pool our wisdom and solve them together.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At the very least, the Grand National Teacher can point us toward a clear direction,\" said Chancellor Fang suddenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This speech was perfectly reasonable and ended by elevating the Grand National Teacher—politically correct to the core.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had he finished than Right Sacrificial Officer Song Bing spoke up: \"Chancellor Fang’s proposal is excellent. Grand National Teacher, what do you think?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Grand National Teacher did not respond immediately but slowly scanned the Left Sacrificial Officer and the other chancellors: \"What do you all think?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I think it’s a good idea. We rarely get together with the Grand National Teacher, the two Sacrificial Officers, and the four chancellors—this is a rare opportunity we should cherish. I have a question myself; I’d appreciate your guidance, seniors,\" said Bi Cheng, one of the twelve vice-chancellors, earning a approving glance from Chancellor Fang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I agree with this proposal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The usually quiet Chancellor Gao Xuan suddenly spoke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chancellor Kou Jing, who had been waiting his turn, could no longer sit still—he was the current rotating chancellor, and if they continued to dominate, there would be no room for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, two chancellors and one right sacrificial officer had already voiced support; opposition was now futile. Even though Kou Jing had seen through Chancellor Fang’s intentions, the proposal itself was genuinely in the public interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s certainly feasible. Grand National Teacher, who should preside over this meeting?\" asked Kou Jing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the Grand National Teacher could respond, Right Sacrificial Officer Song Bing added: \"Since this teaching meeting is being held against the backdrop of the Grand Hall Competition, I suggest the chief chancellor from last year’s Grand Hall Competition preside. We merely need to follow the Grand National Teacher’s guidance and listen to the insights of the chancellors.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prearranged, yet still flattering the Grand National Teacher—politically correct indeed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if the Grand National Teacher had objections, he could hardly refute it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course, the final decision rests with your wisdom,\" Song Bing bowed slightly on the high platform, assuming a posture of deference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, Song Bing had long understood the Grand National Teacher’s nature—on trivial matters and minor authority, the Grand National Teacher never interfered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In essence, it was merely a matter of choosing a meeting chairperson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Right Sacrificial Officer speaks wisely. Let’s proceed! If this proves effective, we may adopt it as a permanent precedent,\" Grand National Teacher Cheng Yuexiao declared his final decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Bing bowed slightly in acknowledgment, then turned to Chief Instructor Yu Da, who immediately understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Grand Hall Competition Teaching Meeting is now in session. Chancellor Fang Shinan will preside.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the formal proceedings began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chancellor Fang rose, cleared his throat, bowed slightly to the Grand National Teacher, then spoke: \"Since this is a closed-door meeting to review the past half-year’s teaching gains and losses—with no outsiders present—and its sole purpose is to accelerate our Chen Kingdom Dao Academy students’ cultivation and strengthen our nation’s overall power, I will speak plainly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"First, I propose that the four chancellors whose academies ranked last in last year’s Grand Hall Competition present analyses of why their academies performed poorly, followed by a report on the specific improvement measures they’ve implemented over the past half-year and their effectiveness.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Finally, they will report to the Grand National Teacher on their academy’s students’ cultivation achievements over the past half-year and their expectations for this year’s Grand Hall Competition.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This proposal was logical, well-reasoned, and entirely in the public interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But those quick-witted immediately grasped Chancellor Fang’s true intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He intended to publicly humiliate the last-place finisher from last year!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who was last place last year?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qingzhu—the eccentric one who had even given her academy a nickname.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why target her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Precisely because she had contradicted him at the start of this meeting!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chancellor Fang was seeking revenge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he executed it with such public-spirited propriety, every word framed as being for the common good—that no one could find fault!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, all vice-chancellors and instructors grew solemn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some newly appointed instructors and heads finally understood the academy’s whispered saying: Better to offend the Grand National Teacher than to anger Chancellor Fang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Chancellor Fang was not only petty, but his revenge was swift and brutal!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The worst part? It was perfectly reasonable, wrapped in a facade of selfless righteousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was what made it most terrifying!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You had no room to even get angry!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, all eyes turned again to Liu Qingzhu, slumped listlessly in the back row.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was truly unique—and truly unlucky!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Already shy by nature, how could she possibly endure being publicly humiliated like this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Wei, the vice-chancellor who had ranked second-to-last, couldn’t bear to watch Liu Qingzhu’s state any longer. He spoke firmly: \"Liu Jiaoshi is still organizing her thoughts. I ranked second-to-last—I’ll go first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Wei had intended to shield Liu Qingzhu by taking the initiative himself, hoping to defuse the situation—but the moment he spoke, Chancellor Fang cut him off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rules must not be broken!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chancellor Fang stood, staring at the listless Liu Qingzhu: \"If you need time to organize your thoughts to summarize your academy’s situation, it suggests you lack sufficient understanding of your students, neglect your teaching duties, and may even be guilty of dereliction of duty!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If that is truly the case, I will formally petition Supervisor Chen to initiate an investigation against you, Vice-Chancellor Liu!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Negligent pay and seniority don’t matter—but if you delay the progress of gifted disciples and hinder the rise of Chen’s national power, that is a grave crime!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chancellor Fang’s words rang with righteous indignation!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bang!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qingzhu suddenly slammed her hand on the table and rose to her feet, glaring furiously at Chancellor Fang, her murderous intent clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just after she retorted, she pretended to be silent, but she never expected Fang Shinan would really drag her out to punish her corpse, escalate it to negligence, and accuse her of a grave crime of hindering national strength—clearly aiming to kill her!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she didn’t resist now, she’d never survive in the Dao Academy again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since Chancellor Fang insists I speak, then I will speak!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qingzhu locked eyes with Fang Shinan, gritting her teeth in fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then please, go ahead.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Liu Qingzhu so enraged, Chancellor Fang felt his vengeance satisfied. He waved his hand dismissively and sat back down, calm and detached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Grand National Teacher, Sacrificial Officers, Supervisor, fellow chancellors: according to Chancellor Fang’s protocol, I, Liu Qingzhu, must analyze the reasons our Flying Swallow Academy ranked last in last year’s Grand Hall Competition.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There are three reasons:\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qingzhu cleared her throat and raised one thumb toward the assembly: \"One month before last year’s Grand Hall Competition, my top disciple, Zheng Man, a fourth-rank Nirvana Stage Six cultivator, was taken as a concubine by Chancellor Fang’s top disciple, Fang Ying!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She was already three months pregnant at the time of her marriage!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, all chancellors, instructors, and heads sat bolt upright—this was a scandal!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had to hear it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this scandal had just landed squarely on Chancellor Fang’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, Chancellor Fang erupted in rage: \"You’re spouting nonsense! Marriage is a personal freedom, and our Chen Kingdom encourages childbirth! Does your Flying Swallow Academy’s competition score hinge entirely on one top disciple?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then if your score doesn’t depend on your top disciple, let’s simply remove all points earned by Chancellor Fang’s top disciple, Fang Ying, from this year’s Grand Hall Competition!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If Chancellor Fang’s academy still ranks first after removing his disciple’s points, I, Liu Qingzhu, will kneel and apologize on the spot—and immediately resign from the Dao Academy and volunteer for service on the Star River Front. How about that?\" Liu Qingzhu also exploded in anger!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, everyone looked up at the floating leaderboard displaying each academy’s accumulated points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chancellor Fang’s top disciple, Fang Ying, led the entire competition with 463 points—over a hundred points ahead of the second-place finisher, Ye Anshi. Chancellor Fang’s face turned ashen, and he remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was utterly speechless, silenced by a single sentence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would he dare?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or rather—did he have the confidence?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Ying’s score was undoubtedly the highest in the entire competition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If his points were removed, his academy wouldn’t just lose first place—it might not even make second!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Chancellor Fang, are you afraid?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you dare or not?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qingzhu fully unleashed her fury!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To hell with it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You, Fang Shinan, are trying to destroy me—so why should I preserve any dignity?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let’s all be humiliated together!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At worst, I’ll go fight on the Star River Front!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Chancellor Fang, if you’re too afraid to do it, just say so! Not daring isn’t a crime against Chen’s national progress—just say it!\" Liu Qingzhu shouted directly at Chancellor Fang again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Qingzhu, you’ve gone too far!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the high platform, Right Sacrificial Officer Song Bing could no longer watch. He spoke up to reprimand her—trying to defend Fang Shinan’s dignity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Liu Qingzhu, now fully enraged, saw Song Bing’s intervention as further provocation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fine, then let me state the second reason: My second disciple, Du Qian, whom I painstakingly trained for two and a half years, reached fourth-rank Nirvana Stage Five, and her spiritual core had already formed a star—she was on the verge of breaking into fifth rank.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But she was taken by Song Zixian, the third son of Right Sacrificial Officer Song’s family.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He claimed only such a powerful woman could bear superior geniuses for the Song family.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And he simply married her off!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now, his second grandson is already growing in her womb!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even you, Sacrificial Officer Song, personally came to negotiate with me—and I begged for a three-month delay, but you refused!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You say Chen Kingdom permits marriage!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then tell me, Chancellor Fang and Sacrificial Officer Song—how do we overcome this? How do we fix it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Abort the child and drag her back to compete?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Or kill these two men who forcibly took my Flying Swallow Academy disciples?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Or should Sacrificial Officer Song establish a rule for my academy’s female disciples—no marriage until graduation?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please, Chancellor Fang and Sacrificial Officer Song—teach me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Liu Qingzhu stepped forward and bowed deeply to the two of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This bow instantly turned the faces of Fang Xuezheng and Song Jiu into liver-colored.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had intended to reprimand Liu Qingzhu, but instead, Liu Qingzhu had turned the tables on them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reprimand landed squarely on them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room fell silent all at once!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So silent you could hear a pin drop!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This teaching meeting had become excruciatingly awkward!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the most embarrassed was none other than Fang Xuezheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had it not been for his own initiative and his role as chair, he would have stormed out by now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for negligence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no negligence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because, normally, the reason Liu Qingzhu cited was precisely the kind of thing too shameful to be made public.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one would ever say it aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guo does not forbid marriage, and even encourages childbearing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But who could have imagined this madwoman would say it outright?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And dare to say it in a public setting!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the awkward silence, many Xuezheng and Fu Xuezheng began absorbing lessons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Do not push Liu Fu Xuezheng too hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Push her too hard, and she will go mad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she goes mad, no one can stop her!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She gives no one’s face any consideration!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Fang Xuezheng and Right Jiu Song Bing, their minds were already raging curses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Madwoman!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lunatic!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While silently cursing, the Right Jiu kept casting furtive glances at the Left Jiu Meng Yanhui, hoping he would step in and offer a way out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, a figure of weight must speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Left Jiu Meng Yanhui secretly smiled, but could not let the situation linger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What Liu Fu Xuezheng said is true. This matter was indeed an oversight by the Guodao Academy—we failed to notice. Fang Xuezheng and Jiu Song Bing surely did not intend it; familial affection is not something they can control.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please sit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All of you, please sit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s hear what the Grand Master has to say!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon Meng Yanhui’s words, Fang Xuezheng and Right Jiu Song Bing let out cold snorts and returned to their seats. Liu Qingzhu, however, still glared with furrowed brows and wide, furious eyes, her anger palpable—Shen Wei worried she might erupt again!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it turned out Liu Qingzhu was not the mindless brute of legend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was merely young, blunt in character, intolerant of certain people’s conduct, and had been provoked directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Meng Yanhui spoke, Liu Qingzhu, though still wearing a look of wounded indignation, bowed slightly to Jiu Meng, then sat down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was enough to strike one or two hard, to show she was not to be trifled with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only a fool would offend everyone!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dispute subsided, but all eyes in the room turned to Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao was the supreme authority of the Chen Guo Guodao Academy; no one dared question his power or strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The nature of this matter now hinged entirely on how Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao would define it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under everyone’s gaze, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao gently stroked his long, hanging hair—his sign of deep thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long silence, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao finally spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is indeed an issue.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, he turned to Supervisor Chen Liao, “Supervisor Chen, your Inspection Bureau should convene and study this matter, then propose remedies—for example, a regulation that female disciples entering the Guodao Academy must complete three years of study before marrying.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, any disciple entering the Guodao Academy receives vast cultivation resources!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These resources come from the state treasury—funded by the taxes of hundreds of millions of Chen Guo citizens—and cannot be wasted frivolously!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, I accept the order. I will draft a proposal and submit it to the Grand Master soon,” Supervisor Chen Liao rose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, Fang Xuezheng and Right Jiu Song Bing’s faces darkened further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially Fang Xuezheng—his old face burned with humiliation!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Liu Qingzhu’s expression instantly brightened into a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao offered no direct judgment on the argument, this resolution clearly revealed his stance and evaluation!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qingzhu won.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Decisively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2482,"2026-06-19T23:56:29.689Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","0c26c9350b95af6cf5b2883008a1c0f2c1067bc79ec61bad5d0af72038c6bec9","the-star-martial-era-chapter-200","the-star-martial-era-chapter-198",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-star-martial-era-cover.jpg"]