[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-star-martial-era":3,"chapter-the-star-martial-era-the-star-martial-era-chapter-224":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},2275082,4448,"Chapter 224: Heir","the-star-martial-era-chapter-224",224,"\u003Cp>“Master, I have a friend who has helped me numerous times; she is now on the Star River Battlefield, serving in the front-line troops, and has recently faced danger multiple times. Outside, fifth-rank emblems are extremely scarce, so I wish to purchase several fifth-rank emblems from you to give her as a means of protection.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Buy emblems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Buy fifth-rank emblems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you’re going to accomplish something big, you must prepare thoroughly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifth-rank emblems don’t even appear at auctions; Xu Jin could only seek a solution from Master Kou, the Chief Academician.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A friend? What kind of friend?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kou Jing did not immediately agree but instead asked for details.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Her name is Ning Yuchan; she was my instructor when I was a student at Jinshan Dao Academy,” Xu Jin replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing that name, Kou Jing immediately knew who she was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had personally witnessed Ning Yuchan’s story six years ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Technically, you’re giving emblems to someone else, and fifth-rank emblems are extremely valuable, so I cannot simply give them to you. But you are now my emblem heir—I rely on you to inherit my emblem art.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Therefore, I cannot let you waste excessive time on such trivial matters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Master Kou, the Chief Academician, fell silent, gazing at Xu Jin with expectant eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin was still rejoicing—after all, Master Kou had agreed to provide fifth-rank emblems, even if he had to buy them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, in Wanyi, you couldn’t buy these even with money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, Xu Jin didn’t grasp the implication.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when Master Kou fell silent did Xu Jin reread his words—and finally understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was hinting at him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emblem heir.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant true master-disciple bonds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, it was up to Xu Jin to acknowledge it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Xu Jin’s mind cleared—he immediately knelt and bowed three hard, resonant bows to Master Kou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Disciple Xu Jin pays homage to his benefactor!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Master Kou’s mouth widened into a broad smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sat upright, accepting the three bows, then rose and helped Xu Jin up, smiling warmly, “My emblem art shall now be carried forward by you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will strive to study and master the emblem art.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Master Kou handed Xu Jin a jade tablet. “Inside is my research and invention—the Kou Family Emblem Art. It contains three methods: engraving emblems, increasing success rates, and elevating emblem tiers—all my exclusive secrets. Study them carefully; they will greatly aid you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin was stunned—he hadn’t expected such a grand gift immediately after bowing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Master. I will study it thoroughly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Remember, do not disclose it to others. Also, I will inform the Grand Master that you are my emblem heir,” Kou Jing said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Disciple understands.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After completing this, Kou Jing took out five emblems and placed them in Xu Jin’s hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since you are now my emblem heir, a gift is required. I have little else, but I do possess some emblems. Here are four fifth-rank emblems—all top-tier, three offensive, one defensive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All my creations are masterpieces. When used properly, they can harm even a sixth-rank beginner. Use them wisely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This one is a mid-tier sixth-rank emblem, called Wind’s Fury. It is a composite emblem I developed—its power is immense. I now bestow it upon you for protection.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If danger arises, use it decisively—do not hoard it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Remember, these are merely objects!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your life is what matters most,” Kou Jing said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin was stunned, staring at the emblems in his hands, speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had only intended to buy a few fifth-rank emblems from Kou Jing—yet Kou had given him four fifth-rank emblems, plus a sixth-rank one for protection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This boundless care!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin suddenly felt guilt—he had come with calculation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Master Kou’s care radiated nothing but sincerity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, this—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do not refuse. You are already my emblem heir—my most cherished disciple.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As the saying goes: Heaven, Earth, Sovereign, Kin, Master—after your parents, your master is your closest!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From now on, whether rewards or punishments, teachings or discipline—you must accept them all!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke these words, Master Kou was solemn, and Xu Jin was profoundly shaken—he instantly understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Xu Jin’s mind, the master-disciple bond resembled his past life—but now, after Master Kou’s words, he finally grasped the true nature of this world’s master-disciple relationship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After bowing in thanks, Xu Jin accepted the gifts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Xu Jin accept them, Kou Jing stroked his beard and smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Xu Jin was irrevocably confirmed as the emblem heir.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, Kou Jing took out two more fifth-rank emblems and handed them separately to Xu Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Friendship must be honored. These two fifth-rank top-tier emblems are both offensive—you may give them to your friend for protection.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This gift made Xu Jin feel embarrassed—he hurriedly declined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I already said I won’t let trivial matters hinder your cultivation. Take them! When you reach fourth or fifth rank, you can repay me then,” Master Kou said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Master Kou insisted, Xu Jin accepted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After bidding farewell to Kou Jing, Xu Jin was filled with deep emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Kou’s gift today was truly monumental.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Xu Jin’s knowledge, a fifth-rank Star Jade Tablet sold for ten thousand Dao Xun each; fifth-rank emblems never cost less than fifteen thousand Dao Xun per piece, and top-tier fifth-rank emblems were even more expensive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kou Jing gave him six at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sixth-rank emblems were astronomical prices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Often, you couldn’t buy them even if you wanted to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One emblem represented a full-power strike from a sixth-rank cultivator—who wouldn’t want one?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back at his small courtyard, Xu Jin began studying how to engrave fourth-rank emblems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Kou had given Xu Jin advice on engraving fourth-rank emblems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He advised Xu Jin to engrave star patterns he had fully mastered, as that would yield the highest success rate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kou Jing recommended engraving the Fourth-Rank Spiral Flame Burst Emblem—it offered the highest success rate and still delivered strong power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It combined Star Burst, mid-tier Fire Source Star Pattern, Blazing Flame Star Pattern, and a Spiral Star Pattern. Normally, the result would be a mid-tier fourth-rank emblem, but achieving top-tier was difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The limitations of star patterns were fixed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin felt he knew these star patterns intimately—he had practiced each one tens of thousands of times inside the Star Lamp—so he wanted to try engraving directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as soon as he began, he realized the difficulty of engraving fourth-rank emblems had more than doubled compared to third-rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first one exploded immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This pained Xu Jin deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One fourth-rank Star Jade Tablet was worth a thousand Dao Xun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xu Jin was using only his leftover stock from the Third-Rank Purple Wind Star Zone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During his raid there, he had stored one thousand Star Jade Tablets in the Can Dou Platform, over eight hundred of them fourth-rank—perfect for further refinement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet it exploded immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin had no choice but to practice diligently inside the Star Lamp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He relentlessly honed his skill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, each explosion cost a thousand Dao Xun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After one and a half days of practice, having rehearsed tens of thousands of times inside the Star Lamp, Xu Jin finally succeeded in creating a fourth-rank emblem on the afternoon of October 14.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mid-tier fourth-rank Spiral Flame Burst Emblem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He produced five total, with one explosion—evidencing the difficulty of fourth-rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Xu Jin did not continue engraving. After a half-hour nap, he restored his state to peak condition and went directly to Danxia Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the Danxia Academy gate, Senior Brother Pang Yu was on duty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin did not announce himself; he merely bowed to Pang Yu, then walked straight into Danxia Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a special privilege granted by the Grand Master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pang Yu watched, envious and jealous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve come.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao looked up, saw Xu Jin, and set aside his work. “You’re ready.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m ready. I’ve studied most of the star pattern research manuscripts in the Library. I plan to deduce star patterns to verify my learning, then continue studying,” Xu Jin said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Which star pattern do you plan to deduce?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I intend to continue deducing the Fire Source Star Pattern, and also deduce the Wenmeng Star Pattern again,” Xu Jin said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You plan to deduce two simultaneously?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. I’ve fully absorbed the Wenmeng Star Pattern research manuscript you gave me. I intend to deduce it—even if I fail, I’ll accumulate vast experience,” Xu Jin said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. Let’s go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next instant, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao seized Xu Jin’s hand. Before his eyes flashed with starlight, they were inside the Star Dome Realm atop the Zhaixing Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Deduction here should be more effective. Also, your authority in the Zhaixing Tower is Bronze Level—you get one hour of enlightenment per month.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When you deduce, activate this enlightenment effect—it will double your results!” Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Does the State Tutor mean that attaining enlightenment in the Star Dome Secret Realm enhances predictive power?” Xu Jin asked, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Many of my star patterns were deduced through enlightenment in the Star Dome Secret Realm! Don’t you dare underestimate the authority of the Star-Picking Tower.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Based on my own experience, the enlightenment effect of the Star Dome Secret Realm is roughly one-third that of ordinary Great Expansion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When stacked, this effect is extremely powerful!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I once used the best one—I stacked it, and within the Star Dome Secret Realm, I used a single Golden Star to push a seventh-rank Wind Source Star Pattern directly from seventh-rank lower to seventh-rank upper,” Cheng Yuexiao said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then how do I activate it?” Xu Jin asked, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Simply command the Star Spirit to activate it.” So that’s how.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Xu Jin sat cross-legged in stillness, he summoned the Star Spirit with his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he called out,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>curses, shouts, and complaints flooded in like a tidal wave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why did you only show up now?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why haven’t you contacted me for so long?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m about to suffocate!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you keep acting like this, you’ll never see any more of the Monkey King’s sequel,” Xu Jin said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you don’t give it to me, don’t expect me to serve you!” The Star Spirit threatened Xu Jin right back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine, then I’m leaving right now—I don’t need your service anymore!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin made as if to stand up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, don’t go!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Xu Jin about to leave, the Star Spirit immediately surrendered. “Fine, I won’t curse you anymore, okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You must obey me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Star Spirit hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Actually, I’ve already prepared the sequel for you, but you’ve been disobedient, so I didn’t want to give it to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll obey! I promise I’ll obey!” The Star Spirit hurried to assure him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin smiled. This was progress—soon, he could gradually extract other information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then help me activate this month’s enlightenment time in the Star Dome Secret Realm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, I only get one hour per month—can you extend it for me?” Xu Jin probed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, I don’t have the authority! I’m just an assistant—I can’t decide that,” the Star Spirit shook its head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Useless!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin gave it a psychological nudge, infuriating the Star Spirit but preventing it from cursing back—so it activated the Star Dome Secret Realm’s enlightenment time for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next instant, Xu Jin’s mind sank into the Golden Star.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Would you like to consume one Golden Star to initiate High-Level Great Expansion?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Activate】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost the instant his consciousness was lifted by starlight, dozens of beams of starlight simultaneously descended upon Xu Jin. One beam touched him—and instantly, he felt an indescribable clarity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like waking up after a deep, restful sleep—refreshed, invigorated, utterly alert!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mind was at peak sharpness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that same moment, Xu Jin’s mind sank into the seventh-rank Fire Source Star Pattern and began High-Level Great Expansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to last time, this time Xu Jin moved with practiced ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having reviewed his previous High-Level Great Expansion, amidst countless cycles of fire arising, falling, glowing, and extinguishing, the one-third of the seventh-rank Fire Source Star Pattern he had previously completed was now rapidly being perfected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, a complete seventh-rank Fire Source Star Pattern appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As time passed, Xu Jin ignited one star after another; the seventh-rank Fire Source Star Pattern successfully advanced to seventh-rank upper, culminating in a fully formed seventh-rank upper Fire Source Star Pattern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But High-Level Great Expansion was not yet over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin’s vision suddenly shifted—a brilliant purple flame appeared, its rise, fall, glow, and extinction he experienced and observed; then came a deep crimson flame; then a pale white flame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he experienced and observed these three flames, Xu Jin felt a faint, elusive insight—but just barely out of reach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin understood: this must be the key to breaking through to eighth-rank star patterns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at that very moment, the starlight receded—the High-Level Great Expansion time had ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How did it go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin opened his eyes to find the Grand Tutor’s concerned gaze fixed on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Success. Seventh-rank upper!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Xu Jin did not hide it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seventh-rank upper—leapt two sub-ranks!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Yuexiao was overjoyed again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If a seventh-rank lower High-Level Fire Source Star Pattern was merely crossing the threshold into seventh rank, a seventh-rank upper one was immensely powerful—it had already brushed against the threshold of eighth rank!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Xu Jin still had two Brilliant Stars!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meaning, if he wished, a brand-new eighth-rank Fire Source Star Pattern was within reach!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An eighth-rank star pattern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the true foundation of any power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire Chen Guo Dao Academy currently possessed only two eighth-rank star patterns!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Continue?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After his joy, Cheng Yuexiao asked about Xu Jin’s condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still good. Continue!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next instant, Xu Jin’s mind sank into the Dream-Warming Star Pattern and selected another Golden Star to begin High-Level Great Expansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The process of the Dream-Warming Star Pattern differed from the Fire Source Star Pattern—Xu Jin was immediately pulled into a dream, experiencing countless dreams!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, thanks to Cheng Yuexiao’s research notes as a foundation, and since the Dream-Warming Star Pattern was only fifth-rank upper, the deduction proceeded smoothly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One Golden Star pushed the Dream-Warming Star Pattern only to sixth-rank upper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, not bad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after pushing the Dream-Warming Star Pattern to sixth-rank upper, Xu Jin did not stop—he used another Golden Star to begin deducing the Flowing Star Pattern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the Dao Academy’s speed-based star pattern, excelling in bursts and especially in escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Dao Academy’s latest version was sixth-rank lower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was one of the star patterns Xu Jin had focused on these past days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speed was vital—whether in offense or survival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Grand Tutor Cheng Yuexiao, each minor rank increase in a speed-based star pattern boosted speed by ten percent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin’s current sixth-rank lower Flowing Star Pattern, combined with Lei Yi and Thunder Burst Step, plus his fourth-rank star artifact, already matched the speed of a fifth-rank mid-stage cultivator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he advanced further, his survival capability would improve even more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was one of Xu Jin’s standard survival abilities prepared for this journey!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he still had plenty of Golden Stars!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he used three today, he still had six left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the seventh-rank upper Fire Source Star Pattern, the Flowing Star Pattern was far simpler—it had only one method: burst, build up, burst again, endlessly amplifying this process for Xu Jin to observe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smoothly deduced it to sixth-rank middle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he reached sixth-rank middle, the cool, refreshing sensation—the crystal-clear clarity in his mind—suddenly vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin understood: the Star Dome Secret Realm’s enlightenment time had ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he arrived, he felt nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when the enlightenment time ended, he felt it distinctly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the Star Dome enlightenment time, Xu Jin had felt like a fish in water, as if merged entirely with heaven and earth—everything before him felt as if happening within his own body, as if experienced firsthand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when the enlightenment time ended, he suddenly felt like an outsider!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>High-Level Great Expansion still continued, but without the Star Dome Secret Realm’s enlightenment boost, its effect weakened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, Xu Jin only pushed the Flowing Star Pattern to sixth-rank upper—his third Golden Star’s deduction ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, he received a lesson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the future, he must use Golden Stars only during Star Dome enlightenment time—that’s when the effect was best.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How did it go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he opened his eyes, Grand Tutor Cheng Yuexiao was still watching him with eager anticipation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One Golden Star pushed the Dream-Warming Star Pattern to sixth-rank upper.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wonderful!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One more time, and we can push the Dream-Warming Star Pattern to seventh-rank and beyond! My master predicted that a seventh-rank Dream-Warming Star Pattern would undergo tremendous changes—then we could verify it,” the Grand Tutor said happily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, but it’ll probably take some time,” Xu Jin said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I feel I’ve exhausted all the learning and accumulation from recent study. Now, I need several quiet days to reflect, review, and deeply internalize the insights gained during High-Level Great Expansion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Once I fully understand the unused insights, I’ll be ready to use Golden Stars for High-Level Great Expansion again,” Xu Jin said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, that is correct!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Your cultivation has already reached the Ninth Level of Star Refinement!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You may slow your cultivation slightly, gradually raising the cultivation from the Lower Star Palace, spending several months refining Star Arts and Star Runes, tempering your spirit, and thoroughly accumulating a solid foundation before breaking through to the Fourth Stage, Condensing Star Realm,“ said Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Grand Master, for your guidance. I shall now enter seclusion for a few days to fully record and re-derive the insights gained from refining these two Golden Stars to their High Stage, laying a foundation for future derivations,” said Xu Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. Focus deeply on your research—there are no mundane duties, and no one will disturb you,” said Cheng Yuexiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before leaving, Xu Jin tossed a jade tablet to Star Spirit, containing records of several stories, including the Rebellion in Heaven, but he deliberately left a cliffhanger at a crucial point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after leaving did Xu Jin finally exhale a long breath of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The final task in meeting up with Old Qi: ensuring his prolonged absence from the Dao Academy went unnoticed—was now settled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next, then, was to meet up with Old Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At dawn on October 15, just before daylight broke, Xu Jin altered his appearance using the Hundred Transformations Star Rune and, after activating invisibility, slipped away from the State Dao Academy without a sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one noticed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Jiang Er and Qing Fan, Xu Jin had already instructed them the previous night—he would enter seclusion in the Star-Picking Tower for six or seven days, and they were not to bother him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",3127,"2026-06-19T23:56:34.019Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","819a7e95f558a8fe5c5e6bd948b2580c66b5c7fe4c2ecd0798ec5e2beacf81d9","the-star-martial-era-chapter-225","the-star-martial-era-chapter-223",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-star-martial-era-cover.jpg"]