[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-star-martial-era":3,"chapter-the-star-martial-era-the-star-martial-era-chapter-234":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},2275092,4448,"Chapter 234: All Are Subject to the Same Precedent","the-star-martial-era-chapter-234",234,"\u003Cp>Taishan Prefecture, Shilong County, Peach Blossom County, Chen Guo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing reinforcements arrive on Cheng Yuexiao’s side and sensing his terrifying killing intent, he immediately sent a starlight message.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Where are you? Why haven’t you arrived yet?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Zhen was not foolish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, the moment he discovered Cheng Yuexiao was coming for him, he had already notified the Third Elder of the Tianyang Star Hall, Qin Da, to come assist him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He only wanted assistance—back then, Hu Zhen instinctively believed Cheng Yuexiao wouldn’t dare do anything to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after several rounds of combat, he realized Cheng Yuexiao truly intended to kill him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Hu Zhen begin to panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Zhen immediately received a starlight message from Third Elder Qin Da.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Still waiting for teleportation—the queue to the Zhaixing Tower in Leizhou is too long, I can’t help it, and it’s the same in Songzhou.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【You’d better find a way to get here as fast as possible, or you’ll be picking up my corpse. I feel Cheng the Madman really wants to kill me—I’ve already been severely wounded by his ambush.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【I told you before to rein in your temper, not to massacre towns anymore, but you never listened.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Didn’t I massacre towns before? Nothing happened then.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【You yourself said it was in the past—that was twenty years ago. Besides, back then, to strike at the Lingji Star Hall, we had the Star Lord’s tacit approval. Things are different now.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【You didn’t report this to the Star Lord, did you?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Intelligence shows Wan Yi is under martial law. At least one-third of Chen Guo’s top experts have rushed to Songzhou. The Cangming Star Hall has deployed a large force of elite warriors, and even the Zhaixing Tower’s teleportation queues have formed. If I don’t notify the Star Lord, am I stupid?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same moment Hu Zhen called for help, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao and the arriving Meng Yanhui and others exchanged brief words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a matter of reaching consensus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This matter was no longer a simple gang fight—it involved grand strategy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grand Master, how do you intend to handle Hu Zhen? Kill him or let him go?” Meng Yanhui asked via soul-spirit transmission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kill him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If Hu Zhen isn’t killed, Chen Guo will never be at peace!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The spirits of tens of thousands of dead civilians won’t rest!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If we let Hu Zhen walk away today, tomorrow you’ll massacre a city, he’ll massacre half one—how will our people survive?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Today, Hu Zhen must die to establish our authority!” Cheng Yuexiao roared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Meng Yanhui’s expression darkened. “Grand Master, are you certain? Killing Hu Zhen carries enormous consequences. One misstep could spark an immediate rupture with the Tianyang Star Hall—or even open war.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If it were only the Tianyang Star Hall, that might be manageable—their elites still value their lives.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But there’s also the Cangming Star Hall. If both factions unite again, the consequences are unimaginable!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In this matter, the Cangming Star Hall’s stance will be critical.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s precisely why we need your help!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve sealed a recording of Hu Zhen’s massacre of Shilong City into this jade tablet—send someone to teleport it immediately to Song Bing. I need ten thousand copies made within one hour, ready to distribute to every city and the Star River Marshal’s Office!” Cheng Yuexiao flung a jade tablet into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grand Master, I understand what must be done. I’ll handle the Cangming Star Hall side—but it will require a price.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meng Yanhui, an expert in diplomacy and Cheng Yuexiao’s right-hand man, now fully aligned with the Grand Master’s decision, mobilized all his resources to support him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Handle it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But Grand Master, be prepared: Hu Zhen may not be killed. Reports from Leizhou’s Zhaixing Tower indicate the Tianyang Star Hall’s main hall is flooded with teleportation requests—they’re in a queue.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same instant, Song Bing, the Right Sacrificial Officer who received Cheng Yuexiao’s order, sent a starlight message: “Grand Master, rest assured—I’ll complete the task within one hour!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord, should I intervene?” Peng Lao, who had arrived with the main force, frowned as he looked at Hu Zhen lying in the center of Shilong City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Lao asked not because he intended to fight, but because he wished to take charge of the coming task.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dirty work in public should be his to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the Lord had decided to execute Hu Zhen, and given Hu Zhen’s cowardly nature, if the Lord forcibly killed him, the bastard would surely rush toward the densest crowds, causing massive civilian casualties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such an outcome could tarnish the Lord’s reputation and become a future political weapon against him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Peng Lao wanted to act himself—at least to drive Hu Zhen out of Shilong City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll do it myself!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s been many years since I’ve been wounded, since I’ve bled!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Today, I’ll relive that feeling!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Cheng Yuexiao casually tied his loose hair back, licked his lips, and a strange bloodthirsty gleam surfaced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Peng Lao and Meng Yanhui, who knew him well, both grew solemn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last time they’d seen the Grand Master tie his hair back was twelve years ago, during the bloody battle against the Tianyang Star Lord, when the Selection Criteria were revised!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, Cheng Yuexiao turned his gaze toward Hu Zhen, hiding within Shilong City, and suddenly sneered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shhh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, Cheng Yuexiao transformed into a streak of light and shot straight toward Hu Zhen in Shilong City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Zhen’s expression changed instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Yuexiao’s move was completely unexpected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Yuexiao had abandoned using the Nine Sheng Bell, Chen Guo’s national Dao artifact, and chosen close-range hand-to-hand combat!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Hu Zhen realized this, Cheng Yuexiao was already before him, delivering a simple, unadorned punch straight at Hu Zhen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Zhen was overjoyed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, his strength was only slightly inferior to Cheng Yuexiao’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But with the national Dao artifact, Cheng Yuexiao had crushed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that Cheng Yuexiao had abandoned his advantage and engaged in close combat, Hu Zhen was no longer afraid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, his position offered immense advantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was even a chance he could severely injure Cheng Yuexiao!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, Hu Zhen summoned his long spear and thrust it toward Cheng Yuexiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But unlike Cheng Yuexiao’s attack,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Yuexiao had deliberately restrained his star energy to avoid harming civilians.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Hu Zhen deliberately unleashed his star energy to its peak—a hundred-meter beam of starlight blasted toward Cheng Yuexiao!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This spear strike forced Cheng Yuexiao to either absorb the blow or let the civilians within its range die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Yuexiao had no choice but to absorb it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the ensuing battle, Hu Zhen deliberately landed in crowded areas, forcing Cheng Yuexiao to block every strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In mere dozens of breaths, the two clashed hundreds of times in close combat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Yuexiao absorbed most of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, after blocking another spear strike, Cheng Yuexiao spat out a mouthful of blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The watching Chen Guo forces paled; Peng Lao’s expression grew grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Leizhou and Songzhou, countless starlight signals surged toward this location.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha, exhilarating!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having thoroughly beaten Cheng Yuexiao, Hu Zhen laughed wildly, darting between crowds and unleashing furious attacks—pummeling Cheng Yuexiao like a punching bag, relishing every blow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the pent-up rage from his earlier injuries was now unleashed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Exhilarating!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Third Elder Sun, what’s your view on Hu Zhen’s massacre of Shilong County?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the Cangming Star Hall’s main hall, the Grand Elder Sun Xianzu, clad in heavy armor, suddenly received a starlight message from Meng Yanhui, the Left Sacrificial Officer of Chen Guo’s Dao Academy. After a moment’s thought, he opened it, then waved his hand, signaling his subordinates to continue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the Songzhou incident unfolding, the Cangming Star Hall had immediately sensed a rare opportunity, assembled its elite, and begun teleporting them in batches to designated locations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, they waited, observing the situation, ready to strike at the right moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hoping to gain advantage for the Cangming Star Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If timed perfectly, it was highly possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Grand Master of Chen Guo, Cheng Yuexiao, and the Tianyang Star Hall’s Second Elder, Hu Zhen, were locked in mortal combat—this was a once-in-a-millennium opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clam and the snipe fight, the fisherman reaps the benefit!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From top to bottom, the Cangming Star Hall had reached consensus: they wanted to be that fisherman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the Cangming Star Hall had entered full combat readiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, Meng Yanhui contacted him—what did this mean?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, on the surface, they still had to condemn the massacre. Grand Elder Sun Xianzu issued a formal condemnation of Hu Zhen via starlight message.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Third Elder Sun, our Dao Academy’s Star Patrol Commander Pei Ze has taken command at Chen Guo’s Zhaixing Tower. Wan Yi is under martial law. The old imperial patron has already departed for Songzhou.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Meanwhile, Chen Guo has notified the Star River Marshal’s Office and Marshal Mao of the Star River Frontline. Marshal Mao says: if the rear is unstable, the frontline is untenable—he will petition the Star River Frontline Command and return with elite troops directly to Chen Guo.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meng Yanhui sent another starlight message.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The contents stunned Grand Elder Sun Xianzu of the Cangming Star Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The information was mixed—truth and falsehood hard to discern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could the old imperial patron really have left the palace? That seemed unlikely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then again, it couldn’t be ruled out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, all the information Meng Yanhui conveyed to him carried two messages: first, the Great Chen had already prepared for the worst—they must not expect to profit from the chaos at Cangming Star Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second: Great Chen wanted Hu Zhen dead!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a few breaths of thought, Sun Xianzu, the Grand Elder of Cangming Star Palace, his mind racing, knew the moment had come to make a choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【It seems everyone wants to take their elites out for a spin—I’ve been cooped up too long myself. I’ll take my elites for a little tour.】 Sun Xianzu replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Marshal Mao says there’s a third-rank star domain he’s attacked four times, but each attempt failed at the last moment. Lately, he hasn’t had time to send forces to seize it. If Elder Sun has spare hands, he might send some to admire the scenery of this third-rank star domain.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, Sun Xianzu understood: this was Great Chen’s price for Cangming Star Palace’s non-interference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A third-rank star domain that had been attacked four times now had greatly increased chances of being conquered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But was it worth trading such a golden opportunity for just one unclaimed third-rank star domain? Wasn’t that a bad deal?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Elder Meng, I won’t hide it from you—my men have been bored stiff lately. One third-rank star domain won’t be enough.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Above the Shilong County battlefield, Meng Yanhui sneered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That old devil Sun Xianzu was trying to profit from the chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Oh? If your men are truly that idle, they might as well come to Great Chen for a tour—see if our men are idle, and whether they have any backbone!】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Xianzu understood at once: the meaning was simple—if you’re not willing, then come and fight!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Great Chen was surprisingly bold!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Xianzu frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This matter was truly hard to decide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Playing the opportunistic third party wasn’t so easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially when Great Chen was prepared—clearly, they had already made their preparations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lesson from the Lingji Star Palace incident twenty years ago must have cut deep into Great Chen!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Sun Xianzu was frowning, Meng Yanhui sent another starlight message.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Grand Elder Sun, personally, I think the scenery of the third-rank star domain is even more impressive—what do you think?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meng Yanhui was offering a face-saving way out!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Hahaha, I agree! Then I’ll recall my men and go admire the scenery of this third-rank star domain!】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon receiving this starlight message, Meng Yanhui was overjoyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Grand Elder, your wisdom is unmatched. Marshal Mao will personally deliver the details of this third-rank star domain, along with all previous battle reports. Of course, whether it can be conquered depends entirely on the ability of your men.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Naturally.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Done!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meng Yanhui exhaled deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he did not fully trust it—he immediately contacted all relevant states and prefectures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within dozens of breaths, he received confirmations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cangming Star Palace’s forces were retreating! Meng Yanhui was overjoyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He instantly sent a starlight message to Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao, who was still locked in close combat with Hu Zhen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Grand Master, Cangming Star Palace has agreed.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bloodied and disheveled, Cheng Yuexiao spat out a mouthful of blood, glanced at the Star-Plucking Token, then surged forward again to attack Hu Zhen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Hahaha, come on!】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Zhen, thoroughly enjoying the fight, laughed loudly and struck even harder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just moments ago, he had received a starlight message from Qin Da, the Third Elder of Tianyang Star Palace: reinforcements had arrived in Leizhou and were racing toward Shilong County—hold on!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Zhen continued his previous tactics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He attacked areas crowded with civilians, forcing Cheng Yuexiao to intercept his blows, then pounded Cheng Yuexiao mercilessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In hundreds of breaths of combat, he had struck Cheng Yuexiao nearly a hundred times; Cheng Yuexiao had spat blood three times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, for an eighth-rank powerhouse, such injuries were not serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was satisfying!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the Star Lord of Tianyang Star Palace had never beaten Cheng Yuexiao like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, Hu Zhen flashed to another location and thrust his spear toward Cheng Yuexiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reinforcements were coming—he held nothing back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he could severely wound Cheng Yuexiao before reinforcements arrived, he might even have a chance to surround and kill him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for dishonor?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dead have no right to speak of dishonor!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shhh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A spear-shadow a hundred meters long lashed out, beneath which were a dozen trembling civilians.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Yuexiao rushed forward without hesitation and blocked the strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Puff!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the next instant, as the spear struck Cheng Yuexiao, his body shattered like a bubble!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shattered!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, Hu Zhen felt as if his mind would split open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could he have shattered Cheng Yuexiao?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Impossible!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet this scene had truly occurred before his eyes!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, Hu Zhen sensed disaster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been tricked!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, a shadow erupted behind Hu Zhen—Cheng Yuexiao’s true body appeared and, with the Nine Sheng Bianzhong, slammed upward from below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Nine Sheng Bianzhong rang again with the thunderous sound of a great bell; three-colored meteors surged from the ground, directly blasting upward through Hu Zhen’s groin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next moment, Hu Zhen was launched like a projectile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, the Nine Sheng Bianzhong blasted him straight into the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao wiped blood from his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fool—he thought I came here just to be beaten?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I endured all these blows just to set the trap, planting a decoy long ago to achieve this moment!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao brushed his fingers across the Nine Sheng Bianzhong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each brush sent forth the thunderous sound of a great bell; each strike launched a three-colored meteor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first three-colored meteor sent Hu Zhen soaring into the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second shattered his legs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The third obliterated his abdomen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fourth vaporized everything below his neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao followed like a shadow, swift as a ghost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the sky, Hu Zhen roared in fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Cheng Yuexiao, if you kill me, won’t you fear Great Chen will bury you with me!】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【You’re not worthy.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【You—】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid cold laughter, the Nine Sheng Bianzhong struck again—a third-colored meteor blasted straight into Hu Zhen’s neck!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Screaming, Hu Zhen’s head exploded like a giant watermelon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this was not the end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Hu Zhen’s exploded head, a starlight form resembling Hu Zhen shot out, glaring at Cheng Yuexiao with venomous hatred, ready to flee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Hu Zhen’s nascent soul, barely formed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When star-force cultivation reaches the fifth rank, one gathers the Stars; when spirit cultivation reaches the fifth rank, one can condense a nascent soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Generally, once spirit cultivation reaches the peak of fourth-rank Condensing Stars, a nascent soul emerges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Zhen’s spiritual cultivation had not yet reached the fifth rank, but he had already formed the embryonic form of a nascent soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao had already prepared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He flicked his finger lightly against the sixth bell of the Nine Sheng Bianzhong—immediately, a star in the sky dropped a beam of starlight, transforming into a star-net that precisely ensnared Hu Zhen’s nascent soul!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Trying to escape? Dream on!】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao waved his hand and pulled Hu Zhen’s nascent soul before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that same moment, hundreds of Great Chen elites who had just arrived watched the scene and erupted in cheers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Grand Master is mighty!】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The civilians of Shilong County, even the slowest, now understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Zhen was the mastermind behind their slaughter—and Grand Master had reduced him to fragments!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surviving civilians silently bowed in worship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Great State Preceptor, mighty!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Great State Preceptor, mighty!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin blended in with the elite of Chen Songzhou; no one noticed him. When asked, he simply showed his Dao Academy badge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin had arrived some time ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had watched the earlier battle clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also understood the full situation through the crowd’s murmurs!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Massacre!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one chasing them was the Second Elder of the Tianyang Star Temple, Hu Zhen!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this scoundrel, having failed to catch them, went and massacred the city!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A massacre!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How utterly cruel!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unprovoked massacre!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every vile word Xu Jin could think of still failed to describe his hatred for Hu Zhen, the one who committed this massacre.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially the horror of Shilong County!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, blood was already oozing from the ruins of Shilong County’s city gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was truly a river of blood!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This horrific sight filled Xu Jin with deep guilt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he had not committed the massacre,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Zhen’s arrival here was tied to them!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that instant, Xu Jin longed to kill Hu Zhen with his own hands!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the Great State Preceptor shatter Hu Zhen’s physical body and capture his Nascent Soul, Xu Jin’s hatred did not lessen one bit!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to rush forward and obliterate Hu Zhen’s Nascent Soul with heavenly thunder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crushing his Nascent Soul so easily was too merciful!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He must be imprisoned, tormented day and night with thunder and fire—nothing could atone for his crimes!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gnashing his teeth, Xu Jin watched the Great State Preceptor swiftly retract the star net, clutching Hu Zhen’s Nascent Soul in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even now, reduced to nothing but his Nascent Soul, Hu Zhen remained defiant: “Cheng Yuexiao, if you have guts, kill me now! With Chen Guo to die with me, Hu Zhen dies with honor!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pah!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Yuexiao spat directly in Hu Zhen’s face. “You? You don’t even deserve it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hu Zhen, you massacred innocents, lost all humanity!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Star River Marshal’s Office will send personnel soon. When they arrive, I shall publicly flay your Nascent Soul before billions of people, expose your crimes to the world, and make you infamous for ten thousand generations!” Cheng Yuexiao roared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These words struck Hu Zhen like a blow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that instant, Hu Zhen finally felt fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Cheng Yuexiao truly did this, Hu Zhen might indeed become infamous for ten thousand generations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And his Hu family...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You dare!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yanhui, when will the Star River Marshal’s Office arrive?” Cheng Yuexiao asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Half a quarter-hour ago, the Left Secretary of the Star River Marshal’s Office said he was already on the way,” Meng Yanhui replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Cheng Yuexiao spoke with Meng Yanhui, fury flashed in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he could choose, he would rather crush Hu Zhen’s Nascent Soul right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That would be the sweetest revenge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he was Chen Guo’s Great State Preceptor—doing so would bring annihilation upon Chen Guo!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he must claim moral authority and publicly execute Hu Zhen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then, even if he truly flayed Hu Zhen’s Nascent Soul, the Tianyang Star Temple could not utter a single protest!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how powerful the Tianyang Star Temple, it could not claim Hu Zhen’s massacre was justified!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was righteousness!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But righteousness was not merely what Cheng Yuexiao declared it to be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He needed witnesses!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Star River Battlefield Marshal’s Office, the Cangming Star Temple, Da Chu, and the Zhen’e Star Temple were perfect witnesses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, he must wait—at the very least—until the Star River Marshal’s Office arrived before publicly executing Hu Zhen’s Nascent Soul!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that did not stop Cheng Yuexiao from venting his rage now!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hu Zhen, since the Star River Marshal’s Office is still delayed, I won’t let you off so easily! I must first extract a little interest from you for the innocent dead of Shilong County!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next instant, a divine soul star rose above the Great State Preceptor’s head, instantly transforming into a divine soul blade, which slashed down upon Hu Zhen’s Nascent Soul!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aaaah!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Zhen’s Nascent Soul screamed with earth-shattering agony!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pain of a Nascent Soul wound was excruciating, each thread unbearable!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whoever kills my Chen Guo people, whoever commits another massacre—this shall be your fate!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Yuexiao raised the severed piece of Hu Zhen’s Nascent Soul and roared!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More like a proclamation to the world!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Zhen’s Nascent Soul shrieked, howled, and cursed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each time a strand of Hu Zhen’s Nascent Soul was cut,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the Great State Preceptor would raise it high and thunder, “Whoever kills my Chen Guo people—this shall be your fate!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each cut brought a roar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each time he cut, Cheng Yuexiao infused the severed piece with star power, magnified it, and hurled it down into Shilong County below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surviving civilians of Shilong County wept and rushed forward, tearing and devouring Hu Zhen’s Nascent Soul!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far away, the Third Elder of the Tianyang Star Temple, Qin Da, arrived with a group of followers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They simply watched as Cheng Yuexiao carved Hu Zhen’s Nascent Soul, slice by slice!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watched in silence!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Waiting!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",3680,"2026-06-19T23:56:34.019Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","96f4d21109ee3a5df76f1cfa1a8ff3c8d10e34834016402beb78319dbc238eb5","the-star-martial-era-chapter-235","the-star-martial-era-chapter-233",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-star-martial-era-cover.jpg"]