[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-star-martial-era":3,"chapter-the-star-martial-era-the-star-martial-era-chapter-239":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},2275097,4448,"Chapter 239: Certainty","the-star-martial-era-chapter-239",239,"\u003Cp>For several days, Xu Jin devoted his main energy to cultivating star patterns and studying the Star Pattern Manuscript.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the greatest surprise for Xu Jin was still the Chengpo Star Pattern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After engraving four Chengpo Star Patterns, Xu Jin finally observed the passive enhancement of his divine soul power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin carefully compared the results.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Keeping all conditions of these four Chengpo Star Patterns unchanged and abstaining from any divine soul cultivation, just relying on them alone, his divine soul cultivation would take roughly two to three years to advance from its current level of Fourth Realm, Third Sub-Level, to Fourth Realm, Fourth Sub-Level, Star Condensation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two to three years to advance one sub-level seemed very slow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In reality, it was extremely fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because for most people, there was no effective way to improve divine soul cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most common methods were climbing the Ascension Ladder to temper the divine soul, or the so-called use-it-or-lose-it principle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Daily use of divine soul power could also slowly increase divine soul cultivation, but this growth was negligible for someone who had already reached the Fourth Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This must be the advantage of Lingji Star Temple cultivators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Accumulate deeply, unleash lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The later you go, the stronger you become.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While others’ divine soul cultivation barely improves, Lingji Star Temple cultivators who engrave four or five Chengpo Star Patterns need only thirty to forty years of accumulation to produce one whose divine soul cultivation reaches Fourth Realm, Ninth Sub-Level, Star Condensation peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Including the preparatory time, it’s merely thirty to forty years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin’s teacher, Qi Tianye, was a typical example.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao’s current divine soul cultivation is only Fourth Realm, Ninth Sub-Level, Star Condensation peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Xu Jin’s divine soul cultivation improved, he could now clearly sense Grand Master Cheng’s divine soul cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this was still under the condition of engraving ordinary Fourth Realm Chengpo Star Patterns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Xu Jin upgraded all four Chengpo Star Patterns engraved on his four star cores from Fourth Realm to Fifth Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A tremendous surprise arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifth Realm Chengpo Star Patterns were essentially the latest version of the Lingji Star Temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But according to his teacher Qi Shanye, the Main Temple might still have even higher-tier versions, since these were the versions distributed to branch temples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Main Temple always kept a little back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at most, they’d hold back one or two tiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were essentially the latest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After replacing all four Chengpo Star Patterns with Fifth Realm versions, Xu Jin noticed massive progress in just two days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The passive effect of Chengpo Star Patterns strengthened dramatically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, four Fourth Realm Chengpo Star Patterns required two to three years to passively advance one sub-level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After switching entirely to Fifth Realm Chengpo Star Patterns, the passive enhancement of divine soul power became visibly stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin roughly estimated that with four Fifth Realm Chengpo Star Patterns, he could advance one sub-level in his Fourth Realm divine soul cultivation within two years, just from this passive effect alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As fast as one and a half years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This massive boost made Xu Jin deeply eager.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had now personally experienced the importance of divine soul cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His star force cultivation could only improve step by step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his divine soul cultivation could still be strengthened further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In three days, Xu Jin consumed all seven remaining Three-Variant Dragon Turtle Soul-Forging Elixirs he had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, only Ning Yuchan’s six Dragon Turtle Soul-Forging Elixirs remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin’s divine soul cultivation rose another sub-level, successfully reaching Fourth Realm, Fourth Sub-Level, Star Condensation, Mid-Level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the Upper Star Palace, there were now five divine soul stars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin immediately engraved one Chengpo Star Pattern on the newly emerged fifth divine soul star.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This further increased the speed of passive divine soul cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Theoretically, the passive advancement speed of divine soul cultivation increased by another twenty percent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xu Jin looked at the five divine soul stars in the Upper Star Palace, and most star pattern slots remained empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had an idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Currently, among the five divine soul stars, only the first had nine star patterns engraved, leaving one slot vacant; the second had five star patterns engraved; the third, fourth, and fifth each had only one Chengpo Star Pattern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most star pattern slots were empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin felt this was a tremendous waste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His teacher Qi Shanye had specifically warned him about this, telling him never to act impulsively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t rush to engrave other star patterns just because slots are empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Divine soul star patterns differ from others—if you engrave them and later find the slots insufficient, it’s nearly impossible to reverse the process.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Abandoning divine soul cultivation improperly could damage your origin, causing irreversible internal injuries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was wise advice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin had always followed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But right now, Xu Jin felt something was wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin organized all the Lingji Star Temple divine soul star patterns he obtained from the branch Star Tower—useful or not, there were only about a dozen, and two high-power combined divine soul techniques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But all were within five star patterns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Theoretically, with proper planning, only three divine soul stars would suffice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if Xu Jin continued advancing at his current rate, reaching Fourth Realm, Ninth Sub-Level, Star Condensation peak was merely a matter of time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In ten years at the fastest, sixteen or seventeen at the slowest, even relying solely on the passive effect of his current five Fifth Realm Chengpo Star Patterns, he could reach Fourth Realm, Ninth Sub-Level, Star Condensation peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, Xu Jin would have an abundance of future divine soul star pattern slots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no need to sacrifice present certainty for future uncertainty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being mediocre at everything is worse than excelling at one thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how many divine soul techniques you learn, if your cultivation isn’t strong enough, it’s useless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the best engine won’t help if your top speed is 230 km\u002Fh but you have no fuel—or won’t use it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A small-displacement engine, if you have plenty of fuel and are willing to floor it, can still push you to 180 km\u002Fh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this thought, Xu Jin made his decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would first do what offered certainty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would enhance his foundational strength, greatly increasing his future chances of survival and resource acquisition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he left these star pattern slots empty instead of using them to strengthen himself, and one day was killed, it would be too late to regret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, on the second divine soul star, Xu Jin engraved his own evolved divine soul technique, Dreamstart, which, including the Chengpo Star Pattern, occupied five slots, leaving five slots vacant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could this divine soul technique still be strengthened in the future?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was absolutely certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But how many additional star patterns could it be enhanced by?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The combined divine soul techniques Xu Jin had just obtained from the Lingji Star Temple—one used five star patterns, the other four—plus the basic Chengpo, occupied at most six slots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To evolve Dreamstart to five star patterns required at least a Fifth Realm Can Dou Platform; six required a Sixth Realm Can Dou Platform; seven—never mind whether success was possible, a Seventh Realm Can Dou Platform was still far off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quickly, Xu Jin made a decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would reserve two star pattern slots for Dreamstart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would engrave only Chengpo Star Patterns in all remaining slots on the second divine soul star.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the number of Chengpo Star Patterns increased from five to eight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the original four, it had doubled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The passive cultivation effect of the Chengpo Star Patterns had doubled compared to the beginning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this continued, Xu Jin felt his Fourth Realm divine soul cultivation could advance one sub-level in just about one year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That wasn’t all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin continued increasing the number of Chengpo Star Patterns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He added two more Chengpo Star Patterns to the third, fourth, and fifth divine soul stars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meaning, on these three divine soul stars, the first, second, and third star pattern slots were all filled with Fifth Realm Chengpo Star Patterns—yet even then, seven star pattern slots remained reserved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More than enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, as Xu Jin’s divine soul cultivation advanced further, he would gain at least five more divine soul stars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There would be plenty of slots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the number of Fifth Realm Chengpo Star Patterns engraved in Xu Jin’s Upper Star Palace reached a staggering fourteen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the original four, it had increased two to threefold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the passive advancement speed of Xu Jin’s divine soul cultivation had multiplied accordingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In just one day, Xu Jin saw a clear, certain improvement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the future, at most half a year, no more than seven months, his Fourth Realm divine soul cultivation would advance one sub-level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within three to five years, Xu Jin’s divine soul cultivation would catch up to Grand Master Cheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he obtained some elixirs to assist, it would be even faster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin felt that divine soul cultivation, combined with divine soul techniques, would become his ultimate survival trump card in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, even someone like Grand Master Cheng had only reached Fourth Realm peak in divine soul cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the evening of October 23, Xu Jin entered the Third-Rank Combat Simulation Realm as usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His ranking remained second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The third place was still Ren Woxing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fourth place was still Han Yue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The top few in the Combat Simulation Realm still had considerable pride or arrogance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They looked down on using rule-exploiting methods to gain rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, Xu Jin’s seven or eight consecutive days without entering the Third-Rank Combat Simulation Realm would have triggered the realm’s rule: anyone who fails to respond to three consecutive challenges, for any reason, is automatically declared defeated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The challenger would then rise in rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seven days ago, Ren Woxing challenged Xu Jin directly; after Xu Jin did not respond, he stopped issuing challenges and instead sent Xu Jin a star-message every day asking if he would fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin did not reply, and Ren Woxing simply waited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This attitude, oddly, Xu Jin greatly appreciated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So after entering the Star-Picking Tower’s Third-Rank Combat Simulation Realm, Xu Jin first fought three rounds with Ren Woxing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The outcome was still no surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ren Woxing’s main cultivation was Wind-Star Art, and his movement was extremely elusive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in speed, he was inferior to Xu Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In certain aspects, Xu Jin could imitate movement techniques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Xu Jin, Ren Woxing had become less and less threatening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was without Xu Jin using any Soul-Spirit Secret Art at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, he would have been instantly obliterated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin, as if repaying a debt, fought three rounds with Ren Woxing, then one round with Han Yue, and afterward sparred three rounds with Zuiyue Immortal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zuiyue Immortal remained highly valuable in combat; her Space-Star Art was bizarrely unpredictable and immensely destructive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone wounded by it either died or suffered grievous injury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin felt this Space-Star Art somehow ignored defense entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It cut directly through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So now, whenever Xu Jin entered the Combat Simulation Realm, he always fought Zuiyue Immortal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Zuiyue Immortal was ecstatic whenever Xu Jin challenged her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worth noting was that Yue Zhongying, that woman, refused to give up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She basically applied to add Xu Jin as a friend every single day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin still rejected her instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, even if Xu Jin wanted to add her, he dared not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin felt this woman had become obsessed from being instantly rejected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, why would she persistently apply to add him every day?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Do you wish to challenge the First-Rank Combatant, Starfire?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Challenge】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After sending the challenge request, Xu Jin waited expectantly for a response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t be offline again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the next instant, Xu Jin grinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Starfire has accepted the challenge and is entering the Combat Simulation Realm】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Terrain: Forest】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, starlight flickered before his eyes, and Xu Jin was transported into the Combat Simulation Realm—a forest. Across the holographic screen, a tall, red-haired man gazed down at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Qi Tian Da Sheng—this name sounds impressive! But you’ve got patience; I thought you, as the second-ranked, would challenge me soon, but I didn’t expect you to wait another eight days.” Starfire tilted his head, looking at Xu Jin like prey, brimming with confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Starfire? From your appearance, you must cultivate Fire-Star Art, right?” Seeing the opponent wasn’t immediately attacking, Xu Jin also held back, and began chatting as the hologram faded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Starfire showed surprise. “You don’t know me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Know you? Are you famous?” Xu Jin blinked in astonishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, Starfire suddenly clapped and laughed. “Interesting—you’ll find out soon enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You still haven’t answered my question.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Starfire was stunned. “Right—I cultivate Fire-Star Art.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Small world—I cultivate Fire-Star Art too. Perfect chance to settle who’s better.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Starfire froze, then burst into laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Truly amusing—someone actually wants to challenge me in Fire-Star Art. Clearly, you have no idea who I am.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then let’s test it,” Xu Jin tilted his head, smirking challengingly. “See if you’ve earned my interest enough to look up your identity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha, good!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come on!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next instant, Starfire exploded into a streak of fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He punched forward, unleashing a furious meteor of flame straight at Xu Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin didn’t flinch—he countered with a Spiral Flame Explosion!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two starlight blasts collided, rippled outward, then vanished together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Starfire was surprised—but delighted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, someone could match him blow for blow!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin was also slightly surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had just used a mid-tier Sixth-Rank Fire Source, enhanced by a mid-tier Crimson Scale Heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, Xu Jin lunged again—this time using a high-tier Sixth-Rank Fire Source.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their blasts still canceled each other out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But clearly, Xu Jin held a slight edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This brought a serious look to Starfire’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two clashed again, like rivals testing strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Xu Jin added the protective effects of two Fifth-Rank Fire Spirit Star Cores from the Contest Platform—one mid-tier Fire Source, one low-tier Fire Elephant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two streams of flame erupted—Xu Jin’s Spiral Flame Explosion obliterated Starfire’s meteor, and its residual force engulfed Starfire, leaving him momentarily disheveled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Starfire froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Defeated in Fire-Star Art.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How was this possible?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Again!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, they clashed once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Xu Jin used a high-tier Seventh-Rank Fire Source Star Pattern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin’s Spiral Flame Explosion obliterated Starfire’s meteor, then consumed Starfire entirely, reducing him to nothingness!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Qi Tian Da Sheng: Victory】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2409,"2026-06-19T23:56:34.019Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","181bba5a91668258aa369e0f7f6ab7c43e9f17d8b896c86ac33c91f9388f55cb","the-star-martial-era-chapter-240","the-star-martial-era-chapter-238",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-star-martial-era-cover.jpg"]