[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-star-martial-era":3,"chapter-the-star-martial-era-the-star-martial-era-chapter-241":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},2275099,4448,"Chapter 241: Assisting Breakthrough","the-star-martial-era-chapter-241",241,"\u003Cp>Xu Jin did not ask the Grand Master about the Nine Stars Tide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin believed that when the time came, the Grand Master would surely tell him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All Xu Jin could do now was prepare for battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin immediately went to the Foreign Affairs Hall to replenish a batch of elixirs; all recovery elixirs were given to his senior uncle, Mo Ji.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These elixirs all needed to be nurtured first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He bought three vials each of Superior Spirit-Reviving Elixir, Three-Yin Clear-Soul Elixir, Four-Element Star-Recovery Elixir, and One-Qi Return-Star Elixir.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This alone cut his Dao Merit by over ten thousand points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the first preparation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second preparation was emblems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin calculated that if the Nine Stars Tide arrived and he joined the battle, he would most likely be sent to the third-rank star domain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In normal circumstances, enemies in the third-rank star domain would have a cultivation base of fourth-rank Condensing Star Ninth Layer; with his current strength, Xu Jin still had a chance to handle them one-on-one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the greatest difficulty in campaigning across star domains lay precisely here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There would rarely be any chance for one-on-one combat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, stockpiling emblems became crucial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin did not know whether the high-rank emblems stored in his space ring could be carried across star gates, but those placed on the Battle Platform could definitely be taken in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, he must stockpile many emblems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifth-rank emblems were best—they could be nurtured to possess sixth-rank emblem power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he no longer felt comfortable asking for them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could only stockpile them himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In recent days, Xu Jin had been crafting fourth-rank emblems every day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He planned to repay his debts first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, his speed in crafting fourth-rank emblems had grown faster, and their quality had improved steadily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among every two fourth-rank emblems, one would be a fourth-rank upper-tier Spiral Flame Burst Emblem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was already a very high success rate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While crafting fourth-rank emblems, Xu Jin discovered another thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he used a mid-tier sixth-rank fire source directly while crafting fourth-rank emblems, the probability of producing a fourth-rank upper-tier emblem increased significantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he used a mid-tier sixth-rank lower fire source, most of the resulting fourth-rank emblems were fourth-rank upper-tier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if he used a mid-tier sixth-rank or sixth-rank upper fire source star rune, explosions occurred frequently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin had also tried engraving seventh-rank lower or seventh-rank upper high-tier fire source star runes into jade tablets—but all of them exploded without exception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On October 26, after class, Xu Jin brought his recent work and was given private tutoring by Grand Academician Kou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After reviewing Xu Jin’s submission, Grand Academician Kou was greatly surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xu Jin, your progress is astonishing! Some of your fourth-rank upper-tier emblems are nearly at my level.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for the success rate of fourth-rank upper-tier emblems, a fifty percent rate is already very high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even I, your teacher, currently achieve only just over eighty percent success rate on fourth-rank upper-tier emblems. But you must understand—I’ve devoted three or five decades to emblem crafting, and I’ve made no fewer than eighty thousand fourth-rank emblems, if not a hundred thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This craft relies entirely on manual mastery, beyond talent!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any other person spending five years exclusively crafting one type of fourth-rank emblem might still not reach a fifty percent upper-tier rate.” Grand Academician Kou answered each of Xu Jin’s questions in turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Xu Jin’s heart stirred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He himself was also well-practiced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had crafted only a few hundred fourth-rank emblems, but the number of times he had practiced them inside the Star Lamp exceeded fifty thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed he still needed to grind harder when he returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Among basic star runes, especially source-force star runes, their rank has a tremendous impact on emblem rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using a sixth-rank lower fire source rune to craft a fourth-rank emblem is technically overstepping, which is why your upper-tier success rate increases so much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, sixth-rank fire source runes are only used when crafting fifth-rank emblems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when crafting fifth-rank emblems, we usually use fifth-rank star arts—comprising five star runes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes, we use high-tier source-force star runes to forcibly elevate an emblem’s rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, the fourth-rank upper-tier Spiral Flame Burst Emblem you’re crafting now uses a fifth-rank upper fire source rune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if you replace it with a mid-tier sixth-rank or sixth-rank upper fire source rune, the resulting emblem will possess fifth-rank emblem power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason you experience explosions when using mid-tier sixth-rank fire source runes is that your base emblem’s rank is too low to contain the power of a mid-tier sixth-rank fire source rune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you used a fifth-rank jade tablet as the base and crafted the Spiral Flame Burst Emblem using a mid-tier sixth-rank fire source rune, theoretically it would possess fifth-rank emblem power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But generally, the maximum rank achievable is limited to fifth-rank mid-tier.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a pause, Kou Jing continued, “If you’ve learned the mid-tier sixth-rank fire source rune and wish to try, you may, but you must be extremely, extremely cautious! The explosion of a fifth-rank jade tablet carries immense power—equivalent at minimum to a full-force strike from a fifth-rank early-stage cultivator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, mid-tier sixth-rank fire source runes are extremely complex; many require half a year just to learn, and mastering their engraving may take much, much longer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Personally, I advise you to become thoroughly proficient first, then proceed slowly—don’t rush.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Grand Academician Kou answered each question, all of Xu Jin’s accumulated doubts vanished, leaving him enlightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Teacher, I have a question: from everything I’ve heard and seen so far, I’ve only encountered sixth-rank emblems—I’ve never heard of or seen a seventh-rank emblem. Is it because I lack exposure, or because seventh-rank emblems are extremely rare?” Xu Jin asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was Xu Jin’s final question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he currently possessed a seventh-rank upper high-tier fire source star rune; if he could engrave it into an emblem, its power could increase dramatically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s a good question, but to answer it, I must explain the difference between seventh-rank and sixth-rank cultivators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sixth-rank cultivators can draw upon part of the celestial star force, but fundamentally, they still use their own power to trigger changes in star force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seventh-rank cultivators, however, can comprehend existing seventh-rank star runes, then attain their own corresponding seventh-rank star runes, thereby establishing a thread of connection with the myriad stars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sixth-rank is called Cloud Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It prepares one to attract the myriad stars for the breakthrough to seventh-rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the essence of seventh-rank star runes is to harness the power of the myriad stars for oneself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As cultivators, to draw upon the power of the myriad stars—like me now, studying the Grand Master’s newly acquired seventh-rank upper fire source star rune—I must use my spiritual intent to sense the stars from afar, lock onto a specific star, and through this seventh-rank upper fire source star rune, discern a seventh-rank star rune that resonates with me and that star, then…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, Kou Jing suddenly froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, a vast aura surged from Kou Jing’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in broad daylight, a star in the heavens suddenly brightened, its light poised between emergence and non-emergence, while Kou Jing’s aura continued to climb, as if striving desperately to draw down that sliver of starlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the sliver of starlight refused to descend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt as if something was still missing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kou Jing’s aura had been pushed to its absolute limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both star force and spiritual soul had been driven to their utmost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin instantly realized: Grand Academician Kou, who had long been stuck at sixth-rank peak, was attempting a breakthrough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this breakthrough felt unusually difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same moment, the seventh-rank upper high-tier fire source star rune engraved within Xu Jin’s central star palace flickered faintly, and his Mingji star rune lit up simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, Xu Jin sensed something strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seemed to perceive another fire source star rune within Grand Academician Kou’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this rune differed greatly from Xu Jin’s own seventh-rank upper high-tier fire source star rune, which he had derived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the one who had personally derived this seventh-rank upper high-tier fire source star rune, Xu Jin immediately recognized the problem: under these conditions, Kou Jing’s breakthrough would inevitably fail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could not articulate this feeling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He simply sensed that Grand Academician Kou had not grasped the key point of the star he was calling upon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But how could he help?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the next instant, Xu Jin noticed that the fire source star rune within Grand Academician Kou’s body resonated slightly with his own seventh-rank upper high-tier fire source star rune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could I influence it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a thought, Xu Jin actively activated his seventh-rank upper high-tier fire source star rune; instantly, the star in the heavens blazed intensely, as if starlight were about to project downward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But beside him, Grand Academician Kou’s face suddenly turned pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that instant, he felt his connection to the resonating star weaken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this spontaneous breakthrough about to fail again?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin also realized something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His activation of the seventh-rank upper high-tier fire source star rune had disturbed Grand Academician Kou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he done more harm than good?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xu Jin refused to give up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, his spiritual soul surged outward, enveloping Grand Academician Kou, determined to try one last time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grand Academician Kou trusted his student completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no suspicion whatsoever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin’s spiritual soul enveloped Kou Jing instantly, and in that moment, Xu Jin’s seventh-rank upper high-tier fire source star rune felt aligned with the rune within Kou Jing’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two star runes, sharing the same origin, vibrated rapidly in near-perfect unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The star in the sky, once drawn, flickered and pulsed in rhythm—but still no starlight descended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside Grand Academician Kou’s lecture hall, students stirred by the surge of star force had been dispersed by the Grand Master, who had sensed the anomaly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Issue orders: within two quarters of an hour, no one in the Dao Academy shall use star force!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who defy orders shall be executed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Star Patrol Guards, enforce martial law!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, your servant accepts the order!” Chief Instructor Yu Da swiftly took the command and departed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao issued this strict order, he suppressed his own aura as much as possible, fearing he might disturb Kou Jing’s breakthrough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kou Jing had been stuck at the peak of the sixth realm for over a decade, unable to break through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long ago, Cheng Yuexiao had given Kou Jing the high-grade Fire Source Star Pattern Xu Jin had deduced, for him to contemplate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During that time, Kou Jing had shown signs of breakthrough twice, but both attempts failed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today was the third attempt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This weighed heavily on Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao’s heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breaking into the seventh realm is extremely difficult!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that Chen Guo has fewer than two handfuls of seventh-realm experts is clear proof.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the more times one fails during a seventh-realm breakthrough, the lower the chance of success becomes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Generally, the first time one senses the breakthrough, it is easiest; the second time, harder; the third time, success probability does not exceed thirty percent; the fourth time, not more than ten percent; as for the fifth...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most people, after four failures, can no longer sense that celestial star.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless they try a different seventh-realm star pattern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten years ago, Kou Jing attempted four times to break through using a seventh-realm Wind Star Pattern—all failed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, he switched to a seventh-realm Fire Star Pattern, and had already failed twice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this third attempt fails, the likelihood of a fourth failure increases even further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, Kou Jing’s chance at breaking into the seventh realm has vanished again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He can only wait for the State Dao Academy to acquire the next seventh-realm star pattern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But acquiring a seventh-realm star pattern is incredibly difficult!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this attempt fails, for Kou Jing, it may mean permanent failure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao placed great importance on this breakthrough attempt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, a look of anguish had already surfaced in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because he had sensed that the connection between Kou Jing and the star he was resonating with in the sky was growing weaker and weaker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Failure was drawing near.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would Kou Jing fail again?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao’s expression suddenly changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed to have strengthened!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, Cheng Yuexiao looked at Xu Jin with a strange expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just now, he had felt a faint resonance between Xu Jin’s aura and Kou Jing’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Closing his eyes, in Cheng Yuexiao’s perception, Xu Jin’s current star pattern resembled a blazing sun, completely covering Kou Jing’s Fire Source Star Pattern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the influence of Xu Jin’s sun-like star pattern, Kou Jing’s Fire Source Star Pattern had become like a newborn sunrise, striving to break free from the last threads of darkness binding it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This pulled Kou Jing, who was on the verge of failure, back onto the path of breakthrough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Does Xu Jin possess such ability?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Yuexiao was deeply astonished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But soon, Cheng Yuexiao found an explanation!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Creator!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin is the Dao-derivative, the creator, of the Fire Source Star Pattern that Kou Jing contemplated—somewhat like the original star pattern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps this is the reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there had never been any record of such a phenomenon before!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could only be studied later; for now, Cheng Yuexiao anxiously awaited the outcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Kou Jing could break into the seventh realm, it would be wonderful!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The State Dao Academy’s dire shortage of personnel could finally be alleviated!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Xu Jin, who was actively activating the high-grade Fire Source Star Pattern of the seventh realm, frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt like he was still missing something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his perception of the Mingji Star Pattern, although the frequency was nearly identical, he was still just short.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did the frequencies—or the star patterns—of the two still differ slightly?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, Xu Jin’s intuition struck—he gently reached out and placed his right hand on Kou Jing’s shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, Xu Jin’s seventh-realm Fire Source Star Pattern and Kou Jing’s Fire Source Star Pattern aligned in frequency, merging perfectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the influence and guidance of Xu Jin’s high-grade seventh-realm Fire Source Star Pattern, Kou Jing’s own contemplated seventh-realm Fire Source Star Pattern reached a new height.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, he understood and completed the most critical line of the pattern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, the starlight in the heavens, drawn forth by the pattern, was fully formed and plunged from the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same moment, Xu Jin, sensing it, decisively withdrew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, a streak of fiery starlight descended upon Kou Jing’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, Kou Jing’s aura surged violently—as if shattering a bound, breaking a chain—star power from all directions and starlight falling from heaven surged into his body like a vortex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kou Jing’s aura had broken through into the seventh realm!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao’s face broke into a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to laugh aloud—but dared not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could only quietly lead Xu Jin away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2510,"2026-06-19T23:56:34.019Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","b41de9ec21023e32f0c07b06d1c19f13562ab0550971adc47949d841ae2c93cf","the-star-martial-era-chapter-242","the-star-martial-era-chapter-240",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-star-martial-era-cover.jpg"]