[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-star-martial-era":3,"chapter-the-star-martial-era-the-star-martial-era-chapter-254":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},2275112,4448,"Chapter 254: Not the First","the-star-martial-era-chapter-254",254,"\u003Cp>Inside the second floor of the main tower of Dachen Star-Picking Tower, Dai Si, heir of Xumi Palace, sat cross-legged in meditation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meng Yanhui, Left Sacrificial Officer of Dachen, sat beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nearby, a row of rooms had been hastily converted into a pastry kitchen, a tea room, and a chef on standby—anything Dai Si required would be delivered immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heirs of Xumi Palace were famed for their refined lifestyles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, even the brocade cushions he sat on were brought from home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet despite such refinement, under the strict discipline of the Xumi Palace master, his devotion to rigorous cultivation remained unwavering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even during his duty of supervision, Dai Si continued his intense meditation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, the starlight on the fifth temporary star-gate to the left flickered. Dai Si’s eyes opened instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One of your disciples is emerging?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did they fail and flee back?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From the third-rank Shahe Star Region,” Dai Si reminded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meng Yanhui opened his eyes. Though he suspected something, Dai Si’s words stirred his concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next instant, Xu Jin stepped through the temporary star-gate, appearing on the second floor of the Star-Picking Tower—drenched in killing aura, yet radiant with triumph.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just by his appearance, it was clear he had not returned in defeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Dai Si noticed the anomaly—only one had returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin bowed silently, acknowledging the Xumi Palace heir.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re back—how did it go?” Meng Yanhui hurried forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have not disgraced my mission!” Xu Jin bowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meng Yanhui uttered three “goods” in quick succession, then sent a starlight message to Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Grand Master will arrive shortly—wait here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Master Meng. I’ll find a quiet room to rest for fifteen minutes and recover.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a nod, Xu Jin stepped out of the main tower and entered the quiet chamber already prepared for him in the State Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, he activated the Mingji Star Pattern for vigilance, swallowed a Four-Xuan Star-Recovery Pill of the First Elixir, activated the Wengmeng Star Pattern, and instantly fell into deep sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the third-rank Shahe Star Region, Xu Jin had consumed less than ten percent of his spiritual soul power, but his star energy was heavily depleted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next star region loomed ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the third-rank regions seemed easy now, caution never harmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin decided to spend fifteen minutes restoring his state to peak, especially his spiritual soul power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, a brief nap under Wengmeng would greatly alleviate fatigue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Tower Tribute War lasted seven full days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though cultivators possessed extraordinary stamina, going without sleep beyond three days caused rapid decline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifteen minutes of Wengmeng sleep fully replenished Xu Jin’s endurance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the main tower’s second floor, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao appeared. Dai Guanwen, who had just closed his eyes to meditate, opened them briefly in greeting before preparing to resume.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in the next instant, Cheng Yuexiao spoke: “Fourth Young Master, I must trouble you to open one more star-gate.” As he spoke, he produced a star-region beacon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dai Guanwen, whose eyes had just closed, opened them again, frowning. “Grand Master Cheng, this exceeds the agreed scope—this is already the tenth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fourth Young Master, the rules of this Tower Tribute War permit nine combat teams, but they do not limit the number of star-gates opened. Is that not correct?” Cheng Yuexiao said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dai Guanwen pondered for a few breaths, then nodded. “True—but—” His expression turned uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What difficulty do you face? Please speak plainly,” Cheng Yuexiao said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grand Master Cheng, you’ve seen—I don’t open star-gates out of thin air. I require a spatial array as base, then my secret method as catalyst, and finally the star-region beacon as guide.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Other matters are minor, but the jade tablets needed for the spatial array take time and effort to craft, and are costly. Wei Xu only paid for nine temporary star-gates.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know that. I won’t let you bear the loss. The extra cost will be covered by Dachen. How much is needed?” Cheng Yuexiao asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In that case, it’s acceptable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dai Guanwen nodded, then asked, “May I ask, what rank is the new star-region?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Third-rank.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Third-rank is simple—only four spatial jade tablets needed. Each takes over ten days to craft. We charged Wei General 1,500 strands of starlight per tablet as cost price.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll pay you seven thousand strands for this one gate. The rest is your labor fee,” Cheng Yuexiao said generously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But instantly, Dai Guanwen’s face darkened. “Grand Master Cheng, what are you implying? Do you think I, Dai Guanwen, am greedy for your thousand strands of starlight?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Yuexiao was stunned—he didn’t understand Dai Guanwen’s meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Left Sacrificial Officer Meng Yanhui stepped forward with a smile. “Fourth Young Master, you misunderstand—our Grand Master did not mean it that way. He meant the price you gave to General Wei was a Xumi Palace favor price.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One spatial jade tablet at 1,500 strands is a loss.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It takes 2,000 strands just to break even.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For four tablets, we should pay 8,000 strands to ensure you don’t lose.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We still need your help to open the gate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your noble integrity, Dachen will forever remember—and repay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao realized his mistake and internally chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could he forget Xumi Palace’s ways?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They reject profit yet demand face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My mistake—my mistake,” Cheng Yuexiao apologized quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It is my duty to ensure fairness in the Tower Tribute War—I must act. But opening a new gate requires time,” Dai Guanwen said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few breaths later, Meng Yanhui transferred eight thousand strands of starlight—post-tax—to Dai Guanwen, who then began his work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the quiet chamber outside the Star-Picking Tower, Xu Jin awoke precisely after fifteen minutes of sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt refreshed, his spiritual soul power fully restored.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His star energy was completely replenished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the Mingji Star Pattern glowed brightly, Xu Jin saw the Grand Master outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How did it go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Xu Jin awake, the Grand Master stepped in and asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grand Master, I slew the Shahe King at fourth-rank ninth layer, killed twenty-four other fourth-rank experts in the Shahe Star Region, and hundreds of third-rank cultivators. The rest—my sister Ji and the others—face no danger now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As long as no mistakes occur, within six days we can install a new puppet king and fully conquer the Shahe Star Region,” Xu Jin said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Grand Master’s face lit with joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the long-term value of fully conquering a third-rank star region, it was no less than rising one rank in the Tower Tribute War.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either outcome would propel Dachen’s national strength upward for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third-rank star regions continuously delivered vast quantities of third- and fourth-rank star jade tablets and rare celestial treasures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you obtain the Star Will?” Grand Master Cheng asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin made no secret—he pulled it out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Cheng Yuexiao told him to put it away. “Wait until after the war to refine it—you’ll gain further strength. Keep it safe.” Here, Cheng Yuexiao frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I just confirmed with the Star Spirit: any Star Will acquired is recorded and cannot be erased. Your two Earth-type Shahe Hearts will be made public after the war.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ll once again become the target of envy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One might be tolerable. Two? Even fifth- and sixth-rank cultivators will covet them—let alone seventh-rank masters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can’t just refuse what’s mine?” Xu Jin smiled wryly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m thinking—you’ll enter the third-rank Zifeng Star Region next, and likely obtain another Thunder Feather Heart, right?” Cheng Yuexiao said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“More than likely. If my luck isn’t terrible, I’ll exit Zifeng within a day, and still have time for one or two more regions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So this time, you’ll acquire five or six different types of Celestial Star Will,” the Grand Master said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“About that—depends on luck.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It seems your brilliance, after the Tower Tribute War, can no longer be hidden,” Cheng Yuexiao said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I’ll just lock myself in the State Academy and cultivate,” Xu Jin laughed. “But I must take these Celestial Star Wills—otherwise, I’ll never get another chance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Take them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since you can’t hide it, fight with all your might.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let your brilliance blaze as brightly as it can!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop holding back!” Cheng Yuexiao said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Xu Jin beamed. “Grand Master—truly?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Truly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for your future safety, I’ve drafted a preliminary plan. Here’s the document—review it.” Cheng Yuexiao handed Xu Jin a jade tablet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Study it yourself. If you find anything needing improvement or addition, let me know early—I’ll keep refining it as circumstances change.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll decide on implementation based on actual conditions,” Cheng Yuexiao said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin sank his mind into the jade tablet—just one glance, and he was astonished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Grand Master truly was the Grand Master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He actually came up with such a bold plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If executed this way, it truly could solve his safety problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if so, Xu Jin himself must prepare in advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go—the Star Gate is almost ready.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few breaths later, Cheng Yuexiao and Xu Jin arrived inside the second floor of the main tower of the Dachen Star-Picking Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, this newly opened Star Gate had insufficient preparation from Dai Guanwen—it was already half a watch past its expected time and still not ready.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While waiting, Xu Jin chatted with the Star Spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How are the points?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“According to the starlight messages received so far, the highest scorer is Lin Xun of the Tianyang Star Palace,” said the Star Spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Higher than me?” Xu Jin frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had slain a third-rank Star Domain King and obtained two third-rank Star Domain Heavenly and Celestial Will fragments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just those alone amounted to 1,500 points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could anyone surpass him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lin Xun slew the Star Domain King of his fourth-rank Star Domain and also obtained one fragment of the fourth-rank Star Domain’s Heavenly and Celestial Will,” said the Star Spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Xu Jin was stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A fourth-rank Star Domain King? That would be a fifth-rank Dou Gathering Ninth Layer peak cultivator—with multiple fifth-rank experts at his side. How did this Lin Xun from the Tianyang Star Palace manage it?” Xu Jin asked in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“According to the messages transmitted from his Star-Picking Token, it likely involved insignias—he used at least three sixth-rank insignias,” said the Star Spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, Xu Jin understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xun had already reached fourth-rank Condensing Star Ninth Layer peak a year ago; if his soul cultivation had also broken into the fourth rank, he could have opened a Sumeru Space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That way, he could carry sixth-rank insignias inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So it was entirely possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for fourth-rank soul cultivation, it was also highly plausible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was last year’s top disciple of the Tianyang Star Palace and had once claimed a Golden Star. With the Tianyang Star Palace’s resources, forcing a disciple’s soul cultivation to fourth rank at any cost was no difficulty at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two or three hundred Dragon Turtle Soul-Forging Pills could accomplish it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For an individual, obtaining dozens of Dragon Turtle Soul-Forging Pills was extremely difficult, but for a dominant power, it was not hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, as long as this fourth-rank Star Domain is fully conquered, the cost will be recouped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If so, Lin Xun’s total points would be two thousand—just from slaying one fourth-rank Star Domain King and obtaining the fourth-rank Star Domain’s Heavenly and Celestial Will.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surpassing Xu Jin is perfectly normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lin Xun probably won’t leave his current Star Domain to enter another for battle, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sixth-rank insignias are extremely precious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’s already used three.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xu Jin still couldn’t let his guard down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For an individual, three sixth-rank insignias are extremely precious—but for a dominant power, they may not be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Dachen has Kou Jing, a master insignia artisan, fully supporting them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention the Tianyang Star Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, well done.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin’s praise made the Star Spirit ecstatic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its existence was too dull—besides reading books and watching people come and go in the Star-Picking Tower, it had nothing else to do, and could not leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had already given it the first dozen chapters of Journey to the West, which it had memorized backward and forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll reward you with five more chapters first—read them slowly. Keep a sharp eye out. If you perform well later, I’ll give you more rewards.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Xu Jin clenched in his palm the jade tablet he had already prepared with the five chapters; a faint flicker of starlight vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Done.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao’s voice came through—the third-rank Purple Wind Star Domain’s Star Gate was now ready.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grand Master, I’m entering,” Xu Jin said before stepping into the Star Gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm. Safety first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same moment, Cheng Yuexiao’s voice echoed in Xu Jin’s ear: “Remember, if you encounter no one, do not actively hunt down disciples of the Cangming Star Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if you’re provoked or a conflict arises, don’t hold back—if you strike, kill every witness. Don’t be soft. Leave no hazards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Although this year’s Star-Picking Festival has no restrictions on internal conflict, avoid giving others grounds for criticism if you fight in foreign domains.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grand Master, I understand. My primary goal is to slay the new Purple Wing King of the Purple Wind Star Domain and obtain that new Thunder Feather Heart.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After transmitting this, Xu Jin took the timing jade tablet given by Dai Guanwen and stepped directly into the temporary Star Gate of the third-rank Purple Wind Star Domain, vanishing instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Yuexiao and Meng Yanhui watched Xu Jin’s disappearing figure with eager anticipation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dai Guanwen, the fourth young master of the Sumeru Palace, gazed at Xu Jin’s vanishing form with a thoughtful expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This young man is far from ordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And his behavior—leaving the third-rank Shahe Star Domain only to re-enter the third-rank Purple Wind Star Domain—is also highly unusual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not something an ordinary prodigy could accomplish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Must be recorded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could bring him considerable benefits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he is the fourth young master of the Sumeru Palace, his expenses are truly enormous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although he was the Fourth Young Master of Xumi Palace, his expenses were indeed enormous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2349,"2026-06-19T23:56:34.019Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","04f7bd132de7f1065a8e41d18fedc84149e116dd25b8aa661719d82f2c1a54ba","the-star-martial-era-chapter-255","the-star-martial-era-chapter-253",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-star-martial-era-cover.jpg"]