[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-star-martial-era":3,"chapter-the-star-martial-era-the-star-martial-era-chapter-5":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},2274863,4448,"Chapter 5: Five-Dou Killing Fist (In Honor of the Patron of the Wandering Orphan Alliance)","the-star-martial-era-chapter-5",5,"\u003Cp>The coma-like sleep had been incredibly comfortable for Xu Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Woken by the clapper’s sound, Xu Jin stretched luxuriously, feeling utterly refreshed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, due to his congenital physical ailment, Xu Jin was always sleep-deprived; even after a full night’s rest, he still felt exhausted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jin Ge, you’re awake!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xu Ge, you’re awake!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as he opened his eyes, Qian Xiaohu and the other boys in the same dorm rushed over, their faces filled with curiosity as they stared at Xu Jin’s chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin froze, then immediately understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Were these boys wondering whether he had successfully activated the Star Mark?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin wanted to know too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a thought, he sank his awareness into the Star Mark on his chest—and instantly, the mark glowed with faint starlight, yet its pattern was crystal clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faint, yet steady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It worked! It worked!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Congratulations, congratulations!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Congratulations, Jin Ge!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire dorm erupted in celebration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So much so that when Xu Jin went to relieve himself, dozens of boys from his dorm clustered around him, eager to chat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t that these boys were overly opportunistic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They genuinely hoped to glean even a scrap of experience from Xu Jin, hoping it might help them succeed in activating their own Star Marks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Yue Daqi, who activated his Star Mark in three days, was unreachable now—and his experience was pure nonsense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was talent; could you learn that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ren Xiaoxiang, who activated hers in eight days; Zhou Du, in twenty-one; Lu Xianbing, in twenty-nine—all were talents, impossible to copy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Geng, who activated his in just over two months, had experience worth learning from—but the problem was, he wouldn’t talk to them; after succeeding, he completely ignored them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin’s experience—eighty-three days to activate—was now their best option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any question Xu Jin could answer, he answered without reservation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether this experience would actually help them was uncertain, but it would surely give these still-unactivated boys more hope and confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Show-off!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin, surrounded like a star, was spotted by Luo Geng and others who had just arrived; they spat in displeasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Xiaohu and the other boys immediately stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Xu Jin, defiant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xu Jin stepped aside willingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His current frail frame was better off being cautious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Success?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before morning drills began, Instructor Ning Yuchan approached the radiant Xu Jin and asked; seeing him nod, her slender eyebrows lifted slightly, and beneath her veil, she must have smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And your body? Is it better?” Ning Jiaotou asked again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I feel energetic, my breathing is smooth—I’m definitely much better!” Xu Jin said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, Xu Jin had always felt a heavy stone pressing on his chest, making breathing difficult; this morning, that oppressive sensation was gone entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. Now that you’ve succeeded, your father’s sacrifices weren’t in vain!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Focus your cultivation these days, and strive to break through to Meal-Mist First Stage!” Ning Jiaotou instructed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clouds rise—Meal-Mist Posture, begin!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Ning Jiaotou’s call, each boy stepped forward, crouched slightly, arms cradling empty air, facing the first ray of dawn, eyes half-closed, relaxed yet alert, inhaling and exhaling with the morning glow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin did the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this time, as soon as he began practicing Meal-Mist Posture, the Star Mark on his chest glowed steadily, its lines brilliant and visible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he continued the practice, his chest grew steadily warm; the starlight shimmering from the Star Mark intensified continuously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Successfully activating the Star Mark granted the foundation for cultivation—but it was only the beginning; now he must accumulate Star Force and use it to refine his entire body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The process of Star Force growing and radiating through the body to refine it was the process of strengthening the physique and reshaping the bones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once Star Force refined the chest and abdomen, it would strengthen the five viscera and six bowels, greatly enhancing all physical fundamentals—that was Meal-Mist First Stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Ning Jiaotou, reaching Meal-Mist First Stage meant escaping the ranks of ordinary people; even in the military, one would start as a Squad Leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Meal-Mist and Drink-Radiance postures practiced during morning and evening drills primarily served to attract and store starlight and Star Force; without Star Force, body refinement was impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Body refinement required Star Martial Arts to activate Star Force for refinement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xu Jin had just activated his Star Mark—he still needed to fully accumulate Star Force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he continuously practiced Meal-Mist Posture, he could clearly sense the increase of Star Force within him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could feel it by the size and radiance of the glowing Star Force cluster emanating from his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During cultivation, Xu Jin glanced at the Can Dou Platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Can Dou Platform was unchanged from yesterday: one star-lamp flickered, and a strand of starlight floated above it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More accurately, it was nearly a full strand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This surprised Xu Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last night, in desperation, he had drawn this strand into his body—it had cured his congenital heart ailment and enabled his Star Mark activation, consuming only a fraction of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, this strand held considerable power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a thought, the small figure in the center of the Can Dou Platform bowed again to the stars; after three breaths, another strand of starlight appeared above the platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The floating starlight now amounted to one and a half strands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp shout rang out, a gust of wind slammed into his face, jolting Xu Jin awake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instructor Ning Yuchan had suddenly appeared before him, her chest still heaving, her iron cane hovering an inch above his head, glinting coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The greatest sin in cultivation is distraction!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve just activated your Star Mark and already grow complacent? What future achievements will you ever have? Remember: diligence compensates for lack of talent. Though you took eighty-three days to activate your Star Mark, with hard work, you can still achieve great things.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Jiaotou, who had been patrolling the morning drills, had keenly noticed Xu Jin’s distraction, rushed over, and scolded him soundly—yet still ended with encouragement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True master!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin could only nod repeatedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough. You’ve succeeded—go over there. It’ll be easier to cultivate. Staying here only disturbs others trying to activate their Star Marks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin nodded in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Giving Qian Xiaohu beside him an encouraging glance, he moved toward the eastern side of the morning drill grounds, amid the envious stares of the other boys.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That area was occupied solely by boys who had already activated their Star Marks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for cultivation positions, there was little difference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The greatest difference was that the central area of the drill grounds held only unactivated boys, practicing the static Meal-Mist Posture—each needed only a square meter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the eastern side, activated boys each occupied about two square meters, because they practiced both static and dynamic techniques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only by combining stillness and motion could they refine their bodies and break through to Meal-Mist First Stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Between this large and small, still and moving, the heavens and earth were already different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hello, Senior Brothers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin reached the eastern side, found a spot, and greeted them; many already-activated boys smiled back in acknowledgment—once you activated your Star Mark, you were true brothers within the Dao Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some, like Luo Geng who activated earlier, merely glanced at Xu Jin before returning to their cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the front, Yue Daqi, the top student of this Star Activation season, continued his focused, diligent practice; Xu Jin’s arrival didn’t affect him in the slightest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, geniuses are hardworking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stepping forward, slightly raising his head, visualizing the Star Mark, imagining the stars and heavens, Xu Jin smoothly resumed the Meal-Mist Posture, accumulating Star Force, feeling the continuous growth within him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after only half an hour, his chest began to swell with pressure; though he continued practicing Meal-Mist Posture for a long while, his Star Force showed no further increase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin had studied diligently at the Dao Academy—he knew this meant his Star Force was full; now he must switch to dynamic techniques to activate Star Force and refine his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Switch to Five-Dou Killing Fist—use the fist form to drive Star Force and refine yourself!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The iron cane landed silently as Ning Jiaotou reappeared behind Xu Jin, offering guidance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin didn’t hesitate; he clasped his hands, then thrust both palms forward—the first form of Five-Dou Killing Fist: East Harmonizes Yin and Yang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since arriving at Jinshan Dao Academy, every day included one and a half hours of Star Martial Arts training, which included instruction in Five-Dou Killing Fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Xu Jin struggled terribly—he could barely complete one full sequence of the five forms and sixteen variations without pausing two or three times—he had practiced the basic stances thoroughly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as soon as he launched the punch, Ning Yuchan blocked it with her iron cane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You must channel Star Force. Before striking, visualize the Star Mark—use your intent to guide Star Force, then use the fist motion to drive it to cleanse and refine your body. Only then will Five-Dou Killing Fist be effective.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At first, the movements may be slow—but you must draw Star Force!” Ning Jiaotou continued offering guidance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin nodded, but didn’t immediately strike again; instead, he carefully recalled the technique, then slowly resumed the stance and punched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both fists slashed and blocked—Harmonizing Yin and Yang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*Shhh!*\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bare skin of his chest flared brightly with starlight—signaling that this punch had successfully drawn Star Force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Star Force enhancement, a faint punch wind emerged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the momentum of the punch, Star Force surged outward—but due to his body not yet being fully refined, the force didn’t escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the Star Force merely swelled and exploded within his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His chest exploded in searing pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin’s lips twitched from the pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But soon, star force surged rapidly through the star patterns, and alternating sensations of heat, numbness, and itch arose where the star force had exploded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Xu Jin discovered with delight that the area of starlight covering his chest had genuinely expanded by a small circle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where his chest had previously been swollen with star force, it now felt spacious; Xu Jin felt he could resume cultivating the Meal-the-Mist Form to accumulate star force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Continue!” Ning’s voice rang out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Xu Jin resumed the Five Stars Killing Fist, slowing his movements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second posture, West Rises Ten Thousand Stones, was followed by South Sweeps Six Directions, North Shatters Heavenly Wolf, and Center Stabilizes Heaven and Earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It took Xu Jin a full half-hour to complete this entire set of the Five Stars Killing Fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after this time, he felt thoroughly refreshed, calm and composed, not even breathing hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, before he even finished half, Xu Jin had been gasping like an ox.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even more delightfully, after completing one round of the Five Stars Killing Fist, the area of his chest covered by starlight had grown substantially.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he first succeeded in Star Pointing, the starlight covering his chest was only the size of an egg.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After one round of the Five Stars Killing Fist, the starlight covering his chest had grown to the size of an apple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The progress of Starlight Refining the Body was visible to the naked eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, Ning’s instructor nodded; Xu Jin had taken eighty-three days to achieve Star Pointing, his talent seemed average, but his comprehension of the fist form was quite good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many youths required three, five, even eight or ten rounds to fully complete their first Starlight Refining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin completed it in one round—on this front, he could rival Yue Daqi, the top Star Pointer of this cohort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the area covered by starlight had expanded, the glow of the star patterns had grown dim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon inner observation, Xu Jin discovered that most of the starlight previously drawn into his body via the Meal-the-Mist Form had been consumed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Continue cultivating the Meal-the-Mist Form. When star force is fully accumulated, use the Five Stars Killing Fist to drive it and refine your body. Repeat this cycle to strengthen yourself.” After giving this advice, Ning’s instructor left to check on the other youths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin, however, fell into deep thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Accumulate star force, refine the body with the Five Stars Killing Fist, exhaust the star force, then accumulate again—this was a cycle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could the starlight within his Can Dou Platform participate in this process?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2061,"2026-06-19T23:56:29.689Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","e4d09c493f8dda27dc29f540a679695d1441624a74663d7a9147eaea69472427","the-star-martial-era-chapter-6","the-star-martial-era-chapter-4",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-star-martial-era-cover.jpg"]