[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-star-martial-era":3,"chapter-the-star-martial-era-the-star-martial-era-chapter-57":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},2274915,4448,"Chapter 57: Near Victory, Then Defeat","the-star-martial-era-chapter-57",57,"\u003Cp>Deep in Daqing Mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Xuechuan, director of the Yanzhou branch of the Tianyang Star Hall, was activating the Dingxing Pan to track Qi Shanye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Days of relentless pursuit had left Hu Xuechuan, usually pampered and privileged, disheveled—but his spirit was unusually exhilarated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Qi Shanye had only revealed his aura for less than half a minute three days ago, the Dingxing Pan, a powerful star artifact, had locked onto him; even after Qi Shanye concealed his aura again, Hu Xuechuan still tracked him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to the Dingxing Pan’s display, he was now less than a hundred li from Qi Shanye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eight high-level experts he had assembled—all at the Condensing Star realm—had long been stationed in ambush positions around him, as he had arranged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For three days, Qi Shanye had kept fleeing, but in truth, he had already fallen into Hu Xuechuan’s encirclement, which was steadily tightening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, all he needed was for Zhou Qingzhu, the fifth-rank expert, to arrive—then, with star power, he could maximize the Dingxing Pan’s power, forcing Qi Shanye’s locked aura to reveal its precise location, allowing for a full-scale ambush and capture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could finally apprehend the last remnant of the Lingji Star Hall he had hunted for over two years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that point, the reward from the Star Hall would be secondary; his true goal was Qi Shanye’s possession of the Lingji Star Hall’s most vital Divine Soul inheritance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he obtained the Lingji Star Hall’s Divine Soul inheritance, his cultivation base would advance effortlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once his cultivation broke through, everything else would follow naturally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the locked aura on the Dingxing Pan begin moving again, Hu Xuechuan frowned and looked toward the sky behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What is Zhou Qingzhu doing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s been three days—why hasn’t he arrived yet?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The encirclement he set based on the Dingxing Pan’s readings wasn’t invincible; if he didn’t act soon, within a day Qi Shanye would escape, and all two years of careful planning would be wasted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Remember, Qi Shanye was already a fifth-rank Peak Gathering Star expert over a decade ago; though he never broke through, he was severely wounded during the Lingji Star Hall’s siege and never fully recovered—but even so, Hu Xuechuan couldn’t capture him alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only with Zhou Qingzhu’s help was capture possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Logically, he should have arrived long after receiving the signal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could something have happened at the Tianyang Branch?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, that was impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But caution never hurt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yesterday morning, because Zhou Qingzhu still hadn’t arrived, Hu Xuechuan had sent Huang Yunshu, the supervisor of the Tianyang Branch’s Star Patrol, back to Jinshan County City to investigate why Zhou Qingzhu was delayed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had also given Huang Yunshu his personal token.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if there were troubles—even if the Jinshan Dao Academy had set up roadblocks—it could be resolved immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Jinshan Dao Academy dared to sabotage his plans now that his token was out, he would make them regret it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Logically, with Huang Yunshu’s speed, a round trip to Jinshan County City should have been completed by now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Qi Shanye’s aura on the Dingxing Pan begin moving again, Hu Xuechuan was about to pursue when suddenly he saw a streak of starlight darting swiftly through the distant mountains, heading straight for him—the aura was familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Huang Yunshu’s aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why is he alone?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where is Zhou Qingzhu?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Xuechuan felt a bad premonition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the Dingxing Pan still held the lock, and the wounded, unrecovered Qi Shanye couldn’t escape his grasp, Hu Xuechuan wasn’t in a hurry—he waited for Huang Yunshu for half a watch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half a watch later, the starlight that was Huang Yunshu landed before Hu Xuechuan, his expression panicked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm. What happened?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Yunshu, supervisor of the Tianyang Branch’s Star Patrol, looked frantic. “Director, from Mountain Head Zhou Qingzhu down—Deputy Mountain Head Liu Yelan, Supervising Abbot Wang Qiang, and all instructors and teachers—have all been captured alive by the Jinshan Dao Academy!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Xuechuan froze for several breaths, struggling to process this shocking news, then roared, “How is this possible? Are Zhou Qingzhu and his entire staff dead pigs? How could they all be captured alive by the Jinshan Dao Academy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if their strength was equal—or even inferior—they could have at least taken down half of the Jinshan Dao Academy’s forces!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the very least, some of them should have escaped to report!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could they all be captured alive?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Are you being deceived by someone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Yunshu looked bitter. “Director, when I first heard the news, I didn’t believe it either—until I saw Zhou Mountain Head and the others in the Jinshan Dao Academy’s prison, then I knew it was true.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s real!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Xuechuan’s eyebrows shot up, his beard bristling with rage. “How is this possible? What happened? Speak quickly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s said Dong Zhao obtained ironclad proof that Mountain Head Zhou Qingzhu had been causing chaos under the guise of a demonic cult, then set an ambush and surrounded him. With no choice, Mountain Head Zhou surrendered. The others, faced with the Jinshan Dao Academy’s righteous stance, dared not resist—fearing they’d be branded demonic accomplices—so they surrendered too.” Huang Yunshu said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Hu Xuechuan was stunned again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt like cursing his mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of bizarre twist is this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jinshan Dao Academy suffered zero losses and captured the entire Tianyang Branch leadership?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And they had ironclad proof that Zhou Qingzhu was a demonic cultist?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this got out, the Tianyang Star Hall’s face would be utterly destroyed—where would he ever show his face again?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the guise of a demonic cult?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Hu Xuechuan realized something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phrase “under the guise of a demonic cult” carried far deeper implications.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was even possible they’d branded Zhou Qingzhu as a demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Zhou Qingzhu was branded a demon?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What would be the consequence if the Mountain Head of a Tianyang Star Hall branch was proven to be a demon?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he, Hu Xuechuan, was Zhou Qingzhu’s direct superior!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More importantly, the root of this entire matter was himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The plan to capture Qi Shanye and seize the Lingji Star Hall’s Divine Soul inheritance had been a conspiracy between him and Zhou Qingzhu after they confirmed Qi Shanye possessed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse still, if news spread that the Tianyang Branch in Jinshan County had been completely wiped out by the Jinshan Dao Academy, the fallout would be enormous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If things went badly, even his position as branch director might not be safe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Hu Xuechuan was filled with agonizing indecision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Years of planning, nearly two years of action—and now, with Qi Shanye, the master of concealment, right before his eyes, this massive upheaval had erupted!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Xuechuan’s heart bled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this sudden crisis was too grave—he had to deal with it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sought Qi Shanye for the Lingji Star Hall’s unique Divine Soul inheritance, and to break through to a higher realm for better personal advancement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, if he didn’t handle the Tianyang Branch crisis, his personal advancement in the Star Hall would halt—he’d be reduced to a lone wandering cultivator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stakes were clear to him now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked again at the Dingxing Pan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Xuechuan truly wanted to spit blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the Dingxing Pan was a sixth-rank star artifact, a supreme tracking tool, it had its flaws.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once an aura was locked, the closer he was, the more precisely it pointed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if he was too far away, the direction became increasingly vague—until finally, it could only indicate a broad range or general direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless he re-locked the aura up close again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, if he returned to Jinshan County City—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he had no choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more Hu Xuechuan thought, the angrier he became—suddenly, he stomped his foot. A flash of starlight, and the mountain peak beneath him collapsed instantly, startling countless wild beasts and even star beasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Return!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You notify the others!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, Hu Xuechuan shot skyward, stepping on starlight, heading toward Jinshan County City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>About an hour after Hu Xuechuan left, a water-like figure suddenly coalesced in a stream deep in Daqing Mountain—its silhouette bore a faint resemblance to Qi Shanye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Dingxing Pan’s aura has moved far away?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did it work?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it, Tian Zhang really is a bastard—he made me flee for three days and nights, nearly forced me to use my last life-saving trick. Luckily—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I wonder how that kid is doing? With the Dawn Seal I gave him, he should be safe back in Jinshan County City, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First, shake off the Dingxing Pan’s aura lock.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Muttering to himself, Qi Shanye leapt from the water and dashed swiftly in the opposite direction of Hu Xuechuan’s departure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the bright daylight, in the empty, uninhabited mountains, patches of watermarks rapidly vanished into the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At noon on July 1, Xu Jin returned to the Jinshan Dao Academy after completing his Spirit Protection mission, and while handing in his mission report at the Academy’s External Affairs Hall, he received another notice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since all disciples on the Spirit Protection mission had returned, all disciples dispatched to hunt demonic cultists had also returned to the Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the third watch of the afternoon, all disciples would assemble in the Training Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mountain Head Dong Zhao and Supervisor Tian Zhang would distribute rewards to all disciples who participated in the Great Hunt for Demons, and grant special honors to those who earned merit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This filled Xu Jin with anticipation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xu Jin was also pondering another matter: the Great Hunt for Demons was over—had the demon been captured?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually, Xu Jin was somewhat worried about the mysterious person who had taught him the Chengpo Star Seal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1616,"2026-06-19T23:56:29.689Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","f3f5cb2d35476ea2ad60e1cbc8412bd73e2a6a6ac1e4d6e5a89784a390d47f34","the-star-martial-era-chapter-58","the-star-martial-era-chapter-56",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-star-martial-era-cover.jpg"]