[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-star-martial-era":3,"chapter-the-star-martial-era-the-star-martial-era-chapter-76":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},2274934,4448,"Chapter 76: The Senior Brothers","the-star-martial-era-chapter-76",76,"\u003Cp>Seeing the Blood Cult’s altar master flee far away, Xu Jin did not pursue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin understood the principle: never chase a desperate enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the speed the altar master had just unleashed was beyond Xu Jin’s ability to catch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin casually fired a Star Arrow into the star pattern on Zhou Baihan’s chest, shattering the scattered starlight around the wounded man and forcing him to spit blood again, before stepping forward to lift the fallen Second Senior Brother, Zhang Han.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long while, Zhang Han, still spitting blood, finally recovered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Han, now upright, looked at Xu Jin with deep gratitude: “Lucky indeed—if not for you saving me, my life would have ended here today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You were already wounded, or those bandits wouldn’t have had a chance,” Xu Jin said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Zhang Han’s face darkened with hatred: “These Blood Cult devils have noses too sharp—I’d just slain several Mist-Feasting beasts in succession, took an accidental wound, and they showed up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, even if that altar master was a Star-Forge realm cultivator, he couldn’t have touched me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This reminded Xu Jin of the Blood-Guide Beast-Taming Art he’d seen earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Han’s repeated encounters with beasts were no coincidence—they were the Blood Cult’s doing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Zhang Han’s words, Xu Jin had no doubt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Second Senior Brother, universally acknowledged by Dao Academy disciples, surely possessed the strength to challenge higher realms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention, Xu Jin had already seen three star weapons on Zhang Han’s person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, may I ask your honorable name? I feel I’ve seen you before, but I can’t recall your title.” Zhang Han hurriedly asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Second Senior Brother, I am Xu Jin, a disciple of this year’s Star-Pointing Season.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhang Han, disciple of last year’s August Star-Pointing Season.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, they formally recognized each other: “Younger brother, your life-saving grace can only be repaid slowly—once back at the Dao Academy, enter the Star-Picking Tower, and link our Star-Picking Tokens. Should you ever need anything, just call out, and Senior Brother will come.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Brother, you overstate it—it was nothing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shhh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they spoke, a green streak of light flashed through the mountains—Xu Jin’s gaze shifted; the instructor arriving now was Ning Yuchan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before she even landed, Xu Jin caught the faint scent on her person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had been less noticeable before, but since gaining the Spirit-Scent Star Pattern, his sense of smell had grown increasingly acute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin couldn’t help inhaling deeply several times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Yuchan landed, and upon seeing Xu Jin, her expression changed; when she saw the severely wounded Zhang Han, her demeanor eased slightly. She pressed her iron cane against Zhang Han’s shoulder and sent star energy flowing through him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm—right arm broken, left leg slightly injured, internal organs severely damaged, but no immediate threat to life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And this one?” Ning Yuchan turned to the still-living Zhou Baihan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Han quickly recounted what had just happened, causing Ning Yuchan to glance at Xu Jin with new surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without using a Star Mark, solely through his own combat strength, he had crippled a Mist-Feasting Seventh Layer Blood Cult devil—even if by ambush, this combat power was highly impressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This boy’s cultivation base was rising fast, and his combat strength was rising just as fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her judgment had been correct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The spoils go to Xu Jin?” Ning Yuchan turned to Zhang Han.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Naturally.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Yuchan looked at Xu Jin: “Hurry up—today’s dangers have been frequent; I can’t stay here long.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about him? Should we…?” Xu Jin asked, gesturing to the still-alive Zhou Baihan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A live captive is vital—I’ll take him back to the Star-Patrol Guards, extract his mouth, and see if we can trace the roots and wipe out the Blood Cult’s nest in Jinshan County,” Ning Yuchan said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she spoke, she tapped her iron cane repeatedly, releasing star energy to stop Zhou Baihan’s bleeding—he wouldn’t die for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Baihan, who had just resigned himself to death, suddenly felt hope rise again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he confessed everything, maybe he’d still have a chance?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The altar master abandoned me—why shouldn’t I confess everything?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this thought, Zhou Baihan’s mind cleared completely, and his desire to live surged fiercely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin took Zhou Baihan’s backpack, searched his robes for silver, and detected over a dozen living scents on his body—but only five matched the scents on Jiang Long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin memorized them silently, then handed Zhou Baihan over to Ning Yuchan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And you—shall I carry you back, or will you return on your own?” Ning Yuchan asked Zhang Han.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Han thought for a moment: “I’d be grateful if the Chief Instructor would take me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was too wounded to return alone—staying here would burden Xu Jin and waste his time; better to let Ning Yuchan carry him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the moment Ning Yuchan agreed, Xu Jin felt an inexplicable rush of anxiety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let Ning Yuchan carry Zhang Han back?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d never carried me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’s my own teacher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Teacher, why don’t I carry Zhang Han back? You can’t carry two people—it’ll be too much trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Ning Yuchan glanced at Xu Jin, a mischievous smile flickering in her eyes: “Carry?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next instant, she thrust her iron cane upward like skewering a dead fish, lifting the wounded Zhou Baihan, then pointed at Zhang Han:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Climb on!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Han stared blankly—was he supposed to climb the iron cane, or climb onto Zhou Baihan?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The former he could barely accept; the latter…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What, do you expect me to carry you? Or would you rather return on your own? Or waste Xu Jin’s time?” Ning Yuchan raised an eyebrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I—I’ll climb!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, the iron cane was long enough to bear Zhang Han as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Be out of the mountains by noon tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, she leveled her iron cane, hoisting the two men like noodles, her feet exploding in starlight as she vanished instantly. Xu Jin saw one of them slip off, only for Ning Yuchan to instantly surge and catch him again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cold sweat broke on Xu Jin’s forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I ever get seriously wounded, I’ll ask another instructor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher’s kind, but her iron cane is icy cold!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few minutes later, Xu Jin had inventoried all of Zhou Baihan’s spoils.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The backpack contained roughly 1,600 taels worth of rare herbs and treasures, one Star-Replenishing Pill, two Spirit-Reviving Pills, and a star weapon longsword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Total spoils neared 3,000 taels, making Xu Jin sigh—this truly felt like killing and burning to earn a golden belt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But those who kill others will be killed in turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wealth gained on the blade’s tip can easily turn you into a corpse on that same tip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After organizing the backpack, swallowing a Star-Replenishing Pill to restore his star energy, Xu Jin resumed his exploration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far away, a hundred li off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hiding in a stream for a long while, letting the water wash away any lingering scent, the Blood Cult’s Jinshan County altar master, Long Yu, cautiously surfaced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why do I feel so unlucky? Again, I ran into that Dao Academy prodigy…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Zhou doesn’t seem dead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Zhou won’t… keep his mouth shut—he’ll confess everything he knows.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So we must retreat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And retreat thoroughly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not only retreat—I must leave Jinshan County for a while.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But this time’s spoils are enough to let me rapidly break through to the Star-Refining realm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After thinking, Long Yu pulled out a blood talisman and crushed it instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he crushed it, the Blood-Guide Jade hanging from his chest flickered faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is the last thing I can do for you all—whether you survive the coming crackdown depends on your own fate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, confirming no one was around, Long Yu slung his backpack, chose a direction, and didn’t even return to his established base—he slipped directly toward Danxia County.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>July 12 afternoon, Xu Jin’s harvest totaled roughly 600 taels; he trained hard that night, and continued training on the morning of the 13th.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the morning of July 13, he wandered casually, gathered another hundred taels, and slew a Mist-Feasting Fifth Layer dappled tiger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He skinned the tiger, took its penis, extracted its fangs and bones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tiger’s parts were still valuable—even in the mortal world, this set could fetch two or three hundred taels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too bad it wasn’t a star beast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it were a star beast, its value would be at least ten times higher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At 1:15 p.m., Xu Jin arrived at the nearest supply point, only to be told by the instructor that all disciples must carry their own harvest to the Jinshan Outer Academy at Daqingshan for assembly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This forced Xu Jin to rush—despite repeatedly activating his Star-Flight Step, he arrived over an hour later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he arrived, most Dao Academy disciples were already gathered, discussing their harvests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Congratulations, Senior Brother Wang—you’ve taken first place again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Brother Wang, can you sell me that star weapon you chose this time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No wonder you’re Senior Brother Wang—your harvest exceeds ten thousand taels again; you alone match a hundred of us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Younger brothers, you must learn from Senior Brother Wang and us—we’re only half a year ahead of you, but there’s so much you still need to learn.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Congratulations, Brother Yu, you’ve finally secured second place.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Congratulations, Brother Zhang.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of the students gathered around Wang Weisheng, the senior brother of the Dao Academy, their congratulations ringing out in a chorus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In contrast, the students of this spring’s Star Pointing Season all wore grim expressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their rankings were poor, and their harvests were low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse still, they’d been publicly humiliated by senior brothers from previous years—no wonder their faces were sour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially the talents like Yue Daqi, Lu Xianbing, Ren Xiaoxiang, and Yu Guan—all wore unmistakable displeasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially Lu Xianbing, who had previously turned down over a dozen offers to partner up, now found himself publicly shamed by someone he’d rejected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Lu, didn’t I tell you to team up with me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"With my experience, I’d never let you suffer a loss.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you’d teamed up with me, your harvest wouldn’t have been just over four thousand taels—it’d have been at least six or seven thousand, and you might even have cracked the top twenty.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xianbing, humiliated in front of everyone, scowled. As a talent, he hated this kind of post-hoc lecturing. Seeing Xu Jin approach, he shoved through the crowd to meet him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Xu, how was your harvest?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xianbing’s question drew the attention of others. Suddenly, not just Lu Xianbing but Yue Daqi, Ren Xiaoxiang, Yu Guan, Luo Geng—all those similarly lectured by senior brothers—surrounded Xu Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Xu Jin, your harvest must’ve been good, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Xu Jin, your harvest was definitely high, wasn’t it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd’s motives varied: some hoped Xu Jin would prove himself and restore their pride; others sought to divert the seniors’ attention away from themselves; still others harbored ulterior intentions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they were going to be lectured, let them all be lectured together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this move made Xu Jin the center of attention for every student.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they saw it was Xu Jin—the one who’d risen sharply to Squad Leader after making a huge splash—they all rushed over, eager to see his harvest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If his harvest was low, the senior brothers would surely impart some “wise” advice, offering well-meaning guidance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin was momentarily stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt as if everyone had suddenly followed him toward the harvest collection point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1907,"2026-06-19T23:56:29.689Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","75a474caeb7b7a81fc541825e39c79636cf6e80111304c934ae49cecc1972aef","the-star-martial-era-chapter-77","the-star-martial-era-chapter-75",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-star-martial-era-cover.jpg"]