[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-star-martial-era":3,"chapter-the-star-martial-era-the-star-martial-era-chapter-96":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},2274954,4448,"Chapter 96: Ning Yuchan","the-star-martial-era-chapter-96",96,"\u003Cp>When Xu Jin arrived at his newly purchased courtyard, his younger sister Jiang Er and their father Xu Dajiang were sweeping up fallen leaves; Xu Dajiang seemed fine, but Jiang Er had clearly been working for a while—her small face flushed red, her bangs soaked with sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father, today hire two laborers and a cook.” Xu Jin said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This two-courtyard house, including front and back yards, is over a thousand square meters—by relying solely on Jiang Er and your father, you’d have nothing else to do but clean all day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Xu Jin expected, the moment he finished speaking, Xu Dajiang immediately objected, “How can that be? You’d have to pay at least two taels of silver per month, plus meals. That silver should be saved for your bride price and Jiang Er’s dowry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We’ve got hands and feet—we don’t need hired laborers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father, what if I ask my colleagues to help clean when they come over?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And when they come, it’ll be at least seven or eight people, maybe twenty or thirty—why not just order meals from a restaurant and have them delivered?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Dajiang: “.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin’s words left Xu Dajiang frozen in place—it was indeed a serious problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father, Jiang Er will turn fifteen in August. I plan to enroll her in the Star Pointing Season this August to see if she can cultivate. So for the next month or so, I intend to hire a female tutor to continue teaching her to read.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cultivation requires literacy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So we still need to hire a laborer and a cook.” Xu Jin said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This…” Xu Dajiang hesitated still—only one reason: he was used to frugality and hated spending silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father, forget my monthly salary—we now collect seventy or eighty taels in rent every month. And if Jiang Er succeeds in Star Pointing, she’ll get a salary too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin’s words finally convinced Xu Dajiang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seventy or eighty taels a month—spending ten on laborers still leaves sixty or seventy to save. That’s acceptable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine. I’ll go hire two people this afternoon. Ah, it’s my fault—I forgot you’re now an official.” Xu Dajiang scolded himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he could have decided these matters with a single word, he still had to persuade his father. Now that money came easily, he remembered how, in the past when they were poor, every silver coin for Star Pointing and medicine had been painstakingly scraped together by Xu Dajiang from the tiniest savings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who dares say frugality is bad?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Er, have you prepared what I asked you to?” Xu Jin asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, I prepared it all yesterday, but Father—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, Xu Jin reached the side room where items were stored—and saw the floor completely covered with wrapped gifts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is too much!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, Father told me to buy four sets.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin had originally planned to buy some gifts when visiting Ning Yuchan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to thank her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without Ning Yuchan’s intervention, Jiang Er might not have been rescued safely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He never expected so many gifts—filling an entire room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would they need a cart to carry them?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sending gifts by cart would be ostentatious—and Ning Yuchan would surely refuse them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin looked at his father in surprise—previously so stingy, now so generous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father, why buy four sets?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t you say the others involved in the rescue were the Headmaster, the Supervising Officer, the Duzhu, plus your teacher? That’s four, isn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, Father—the Headmaster and the others wouldn’t care about my trifling gifts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>SLAP!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, Xu Dajiang smacked Xu Jin hard on the back of the head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You little fool, don’t you understand? The village head of Xu Family Village is rich enough, right? When I gave him a chicken, his face lit up like a chicken’s ass. Listen, Jin’er—what the Headmaster has is his own, but what you give, no matter how small, is your heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t expect him to remember your kindness—just don’t let him call you an ungrateful wretch. After all, he saved your sister, didn’t he?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Xu Jin’s mind flashed like lightning—he suddenly understood something from his past life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why had one senior, with no real strength, no technical skill, and no diligence, ended up the most favored and supported by their advisor—personally recommending him for a paper, involving him in a project, and launching his life on a rocket?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, Xu Jin had been in the lab every day, rising before the rooster, sleeping after the dog, exhausting himself gathering experimental data—yet he remained mediocre under the advisor’s watch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, he was truly foolish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During Spring Festival, his parents told him to bring the advisor some local chicken and wild boar meat—he shook his head like a rattle, saying the advisor earned millions a year and didn’t need such trifles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The advisor didn’t need his trifling gifts—but he needed the sentiment behind them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That favored senior, it was said, had even stayed up all night to guard and care for the advisor’s father during hospitalization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only now did Xu Jin understand this truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Important people don’t need your gifts—they need your heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father, I understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Xu Jin picked up a shoulder pole and loaded it with the dozen or so gifts his father had carefully selected—nothing expensive, just thirty or forty taels of silver, but heavy with sincerity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? Xu Jin is here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You came, but why bring gifts?” The servant woman in Headmaster Dong Zhao’s courtyard welcomed Xu Jin inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Headmaster, if not for your intervention that day, my little sister might not have been saved. My father dares not face you, but he insisted I come to express his gratitude.” Xu Jin said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Headmaster Dong Zhao laughed, “It’s my duty—what’s there to thank for? If you have time, bring your father to my courtyard for tea.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? You’ve broken through to Meal of Mist Sixth Layer?” Suddenly, Headmaster Dong Zhao’s expression shifted slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I recall you achieved Star Pointing eighty-three days ago. To break through to Meal of Mist Sixth Layer so quickly—did you successfully inscribe the Great Gathering Star Pattern?” Dong Zhao suddenly realized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Headmaster. I succeeded and broke through last night.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Zhao nodded, then waved his hand, “Go. I accept your sentiment. Cultivate well—the Autumn Exam is near. I look forward to seeing your performance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, following the same method, he visited Duzhu Tian Zhang’s home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Zhang did not refuse Xu Jin’s gift and offered further encouragement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, regarding your participation in the suppression of the Worship the Dipper Cult, the State Dao Academy has finalized your merit record—two Major Merits!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to regulations, two Major Merits qualify you, as Squad Leader of the Star Patrol, for promotion to Deputy Squad Chief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the minimum cultivation requirement for Deputy Squad Chief is Star Casting Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ve already noted it—once you reach Star Casting Realm, you’ll be promoted to Deputy Squad Chief of the Star Patrol.” Tian Zhang said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This news from Tian Zhang delighted Xu Jin greatly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another promotion—but he had to break through to Star Casting Realm first, and even then, only to Deputy Squad Chief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deputy Squad Chief was a subordinate to Squad Chief, with one level higher pay than Squad Leader but one level lower than Squad Chief. Xu Jin only knew the Deputy Squad Chief’s monthly salary was one hundred taels of silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even that much was worth celebrating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Star Casting shouldn’t be far off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In one or two months, Xu Jin’s fixed monthly income would double to one hundred taels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Xu Jin visited Supervising Officer Cao Chun. The usually stern Cao Chun, upon seeing Xu Jin, showed a faint smile—and likewise noticed his cultivation level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After his surprise, he offered more encouragement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, Xu Jin carried the gifts to see Ning Yuchan—but the gifts for Ning Yuchan had been chosen by Jiang Er with the most care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She even packed in many snacks—over a dozen kinds of seeds, candied fruits, and dried nuts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin thought this inappropriate, but Jiang Er said, “Teacher Ning is only in her early twenties—eating snacks is perfectly normal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is this? I’m your teacher—solving problems for students is my duty. Why send gifts?” Of the four recipients, Ning Yuchan had the fiercest temper—she nearly scolded Xu Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After this trial, Xu Jin had grown again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You solve problems for students because it’s your duty as a teacher—but as your student, offering you a token of gratitude to repay your teaching is perfectly normal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Smooth-tongued! If you had this time, you’d be better off breaking through to Meal of Mist Sixth Layer already. Remember, Meal of Mist Sixth Layer is extremely important—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Yuchan glared at Xu Jin, mid-reprimand, when suddenly her almond eyes widened—her pupils shimmered with starlight, fixed on Xu Jin as if physically tangible. “You broke through? When?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Teacher, this morning.” Xu Jin lied casually—breaking through this morning sounded less shocking than breaking through two days ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So fast? I remember you said you broke through to Meal of Mist Fifth Layer on July 5th—only twelve days have passed!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Yuchan, who knew the details, was truly stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How long did Yue Daqi, this year’s top Star Pointer, take to break from Meal of Mist Fifth Layer to Sixth Layer?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A full thirty-five days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xianbing and Ren Xiaoxiang also took around thirty-five days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Xu Jin had taken twenty days, Ning Yuchan wouldn’t have been surprised—she’d have considered it normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, such cases existed—she herself had broken through in just twenty-eight days from Meal of Mist Fifth to Sixth Layer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xu Jin? Only twelve days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of insane speed was this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the Grand Master’s personal disciple hadn’t moved this fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Yuchan scrutinized Xu Jin from head to toe, then asked again, “Tell me honestly—when did you successfully inscribe the Great Gathering Star Pattern?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She quickly added, “Think carefully before you answer. If you lie to me, don’t call me Teacher anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin looked up, startled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d learned her lesson—afraid he’d fool her again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Six days ago.” Xu Jin said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Yuchan’s almond eyes widened again, instantly calculating the precise time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin had successfully inscribed the Small Gathering Star Pattern on June 24th—six days ago was July 11th. Seventeen days to inscribe the Great Gathering Star Pattern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This speed\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many disciples in the Dao Academy haven’t yet succeeded in forming their Minor Star Patterns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin’s Grand Star Pattern has already been successfully inscribed for six days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Yuchan stood up, took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly; her chest rose and fell sharply, giving Xu Jin, seated there, a sense of oppressive weight like a mountain peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not bad. Your talent must have been masked by your previous heart ailment, but that’s actually a good thing—perhaps even a blessing in disguise.” Ning Yuchan said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A blessing in disguise?” Xu Jin didn’t understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ll understand later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That day on Qianye Island, I saw how strong your combat ability was, and I thought you might miss this autumn examination. But I didn’t expect you’d already reached Meal of Mist, Seventh Layer. Given your cultivation speed, you’ll hit the peak of Meal of Mist, Seventh Layer in no more than half a month—so you’ll make it in time for the autumn examination, and maybe even lend a hand.” Ning Yuchan said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Autumn examination? Teacher, are you talking about the assessment in a few days?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That should be no challenge for me, right?” Xu Jin said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, the autumn examination is massive—it involves not just our Jinshan Dao Academy, but all disciples from Dao Academies across Chen Guo.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Ning Yuchan fell silent, pondering for a moment before continuing, “Xu Jin, there’s something I didn’t want you to know—I thought your combat strength was good, but you had no chance. But now, I think you still might.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Teacher, please speak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Headmaster intervened across counties to rescue your sister and the other kidnapped girls, but he did so under immense pressure. He succeeded—but he’s deeply angered the Head of the Yanzhou Dao Academy, his superior. He’ll likely be targeted during this autumn examination.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your performance in this autumn examination is crucial to the Headmaster.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I hope you’ll intensify your training in the coming days. When the autumn examination comes, you must enter the inner circle!” Ning Yuchan said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Teacher, I’ll try my best. But how can they target someone in an exam based on merit?” Xu Jin asked, confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The autumn examination’s rules are complex—you’ll see for yourself! And if you enter the inner circle, your Star Casting won’t be a problem at all—you might even forge a Mid-Grade or High-Grade Star Core!” Ning Yuchan said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half an hour later, Xu Jin finally left Ning Yuchan’s courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Yuchan told Xu Jin three extremely important goals for this stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, in two days’ time, the academy’s internal assessment requires him to rank among the top three disciples of this cohort and activate the Plucking Star Token to qualify for this year’s full-academy disciple examination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, Xu Jin must finish in the top ten of the full-academy disciple examination to earn eligibility for the autumn examination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he left, Ning Yuchan taught Xu Jin two Golden Chapters: the Refining Golden Chapter and the Linking Golden Chapter, corresponding to the cultivation method for Meal of Mist, Seventh Layer, and another basic Star Art—Star Bind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She taught him this new Star Art because during the battle on Qianye Island, she noticed Xu Jin could instantly cast at least three of his Star Arts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a talent that inscribed the Grand Star Pattern successfully in sixteen days, achieving complete mastery and instant casting of Star Arts is no surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when he left, Xu Jin felt awkward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why? Because he needed Ning Yuchan to cover for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You lied to the Headmaster? Said you succeeded in inscribing the Grand Star Pattern just a day ago?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning Yuchan gave Xu Jin a sharp tap on the forehead, making his head ring with pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why didn’t you lie to me too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, you’re my teacher!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph! I know what to do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Xu Jin left, a faint smile appeared on Ning Yuchan’s tense face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Closing the courtyard gate, Ning Yuchan looked at the gift Xu Jin had given her, her expression shifting from surprise to delight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pine nuts? This kid has good taste.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the courtyard, Ning Yuchan cheerfully took out a dish of pine nuts and sunflower seeds, cracking them with her small mouth, along with dried fruits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t be fooled—though she’s the Chief Instructor, she’s only twenty-three.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At night, Xu Jin practiced the newly learned Star Arts and Star Patterns. Old Qi came as always, offering guidance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the more he guided, the heavier his gloom became, his tone growing increasingly stern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, the more he taught, the angrier he grew—he even felt like punching the kid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, he drank a few cups of wine at Tian Zhang’s place, and Tian Zhang brought up Xu Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin’s affairs naturally concerned him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had never told anyone he had taken Xu Jin as his disciple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Tian Zhang said Xu Jin had visited him during the day, brought a gift, and was a well-mannered, grateful boy who deserved focused cultivation by the academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that wasn’t his!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All day, Old Qi grew more and more sullen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he couldn’t just lash out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he did, wouldn’t that make him look petty?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin had noticed Old Qi’s mood shifts long ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mingji Star Pattern wasn’t trained for nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xu Jin held back—he wanted to see just how petty Old Qi could be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just before finishing his practice and leaving, seeing Old Qi’s drooping lips, Xu Jin knew: Old Qi truly cared for him—but he was also deeply petty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Teacher, wait a moment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?” Stopped by Xu Jin as he was leaving, Old Qi, who had been displeased, suddenly grew hopeful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Teacher, I noticed your clothes are worn out, so I bought you several sets of clothing, shoes, and socks—see if they fit. If you have any to replace, hand them to me—I’ll wash them for you.” Xu Jin didn’t say it, but he knew the washing would likely be done by his sister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Qi opened the bundle: four complete sets of clothes and footwear, from undergarments to outerwear, even a new hairpin, toothbrush, tooth powder, and other small items.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, Old Qi’s eyes grew damp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twenty years of wandering and hardship—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, he clutched the bundle and vanished without looking back, afraid Xu Jin might see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine. I’ll make do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only those words drifted on the wind before Old Qi disappeared completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin smiled. He had seen every change—Old Qi’s drooping face before, and the lightness after receiving the gift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Petty Old Qi, huh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2816,"2026-06-19T23:56:29.689Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","aebb978f3a82f259a127713c87c25ffc1b344cee1240b62c32064a7b67caec3d","the-star-martial-era-chapter-97","the-star-martial-era-chapter-95",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-star-martial-era-cover.jpg"]