[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-star-martial-era":3,"chapter-the-star-martial-era-the-star-martial-era-chapter-966":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},2275824,4448,"Chapter 966: Now That I","the-star-martial-era-chapter-966",966,"\u003Cp>Qingyin Market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin casually rented a guesthouse and released Yu Zhong from the Abyssal Domain, instructing him to make rapid contact—he urgently needed the Purple Yuan Bodhi Branch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Never before had he felt such urgency to attain True Personhood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Holding a time-accelerating divine artifact, yet being unable to advance his cultivation base, was unbearable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once he attained True Personhood, many problems would resolve themselves effortlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given Xu Jin’s potential and the power he already controlled, attaining True Personhood would grant him a degree of influence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He might not yet reach the level of sitting at the table to share meals in the war zone, but self-preservation was certainly assured!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike his current state of being deprived of freedom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Zhong glanced at his master, then at the unfamiliar surroundings, and realized a great change had occurred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he had no choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could only carefully retrieve the Tongxuan Token to establish contact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When communicating with others, Yu Zhong was entirely different—no longer the timid, cautious man he was before Xu Jin; instead, he exuded an air of authority and wealth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps this was the duality inherent in every person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, if this is urgent, the fee will be higher.” After a moment of contact, Yu Zhong bowed deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin merely nodded and placed twenty seven-grade heavenly and earthly spiritual herbs and ten eight-grade heavenly and earthly spiritual herbs before Yu Zhong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That encounter with the Spatial Emperor Yin Zheng had made Xu Jin incredibly wealthy—and he’d remained wealthy ever since.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, Xu Jin now looked forward to the wealth and treasures of the Abyssal Emperor and his seven other Emperor-level subordinates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How much would he gain if he ever eliminated these few?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Yu Zhong contact others while continuously activating a small teleportation array to transport goods, Xu Jin also sent a Starlight Message to Lin Bowei to inquire about the current situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only here in Qingyin Market could the Tongxuan Token still reach Changxing Star Island; once they left, contact would be lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, according to the Abyssal Emperor, when not in use, the Tongxuan Token must be sealed with multiple layers of seals before being cast into the Abyssal Domain—never carried on one’s person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He suspected the Eastern Xuan Emperor could use secret methods to track anyone possessing a Tongxuan Token.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Great Saint, things are currently chaotic. On Changxing Star Island, all we know is that a major upheaval and battle occurred at the Tongxuan War Zone Headquarters. It’s said the Emperor descended personally and slew both Ghost Cang Emperor and Commander Abyssal Emperor, and purges may still be ongoing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumors flew everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some even claimed the Celestial Officials of the Great Luo Ancestral Hall had intervened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every star island has undergone changes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Guard Zhen has sealed the island—no one is permitted to leave—and we are still awaiting orders.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon reading this, Xu Jin frowned slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Abyssal Emperor is still alive—and right here with him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was the Eastern Xuan Emperor trying to extinguish all hope among the Abyssal Emperor’s subordinates?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And why had the Celestial Officials of the Great Luo Ancestral Hall gotten involved?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is truly chaotic!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps temporarily leaving was indeed the better choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Getting entangled in the struggle of these top-tier powerhouses, one might die without even knowing how.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Keep an eye on events in the Eastern Xuan Star Realm. If anything of utmost urgency arises, use the Blood Seal Message method I taught you to notify me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Great Saint, rest assured.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin had intended to contact Old Guan, but after thinking it over, he decided against it—he didn’t want to burden Old Guan further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Guan’s allegiance was hard to judge, but he likely favored the Abyssal Emperor more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet his decision to seal the island was correct—he should be able to weather this turmoil in the Tongxuan War Zone safely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After half an hour of urgent contact, a Star Marker Stone arrived via the small teleportation array before Yu Zhong: “My lord, contact is established. Because it’s urgent, the other side requires us to meet at this location in half a day! To retrieve the identity token, ten drops of Zhou Tian Star Dew must be paid.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To obtain the identity token, you must pay ten drops of Zhou Tian Star Dew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, there are still thirteen portions of the remaining spiritual herbs left.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re yours.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, my lord!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Yu Zhong stood respectfully beside Xu Jin, awaiting orders. During the ten seconds of silence, sweat already formed on his forehead—he had realized something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yu Zhong, I have temporarily left Changxing Star Island and plan to stay elsewhere for a while. What are your thoughts?” Xu Jin asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, Yu Zhong immediately knelt before Xu Jin: “I have long since pledged my loyalty to you! Wherever you go, I will follow to serve you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Yu Zhong immediately knelt before Xu Jin, “Your servant has long pledged loyalty to my lord! Wherever my lord goes, your servant will follow to serve you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Very well. Since that’s the case, I’ll give you this chance. How far you grow from here depends entirely on your own destiny.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Very well, since it is so, I shall give you a chance. How far you grow in the future depends entirely on your own destiny.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Release your divine soul—I will imprint a control mark upon you. After serving me for a century, your freedom to stay or leave will be yours to choose.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, Yu Zhong sat cross-legged before Xu Jin, his primordial spirit emerging and his divine soul fully exposed, allowing Xu Jin to act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Serve me well from now on. Your focus remains intelligence gathering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wherever I go, be the first to collect and deliver information to me—I believe you have the ability for this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, rest assured—I will give my life for you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Here, take these resources for your cultivation.” With a casual gesture, Xu Jin placed a small portion of cultivation resources he had long since outgrown from his Numinous Space before Yu Zhong—a gift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Zhong glanced once at the mountain of cultivation materials before him, and his lips trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This treatment! This quantity!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he had known, he would have released his divine soul and pledged total loyalty long ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that instant, Yu Zhong felt he had chosen the right master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the twenty-fifth of the month, after receiving the transaction party’s message, Xu Jin sealed Yu Zhong within the Abyssal Domain and departed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During these half-days, besides cultivation, Xu Jin accomplished several things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, he constructed several grand halls within the Abyssal Domain—still crude, merely basic structures formed by Xu Jin using his authority over heavenly and earthly powers—but once furnished, they were perfectly livable and suitable for cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One was designated for Zhu Lin and Xiao, to facilitate Xu Jin’s private meetings—normal needs still existed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another, farther away, was temporarily assigned to Yu Zhong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once they reached their destination, Yu Zhong would be released.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simultaneously, Xu Jin built a warehouse, storing abundant provisions and cultivation resources as a precaution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Star Ruins’ starry void, Xu Jin was rapidly teleporting, using the Star Marker Stone to sense direction while simultaneously activating Ming Qian’s sensing ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Star Ruins’ sky, Xu Jin was rapidly teleporting, using the Star Marker Stone obtained from Yu Zhong to sense direction while simultaneously activating Ming Qian’s sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other was that he sensed something was off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Star Marker Stone could be teleported, then the identity token could be too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Star-Label Stone can be teleported over, then so can the Identity Token.\u003C\u002Fp>",1279,"2026-06-19T23:56:35.933Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","a05b630b67380925e758b66421bb18c38219fa09c2c397943f5e574c8179a7c1","the-star-martial-era-chapter-967","the-star-martial-era-chapter-965",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-star-martial-era-cover.jpg"]