[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-star-martial-era":3,"chapter-the-star-martial-era-the-star-martial-era-chapter-996":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},2275854,4448,"Chapter 996: The Great Luo Edict and the Body as Sacrifice for the Array","the-star-martial-era-chapter-996",996,"\u003Cp>“Heavenly Sovereign’s edict?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing the contents of the orders received by Duke Duoyue and Duke Fenghua, Xu Jin was startled: “Master, can the Heavenly Sovereign of the Great Luo Ancestral Court directly command all major war zones?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Duke Fenghua shook his head: “The Great Luo Ancestral Court rarely issues direct orders to us; in fact, we lack the standing to warrant such direct commands.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Generally, the Heavenly Sovereign’s edicts from the Great Luo Ancestral Court are delivered directly to the various Imperial Lords.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Occasionally, a few top-tier Forbidden Duke-level cultivators may maintain some connection with the Great Luo Ancestral Court.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, have you ever seen the Heavenly Sovereign of the Great Luo Ancestral Court?” Xu Jin asked again, curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Duke Fenghua smiled and shook his head: “I’ve never seen him, but I’ve seen him act.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Heavenly Sovereign acted?” Xu Jin was startled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“About eighty years ago, when I went to the Chaos Gorge to meditate, a Forbidden Duke happened to be causing chaos there—perhaps due to demonic deviation, or some other reason. He was raging through the gorge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cursed the Great Luo Ancestral Court and the Heavenly Sovereign alike, destroying every palace he encountered and attacking every person he saw. One unfortunate Forbidden Duke was slain outright, and I nearly got caught in the crossfire myself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Due to his madness and his Forbidden Duke-level cultivation, no one could stop him at the time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the chaos, a single index finger suddenly emerged from above the Chaos Gorge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a mere gentle tap, it pierced through layers of rippling waves like water, striking the forehead of the rampaging Forbidden Duke.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That single tap reduced his physical body to ash and shattered his Nascent Soul.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it was only because of a single phrase afterward that I realized who had acted.” Duke Fenghua said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What phrase?” Xu Jin asked curiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duke Fenghua’s expression turned reflective: “After the Forbidden Duke was slain by that single finger, a vast voice echoed throughout the Chaos Gorge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It said: ‘Duke Shenghui violated the rules—deserves death!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just eight characters. Then, no further trace of energy remained.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet those eight characters made every witness—including me—fully understand why even Imperial Lords must strictly abide by the Thunder Pool’s edicts within the Chaos Gorge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One finger annihilated a Forbidden Duke?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin’s face showed astonishment: “Master, is the Heavenly Sovereign of the Great Luo Ancestral Court really that terrifying? Is the Heavenly Sovereign a realm beyond the Imperial Lord?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But from what I’ve learned about the battle between Eastern Xuan Imperial Lord and Void Abyss Duke, Eastern Xuan’s strength seemed no more than three or four Forbidden Dukes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even then, he barely escaped alive from Void Abyss Duke’s onslaught.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could the Heavenly Sovereign be so powerful?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Duke Fenghua’s expression turned nostalgic: “I once fought Eastern Xuan when he was still a Duke, but after he ascended to Imperial Lord, I’ve never known his true strength.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His real power can only be known by fighting him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the Heavenly Sovereign of the Great Luo Ancestral Court, I know even less.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But my teacher—your grandmaster—once told me something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What was it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your grandmaster said: ‘Below the Heavenly Sovereign, all are ants.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why your grandmaster desperately sought to ascend to Imperial Lord—only then might one touch the Heavenly Sovereign’s status.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this regard, your grandmaster was likely correct.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Look: the Great Luo Ancestral Court issues just one so-called Heavenly Sovereign’s edict, and the Grand Alliance immediately forwards it to all Duke Lords without the slightest delay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now look at the Tongxuan War Zone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Great Luo Ancestral Court’s celestial official, Zi Ji, has directly assumed the role of Deputy Commander of Tongxuan War Zone, now fully assuming control over the territory and forces left behind by the former Grand Commander, Void Abyss.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He has effectively seized half of Tongxuan War Zone’s strength and accumulated resources.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Eastern Xuan Imperial Lord said not a word—he simply allowed it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This reveals the influence of the Great Luo Ancestral Court,” Duke Fenghua sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, where is the Great Luo Ancestral Court?” Xu Jin asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve never been there, but within the Chaos Gorge, there is a portal that leads in,” Duke Fenghua said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fenghua, Jin’er, let’s discuss the Great Luo edict. It’s extremely perilous—the Great Luo Ancestral Court’s rules are terrifying—but its rewards are equally unhesitant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both the two in the Hongluan Domain and Eastern Xuan Imperial Lord ascended to Imperial Lord status precisely because of past Great Luo edicts,” Duke Duoyue said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Opportunity is opportunity, but the danger is real—we must deliberate carefully.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just moments ago, Duke Fenghua and Duke Duoyue both received an edict from the Thousand Stars Alliance Grand Alliance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The edict was simple: Receive the Great Luo Ancestral Court’s edict. Due to the accelerating Star Calamity, the Star Abyss will open. All domains must select their destined elite to enter the Star Abyss and slay evil, vying for the chance to seize the Dao. The Star Abyss will open no later than half a year from now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, each domain must prepare its destined elite candidates within half a year at the latest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once ordered, the destined elite of each domain must enter the Star Abyss immediately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are seventy-two slots for destined elite.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That is, each domain may select seventy-two destined elite candidates to enter the Star Abyss alongside the Great Luo Ancestral Court’s own thirty-six destined elite, competing for the Dao.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, this selection range includes both within and beyond the Star River.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Across all domains, within and outside the Star River and Star Ruins war zones, there are seventy-two slots total.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Theoretically, the more destined elite a faction selects, the greater the benefits it will gain in the future.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The destined elite must be true destined elite.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the Star Abyss opens, the Great Luo Ancestral Court will send specialists to screen candidates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the Thousand Stars Alliance or any other war zone, the more destined elite selected, the greater the future rewards.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, the Thousand Stars Alliance will conduct an internal screening in three to four months, and all Imperial Lords have already been ordered to submit candidates.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The edict Duke Fenghua and Duke Duoyue just received was precisely this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Furthermore, candidates for destined elite must meet conditions—no one can simply apply.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are two restrictions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first: anyone over three hundred years old cannot enter the Star Abyss—so those exceeding three hundred years are ineligible to apply.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second: only True Persons or above may enter!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who meet both conditions may be selected as destined elite if they rank among the top seventy-two in the grand selection hosted by the Great Luo Ancestral Court’s celestial official.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Thousand Stars Alliance Grand Alliance requires each Imperial Lord to nominate at least one disciple or follower.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those selected as destined elite will receive heavy rewards from the Grand Alliance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the final submission deadline is three months from now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The preparation time is neither too short nor too long.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, I must sign up, right?” Xu Jin asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Theoretically, yes—but allow me to investigate further.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Star Abyss—I’ve occasionally heard of it before, but my knowledge is extremely limited. Let me learn more first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the meantime, focus on raising your cultivation,” Duke Fenghua said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin naturally followed his master’s advice without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three or four months should be enough for Xu Jin to significantly elevate his cultivation base.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Xu Jin did not immediately plunge into intense cultivation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After returning to his secluded meditation hall, he burned a censer of fragrant incense and, under time acceleration, sat in quiet contemplation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each person has different goals at different stages.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin was no exception.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had his own goals.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1295,"2026-06-19T23:56:35.933Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","129a20bd9cdd1ab7a0ad2f6adb5ffb7dd4ed622a110417d0fab10e726418e422","the-star-martial-era-chapter-997","the-star-martial-era-chapter-995",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-star-martial-era-cover.jpg"]