Starry Sky Professional

In the Azure Federation, the university entrance exams are actually divided into two phases.

The first phase is, of course, the Federation's standardized test, where your score is exactly what you achieve.

But...

After the unified exam, there's a second phase, which involves taking the admission tests of various prestigious universities!

In reality, the former is just a threshold. Whether you are admitted mainly hinges on the latter!

However, ninety-nine percent of candidates can't even pass the threshold, rendering it unnecessary to take the college tests. They can directly join society or the Federation's military.

For ultra-elite academies, in addition to meeting the standardized test score requirements, there are many additional criteria for participating in the college entrance exams.

Blue Star University is a comprehensive university with strong faculties across the board.

Saint Armor University favors mecha operators and mechanics.

Nine Swords Academy leans towards abilities and weapon masters, among others...

"For instance, Blue Star University only admits a thousand new students each year... but this is the total number combined across dozens of departments like martial arts, mecha, and abilities, even though the martial arts department is large, it only has about fifty slots."

Xia Long explained, "Including the three ultra-elite academies, there are only a little over a hundred spots... You're up against geniuses from across the universe, and even foreign exchange students! The Martial Arts Fourth Realm is outstanding on Hatchling Star, but only considered excellent on Little Kirin Star... Compared to the potential prodigies of Qianlong and Chunfeng, alright... still very excellent, but definitely not enough to secure a spot in an ultra-elite university."

"Competing with all the universe's martial arts prodigies for just over a hundred spots?"

Fang Xing clenched his fists, "Sounds pretty interesting..."

"Give it your all. Maybe you really can aim for an ultra-elite academy... Have you set a target yet? Although you can take entrance exams for multiple schools, some have conflicting schedules... Even if they're not conflicting, exams on different planets might not be feasible to attend... In fact, the worst scenario for cyborg candidates is not even affording spaceship tickets." Xia Long pointed out a stark reality.

"Wait... if cyborg candidates haven't achieved the Martial Arts Fourth Realm or become certified professionals to elevate their citizenship level, wouldn't they even lack the qualification to buy tickets?"

Fang Xing pondered aloud.

"Exactly, cyborg candidates must be exceptional. Without the Fourth Realm, they'll need sponsorship from a school or a certified professional teacher to qualify for tickets... Their opportunities are often fewer and choices more limited." Xia Long sighed.

"How long does it take to travel from Hatchling Star to Blue Star?"

Fang Xing suddenly considered this issue and quickly checked the spaceship ticketing network.

"Hmm... The cheapest economy ticket costs around two million star coins and takes about ten days... Ten days? That's quite short, isn't it?"

Even with a lightspeed spacecraft, interstellar travel typically spans years or even decades.

Sometimes, it could take thousands, or even tens of thousands, of years!

"That's because the Heishan Galaxy has a natural wormhole, conveniently connecting to the solar system where Blue Star resides... That's why there's a shortcut," Xia Long explained. "However, the star coins you have will barely suffice for a one-way trip to Blue Star. If you want to reach the cosmic realms where Sacred Armor University and Nine Sword Academy are located, it's even farther without wormholes, requiring extensive transit. You might want to apply to the principal and prepare at home for your third year, focusing on exams or just the travel itself."

"No wonder talented examinees require sponsorships... Just the travel expenses alone are extortionate," sighed Fang Xing.

...

At the school gate of Yucai High School, students were leaving in groups as the school day ended.

Bailang and Qianxun were classmates who started off on the wrong foot but had gradually developed a good friendship. They lingered for a while before approaching the gate, where a hovercar was quietly waiting.

"Is there someone important here?" Qianxun wondered, noticing the car's sleek lines and logo. After a quick check, he was taken aback: "Such a hovercar costs at least a million star coins... And it's challenging to get a flying permit for it..."

"Could it be the principal's vehicle?" Bailang speculated.

As they guessed, the car door opened, and a stylish woman in a suit alighted.

She looked towards Yucai High School with a reflective expression and greeted Bailang and Qianxun upon seeing them, "Hello, Bailang and Qianxun!"

"Hello, teacher!"

Bailang and Qianxun instinctively returned the greeting, only to be taken aback, "Teacher Lan Fei?!"

They had spent two years with Teacher Lan Fei and could never mistake her for someone else.

This isn't just a classroom within a school—no, this is the real world!

Is the person appearing here even real?

Bailang couldn't help but compare Lanfei to the person standing next to him, Qianxun, and felt an involuntary shiver down his spine.

"Yes indeed..."

Lanfei smiled slightly. "After all, I've been teaching at this school for many years, and now that I have the chance, I wanted to come and see it for myself..."

"I heard you resigned, teacher?" Qianxun, a young woman, eagerly leaned forward, enthusiasm buzzing in her voice.

"Yes, I did resign. I'm working as a personal secretary now."

Lanfei didn't hold back.

"A personal secretary?" Bailang almost bristled with indignation.

Who was the bastard daring enough to monopolize the dreams of this bunch of high school boys?

"Yes, indeed... and he attends school here as well."

Lanfei replied with a gleeful smile.

"I'm here to serve the young master," Lanfei answered with a radiant smile that left Bailang and Qianxun dumbfounded.

Only after Fang Xing got into the luxurious car and sped away did they snap back to reality.

"What's going on? Isn't Fang Xing a cyborg? How did he suddenly become the young master of some wealthy family?"

Qianxun gaped in disbelief, remembering clearly Fang Xing's earlier struggles with Liu Wei in their mundane part-time jobs!

"Do you think..."

Bailang's eyes glinted with a spark of insight. "Could it be that after Fang Xing topped the prestigious exams, his biological parents came forward to acknowledge him?"

After all, the donors of such exceptional genetic material likely belonged to the upper echelons of the Federation.

If a wealthy father suddenly emerged, it could indeed change his life overnight.

While rare, such stories weren't unheard of—they even made movies about it, which were quite popular among cyborgs...

“Indeed, most higher-ups probably can't access the incubation data from back then... unless they're corporate giants or from financial conglomerates.”

Qianxun nodded, and the two of them watched as the car disappeared into the distance, both heaving a sigh.

Back then, they viewed their cyborg classmates with a sense of superiority.

But now, it feels like the world has turned upside down, and they just want to find a hole to crawl into...

In the backseat of the car.

The seats of the Federally-manufactured hover car were exceptionally comfortable, even equipped with a massage function.

Fang Xing slightly closed his eyes, too lazy to argue with Lan Fei. Instead, he recalled the details he had learned during his conversation with Xia Long about the inner workings of ‘Giant God Corporation’.

“Giant God Corporation was established by the legendary martial artist ‘Yin Daoyin’. Yin Daoyin was among the first batch of martial gods in the Federation; later on, he joined forces with other martial arts experts to create the ‘Martial Arts Association’, contributing significantly to the development of martial arts in the Federation. Thus, the Yin family primarily preserved their legacy through martial arts... At its peak, the Yin family had two martial gods and four martial saints holding the fort. But in the year 620 of the Starry Sky Era, the ancestor Yin Daoyin died on the front lines, causing the Yin family’s influence to decline, though they still have a martial god ‘Yin Shibao’ holding the fort, not to be underestimated...”

What left Fang Xing silent was the fact that this deal with the Yin family was actually painstakingly recommended by Xia Long via a phone call.

Truth be told, it was for Fang Xing’s benefit...

‘This Xia Long... I didn’t expect him to hail from the Martial Arts Association... then again, most martial artists are likely tied to this association...’

‘It’s just a bit too presumptuous, thinking it’s for my own good...’

Fang Xing shook his head internally.

It's like some parents who believe they've chosen the best path for their children, and while you can’t say they’re wrong, they overlook the child's internal conflict and sensitive yet suspicious nature.

Perhaps they just want to face challenges and suffer society's harsh realities...

Only when they’re bruised and battered do they look back and realize that what they fought so hard for over the years is not even as good as what their family initially arranged...

‘Yet even so, I still want to follow my own path!’

He opened his eyes, having made a decision: “Lan Fei!”

“Sir, is there anything you need?”

"Young Master," Lanfei purred with a sultry tone, "This car is self-driving, and the soundproofing is excellent… You can do whatever you want."

"I've made up my mind. I refuse to sign with the Titan Corporation."

Fang Xing spoke, catching Lanfei by surprise.

"Refuse? Do you have a better opportunity lined up, or is there something about the contract that displeases you? You can bring it up," Lanfei sincerely felt a sense of regret.

In her eyes, Fang Xing was her most outstanding student, but the Federation was full of geniuses, especially among the engineered humans.

Without sponsorship, he would eventually fade into obscurity, or worse, perish on the battlefield.

Thus, persuading him to accept Titan Corporation's sponsorship was genuinely for Fang Xing's own good.

"My decision is final!"

Fang Xing stated firmly, "You can contact Yin Huzhen now."

"Young Master Yin has already instructed me that if you refuse, I will still assist you until the end of the second semester of your senior year..." Lanfei replied.

'This Yin Huzhen is quite magnanimous in his dealings…'

'However, spending a little effort to maintain a good rapport with a genius seems like a win-win...'

Just as Fang Xing was reflecting, Lanfei curiously asked, "May I ask, did you find a better partner?"

"No, but I want to try relying solely on myself..."

Fang Xing replied with confidence, "I have faith in my own talents!"

For a moment, Lanfei was left speechless.

Instinctively, she felt this young genius would regret his decision in the future!

Even though martial arts were said to require the least resources for evolution, resources were still essential, especially at higher levels.

'What a pity… Fang Xing will never realize just what he has refused.'

Seeing the situation, Lan Fei could only sigh inwardly.

]

(End of Chapter)