Starry Sky Professional

Qi Lingzhen wore goggles, maintaining her usual cyberpunk tomboy style, as if struggling to suppress a smile.

“Sigh... it's tough for everyone. There are so many geniuses in the Federation, and I'm only seventh...”

Fang Xing shook his head.

“What do you know!”

Gu Jiantong suddenly exclaimed with a hint of frustration: “Out of the six before you, four are geniuses with extra points for scientific research and got a direct pass. They're following the research path, which is completely different from ours... Besides, there's a mech pilot genius whose invention has been recorded by the Federation Science Academy, earning enormous extra points... Only one, 'Gu Zhen' from Qianlong Star, is truly skilled and ranked third in the Federation.”

“I see... If those five are excluded, you'd be ranked third too. Are you eyeing my second place?”

Fang Xing glanced sideways at Gu Jiantong: “But you're in the psychic division, and I'm in the martial arts division... there's no comparison.”

“Hmph, if anyone wants to play with psychic abilities, they're welcome to... I applied to the martial arts division too, and my martial abilities will surpass yours!”

Gu Jiantong's golden eyebrows seemed to blaze, filled with fierce fighting spirit.

“You're not my rival, it's Gu Zhen!”

Fang Xing searched for some information and quickly found it: reputed to be the number one genius on Qianlong Star, a martial arts prodigy with no psychic abilities, but managed to break through to the materialization stage before the exams!

“A worthy opponent... too bad, he seems to be absent.”

He looked around but didn't spot Gu Zhen, though he did notice Yin Huanzhen.

This young heir of the MegaGod Corporation smiled at him warmly.

“Gu Zhen applied to the Nine Swords Academy.”

Zhong Yuxiu said: “The martial arts division at Nine Swords Academy is particularly strong, especially in swordsmanship, with an unusual ‘Sword Saint’ lineage. The ‘Sword Fall Deity’ famous for cutting down a star with one strike teaches there... Gu Zhen uses a sword, so he will definitely go to Nine Swords Academy.”

“What about you? Aren't you supposed to be applying to Holy Armor University? After all, their mech division is the strongest.”

Fang Xing asked, looking at Zhong Yuxiu.

“Two top-tier exams won't conflict; one should try both when they can...”

Zhong Yuxiu spoke with a slightly coy tone, involuntarily making Fang Xing's skin crawl a bit: “Not a conflict? But I remember that the spaceship to Holy Armor University's secret realm takes quite a long time to arrive, right?”

“My dad pulled some strings, so I can ride a private spacecraft... hitch a ride through a Wormhole with a Marshal, not a big problem.”

Zhong Yuxiu waved her hand dismissively.

‘You rich big shot...’

Fang Xing had nothing to say, so he remained silent.

Half an hour later, the doors of the gymnasium rumbled open, and a group of people walked in.

Amid the crowd, Fang Xing spotted a familiar face.

“It's Wei Shentong!”

Next to him, Qi Lingzhen nodded, “After the last incident, I heard that the Little Martial Saint faced criticism, so he returned to his alma mater to teach, avoiding the limelight. It seems the rumors were true...”

However, among this group, Wei Shentong only occupied a modest position.

Leading the way was an elderly man in a dark blue Zhongshan suit, with silver-white short hair, exuding an air of elegance and warmth. He approached the podium and greeted, “Hello students, welcome to Blue Star University. I am Vice Chancellor Nie Ying!”

“Is that Martial Saint Nie Ying?!”

Zhong Yuxiu covered her mouth in amazement, “It’s my first time seeing him in person... This Vice Chancellor used to be at the Martial God level. After a deadly battle with a formidable divine progeny, he paid a steep price to defeat him, but suffered irreversible injuries, dropping back to the Martial Saint stage. He's been teaching at the university ever since...”

Her eyes shone with obvious admiration.

Every Martial Saint, Martial God, and powerful Mecha Master or Sword Saint in the Federation, along with divine-level Beast Masters and ultimate Evolved Beings, was renowned, each possessing countless legendary tales that were told and retold across the stars...

“Once a Martial God, huh?”

Fang Xing watched the elderly man giving a speech on stage, a hint of expectation in his eyes.

At this moment, Nie Ying stepped back, allowing a towering figure with a golden hue to his massive frame, standing an impressive two and a half meters tall, to step forward.

“I am Situ Jin, here to explain the rules of the school exam...”

As Situ Jin spoke, the gymnasium's floor split apart, revealing rows of virtual pods that Fang Xing found very familiar.

“These are the Federation's latest model of virtual pods... Inside, you can simulate up to 99.99% of various professions below the Golden Core level, including martial arts intents and apothecary toxins...”

“Moreover, they are network-capable!”

As soon as Situ Jin finished speaking, Zhong Yuxiu's eyes lit up, “Is it interstellar networking? If so... that would be fantastic.”

"Unfortunately, it won't work," Situ Jin shook his head. "It's not a matter of technology. Transmitting a massive amount of information across planets or even galaxies consumes too much energy, making it impractical."

He continued, "Currently, the school's virtual pods can already connect the entire Blue Star, allowing anyone in the virtual world to contact and spar with anyone else on the planet. They also link with Saint Armor University and Nine Sword Academy, meaning our students can interact with students from those schools at any time. In the near future, the virtual reality network will keep upgrading, connecting top universities, ordinary schools, and eventually all planets! Moreover, the strength it can handle will continue to rise, from Martial Dao below the Golden Core to above Golden Core, even accommodating Martial Saints and Martial Gods."

Listening to this, Fang Xing couldn't help feeling a surge of excitement.

The virtual game he played on Chick Star was produced by local manufacturers, not only less immersive but also required server setups in every city, making it costly.

Once this cross-universe virtual reality system goes live, it would be an unimaginable catalyst for the Martial Dao.

After all, worthy opponents are rare, and injuries are a constant risk.

But in the virtual reality network, such concerns do not exist.

"The next school exam will be conducted in the virtual pods! Everyone, please enter according to your assigned number," Situ Jin's voice barely faded before the students each found their respective pod.

Fang Xing located the pod with his name on it and reclined inside.

Darkness and coldness enveloped him once again, but suddenly, his vision brightened, presenting him with breathtaking mountainous scenery.

Atop each peak, there seemed to be different arenas.

"Candidates for our school's Martial Dao department, I am the proctor—Wei Shentong," a figure swept across the sky, and his voice reached every Martial Dao student. "This year, we have 198 candidates for the Martial Dao department, but only 50 spots are available. Hence, we will conduct a selection via arena battles."

'It seems only the Martial Dao candidates have arena battles?' Fang Xing looked around, noticing neither Qi Lingzhen nor Zhong Yuxiu were present, suggesting they were undergoing tests in beast taming or mecha subjects.

He felt a slight pang of disappointment over this.

After all, he had been prepared to deal with Li Wei, but now it seemed unlikely.

'Hopefully, he can get into Blue Star University, providing plenty of opportunities in college!' Meanwhile, Gu Jiantong was indeed present, confirming his application to the Martial Dao department.

'Smart guy... He knows that for a metahuman, martial will is the foundation to maintain one's identity!'

He nodded inwardly and glanced at Wei Shentong.

To be honest, encountering this invigilator again gave people an ominous feeling.

However, considering this is Blue Star, the most heavily fortified university, he felt he was overthinking it.

"Teacher Wei... With today's virtual reality technology, you can only simulate realms below the Martial Gold Core... Does that mean once you use strength at the Martial Gold Core level, it would cause data overflow and system crash?"

Gu Jiantong flew up, meeting Wei Shentong eye to eye, "So if I defeat the invigilator, can I directly enroll?"

"Of course, want to give it a try?"

A gleam flashed in Wei Shentong's eyes.

"Not now, I'll wait until I've perfected my Exterior. Then I'll challenge you online."

Gu Jiantong waved a dismissive hand, "Let's get started... The main dish is best left till last, I'm eager to face someone."

'Man... this yellow-browed kid, if you're going to act tough, at least go all the way. If you really did, I'd respect your guts.'

Fang Xing rolled his eyes inwardly.

Nonetheless, he could tell Gu Jiantong didn't hold a great opinion of Wei Shentong, likely due to the aftermath of past events.

"Well then... let the assessment begin!"

Wei Shentong snapped his fingers.

By the time Fang Xing realized it, he was already standing on the peak platform.

Opposite him was a young man, muscles bulging, with an evident robust physique.

"Bull Demon Intent!"

The young man's eyes flashed. Fang Xing seemed to see a raging demon bull, standing upright, its eyes blood-red, clad in iron armor, charging straight at him!

Martial Intent Assault!

Suddenly, the figure moved, and the sound of cracking bones echoed around him, each pop louder than the last, culminating in a roar like thunder.

S-Rank Martial Art—Five Thunder Hands of Steel!

Smack!

The wrist was caught directly by Fang Xing, revealing the face of a young man, stunned by disbelief.

“As expected of Blue Star Federation's top martial arts prodigy, possessing four realms of power along with an S-rank martial art. That’s not bad.”

Fang Xing’s body shimmered with golden light, as if draped in an exquisite robe of golden threads.

“Is this... the perfected Dragon Elephant Skill?”

Despair flickered across the young man’s face.

Snap!

In the next instant, Fang Xing twisted the wrist, sending a kick to his chest.

The youth flew backward with a hollow chest like a broken burlap sack.

That's the advantage of virtual spaces; one can unleash lethal force without restraint.

Soon, the young man’s body disappeared.

A flash of white light appeared before Fang Xing, revealing a timid young female student: “Su Longyan from Fire Source Star, please teach me!”

Her hands moved in the air, her left palm subtly rotating, while her right palm barely exposed, exuding an indescribable aura.

“Defensive only, no offense?”

“Heh... Even if you've noticed the gap between us, it's still not enough.”

Fang Xing’s fingers clenched, his whole body rang like a taut bowstring, unleashing a half-step collapse fist.

In his eyes, two points of golden light shone brightly, like dazzling stars.

Crack!

Like heaven and earth breaking apart, the collapse punch shattered the girl’s Taiji defense, landing a heavy blow to her face.

Smack!

A corpse with a sunken face flew backward and vanished mid-air...

(End of Chapter)