Starry Sky Professional

Talent Cultivation High School.

“Hmm?”

Xia Long entered the classroom and his eyes lit up when he saw Fang Xing, “Hey, what have you been secretly eating? Your skin-hardening progress is so fast!”

In a flash, he was in front of Fang Xing, patting his shoulder and carefully examining Fang Xing’s skin. “Hmm... Thick and resilient. When you master this stage, it won’t be ordinary cowhide, it should be like bronze, though jade skin is still a long shot...”

“Teacher, I heard that a martial artist with mastery in skin hardening would have skin as tough as cowhide, impervious to blunt force. Is bronze or jade skin a higher state?”

Ouyang Qianqian raised her hand to ask.

The progress of the top students' skin-hardening practice in the class was commendable; Fang Xing estimated that all of them were at least halfway there.

Especially for students with natural talent and family resources, they knew more and craved knowledge about these levels.

“Yes, martial artists mastered in skin hardening are not all the same. Bronze-skinned warriors are generally resistant to sharp weapons... As for jade skin? That’s the realm of true martial arts geniuses. If one of you achieves it, you will surely shine in the future Hundred Stars Exams, and the rewards from your teacher will be abundant.”

Xia Long continued to look at Fang Xing.

Fang Xing had been preparing to showcase his progress. Hearing this, he quickly replied, “I must thank the teacher for your support. My Da Long post feels like it’s entered a new stage, greatly increasing the efficiency of refining skin and flesh...”

“The Da Long post? So it was your Da Long post that had a breakthrough!”

Xia Long nodded, “You, with little money to buy martial arts elixirs, I guessed this was your best chance...”

Martial arts are the most common evolutionary path; even life extension becomes noticeable only after reaching the fourth stage.

The truly wealthy natural people can even extend their lives beyond two hundred years through genetic surgery, even while still ordinary!

The early stages of martial arts progress similarly. Although it is touted as the most cost-effective, the more precious resources invested, the faster the progress!

“Teacher, if the Da Long post breaks through, can it achieve bronze skin?” Liu Wei’s eyes shone bright, with aspirations for the college entrance exams.

“Yes, in the second stage of the Da Long post, the probability of achieving bronze skin surpasses 81.4%, according to the Omniscient Brain's statistical data on high school students.”

Xia Long nodded, “If you can reach the third stage, it will no longer be you adapting to the post technique, but the technique adapting to you... Progress will be even faster, with a 67.99% chance to achieve jade skin. Jade-skinned warriors have skin as smooth as jade, with multiple applications... Most importantly, it lays a strong foundation. Keep striving, students; historically, most Federal Martial Saints and Martial Gods have reached the jade skin stage!”

“Martial Saint, Martial God?”

A hint of longing, mixed with a trace of desolation, appeared in many students’ hearts,

For they knew, it was nearly impossible, unless a miracle occurred.

Or perhaps, if one’s level isn’t sufficient, resources can make up for it!

But this is clearly not suitable for ordinary people.

“Then… is there a fourth stage to the Great Dragon Stake?”

Fang Xing inquired.

He remembered Xia Long mentioning something about it.

“Indeed, there is a fourth stage to the Great Dragon Stake. Achieving it is rare, almost one in a million... It represents reaching the 'Dragon's Intent'!”

Xia Long replied, “Achieving an intent doesn't make you a fourth realm warrior. After all, you lack the foundation of uncut jade... It merely means you're much stronger than your peers, and once you perfect the uncut jade realm, you can immediately advance to the Gallant Realm!”

“Of course, for warriors who have mastered such an intent, facing the demonic god’s kin means they won’t be driven insane by the residual spiritual pollution. This is a huge advantage, especially for you!”

“Even if future battlegrounds provide ample protection and potions, there will always be gaps in a war... Many star warriors, after retiring yearly, end up in mental institutions!”

“If you can achieve an intent before reaching the fourth realm, you could practically gain direct entry to university, but after university, you’ll still head to the battlefield. It’s the fate of every citizen of the Blue Planet Federation!”

Attending university only delays military service, something Fang Xing had long known.

He had considered earning a large sum of star coins through trading resources between worlds and then paying off his loans.

But clearly, the source of that money would be suspicious, bringing even greater dangers instead.

‘In conclusion, if all else fails, attend university first, then seek opportunities there...’

After school.

‘I feel Xia Long’s guidance is becoming less beneficial for me...’

Fang Xing kicked a pebble, a slight melancholy in his heart.

“Axing, it’s time!”

Liu Wei came running over, a hint of probing in his words.

“No thanks, I’m going home to play games.”

Fang Xing waved it off as he had been eager to explore the otherworld after school.

Even practicing martial arts in the otherworld was far more efficient than here, so naturally, he had little free time.

‘Buddy, you've changed...’

Liu Wei gazed at Fang Xing’s back, words at the tip of his tongue but choosing to remain silent.

…

In the otherworld.

“It appears the time flows similarly on both sides. We can proceed with the next experiment.”

After comparing the flow of time between the two worlds, Fang Xing fed a berry to a little white mouse, observing it succumb to the poison in mere seconds.

“The last witness has been silenced.”

He nodded, taking a bite of the roasted bird wing. “Turns out, the purchased poison test kit still functions perfectly...”

After double verification with the mouse and outside the infirmary, Fang Xing finally embarked on his culinary journey in the otherworld.

“Mmm, delicious!”

The otherworld's bird meat was incredibly tender yet dense, requiring substantial bite force to tear apart. Despite having a huge appetite, Fang Xing found himself satiated after just a little.

Interestingly, once full, it felt as if a warm current wrapped around every inch of his body, rather comfortable indeed.

In terms of sensation, it was somewhat akin to consuming ‘D3-level nutrient liquids’.

“Exploring the otherworld truly pays off.”

After satisfying his hunger, Fang Xing commenced training in the Great Dragon Stance.

Training in the otherworld posed challenges to his focus, despite the traps and alarms set around. Restless after an hour, he decided to take a pause and glance at the status panel:

[Name: Fang Xing]

[Age: 16]

[Profession: Martial Artist]

[First Realm: Skin and Flesh]

[Military Boxing Twelve Forms: 3/100]

[Great Dragon Stance: 17/100]

【Gate of the Heavens】

"With this progress, I'll surely perfect my skin refinement by the end of this summer, before finishing the first year of high school!"

Fang Xing clenched his fists, feeling that the day when his entire body's skin would be refined and responsive was nearly upon him.

"Perhaps, I should even attempt to break through to the 'Jade Skin' phase?"

"Every tall building rises from the ground up; martial arts is the same. The firmer the foundation, the greater the future potential!"

With a small smile on his lips, Fang Xing glanced at the surveillance monitor once more.

The next second, his smile froze on his face.

"Did the drone capture a figure?"

"Is it possible there are humans surviving in this other world?"

He pulled up several segments of footage, zooming in and adjusting the angle repeatedly...

Eventually, he spotted four individuals dressed in traditional attire resembling 'martial artists'.

Most of them wore robes, with hair tied in buns, wielding knives and swords, their garments evoking a rather ancient style.

Their clothing was mostly made of linen and hemp, and they even carried bamboo baskets on their backs.

"Judging by their level of productivity, it seems similar to an ancient feudal period..."

Fang Xing scrutinized their movements carefully and concluded: "But... they are very strong!"

Judging by the way they moved effortlessly through the rugged forest, they were at least martial artists of the second realm in terms of muscle and bone strength.

In particular, the group was led by a middle-aged man whose well-developed muscles stretched his clothes a size smaller. His commanding presence conveyed a sense of authority, and Fang Xing estimated that his martial prowess was likely that of a third-realm Jade Disciple!

As a student of the new era in martial arts, while he couldn't claim expertise, he'd watched countless martial arts videos and had developed a reasonable sense of judgment.

"I certainly can't defeat a Jade Disciple..."

"But with my beginner-level nano protective suit and electric baton, it's not impossible to put up a fight. At the very least, protecting my own life shouldn't be a problem..."

"The most critical thing is... I must conceal my origins, because of course, language barriers will be an issue. Reality isn't a game, after all. Even if I traverse worlds, that doesn't mean we speak the same language... Beyond that, I should prepare some historical costume props and wigs... Perhaps I should let my hair grow long as well, since there's no school rule against it."

Fang Xing had no intention of approaching the team of martial artists directly; he planned to observe from a distance.

The more surveillance he set up, the better. Capturing their language could offer a chance to decode it.

With the technology of the interstellar era, as long as there's enough basic data, deciphering a language is just a matter of time. Otherwise, interaction with the countless indigenous people on various planets would be impossible!

“Judging by their route, this squad shouldn't be able to find me here. They seem to be after that monstrous wild boar instead?”

Fang Xing glanced at the surveillance and rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“What are you doing, Old Three?”

Amidst the dense forest, a burly man glanced at Old Three, who occasionally looked skyward, and couldn't help but curse.

“Boss, I feel like there's something flying over us. It's not a bird... Could it be some kind of demon beast?”

Old Three, dressed in a blue robe, his eyes bright yet crafty, replied with a hint of concern.

“Hard to say. Everyone, stay sharp...”

The burly man touched the beast-skin pouch on his chest, gaining a bit more confidence. “Let's speed up. Once we've collected the 'Vermilion Dragon Grass', we leave!”

The four of them quickly picked up the pace, arriving at the edge of the wild boar demon's territory.

They seemed well-prepared, waiting patiently in the dense underbrush as the sky grew dim.

Several colorful glowing spots fluttered around near the bushes.

Some herbs, deep red throughout with robust leaves, grew sporadically along the bush's edge.

“Now is the time!”

The burly man sprinkled scent-blocking powder on himself and discreetly moved forward with his comrades to harvest the 'Vermilion Dragon Grass'.

Their movements were swift, as if carefully trained.

Unfortunately, Fang Xing noticed through his surveillance that the boar demon, resembling a small mountain, had somehow appeared behind the four men.

Snorting and wheezing!

With the boar's distinctive nasal sounds, an enormous shadow launched from the darkness, its six tusks glistening with intense blood-red spiritual light.

With a sudden spurt, the burly men couldn’t dodge in time.

Before they could even draw their weapons, they were impaled on the tusks of the boar demon as blood gushed forth uncontrollably!

(End of Chapter)