Starry Sky Professional

“Thank you for purchasing products from Gao Fei Toys, dear customer, please give us a like!”

Fang Xing opened the delivery box and took out a collection of drones and surveillance equipment inside.

A sweet and mellow voice sounded, then fell into silence.

All these drones were customized by Fang Xing to resemble various realistic birds. The surveillance equipment was also equipped with camouflage capabilities.

“My poor wallet…”

He silently mourned for his wallet for three seconds, then steeled himself to begin the journey!

A flash of silver light.

Another world.

Temporary campsite.

By this time, the campsite had been camouflaged with a layer of netting, blending into the surrounding jungle from above.

This was because Fang Xing had been startled by a flying monster earlier, prompting him to hurriedly upgrade the camp's camouflage.

‘After all, it’s just a temporary camp, it's not particularly safe…’

‘I should start thinking about setting up a permanent camp, perhaps in a rock cave or dig underground... the deeper the better.’

For Fang Xing, there was no such thing as a closed exit.

Thus, the deeper the cave, the more time he would have to escape, making it safer for him!

‘Wait! Does this mean... I have to become a burrowing critter?’

‘No, a hamster might be a bit cuter…’

Fang Xing quipped, then glanced at the monitoring screen.

“Huh?”

After a quick scan, his eyes suddenly lit up.

According to the route taken by a group of four earlier, he sent drones to scout vigorously towards the east, and indeed, it paid off.

“There’s a trace of a human settlement a hundred miles east!”

Fang Xing gazed at a photograph, wherein the outlines of a terraced field could be seen.

Surrounding the field were houses constructed of wood and thatch, and there seemed to be people working on the farmland.

“Farmland?”

“Looks like it's time to put these surveillance devices to use.”

“These farmers, even as martial artists, are all in their seventies or eighties, lacking vitality, and possibly hard of hearing and sight. It won't be immediate that they notice the surveillance. I can deploy the drone birds to drop monitors disguised as stones and beetles...”

According to Fang Xing's estimation, probably only the leader of the four-person team he encountered before, a martial artist at the Unpolished Jade stage, might notice the surveillance.

After all, martial artists at the Unpolished Jade level tend to have an innate sense for detecting hostile gazes.

Although surveillance equipment resembles inanimate objects, there's still a chance of being detected.

‘If it were a Blue Star Federation martial artist at the Jade stage, the likelihood of discovery would be higher...’

‘As for the native martial artists here, they probably don't understand technology, nor do they possess counter-surveillance equipment, making the detection likelihood quite low... Let’s do it!’

Fang Xing programmed the process, commanding the drone birds to take flight.

If observed closely, it would be seen that the claws of these drone birds grasped small objects like stones and beetles.

These drones would traverse hundreds of miles to reach the farmland, deploying the small stones and beetle-like monitors.

Then... they would silently collect information and data...

…

Some days later.

Yucai High School.

Fang Xing stood silently in a stance, his focus gathered on the attribute panel:

【First Realm: Skin and Flesh】

【Military Boxing Twelve Forms: 9/100】

【Great Dragon Stance: 29/100】

“Just a little more, and my skin refinement will be complete!”

Fang Xing gazed at his martial arts accomplishments with satisfaction.

"Although the Great Dragon Pillar has yet to progress to the next level, or as Teacher Xia Long describes it, the third stage, it's highly likely it will only achieve bronze skin.

Fortunately, both skin and flesh are in the same realm.

Once the flesh is refined, if the Great Dragon Pillar reaches the third stage, it will naturally refine the skin, transforming bronze skin into jade skin."

Just then, his eyes briefly glanced over and noticed a pair of eyes filled with unconcealed hatred.

These bloodshot eyes belonged to a tall young Caucasian man. "Cole..."

Fang Xing revealed a slight smile, "What? Want to spar again?"

"No, let's wait until the final exams," Cole replied, retracting his gaze with politeness.

This hidden restraint made Fang Xing regard him more highly, arousing a slight sense of caution within.

Liu Wei approached Fang Xing, lowering his voice to give a reminder. "In martial arts, one progresses step by step.

The sudden breakthrough of the mind or surge in supernatural abilities doesn't exist.

Even with the guidance of renowned teachers and abundant resources, time is still needed to manifest results!"

Fang Xing could even sense that Cole's strength was in a period of rapid improvement.

By the time of the final exams, it might come as a huge surprise! "Rest assured, in the face of absolute strength, any schemes or tricks are futile," Fang Xing answered confidently.

He had an entire alternate world as his resource base, with a training environment akin to a cosmic secret realm, ensuring his growth outpaced Cole's.

After all, Cole's background was just average, possibly even less advantageous than Gu Yun's!

If his opponent truly planned to cause trouble during the final exams, Fang Xing had no qualms about letting him experience utter despair. "Ah Xing, you have changed so much," Liu Wei fell silent. "People change," Fang Xing replied.

“Yeah... people change. I hope I can become stronger too... I don't have the resources, nor do I have the talent like Ah Xing. All I can do now is hope for a sudden awakening and turn into someone with extraordinary abilities.”

Liu Wei seemed to joke.

“Extraordinary abilities? That path of evolution doesn’t look promising...”

Fang Xing shook his head.

The so-called 'individuals with extraordinary abilities' can also be termed 'mutants,' with origins that are somewhat peculiar.

Although most scientific research indicates that these abilities are incredibly diverse and largely stem from genetic mutations, making the process extremely random,

it’s undeniable that extraordinary beings didn’t start appearing after humanity entered the cosmic era but after the 'Great Catastrophe Day'!

Though genetic mutations were always a possibility, and humanity’s contact with the greater universe logically kick-started self-evolution,

according to the Blue Star Federation's analysis, this genetic evolution should have been a slow process taking thousands of years.

However, after the Great Catastrophe Day, that 'process' seemed to have been accelerated by some force by hundreds of times.

Some religious sects also claim that these extraordinary individuals are the darlings of outer gods,

the 'new humans'!

This is why seeking out the suspected outer evil god, which may rule over extraordinary powers,

is one of the Blue Star Federation's primary strategic objectives today.

“Because the origins of extraordinary abilities are so unclear... If you suddenly awaken to them, it might not actually be a good thing.”

Fang Xing continued.

“I think that extraordinary abilities have nothing to do with outer evil gods. They are just normal results of genetic mutation, and the probability is so small that it’s mostly just talk... Besides, weren’t last year’s top exam scorers from our budding eagle planet also people with such abilities? And they didn’t face any regulation or discrimination...”

Liu Wei seemed indifferent, but his heart was filled with complicated emotions.

He thought of the dark-clad cultist who had come to him earlier,

trying to recruit him into their sect with the promise of awakening a flesh-type extraordinary ability!

Whether it's 'iron physique' or 'super-speed regeneration,' even the lowest level 'strength doubling' is immensely beneficial to martial artists!

Once acquired, making leaps in martial progress within a single day wouldn't be impossible!

After all, even a low-level ability like 'strength doubling' would have been considered a prodigious natural strength in ancient times,

the equivalent of a martial arts prodigy with extraordinary talent!

Liu Wei truly hesitated at this thought...

After all, compared to naturally awakening abilities, this kind of active inducement for awakening is undoubtedly linked to the outer evil gods.

Getting involved with them means falling into the abyss!

'But... if I can't awaken these extraordinary powers, how can I ever surpass Ah Xing?'

'If I can't even outdo Ah Xing, how will I ever succeed in the high-stakes exams and escape the bloody battlefield?'

'How will I ever get Lianyi to take me seriously?'

Liu Wei silently clenched his fists.

'Why are you bringing this up now? Could it be... you've awakened a power?'

Fang Xing suddenly glanced at Liu Wei, suspicion in his eyes.

'If only I had awakened...'

Liu Wei responded frankly.

Currently, he was in a period of indecision and had not yet been "gifted," showing a clear conscience.

Even if he went to the medical room for genetic testing, nothing would be detected.

'That's true... While awakening a power on your own is dangerous, for people like us, if we want to succeed, we have to take risks...'

'Even being a wielder of power is better than being cannon fodder.'

'Besides, perhaps the emergence of such powers is a natural law, and the Federation is overthinking everything.'

Fang Xing suspected his classmate had truly awakened some extraordinary power and shifted his tone to offer a bit of comfort.

Ironically, this comfort pricked at Liu Wei's pride.

'Yes... if only I had that power.'

Liu Wei muttered to himself.

Originally hesitant, he saw his classmates making rapid progress one after another.

Especially seeing Fang Xing, who shared a similar background, surpassing him, finally steeled his resolve!

'Even if I fall into the abyss, I must see a glimpse of light!'

(End of Chapter)