Starry Sky Professional

Fang Xing's eyes lit up slightly at the news.

After all, he was just a newcomer to the Foundation Establishment circle and these hidden secrets piqued his interest.

"So the southern part of Zheng State is this chaotic? The lands of the Five Sects and Ten Nations have mostly been infiltrated by the demonic path..." he mused, pondering aloud.

Originally, after achieving Foundation Establishment, he considered traveling to these places, but now he wondered if he should save himself the trouble.

"It is indeed a turbulent time..." Min Yixing sighed before turning his attention towards the auction stage. "It's starting!"

Fang Xing glanced over and saw a charming woman with flawless Qi Refinement prowess gracefully make her way onto the stage. Her eyes sparkled like peach blossoms, enchanting all with her every move and smile.

In truth, she far surpassed Zheng Yuan'ao, the Golden-Eyed Griffon from the Qinglin Market last time.

"Welcome to our Purple Swallow Immortal City... Today's auction is hosted by me, 'Jin Sanniang.' I hope you all give me some face..."

After the pleasantries, Jin Sanniang clapped her hands, signaling the start of the auction with its first item: "A 'Small Heaven Breaking Pill,' a first-tier upper-grade pill that can aid mid-stage Qi Refinement cultivators in breaking through the late-stage bottleneck. Starting at five hundred spirit stones per pellet..."

"Heaven Breaking Pill..."

Observing the immediate uproar from the audience below, Fang Xing smirked. Is breaking from the sixth to the seventh layer of Qi Refinement really that difficult?

"This pill can indeed help cultivators whose realms have been stuck for years break through... Perhaps giving them a chance to strive for Foundation Establishment before their sixty-year limit runs out, reaching a state of being like ours..." Min Yixing sighed.

Fang Xing nodded in agreement.

This auction house in the Purple Swallow Immortal City was, indeed, much grander than Qinglin Market's. Various secret treasures, formations, manuals, spirit pets, and magical artifacts took turns appearing, making the scene lively.

"A second-tier Black Water Turtle beast egg... Starting price at three thousand spirit stones!"

At this moment, Jin Sanniang introduced another spirit beast egg: "The Black Water Turtle has a docile nature and grows into a second-tier demon beast. It’s excellent for guarding residences, protecting family legacies..."

Her words carried a tinge of allure, which genuinely captivated some naive individuals.

However, more seasoned cultivators inwardly sneered: "Turtle-type demon beasts not only have weak attacks, but their biggest flaw is also their lengthy maturation... Owning a second-tier Black Water Turtle egg could mean waiting over two hundred years for it to ascend, truly a situation where three generations raise a turtle, and people pass but the turtle remains..."

Aside from a few beast-controlling family inheritances, wandering cultivators were utterly disdainful of it.

“Three thousand five hundred low-grade spirit stones! Congratulations to this cultivator for acquiring the Blackwater Turtle Beast Egg!”

Jin Sanniang felt a sense of relief as she finally sold the spirit beast egg.

‘Oh?’

Fang Xing sensed a flicker of perception, discovering that the purchasers were indeed the two brothers from the Myriad Beast Sect. A smile crept across his face.

These two were never discreet, devoid of any disguises, brimming with the confidence of disciples from an eminent sect.

‘Of course, in this Violet Swallow Immortal City, even within the entire Zheng Kingdom, who would dare provoke the Myriad Beast Sect? Perhaps there might even be senior members present in the auction watching over them.’

While not revealing any of this musing on his face, Fang Xing turned to Min Yixing beside him to discuss other matters: “I’ve heard that to the east of Zheng Kingdom lies a great nation called Qi. What is the cultivation world like there?”

“The cultivation realm of Qi Kingdom is naturally incomparable to our Zheng Kingdom... At the border between our Zheng Kingdom and Qi, there is an immortal city called ‘North Departure’!”

Min Yixing's eyes flashed with a hint of yearning: “When I was younger, I traveled there... The prosperity of North Departure Immortal City far exceeds our Violet Swallow Mountain City, with stable channels for Foundation Establishment Pills, releasing a batch every year... Occasionally, there are even opportunities for Core Formation.”

“Opportunities for Core Formation?!”

Fang Xing's face showed longing, but internally, he remained indifferent.

He himself possessed heavenly spiritual roots, making Core Formation hardly a challenge.

Once his true self condensed a martial Tao Golden Core, obtaining one or two Core Formation spiritual items wouldn't be difficult at all.

The future of this nascent cultivation avatar seemed remarkably smooth.

‘Nevertheless, North Departure Immortal City is worth a visit to find Solar True Essence and other suitable spiritual items...’

Fang Xing had already acquired rough maps of the nearby countries, knowing the location of North Departure Immortal City, and could fly there on his own.

For an ordinary Qi Refinement cultivator, affording such a long journey and the dangers en route would be challenging, often requiring accompaniment by a large merchant caravan.

Every year, a caravan from Violet Swallow Immortal City specifically travels the route to North Departure Immortal City, eventually reaching the borders of Qi Kingdom.

As he pondered, the auction was drawing to a close.

“A second-tier low-grade spiritual weapon—Wind and Snow Sword! Crafted meticulously by master craftsmen using thousand-times-tempered black iron mixed with thousand-year-old black ice. After completion, it was buried in the Great Snow Mountain for twenty years, and it has only recently resurfaced...”

Jin Sanniang presented the flying sword in her hand.

The sword glimmered with a cold light, a foot long, exuding a chilling sharpness.

“The starting price for this sword is eight thousand low-grade spirit stones, with incremental bids of no less than one hundred low-grade spirit stones.”

Jin Sanniang glanced toward the private rooms.

Only Foundation Establishment cultivators can use magical weapons, so this 'Wind and Snow Sword' is clearly not intended for Qi Refinement stage cultivators.

In the Immortal City of Violet Swallow, there are quite a few Foundation Establishment cultivators, with over twenty private rooms occupied.

At this moment, someone started bidding:

“Eight thousand one hundred spirit stones!”

“Eight thousand five hundred spirit stones!”

In one of the private rooms, an elderly woman in the Foundation Establishment stage, leaning on a peachwood staff, gazed affectionately at a young girl beside her.

This girl was extremely beautiful, yet her expression remained cold, resembling an eternal icy mountain, exuding a unique aura like a snow lotus from the Tianshan Mountains.

“My dear granddaughter... Your great-grandmother will buy this Wind and Snow Sword for you to use once you enter the Foundation Establishment stage, how does that sound?”

With a kind smile, the elderly woman said, “Xue'er, you are truly the prodigy of our Zeng family. Not only do you possess superior ice spirit roots, but you have also awakened the 'Snow Cold Physique,' which makes your cultivation in ice-based techniques twice as effective with half the effort… This Wind and Snow Sword is perfect for you.”

The girl named Xue'er showed little expression on her face, but a trace of fondness was visible in her eyes: “I will leave it to your judgment, great-grandmother... as long as it doesn't affect the auction of the 'Lesser Yin Fiend Qi' in the end.”

“Of course, your great-grandmother has it all planned… That 'Lesser Yin Fiend Qi' is a perfect match for you. Its effects nearly rival more than half a Foundation Establishment Pill, so naturally, priorities are clear.”

The old woman, in the Foundation Establishment stage, tapped her peachwood staff, her voice resonating outward: “Nine thousand spirit stones!”

“Could it be the Zeng family from Taohua Forest?”

“The Zeng family matriarch, she's a formidable mid-Foundation Establishment expert...”

Mental senses intertwined among the private rooms, and several Foundation Establishment cultivators withdrew from the bidding.

“Nine thousand one hundred lower-grade spirit stones.”

At this moment, Fang Xing entered the competition, declaring his bid.

“Hmm?”

The Zeng family matriarch was taken aback, then spoke up: “Nine thousand five hundred spirit stones!”

“Ten thousand spirit stones!”

Fang Xing smiled, raising the bid without hesitation.

Back and forth they went, and in no time, the price had soared to thirteen thousand lower-grade spirit stones.

“Great-grandmother!”

Zeng Xue'er stepped forward, tugging on the elderly woman's sleeve.

"What a brave young lad!"

The elderly woman, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, snorted coldly. "If it weren't for needing to save spirit stones to purchase that Shaoyang evil qi..."

"Thirteen thousand low-grade spirit stones, the Wind and Snow Sword now belongs to the esteemed guest in Heavenly Box No. Nine."

Jin Sanniang's smile was somewhat stiff. Though such contention among Foundation Establishment cultivators could drive up a high price, it was rather challenging for her, and she had been on edge throughout.

...

In Heavenly Box No. Nine, Fang Xing watched the auction of several sets of storage bags below, secretly calculating how many spirit stones he could get for his surplus storage bags.

"Our box guests enjoy a special privilege, which is that the items can be delivered to you immediately for settlement."

At this moment, Min Yixing suddenly smiled and said, "It’s here!"

Almost simultaneously as he spoke, there was a knock on the box door. "Greetings to the esteemed guests, we have brought the Wind and Snow Sword for settlement..."

"Come in."

Fang Xing flicked a finger, activating the box's restriction.

A group of cultivators entered in single file. Leading them was an elderly man with white hair, also at the Foundation Establishment level. Upon seeing Min Yixing, he paused in surprise. "So Brother Min is here as well?"

"Haha, Old Lu, don’t mind me."

Min Yixing introduced him to Fang Xing, "This is Lu Yiming, Fellow Daoist Lu. He has cultivated the art of spirit vision, reputed as having eyes like a hawk. He is an elder for treasures in this city."

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Lu."

Fang Xing cupped his hand in respect.

"The Wind and Snow Sword, please inspect it, Fellow Daoist."

At Lu Yiming's gesture, a maid behind him brought forth a tray, atop which lay the Wind and Snow Sword.

Fang Xing picked up the Wind and Snow Sword and gave it a gentle flick, eliciting a clear, cold sword sound as the room filled with a chilling air.

"Indeed, it's a second-tier flying sword... though, it's slightly shorter than desired."

With a sweep of his hand, a pile of spirit stones appeared on the table, a mix of low and mid-grade.

Lu Yiming scanned the spirit stones with his divine sense, counted them meticulously, and then stored them in his storage bag. He finally smiled and said, "The Wind and Snow Sword naturally has its restrictions. Once refined, it can change size and length at will, so there's no need to worry about such trivialities..."

This is true only for cultivators.

For a cultivator's clone using the Wind and Snow Sword, any restrictions are insignificant. However, the original body, devoid of magical power, can only use it as a dagger, less handy than the Qinghong Sword.

These matters need not be shared with outsiders.

Fang Xing, with a smile on his face, exchanged a few pleasantries with Lu Yiming before seeing him off. Then he saw Jin Sanniang bringing the final auction item onto the stage.

In the midst of the eagerly expectant and fervent gazes of many Qi Refinement cultivators, Jin Sanniang held up a jade bottle. "A portion of Lesser Yin Fiendish Energy, suitable to assist female cultivators with yin attribute techniques to break through to the Foundation Establishment...preferable for female cultivators! The starting bid is nine thousand lower-grade spirit stones, with each increase no less than one hundred!"

As soon as these words were spoken, many male cultivators below wore expressions of frustration and sat back down. The female cultivators at the peak of Qi Refinement, however, were filled with longing, calling out their bids one after another: "Nine thousand one hundred!"

"Nine thousand two hundred!"

...

"Heh heh..."

The Zeng family matriarch sneered and began offering her price: "Ten thousand spirit stones!"

The many Qi Refinement female cultivators below instantly felt as if their hopes were dashed, as if watching the path of immortality drift away from them.

Alas, competing with many Foundation Establishment cultivators was something beyond their reach.

Female cultivators in the world of cultivation are very pragmatic, capable only of burying their resentment deep inside.

"Xue'er, did you see that?"

The Zeng family matriarch took the opportunity to teach her descendant, "Don't be deceived by these Qi Refinement cultivators who dare not speak out now. If our Zeng family were to decline, they would be the first to swarm over, just like the Zhou family at the Purple Green Pool. If you don't want to end up like them, you must maintain our family's strength. Our family must produce not just Foundation Establishments, but even...Nascent Souls!"

She looked at Zeng Xue'er with eyes full of expectation.

With Zeng Xue'er's talent, she was surely capable of cultivating to the perfect stage of Foundation Establishment and attempting to form a Nascent Soul.

Even if it were a false Nascent Soul!

The Peach Blossom Forest’s Zeng family is the false Nascent Soul clan of Zheng Country!

With such generational accumulation, it's not impossible for a true Nascent Soul cultivator to emerge!

"Rest assured, Great-Granny, I won't disappoint. Starting with Foundation Establishment, I will succeed." Zeng Xue'er said with unwavering determination.

Just before she could finish her sentence, the voice of a young man interjected, "Fifteen thousand spirit stones!"

141. Oppression

Zeng Xue'er was greatly startled.

Fifteen thousand lower-grade spirit stones already exceeded the worth of a basic Foundation Establishment treasure, appearing more like a display of stubbornness!

“I'm absolutely furious…”

The Zeng family matriarch was also livid, her hair standing on end, “Youngster… what do you intend by seizing a female cultivator's Foundation Establishment treasure?”

Inside the private box, Min Yixing cast a surprised look toward Fang Xing.

“I have a junior who perfectly suits this 'Lesser Yin Fiend Qi'…”

Fang Xing explained with a smirk on hearing the Zeng family's provocative challenge, “What if I buy it just for fun? Does the auction have a rule that only female cultivators can purchase it?”

“Sixteen thousand lower-grade spirit stones… Let's see if you can keep up, boy!”

The Zeng family matriarch smirked continuously.

“Why is this Zeng matriarch so irrational? This price is excessively high…”

“I think she's deliberately doing this, intending to set a trap for the youngster!”

Other Foundation Establishment cultivators communicated telepathically, all watching the spectacle unfold.

They would have to be insane to purchase a single stream of fiendish qi for nearly twenty thousand lower-grade spirit stones!

“Alright, I'm in… seventeen thousand!”

Fang Xing chuckled, appearing utterly reckless.

“You…”

The Zeng matriarch was agitated, pretending to lure Fang Xing into bidding higher in hopes of scaring him off.

She made it appear as if she intended to deceive him into a high price.

In reality, this 'Lesser Yin Fiend Qi' was incredibly suitable for Zeng Xue'er; no amount of spirit stones would be too high. Yet, such actions risked exposing information.

Hearing Fang Xing continue to bid left her fuming, “Eighteen thousand lower-grade spirit stones, can you still follow, boy?”

“Enough…”

Min Yixing quickly advised, “This price already makes you a fool for paying too much. If you raise it again, the old woman might give up, and you'd end up with nothing but a hefty bill…”

“No worries!”

Fang Xing waved dismissively, “Nineteen thousand spirit stones!”

“Oh no…”

The Zeng matriarch felt a shiver down her spine, “Could Xue'er's aptitudes have been leaked?”

She gritted her teeth, “If it has been leaked, it's even more crucial not to miss out on this Lesser Yin Fiend Qi.”

For those Qi Refinement cultivators under threat, gaining a great opportunity like this meant establishing their foundation early, transforming from a pawn into a chess player.

Indeed, in the factional intrigues of Foundation Establishment families, it was always thus.

The Zeng matriarch rasped, “I'll give twenty thousand spirit stones!”

The auction house erupted into a frenzy.

Even Jin Sanniang looked with surprise at the bottle of fiendish qi in her hands, pondering if there was some hidden secret she hadn't yet discovered…

In other boxes, some of the Foundation Establishment cultivators seemed thoughtful, as if they'd realized something.

"I heard... the Zeng Family's Foundation Establishment seedling, Zeng Xue'er, possesses a superior Ice Spiritual Root..."

Min Yixing also appeared to be deep in thought. "Now it seems it's not just about having a superior Ice Spiritual Root..."

He looked at Fang Xing, his expression part amused, part contemplative. "Could it be that the junior from your side also possesses some sort of Yin attribute spiritual body? In which case, this 'Lesser Yin Fiend Qi' equates to more than half a Foundation Establishment Pill."

"I see, no wonder that old lady competed with me for it."

Fang Xing chuckled, tapping the railing with his Snowstorm Sword. "Two thousand one hundred lower-grade spirit stones!"

"Boy, who are you? Name yourself!"

The Zeng family matriarch was so furious she nearly spat out a mouthful of blood. "I suspect you're here to deliberately cause trouble."

"In an auction, must one reveal their identity to bid on items?"

Fang Xing sneered. "As to whether I'm here to cause trouble, you'll find out during the settlement of the auction item."

Although the old lady was livid, she ultimately didn't raise the bid further.

While the 'Lesser Yin Fiend Qi' was quite suitable for Zeng Xue'er, it was equivalent to only half a Foundation Establishment Pill.

Another few rounds, and the price might equal an actual Foundation Establishment Pill. Truly being stubborn enough to spend thousands of spirit stones on a strand of Qi would attract criticisms within the family.

At this moment, the door of the box opened, and a member of the Zeng family hurried in, handing a jade slip to the Zeng family matriarch.

Being an established Foundation Establishment family, the Zengs had their networks within Purple Citrine Immortal City.

Although she appeared to be acting out of anger, she had discreetly sent a message to investigate the guests in Box Nine.

Now, some intelligence had arrived.

"What? It's that person?"

Upon reading it, the Zeng matriarch's expression turned unsightly.

"Great-grandma?"

Zeng Xue'er, bright and perceptive, immediately sensed a shift in the situation.

"Xue'er, perhaps we should head to Beili Immortal City later and get you a Foundation Establishment Pill instead..."

The Zeng matriarch sighed with a wry smile. "Though that person is merely a rogue cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage, their backing is unfathomably powerful... The Zhou family was wiped out by them. We're just a humble household that cannot afford to provoke such a force. Fortunately, a Foundation Establishment Pill is better. Whoever wants this Fiend Qi can take it."

"The one who wiped out the Zhou family?!"

Zeng Xue'er's emotions stirred violently.

Even though Purple Blue Pool's Zhou family was a notch below Peach Blossom Grove's Zeng family, they were still a Foundation Establishment family!

The power to annihilate a Foundation Establishment elder and two late Qi Refinement cultivators was indeed not to be trifled with!

"Two thousand one hundred lower-grade spirit stones for this bottle of 'Lesser Yin Fiend Qi', now belonging to the senior in Box Nine..."

Jin Sanniang's voice trembled slightly.

A moment later.

Fang Xing met Lu Yiming again, along with the 'Lesser Yin Fiend Qi' they had with them.

Picking up the jade bottle, he found it chilling to the touch, the contents inside clear and transparent. A light shake, and strands of moonlight flowed forth.

‘It’s indeed the Shaoyin Dark Qi!’

Fang Xing nodded, yet thought to himself: ‘No mistake, it should be the Cosmic Yin Qi... Once I find the Solar True Strength, I can synthesize the ‘Cosmic Yin-Yang Aura’...’

Once again, he threw out a pile of spirit stones, completing the transaction.

“Fellow Daoist Fang... you truly are wealthy, aren’t you?”

Min Yixing glanced at Fang Xing with a peculiar look in his eyes.

“Oh, it's all from my elders. They left it to congratulate me on achieving Foundation Establishment, saying I shouldn’t be too tight-fisted...”

Fang Xing gave a serene smile.

The advantage of having an avatar was that one could always throw blame onto the true self. And if Min Yixing were to have any ill intentions... he had been eyeing that purple jade spirit sword on Min's back for quite some time!

After all, at a glance, Min Yixing's flying sword seemed to be of a grade above the Qinghong, and it was a full three feet long!

Good enough for a martial artist to wield.

“Is that so...” Min Yixing chuckled again. “I saw the Zeng family matriarch didn’t dare bid further, nor speak insolently, clearly knowing something and was intimidated by your notorious reputation, Daoist Fang!”

“Am I that intimidating?” Fang Xing couldn’t help but laugh.

...

In the main universe.

‘Pan Xiong is quite agreeable, as long as I make progress in martial arts, he'd casually...’

In his dormitory.

Fang Xing stretched, laying back into the holographic virtual cabin.

“Master, master... You have an important message.”

“Huh?”

Fang Xing was taken aback — for Little Blue to label something important, it mustn't be simple.

He looked at it and discovered it was an email, from none other than—

“Wei Shentong?!”

Fang Xing rubbed his forehead: “It's already the second semester of my third year, and he finally contacts me?”

Having been in college for nearly three years, aside from the beginning of his first year, he hadn’t seen this counselor Wei Shentong.

“Finally thinking of getting to work now?”

He looked at the email, finding that the counselor summoned him to the office, and couldn’t help but shrug.

...

At Bluestar University.

The counselor’s office.

It was Fang Xing’s first time meeting Wei Shentong so closely.

This expert at the Great Vajra stage seemed to have yet to break through to the Martial Saint realm.

Even so, every movement he made still carried a weighty aura, imposing a strong sense of pressure.

Fang Xing even felt that Wei Shentong might be a bit stronger than Pan Xiong.

‘But breaking through to a Martial Saint, is it really this difficult? Even Wei Shentong, at the peak of Diamond Resilience, is stuck? Or is there some other hidden factor with him?’

A trace of doubt flashed through his mind.

“Fang Xing, have a seat!”

Wei Shentong gestured for Fang Xing to sit, a gentle smile briefly appearing on his face. “You are truly a genius from our Blue Star University, dominating the combat rankings since your freshman year, significantly enhancing the reputation of our school...”

“It's all thanks to the excellent guidance from my teachers.”

Fang Xing replied with a formulaic smile.

After a few more pleasantries, Wei Shentong directly addressed the main topic: “You’re nearing the end of your third year, about to enter your fourth, right? Time flies... Upon reaching the fifth year, all university students must face internships.”

In the interstellar era, university typically spans ten years, with internships starting in the fifth year!

“I know, usually internships can be with the Defense Bureau, the Security Bureau, or even... the Secret Realm Battlefield to gain early experience.”

Fang Xing nodded.

Amongst the students at Blue Star University, those who reach the Golden Core stage in martial arts can directly proceed to postgraduate studies.

Most seniors in the fifth year and above train themselves in the secret realms!

Otherwise, those old students at the External Scene Peak wouldn’t return, making his long-standing dominance on the combat rankings more seamless.

However, Fang Xing was no longer his past self; with an eightfold power burst now, he dared to even face those at the External Scene Peak.

He still concealed part of his strength, planning to astonish everyone only after mastering the "Indestructible Dragon Elephant Vajra Art," thus maintaining a steady ninth place on the rankings without much fluctuation.

“Hmm, internships are indeed a critical step in university life, impacting your future!”

Wei Shentong spoke earnestly, handing over a document: “Sign it!”

“What is this?”

Fang Xing picked up the document and flipped through it: “An internship contract?”

“Yes, I have high hopes for you... Want to recommend you for an internship at Orwell Industries, offering generous terms, and upon graduation, I can ensure you a truly good job... even exempt you from military service.”

Wei Shentong smiled, “I’m doing this for your sake; would a teacher ever harm a student?”

‘That’s not so certain, incidents of university teachers selling out interns in the past life were almost too common to count...’

Fang Xing quipped internally, scrutinizing the internship contract and immediately spotting some subtle traps: “If I sign, I must work at Orwell Industries after graduation? Teacher... what’s your connection with this conglomerate?”

Wei Shentong’s eyes sharpened slightly when Fang Xing hesitated to sign, then he smiled again: “The adult world is quite complex... Even within the Federation’s upper echelons, many factions exist, and often we need the support of a certain faction to climb higher, you get it?”

“I understand, but I need to think about it...”

Fang Xing cautiously replied.

He certainly didn’t want to be caught up in any political turmoil during college.

His past experiences had taught him that he was not cut out for such matters, better to focus solely on martial arts!

As long as his strength was high enough, status, power... would eventually gravitate towards him on their own!

Wei Shentong suddenly chuckled: “Being turned down like this, I'm somewhat unaccustomed to it...”

Ever since entering the office, he had been applying pressure on Fang Xing.

Fang Xing had not expected that this field training student could actually withstand the pressure of his own Great Vajra Realm.

“Instructor, after all, this is a university, not a military camp." Fang Xing looked up, flashing a bright smile.

"Is that so?" Wei Shentong's face darkened suddenly. "Don't think being ranked ninth on the battle ranking is something remarkable... Once those fifth-year students return, the ranking will immediately be reshuffled. Moreover, your internship is in my hands. Do you want to graduate peacefully, or face the most dangerous secret realm battlefield in your fifth year?"

"Experiencing the secret realm battlefield in advance doesn't seem that bad either." Fang Xing shook his head. This Wei Shentong probably stayed too long in the military, always speaking without leaving room for dissent. He really disliked this forced will imposed upon him!

Thus, he saw no need to take the contract away for further consideration. Fang Xing rose to his feet. "Then... instructor, goodbye!" He knew that although this might be a path to reaching the heavens, it could also lead him to the abyss. With the golden finger he possessed, as long as he cultivated steadily, he was certain he could reach the pinnacle. He definitely didn't hold this in high regard.

He stood up, walked out of the office, and courteously closed the door.

Bang!

Wei Shentong's eyes flared with anger, but then he suddenly laughed. "Truly youthful... this youthful spirit reminds me of my own university days. Alas..."

He sat behind his desk and suddenly dialed a number.

A light screen appeared, depicting what seemed to be a military camp background, with several young people just returning from a fierce battlefield, their eyes filled with fighting spirit and a thirst for slaughter.

This was a team of peak-level martial artists in the field!

"Instructor!"

Upon seeing Wei Shentong, these young people saluted one by one.

"Hmm, I have reviewed the battle results of your Blood Kill Squad. Being able to coordinate to eliminate lower-level minions, even if heavily injured, is quite commendable. You can return now, after all, you still have your studies." Wei Shentong smiled.

"Instructor, is there another task?" asked a young man with curly hair and crimson pupils, smiling.

"Sort of... The school has recently set up a battle ranking. Go take a position there. Of course, this might irritate other universities, so just occupy one position." Wei Shentong smiled. "Let it be the ninth spot!"

"Understood." The crimson-eyed young man answered respectfully.

"Once this is done, I'll introduce you to the true upper echelons of society." Wei Shentong promised, then hung up the phone, shaking his head. "This Fang Xing... how foolish!"

No matter how much of a genius one is, resources are needed for growth!

He planned to first cut off Fang Xing's credit sources and, when it came time for the internship, send him to the most dangerous places.

"It won't be long before this genius is utterly ruined!"

"This isn't even revenge; it's just a small act of caprice on his part."

142. The Three Ultimate Star Techniques

Fang Xing knew that by refusing the internship arrangement, he had certainly offended Wei Shentong.

Therefore, he immediately sought out his teacher.

Inside the training room, Pan Xiong, who had the appearance of a young boy, smirked slightly after hearing Fang Xing's account: "Wei Shentong is still the same as ever... Despite once being the most outstanding graduate of Bluestar University, he is exceedingly power-hungry... Even after suffering setbacks, he remains unchanged."

Could the so-called "setbacks" be referring to the Hundred Star Joint Exam last time?

Fang Xing suddenly felt that there were unfathomable depths the last time around.

Thinking carefully, he realized that while the ninety-nine planets like Young Eagle Star were nothing in the Bluestar Federation, Young Unicorn Star, alongside Crouching Dragon and Young Phoenix, were among the best educational planets in the Federation, home to countless offspring of influential figures.

Despite troubles arising during the assessment, Wei Shentong managed to emerge unscathed, which was quite remarkable.

Perhaps this was why his martial saint resources had been consistently obstructed, preventing his advancement.

Thus, in order to quickly gain the favor of a faction, he set out to accomplish some substantial feats at Bluestar University, hoping to enhance his faction's influence...

"Then teacher, what should I do? And which faction is Wei Shentong affiliated with?"

Fang Xing posed his questions.

"You need do nothing... You are a student of Bluestar University, so just follow the rules."

Pan Xiong said, "Even if Wei Shentong tries to influence your fifth-year internship, there's only so much he can do... At most, you might end up at the Secret Realm battlefield. For us warriors, going to the battlefield is as it should be."

"And as for faction issues? The Federation is vast, with countless factions... Premature exposure to such matters could be detrimental to your growth. Do you really believe Wei Shentong can exert faction pressure on you? You overestimate yourself, you're not worth it yet!"

"Moreover, suppressing a Federal genius carries a terrible reputation, it's like handing weapons to political enemies... Everything must be done according to the rules, understand?"

"I think I understand. The priority is to strengthen myself."

Fang Xing nodded.

"Correct... The Secret Realm battlefield primarily demands combat-ready talents, the ones who can challenge the odds! If you're strong enough to defy expectations, the battlefield isn't all that dangerous for you, and it can earn you a lot of credits and merits..."

Pan Xiong smiled: "You're doing great, never stalled by any bottleneck, always progressing... I believe you can completely achieve martial golden core before graduating and then apply for graduate studies."

With graduate studies, military service can be deferred once again!

Fang Xing pondered, understanding that Pan Xiong was hinting about Wei Shentong’s faction possibly having some influence within the military.

After all, Wei Shentong once served in the military, which is not comparable to an internship at Bluestar University.

In an internship, he’s still a student, not a soldier. Protected by Bluestar University, he could leave anytime, still somewhat safe.

But if he enlists, he becomes a true soldier; even if ordered to a deadly mission, he would have to go.

Such is the strictness of military law!

In such circumstances, it would be easy to manipulate things against him.

"It seems I need to breakthrough to the Martial Dao Golden Core before graduating university, or else, if tossed into a certain-death mission, I'd have no choice but to betray the Federation."

"Or perhaps… continue to graduate school, then pursue a doctorate and post-doc…"

"Could I become a Martial Saint just by studying?"

Fang Xing’s heart stirred: "Perhaps… becoming a sage through study is quite a respectable path."

Pan Xiong had no idea that this student was contemplating so much in an instant. He grinned, "We martial artists overthink these things. What you should be doing now is training! Train hard! I haven't stretched my bones in a while; today, I'll have a practical fight with you. Don't worry, I will only defend, not attack!"

He twisted his neck, causing a crisp sound to echo from his bones, and moved to the center of the field.

"Teacher, excuse me."

Fang Xing wanted to understand the gap between himself and a master in the Vajra realm, and immediately bowed.

As he rose, dragon roars and tiger howls erupted around him, as if a gigantic elephant was also trumpeting.

Clap!

He raised his right hand, chopping down with a knife-hand.

Suddenly, the air swirled with wind and clouds, as if ghosts and gods were wailing!

Master-level Ghost-God Blade!

By this time in his third year’s second half, he had already mastered the Ghost-God Blade, the Extreme Emotion Sword, and even the Twelve Styles of Military Boxing, achieving perfection before moving on to comprehend the Universal Spirit Diagram, successfully breaking through to master level.

Clap!

The startling blade light fell on Pan Xiong’s body, yet not even leaving a white mark!

Pan Xiong's face revealed a trace of satisfaction, "The fact that you've forced me to use my Triple Gold Body... your strength is certainly beyond just the ninth rank on the competitive list."

Martial Gold Body!

This technique involves circulating martial qi to absorb eternal substances, refining one's body to achieve an unimaginable physique!

Fang Xing felt that even if he used his entire strength, it would be difficult to breach Pan Xiong's defense.

‘This Triple Gold Body... it feels like even inferior magical treasures can't penetrate its defense,’ he thought.

‘If Pan Xiong went to the realm of cultivators, perhaps he could rampage effortlessly through the Zheng Kingdom...’

His mind stirred, and his hand transformed into a sword-finger position.

The sword light was chilling, like mercury pouring down, searching for the weak points in Pan Xiong's protective aura.

Hiss!

Threads of sword qi pierced Pan Xiong's golden body but instantly shattered!

Not only did they shatter, but they even bounced back!

Though Pan Xiong focused solely on defense without attacking, the reflected attacks didn't count!

Fang Xing's hands shifted again, surrounding the space with flickering blades and shadows.

A blade is a sword, a sword is a blade, it can even transform into a punch, a palm, or a kick...

Pairing with his footwork, it all becomes one harmonized whole.

"Well done!"

Pan Xiong gazed at his student, unable to conceal his admiration, "Hand blade, sword finger,拳掌腿, and your footwork... You've miraculously mastered and combined the Ghost God Blade, Extreme Sentiment Sword, and Military Fist techniques to such an excellent degree, forming a unique exceptional skill that might already reach S-grade. Still, incorporating footwork is tricky. It's a pity your Step of Dancing Skies isn’t perfected yet, making the fusion quite challenging."

This wasn't an entirely self-created martial art; rather, after mastering the three martial techniques to a grandmaster level, Fang Xing combined the strengths of each to create the martial art best suited to himself, much like fusing the Dragon Stake and Crouching Tiger Stake into Dragon-Tiger Stake!

It was a process of consolidating his martial arts.

Originally, he wanted to incorporate his Step of Dancing Skies too, but since this S-grade footwork wasn’t yet mastered to the grandmaster level, he couldn’t alter it at will, and Pan Xiong could detect some inconsistencies.

"Excellent skills, what is this martial art called?"

Pan Xiong laughed heartily, a flicker of golden light shimmered in his dantian, gradually spreading across his entire body, transforming him into a golden Arhat, stable as Mt. Tai amidst Fang Xing's storm-like offensive.

“Stellar Martial Trinity!”

Fang Xing cast a quick glance at his status bar:

【Stellar Martial Trinity: 8/800】

……

【Sky Dance Step: 1/400】

These were the results of his diligent practice for over a year.

Yet, at this moment, in front of Pan Xiong, it was still insufficient.

“Well then...”

Fueled by the thrill of battle, Fang Xing emitted a powerful roar, his body as if clad in a golden silk armor.

Within his eyes, two brilliant golden stars shone!

Great Vajra Prajna Power—eightfold surge!

Stellar Martial Trinity!

Numerous martial energies merged into one, converging onto the three fingers of Fang Xing’s right hand, driving the deadly strike within the Stellar Martial Trinity with the Great Vajra Prajna Power!

It was his strongest attack to date!

Although he aimed to conceal his true strength, after three years together and their recent conversations, Fang Xing felt that Pan Xiong was trustworthy.

Moreover, his actual prowess was something no one would ever truly fathom.

Faced with this attack, an expression of seriousness crossed Pan Xiong’s face for the first time.

He sensed that even his thrice-refined golden body might… sustain injury under this assault?

“Is this the Great Vajra Prajna Power?!”

“Not only that, but his ability to endure such an explosive force with his fingers suggests that his Dragon Elephant Skill has reached an incomprehensible level; this kid...”

In the blink of an eye, thoughts flashed in Pan Xiong’s mind before he gently extended his palm.

Bang!

Fang Xing's three fingers were like indestructible spears, striking Pan Xiong's golden palm with a sound like clashing metal.

Then...

He felt the powerful force and true qi he unleashed disappear without a trace, as if a clay ox entering the sea!

No!

It was shattered by an even more powerful force!

If Pan Xiong had not held back, this counter-shock force could have breached a master's Dragon Elephant Defense, causing him injury!

“I lost...”

Fang Xing retreated swiftly like a flickering shadow, gazing at Pan Xiong, who stood with arms crossed. “Teacher... what exactly did you do... just now?”

“The Martial Dao Golden Core,” Pan Xiong explained leisurely, “is the condensation of our essence, energy, and spirit, known in ancient times as ‘Embracing the Core’. It harmonizes all a martial artist’s qi, strength, and true energy into 'Golden Core Primordial Force'. Furthermore, being one major realm apart in martial arts makes an insurmountable difference in actual combat.

Not to mention that after forming a Martial Dao Golden Core, one's domain power will surge massively, transforming into a true 'Golden Core Domain'! Therefore, a Martial Dao Golden Core fighting against external techniques is akin to an adult fighting a child, invincible unless you can master those legendary techniques of your realm. However, such unparalleled talent hasn't appeared in a long time.”

“I understand, teacher,”

Fang Xing bowed deeply, then suddenly received a message: “There's an issue in the virtual space... I need to handle it.”

“Alright, go take care of it.”

Pan Xiong watched Fang Xing leave before slowly extending the hand he had behind his back.

To his surprise, there was a white mark on his palm!

In the center of the mark, there seemed to be a faint red spot...

“Luckily, the kid didn't notice, otherwise if I had been caught off guard by a student's attack... what would become of my reputation?”

Pan Xiong sighed. “No wonder Wei Shentong is so shamelessly eager to recruit him; his talent truly is astounding... Should I recommend him to the higher-ups as well?”

While he was lost in thought, two students entered: “Teacher...”

Pan Xiong looked up to see Su Longyan and Ouyang Qian.

Strictly speaking, both had decent talent and were progressing rapidly.

But compared to Fang Xing, their potential was overshadowed completely!

“Why haven't you reached the external essence stage yet?”

Pan Xiong immediately reprimanded them, "It's troublesome that I still have to separate you three for lessons... You're already in your third year; by next year, you'll be interning. Without the capability of external essence, you'll be utterly embarrassing me..."

Su Longyan and Ouyang Qian exchanged glances and lowered their heads in frustration...

(End of Chapter)