Starry Sky Professional

“Why do you all want to learn martial arts?”

A few moments before class was due to start, Fang Xing found himself absentmindedly watching Xia Long, his mind drifting back to the first martial arts lesson.

It was then that Xia Long stood in the same spot, his voice booming like thunder:

“Because you are reserve warriors, and one day you'll be on the battlefield. You'll fight to the death against the heretic god's followers... Learning martial arts is about survival!”

“Remember this, and train hard! Train as if your life depends on it!! Only then might you survive in the future!!!”

“Given your backgrounds, dedicating vast resources to become a Mech Operator or a Telepath isn't in your cards... Martial arts require minimal investment, but offer promising prospects. It's your best evolutionary path!”

“I hope that before you graduate, at least reach the second level of martial arts, master an A-level martial art, otherwise stepping onto the battlefield is a death sentence, with no second chances!”

Such harsh reality struck Fang Xing deeply.

Now, Xia Long began his lecture anew:

"The followers of heretic gods often possess mental contamination abilities, even the lowest servant can unleash a mental assault... In the beginning, our federal fleets and Mech Operators suffered significant losses; for a while, our asylums were at full capacity... But later we discovered that post-evolution, the human martial arts will, known as 'Martial Will', can counter such mental contamination... Although expecting you to reach 'Courage Realm' by adulthood to gain some ideological power is challenging, the Federation developed various martial arts that, through hypnosis, grant low-level martial artists nearly equivalent power. This is the origin of A-level martial arts..."

Listening below, Fang Xing felt a bitter taste creep up his throat.

Martial arts! Allegedly, in the Blue Star Federation, it's the evolutionary path with the least resource investment but the highest output ratio, but in reality, it's just the cannon fodder route!

There are numerous ways to resist the mental contamination of heretic god's followers, yet be it potions from alchemists, mind charms from telepaths, psy armor, or specially modified mechs, none were within the reach of someone saddled with debt.

For someone like himself, a biochemically enhanced human, there was only one path—to learn martial arts! Then head to the frontlines to wield a blade against the followers!

If he managed to survive for years, he might have a chance to retire alive.

Of course, the Federation hadn't entirely blocked all paths for biochemically enhanced humans.

After all, there's little difference between them and natural humans, with limitless potential.

Fang Xing once sat here with the aim of getting into university and deferring his military service!

According to federal law, upon successfully entering university, one can gain a scholarship and postpone military service until after graduation!

It's rumored that many 'Martial Saints' and 'Martial Gods' within the Federation took this path.

'University... it seems so distant.'

'It's hard, incredibly hard! Even Xia Long, in his heart, doesn't believe any of us will make it to university... After all, one of the basic requirements for university entry is reaching the third martial realm before graduating high school—the Jade Potential!'

In martial arts, there are three realms: the first is 'Flesh and Skin', the second 'Muscles and Bones', and the third 'Jade Form'!

Reaching the Jade Form realm, a martial artist's body transforms, their internal organs work harmoniously, self-healing all hidden injuries. Their internal and external cycles become perfect, allowing them to live disease-free to the age of 120!

Fang Xing sighed inwardly as he watched Xia Long's movements ahead.

At this moment, Xia Long was poised in a stance, his spine vibrating like a great dragon.

"Today's lesson: first maintain the 'Great Dragon Stance' for 30 minutes, then follow me in the twelve routines of the military boxing..."

"The Great Dragon Stance needs no introduction. It is the most effective stance for refining flesh and skin in the first martial realm. Simulated countless times by the Federation's supercomputer 'Brain of Omniscience', it has been perfected. It trains all flesh and skin without missing a thing. Stance practice shouldn’t be dead; let body and mind move in unison. Imagine your trunk as a dragon, your spine as the dragon's backbone, and your limbs as its claws... Ideally, do not practice the Great Dragon Stance for more than an hour each day. Students who can afford it might consider purchasing 'D3-grade nutritional serum' from the store..."

Xia Long explained meticulously, though he sighed inwardly. The cheapest 'D3-grade nutritional serum' costs 5000 star coins, making it difficult for ordinary bio-engineered students to afford long-term.

Nonetheless, such is the reality. Federation resources are limited, and martial arts are the most inexpensive, mass-oriented evolution path available.

Without showing talent, neither school nor personal investment is merited.

Breathe in... breathe out...

Fang Xing calmed his mind, taking the stance of the Great Dragon. A familiar sensation surfaced, as though he had practiced this stance for a long time.

He instinctively slowed his breathing, his mind visualizing a majestic dragon, while his spinal bones trembled softly.

In this state, his skin rippled with a stir, tingling, soreness, itching... a torrent of peculiar sensations overwhelmed him, and his muscles began to heat.

"Hold on! Hold on!"

It was rare to transmigrate, and even more so to touch upon such extraordinary power. Fang Xing gritted his teeth, persisting.

He did not know how much time passed before he suddenly felt utterly drained, his vision darkened, and a sense of 'reaching his limit' consumed him.

It was as if during a long run, he had abruptly hit a wall, and his body could muster no energy at all...

"Have I reached the limit? Am I going to faint? Will they have to carry me to the medical wing? That would be utterly embarrassing..."

In that moment, as Fang Xing's consciousness wavered, he found himself back on that late night reading novels.

Before him, a sword's light seemed to appear, beneath which worlds seemed to be created and destroyed...

"Is this... the scene from when I transmigrated?"

‘Why do I feel it's a sword light, not a saber or some other brilliance?’

‘Under that sword light, it seems like some terrifying force is being suppressed.’

Fang Xing had no time to ponder further. He saw the sword light descend, transforming into two glowing spheres, one red and one white.

The two spheres chased each other, resembling two fish or perhaps the red and white of a Taiji diagram.

Suddenly!

Boom!!!

The red and white lights collided, their frightening brilliance obliterating everything!

The red-white Taiji diagram abruptly shattered, and then... a faint glow appeared before his eyes:

【Name: Fang Xing】

【Age: 16】

【Profession: Martial Artist】

A very simple display. When Fang Xing focused his awareness on the Martial Artist profession, a few sub-sections opened up:

【First Realm: Flesh and Muscle】

【Military Boxing 12 Forms: 55/100】

【Great Dragon Stance: 67/100】

...

A thought stirred in Fang Xing's heart, and then... insights about the 'Great Dragon Stance' emerged. Suddenly, he felt strength coursing through his limbs and bones, like a nearly dried-up canal filled with fresh water, preventing him from fainting immediately.

‘I see... Although I've fully inherited the original owner's mental and muscle memories, there are still differences in execution. The mind knows, the hands know... but without coordination, skills regress...’

‘But now, with this attribute panel, it allows me to confirm once and for all. Proficiency will only increase, it won't regress...’

'Only now have I fully taken over everything from the original owner, even the martial arts...’

‘If I could add points...’

Fang Xing felt a bit insatiable, looking around in vain for an option to allocate points, but he had to give up for the moment.

"Alright, time's up. Thirty minutes have passed."

A few minutes later, Xia Long commanded them, and the students, who had been standing in place with mounting relief, began to relax. Liu Wei, in particular, collapsed on the ground, drenched in sweat, breathing heavily.

Fang Xing fared better, his legs feeling only slightly weak and not quite at the point of collapsing.

"Ah Xing, your stance is getting stronger. Did you practice secretly at home last night?"

Liu Wei couldn't help but tease as he saw his equally hard-working friend still standing firm.

"This is my usual standard!"

Fang Xing replied, his breath heavy, but he silently added to himself: 'It's just that this is Fang Xing at his peak...'

People have their ups and downs, but with a fixed attribute panel, his state is always at its peak!

To Liu Wei, it seemed as though Fang Xing had improved yet again.

"Heh, your stance may be a bit better than mine, but who knows about the rest." Liu Wei chuckled as he clambered up.

Just then, Xia Long shouted again: "Don't lie down! Your state is perfect right now. Stand up and practice! Military Boxing, Twelve Forms, First Form, Bow-Step Blast Punch!"

Fang Xing's spine bent like a bow, and the major tendons in his body were like strings, his right hand closed tight, knuckles audibly cracking. He imagined his body as a large bow, launching his fist outwards.

Bang!

The air in front let out a dull sound, startling Liu Wei beside him.

"Ah Xing, how did you... become so strong?"

Xia Long noticed quite a few students had managed to make their punches sound off. His facial lines relaxed slightly: "Good...The ancient boxing classics say 'A sound worth thousands in gold.' If you can make that sound, you are each a visible strength martial artist, capable of facing ten opponents in ancient times! But it's not enough! Far from enough!"

"Why is the first form, 'Bow-Step Blast Punch,' called a blast punch? Bow-step is just the beginning. Imagining your body as a great bow is just the start. Next, you must imagine yourselves as cannons, ignite your blood and qi with 'heart-fire,' and launch your fists as if they were shells!"

As he spoke, Xia Long threw a punch himself.

Boom!

With the same 'Bow-Step Blast Punch,' it was as if a shell had exploded in midair. Fang Xing just felt his eardrums ache and even his heart seemed oppressed, feeling some chest tightness: 'This punch, I’m afraid it's no less than twenty years' worth of skill… I can't withstand it…'

Xia Long stood with his fists withdrawn, "When you can unleash a true 'Cannon Punch,' a sound that money can't buy, that will mean you've reached a basic mastery of this move. The key lies in the 'fire of the heart,' using the mind as the driving force to circulate your energy and blood..."

As he spoke, Xia Long moved behind a student, casually pressing them with a palm on the back.

That student's face immediately turned crimson, and they punched out forcefully. Although it wasn't a complete cannon sound, the resultant noise was noticeably louder.

‘This kind of hands-on teaching surpasses any sort of projection... But only students who can make a sound get this treatment...’

While Fang Xing was deep in thought, Xia Long had already positioned himself behind him, five fingers pressing on his back: "Punch!"

Immediately, Fang Xing felt a surge of heat in his chest, like a fire igniting, eager to find an outlet.

"Hah!"

Fang Xing gave a low shout, punched out, and then felt utterly drained.

"Not bad. Next time, pay attention to your footwork..."

Xia Long offered advice before moving towards another female student.

Meanwhile, Fang Xing sat on the ground, gasping for air, but a thrill stirred within him.

He mentally accessed his status panel where he found the Martial Body Fist subsection.

【Martial Body Fist Twelve Styles: 56/100】

"Has my proficiency increased by one point?"

"If I do this a few dozen more times, will I perfect the beginner level of Martial Body Fist and move to the next stage?"

"But if it takes dozens of times, my body won't withstand it..."

Feeling the growing fatigue in his arms, Fang Xing shook his head slightly.

Suddenly, his gaze sharpened.

At the bottom of the status bar, a brand new, peculiar symbol appeared.

This rune seemed to consist of twisted lines, faintly forming the outline of a mirror.

When his consciousness lingered on it, a line of new text emerged:

『Gate of the Heavens: 1/100』

(End of Chapter)