Starry Sky Professional

The blade shone with a cold, fierce light, and carried an enchanting power that seemed to capture the soul!

It was the B-rank martial art—Demon Blade!

Fang Xing had no doubt that even if it were just a wooden sword, in Gu Yun's hands, it wielded the force to shatter stones and split monuments!

‘This girl is crazy!’

‘Is she really pulling out all the stops to kill me?’

Fortunately, Fang Xing was no longer the person he used to be.

Facing this blade, he twisted his waist, his feet moving like a graceful dragon, sidestepping several meters in the blink of an eye, out of the blade's range.

Military Boxing Twelve Styles—Drifting Dragon Step!

Then, he took a half-step forward, his fist like a heavenly axe, bringing the forceful might to destroy the heavens and the earth!

—Half-Step Collapse Fist!

Gu Yun subtly twisted the hilt, moving as one with her sword.

In an instant, she'd exchanged several blows with Fang Xing.

Within the arena, silhouettes intertwined, blades and fists crossing paths amidst a fierce wind!

Zheng!

Suddenly, a sound like a snapped bowstring echoed.

Fang Xing's fist struck the wooden blade, causing him to retreat several steps.

‘Damn... B-rank martial arts are really something.’

He felt a bit helpless in his heart.

In terms of cultivation, he and Gu Yun were both in the second realm, refining muscles, evenly matched.

But in martial skill, there was a significant difference.

Demon Blade is a B-rank martial art, while Military Boxing Twelve Styles is just a common C-rank martial art!

‘If the cultivation is the same, the martial skill makes a big difference.’

‘The Federation's martial arts are clearly superior to those from other worlds...’

Though he had collected numerous martial arts manuals like picking up trash, Fang Xing hadn't found one that met his standards.

After all, even the strongest martial technique among them, the 'Innate Astral Qi', only reaches a B-level and requires a practitioner to be an innate martial artist, which is achievable only after reaching the third realm of martial arts, the uncut jade stage.

However, in the Federation, even a martial artist of the second realm can learn B-level martial arts!

Simplifying advanced martial arts so that even low-level martial artists can begin learning them was a remarkable innovation by the Federation in martial arts!

That’s why Fang Xing disdainfully dismissed martial arts from other worlds, thinking of returning to learn a powerful technique.

If he could master an A-level martial art and refine it, then it would definitely be innate combat power in another world!

“You… have you mastered the Demon Blade to such a degree that you can wield it with your heart’s desire?”

Fang Xing watched Gu Yun intently, his expression stern.

Even though they were at similar levels of cultivation, their proficiency in martial arts differed vastly!

In terms of skill, to wield the Demon Blade with ease signifies a level of 'expertise'!

‘This is laughable, my twelve forms of military boxing not only lack the level but also the skill! This is what a true champion candidate, who gets into college, looks like.’

He mocked himself internally, deeply moved by the considerable effort Gu Yun's father had put into nurturing his daughter.

“Attack!”

Without answering, Gu Yun's eyes turned crimson as she suddenly slashed!

The blade light was exceptionally beautiful, splitting into seven in the blink of an eye, sealing all of Fang Xing’s escape routes!

Fang Xing's expression remained unchanged, but a talisman secretly appeared in his right hand.

— Golden Bell Shield Talisman!

With its first-grade middle-class defense power, not even a martial artist at the uncut jade stage could break through it in a short time.

Moreover, by pairing it with a few offensive talismans, he could instantly make Gu Yun regret her actions!

This was Fang Xing's ace in the hole! Even if he used it, he could easily claim it was an ancient artifact unintentionally purchased from the black market, made to look retro, knowing anyone sensible would think along those lines rather than suspect anything like crossing worlds.

But he hesitated for a moment, holding back, watching as the wooden blade came to a halt just a fraction of an inch away from his forehead.

Opposite him, Gu Yun maintained a frosty composure, like a millennia-old ice, yet her eyes glistened like crystal, clear and bright.

“Congratulations…”

A faint smile appeared on Fang Xing's face.

If Gu Yun were to push any further, Fang Xing would undoubtedly have resorted to his talisman at the last moment.

However, at that critical juncture, he chose to trust Gu Yun just this once, thinking back to the time when her father's intervention saved him from a sinister attack.

It turned out, his faith was not misplaced.

"Having mastered the essence of the demonic way, you're ready to start learning the 'Demon God Blade', an A-class martial art..." Fang Xing remarked thoughtfully.

"And you have several years to enhance your cultivation. As long as you break through to the Jade Essence Realm by your third year, getting into college will be a cinch..."

"It's not several years; I'll already be a freshman in high school this coming fall, senior." Gu Yun interjected.

"What? Your age?" Fang Xing was slightly taken aback.

"Exceptional enrollment... and it's only a year or two in advance. The principal even awarded me a scholarship!" Gu Yun replied coldly, "I can't wait any longer — I need to get on the battlefield and avenge my father!"

"So you're planning to apply to a military academy or enlist right after graduation..." Fang Xing sighed, already understanding Gu Yun's intentions.

"Truthfully, attending university is merely to fulfill my father's wishes..." Gu Yun's eyes softened slightly when she mentioned her father, but the warmth quickly turned to ice. "Alright, your service for today is over, and I'll transfer the payment to your account."

"Why does this feel so awkward, junior..." Fang Xing muttered to himself as he was shown out of the villa, a peculiar expression on his face. "You're not even offering me tea, despite us being future classmates..."

Gu Yun was entering the very school where Fang Xing would be her senior as a sophomore.

Realizing he only had two years left until the college entrance exams, Fang Xing felt a sense of dread creeping up.

He had gone from being far behind to only slightly trailing Gu Yun. Previously, he needed her to hold back by wearing a gravity suit, but now, they fought fiercely, and he only narrowly lost.

In a few more months, Fang Xing anticipated surpassing her and leaving her far behind.

"Although... surpassing a girl younger than me isn't exactly something to brag about..."

"I still need to start learning an A-class martial art soon..." Fang Xing sighed again.

Suddenly, he recalled the information he had gathered.

"There aren't many A-rank martial arts taught in the school, and only three are widespread. The first one is 'Ghostblade', reputed to leave demons and gods trembling at the sight of a single strike, yet it's notoriously difficult to learn. It's best to start with 'Magic Blade' as an entry point..."

"Besides that, there's 'Crazy Eighteen Strikes' and 'Demonic Staff Techniques'!"

"Just the names alone sound terrifying, and indeed they are. To resist the mental pollution of alien evil god minions during the first three realms, you'd need to be mad in order to stay sane!"

"Or rather...if I'm already insane, you can't drive me crazy anymore. The creator of these techniques must have been a true genius in logical reasoning!"

"Among these, the one that suits me best is actually 'Crazy Eighteen Strikes'...because it's an extension of the 'Military Boxing Twelve Forms', all focused on fists and feet."

"If I don't want to learn, there are also blade and staff techniques..."

"But I won't. I want to learn the sword! The elegance of a single sword soaring through the skies, clad in fluttering white robes—that's the true demeanor of a sword immortal... Playing with blades and staffs is too bloody and brutal, lacking elegance and ruining the mood..."

To be honest, if there were choices, Fang Xing definitely wouldn't pick these three.

Unfortunately... the school's options are limited to these three A-rank martial arts.

Of course, there are many martial artists outside with A-rank sword techniques, but Fang Xing can't afford to hire a private tutor.

Besides... those tutors may not teach as well as the school teachers.

"Although Xia Long might not match up to top martial artists, he's at least reliable..."

"Looks like I'll be learning 'Crazy Eighteen Strikes' next semester... My image, my style..."

At this thought, Fang Xing felt a deep sense of distress.

Beep beep!

Suddenly, while he was caught in his despair, his phone rang again.

He took out his phone and saw a message, his expression turning solemn.

...

The next day.

July seventeenth.

As the sun set and the twilight was blood-red.

At a barbecue stall.

Fang Xing sat at the stall, with a few drinks laid out before him.

"Hmm, the Federation is strict about alcoholic beverages. If you're underage, you're prohibited from drinking, and stores won't sell alcohol."

So, they could only drink fruit juice and soda.

'Frustrating! Minors aren't even allowed to gamble or visit the red-light district...' With a hint of resentment, Fang Xing took a hearty bite of the barbecue in front of him.

He had to admit, in this era, any shop that could stay open must have a unique skill. The barbecue had tender meat with a chewy texture, seasoned with various spices. With each bite, rich juices almost burst out.

The key was that it was cheap. No wonder the old Fang Xing and Liu Wei, both practically penniless, used to find opportunities to indulge here.

But for the current Fang Xing, it was just that the grilling technique and spices were decent; regretfully, the meat quality dragged it down.

Although the shop used top-grade meat, how could it compare with the naturally nurtured and spiritually enriched exotic beasts of another world?

'Hmm, maybe I should buy some barbecue spices… Once I'm in another world, I'll try grilling some beast meat...'

'In the marketplace, there are occasionally beast meats for sale. Lately, due to frequent beast appearances, prices have significantly dropped...'

According to what he'd learned from Ding Hongxiu, beast meat greatly nourishes one's energy and blood, with effects better than lower-grade spiritual rice!

Unfortunately, it depends on luck and isn't consistently available, but it's still favored by many top warriors and body cultivators.

Indeed!

Among cultivators, besides those who practice magic, there are also some niche body cultivators. It's said their physiques are extraordinary, and at high levels, they can catch magical artifacts barehanded, hard to injure even by low-grade spells!

'Alas... the prerequisite for becoming a body cultivator is still having a spiritual root! Without one, you can't even sense or absorb the spiritual energy to purify your body...'

'Everything hinges on this deadlock of spiritual roots. Otherwise, the efficiency of utilizing another world's resources could at least be enhanced tenfold, a hundredfold!'

Fang Xing took another sip of his drink, silently sighing in his heart.

Before long, a figure sat down before him, rudely raising a glass and drinking it all in one go: "Ah Xing… Happy Birthday!"

It was Liu Wei!

"You came?"

Fang Xing likewise picked up his glass, taking a small sip.

Though it was just a drink, it surprisingly gave a slightly tipsy feeling.

Now sitting across from him, Liu Wei seemed like a different person.

His appearance was the same, but his aura was entirely different, his clothes almost bursting from his muscular frame, resembling a bodybuilder.

“I'm here...” Liu Wei whispered, unsure of what to say, so he simply remained silent.

“You shouldn't have... never mind.” Fang Xing quipped with a hint of sarcasm, deciding to drop the martial arts tone. “We're classmates, after all, and I'm glad you're here to celebrate my birthday.”

Hearing these words, Liu Wei's lips seemed to curl into a slight smile, only to quickly smooth out.

]

(End of Chapter)