Starry Sky Professional

"As expected of the Blood Cage Arena, its influence is immense..."

"I must seek revenge. Spending twenty thousand to acquire detailed enemy information is a must! Moreover, taking private lessons wouldn't hurt..."

Fang Xing closed his eyes, pondering slowly.

Money wasn't much of a problem, the total cost was only three hundred thousand.

Previously, he had sold gold in the black market, which caught Lance's attention, but he still had the money.

Why three hundred thousand?

Naturally, because he only planned to buy one session!

"Information on the 'Passionate Sword' is available online. Besides, I just need to experience its essence once to grasp the fundamentals... from then on, I can rely completely on the attribute panel to master it!"

"To put it bluntly, it's like getting it for free!"

"Learning another sword technique could help conceal my identity... Plus, mastering both sword and blade is quite impressive."

The night had fallen.

After donning a mask, Fang Xing visited the Blood Cage Arena once more.

Since being attacked last time, he found the arena's shuttle bus to be the safest mode of transport.

"Welcome!"

Zhang Jiarui, dressed in a chic suit with a bright red bow at her collar, placed both hands in front of her abdomen and offered a slight bow.

"Hello. I'm here to make a transaction..."

Fang Xing spoke with a deep voice.

"Alright, please follow me."

Zhang Jiarui led Fang Xing to an office. Upon opening the door, a surprisingly spacious room revealed itself, with only a solitary desk inside.

"The money has already been transferred to the arena's account."

Fang Xing said in a low voice.

"Alright, here is the intel."

Zhang Jiarui gestured in the air, transmitting a piece of information to Fang Xing's black market communicator.

At the top, there was a three-dimensional image of a person.

"Lance North, thirty-seven years old, a cyborg from Trifoliate City. Graduated from Trifoliate City High School, served in the military, awakened his abilities on the battlefield... retired at thirty-four..."

“A martial artist in the unpolished jade realm, suspected of awakening the ability to ‘communicate with small animals’. He can command only small creatures, unable to control larger types like big dogs... Prefers to frequent areas such as Maple Leaf City's black market and the Blood Dance Bar...”

Fang Xing glanced over the report, noting its detailed nature.

This was quite advantageous. Knowing these details meant understanding a person's weaknesses!

Even with his current skills, he was confident he could set up a trap to take down Lance, despite the risks. Factoring in these risks was crucial for Fang Xing, ensuring he was fully prepared before making a move.

“Thank you.”

He expressed genuine gratitude to Zhang Jiarui, acknowledging that information of this depth wasn’t something just any organization could acquire.

“After all, you’re my guest... So, personal trainer?”

Zhang Jiarui asked with a smile.

“Yes, let's start with one session.”

Fang Xing nodded in agreement, watching Zhang Jiarui leave the room.

Not long after, the office door reopened, and a female martial artist entered.

She had a robust build and sun-kissed skin; her appearance was unremarkable at first glance. Yet, a closer look revealed a lurking, extreme danger, much like a leopardess hidden in the grass, ready to strike.

“I'm Coach Ping, you can call me Coach Ping. Are you interested in learning the ‘Passionate Sword’? How much do you know about this Grade A martial skill?”

Coach Ping inquired directly.

Fang Xing shared his understanding.

After listening, Coach Ping frowned slightly:

“All public information, I see... So, you have no foundation at all. In this case, I suggest starting with ten sessions to solidify the basics, then moving on to advanced training. You might need about fifty sessions to grasp the foundational aspects.”

Fang Xing's face darkened immediately:

“I haven’t decided to train in the ‘Passionate Sword’ yet, so I intended to purchase just one trial session. Could you please give a brief overview of the entry points and demonstrate the sword essence?”

A single session costs a hundred thousand, so fifty would be five million!

He’d be insane to spend that kind of money.

Purchasing this session was meant to clarify the key points to overcome barriers on his own.

Of course, the most crucial part was experiencing the ‘Passionate Sword’ essence firsthand.

“Sure... The essence of the ‘Passionate Sword’ lies in being driven by emotion, sincere in intention, with heart and intent united, emotion and body in harmony. Given your situation...”

Coach Ping observed Fang Xing, a smirk flitting through her thoughts, and began to explain.

This Grade A martial art was equally profound and extensive, making it difficult for Fang Xing to fathom without guidance from a skilled expert.

Right now, having taken a private lesson, an overwhelming sense of realization dawned on him. He couldn't help but marvel internally at how you get what you pay for.

“Alright, finally, let me show you the essence of the 'Passionate Sword'...”

“To cultivate the Passionate Sword, you must delve deep into your core emotions, those that are most memorable and profound. The stronger the emotion, the more powerful the simulated state you achieve.”

Coach Ping brushed her hand across her waist.

Roar!

Amidst a flash of white light, a sword cry, reminiscent of a dragon's roar, resounded.

Around her waist was a soft sword, continuously wound there.

The gleam of the sword seemed to carry an intense emotional resonance.

Fang Xing felt a bit dazed, almost sensing a tear forming at the corner of his eye. “The word 'emotion' is truly difficult to comprehend...”

Coach Ping had already sheathed the sword. “Today's lesson is over. Next time you come, make sure to settle the full tuition.”

In truth, she was in some need of money; otherwise, she would not have accepted this private tutoring request.

Revealing a glimpse of the sword's essence was merely a bait.

In her view, mastering an A-grade martial art in just one experimental class was impossible.

In the end, it would still require starting from scratch.

“Thank you, Coach!”

Fang Xing etched the previous sensation deeply in his memory, which at least provided him with a direction.

Naturally, it was impossible, impossible in this lifetime.

Although this time wasn't a free ride, having a direction allowed him to possibly get a footing utilizing some minor techniques from the cultivation world and support from his attribute panel!

Subsequent lessons would surely not need to be paid for.

Exiting the office, Fang Xing checked the time and directly headed toward the pawn shop and the weapon store.

“Since I'm here, I should quickly sell the gold and buy the 'Swift Dragon Class Laser Gun' I've been yearning for... Then catch the arena shuttle home, achieving two goals with one action!”

There was quite a lot of gold in Qinglin Market, and this time Fang Xing had brought another batch.

Together with what was left over from before, he could barely scrape together two million.

The most crucial point was that he didn't need to launder the money, buying the weapon directly and then taking it back, which saved a substantial sum.

...

"As expected, the black market doesn't want me to take a single cent home... But without the need for money laundering, spending it feels truly liberating... It inexplicably feels like I've gained something."

Happiness Garden Complex.

"A laser gun, huh..."

Inside the room, Fang Xing toyed with the gun in his hands.

This 'Swift Dragon Laser Gun' came from the black market, its gunmetal presenting a metallic silver-white finish, heavy and solid in his grip.

More importantly... it works on people!

"The laser gun's speed is close to the speed of light, and its destructive power can penetrate even nano-armors..."

Fang Xing struck several standard aiming poses with the weapon: "It's more than enough for revenge. That Lance definitely can't withstand it..."

"Right now, I have nothing going on over there, so I'll leave the gun here for now. After my revenge, I'll take it over."

Although the weapons shop owner assured him that the gun had no hidden traps, Fang Xing trusted it not one bit.

Without the manufacturer's hidden hands, maybe the black market has theirs!

Therefore, if this gun were taken to the other world, it definitely wouldn't come back.

Fang Xing planned to let it take effect first and then cast it into the other world after vengeance.

Then, in Qinglin Market, he wouldn't say he's worry-free, but at least wouldn't be overly anxious.

At least, aside from foundation level cultivators, he could sneak up and kill a perfected Qi Condensation cultivator himself!

As for whether a foundation cultivator could withstand it?

Fang Xing didn't know and didn't want to find out. By then, his situation would be precarious indeed.

...

Several days later.

Black market.

Blood Dance Bar.

'Carrion Eater' Lance staggered out, wobbling slightly with a bottle of liquor in his hand.

Ever since retiring from the interstellar battlefield, he needed strong alcohol and even psychotropic drugs to soothe his soul.

Indeed, those memories became his taboo, forcing himself to forget, unwilling to recall anymore.

He turned into an abandoned alley, familiarly flipped open a manhole cover, and dove inside.

The sewer was narrow, enclosed, dim, and carried a stench.

Yet for some unknown reason, Lance felt at ease in such an environment.

"Squeak, squeak!"

At that moment, two rats suddenly scurried over, making squeaking noises.

"Glug, glug..."

Lance lifted a bottle and took a hearty swig, his steps staggering like a drunken fool, completely inebriated and disoriented.

"Ugh..."

He covered his mouth in the next instant, appearing as if he was about to vomit, clutching the wall beside him for support.

Suddenly!

Lance's legs tensed with incredible force, launching him like a panther towards a shadowy spot in the darkness.

His hands formed into claws, tearing through the air with a deadly wind, laden with lethal intent—a move from the A-grade martial art known as 'Mad Eagle Strike' from the Frenzied Eighteen Hits!

'Hmph... if I were just a drunkard, I'd have been eliminated in the black market long ago!'

A flash of triumph crossed Lance's eyes. Ever since the squeaks of the rats hinted at someone lurking, he had deliberately feigned drunkenness to lower the ambusher's guard.

Now, it was time for a sudden assault!

As he lunged, his entire body was already enveloped in a nano-protective suit, impenetrably fortified.

In the next moment, he glimpsed the assailant hidden in the shadows.

Although the figure wore a mask, their physique and eyes evoked a familiar feeling, and he immediately locked onto the target: "The plump prey that escaped that day dares to come and assassinate me? I'll show you what it means to survive countless battles on the battlefield!"

The opponent was merely at the muscle level—how could they stand against him, an unpolished jade level fighter equipped with A-grade martial arts?

Lance could already envision the enemy's demise.

But in midair, he suddenly noticed that the assailant's right hand was concealed in their garments, eyes glinting with mockery.

In that instant, all his battlefield experience prompted a shocking realization: "You're playing dirty..."

"Goodbye!"

Fang Xing pulled the trigger, and a white laser flashed by.

The laser instantly hit Lance, melting through the nano-protective suit and rendering his head nonexistent.

Bang!

A headless body lay cold on the ground, driving nearby rats into a frantic escape.

“No matter how skilled you are, a single shot can bring you down!”

Fang Xing blew on the muzzle of his laser gun, a hint of sentiment in his voice. “Now that the great vengeance has been exacted, it's time to leave...”

]

(End of Chapter)