Starry Sky Professional

Time flew by like flowing water.

Ever since the appearance of evil god worshippers in the Happy Home Community, Fang Xing had kept a low profile.

His days consisted of going to school and working part-time on weekends. Of course, diligent practice was a constant part of his routine as well.

Unknowingly, two months passed.

At the Faith Theory Department in the Prevention Bureau building.

Fang Xing, wearing his work badge on his chest, was sweeping the floor with a broom.

Nearby, the newest model of a housework service company’s cleaning robot looked pitifully at him.

"Fang Xing, Aunt Bai is looking for you,"

Guo Yun came out and found him.

Fang Xing nodded, handed the broom to Guo Yun, and walked into Bai Ziling’s office.

"Hello, Manager Bai,"

Fang Xing greeted first.

Bai Ziling was very polite: "Mm, Xiaoyun has always been under your care, thank you so much…"

"Your internship is ending, and the wages will be transferred to your account directly, and I’ve graded your performance as excellent…"

Fang Xing earnestly thanked her, "Thank you, Manager Bai, I’ve learned a lot here…"

This was genuine. Although he hadn’t entered the "Red Zones" during his internship, he did meet many people, which broadened his horizons and revealed many secrets.

For instance, how to avoid surveillance in Maple Leaf City, how to deal with Prevention Bureau inspections, and how to disguise and conceal the aura of evil god artifacts…

In fact, the actions by Jing Xia last time had made him trust the Federation a bit more.

He even wondered if he should bring out some otherworldly items for identification.

After all, for the Faith Theory Department, identifying unusual items is part of their job.

But ultimately, Fang Xing decided to hold back for now.

‘After all, just to be safe… Even though cultivation items are very likely to be identified as alien objects that require special energy to activate, which would classify them as useless junk…’

‘But what if… What if they have cultivators here too?’

To be cautious, it might be best to have Gu Yun or another member of the Belief Theory Department 'accidentally' acquire a talisman from the black market and then submit it for inspection...

This is Fang Xing's way of testing the Federation.

He wants to see whether the Federation can detect the special nature of these cultivation items and, more importantly, if they are aware of the existence of cultivators!

...

At the Happy Home Community.

"Hmm? It seems even the protection personnel from the Prevention Bureau have left."

Fang Xing rubbed his forehead, took out his key, and entered his room.

According to the Federation's law and the Prevention Bureau's protocol, even in the name of protection, they will not intrude upon the private domain of those they protect.

After closing the door, he glanced at the talisman pasted on the back of the door—a 'Home Protection Talisman.' This is a very simple yet popular talisman in the cultivation world, mainly used during seclusion.

Once placed on a wall, it forms a simple barrier. This barrier is extremely fragile; any intrusion, even the spiritual sense of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, would immediately trigger the talisman's reaction, turning it into ashes in an instant...

Indeed, the 'Home Protection Talisman' has no offensive capability, only a warning function. But to Fang Xing, it is extremely useful.

"A Home Protection Talisman lasts for a maximum of ten days... this one is nearly depleted."

Fang Xing replaced it with a new one, entered his bedroom, lay on the bed, pulled up the covers, and buried his head. In the bedroom, naturally, there are even more protective measures.

"It's been a while since I visited the temporary camp..."

With a fleeting thought, Fang Xing found himself at the temporary camp—an underground cave.

First, he checked the system monitor logs.

"Hmm? Qinglin Market is indeed in chaos... but this..."

According to the logs, just over two months ago, the day after Fang Xing ordered the spread of rumors, the Qingxuan Sect's flying vessel set off again, heading towards the Five Scorpion Valley! "For such old sects to react like this, isn’t it a bit too fast? Unless, the Foundation Establishment cultivator guarding Qingxuan Sect always had suspicions and assumptions of this sort, which led to immediate action upon receiving intel?"

"Hmm, the Qing Xuan Sect dispatched three flying boats, but only one returned on the fifth day..."

"And on the sixth day, the chaos in the market intensified, with rumors of a Foundation Establishment cultivator getting involved?"

Staring at the surveillance footage of the Qinglin Market from above, where a massive formation had fully activated and there were vague silhouettes engaging in combat, Fang Xing fell into silence.

"For concrete information... I fear I still need to ask around..."

He lightly tapped, and the Ink Pattern Sword materialized in his hand.

This blood-refined artifact, despite not being fully cultivated, was the most resilient and sharp weapon he'd ever seen!

In addition, the biggest gain from Chen Yi—a storage pouch—was left at the temporary camp by Fang Xing, who still couldn't find a way to unlock it.

"With my equipment complete, I won't fear even the most seasoned Qi Refining cultivators, will I?"

After donning the nano protective suit, Fang Xing glanced at his attributes panel, instilling within himself a newfound confidence:

【Name: Fang Xing】

【Profession: Martial Artist】

【Second Realm: Muscles and Bones】

【Military Boxing Twelve Styles: 20/200】

【Great Dragon Stance: 198/200】

【Tiger Subduing Stance: 9/200】

【Ghost Blade: 2/100】

【Passionate Sword: 95/100】

【Doors of All Heavens】

Two months of dedicated cultivation have accelerated his progress rapidly.

The Great Dragon Stance was just a hair's breadth away from entering the fourth stage, birthing a sense of awareness!

Meanwhile, due to Xia Long's guidance, the Ghost Blade advanced faster than the Passionate Sword. The Military Boxing Twelve Styles had nearly come to a halt due to lack of practice.

The Tiger Subduing Stance had similarly reached proficiency level, thanks to the Tiger Marrow Pill and Tiger Bone Wine; had resources not dwindled, progress would have been even swifter!

"The most crucial aspect is my realm; I've surpassed into the late second realm and begun bone refining... My solid foundation allowed for more than half the progress upon breakthrough. With just a bit more training, I could advance swiftly..."

Feeling the overwhelming power coursing through his body, Fang Xing nodded with satisfaction: "I need to transcend this realm soon... In a place like Qinglin Market, a mere Postnatal Martial Artist is nothing."

"Hmm?"

At this moment, he noticed through the surveillance that another group of cultivators had arrived nearby, prompting a shift in his gaze.

"Grandfather..."

Ding Hongxiu's face was flushed and disheveled, with traces of blood. She looked nervously at her grandfather.

Ding Boushan was still dressed like an elder, in a half-new Daoist robe, his red, drink-reddened nose flaring. He was forming a hand seal with his two hands, driving a low-grade magical treasure—a yellow-skinned gourd.:

The gourd, upon being infused with a seal, swelled several times, becoming as large as a water tank, stationed protectively beside the grandfather and granddaughter, with waves of water spheres bubbling out from its mouth.

These water spheres were not only extremely heavy but also carried a thick aroma of wine, imparting a slight intoxication when approached.

"Old Ding, we the Black Absolute Three Tigers have been watching you for a long time. You won't get away today!"

Among the three assailants besieging the Ding family’s duo, the leader, a man in black, sneered coldly, "If you're wise, you will just quietly accept death, and we might spare your granddaughter's life..."

"Haha, brother, his granddaughter is indeed quite the beauty, let me have the first taste..."

The Second Tiger looked at Ding Hongxiu, the lascivious expression on his face unhidden, filling it with lewd desire.

"This grandparent and grandchild duo have been selling spiritual rice for a long time. They've surely accumulated quite a stash of spirit stones. We need to make them hand it all over... Once we have those spirit stones, we can venture into that secret realm. Who knows, maybe all three of us brothers could build our foundations!"

The Third Tiger was tall and slender, with an oddly delicate appearance. He had no interest in women but was obsessed with wealth.

He wielded a fan-shaped magical tool, sending gusts of blue wind to fend off the approaching water spheres, even dispersing their intoxicating aroma.

"Damn it, I shouldn't have been so greedy and rashly left the market."

Seeing the scene unfold, Ding Boushan felt his heart tremble in fear, aware that both he and his granddaughter might not survive this ordeal.

The Black Absolute Three Tigers were notorious bandits in the market, able to evade capture by the Qing Xuan Sect until now, possessing considerable skills!

The eldest, the First Tiger, was a body cultivator, famed for being able to clash head-on with late-stage Qi Cultivators.

The Second Tiger was renowned for his mastery of dual copper hammer magical tools, known to destroy anything in their path.

Even the youngest, the Third Tiger, with his lowest cultivation, was a cunning and ruthless foe!

"Go!"

Suddenly, the Second Tiger formed a seal, his dual copper hammers glowing with yellow light, descending like a pair of millstones.

"Ah!"

Ding Hongxiu cried out, a protective talisman in her hand exhausted its power and turned to ashes.

Boom! Boom!

The massive hammers slammed repeatedly onto the yellow-skinned gourd, causing the magical treasure to wail in despair as it was forced to the ground.

Swish!

The Black Absolute Three Tigers moved with perfect synchronization. As the second and third tigers engaged, the first tiger's figure flickered, appearing right in front of Ding Boushan.

He didn't need any magical tools; his fist, with fingers tightly clenched, slammed with full force onto Ding Boushan's protective Golden Bell Barrier.

Crack!

The bell moaned in despair, revealing a fracture.

Ding Boushan's face flushed crimson as he spat out a mouthful of blood!

“Grandfather!”

Ding Hongxiu exclaimed urgently, raising her hand to unleash a 'Fireball Talisman.'

Yet, in the blink of an eye, the first tiger sneered, and with a wave of his hand, a massive black phantom palm emerged, snuffing out the fireball and dispersing it into wisps of smoke...

Boom!

Ultimately, the Golden Bell Barrier shattered with a resonant explosion, scattering into fragments of golden light, like countless golden fireflies fading into the grass and disappearing.

“Heh heh...”

The second tiger strode forward, reaching for Ding Hongxiu.

He relished the expression in young girls' eyes, reminiscent of frightened rabbits; tormenting them brought him exhilarating satisfaction, unlike the debauchery of those vain women at the Tingyu Pavilion!

Clang!

At that moment, a sudden sword cry pierced the air!

The sound carried an indescribable spiritual force that entranced the Three Tigers momentarily, each recalling their most poignant and regretful memories...

Slice!

In that fleeting moment, an ink-patterned iron sword manifested, its tip like a shooting star, flitting across the water barrier surrounding the second tiger, effortlessly piercing the protective spell, driving straight into his throat!

With a masterful strike achieved, a silver silhouette flashed again, like a celestial being descending; instead of confronting the formidable first tiger, it soared directly towards the third tiger.

“Big brother... save me!”

The third tiger had just regained awareness, his eyes widened in horror. His robes glimmered with spiritual light, forming a shield that blocked the sword's point.

Swish!

But in the next instant, a blade flashed, slicing cleanly across his throat...

Ding Boushan lay on the ground, his breath labored and uneven. Around him, the battlefield still crackled with the residual energy of shattered spells.

“Hold on, brother!” Ding Hongxiu shouted, her face pale yet determined, as she rushed to his side.

She quickly pulled out a small vial from her pocket, releasing a fragrant healing balm.

Yet, as she applied it to Ding Boushan's wound, the shadow of the First Tiger loomed ominously over them, his eyes glinting with malicious intent.

“Giving up already?” The First Tiger taunted, stepping forward with an air of victory.

His voice dripped with the arrogance of one who believed he had already won.

“It’s a pity. You two could have been promising foes.”

Just then, a new presence made itself known. The mysterious figure, who had swiftly dealt with the other two tigers, now stood between the siblings and danger.

Wrapped in a cloak of uncertainty, the figure emanated an aura of formidable power.

“Step back, if you wish to live.” The voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable authority.

The First Tiger hesitated, eying the newcomer with cautious respect. His instincts told him that this battle had just tipped out of his favor.

For a heartbeat, silence reigned over the battlefield, then the First Tiger lunged, a final desperate bid to control his fate.

But fate had other plans. With movements that blurred the lines between reality and illusion, the mysterious figure countered, a dance of shadows and light.

The air crackled with intensity, and in that moment, the game changed. The First Tiger crumbled under the pressure of his own ambition.

As the dust settled, Ding Hongxiu helped her brother to his feet, her eyes glossy with unshed tears of relief.

“Thank you,” she murmured, directing her gratitude to their savior, but the cloaked figure had already vanished, leaving only whispers of mystery behind.

]

(End of Chapter)