Starry Sky Professional

Xia Long looked at Fang Xing with some surprise. "You, boy... you have quite the ambition."

"Huh? I just want to have more strength to protect myself. How is that ambitious?"

Fang Xing replied, puzzled.

"It seems you don't know?"

Xia Long explained, "After achieving the Martial Dao Golden Core, there comes the 'Vajra Realm'! A martial artist in this realm can refine indestructible material from their Golden Core to enhance their body, forging an 'impervious golden body'! With each rotation of the Golden Core, the golden body becomes stronger... At nine rotations, the golden body is perfected, known as the 'Great Vajra Realm', unmatched below Martial Sage!"

"The seven realms of martial arts—the Vajra Realm?" pondered Fang Xing. "So... training in body-refining martial arts beforehand can lay the foundation for the Great Vajra Realm, right?"

Xia Long assumed Fang Xing sought body-refining martial arts to lay such a foundation for the Vajra Realm, but he was mistaken.

Fang Xing simply felt the cultivation world was dangerous and wanted to bolster his self-defense capabilities.

"Indeed... The higher the number of Golden Core rotations, the stronger one becomes upon ascending to Martial Sage! With less than three rotations, the chances of ascending to Martial Sage are nearly nonexistent..."

Xia Long glanced at Fang Xing, not knowing what thoughts were passing through his mind. After a pause, he continued, "The school doesn't have this kind of body-refining martial arts curriculum, but if you want to learn, I can teach you a martial art that I've personally studied..."

"How can I accept this so easily?"

Fang Xing scratched his head. After all, a private lesson from Xia Long usually cost tens of thousands. Yet, with this opportunity right in front of him, he felt he had to seize it. He resolved to work hard enough to get into a top university someday, giving Xia Long the chance to heal his hidden injuries and ascend his Golden Core: "What kind of martial art is it?"

"An A-level martial art—the Technique of the Dragon and Elephant!"

Xia Long said solemnly, "The dragon is the supreme being of the skies, while the elephant reigns supreme on land. Together, the dragon and elephant are invincible in the world!"

"Such a boast..."

Fang Xing clearly didn't believe him.

Could a mere A-level martial art really be so highly touted?

"Yes, it might be a bit exaggerated, but it still packs quite a punch. This technique can consolidate one's energy and blood into 'dragon scales and elephant armor', offering formidable defense and significantly increasing strength... Among A-level body-refining martial arts, it's undoubtedly one of the top."

Xia Long hinted, "More importantly, it has an orderly lineage. The Technique of the Dragon and Elephant at the A-level is just the foundation. Once you surpass the Jade Realm, you can practice the S-level martial art—the 'Great Vajra Perfection Divine Power'. If you can integrate these two major martial arts with supreme wisdom, you'll ascend to the 'Dragon Elephant Vajra Invincible Power'! This martial art is extremely formidable and can easily handle the initial three rotations of the Golden Core, with the potential to reach six or seven rotations at most..."

"Teacher, although you aren't a Martial Dao Golden Core, you seem to understand the Golden Core realm so well!"

Fang Xing gave him a thumbs up.

Xia Long glanced sideways at him, "Although your teacher isn't a martial arts Golden Core, he is at least a professional. Once you're certified as a professional, and your privileges are upgraded, this kind of information will be made available to you... The Federation doesn't want you to know because they're afraid it might distract you. After all, not everyone is a genius."

Fang Xing pondered this thoughtfully.

For sure, if the other students knew about this, they might aspire to the Golden Core or even higher realms for the future. But if it requires mastering multiple A-level martial arts, how could they possibly manage? It might even be harmful!

Yet, after the four martial arts realms, one's lifespan increases significantly, allowing for better preparation for reaching Golden Core and even higher levels. This information blockade at the lower levels, and being open only to the middle level, seems justified.

"Alright, enough talk, are you going to learn the 'Technique of the Dragon and Elephant' or not?" Xia Long asked impatiently.

"Yes, of course!" Fang Xing nodded eagerly, not doubting his ability to achieve the martial arts Golden Core, making it crucial to lay down a solid foundation in advance.

Furthermore, this technique clearly boosts personal defenses, essential for survival!

"Good, look at this image!"

Xia Long activated his private communicator, projecting an image.

It depicted a dragon-headed Vajra Bodhisattva, with a dragon head and human body, adorned with a five-color lotus crown, dressed in celestial dragon attire, bearing three faces and six arms, each holding a treasure like a lotus, a cleansing bottle, a magic-down staff, a golden bowl, a meditation staff, and prayer beads. Beneath it lay a six-tusked white elephant, its body covered in lotus patterns, with strands of jewels hanging down.

At first sight, Fang Xing felt a surge of perfected Vajra's grandeur hit him, even detecting a faint sandalwood scent lingering around his nose.

"Not waking up yet?!"

Suddenly, a loud noise exploded in his ears.

Fang Xing jolted, his dazed eyes instantly snapping into focus, shocking him, "How long have I been lost in thought?"

"Ten minutes... Do you understand now? Those who haven't truly grasped the concept would find practicing this method extremely dangerous..." Xia Long stated solemnly. "The Technique of the Dragon and Elephant is only an A-level martial art, but its danger far surpasses others like Soul Searching Dragon Claw... To get started, you need to envision the mighty Dragon and Elephant Vajra Bodhisattva in your mind, motivating your spirit with the determination of great accomplishment, and then activate your energy and blood... If you hadn't already started nurturing your Niwan Palace, this first step would have been an insurmountable barrier for you!"

Fang Xing began explaining the initiation secrets of this martial art. Finally, he concluded, "Moreover... all body-training martial arts have a downside: they waste resources! Unless you are innately attuned to this technique, making rapid progress will require consuming endless elixirs... The body-training potions suitable for the Technique of the Dragon and Elephant include 'Whale Elephant Balm', 'Kunpeng Blood', etc."

Fang Xing searched online and discovered that Whale Elephant Balm is a specialty of a particular ocean planet, where the 'Whale Elephants' are enormous creatures possessing an exquisite spice within their bodies that can enhance a warrior's physique.

As for the 'Kunpeng'?

This is a Leviathan-class creature discovered by the Federation Fleet, also known as the 'Cosmic Whale'. It's a terrifying behemoth capable of surviving in space purely on its physical might, with adult sizes comparable to small asteroids!

"This... a box of Whale Elephant Balm costs hundreds of thousands. I might be able to figure something out, but forget about Kunpeng Blood... I couldn’t even find where it's sold."

Fang Xing was left stunned.

"Kid, now you know how serious this is?"

The Hundred Star Joint Examination!

It's an examination jointly organized by over a hundred educational planets near the fledgling Eagle Planet in the Black Mountain galaxy, touted as the biggest rehearsal before the real university entrance exams!

It's usually targeted at sophomore students, acting as their final exam.

"I'll try my best..."

Fang Xing instantly felt overwhelmed, not daring to promise good results.

The reason is simple: in cities like Maple Leaf City, there are tens of thousands of them on Eagle Planet alone!

Within a city, there might be only one mediocre high school, but a few excellent ones, adding up to tens of thousands of high schools!

Over a hundred planets, equaling millions of high schools.

The sophomore grade alone generally has around a thousand students per school. Thus, for the Hundred Star Joint Examination, there are tens of billions of candidates participating!

Over a hundred planets, tens of billions of people!

Among them, how many geniuses could there be? How many fortuitous encounters?

"Talent seems to have become worthless!"

Even now, Fang Xing, with his remarkable gifts and understanding of realms, realizes that among billions of people, there are certainly others like him.

Not to mention the wealthy heirs who pursue the paths of Mecha Masters, Psychics, and Beast Tamers, or those blessed with supernatural abilities awakened by sheer luck!

Genius is as ubiquitous as the crucian carps crossing a river—that is the brutality of the Hundred Star Joint Examination!

Yet the harshness of the Hundred Star Joint Examination is nothing compared to the national university entrance exams!

"No wonder the Federation doesn't offer substantial scholarships. With so many educational planets, if they provided for all... it would be overwhelming..."

At this moment, Fang Xing deeply understands the policies of the Blue Star Federation. It’s right that educational planets don't offer too many resources. Otherwise, even the Federation wouldn't be able to sustain it.

Thus, one must fight for it!

Countless examinees are like insects raised for a final selection. Only those who get into a university are worth nurturing!

It is worth mentioning that once you get into university, the Federation doesn't care whether it was through abundant resources or other methods.

Because having enough resources to invest is a 'talent' in itself!

"Ah... Ultimately, it's all due to being too poor!"

Fang Xing sighed inwardly and quietly resumed his studies of the "Technique of the Dragon and Elephant."

...

Snow fell heavily.

Unconsciously, time flew by, and it was already the end of the semester.

【Written Exam Score: 912】

【Practical Exam Score: 100】

【Overall Score: 191.2】

……

Fang Xing looked at the report card and nodded, "Life is truly as lonely as snow..."

When it came to theoretical knowledge, there was nothing much to say, but during the martial arts practical exam, knowing that he had mastered the concept of artistic essence, many classmates simply conceded.

Occasionally encountering stubborn opponents was just a matter of a single glance.

Liu Wei and Bai Lianyi decisively surrendered, making it quite easy for him to take the top spot.

Notably, Ouyang Qianqian bravely challenged him but fainted shortly after, needing to be carried to the infirmary...

"See you all next semester. I hope you work hard during the winter break and make the most of your youth!"

After Principal Lu Guangming's remarks, Fang Xing walked out of the school and took a glance at his attribute panel:

【Second Realm: Muscles and Bones】

‘Great, I've nearly pushed the limits of this bone refinement... Next, it's time for a breakthrough.’

For him, breaking through to the Jade Realm had never been a challenge.

Even beyond the Jade Realm, he could still make rapid progress.

‘Perfect, I'll break through in another world...’

‘And see what's become of Qinglin Market over there...’

As for the secret realm, Fang Xing remained somewhat curious.

Of course, he wouldn't personally venture to explore it, but he could gather information gradually after the secret realm had ended...

]

(End of Chapter)