Starry Sky Professional Directory 126
Chapter 126: Ranking (In honor of lztmty, the alliance leader)
*Clap clap!*
Above the city ruins.
Two figures constantly crisscrossed.
Fang Xing’s hands moved like a butterfly flitting through flowers. Suddenly, he extended them, catching an armor-piercing round.
*Bang bang!*
The remaining bullets hit him, producing a sound like rain hitting banana leaves, falling harmlessly to the ground.
“Looks like your firearms skills are lacking… you can’t even make a blood-breaking bullet.”
Fang Xing shook his head.
As a mechsman, Ulie’s strength was somewhat limited in the virtual space.
For example, these weapons needed him to ‘manufacture’ them one by one in the virtual space before they could be determined as equippable.
If it were in the outside world, this level of mech would definitely be equipped with various enchanted bullets, such as ‘blood-breaking projectiles,’ which are best at breaking through a martial artist’s qi and blood defense.
He definitely wouldn’t dare to perform this flesh-and-blood show then; he’d easily be shot into a sieve.
*Tap!*
Fang Xing stepped, the air seeming to solidify into solid ground, which he used to propel himself, his figure rapidly charging towards Ulie.
The gun barrel on Ulie’s mechanical arm automatically detached, a layer of knuckle armor appearing: “Bullet Fist!”
This is a martial art specifically designed to be used with a mech, unleashed by a mechsman, its power incredibly formidable.
Countless fist shadows, like bullets, poured down towards Fang Xing.
Fang Xing’s eyes flickered, the void around him subtly rippling, a black dragon and a white tiger leaping out.
Dragon’s roar, tiger’s howl!
—Dragon Tiger Domain!
Once those countless fist shadows entered the domain, they were as if they were congealed, their speed becoming incredibly slow.
“Break Magic Field, neutralize!”
On Ulie’s armor, a layer of dark light flickered, emitting a strange force field.
This was a component he had painstakingly researched for many years, finally successfully replicating it in virtual space, also a mechsman’s trump card against a martial artist’s domain!
With the Break Magic Field deployed, Fang Xing instantly felt his Dragon Tiger Domain being continuously weakened.
But he didn’t hesitate in the slightest, instead smiling slightly as he swung a hand knife.
Ghost God Blade — Severing Ghost Gods!
A terrifying martial will, like raging waves, continuously passed through the mech, pounding at Ulie’s heart.
【Warning! Warning! Mental defense component damaged, damage level 23%! 25%!…】
A string of bright red warnings appeared, causing Ulie’s face to darken.
In the courses at Saint Armor University, what he disliked most was the mental defense component structure.
This was far more difficult than designing weapons, especially for someone with mediocre martial talent.
‘If this were the outside world, my mech would be equipped with the latest model “Dream Machine AG32,” the mental will of a mere external view martial artist would absolutely be unable to break through the defense…’
‘But… here I can only use the old model I made myself, it’s really killing me…’
Ulie faintly heard the dragon’s roar and tiger’s howl, the countless fist shadows suddenly dissipating.
Then, a blade of light fell upon his mech, causing the protective shield to activate instantly, then to severely erode.
*Bang!*
Golden light flashed in Fang Xing’s eyes. Under the empowerment of the Mahāvajra-Prajñā Divine Power, he punched through the energy shield, his momentum unabated as he passed through Ulie’s face mask, then his head…
*Boom!*
The remains of a headless mech fell, exploding violently in mid-air…
Outside the battle platform.
Gu Jian Tong, watching this scene, sighed softly: “The face-slapping maniac, as expected… it seems I shouldn’t compare with him next time.”
Yin Zhen looked at Gu Jian Tong, slightly amused: ‘Is he admitting defeat beforehand? But losing in a martial competition is fine, but losing so miserably is a bit…’
…
The outside world buzzed with activity, unknown to Fang Xing.
He was currently checking new information.
【Beep, Fang Xing, congratulations on ascending the duel ranking, rank: 9! Please continue to strive for excellence!】
“Hmm, as the ninth on the duel ranking, I must fight ten matches… If the number of challengers is less than ten, will it automatically conduct system matching?”
Fang Xing looked, discovering that in just a short while, he had already received many challenge requests.
Anyway, it’s all in virtual space, losing won’t result in death, so who’s afraid of who?
“Huh?”
He browsed through the numerous names, seeing a name, then nodded: “It’s you…”
…
*Drip! Drip!*
In the bamboo forest, a light rain shrouded everything.
A small bridge, flowing water, and a cluster of thatched huts in the distance.
Fang Xing stood on the bridge, waiting for his first challenger.
“Gu Zhen!”
He looked at the person who came, seeing a young man in black, with delicate features and a cold expression, holding a strangely shaped ancient sword.
The sword was entirely black, and its hilt seemed to be inlaid with a crimson eyeball.
At this moment, the eyeball was restlessly darting around, bringing subtle waves of mental pollution.
“A longsword made from materials of an Evil God’s follower?”
Fang Xing nodded: “Let me see the edge of your sword!”
The Federation has been at war with the extraterrestrial Evil Gods for many years, naturally, there are also specialized disciplines studying them.
Even experiments have been conducted attempting to utilize the blood, corpses, and bones of extraterrestrial Evil Gods and their followers.
The best at this was the Nine Swords Academy, which has opened up a special evolutionary path—【Sword Saint】!
To advance to Sword Saint, the most basic requirement is to become a martial artist, then change profession to 【Ghost Swordsman】!
【Ghost Swordsman】can seal a part of the Evil God’s power within themselves and attempt to use various weapons crafted from the bodies of Evil God followers.
In battle, constantly hone oneself, using bloody battles to digest the Evil God’s power within, evolving evil martial arts!
At the peak, after passing the test of the Nine Swords Path, one becomes a 【Sword Saint】who has perfectly digested the Evil God’s power!
Although many 【Ghost Swordsmen】look neither human nor ghost, seemingly the culmination of mutated disciplines.
In reality, the true 【Sword Saint】are the purest humans, even the original body’s mutations will recede.
“The sword’s name—Dragon Evil, primarily crafted from the remains of a high-level follower—the Evil Eye Dragon Clan!”
Gu Zhen’s hands were white as jade, his nails neatly trimmed, the hands of a true master swordsman.
But at this moment, as he slowly drew Dragon Evil, Fang Xing could see dark blue veins bulging on his palm, like earthworms wriggling.
*Clang!*
Dragon Evil was drawn!
Fang Xing’s eyes flickered, a dragon-like, worm-like monster seeming to appear before him.
Its body was covered in black claws, its eyes a crimson vertical pupil, with streams of dark red rays surging forth.
“Hmm? Such strong mental pollution… this hasn’t exceeded the limit of external view, has it?”
Fang Xing frowned, then vibrated his qi and blood, his bones cracking, a golden thread-like garment appearing on his body, accompanied by dragon roars and tiger howls.
—Dragon Tiger Domain!
*Clang!*
The sword’s cry resounded again, a black beam of light, like a moon blade, piercing into the Dragon Tiger Domain.
Fang Xing felt a strange pain in his brow, as if a hole had been cut in his domain!
Then, incredibly powerful sword qi, like a bursting dam, poured out crazily through that hole!
*Whoosh!*
Countless sword qi fell upon his golden thread-like garment, like raging waves pounding against a thousand-year-old reef, instantly exploding, dissipating without a trace.
And amidst this flurry of sword qi, a black sword light suddenly emerged.
It was like a venomous dragon, seizing a flaw in Fang Xing’s qi circulation, a point of cold light transforming into a shooting star, piercing directly!
Fang Xing’s expression remained unchanged, extending his right hand.
His right palm emitted a faint golden light, seemingly slow but fast, falling into the sword light, striking the blade of Dragon Evil!
The sword light dissipated, Gu Zhen’s expression unchanged, he struck again.
A bolt of lightning flashed across the sky, thunder and lightning crackling above.
This strike was like a black lightning bolt, falling from the heavens.
On Dragon Evil, the crimson eyeball frantically flashed.
*Swish!*
The sword shadow fell, but it struck empty space.
“Void Step? Impossible… why can you avoid the mental impact of Dragon Evil?”
Gu Zhen looked utterly incredulous. He had just unleashed Dragon Evil’s full sword cry, the pollution and stagnation it brought, even he could only withstand after the ‘Fire Sword Path’ training.
But Fang Xing had already arrived behind him, his fists striking simultaneously.
Mahāvajra-Prajñā Divine Power, fourfold amplification!
*Bang!*
Gu Zhen’s domain was directly torn apart, his entire upper body disappearing.
“This sword is indeed sinister, but unfortunately, you encountered my supreme martial will.”
Fang Xing coldly snorted. In truth, when facing that lightning strike, his spirit had indeed fallen into a trance.
But with the Mahābhote-like Chant suppressing his sea of consciousness, the trance only lasted a moment, and he thought of a countermeasure.
After all, any attack that actively targeted his sea of consciousness was a gift!
When a swordsman’s sword misses, it’s naturally not far from death.
This is the clash of martial arts masters, the difference between victory and defeat lying in the finest detail.
Fang Xing silently sighed, then found that his body had ‘refreshed,’ restoring him to peak condition, and couldn’t help but smile slightly, looking towards his next opponent…
…
“Hahaha…”
Pan Xiong watched the duel broadcast, his smile uncontainable, looking at Yin Hongding beside him: “See… I told you my judgment is better than yours, you still didn’t believe me, now Fang Xing is ranked ninth on the duel ranking, although this ranking doesn’t include Golden Core cultivators, it’s still enough to prove some things. Where’s that Gu Jian Tong you were so optimistic about?”
Yin Hongding was slightly embarrassed, but his face showed no sign of it: “I never denied Fang Xing’s talent, I just felt that it would be difficult for him to break through to Golden Core in the remaining nine years of university…”
“Then, how about a bet? A small bet on whether my student can maintain his top ten ranking today… a big bet on whether he can refine a martial Golden Core within the remaining nine years.”
Pan Xiong narrowed his eyes, suddenly speaking.
“No bet.”
Yin Hongding shook his head: “Your student has secured ninth place, except for Gu Zhen, none of the challengers from the three top-tier universities are worth mentioning…”
“Then, bet on whether he can reach Golden Core during university.” Pan Xiong proposed again.
“Still no bet.” Yin Hongding continued to refuse.
“Why? I’ve had my eye on your ‘Nine Heavens Golden Essence’ for a long time, give me a chance… I can bet you three chances to comprehend the secrets of the universe!” Pan Xiong said with a grin.
“I won’t bet, because if I don’t bet, I definitely won’t lose!”
Yin Hongding suddenly smiled: “Even if Fang Xing succeeds, as a teacher at Blue Star University, I would still be proud of him!”
“You… sigh!” Pan Xiong shook his head speechlessly.
…
“Too weak, too weak!”
After blasting the head of his last challenger, Fang Xing logged off, somewhat listlessly.
Of the ten challengers, except for Gu Zhen, the others, although they were veteran students of the external view stage, didn’t put as much pressure on him as Gu Zhen.
“It seems that geniuses like Gu Zhen have already surpassed many veteran students…”
Fang Xing nodded, then went to sleep.
The next day, morning.
He logged into the virtual network and saw a message:
【Fang Xing, your outstanding performance in last month’s duel competition brought honor to the school. Blue Star University awards you 2 credits!】
“Only 2? First place seems to get 10 credits…”
Fang Xing sighed: “Fortunately, 2 is not bad. If I keep it up, in only 50 months, or a little over 4 years, I can gather enough for a bottle of ‘Returning Yang Water’?”
He got up, washed, and prepared to deal with the end-of-year exams.
Fortunately, after his martial dao advancement to the external view stage, his thinking ability had increased again, at least he didn’t fail any subjects, passing them all smoothly, obtaining 6 credits.
Training room.
“This year’s teaching is over, you all performed quite well, especially Fang Xing.”
Pan Xiong, still with his pink-lipped, fair-skinned shota appearance, stood with his hands behind his back, pontificating in an old-fashioned manner: “Here, I would like to especially commend Fang Xing. Therefore, not only did you pass your major martial arts course, I’m also giving you an extra 3 credits.”
“Thank you, teacher.”
Fang Xing thanked him, secretly calculating in his heart. This way, he would have 12 credits.
Compared to many veteran students who struggled for a year and couldn’t even save 10 credits, it was quite good.
This was still the case despite giving up the student union task.
“As for Su Longyan and Ouyang Qiang… you passed your major course assessments, the teacher will give each of you an extra 1 credit.”
Pan Xiong looked at the other two students and spoke.
“Thank you, teacher!”
Su Longyan and Ouyang Qiang quickly expressed their gratitude, knowing how hard-earned these credits were.
If they left university and still wanted to obtain rare materials from the treasure vault, they would have to fight for it on the battlefield.
Or they’d have to sign harsh contracts, completely selling themselves to large organizations as dogs.
Therefore, every university student was striving hard, hoping to achieve greater accomplishments during their university years.
“Alright, besides martial arts training, you should also pay attention to work-life balance. Arrange your own summer vacation.”
Pan Xiong waved his hand and walked out of the training room.
“Vacation?”
Su Longyan was still somewhat incredulous.
“Yes, how are you going to spend this summer vacation?”
Fang Xing suddenly appeared beside Su Longyan with a mischievous smile: “Want me to give you some guidance?”
He remembered that the first time he made a move, he completely obliterated his junior sister’s face.
It’s possible that the nickname “Face-slapping maniac” started from her.
“No, no need!”
Su Longyan was startled, looking at Ouyang Qiang for help.
“Ouyang, what about you?”
Fang Xing looked at Ouyang Qiang.
“Continue with arduous training, perhaps I’ll go to look at the Myriad Spirits Illustrated Record…”
Ouyang Qiang answered calmly.
They were both students from ordinary families, unable to casually take spaceships back to their hometowns, so they would mostly spend their summer and winter vacations on Blue Star.
“Hmm, see you next semester.”
Fang Xing didn’t really have anywhere he wanted to go, he planned to stay in the dorm and make use of the university’s resources.
And…
He could devote more of his attention to the cultivation world.
(End of Chapter)
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