Chapter 18: Final Exam

Time flies.

Before he knew it, the final exam season had arrived.

High school on Falcon Star also holds exams in June, followed by a two-month break.

“Finally… after the exams, I won’t be a freshman anymore—I’ll be a sophomore.”

Last night, Fang Xing did not go to the other world; he chose to rest in the residential complex.

When the first ray of morning sunlight spilled into his bedroom, he slowly opened his eyes, focusing his attention on the attribute panel:

【Name: Fang Xing】

【Age: 16】

【Profession: Martial Artist】

【First Stage: Skin and Muscle (Muscle Refinement: 86/100)】

【Twelve Forms of Military Boxing: 27/100 (Proficient)】

【Great Dragon Stance: 1/200 (Mastery)】

【Gate of the Myriad Heavens (Charging)】

……

“Blood Qi Pills are truly the best auxiliary pills for postnatal martial artists… Just one bottle has brought me close to full completion of the first stage.”

“Even the wealthiest on Falcon Star probably aren’t this extravagant…”

A hint of joy appeared on Fang Xing’s face.

“The pill-hopping approach really does make sense—I originally thought I’d barely reach full Skin Refinement by the final exam, but now I’m nearly at full Muscle Refinement…”

“As long as I have enough Blood Qi Pills, advancing from the first stage to the second should be no major problem…”

“And the Great Dragon Stance—I’ve now entered the third stage that Master Xia Long mentioned; even if my Jade Skin is exposed, it doesn’t matter…”

This period of grueling training has yielded immense gains.

In the foreseeable future, his cultivation speed will only accelerate further!

Getting into university by senior year was no longer an issue for Fang Xing.

The key was getting into a good university!

“The best university in the Federation should be ‘Blue Star University’ on Blue Star; besides that, ‘Sacred Armor University’ and ‘Nine Swords Academy,’ both located within cosmic mysteries, are also top-tier institutions…”

Fang Xing silently recalled the relevant information.

The original owner’s greatest dream was to buy a house on Blue Star, followed by getting into university—he never dared to dream about which school, as long as it was a university.

But Fang Xing knew perfectly well how crucial university admission was!

This was the moment to leap across social strata!

Even with his other world, getting into university would let him better exploit its resources.

For starters, he could establish a top-tier biological research institute to study the other world’s pills, instead of risking himself near the infirmary.

Though he had toxin-test strips and lab mice, swallowing pills still carried risk for him.

His life was clearly more valuable than anything else.

After getting up and washing up, Fang Xing instinctively assumed the Great Dragon Stance.

The ‘Mastery’ level of the Great Dragon Stance felt utterly different from ‘Proficient.’

If ‘Proficient’ level had merely given him a sense of effortless flow, each movement imbued with unique rhythm,

then ‘Mastery’ level meant the stance no longer required Fang Xing to adapt to it—it automatically adjusted a few details to better suit him!

After all, every person’s physique differs; though the Great Dragon Stance was said to be perfected by an AI, its template was designed for the average person.

What Fang Xing now practiced could be called the ‘Fang Xing Special Edition’—entirely tailored to him, its efficacy and progress were incomparable.

“With a Great Dragon Stance at this level, no wonder it can forge ‘Jade Skin’… though I’ve already achieved it.”

After completing the stance, feeling the coordination of his skin and muscle, Fang Xing suddenly swept his hand across his face.

In the next instant, the flesh on his face began to swell.

His cheeks grew fuller, his eyebrows lengthened—within moments, he transformed from a youthful boy into a dark-featured man in his twenties!

“After refining most of my muscles, controlling facial muscles and skin allows for full disguise…”

This was an essential skill for home, travel, murder, arson—you name it!

……

Yucai High School.

“Classmates, today we’ll begin the academic exams—everyone, do your best.”

Teacher Lan Fei had changed into another professional outfit—black stockings, high heels, and glasses—exuding a distinctive elite aura: “And… remember, no cheating. The punishment is severe.”

‘Somehow, she seems even more alluring… My Blood Qi has been rising too fast lately; my inner fire is burning hot…’

Fang Xing’s face remained expressionless as he picked up his exam paper and began answering at lightning speed.

High school required exams in many subjects.

Universal Cosmic Language, Interstellar Survival, Demonic Race Encyclopedia, Weapon Maintenance and Repair, Battlefield First Aid…

Each subject had its own exam, all to be completed within one morning—each exam allowed only about half an hour.

Scratching!

But for these high schoolers, it was routine.

Soon, the classroom was filled only with the sound of pens moving.

Even Liu Wei, who seemed unreliable, was writing furiously.

As martial artists, their wrist strength was astonishing, their writing speed rapid, their minds sharp…

Even so, finishing one exam in half an hour was still difficult.

After all, the difficulty was calibrated to test their limits precisely—to select only the most outstanding students!

As for cheating?

The classroom was under full surveillance—virtually impossible.

“Good, I’ve seen this question before…”

“Hmm, this one is relatively simple…”

“The last one’s tricky—just the calculations are complex…”

Fang Xing wrote with lightning speed.

As a late-stage first-stage expert, his martial cultivation allowed him to endure this intense mental workload.

“Time’s up!”

Before long, it was noon. Fang Xing set down his electronic pen, stepped out of the classroom, and prepared to grab something quick for lunch.

‘Admittedly, ingredients from the other world are fresher and more nutritious… but my cooking skills are average.’

‘In terms of taste alone, Blue Star Federation cuisine still wins—let alone that I’m broke and have never actually tasted the premium medicinal dishes on Blue Star, said to balance flavor and nourishment…’

‘Even Falcon Star is just an ordinary planet—its richest man means nothing compared to the entire Blue Star Federation.’

As he bit into a meat roll, he glanced at his classmates.

Bai Lang, Yi An, Qian Xun, Ouyang Qianqian, Bai Lianyi, Cole, Liu Wei…

“Huh?”

Whether it was an illusion or not, Fang Xing felt Liu Wei seemed… more confident today?

“Fang Xing…”

Cole strode over: “The afternoon sparring—I look forward to fighting you.”

The afternoon sparring used a single-elimination format; if both kept winning, they’d inevitably meet.

By afternoon, all the school’s teachers gathered—Xia Long was among them.

“First-year martial sparring assessment begins! There are ten rings. Students called will step up—no armor, weapons, or potions allowed… everything else is permitted.”

Xia Long’s voice boomed like a bell, shaking the air, then he grinned savagely: “You can go all out—see if we, teachers above the fourth stage, can rescue you in time… No restrictions here, though don’t expect your moral conduct or behavior scores to be high…”

‘This seems like leniency, but it’s really a warning.’

Fang Xing thought to himself as he watched.

Soon, the match list was posted.

He glanced at it and sensed something off.

‘All the top seeds have been deliberately separated—normally, they’d only meet in the finals.’

Fang Xing stared at the large electronic screen, nodded, then shook his head: ‘Still, it’s just a school-wide ranking—somewhat crude, but fine.’

“Ring One, Group One: Dilisi vs. Cao Xiong!”

“Ring Two: Qingyun vs. Hong Ke!”

……

Soon, martial arts instructors took their positions at each ring, and today’s matches began.

Fang Xing had no time to observe Liu Wei or the others—he was called up.

“Ring Eight: Fang Xing vs. Phoenix!”

Fang Xing stepped onto the ring and saw his opponent: a red-haired girl.

She wore a tight black suit that accentuated her curves, paired with eyes as blue as the ocean and skin as milky-white and smooth—undoubtedly a stunning beauty.

“Ah, it’s her—the class beauty from Class Four…”

His heart stirred; he bowed first: “Classmate Phoenix, please instruct me!”

“Classmate Fang Xing, please!”

Phoenix bowed, then launched a preemptive strike!

Snap!

Her hands spread like a phoenix’s wings, tearing through the air.

Military Boxing Twelve Forms—Broken Wing Hand!

Military Boxing is a required martial art in high school, encompassing punches, palm techniques, leg techniques, body movements, and finger strikes.

Phoenix’s Broken Wing Hand looked ordinary at first glance, but carried an unmistakable sense of effortless mastery, revealing deep proficiency in this form.

Fang Xing twisted his body, barely avoiding the strike at the last possible moment.

“Good kid...”

On a nearby arena, Xia Long watched this battle with divided attention and chuckled softly: “Not only is his stance solid, he’s clearly mastered Military Boxing...”

Fang Xing dodged the strike and prepared to end the fight quickly.

He lifted his right foot slightly, like a great axe cleaving the air.

Phoenix felt the piercing sharpness rushing toward her face, and a look of shock appeared on her features.

Battle Axe Leg!

Crash!

She barely crossed her arms in a cross-guard over her chest, then was flung backward, landing at the arena’s edge. She rolled over and rose to her feet, but her right arm hung limp.

“Still not yielding?”

Fang Xing frowned. Though he had held back much of his power, her right arm should have been broken.

Given this gap, rational surrender was the best choice.

“Surrender? For us bio-engineered humans, every point matters—how can we surrender?”

Phoenix’s eyes held a faint madness; her remaining left hand shot forward like a spear.

‘Huh? Has she activated some kind of hypnotic or body-destroying secret technique?’

Seeing this, Fang Xing felt a quiet sorrow.

For bio-engineered humans like them, every opportunity must be seized with all their strength!

Even in defeat, showing unyielding spirit matters—it could earn them higher scores later!

To natural humans, this might seem trivial, but for bio-engineered humans, a single point’s difference could decide their entire future!