Chapter 2: Blade Light

"You... why do you want to learn martial arts?"

There was still some time before class, and Fang Xing looked at Xia Long, starting to zone out habitually again, his mind recalling the scene from the first Martial Way class.

That was also Xia Long, standing in the exact same position, his voice deafening:

"Because you are reserve soldiers. One day you will go to the battlefield and fight to the death with those Extraterrestrial Xieshen retainers... Learning martial arts is to stay alive!"

"Remember this point, and then practice hard! Practice like your life depends on it!! Only then will you have a chance to survive in the future!!!"

"Your birth dictates that you cannot invest large amounts of resources to walk the professional paths of mecha pilots or mentalists... The Martial Way requires the least investment of resources, and its future prospects are not low. It is your best evolutionary choice!"

"I hope that before you graduate, you will at least reach the Second Martial Realm and master an A-rank martial art. Otherwise, going to the battlefield is just seeking death; there is no other possibility!"

That bloody cruelty immediately brought Fang Xing back to reality.

And at this moment, the current Xia Long also began his lecture: "Most Extraterrestrial Xieshen retainers possess mental pollution. Even the lowest-level lower servants will release mental shocks... At the beginning, the Federation's fleets and mecha pilots suffered quite a bit, and the asylums of that period were all at full capacity... But later we discovered that the 'Martial Way Will' produced after human Martial Way evolution can resist this kind of mental pollution... Although it is very difficult for you to enter the 'Courage and Resolve Realm' and obtain a trace of realm power by the time you become an adult, the Federation has developed many martial arts that can hypnotize low-realm martial artists into obtaining almost the same power. This is the origin of A-rank martial arts..."

Fang Xing listened below, his teeth aching.

The Martial Way! Known as the evolutionary path with the least resource investment and the highest output ratio in the Blue Star Federation, it was actually the cannon fodder system!

There are actually many ways to resist the mental pollution of Extraterrestrial Xieshen retainers, but whether it's the pharmacist's potions, the mentalist's soul amulets, or even psionic armor and specially modified mechas, none of them were things he, a debt-ridden person, could dream of.

For androids like himself, there was only one path: learn martial arts! Then go to the front line and swing knives to hack at retainers!

If he didn't die for several years, then he would have a chance to retire alive.

Of course, the Federation didn't completely block the way out for androids.

After all, there wasn't much difference between androids and natural humans; they themselves also had infinite possibilities.

The former Fang Xing sat here just to get into college and then successfully postpone military service!

According to Federation law, once you successfully get into college, you can receive a scholarship and postpone military service until after graduation!

It is said that many "Martial Saints" and "Martial Gods" in the Federation walked this path.

'Get into college...'

'It's hard, very hard! Even Xia Long subconsciously thinks that none of us will be college students... After all, one of the most basic requirements for getting into college is to reach the Third Martial Realm—Unpolished Jade—before graduating from high school!'

The Three Martial Realms: First Realm 'Skin and Flesh', Second Realm 'Tendon and Bone', Third Realm 'Unpolished Jade'!

Martial artists who reach the Unpolished Jade Realm have bodies that reverse to the primordial state, their five viscera and breath are integrated, automatically repairing all hidden injuries, their internal and external circulation is incomparably perfect, and they can live to be one hundred and twenty years old without illness or disaster!

Fang Xing sighed inwardly, then watched Xia Long's movements in front.

At this moment, the other party was posing in a stance, his spine shaking like a great dragon.

"Today's lesson, first persist with the 'Great Dragon Stance' for 30 minutes, then follow me in the twelve styles of military martial arts..."

"The Great Dragon Stance needs no introduction; it is the best stance for refining the First Martial Realm—Skin and Flesh. After countless simulations by the Federation's highest smart brain, the 'Omniscient Brain', it has reached the 'perfect' level. It can exercise the skin and flesh of the whole body without a single omission... You cannot stand the stance rigidly; you must move your intent as your body moves, imagining your torso as a great dragon, your spine as the dragon bone, and your limbs as dragon claws... It is best not to exceed one hour of Great Dragon Stance practice per day. Students who have the conditions can go to the store to buy 'D3-grade nutrient solution'..."

Xia Long explained in great detail, but in his heart, he sighed. A bottle of the cheapest "D3-grade nutrient solution" cost 5,000 star dollars, which ordinary android students probably couldn't afford long-term.

But there was no other way. The Federation's resources were limited, and the Martial Way was already the cheapest and most popular professional evolutionary route.

Without showing a certain amount of talent, it wasn't worth the school or even himself investing.

Hu... Xi...

Fang Xing calmed his mind and set up the Great Dragon Stance. A sense of familiarity immediately emerged from his heart, as if he had been practicing this stance for a long time.

He unconsciously began to slow his breathing, his mind beginning to visualize a towering giant dragon, the bones of his spine shaking slightly one by one.

In this state, he felt his own skin and membranes surging, numbness, soreness, itching... all kinds of strange sensations surged over, and his muscles began to heat up.

'Persist! Persist!'

It was rare to transmigrate once and be able to come into contact with such extraordinary power, so Fang Xing gritted his teeth and persisted.

He didn't know how much time had passed when he suddenly felt his whole body lose strength, his vision went black, and a feeling of 'reaching the limit' surged through his whole body.

As if he had suddenly lost power while running, his body could no longer muster a single bit of strength...

'Reached the limit? I'm not going to faint, am I? Am I going to be carried to the infirmary? That would be too embarrassing...'

Just then, in a daze, Fang Xing's consciousness seemed to return to that night of staying up late reading novels.

Before his eyes, a blade light seemed to emerge. Under that sword, it seemed as if worlds were being born and destroyed...

'This is... the scene from when I transmigrated?'

'Why do I feel it's a sword? And not blade light? Or other radiance?'

'Under that sword light, it seems something terrifying was suppressed?'

Fang Xing didn't have time to think. He saw the sword light fall, turning into two light orbs, one red and one white.

The two light orbs chased each other, like two fish, or like a red-white Taiji diagram.

Suddenly!

Boom!!!

The red and white radiance collided, the terrifying radiance annihilating everything!

The red-white Taiji diagram suddenly disintegrated, and then... a faint fluorescence appeared before his eyes:

【Name: Fang Xing】

【Age: 16】

【Profession: Martial Artist】

It was a very concise panel, and when Fang Xing's consciousness reached the Martial Artist profession, a few sub-columns were opened:

【First Realm: Skin and Flesh (Refining Skin: 21/100)】

【Twelve Styles of Military Martial Arts: 55/100 (Entry)】

【Great Dragon Stance: 67/100 (Entry)】

'What is this game panel? My golden finger? It seems related to the scene I saw when I transmigrated?'

Fang Xing's heart stirred, and then... various insights about the "Great Dragon Stance" emerged. He suddenly felt that his limbs and bones had strength again, as if a channel that was about to dry up had been injected with new water, preventing him from fainting immediately.

'That's right... although I fully inherited the predecessor's mind and muscle memory, there was actually a difference when I performed it. That is, my mind knew it, and my hands knew it... but they weren't coordinated, and my kung fu had regressed...'

'But now, this attribute panel comes out, and it's a case of "once mastered, always mastered." The proficiency will only increase, not regress...'

'Until now, I can be considered to have fully taken over everything from the predecessor, even the martial arts...'

'If I could add points...'

Fang Xing was a bit greedy, but no matter how he looked, he couldn't find an option to add points, so he had to give up for the time being.

"Alright, thirty minutes are up."

A few minutes later, Xia Long gave the order. The students who were originally standing in the stance were relieved one by one. Liu Wei even collapsed on the ground, sweating profusely, panting heavily.

Fang Xing was alright, just feeling his legs slightly weak, not to the point of having to lie down.

"Ah Xing, your stance seems even more powerful. Did you sneak in extra practice at home tonight?"

Liu Wei saw that his brother-in-arms hadn't collapsed and couldn't help but complain.

"This is my normal level!"

Fang Xing answered with heavy breath, but added in his heart: 'It's just that it's Fang Xing's peak moment...'

People's states have good and bad, but with the attribute bar solidifying, his state would always be at its peak!

In Liu Wei's eyes, it seemed as if Fang Xing had improved again.

"Hehe, your stance is indeed a bit more powerful than mine, but the next part might not be." Liu Wei smiled and climbed up.

Xia Long also roared at this time: "Don't lie down! Now that you are in the right state, stand up and practice! Twelve Styles of Military Martial Arts, First Style, Bow Stance Cannon Fist!"

Fang Xing's spine was like a bow, the tendons on his body like strings, his right hand's five fingers closed, and his knuckles actually made a crisp sound. He imagined his body as a great bow, "launching" his fist out.

Pa!

This punch was thrown, and the air in front actually made a muffled sound, startling Liu Wei next to him.

"Ah Xing, how are you... so powerful now?"

Xia Long saw that many people in the class threw a punch that made a sound, and the lines on his face softened slightly: "Good... The ancient boxing scriptures say 'a thousand gold can't buy a single sound.' Being able to make this sound, if you were in ancient times, you would all be Clear Energy martial artists, enemies of ten! But it's not enough! Far from enough!"

"Why is this first style 'Bow Stance Cannon Fist' called Cannon Fist? The bow stance is just the entry; imagining the body as a great bow is just the beginning. Next, you must imagine yourself as a cannon, using 'heart fire' to ignite the gunpowder of your blood and qi, and launching your fist as a 'cannonball'!"

While speaking, Xia Long threw a punch.

Boom!

It was also "Bow Stance Cannon Fist," but in the air, it seemed as if a cannonball had exploded directly. Fang Xing only felt his eardrums ache, and even his heart felt oppressed, feeling a bit of chest tightness: 'This punch, I'm afraid it has no less than twenty years of skill... I can't block it...'

Xia Long stood with his fist retracted: "Only when you can throw a true 'Cannon Fist,' where ten thousand gold can't buy a single cannon sound, can you be considered to have practiced this style to a small success. The key lies in 'heart fire,' using the heart as the motive force to circulate blood and qi..."

While speaking, Xia Long came behind a student and pressed a palm casually, landing on the other's back.

The student's face turned blood-red, and he waved his hand to throw a punch. Although there was no cannon sound, that crisp sound was clearly a few points louder.

'This kind of "teaching by example," no projection can compare... But it seems only students who make a sound get this treatment...'

Just as Fang Xing was thinking, Xia Long had already come behind him, his five fingers pressing on his back: "Throw the punch!"

He immediately felt a heat in his chest, as if gunpowder had been ignited, eager to find a breakthrough to vent.

"Drink!"

Fang Xing let out a low shout and threw a punch, and then his whole body felt a bit exhausted.

"Not bad, pay attention to your footwork next time..."

Xia Long gave a pointer and walked toward another female student.

And Fang Xing sat directly on the ground, panting heavily, but feeling a bit excited in his heart.

His consciousness came to the attribute panel and found the sub-column for Military Martial Arts.

【Twelve Styles of Military Martial Arts: 56/100 (Entry)】

"Proficiency, increased by 1 point?"

"If I do this a few dozen more times, can I complete the practice of Military Martial Arts and enter the next stage?"

"However, doing this a few dozen times, my body can't take it..."

Feeling the soreness in his arms, Fang Xing shook his head secretly.

Suddenly, his eyes narrowed.

At the very bottom of the attribute bar, a brand-new strange symbol emerged.

This rune seemed to be composed of twisted lines, faintly forming the outline of a mirror.

When his consciousness landed on it, a line of brand-new text emerged:

【Gate of the Heavens: 1/100 (Capturing)】