Chapter 280: Success (Bonus Chapter—Requesting Monthly Votes)

Several years later.

White Bird Star, Star River Island.

Inside the laboratory.

"Formula #8961, Experiment A30, begin!"

A bald middle-aged man in a white lab coat stared excitedly at the glass of the bio-laboratory.

Inside the specialized glass chamber was a terrifying crimson exosuit.

The exosuit resembled the peeled skin of some creature, leaving only crimson muscle and fascia, with purple-black veins twisting and writhing within the flesh like serpents coiling.

Across the surface of the flesh were patches of dark red steel plating.

"Oooh!"

A chimpanzee was brought into the lab, and multiple protective shields activated at once.

Click!

Click!

The crimson exosuit, as if sensing a delicious meal, instantly expanded like a monstrous beast opening its bloodied maw and swallowed the chimpanzee whole!

Click, click!

Countless fleshy tendrils sprouted over the chimpanzee's body, making it appear as if it wore a blood-red armor.

"Oooh!"

The chimpanzee pounded its chest repeatedly, then suddenly slammed a fist hard against the glass.

Click!

The specially crafted glass remained unbroken, even though it could withstand the power of a sixth-rank warrior.

On the nearby punch-force tester, a string of numbers lit up: "Peak output… S-class! Meets the exosuit's original design specifications!"

"Hmm, continue the experiment!"

The bald middle-aged researcher glanced at the boss beside him and issued another order.

Fang Xing crossed his arms, watching coldly inside the lab.

The hatch opened, and a line of mechanical hounds were deployed inside.

These were combat robots purchased specifically—each capable of matching a fourth-rank professional.

Together, their power multiplied!

"Wang wang!"

The mechanical hounds' eyes glowed crimson as they lunged forward like a pack of wolves attacking a tiger.

Two of them bit down on the mechanical chimp's arms, hanging like pendants and crippling its limbs.

Then came more and more mechanical dogs, attacking with tactical precision—even their movements carried the flavor of martial arts.

"Class-A martial art—Dog Fist?"

Fang Xing nodded: "Technology has advanced so fast… even fourth-rank robots can now carry martial wills…"

This was, of course, the work of the "Federation Holographic Universe Corporation."

By simulating martial arts realms within the holographic universe, integrating them into robots posed no problem.

Rumor had it that robots matching fifth-rank external-spectrum martial artists had already appeared and could be mass-produced, drastically reducing frontline warrior casualties.

Even sixth-rank Golden Core martial robot models were currently under development.

This was the change brought by human technological progress—astonishingly rapid… perhaps within just a decade or even a few years, human society would undergo a complete transformation!

Boom!

Boom boom!

As Fang Xing drifted in thought, the battle inside the lab reached its end.

The exosuit chimp swung its arm, seized the last mechanical hound, and squeezed with both hands.

Click!

The hound's head tore off, still attached to a steel spine and a flood of hydraulic fluid.

"Oooh!"

The exosuit chimp tossed the robot corpse aside and pounded its chest repeatedly, as if challenging the hateful humans outside.

"Not bad—full of spirit!"

Fang Xing gave a thumbs-up: "Exosuit detachment!"

"Yes!"

The bald researcher immediately issued the command.

Click!

The crimson exosuit instantly detached from the chimp, curling into a compact red ball, its surface coated in liquid metal.

Without the exosuit, the chimpanzee's body shrank drastically, its spirit drained, and it collapsed.

Its eyes burned with madness, its hands reaching upward as if desperate to fuse once more with the crimson armor.

"Test subject—alive!"

"Collect blood immediately! I need the data right now!"

The bald researcher roared.

Soon, needles pierced the chimpanzee's battered body, and streams of data appeared.

"Infiltration rate: 0.02%! Below the safety threshold… success!"

The bald researcher shouted in excitement.

All researchers immediately applauded, smiling at Fang Xing.

They knew perfectly well who the real boss was—and without the extraordinary materials he provided, they could never have developed this new "inhibitor" so easily.

Previous trials had resulted in the original chimpanzees being unable to resist the infiltration, fusing directly with the bio-exosuits and becoming Cultivated by the Demonic Gods.

This time, the contamination was minimal; the weight loss and wounds were merely ordinary costs.

"Where's the mental analysis report?"

Fang Xing stared at the chimpanzee, sensing it had already gone mad.

"Clearly… its mental evaluation score must be extremely low. After all, the primary users of bio-exosuits are powerful martial artists—only sufficient martial will can counter the demonic spiritual corruption…"

"But our focus is the inhibitor! The inhibitor! Confirming that the armor successfully halted the demonic flesh proliferation is enough—this experiment is a resounding success!"

The bald researcher beamed.

In truth, previous trials had yielded excellent results.

"Very well, Dr. Wang… I'll honor my promises: first, a bonus equal to one year's salary for each of you… then, authorship credit on the papers."

Fang Xing smiled, stepped out of the lab, and picked up a bottle of fruit wine: "Let's celebrate…"

"My honor."

Dr. Wang eagerly fetched glasses and clinked them with Fang Xing.

He knew full well that all materials came from Fang Xing—he merely kept testing formulas.

Frankly speaking, even a dog could do this.

Naturally, he felt immense gratitude toward Fang Xing.

"Alright, then—give me a summary: the inhibitor's formula, its performance, and its application prospects…"

Fang Xing sipped his fruit wine, gazing out the glass window at the scenery beyond, casually.

"Hmm…"

Dr. Wang organized his thoughts: "This inhibitor formula primarily derives from the boss's provided 'Plant #36' and 'Mineral #139' samples, with a ratio of… the manufacturing process is…"

"As for its performance, I guarantee it surpasses the vast majority of bio-exosuit inhibitors on the market—the 'Radiant Inhibitor.' Our lab's research materials are all Demonic Offspring-grade, so this new inhibitor can be used in Saint-grade exosuit armor… even God-grade!"

"Hmm… next time, apply for raw flesh from a Demonic God itself." Fang Xing nodded.

"This…"

Dr. Wang's face flushed slightly: "Our lab doesn't seem to have authorization for Demonic God's raw flesh…"

Even the previous use of Demonic Offspring flesh had only been permitted because of Fang Xing's influence—Dai Wei had greenlit it.

After all, Demonic Gods were terrifying.

Even a single drop of their blood could enable rebirth.

"I know… the Nine Sword Academy must have stockpiles and top-tier bio-labs." Fang Xing paused, then said: "You can publish part of your results in the Nine Sword Academy's 'Godslayer' journal… they'll contact us."

"Understood, boss!"

Dr. Wang beamed.

He had a backlog of papers, all suppressed by Fang Xing.

Now, finally, permission was granted.

And the paper wasn't even about today's experiment—actually, the half-finished results from months ago were enough for over a dozen top-tier journal publications.

Then, gradually, dozens more could follow…

When it came to padding papers, he was a professional.

"Rest assured, boss—I know exactly how to handle it. Key data will be blurred…"

Dr. Wang assured: "Use Experiment A02."

That time, the chimpanzee, after shedding the exosuit, had barely clung to life.

Even with all the technology of the interstellar age deployed, it hadn't survived half a day.

Still, many researchers considered it a highly successful experiment.

After all... at least it didn't turn into a demonic entity on the spot—proof the inhibitor is truly effective!

……

Fang Xing walked through the farmland, observing the half-dead spirit herbs.

Suddenly, he stopped, standing before a sea of purple flowers.

"Sunrise Blossom..."

A term surfaced in Fang Xing's mind.

This was "Plant No. 36."

As for "Mineral No. 139," it came from the Immortal Realm's "Nine-Heart Iron Ore."

Frankly speaking, the plants could still be transplanted.

But the mines? They simply couldn't be moved.

"Even if it leaks later, the outside world can't replicate it—because all the raw materials are here with me. That's the highest form of monopoly!"

Fang Xing fell into thought.

With the Federation's scientific level, they might replicate it—but only for lab-scale experiments.

To produce it on a large scale? The cost would skyrocket to astronomical heights!

That's enough!

"All this effort only cracked the inhibitor... and the inhibitor is just a minor branch of the Demonic God Mech..."

"To build a Wu Saint Mech entirely by myself? Pure fantasy... By the time I succeed, I might already have broken through to Wu Shen—or even beyond!"

"So, I still have to mooch off others, beg for scraps..."

Fang Xing gazed into space, his eyes filled with anticipation.

At that moment, a communication came through.

"Fang Xing, it's Ouyang Ouyang Qianqian... I've completed my retirement paperwork."

On the video screen appeared a bright young woman.

Although Ouyang Ouyang Qianqian's college entrance exam scores weren't great, she never gave up martial cultivation.

Now a fourth-jing professional, and with the Federation's gene surgery, living for centuries won't be a problem.

Thus, she still looked incredibly young, brimming with youthful vigor.

"Retired, huh? Congratulations."

Fang Xing offered sincere congratulations.

"Yes, I'm heading back to Chuying Star. I've already bought my interstellar ticket... Want to have dinner together? Ji Ji Weiwei also wants to thank you in person..."

Ouyang Ouyang Qianqian invited.

"Thank me together?"

Fang Xing rubbed his chin.

Dai Wei and the others were all perceptive people; Ouyang Ouyang Qianqian had lived well these past few years.

Plus, she'd earned an outstanding military merit, which would greatly benefit her future career.

Wanting to thank me? That's natural.

"Nah, I'm busy right now..."

Fang Xing spoke.

He'd just visited an entertainment planet in the Evil Dragon System, experiencing the local customs—even watched alien performances...

Right now, he simply had no interest.

"I see..."

Ouyang Ouyang Qianqian hung up with regret, a look of wistfulness crossing her face: "... Just let it be a dream..."

……

Several days later.

Nine Sword Academy.

Forbidden Zone.

A black obelisk stood tall, its surface carved with countless indescribable inscriptions.

The inscriptions interconnected like a circuit board, channeling immense energy to create a strange effect that severed internal and external space.

Beneath the black obelisk lay a subterranean research facility stretching kilometers deep.

At the very bottom of the facility, a young man with a buzz cut stared down at a massive factory below.

From his viewpoint, he could clearly see a giant, suspended head.

Its facial skin had been torn away, leaving only enormous eyeballs and exposed toothless gums...

Even the eyeballs were still turning...

"Moon God!"

The Nine Sword Academy's headmaster, Wu Shen Gu Jian Qiu, arrived beside the buzz-cut youth and sighed: "Originally, your mech was designed using fragments of Moon God as the primary material... But now, we must act on Moon God's entire corpse. All prior designs must be scrapped and rebuilt."

A fragment of an Outer Demonic God and the complete corpse of an Outer Demonic God are entirely different concepts!

The main raw materials for Demonic God Mechs are various demonic clans, offspring... even the flesh and remains of Outer Demonic Gods!

The Nine Sword Academy has gone very far in these forbidden studies.

"Actually, I'm not in a hurry... Even without a mech, my 'Void-Cutting Blade' can sever anything!"

"Duan Hai, you're too confident."

Wu Shen Gu Jian Qiu shook her head: "Martial artists have their limits. Even Wu Shen are only ninth-jing combatants. Only by combining with a mech—and refining the Will Inscriptions to their peak—can one barely enter tenth-jing combat power..."

The farther you go, the greater the gap becomes.

Between tenth-jing and ninth-jing, it's like heaven and earth.

Eleventh-jing can crush all tenth-jing effortlessly.

"Last time, during the Moon God incident, if you'd had a mech, the Federation's casualties would've been far lower..."

"And a mech isn't external power..."

Gu Jian Qiu said solemnly: "True Mech Masters use the Light of the Soul to fuse completely with their mech, becoming a new form of mech life... According to our academy's research, martial artists can do the same—perhaps the breakthrough to tenth-jing lies in fully assimilating one's Wu Shen-class mech into the body, achieving the state of 'Mech and Martial Art as One.' If you wish to break through to tenth-jing, you cannot ignore this path."

Thanks to the inspiration from Mech Masters' Light of the Soul, this path at least holds the hope of success.

"Maybe..."

Duan Hai chuckled: "Or perhaps, before other Wu Shens break through, I'll have already pushed my Void-Cutting Blade's Unique Art to its Tenth Level. If the path ahead is blocked, I'll carve it myself!"

Wu Shen Gu Jian Qiu nodded slightly, saying nothing more.

At their level, martial will is larger than stars, harder than neutron stars.

One who changes course after a few words of advice isn't a true martial cultivator.

(End of Chapter)