Chapter 467: Steam

"This world... seems true yet false, seems false yet true, seems illusory yet real, seems real yet illusory... it is a world created by the Fate Struggle between me and the Creator."

Fang Xing stretched out his hand, as if wanting to grab the noisy wind at night.

Unfortunately, he couldn't grab anything.

"Space-time law fluctuations, True Self law fluctuations, and even destiny, fire... none of them exist? Or rather, they are all isolated?"

Fang Xing shook his head.

This body of his was just the most ordinary teenager's body, which would get hungry and tired, bleed when injured, and die if it bled too much!

Its strength could only be said to be combat-five-scum, and if there was no law comprehension amplification, it was even more so.

Law comprehension amplification is the best amplifier for combat power.

Even if he operated the eruption secret art at full power before, he couldn't compete with the Twelfth or Thirteenth Realm.

But combined with law comprehension, it was possible.

Even if he was an ordinary person now, as long as he possessed his former law comprehension, Fang Xing wouldn't fear ordinary Martial Saints or even Martial Gods!

But at this moment, this means had been completely lost.

Even things as mysterious as will could only act on himself and could not be projected outward.

It was as if... this was a world insulated from transcendence!

"Forget it... if I am like this, the Creator is even more so... compared to dealing with a Heavenly Immortal who has fully comprehended the laws, sealing law comprehension together is instead my gain."

Fang Xing thought of his opponent and fell into deep thought.

"Fate Struggle Secret Art, naturally, bets on life! It ends with the death of one side!"

In other words, wanting to win is actually very simple: find the Creator and hack it to death, and everything will be fine.

But Fang Xing couldn't do it; after all, he was just a plain university student.

"Apart from killing the other party directly, the greatest possibility is that both of us encountered danger during the mystery of the womb and were naturally eliminated..."

This possibility is actually very high; before Fang Xing awakened, a serious illness, a natural disaster, or even a robbery... could have caused him to lose his life.

It can only be said that Fang Xing being able to live until now is a very lucky thing.

"The Creator's mystery of the womb might be heavier than mine; as long as I wait, maybe it will die..."

"Or, both sides compare who lives longer? The lifespan of a mortal has its limits; as long as I live longer than the other party, I am also the winner!"

"Therefore, my next goal: first, master power; second, develop influence..."

Mastering power is for self-preservation!

Even if there is a path of transcendence in this world, one can climb all the way up to extend lifespan and live longer.

Mastering influence, besides self-preservation, can also be used to search for the Creator's whereabouts.

Fang Xing glanced at the attribute panel again and was stunned.

"This world, which seems to have no transcendence, has no source power, no law comprehension... other runes are dim, and even the Great Sun Tathagata Mantra has a much-reduced effect..."

"But what does this 'Star Martial Artist' mean?"

"My martial arts started as Blue Star martial arts, and later became compatible with the immortal path... Could it be that after breaking through to the Tenth Martial Realm, I became compatible with the source power system and even the 'Pan Wu Grand Ceremony,' hence the name Star Martial?"

"Star Martial Artist? It's not bad... it's just a pity that the current 【Star Martial Artist】 title has no miraculous effects..."

Fang Xing estimated that he might only know what kind of rapid progress his strength had made after completely winning this Fate Struggle and leaving this strange world.

The next day.

Black Ring Private Mechanical Academy.

The campus was vast, with various mechanical creations.

Fang Xing even saw tracks laid on the ground, and a small steam locomotive, spraying white gas, passing by with small carriages.

It didn't feel like anything before, but now it felt a bit like a toy train in an amusement park...

"Fine... at least it saves some effort; taking a toy train to class every day, thinking about it, is actually quite nice..."

Fang Xing thought about it, squeezed onto the small train, and took a seat.

The small train ran very slowly, almost the same as an adult jogging, swaying to one teaching building after another.

From time to time, students would get off, and more students would sit on.

Fang Xing got off in front of a building, walked into the laboratory, and saw a strong man wearing oil-stained work clothes, with a beard, golden hair, and azure eyes.

This was his mechanical mentor—Monachi Dean.

"Teacher."

Fang Xing bowed: "I'm here..."

"Hmm..."

Monachi was building a strange machine; it looked like the size of a brick, a bit like an iron box, with a gear ignition device: "The 'gas lighter' you conceived is very good... the key is portability, it can be carried in the wild."

"But it's actually not as convenient as a box of matches..."

Fang Xing complained.

This was a "whimsical idea" he had when he was obscured by the mystery of the womb, which was valued by his mentor.

But at this time, he somewhat suspected that Monachi took him as a student purely to use him as a beast of burden, and by the way, squeeze his creativity...

"No! This is just a prototype, there is still a lot of room for improvement."

Monachi said: "This is the beauty of machinery, we can also add a windshield to it..."

"Teacher is right."

Fang Xing nodded.

In this era, the status of a university student is very precious, and he was not prepared to give it up.

Facing authority, he wouldn't be stupid enough to refute directly. Anyway, his life plan had changed drastically.

Only a fool would be a mechanical engineer; could he build a mech in this steam era?

Being able to build a mechanical rifle would be the limit!

What he needs to do is naturally practice martial arts!

Use his muscles to beat down everything that doesn't submit!

'Many techniques and secret arts in the "Pan Wu Grand Ceremony" require the True Self Law to enter... they are considered useless in this world.'

'But Blue Star martial arts, and some ordinary training methods and killing techniques in the classics... can be completely picked up to train oneself to the human limit.'

'And... if there is transcendence in this world, as long as I obtain its mysteries, I can completely innovate.'

Fang Xing thought to himself.

However, he didn't show it, but followed his mentor to learn as usual.

The academy's courses were not too heavy, and by the afternoon, he had self-study time.

Generally speaking, the past Fang Xing liked to soak in the library, learning various mechanical knowledge as if thirsty.

But for the current Fang Xing...

'Study what study? I want to practice boxing!'

He walked out of the academy and strolled on the street.

Black Ring City's trade was developed, with various enjoyments emerging one after another; he even saw advertisements for several nightclubs and low-class dance parties.

"Can this kind of thing be advertised openly? Sure enough, I was too naive before..."

Fang Xing complained secretly, looked around again, and noted down the addresses of several "fighting clubs" and "combat clubs."

Clubs in Black Ring City were very developed, and it seemed that every industry had them.

He walked a few laps and drilled into a small alley.

In the small alley, there was a small shop, which seemed to be a grocery store; the sign at the door was very old, and there were several yellowed papers pasted on it:

【New Arrivals: White Bread, Honey, Antiques...】

【Acquisition: Black Rat Tail Oil, Lavender Snake Grass...】

Fang Xing walked into the grocery store and saw an old man with gray hair, wearing glasses, with deep nasolabial folds, looking at every customer entering the shop with a critical gaze.

Seeing Fang Xing, the wrinkles on the old man's face seemed to relax with a smile: "Oh, it's Fang Xing... what good news have you brought me?"

"I'm not here to sell today, but to buy."

Fang Xing coughed.

Although he had a scholarship before, his living expenses were somewhat tight, and he sold quite a few things to Old Quinn here.

This guy looked like an ordinary grocery store owner on the surface, but in fact, he was a black market merchant who could always get some contraband goods.

"Oh? That's really rare..."

Old Quinn smiled, revealing yellow teeth: "What do you want?"

"Short barrel."

Fang Xing was concise.

Old Quinn was stunned, then thoughtful: "It seems you've gotten into trouble? I know a few influential people, maybe I can introduce you..."

"No! I just... lack a bit of security."

Fang Xing shrugged and followed Old Quinn into the back room.

Old Quinn knocked on the wall and opened a secret compartment.

He took out a box and handed it to Fang Xing: "Take a look..."

Fang Xing opened it and saw a six-shot revolver.

Its barrel was very short, the gun body was smooth, and the grip was mahogany, with some signs of wear; it should be a second-hand item.

"Black Snake Type II, 90% new!"

Old Quinn said: "As a self-defense weapon, the power will definitely satisfy you; of course, you can't use it to duel with a steam rifle... I'll also give you two hundred bullets for free, only 300 Black Sols, very cheap, right?"

"A brand new Black Snake Type II is only 200 Black Sols..."

Fang Xing was speechless: "We are old friends, give me an honest price!"

His living expenses for a month before were only about 100 Black Sols.

"What's more..." Fang Xing leaned forward: "You know, if it wasn't urgent, with my ability, I could completely build one myself..."

Old Quinn was speechless instantly; he knew that this young man opposite him really had this ability!

Before, the other party sold many small machines through him, which were of high quality and well-received.

"250 Black Sols, you have to let me make a profit." Old Quinn said helplessly.

"Fine..."

Fang Xing took out a stack of banknotes.

He said he could do it himself, but it was actually very troublesome and easy to expose, so he would rather spend a little more.

After the transaction, he held the grip, checked it with his mechanical knowledge, found no major problems, and nodded with satisfaction.

After completing the transaction, Fang Xing asked inadvertently: "Old Quinn... do you know if there is any information in the black market involving occultism or transcendental power?"

"Occultism? Are you talking about the fortune-telling of those Gypsy witches? Or some priest's bloodletting therapy?"

Old Quinn laughed loudly: "Young man... you have to believe in steam and science!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 468 =====