Chapter 75: 75. Chapter 75: The Fisher (In Honor of Most-Loved Xiao Qin, Alliance Master)

75. Chapter 75: The Fisher (In Honor of Most-Loved Xiao Qin, Alliance Master)

A high-grade cave dwelling.

Fang Xing tossed a storage bag in his hand, feeling a pang of reflection: “I never thought the things I sold would come back to me…”

He didn’t need to guess—those few top-grade magical artifacts he’d sold were likely inside Lao Gui’s storage bag.

“This time, I watched the show without lifting a finger—and still made a fortune… This is what they call a master warrior who achieves no glorious fame.”

He turned his gaze to a spirit contract in his palm, his smile deepening.

This second-rank spirit contract was made of some unknown material, feeling leathery to the touch, about the size of an ordinary page, its edges adorned with intricate, bizarre patterns.

At its center, Su Ye had written in his own blood: promising Fang Xing twenty-five vials of ‘Boiling Blood,’ vowing to escort him out of Qinglin Market, and swearing never to seek revenge…

At the very bottom were the signatures of Su Ye and the intermediary, Han Qingyun.

The key point: Fang Xing himself had not signed. This was a one-sided contract binding only Su Ye.

Fang Xing had no urgent desire to leave Qinglin Market.

Bringing Han Qingyun into the deal was merely to give Han Qingyun and Feiyue a chance to escape the market.

He had always been decent to his own people.

Su Ye had schemed against him—if he had truly agreed to kill the Qingyan Ox, he’d have had to face off against the three Qi Condensation peak cultivators present, a deadly gamble.

Thus, Fang Xing felt not the slightest guilt over taking advantage of Su Ye’s predicament—this was the compensation Su Ye owed him.

“Been out so long, I’m getting hungry again…”

Fang Xing set up a grill and laid out slices of beef.

The beef came from the Qingyan Ox; though most of its flesh and blood were destined for Su Ye’s pills, he’d been greedy and cut off a whole leg for himself.

Given the Qingyan Ox’s height of seven to eight meters, one front leg would last him a long time.

The flesh of a second-rank beast naturally had potent effects—and the taste was remarkably satisfying.

Paired with spices from the Blue Star Federation, it was even better.

Fang Xing had to use talismans to conceal the scent within the courtyard, barely avoiding drawing every nearby beast to his door!

He picked up a skewer of grilled beef: fist-sized chunks threaded on iron rods, dusted with spices, fat dripping slowly.

“Now this is how you eat meat—perfect.”

Though the method was coarse, the flavor was surprisingly refined; the beef was dense and tough—only a body cultivator could chew it properly.

Fang Xing normally had a huge appetite, yet after finishing one skewer, he already felt full.

More than that, he sensed his blood and qi surging violently, just like after taking body cultivation pills—he immediately set up the Tiger Subduing Stance to train.

Half an hour later.

【Tiger Subduing Stance: 80/200 (Proficient)】

Looking at the one-point increase in proficiency, Fang Xing’s face lit up: “The effect of this second-rank beast meat is this strong? And it’s completely natural, free of any pill toxins…”

“Add in the Boiling Blood I’m still refining—second-rank beasts truly are treasures all over. Too bad… they’re hard to kill.”

…

Time flew by.

Before he knew it, the new semester had begun.

Chuying Star.

Happy Home Community.

Fang Xing stood up, gazing at his reflection in the mirror.

There stood a youth with sword-like brows and starlit eyes, his skin glowing with a healthy jade hue, taller by several inches, his body lines smooth and perfect, every inch brimming with terrifying power.

“First stage of Dragon Elephant Art—achieved!”

He reached out, and the blood-refined weapon, Tiger Demon Blade, landed in his palm.

A roar echoed through the air; a blade of light slashed hard against his shoulder—then shattered explosively.

During this period, living in a high-grade spiritual cave dwelling, eating spiritual rice and second-rank beast meat daily, his martial progress had been astonishing.

Once Su Ye delivered the promised twenty-five vials of ‘Boiling Blood,’ his Dragon Elephant Art proficiency skyrocketed.

Last night, he finally broke through the first stage’s threshold, entering the ‘Proficient’ rank!

At this level, the Dragon Elephant Art’s ‘Dragon Scale Elephant Armor’ defense could withstand ordinary low-grade magical weapons.

“If so, then at ‘Master’ rank, I could ignore mid-grade weapons entirely—and at ‘Grandmaster,’ I’d shrug off all magical weapons, only vulnerable to Foundation Establishment cultivators’ spiritual weapons. Isn’t that exactly a second-rank body cultivator?”

The thought made Fang Xing feel a chill.

Dragon Elephant Art was merely an A-grade martial art, with a threshold of Sinew-Bone Realm—equivalent to a post-heaven martial artist in the other world, not even a cultivator!

“That means a mortal possesses second-rank body cultivation. In the cultivation world, he’s a monster; in the Blue Star Federation, he’s just a minor prodigy…”

“And more—above Grandmaster rank in Dragon Elephant Art, there should be another stage…”

“Moreover, I’ve now reached Puyu Realm, barely qualified to learn S-grade martial arts. If I mastered ‘Great Golden Vajra Bodhi Power,’ how mighty would that be?”

This was the advantage of Blue Star martial arts!

Even at the same level, the breadth of martial techniques granted Blue Star martial artists far greater power than those of the other world.

Defense, speed, strength—all surpassed comprehensively, a true six-stat warrior!

“With Dragon Elephant Art now proficient, my strength has grown further…”

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

His previous defense had four layers: outermost, cultivation-world talismans; middle, nanofiber armor; inner, Dragon Scale Elephant Armor; finally, his own body—Jade Skin, Mystic Flesh, Willow Sinew, Steel Bone.

Previously, this four-layer stack could endure several strikes from top-grade magical weapons, letting him slaughter through Qi Condensation early- and mid-stage cultivators with ease.

Now, with Dragon Elephant Art upgraded, he could likely withstand ten or more top-grade magical weapon strikes.

Even if surrounded by several Qi Condensation late-stage or peak cultivators, he could hold his ground for a moment.

That moment was enough for a martial artist to kill multiple enemies. If Dragon Elephant Art reached Proficient rank, he’d be nearly invincible among Qi Condensation cultivators—any Qi Condensation peak who came would be walking to his death.

If he reached Grandmaster rank, he’d be a true second-rank body cultivator, ready to test his mettle against Foundation Establishment cultivators.

“I still have plenty of Boiling Blood—bright days lie ahead…”

Fang Xing sighed, then began quietly handling his communications.

On his regular phone, messages were ordinary greetings from classmates—he checked carefully and found none from Gu Yun.

But his fishing plan had likely succeeded; he’d need to casually inquire after school, without seeming too obvious.

The other black-market communicator, however, was more interesting.

“Again, Zhang Jiarui from the Blood Cage Arena?”

He checked—the earlier messages were all texts.

From 【Hot guy, lonely? Want to see a thrilling performance?】

to 【Coach Ping says she misses you… her ‘Ultimate Passion Sword’ still has a few finishing moves…】

These were relatively normal.

But the later ones were odd.

【The Prevention Bureau’s dogs have been raiding the black market again—so boring…】

【The black market’s got some interesting new stuff. Wanna take a look?】

【I’m being transferred… this black market’s too chaotic…】

…

“Transferred? I wonder where she’ll go?”

Fang Xing thought for a moment, then chuckled to himself—Zhang Jiarui clearly held high status in the Blood Cage Arena; wherever she went, he had no reason to worry.

Besides, sensing the black market’s depth and getting transferred out immediately? That was something many would beg for.

‘She’s showing off. Definitely showing off.’

Fang Xing decided not to reply.

His body cultivation pills were already secured—he had no need to return to the black market soon. Less contact meant less risk of exposure.

“The most important thing now is tomorrow’s school opening—if I reveal my Puyu Realm, I can request to learn ‘Great Golden Vajra Bodhi Power’… That’s an S-grade martial art, one rank above A-grade, with further progression that perfectly complements Dragon Elephant Art!”

“If I can even master this S-grade art and push it to high levels, maybe I can kill a Foundation Establishment cultivator while still in Puyu Realm!”

As he planned, he simmered a pot of spiritual rice porridge in his rice cooker for breakfast.

Only after finishing every last grain did he leisurely step outside.

The chill of early spring still clung to the riverbank; the streets along the river were nearly empty.

Fang Xing drifted in thought, his focus fixed on his status panel:

【Name: Fang Xing】

【Age: 17】

【Profession: Martial Artist】

【Third Realm: Puyu (Internal Organs: 98/100)】

【Military Boxing Twelve Forms: 78/200 (Proficient)】

【Great Dragon Stance: 25/400 (Grandmaster)】

【Tiger Subduing Stance: 100/200 (Proficient)】

【Ghost God Blade: 89/100 (Proficient)】

【Ultimate Passion Sword: 58/100 (Proficient)】

【Dragon Elephant Art: 1/100 (Proficient)】

【Gate of All Heavens (Charging)】

……

“A winter break’s progress is simply astonishing! All thanks to the high-grade spiritual energy cave, second-rank beast meat, and boiling blood elixir…”

“If things continue like this, before the semester ends and the Hundred Stars Exam, I will surely reach the Fourth Realm!”

The Fourth Realm of Martial Arts — the Realm of Courage!

It is the stage where the Muddy Pillar Palace opens, awakening spiritual abilities beyond ordinary humans. Only at this stage is a martial artist truly considered to have entered the inner chamber, worthy of the title ‘Martial Artist,’ eligible for professional certification and citizen rank promotion!

Breaking into the Fourth Realm of Martial Arts in high school? That’s a genius among geniuses!

He might even get direct admission to a top-tier university.

Ordinary universities, second-tier universities, top-tier universities… each tier is utterly different, and the resources available are incomparable.

But Fang Xing’s current goal is naturally a super-tier university!

“First choice — Blue Star University. Coincidentally, I’ve been thinking of buying a house there too…”

Though buying a house feels like a scam, it was the original body’s final wish — if Fang Xing can fulfill it, he will, to lay the attachment to rest.

While lost in thought, a confident woman walking her dog approached from across the street: “Little Brother Fang…”

“Senior Xia…”

Fang Xing politely greeted: “How was your winter break?”

“Not good at all…”

Jing Xia’s face was heavy with gloom: “Some bastard dumped a batch of alien-made goods on the black market — the higher-ups are furious, and I’m even angrier!”