Chapter 77: 77. Chapter 77: The Secret Realm (In Honor of Most-Loved Xiao Qin, Alliance Master)

77. Chapter 77: The Secret Realm (In Honor of Most-Loved Xiao Qin, Alliance Master)

The principal’s office.

"Hmm, I've reviewed Xiao Fang's physical exam report—no issues at all... no hidden injuries, and his primordial qi is exceptionally abundant; clearly, he'll make rapid progress in the Jade Pu Realm."

Principal Lu Guangming, still bald, held a thermos filled with goji berries, his gaze sweeping over Fang Xing’s exam report.

Opposite him sat Xia Long, looking sheepish, and Fang Xing, sitting quietly.

“Principal, I acted out of urgency and brought him in for a checkup… but compared to the school’s instruments, your insight is unmatched—could you take another look?”

Xia Long smiled nervously.

“Student Fang…”

Lu Guangming grinned, teeth showing: “Congratulations—you’re guaranteed admission to university.”

“Thank you, Principal and Teacher… but I still aim for a top rank in the Hundred Stars Exam to bring honor to our school!”

Fang Xing adopted the posture of a model student.

“Excellent…”

Lu Guangming sipped his goji tea, eyes glinting with amusement: “Student Fang, your ambition is precisely what our school encourages… Xia Long told me you wish to learn the Great Golden Vajra Wisdom Power?”

“Exactly. Ever since Teacher Xia Long spoke of the Golden Core realm, I’ve resolved to master the Dragon-Elephant Golden Invincible Divine Art!”

Fang Xing answered with boundless passion.

“Hah! If any other student said that, I’d scold them for delusion—but you, Student Fang, actually have a chance…”

Lu Guangming laughed, then grew reflective: "But mastering the Dragon-Elephant Golden Invincible Divine Art isn't easy. Even if your physique is perfectly suited for the Dragon-Elephant Art and Great Golden Vajra Wisdom Power, you cannot fuse them in the Jade Pu Realm... Most martial artists only merge them at the Golden Core stage, laying the foundation for the Nine Revolutions of the Golden Core. For you, perhaps you'll achieve it in the External Manifestation realm. But don't force it..."

As a Golden Core martial artist, his insight was extraordinary.

Xia Long, listening, couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.

He was the very example of someone who never mastered this divine art even in the External Manifestation realm.

“Thank you for your guidance, Principal…”

Fang Xing knew well: anything named a “Divine Art” was subtly beyond S-class martial arts, not easily mastered.

Even with his attribute panel as a cheat, he’d need at least the Courage Realm to even attempt it, right?

‘If we use cultivation realm terminology, Divine Arts are third-rank powers—only Golden Core cultivators or third-rank great beasts can wield them…’

‘Qi Condensation cultivators attempting to cultivate a Divine Art? Nearly impossible… unless they’re a once-in-ten-thousand-years genius Foundation Establishment cultivator.’

‘But if I cultivate a Divine Art at the Courage Realm… without the corresponding realm, its power would only reach two or three tenths—still no match for a true Golden Core?’

“Hmm… Every Friday afternoon, come to my office. I’ll guide you in the secrets of practicing Dragon-Elephant Art and Great Golden Vajra Wisdom Power…”

Lu Guangming paused, then made his decision.

‘Is… Old Lu planning to personally tutor me? Xia Long charges tens of thousands per private lesson—a Golden Core would charge at least double that!’

Fang Xing’s face lit up with excitement: “Thank you, Principal!”

He knew Lu Guangming was still a Golden Core with ambition—otherwise he wouldn’t have brought Gu Yun to their school.

Now that he saw Fang Xing’s talent surpassed Liu Wei and others, he’d surely invest more.

‘In other words… Xia Long is almost unfit to teach me now?’

Fang Xing wasn’t sure whether to feel lucky or regretful.

But having a Golden Core guide him was undeniably a huge advantage.

Moreover, Lu Guangming was a powerful patron!

At least on Chick Hawk Star, he was among the most powerful figures—his status even surpassed the mayor of Maple City.

With this backing, even if the Prevention Bureau had no solid evidence, they wouldn’t dare touch him!

‘Wait… why did I suddenly think of this?’

Fang Xing mentally scolded himself.

"Good. I heard from Xia Long that you've already entered the Dragon-Elephant Art and formed the Dragon Scale Elephant Armor. Now that you've broken through to the Jade Pu Realm, you won't be satisfied without seeing an S-class martial art."

Lu Guangming smiled, then stood up.

In that instant, Fang Xing’s hairs stood on end—he sensed the bald middle-aged bureaucrat before him was no longer a mere principal, but a true Golden Core martial artist!

BOOM!

Lu Guangming’s blood qi surged upward like a pillar of smoke, piercing the heavens!

Moreover, a thread of golden light, radiating perfection and immortality, emerged from his body, illuminating all around with brilliant radiance!

This golden light expanded endlessly, eventually resembling a golden sun!

‘So powerful… This is a Golden Core? His aura seems even stronger than that Qingxuan Sect’s Golden Core true cultivator!’

Fang Xing was utterly stunned by the sight.

“The Great Golden Vajra Wisdom Power’s core principle is only one phrase: ‘Prajna Paramita’—meaning to reach the other shore through the supreme wisdom of the Golden Vajra… It transcends the five aggregates, abides not in the seven consciousnesses, liberates all suffering, detaches from all false forms, realizes the true nature of Bodhi and Suchness, and attains pure, free, and perfect enlightenment…”

Lu Guangming’s voice boomed like thunder, each word etching itself into Fang Xing’s mind. His vision blurred—he seemed to see a golden celestial pillar rising to the sky.

No—it wasn’t a pillar. It was a golden celestial mountain!

Its entire form radiated an immortal golden essence, carrying an indescribable resonance.

“The Vajra can sever all ignorance, shatter all delusions… Thus, the Great Golden Vajra Wisdom Power is the foremost path of power. Upon mastering its first level, it doubles your physical strength in battle. Second level: quadruples it. Third level: multiplies it eightfold!”

As Lu Guangming explained, Fang Xing gained deeper insight into this S-class martial art.

Beyond enhancing strength when combined with Dragon-Elephant Art, the Great Golden Vajra Wisdom Power’s greatest use was battle amplification!

It could unleash power far beyond one’s physical limits!

Of course, such extreme power required an equally extreme body to contain it—otherwise, you’d explode before even striking your opponent.

Hence, Dragon-Elephant Art was the essential foundation for the Great Golden Vajra Wisdom Power!

“This S-class martial art grants a doubling of combat power upon entry…”

Fang Xing was deeply tempted.

After all, such a blunt, direct effect was exactly what he loved.

With his current attack power, doubled, no one below Foundation Establishment could withstand a single slash!

But… one problem immediately surfaced.

“Understood?”

Lu Guangming finished his demonstration, returned to his leather chair behind the desk, and once again held his thermos—no trace of his former might.

“Didn’t understand…”

Fang Xing spoke honestly.

“Not understanding is normal—it’s an S-class martial art. Back then, I spent three years just barely entering it…”

Xia Long said solemnly: “So, just glance at this S-class martial art—don’t waste too much energy on it. Dragon-Elephant Art alone will occupy your time. This hardening art greatly increases your margin for error and gives you a major edge in the Hundred Stars Exam.”

For a second-year high school student, the Hundred Stars Exam was the top priority!

“I understand…”

Fang Xing exhaled deeply—he was determined to master the Great Golden Vajra Wisdom Power.

…

Several days later.

Huanghai Jiangfu.

Villa training ground.

“Kill!”

Gu Yun moved like a god or demon, her wooden blade erupting in brilliant blade light!

The blade glow shimmered like countless small fish, circling Fang Xing’s entire body.

Fang Xing, however, made no move to dodge—he simply stretched lazily, his tendons and bones resonating, his blood qi and internal breath coalescing into a layer of Dragon Scale Elephant Armor, faintly echoing dragon and elephant roars.

The ghostly blade’s light struck the armor—and was instantly deflected, leaving not a single scratch.

“I give up—you’re too tough…”

Gu Yun tossed her wooden blade aside, panting: “Unless you promise to use a real blade next time, forget it…”

She'd once enjoyed sparring with Fang Xing, but now, watching this former part-timer climb through realms and surpass her, she felt a small pang of resentment: "You've already broken through to the Jade Pu Realm, your internal breath flows endlessly, and you've mastered the Dragon-Elephant Art... Any secrets?"

“The secret is relentless, grueling practice…” Fang Xing saw her slightly pouting lips and flashed a bright smile: “But above all—my martial talent!”

“Perhaps… your martial talent really is stronger than mine…”

Gu Yun seemed deflated.

“Uh… how was your winter break?” Fang Xing quickly changed the subject.

“It was full. I went to the black market a few times, gained real combat experience… and shut down a few black shops…”

Gu Yun began complaining.

Fang Xing knew well: there must have been Prevention Bureau experts shadowing her—otherwise, such a little girl venturing into the black market would’ve been devoured whole!

In conversation, Gu Yun also revealed the outcome of Fang Xing’s fishing plan: “...The black market had some interesting items, especially these talismans—similar to the immortal talismans from ancient legends. Tear one open and it activates… At first I thought they were demonic artifacts and reported them immediately. But after investigation, there was no demonic aura or corruption—they’re likely trinkets from another universe’s civilization…”

The universe was boundless, home to countless races and innumerable civilizations.

Even the Federation’s top interstellar ethnologist couldn’t identify every race or civilization.

For the Prevention Bureau, if it wasn’t demonic, the matter ended there.

Who smuggled these alien items? Irrelevant.

‘So… it’s been labeled as some alien civilization’s artifact.’

Fang Xing, hearing this, felt a wave of relief.

For him, this was perhaps the best possible outcome.

Moreover, on the Blue Star Federation side, there do not seem to be any cultivators.

Could it be because there are no spiritual veins? he wondered inwardly.