Birthday (Please Add to Favorites)

The blade light was fierce and icy, carrying an almost soul-snaring demonic power!

B-grade Martial Art—Demon Blade!

Fang Xing had no doubt that even though it was only a wooden blade, in Gu Yun's hands, it possessed enough power to split steles and shatter stone!

This girl's gone crazy!

Going all out—does she really want to kill me?

Fortunately, Fang Xing was no longer what he used to be.

Facing that strike, he twisted his waist, his feet moving like a swimming dragon. In an instant, he shifted several meters sideways and escaped the blade light's range.

Military Body Boxing Twelve Forms—Swimming Dragon Step!

Then he stepped forward half a pace, his fist like a great axe splitting the heavens, carrying the force to shatter sky and earth!

—Half-Step Crushing Fist!

Gu Yun slightly turned the hilt, following the blade with her body.

In the blink of an eye, she had exchanged several moves with Fang Xing.

Within the training ground, figures darted about as blade light and fist shadows intertwined, their fierce winds pressing down on everything around them!

Clang!

Suddenly, there came a sound like a bowstring snapping.

Fang Xing's fist struck the flat of the wooden blade, but he himself retreated several steps.

Damn it... B-grade Martial Arts really are something else.

He felt rather helpless.

In terms of cultivation, both he and Gu Yun were at the Second Realm, Tendon Refinement. They were evenly matched.

But their martial arts were quite far apart.

Demon Blade was a B-grade Martial Art, while Military Body Boxing Twelve Forms was a common C-grade Martial Art!

When cultivation is equal, martial techniques matter a lot.

The Federation's martial arts are clearly much stronger than those of the Other World...

Although he had collected plenty of martial arts manuals as if picking up trash, Fang Xing did not think much of any of them.

After all, even the strongest among them, Innate Stellar Qi, was only B-grade, and it required one to be an Innate Martial Artist—meaning one could only begin cultivating it after reaching Rough Jade, the Third Realm of martial arts.

Yet in the Federation, Second Realm Martial Artists could already learn B-grade Martial Arts!

Simplifying high-level martial arts so that even low-realm martial artists could begin learning them was a great innovation of Federation martial arts!

That was why Fang Xing looked down on the martial arts of the Other World. He only wanted to return and learn some powerful techniques.

For example, if he could reach Beginner or proficiency in an A-Rank Martial Arts technique... then in the Other World, he would definitely possess Innate-level combat strength!

"You... have you cultivated Demon Blade to the point where you can wield it freely?"

Fang Xing stared at Gu Yun, his expression grave.

Their realms were about the same, but the gap in martial techniques was enormous!

Judging by proficiency, being able to use Demon Blade freely should mean she had reached the "Mastery" level!

This is ridiculous. Not only are my Military Body Boxing Twelve Forms lower-ranked than hers, but my proficiency is worse too. This is what a true seed candidate for university looks like.

He complained inwardly and could not help admiring how much Gu Renwang had invested in raising his daughter. He had clearly poured an immense amount of effort into her.

"Kill!"

Gu Yun did not answer. Her eyes were blood-red as she suddenly slashed out!

Whoosh!

This blade light was exceptionally beautiful. In an instant, it split into seven, layer upon layer of blade light sealing off every possible route of retreat for Fang Xing!

Fang Xing's expression did not change, but a talisman quietly appeared in his right hand.

—Golden Bell Shield Talisman!

With the defensive power of this First-Grade Mid-Rank talisman, even a Rough Jade Realm martial artist would be unable to break through it for a short time.

And if he added several offensive talismans, he could immediately leave Gu Yun dead on the spot!

This was Fang Xing's trump card! Even if he used it, he could just claim that he had accidentally bought an Ability User's item at the Black Market, deliberately made in a retro style. Anyone with a normal brain would think along those lines rather than imagine something like transmigration.

But his eyes flickered, and he forcibly held himself back. He watched as the wooden blade landed against his forehead, stopping less than a centimeter from the space between his brows.

Across from him, Gu Yun's expression was cold, like ice that had endured for ten thousand years. Yet her eyes were perfectly clear, like crystal.

"Congratulations..."

A faint smile appeared on Fang Xing's face.

If Gu Yun had continued, he definitely would have activated the talisman at the last moment.

But at that critical moment, he chose to trust Gu Yun once. After all, during the last attack by the Evil God Servant, he had owed her father a favor.

The facts proved that she had not disappointed him.

"Having mastered your Demonic Nature, you can already try to begin learning the A-Rank Martial Arts technique, Ghost God Blade..."

Fang Xing sighed. "And you still have several years to improve your cultivation. As long as you break through to the Rough Jade Realm by your third year of high school, getting into university will be a sure thing..."

"Not several years. I'll be a First Year High School student in the second half of the year, senior!"

Gu Yun spoke.

"What? Your age?"

Fang Xing was slightly startled.

"Special Recruitment... Besides, I'm only starting one or two years early. The principal even gave me a scholarship!" Gu Yun said coldly. "I can't endure it any longer. I want to get onto the battlefield as soon as possible and avenge my father!"

"Looks like you're planning to apply to a military academy, or enlist after graduation..."

Fang Xing sighed. He already understood Gu Yun's plans.

"Actually, getting into university is only to fulfill Dad's expectations..." Only when Gu Yun mentioned her father did a trace of warmth flash through her eyes, but it quickly turned cold again. "All right. Today's employment is complete. I'll transfer the money to your account."

"Why does this feel strangely familiar, junior..."

After being kicked out of the villa, Fang Xing wore an odd expression. "No matter what, we'll be schoolmates from now on. Do you really have to be so unfriendly? You could at least have invited me to stay for tea."

Gu Yun would most likely be entering Yucai High School and become his First Year High School junior.

After all, in the second half of the year, he would be a second-year high school student.

"Thinking about it that way, there are only two years left until the College Entrance Exam. Terrifying..."

Fang Xing glanced at his martial arts realm and curled his lip.

By now, he had gone from being far behind to being only slightly inferior to Gu Yun.

After all, before, Gu Yun had needed to activate her Gravity Suit and hold back. Today, however, she had gone all out, and he had only narrowly lost by one move.

In a few more months, he would probably surpass her and leave her far behind.

"Though... surpassing a girl younger than me isn't exactly something to be proud of..."

"I still need to learn an A-Rank Martial Arts technique as soon as possible..."

Fang Xing sighed.

Then he recalled the information he had gathered.

"There aren't many A-Rank Martial Arts techniques taught at school. There are only three widely available ones. The first is Ghost God Blade, said to leave neither ghosts nor gods alive when the blade is in hand. But it's extremely difficult to learn; it's best to begin with Demon Blade..."

"Besides that, there's Crazy Eighteen Strikes and Mad Demon Staff Technique!"

"Just hearing those names is chilling, and in truth, they're exactly like that. If you want to resist the mental Contamination of alien Evil God Servants within the First Three Realms, then without going mad, there is no path to survival!"

"Or rather... if I go crazy first, then you can't drive me crazy anymore. The person who created that technique was truly a logical genius!"

"Of these, the one most suitable for me is actually Crazy Eighteen Strikes... because it's the follow-up technique to Military Body Boxing Twelve Forms. They're both unarmed martial arts."

"If I don't want to learn that, there are also Blade Technique and Staff Technique..."

"I refuse. I want to learn the sword! One Sword Ascension, white robes fluttering—that's the style of a Sword Immortal... wielding blades and staffs is too bloody and savage, and it has no elegance at all. It ruins the mood..."

Honestly, if he had a choice, Fang Xing definitely would not choose any of these three.

Unfortunately... the school offered limited options. These were the only three A-Rank Martial Arts techniques.

Of course, there had to be A-Rank Martial Arts involving swords among the many martial artists outside. But Fang Xing did not have the money to hire a private instructor.

Besides... they might not even teach as well as the school's teachers.

"Although Xia Long might not measure up to some top martial artists, at least his baseline is high..."

"Looks like next semester, I'll have to learn Crazy Eighteen Strikes... My image, my style..."

Just thinking about it made Fang Xing feel heartbroken.

Beep beep!

Just as he was lamenting, his phone suddenly rang again.

He took out his phone and saw a message, his expression immediately turning silent.

The next day.

July 17.

The sun set at dusk, and the evening clouds were as red as blood.

At a barbecue stall.

Fang Xing sat at a table with several bottles of drinks in front of him.

Well, the Federation regulated alcoholic beverages very strictly. Minors were prohibited from drinking, and stores would not sell alcohol to them.

So they could only drink juice and soda.

Qi Dou Leng—minors aren't even allowed to gamble or visit the Red Light District...

With a trace of resentment, Fang Xing viciously bit into the grilled meat before him.

It had to be said that in this era, any shop owner capable of running a business had a special skill. This grilled meat was tender and satisfyingly chewy, sprinkled with all kinds of spices. With one bite, the rich juices nearly overflowed.

The key was that it was cheap. No wonder the former Fang Xing and poor bastards like Liu Wei would find chances to come here for a treat.

But to the current Fang Xing, the grilling technique and spices were good, yet the quality of the meat held it back.

Although the owner used high-quality meat, how could it compare to the various rare birds and beasts from the Other World, all naturally raised and nourished by spiritual energy?

Hmm, I could buy some barbecue spices... then grill some Demon Beast meat in the Other World...

The market occasionally sells Demon Beast meat too. Recently, it seems prices have dropped sharply because Demon Beasts have been appearing more frequently...

According to the information he had gotten from Ding Hongxiu, Demon Beast meat greatly replenished Qi-Blood, and its effects were even better than low-grade Spirit Rice!

Unfortunately, it depended on luck and could not be obtained reliably. Even so, it remained a favorite among many top martial artists and Body Cultivators.

That was right!

Among Cultivators, aside from Spell Cultivators, there were also some unconventional Body Cultivators. It was said that their physiques were extraordinarily powerful. Once cultivated to a high level, they could catch magical artifacts barehanded, and low-level Spells could barely harm them!

Unfortunately... the prerequisite for becoming a Body Cultivator is still having a Spiritual Root! Without a Spiritual Root, you can't even sense or absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to temper your body...

Everything comes down to the dead end of Spiritual Roots. Otherwise, the efficiency of using resources from the Other World could increase by at least tenfold or a hundredfold!

Fang Xing took another sip of his drink and silently sighed inwardly.

Before long, a figure sat down across from him, unceremoniously picked up a cup, and drained it in one gulp. "A Xing... happy birthday!"

It was Liu Wei!

"You came?"

Fang Xing also lifted his cup and took a small sip.

Though it was only a drink, it somehow gave him a faintly tipsy feeling.

The Liu Wei sitting across from him now seemed like an entirely different person.

His face was still the same, but his temperament was completely different. His clothes were stretched so tight by his muscles that they seemed ready to burst, making him look like a bodybuilder.

"I came..." Liu Wei did not know what to say, so he could only fall silent.

"You shouldn't have... forget it." Fang Xing made a snide remark, then decided to stop imitating martial arts dramas. "We're classmates. I'm happy that you came to wish me a happy birthday."

At those words, Liu Wei's lips seemed to curl upward slightly before quickly flattening again.