Chapter fourteen - The Gears of Fate

"Thank you for purchasing the latest reconnaissance drone from Gaofei Technology. Please give us a thumbs-up!"

A sweet, mechanical voice sounded from the delivery box, and Fang Xing couldn't help but frown. He pulled out the equipment one by one—the meticulously selected drones and covert surveillance devices were laid out on the table like a battalion awaiting orders. These miniature drones were specially designed to resemble real birds, with every detail crafted so precisely that they were nearly indistinguishable from natural wildlife.

"My wallet's crying…" Fang Xing muttered, mourning the dent in his savings for a moment. Taking a deep breath, he began to plan his next move. To enhance his security, he decided to launch a surveillance operation. These drones would serve as his eyes in the otherworld, tracking enemy movements.

A flash of light cut through the air, accompanied by a faint vibration. In an instant, Fang Xing vanished from reality.

He reappeared in that strange, foreign world. The air was filled with the damp scent of earth, and all around him was a temporary camp disguised as a natural forest. Just days ago, he had barely survived a brutal encounter with a gigantic flying beast, which had almost claimed his life, forcing him to quickly set up this camouflage. The camp was now hidden under layers of netting, making it impossible to spot from above.

"I need to find a safer place. I can't keep staying in these makeshift outdoor camps," Fang Xing murmured to himself. His eyes scanned the surrounding terrain, contemplating a more concealed hideout. Perhaps a cave in the cliffs or an underground tunnel would be better options. After all, being hidden underground might buy him a few extra seconds to escape—seconds that could mean life or death.

"But am I really about to become a burrowing hamster?" He chuckled at himself before turning his attention to the surveillance screen beside him.

The drones had already been deployed, flying eastward, tracking the movements of the four-person squad he had previously encountered. Their destination was a human settlement a hundred miles away, and finally, there was solid intel on their whereabouts. The screen displayed a high-resolution photo of wide farmland, dotted with simple wooden houses and thatched huts. In the distance, figures could be seen working the fields.

"Farmland?" Fang Xing's lips curled up in satisfaction. "Looks like my surveillance gear is coming in handy."

He quickly directed the drones to discreetly scatter disguised surveillance devices, which looked like rocks and beetles, around the settlement. Although he knew there was a chance the equipment could be detected, especially by the strongest member of the squad—a martial artist at the Puyu level—he was confident. In this technologically backward world, their understanding of such devices was limited, and the chances of detection were low.

"Even if they find it, they won't find me." Fang Xing smiled confidently, having completed the deployment of all the devices and ready to observe the developments.

---

Time flew by, and over ten days passed. Fang Xing had returned to the real world, back at Yucai High School.

Standing on the playground, he quietly practiced the military-style boxing routine. Each move was solid and powerful, while in his mind, he continually monitored his status panel:

**[First Stage: Skin and Flesh (Skin Refinement: 99/100)]** 

**[Military Boxing Form Twelve: 9/100 (Proficient)]** 

**[Dragon Stance: 29/100 (Proficient)]**

"Almost there…" he thought with a hint of joy. He was just one step away from reaching full mastery of skin and flesh refinement. Once achieved, his body's strength would enter a whole new level. Although the progress on Dragon Stance wasn't yet complete, Fang Xing remained confident in himself.

At that moment, a gaze filled with hostility broke through his thoughts. Fang Xing looked up and found Cole staring coldly at him from afar. The tall, white youth had bloodshot eyes, full of hatred.

"Cole." Fang Xing smirked lightly. "Still not satisfied?"

Cole withdrew his gaze, his expression still stern, but his words were surprisingly polite. "See you at the finals."

That restraint instantly made Fang Xing wary. He knew well that Cole came from a wealthy family and, after losing to him in their last fight, likely sought out private coaching and purchased blood-replenishing tonics to enhance his abilities.

"Hey, Xing, be careful. Cole's been spending a lot of money on his training lately," Liu Wei suddenly appeared next to Fang Xing, whispering a warning. "I heard he hired a top-tier coach and bought a ton of expensive supplements."

"Don't worry," Fang Xing responded confidently. "When it comes to absolute strength, no amount of tricks will work."

Fang Xing had resources from the otherworld, rare training conditions, and environments that far surpassed anything Cole could access. By the time the finals rolled around, he would give Cole a lesson he'd never forget.

"Xing, you've changed a lot," Liu Wei remarked softly, looking at Fang Xing.

"People always change." Fang Xing replied nonchalantly.

Liu Wei nodded thoughtfully. "I wish I could get stronger too, but I don't have your resources or talent. I can only hope to awaken some kind of ability one day."

"Awaken an ability?" Fang Xing chuckled. "That's not an easy road."

He wasn't too impressed with the so-called ability users. Although abilities varied widely, many studies had shown that these powers mostly stemmed from genetic mutations. These mutations often came with unknown dangers and unpredictable consequences. After the Day of Catastrophe, the emergence of ability users had become the subject of many cult-like worships and extremist groups.

"Awakening an ability is not as simple as it sounds," Fang Xing continued. "If you suddenly awaken, it often means you'll have to bear even greater risks."

"But I think ability users are just the result of gene mutations, nothing to do with any kind of dark gods," Liu Wei said dismissively. "Besides, wasn't the top scorer in our entrance exams an ability user? He didn't face any discrimination."

Fang Xing remained silent for a moment, glancing at Liu Wei beside him, feeling slightly conflicted. Though Liu Wei spoke lightly, Fang Xing sensed that his inner turmoil was far more complex.

"Either way, whether natural awakening or induced, it's not an easy path." Fang Xing sighed softly. He could sense Liu Wei's struggles but understood that everyone had their own choices and fates to follow.

Liu Wei didn't reply, but clenched his fists tightly. The conflict and desire in his heart were building, weighing heavily on him. He knew that if he wanted to surpass Fang Xing, he had no other choice.

'No matter the cost, I must seize my chance!'