Chapter twenty-eight: The Path of a Professional

Even though it felt shady, clearing up the source of a large sum of star credits was something Fang Xing had to do.

As he walked out of the small money-laundering shop, he let out a long breath. "So expensive... Maybe I should start handling my daily expenses in cash."

He had washed some money simply to create a record showing he had used it to purchase large quantities of nutrient fluids, a cover story for his sudden progress.

"But realistically, neither Teacher Xia Long nor the school would bother investigating me," he thought.

"Even the Federation's detectives are only interested in deals worth millions or billions of credits... I'm not even worth considering, just a nobody..."

As these thoughts crossed his mind, Fang Xing continued his stroll through the bustling black market. His main goal for the day had already been achieved. Now, he was hoping to stumble upon something else, perhaps an A-grade martial art technique or anything that could enhance his training.

In fact, when it came to specialized resources and knowledge, the Eagle Star district definitely surpassed Qinglin's marketplace.

"Hm?" 

It wasn't long before he came to a stop in front of what appeared to be a decrepit sports arena. The dome had long been destroyed, but it looked like someone had attempted to repair it, leaving most of the structure intact.

The original name of the stadium had been smeared over with bloodstains, replaced by bold lettering: "Blood Cage Fighting Arena."

"Underground fighting? Illegal matches?"

Seeing this, Fang Xing couldn't help but let out a sigh.

All the bioengineered students like him were well aware of the underground fighting circuits. Even his classmate Liu Wei had considered joining as a part-time job at one point.

After all, for bioengineered humans, life was cheap. If you wanted to earn money and advance quickly in martial arts, fighting in underground matches was a great choice—so long as you didn't die! If you survived, you were bound to become a formidable warrior.

Of course, both Fang Xing and Liu Wei had been smart enough to realize that many bioengineered seniors who walked this path ended up either killed in the ring or seriously injured. Those who survived often ended up in debt, unable to afford the medical expenses for their injuries. It was a grim fate neither of them wanted.

"That being said, the fighters in these underground arenas are usually quite skilled, and the rewards are tempting. A-grade martial arts techniques are probably nothing special here..." 

Fang Xing decided to enter the arena. To his surprise, the place was nearly empty. The only person he saw was a young woman dressed in a cute bunny-girl outfit, sitting at the reception desk with wide, curious eyes. 

"Hello, customer. The Blood Cage Fighting Arena only opens after 8 p.m.," she said cheerfully.

"Yes, I know," Fang Xing replied. Underground matches were a favorite among many workers from the new district. After a grueling day of work, nothing helped them unwind more than watching bloody, brutal matches. The screams and shouts from the audience were a cathartic release for both men and women alike.

"I'm just here to check things out. What kind of benefits do you offer for fighters?" he asked. After all, there was no harm in gathering some information.

The bunny girl perked up at his question and smiled brightly. "Our fighters? Well, if you win a single match, you can earn at least ten thousand star credits. The more you win, the higher your earnings, and it doubles with consecutive victories. We also make sure to legitimize your earnings as clean income, without charging any fees."

Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she added, "There are also various forbidden drugs, A-grade, and even S-grade martial arts techniques as rewards. Some say—just rumors, mind you—that even the top students from the elite classes at local high schools secretly come here to fight. The money is secondary; they come for the real combat experience."

She winked at him playfully, handing over a small card. "By the way, I go by the codename 'Baozi.' Here's my card. If you ever want to join as a fighter or just watch a match, feel free to contact me."

"Thank you. I'll keep that in mind," Fang Xing replied, taking the card with a nod.

The bunny girl's bright purple eyes and curvy figure left quite the impression as he turned to leave.

As he stepped back onto the streets, Fang Xing's thoughts shifted. "Getting into the black market was easy. The tricky part is leaving it safely..."

Now at the edge of the old district, he kept his mask on and scanned his surroundings carefully. Generally, customers who only came to watch the fights and didn't spend much weren't targeted by thugs. 

Big spenders, on the other hand, were often protected by the fighting arena or other vendors. Even the black market had some standards. After all, if customers kept getting robbed, no one would come, and business would dry up.

But someone like Fang Xing, an obvious first-timer with signs of wealth, was a different story.

"Ten thousand star credits won't attract high-level martial artists... not even mid-level ones," he thought. "And forget about mechs or psychic abilities..."

"I should be able to handle whatever comes my way," he reassured himself.

After all, fighting in the black market meant using illegal weapons, and most buyers didn't want their data traced. That's why black market weapons were so pricey.

But those kinds of weapons were overkill for someone like him. The bigger threat was low-level martial artists forming gangs to rob newcomers.

"Or... maybe no one will even bother with me."

It wasn't until he reached the new district that he finally let out a breath of relief, seeing the clean streets, bright streetlights, and security cameras. 

"Good, seems I got lucky this time..." 

His hidden trump cards—concealment and speed talismans—had gone unused, but they remained ready in case he ever needed a quick escape.

"In a way, my talismans are a better deal than the overpriced black market weapons," he thought. "They're discreet, and there's no risk of data leaks. But I'm not about to start selling them here."

As he blended back into the crowds, Fang Xing's mood soured slightly. 

"I've been too cautious lately... All because my strength isn't enough."

Once he broke through to the fourth martial realm—Courageous Spirit—he could officially register as a "Professional."

"Professionals" were true citizens of the Federation, enjoying numerous privileges. 

Forget starship tickets, which regular residents of Eagle Star couldn't even purchase; a "Professional" could buy one without a second thought. Military-grade gear that was off-limits to regular citizens? "Professionals" had full access.

For many bioengineered humans, becoming a "Professional" was the ultimate goal, their ticket to the upper class. Whether you were bioengineered or naturally born, once you became a "Professional," you were part of the elite.

To the true upper echelon of the Federation, being a "Professional" was just the beginning. But to people like Fang Xing, it meant everything. 

"If I were a 'Professional,' this little side hustle of mine wouldn't even raise an eyebrow from the authorities." 

With access to more resources, he could gather all the training materials he desired. 

"Let's make a small goal: become a 'Professional' before the university entrance exams."

Fang Xing's eyes gleamed with determination.

This wasn't just about ambition. With all the strange things happening lately, especially with Liu Wei, he had a growing sense of unease. Something bad was coming.

But if he were a "Professional," he'd have more room to maneuver, more chances to fight back—even against false accusations from the cultists.

Days passed.

[Ding! Your account has received 159,736 star credits. Current balance: 160,072 star credits...]

The notification brought a slight smile to Fang Xing's lips. "That was fast."

Just yesterday, on a whim, he'd bought a lottery ticket, and it turned out to be a winner. 

Though it was only a prize of a little over a hundred thousand, luck worked in mysterious ways.

"Still, the 50% tax is brutal," Fang Xing muttered, feeling the sting as he went back to his shopping cart, quickly placing an order for D3-grade nutrient fluid and other martial arts supplements.

With these purchases on record, no one would question his rapid progress once school resumed.

"Not that anyone really cares..."

As he browsed through the Federation's marketplace, a thought crossed his mind. 

"The Federation's martial arts supplements seem pretty standard... Even the higher-tier D9-grade stuff is just a little more nutritious. None of them help with breakthroughs?"

Maybe it was because he hadn't yet reached the right level—or because his status was too low to unlock better options. If he were a "Professional," he'd probably see a lot more advanced products.

"The Federation's resource scarcity is apparent. Or maybe Eagle Star itself isn't considered worth investing in. After all, we're just a breeding ground for cannon fodder."

"Or, maybe the Federation deliberately controls breakthrough resources. Only those who can rise through the most difficult conditions are considered worthy of promotion."

But for someone like Fang Xing, that kind of plan was just too harsh.

"I'll stick to my own path."

By combining the resources of two worlds, his martial arts progression would skyrocket.

As for his future potential?

If he didn't get into a good university, there wouldn't be much of a future anyway. Why worry about it?