Star Sky Professional
Chapter 577 - 475: Desire

Chapter 577: Chapter 475: Desire

Black Ring Private Mechanical College.

"Fang Xing... you’ve been taking leave more and more frequently lately, and you already have several records of absenteeism..."

Munachi looked at Fang Xing with a disappointed expression: "If this continues, I’m doubtful you’ll manage to graduate successfully..."

"Sorry, Mentor."

Fang Xing, who rarely came back and prepared to go to the library for some browsing, sincerely apologized.

Sincere apology, resolutely unrepentant!

"I’ve been designing a mechanical device recently, here’s the blueprint."

However, Munachi had connections that Fang Xing needed to appease.

Fang Xing promptly handed over a drawing.

After awakening, he possessed knowledge of the interstellar era, designing various mechanical wonders was a piece of cake.

"Oh?"

Munachi’s interest was immediately piqued. He took the blueprint, glanced at it, and his eyes lit up: "Not bad at all... with a bit more rigor, it could even serve as a graduation project."

"Mentor, actually, I’ve been traveling around Black Ring City for inspiration in mechanical design, considering this place once buried the Mechanical City—Blackting."

Fang Xing found an excuse for his leaves.

"Hmm... you need to realize, as a Mechanic, we’re not just scientists, we’re also artists... every mechanical wonder requires passionate dedication."

Munachi seemed to accept Fang Xing’s explanation.

After Fang Xing left, Munachi looked at the blueprints in his hands, falling into contemplation: "Such a genius idea indeed. A once pale soul, filled with knowledge and passion, becomes so... sweet! My soul feels a yearning."

Munachi pondered for a moment, then picked up a bell from his desk and shook it.

A mysterious figure in a black cloak, who had appeared beside him at some unknown time.

"This ’sacrifice’ soul is nearing maturity."

Munachi spoke while handing the design to the mysterious figure.

"Inspiration, yearning... such a sweet and delectable soul, surely it will satisfy those who dwell in the ’Forest of Hunger and Thirst’, and open the ’Gate of Indeterminacy’ for us..."

The mysterious figure’s voice was hoarse, dry... yet carried an eerie fervor.

"Indeed, his designs from back then already showed great creativity, thus the special recruitment... such a student with no background disappearing suddenly wouldn’t attract attention... of course, I can always say I’ve given him a recommendation letter to seek employment far away."

Munachi laughed.

From the first encounter, he felt Fang Xing met the ’sacrifice’ criteria, but it wasn’t enough!

Besides genius and inspiration, there must be intense yearning and obsession!

"But... his recent behavior is somewhat unusual."

Munachi discussed Fang Xing’s recent changes: "I think we need to investigate, perhaps act in advance..."

"I’ll have someone watch him... also, you could give him that book, ’Mechanical Beauty’, to drain his soul, make him feel the thirst, even become one of ’us’..."

The mysterious figure said: "A novice possessed of mystical ranks offers better effects as a sacrifice..."

"Understood."

Munachi nodded, his eyes revealing an even profounder yearning...

...

"The library doesn’t have any books involving the Transcendent..."

"Which is understandable."

Disappointed in the library, Fang Xing approached a villa.

Inside the villa, a large training ground had been set up, the hardwood floor showing no gaps, excellent flexibility, with a faint medicinal scent.

’Indeed, the so-called enjoyment in any upper-class circle is always astonishing...’

Fang Xing pressed the floor, observing Shi Lei sweating over a wooden dummy, nodding to himself.

Ever since he agreed to be Shi Lei’s fitness coach, the latter had arranged for this villa.

To Shi Lei, it was but a drop in the ocean.

In Fang Xing’s eyes, it was not worth a glance.

Interstellar era moguls wouldn’t go out without owning a few private planets.

True financial magnates could control star systems if not for Federation restraints...

Such an attitude instead made Shi Lei value Fang Xing more.

"Coach, how did I do?"

After a bout against the dummy, Shi Lei wiped his face, looking at Fang Xing with anticipation.

"One word... Bad!

"Barely a scrape, how will the medication from the dummy seep effectively?"

Fang Xing walked up to the dummy, his left hand flipped up, his right hand down.

Smack!

Wood chips exploded, two wooden roots showing clear palm prints.

"These palms took me a month’s effort. If you work hard..."

Fang Xing spoke leisurely.

"Then I can be like you, Coach?" Shi Lei’s eyes lit up.

He knew how tough these wooden dummies were.

Leaving such clear palm prints was harder than breaking or crushing the dummy.

"No... you need ten years of daily diligent practice with nutritional supplements."

Fang Xing shook his head: "Practicing Martial Arts is laborious and ultimately inferior to guns."

It’s consensus in this era!

The so-called Martial Arts had long perished...

"True, but I just enjoy it, love fighting, and the feeling of surpassing myself."

Shi Lei was stubborn.

Or rather, without external help, observing the body grow stronger daily is indeed addictive.

In the past life, many were obsessed with fitness, striving for muscular beauty, even using drugs.

Exercise sometimes becomes addictive too.

Fang Xing nodded, indifferent.

If this rich scion wants to play, he’ll indulge him.

As long as he gets what he needs.

No clear leads in establishing influence, relying on upper-class networks for now.

"Alright then, I’ll teach you a small technique... it’s called ’Integrating Power’... consolidating all body power in one strike... though with your current control, full integration is a joke, but enhancing your punch wouldn’t be a problem."

Fang Xing spoke, explaining a small trick.

Not even considered a boxing method, merely a minor deadly move.

Almost a chicken rib, since Shi Lei’s aptitude meant evident preparation time before integration.

In real combat, a one-two second pause leads to defeat.

But effective for punching bags, dummies, punch testing machines, immediate results.

No real combat scenarios for such a scion, quite suitable.

"Good!"

Indeed, Shi Lei’s eyes lit up.

After hours of training, he took the white towel from a maid: "Coach... you’ve asked me to find some items, I’ve located a few, want to check?"

"Oh? Found a few?"

Fang Xing showed interest.

Shi Lei nodded, drinking salt water, summoning several items.

Among them, a pitch-black stone mask.

"This is a ’Blackkurl tribe’ sacrificial item... said to enhance physique, but basically an antique."

Shi Lei explained.

Fang Xing nodded, indifferent, touched the stone mask, then looked at other items.

"Also rumored wizard’s sheepskin scroll, witch’s broken crystal ball... worth nothing."

Shi Lei laughed: "Coach if you like, take them all."

Fang Xing saw the fist-sized, cracked witch’s crystal ball, familiar from old Quinn’s shop.

The cracks caused by old Quinn’s clumsy drop!

"Appreciate it, keep collecting related items or information..."

Fang Xing took the stone mask: "I’ll take this, deduct the cost from my coaching fee..."

Exiting the villa, he tossed the stone mask, shaking his head: ’No odd feeling... the Great Sun Tathagata Mantra within shows no reaction, obviously just an antique.’

...

Back in the apartment, Fang Xing took out keys, opened the door, his expression changed.

He saw a package on the apartment’s living room table, appearing at some unknown time.

"A letter from sister?"

"No, if a letter, it’d be slipped under the door... such a big package, how’d it get in?"

Curious, Fang Xing approached, tore the packaging, finding a book.

A mechanical science book.

"Mechanical Beauty?"

Fang Xing flicked through, it appeared an ordinary mechanical book introducing various components, language somewhat inaccurate.

Causing this mechanical student to frown slightly.

But quickly, his expression grew solemn:

"Steam roaring, bells ringing, gears turning... Beauty of steel, all within..."

"Life as machinery, I as the flywheel..."

He softly read those seemingly emotional more than rational, inappropriate for professional books, praises with a strangely rhythmic tone.

Feeling some invisible force permeating his heart.

Years of academic pursuits made his soul hunger for these ’nectars’...

"Truly... no place like the end of the world..."

Fang Xing smiled slightly, without hesitation embracing these ’nectars’!

Then...

A formless fierce sun seemed to rise within, scorching these toxic knowledge completely!

Such minor pollution in knowledge, even without Great Sun Tathagata Mantra couldn’t shake his will.

"Found the Transcendent object."

Fang Xing smiled: "Unexpectedly... what I sought was always by my side?"