Chapter 28: The Occupations
Chapter 28: The Occupations
Although it was a risky move, it was necessary to launder the large sum of money and clarify its source.
Breathing a sigh of relief as he exited the money laundering shop, Fang Xing muttered, "What a shady business... Maybe from now on, I should just use cash for my daily expenses?"
The reason he went through the trouble of laundering money was to create a record of purchasing large quantities of nutrient solution, thus providing an explanation for his sudden and rapid progress.
'But in reality, it's unlikely that Teacher Xia Long or the school will investigate me...'
'Even federal investigators mostly focus on transactions in the tens of millions or hundreds of millions... I'm not even a small fry in their eyes...'
...
As he pondered, Fang Xing continued his search for the shop that had been on his mind.
He had already accomplished the primary goal of his trip to the black market.
Now, he wanted to browse and see if there were any A-rank martial arts or other items that could enhance his martial arts practice.
To be blunt, aside from various special resources, the teachings and secret techniques available in the black market were probably inferior to those offered at Qinglinfang City's Hin Eagle Star.
"Hmm?"
Not long after, Fang Xing paused in front of what appeared to be an abandoned stadium.
The dome of the stadium was shattered, indicating that it had long been decommissioned. However, it seemed to have undergone some repairs, maintaining its overall integrity.
The original name of the stadium had been obscured by a layer of bloodstains, replaced by a new, imposing name—'Blood Cage Arena'!
"An underground fighting arena? Illegal boxing matches?"
After reading the new name, Fang Xing sighed.
As martial artists and cyborg students, they were all aware of the existence of underground boxing.
Even Liu Wei had considered taking on such work when he was looking for part-time jobs.
After all, the lives of cyborgs were cheap, and participating in underground fights was a quick way to earn money and improve one's martial arts skills, as long as one didn't die. Those who survived were guaranteed to become powerful fighters!
Of course, both Liu Wei and Fang Xing had been level-headed enough to know the potential consequences of such a path. Many of their senior classmates had ended up either dead in the ring or severely injured and disabled, burdened with massive medical debts that they couldn't pay off. Thus, they had never seriously considered this option.
"There are definitely powerful fighters in the underground boxing world, and the rewards are plentiful! A-rank martial arts techniques are like water flowing freely..."
As Fang Xing entered the Blood Cage Arena, he found the place unusually quiet.
At the reception desk, a girl dressed in a cute bunny girl outfit looked up at him with wide eyes and said, "This gentleman, the Blood Cage Arena only opens after 8 PM..."
"Oh..."
Fang Xing was well aware that the black market's illegal boxing matches were a favorite pastime for many white-collar workers in the new district.
After a long day of work, watching a brutal, bloody boxing match was a popular way for men and women to vent their frustrations and tiredness.
"I'm just here to take a look. I'm curious about the benefits and treatment the fighters receive."
After some thought, Fang Xing decided to ask.
After all, he was just inquiring and had no intention of stepping into the ring himself.
"The fighters in our arena..." The bunny girl smiled. "...As long as they win a single match, they earn at least tens of thousands of stardollars. Consecutive wins double the reward, and the more they win, the more they earn... We can even help them legitimize their income from the arena without charging any handling fees... Additionally, there are various forbidden potions, A-rank and S-rank martial arts techniques, and even martial arts beyond the S-rank that they might obtain!"
At this point, the bunny girl winked playfully, adding, "It's just a rumor, but apparently, some of the top high school students in their final year, aiming to get into university, sneak out to this place to practice fighting. Earning resources is secondary; their primary goal is to experience real bloodshed and gain combat experience!"
The path of martial arts required actual combat; one couldn't improve by merely theorizing.
Those who shut themselves away to cultivate and then emerged with greatly increased strength were cultivators, not martial artists! Martial artists honed their bodies and forged their invincible spirits through constant battles, cultivating a majestic aura!
'It seems this Blood Cage Arena has some powerful backers...'
Fang Xing fell into deep thought, then said, "That's good to know. I'll consider it..."
"This is my business card, please keep it safe..." As Fang Xing turned to leave, the bunny girl, who introduced herself as "Bunny Roll," smiled and handed him a card. "...Whether you want to be a spectator or a fighter, you can find me..."
"Thank you, I will," Fang Xing said with a smile, nodding at the girl's distinctive purple eyes and voluptuous figure.
...
"Getting into the black market is easy, but getting out is the tricky part..."
At the border of the old district, Fang Xing kept his mask on, his eyes alert as he scanned his surroundings.
Generally, customers who only came to the black market to watch the boxing matches and didn't spend much money weren't targeted.
Big spenders, on the other hand, were protected by the businesses, be it the fighting arenas or other establishments.
Even in the black market, a certain level of credibility was maintained to ensure continued patronage and smooth business operations.
However, Fang Xing, who had spent a substantial amount but not an extravagant sum, was unlikely to be under such protection. He appeared to be an easy target—a newcomer with some wealth to exploit.
"A few hundred thousand stardollars wouldn't even attract a Martial Artist at the Courageous Realm, let alone the Primal Jade Realm. It's embarrassing..."
"Not to mention Psychics and Mecha Masters..."
"I should be able to handle this, right?
Fang Xing quietly encouraged himself.
Engaging in a deadly fight within the black market, it was clear that he couldn't use weapons acquired through legitimate means without risking data exposure. This was one of the reasons why black-market weapon shops charged exorbitant prices.
However, those expensive weapons would be overkill for dealing with the likes of him, and the likelihood of encountering such a situation was minuscule.
The most probable threat would come from ordinary low-level martial artists forming bandit groups!
'No, the most likely scenario is that no one will pay any attention to me...'
It wasn't until he reached the new district, with its clean and orderly streets, lampposts, and surveillance cameras lining the roads, that Fang Xing finally breathed a sigh of relief.
'Luckily, my luck held out this time...'
'I won't need to use the talismans I prepared in advance...'
While the talismans from the other world had only moderate destructive power in the context of the black market, they offered a variety of effects.
Among them, the concealment and acceleration types were Fang Xing's lifelines! Of course, the best-case scenario was to not use his trump cards at all.
'I can't use regular manufacturer weapons in the black market, and black-market weapons are too expensive. To be honest, my talismans are a more cost-effective option...'
'Since they definitely won't leak any secrets, there's no doubt about their safety. But obviously, I can't set up a stall in the black market to sell my talismans...'
Fang Xing changed his appearance and calmly boarded the maglev train.
Even though everything had gone smoothly today, he still felt somewhat dissatisfied.
'I'm living too cautiously... Ultimately, it's because my strength isn't powerful enough.'
'Once I break through to the fourth realm of martial arts – Courage, I'll immediately undergo the occupation verification and register as a true 'Occupationalist'!'
An 'Occupationalist' was a true citizen of the Blue Star Federation, endowed with numerous privileges.
Aside from other benefits, even ordinary residents of Qinglinfang Star didn't qualify to purchase spaceship tickets, but a genuine 'Occupationalist' could! Additionally, they had access to military equipment that was off-limits to the general public.
For many cyborgs, their lifelong aspiration was to become an 'Occupationalist', achieving a leap in their social stratum!
– Whether a cyborg or a natural human, becoming an 'Occupationalist' elevated them to the upper echelon!
Of course, for the true upper echelons of the Federation, being an 'Occupationalist' was merely a starting point, but for many of the lower classes, it was a ticket to the high life, it was everything!
'If I were a true 'Occupationalist', the Federation wouldn't bother with such a trivial amount of extra income, let alone investigate it. How laughable...'
'At the same time, there would be more channels and resources available to acquire the objects of my desire...'
'Why don't I set a small goal first? Before the college entrance exam, I'll complete the 'Occupationalist' certification?'
Fang Xing's eyes gleamed with determination.
This was also for his own protection.
Liu Wei's transformation and other ominous signs made Fang Xing feel that something unpleasant was about to happen.
But if he were an Occupationalist, even in the face of accusations from the cultists, he would have more opportunities to defend himself and turn the situation around.
...
Several days later.
[Ding! Your account has received 159,736 stardollars. Current balance: 160,072 stardollars...]
A notification popped up, causing Fang Xing to nod slightly, "That was fast..."
Just yesterday, he had casually bought a lottery ticket for today's draw.
And he had won!
Although it was just a small prize of a few tens of thousands, luck was sometimes plain and uncomplicated!
"But a 50% handling fee is a rip-off, and I still have to pay taxes on this amount..."
Fang Xing exhaled in frustration and then opened the shopping mall interface, looking at the D3-level nutrient solution and other martial arts medicines before quickly placing an order.
With these purchase records, his sudden improvement in martial arts after the start of the new term would have a reasonable explanation.
Although... it was unlikely that anyone would care about such details.
"The Federation's martial arts medicines seem rather mediocre."
"The D9-level nutrient solution, which is supposed to be better than D3, only provides a slightly richer nutritional profile... As for aids to break through realms, there don't seem to be any available?"
Fang Xing pondered, feeling that perhaps his level was too low.
Or perhaps... his access privileges weren't sufficient! If he were an Occupationalist, he should be able to see more purchasable items.
"But the scarcity of resources in the Federation is also telling... Or perhaps, we, and even the entire Qinglinfang Star, are not worth investing in? After all, we're just a cannon fodder production star..."
"No, perhaps there's a deliberate restriction on resources as part of a grand plan... Only those who can stand out under the most challenging conditions will have the potential to advance to higher levels in the future?"
"But for someone of my mediocre talent, it's a bit too cruel. I'll just stick to my original plan."
By combining the resources from both worlds, his martial arts realm would undoubtedly advance by leaps and bounds.
As for the issue of future potential? If he couldn't get into university, he would have no future to speak of, so why bother considering it!
(End of Chapter)
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