High Martial: I Grind Professions

Chapter 187: Chapter 143: You’re Wasting Your Talent

”I, Fang Chenghong, wish to join Nine Heavens Peak.”

”Yes!” Before the Peak Master could even speak, the senior disciples of Nine Heavens Peak in the distance let out a unified, low cheer, their eyes gleaming with a light they had suppressed for far too long.

A new recruit who ranked twentieth, and now a top-tier talent in third place. For Nine Heavens Peak, whose new blood had all but dried up, this was a delightful surprise.

The perpetually cold-faced Peak Master of Nine Heavens Peak, whose stoic expression seemed carved from ageless ice, finally allowed an imperceptible crack to form, revealing a hint of approval and anticipation.

He gave Fang Chenghong a barely perceptible nod, his gaze holding a hint of encouragement for the first time.

But the joy was short-lived. Next—

”Second place, Du Yun, step forward and choose your peak!”

The moment his name was announced, the atmosphere reached a fever pitch.

Du Yun, second on the Golden Rankings. What was even more shocking was that on the very eve of the Peak Selection Ceremony, news had spread like wildfire among the new students that he had successfully comprehended spear intent.

To comprehend spear intent right after enrolling—such insight and talent were unmatched in recent years, save for the peerless prodigy Ling Feng, who had once overshadowed his entire generation.

For a genius who had already formed a nascent spear intent, the future should have been limitless. Logically, peaks like Sky-splitting Peak or Xingyan Peak, which focused on martial techniques and the path of Star Calculation, would have been the perfect places for him to truly flourish.

However, as everyone watched with bated breath, Du Yun, his expression resolute, strode forward without a moment’s hesitation.

He didn’t walk toward the long lines forming for the popular peaks. Instead—

He too made his way toward the empty queue for Nine Heavens Peak.

”What?!”

”Du Yun?! He’s choosing Nine Heavens Peak too?!!!”

”He’s insane! Have they all gone insane?! A genius who has already comprehended spear intent is also going to Nine Heavens Peak?”

”If he fails to cultivate the Nine Heavens Divine Body, wouldn’t his incredible talent for spear intent be completely wasted?!”

The entire plaza erupted, as if water had been thrown into a vat of boiling oil!

Cries of alarm, voices of doubt, and sharp, disbelieving gasps filled the air.

This choice defied all expectations. While one could argue that Fang Chenghong’s choice was within the realm of possibility, Du Yun’s move was simply earth-shattering.

On the main dais, the twelve King-level Peak Masters all fixed their gazes on Du Yun in unison.

With their Primordial Spirit Cultivation at the 3rd Layer or higher, the crowd’s discussions about Du Yun’s nascent spear intent had naturally not escaped their perception.

The gaze of the Sky-splitting Peak Master, which had been filled with admiration and expectation for Du Yun, now flickered with astonishment and deep regret.

The Peak Master of Xingyan Peak also let out a soft sigh.

Such a precocious genius in weapon intent, had he been carefully nurtured on Sky-splitting Peak or Xingyan Peak, could have one day become a pillar of support at the Peak Master Level.

And yet, he had chosen to dive headfirst into Nine Heavens Peak—the most difficult and perilous path of all.

From the seat of honor, the white-haired headmaster’s profound gaze shifted slightly. He seemed to see through to the burning fighting spirit in Du Yun’s eyes—the refusal to be second best, the desire to challenge his own limits by taking the hardest path. Still, the headmaster’s face remained calm and impassive.

The senior disciples of Nine Heavens Peak were actually a little stunned now; this happiness had come too suddenly.

’Fang Chenghong was already an unexpected boon. And now Du Yun, the genius who ranked second on the Golden Rankings and comprehended spear intent, wants to join us too?’

”Excellent, excellent! Junior Brother Du has a discerning eye! If you succeed in cultivating the Nine Heavens Divine Body, your future will be boundless!” one of the senior disciples from Nine Heavens Peak shouted excitedly, as if afraid Du Yun might go back on his word.

As Fang Chenghong watched in equal surprise, Du Yun came to a firm stop before the seat of the Nine Heavens Peak Master.

”I, Du Yun, wish to join Nine Heavens Peak!”

His voice was steady, filled with undeniable resolve.

The Peak Master looked at Du Yun, his eyes flashing with a complex emotion for an instant.

Gaining a genius who had comprehended intent was a great blessing for any peak with dwindling numbers.

But it was also a great responsibility. The failure rate for the Nine Heavens Divine Body was astronomically high. By choosing this path, Du Yun was, in a sense, forsaking a stable future to gamble on a slim chance.

But he could not refuse a disciple’s choice.

”Very well.” The Nine Heavens Peak Master’s voice was as curt and cold as always, yet it seemed to carry an imperceptible weight it hadn’t before.

Du Yun gave a solemn bow and went to stand beside Fang Chenghong.

The uproar in the plaza had yet to die down, but immense anticipation and even deeper bewilderment were now focused on the final person.

”First place, Li Wen, step forward and choose your peak!”

At that moment, all sound died down. Countless gazes, so intense they felt tangible, focused on the seemingly ordinary young man in the spectator’s area.

”It’s Li Wen’s turn! Which peak will he choose?”

”He’s definitely going to Sky-splitting Peak, right? It’s large, influential, and has abundant resources.”

”Xingyan Peak is also a possibility. The path of Star Calculation might be a perfect match for his peerless Spiritual Sense.”

”Even Du Yun went to Nine Heavens Peak. Li Wen’s so powerful, you don’t think he would also...”

”No way! Li Wen ranked first in the assessment with two ’peerless’ evaluations! He’d have to be out of his mind to choose the Nine Heavens Divine Body with its abysmal success rate! Sky-splitting Peak is the obvious choice!”

Amidst the fervent discussions, Li Wen rose calmly and walked toward the open space before the dais.

His pace was unhurried, his gaze steady.

As everyone watched, he began walking in the direction of the queue for Sky-splitting Peak—the second peak in the lineup after Nine Heavens Peak, with its massive and impressive-looking contingent.

Seeing Li Wen heading toward their peak, confident and joyful smiles appeared on the faces of many disciples, both new and old, in the Sky-splitting Peak line.

Some of the more impatient senior disciples even began celebrating under their breath. ”It’s in the bag! Haha, the top student is joining Sky-splitting Peak again!”

”As expected of number one. He knows how to choose the best path!”

”...”

The Peak Master of Sky-splitting Peak, seated high on the dais, also revealed a clear look of approval on his majestic face. He looked at Li Wen as if admiring a priceless piece of raw jade just waiting to be carved, certain that this genius disciple would be joining his peak in the very next moment.

However, Li Wen didn’t even slow down as he approached the Sky-splitting Peak line. He didn’t so much as glance at the crowd already preparing to welcome him!

One step, two steps... He walked right past the long, snaking line of people.

’What is he doing?!’

Just as a seed of confusion began to sprout in everyone’s mind, an even more incredible theory exploded like a thunderclap.

”Wait! He... he wouldn’t also...”

A sharp, incredulous voice erupted from some corner of the crowd, as if lighting a fuse.

”No way! Is Li Wen choosing Nine Heavens Peak too?!”

”Gods above!!”

The gaze of the entire plaza locked onto the figure who was still steadily walking forward.

In front of the Nine Heavens Peak queue, a look of intense shock mixed with an indescribable, complex emotion flashed in the eyes of Fang Chenghong and Du Yun.

In the distance, the senior disciples of Nine Heavens Peak all held their breath, their hearts nearly stopping.

On the main dais, the icy gaze of the Nine Heavens Peak Master wavered noticeably for the first time. He subconsciously glanced toward the white-haired headmaster in the seat of honor.

Amidst a dead silence so profound it could freeze the air, and under the focused gaze of thousands, Li Wen finally stopped walking.

Before him sat the Peak Master of Nine Heavens Peak, enthroned in the first seat on the main dais, his aura as deep and vast as the ocean.

He stood firm and raised his head. His gaze was clear and resolute as he faced the titan on the dais who presided over the Super Grade Divine-Demon art, and announced in a loud, clear voice:

”I, Li Wen, wish to join Nine Heavens Peak!”

BOOM—!!!

After a brief moment of absolute, dead silence, the entire plaza on Enlightenment Peak erupted like a volcano that had been suppressed to its absolute limit!

UPROAR—!!!!

Stunned! They were absolutely stunned!

A tsunami of gasps and clamor instantly swept through every corner of the plaza.

The expressions on the faces of every disciple, new and old alike, were a sight to behold—shock, confusion, bewilderment, admiration, pity for his foolishness, contempt for his arrogance... A chaotic mix of emotions swirled together, finally converging into a tumultuous storm of debate.

”Li Wen chose Nine Heavens Peak too?!!”

”The... the entire top three?!!!”

”My God! They’re insane! All of them! The top three from the Golden Rankings all went to Nine Heavens Peak?! Do they think the Nine Heavens Divine Body is some common cabbage you can pick up on the street?!”

”Li Wen! The number one genius, with two ’peerless’ ratings out of three assessments! He’s turning his back on the wide, smooth path offered by Sky-splitting Peak and Xingyan Peak to charge down a path of near-certain failure?!”

”If he fails to cultivate it, won’t all that top-tier talent go to waste?!”

”So impulsive! So reckless!”

On the spectator platform, the dozen or so Marquis Level experts could no longer maintain their calm composure. They exchanged glances filled with indescribable shock and grave concern.

”Li Wen... He actually chose Nine Heavens Peak too?!”

”Absurd! This is utterly absurd! The top three all running off to cultivate the most difficult Super Grade Divine-Demon Body? Are they treating their own talent like a child’s game?” a Marquis Level expert from the Sky-splitting Peak faction couldn’t help but exclaim.

”The top three are the most precious seeds of this generation at Legacy Academy. If they all stumble and fall at Nine Heavens Peak... the loss would be far too great!”