High Martial: I Grind Professions

Chapter 188: Chapter 144: Nine Heavens Peak, Eldest Senior Brother

On the main stage, the white-haired headmaster, seated at the center, still wore his usual placid expression.

His profound gaze, however, swept over Li Wen, Fang Chenghong, Du Yun, and the entire seething plaza. The corners of his mouth seemed to lift into a faint, imperceptible curve.

As for the Peak Master of Nine Heavens Peak, who had been pushed into the eye of the storm, he was finding the situation hard to believe.

’Fang Chenghong was a long-hoped-for target. Du Yun’s choice was already a pleasant surprise. And now, even Li Wen—this year’s number one, the one with two ”peerless” evaluations, the one personally received by the headmaster and gifted the Holy Body Golden Pattern Fruit—had also chosen his Nine Heavens Peak?!’

’A pleasant surprise? A shock? Apprehension? And... immense pressure!’

Accepting all three of the top disciples should have been the supreme honor for any Peak Master.

But this just had to be Nine Heavens Peak!

Faced with the choices of these three supreme geniuses, the Peak Master of Nine Heavens Peak, as powerful as he was, now felt that the words ”I accept” weighed as heavily as a mountain, for they concerned the fates of all three.

Almost without thinking, he cast a questioning glance, seeking confirmation from the figure on the main seat—the white-haired headmaster.

Amidst the uproar of the crowd and the shocked stares from on and off the stage, the headmaster met the Nine Heavens Peak Master’s gaze and finally gave a slight nod.

That single nod seemed to contain the affirmation and permission of the Laws of Heaven and Earth themselves.

The faint trace of uncertainty in the Nine Heavens Peak Master’s eyes instantly vanished, replaced by a profound, time-tempered conviction and heroic spirit.

His icy expression finally thawed completely, and an irrepressible flush of excitement even colored his features.

He shot to his feet, no longer suppressing the surging emotions in his heart. His voice, filled with unparalleled excitement and the joy of accepting disciples, boomed like a great bell across the entire plaza as he roared three times in succession:

”Good! Good! Good!”

Each ”Good!” was like the clash of metal, containing the force of a thousand thunderbolts, and it forcefully suppressed the roaring din in the plaza.

As the sound of the arena-shaking ”Good!” faded, Li Wen, watched by thousands of gazes filled with shock, confusion, pity, or admiration, calmly strode forward to stand beside Du Yun and Fang Chenghong.

The top three of the Golden Roll, three young and brilliant stars, stood shoulder to shoulder before the long-desolate queue of Nine Heavens Peak.

It was as if some ancient, long-dormant glory was reignited in that instant by these three figures!

The older disciples of Nine Heavens Peak erupted! A moment of disbelief was followed by an indescribable ecstasy and a feeling of utter vindication!

”The... the top three?!?!”

”All three of the top disciples are on our Nine Heavens Peak! HAHAHAHA!”

”HAHAHA! Who said our Nine Heavens Peak was in decline?! This generation’s top geniuses have all joined our peak!”

The Peak Masters and disciples of Sky-splitting Peak and Xingyan Peak wore varied expressions; some were complex, some dejected, some worried, and some showed a flicker of renewed competitive spirit.

It was as if a depth charge had been dropped on the whole of Torchbearer University.

News that Li Wen, Du Yun, and Fang Chenghong had chosen Nine Heavens Peak would surely spread through Torchbearer University like a storm, attracting widespread discussion and attention.

And for them, the path of the Nine Heavens Divine Body, one filled with both thorns and glory, had only just truly begun. The real challenge was about to begin.

...

「Galactic Calendar Year 226, July 12th. Afternoon.」

The aftershocks from the morning’s peak selection ceremony, which had rocked the entire Torchbearer University, had yet to fade.

Li Wen, Du Yun, Fang Chenghong, and Chen Xing—who had also resolutely chosen Nine Heavens Peak—had been personally led away from the plaza of Enlightenment Peak by their new Peak Master.

Nine Heavens Peak, true to its name, presented a sight completely different from the other peaks of the Torchbearer Ancestral Range as soon as they drew near.

The entire massive mountain, from foot to summit, was enveloped in a violent aura.

The air was thick with a strange, potent scent of thunder and ozone, tinged with the smell of something burnt. Wisps of energy made their skin tingle.

Looking up, the peak of the mountain was shrouded beneath a boundless, heavy, and oppressive mass of dark purple thunderclouds.

The thunderclouds were not static; they roiled and surged like a tempestuous sea of lightning, with bolts streaking through them like frantic dragons.

The dull RUMBLE of thunder was incessant. Every so often, a blinding, soul-searing bolt of lightning would rip open the sky, followed by a deafening CRACK that left behind a lingering aura of destruction and a scorched scar upon the ground.

Miraculously, in such an extremely violent, purgatorial environment of lightning, Nine Heavens Peak was not a dead, silent place.

On the contrary, it was full of vibrant life, home to many strangely shaped trees and plants of deep, dark colors.

Most of their branches and leaves were as hard as iron, some even having a metallic sheen. They were clearly strange species that had adapted to the environment here.

The most eye-catching were several giant trees scattered across the mountainside and in the valleys. Their trunks were like coiled, horned dragons, their bark the color of ancient bronze, and they stood over several hundred meters tall, piercing straight into the clouds.

Their massive canopies were like colossal, sky-supporting umbrellas, with some branches stretching right to the edges of the roiling thunderclouds at the summit.

They stood majestically amidst the furious lightning, faintly exuding a profound and vigorous life force and immense energy fluctuations, as if they were absorbing the lightning to nourish themselves.

The four followed the Peak Master, landing on a relatively open platform halfway up the mountain. A violent aura, so intense it seemed to pierce their very bones and was almost suffocating, washed over them. Despite their resolute wills, all four felt a subconscious shiver of dread.

The Peak Master scanned his four new disciples, his eyes showing both the satisfaction of finding great talent and an ineffable gravity and pressure.

His voice was not loud, but when it reached their ears, it completely drowned out the surrounding thunder:

”This is our foundation, Nine Heavens Peak. The rules are simple. I will state three points:

”First, the core of the thunderclouds at the summit and the forbidden valley floor of Thundering Creek on the back of the mountain are off-limits. Without my express command, no one is to enter. Violators will be severely punished!

”Second, the peak has various cultivation chambers, Thunder Attraction Towers, and other such places. Use your identity tokens to access them as you see fit. Third...”

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the four of them. ”This place is no greenhouse. It’s a truly treacherous and deadly peak. As you go about your daily lives and cultivation, keep your wits about you. Always be on guard against the Celestial Thunder. If you get struck dead, I take no responsibility. Staying alive is the prerequisite for everything else.”

His words were concise and to the point, full of the cold, hard style of a pragmatist.

Then, with a flip of his hand, four thick, ancient-looking books bound in some special kind of animal hide appeared. He handed one to each of them.

The deep purple covers were embossed with silver foil, outlining the words ”Nine Heavens Divine Body: Foundation.” The books sent a faint tingling sensation through their hands as they took them.

”This is the core technique of our peak, the introductory foundation manual for the Super Grade divine art, the *Nine Heavens Divine Body*. Study and comprehend it well.”

The Peak Master saw the slightly expectant looks in their eyes and seemed to guess what they were thinking. An almost imperceptible curve touched his lips before he continued:

”Don’t expect me or the elders to explain it to you word for word. The path of cultivation prioritizes self-enlightenment. Within the Fire World’s Void Realm, there is a dedicated instructional module for this legacy. Your access has already been granted. Go and learn on your own.”

Having said his piece, the Peak Master’s figure flickered and vanished, leaving only the rumbling thunder in his wake.

”...” The four of them looked at each other, stunned.

’This Peak Master is a bit too... efficient, isn’t he?’ This was a far cry from the master-disciple ceremony they had imagined.

Just then, a gentle and clear voice spoke up:

”Junior Brothers, please follow me.”

Not far away stood a smiling young man dressed in blue robes. He had an upright posture and a calm, gentle bearing.

He was handsome, with sharp eyebrows and eyes like stars, and he appeared to be no older than his twenties. But his gaze was profound and his aura contained, giving off a sense of stability as deep as the ocean, which formed a strange harmony with the violent surroundings of Nine Heavens Peak.

”My name is Gu Yan, and I have the honor of being the current Eldest Senior Brother of Nine Heavens Peak.”

The young man’s smile was as warm as a spring breeze, instantly washing away the grim, thunderous atmosphere.

”The Peak Master is always like this; you’ll get used to it. From now on, I’ll be helping you Junior Brothers with the daily affairs and guidance on the peak.”

This Eldest Senior Brother, Gu Yan, was approachable and put on no airs.

He casually picked up a few pebbles from the side of the platform and, seemingly at random, tossed them to several key points on the ground. A faint, shimmering shield silently rose, temporarily blocking some of the piercing thunder and violent energy surges, allowing them to converse more clearly.

This single, exquisite display of energy control and Array application revealed the unfathomable depths of his power.

Gu Yan led Li Wen and the other three on an unhurried walk around Nine Heavens Peak, explaining in detail the purpose of various locations and the precautions to take.

He spoke of the peak as if reciting a list of family treasures, his tone filled with deep pride and a sense of belonging, but he made no effort to hide the dangers it held.

In their conversation, Li Wen and the others learned that this Eldest Senior Brother Gu Yan was already a powerhouse at the Peak of the Flying Star Stage. Among all the disciples still studying at Torchbearer University who had not yet passed the final ”graduation” assessment, he was solidly ranked as the second strongest.

When Fang Chenghong asked about the expert ranked first, Gu Yan’s eyes filled with unconcealed, heartfelt admiration:

”Junior Brother Ling Feng, you mean? His talent for techniques, especially his mastery of the blade, is so sharp that he can be called the most exceptional prodigy at Torchbearer University in the last fifty years! Even among the veteran experts who have already graduated, few could have matched him when they were at the same stage.”

He paused, his gaze burning as he looked at Li Wen.

”And you, Junior Brother Li Wen, your terrifying Spiritual Sense is also something not seen in decades. One has reached the pinnacle of technique, while the other is uniquely blessed in Spiritual Sense. It’s truly something to look forward to... I’m very curious—on your future paths, which of you two will ultimately go further?”

Faced with his Eldest Senior Brother’s praise, Li Wen quickly gave a humble smile.

”Eldest Senior Brother, you flatter me. Senior Brother Ling Feng is already a legend. The image of him slaying a high-level Flying Star Level Demon Beast with a single strike on New Year’s Eve, turning the tide against all odds, is still deeply etched in my mind. He is the goal and role model I strive to catch up to.”

He briefly recounted the events in Bluestone County.

Upon hearing this, Gu Yan, Du Yun, Fang Chenghong, and Zhao Lie all showed looks of realization and amazement. ”So that’s the connection! It must truly be fate!”

An entire afternoon slipped away under Eldest Senior Brother Gu Yan’s patient and detailed guidance.

Under his guidance, the four of them became familiar with the main outer areas of Nine Heavens Peak. Their hearts filled with a deeper reverence for the treacherous peak, while some of the strangeness and unease of being newcomers faded away.