High Martial: I Grind Professions

Chapter 205: Chapter 153: Li Wen Takes the Stage; Third Layer of Primordial Spirit

The speed increased, almost becoming a blur. A piercing ”WHOOM” tore through the air.

This wasn’t just a contest of strength, but a supreme test of one’s control over their god-fiend aura! The slightest mistake, the slightest disturbance in one’s aura, and the rope could spiral out of control.

”Now *this* is a true clash of masters.”

From the neighboring Sky-splitting Peak, Wang Shuo found himself gulping as he watched.

Time ticked by, second by second. It was a battle of foundation and endurance.

CRACK... SNAP!

A faint, crisp sound broke the stalemate.

One of the weaker ropes, pulled taut to its limit by another massive tug, suddenly snapped.

The Flying Star Level disciple it belonged to swayed slightly, retracting his hand in embarrassment.

”The first one’s out!” the new disciples chattered among themselves.

A chain reaction immediately followed.

With one link broken, the pressure on the remaining ropes suddenly intensified.

SNAP! SNAP! SNAP! A series of snaps rang out one after another.

The ”ropes” wrapped around the Profound Steel Ball broke one by one, disappearing like brilliant but fleeting fireworks.

One by one, the senior Flying Star Level disciples showed looks of helplessness or wry smiles as they withdrew their auras and quit the competition.

In less than three minutes, only three ropes remained: Zhao Feng’s deep purple, the crimson of the burly man from Sky-splitting Peak, and the azure of the senior sister from Xingyan Peak.

”It’s the three titans—Nine Heavens, Sky-splitting, and Xingyan—battling it out again.”

”All three of them broke through to the Flying Star Level at Sixth-Layer Perfection, but Senior Brother Zhao Feng has the Nine Heavens Divine Body. I bet he has the edge.”

”The guy from Sky-splitting Peak is Senior Brother Qi, he’s amazing too! And Senior Sister Zheng from Xingyan Peak excels at control and has great endurance!”

Disciples in the crowd revealed the identities and strengths of the three finalists.

The final struggle was even more tense and fierce. Three powerful auras locked onto the Profound Steel Ball, wrestling with crazed intensity.

The Profound Steel Ball, like a trapped beast, trembled violently and let out a dull roar as it was torn between the three immense forces. It would lurch toward Nine Heavens Peak, only to be dragged back to the center by Sky-splitting Peak. The azure aura from Xingyan Peak, meanwhile, was like a tenacious vine, constantly wearing down the other two’s momentum as it looked for an opening.

The stalemate lasted for a full thirty seconds before a purple light flashed in Senior Brother Zhao Feng’s eyes. A deep purple aura erupted from his entire body. The Purple Sky Divine Chain wrapped around the Profound Steel Ball instantly solidified further, unleashing an overwhelming force.

ZZZZAP! It was as if you could hear the piercing screech of intertwining energies.

The Profound Steel Ball was violently yanked toward the Nine Heavens Peak area by this sudden burst of power. Although Senior Brother Qi’s crimson aura and Senior Sister Zheng’s blue aura were still pulling with all their might, they were ultimately half a beat too slow.

THUD! The Profound Steel Ball slammed heavily onto the ground within the Nine Heavens Peak area.

”We won!” A deafening cheer instantly erupted from the Nine Heavens Peak side, and many disciples leaped to their feet in excitement.

Zhou Yi announced loudly, ”The winner of the first round for the Flying Star Level group is—Junior Brother Zhao Feng of Nine Heavens Peak! Congratulations!”

Applause and cheers instantly engulfed the entire plaza. The atmosphere of the New Year’s Eve gala was completely ignited.

Amid the cheers, disciples from the other peaks began to murmur amongst themselves. ”At the same level, disciples from Nine Heavens Peak really do have an advantage.”

”But I heard their batch of Super Martial Artists isn’t that great. It was fine back when those geniuses like Li Wen were drawing lightning into their bodies, but now it looks like the disciples below the Flying Star Level are lacking. It seems like they’re having trouble with the new generation.”

These words reached the ears of the Nine Heavens Peak disciples, making them feel a bit awkward amidst their excitement.

”Alright.” Zhou Yi waved his hand, signaling for silence.

”The Flying Star senior brothers and sisters have given us a great start! Next, it’s time for the Super Martial Artist junior brothers and sisters to show us what they’ve got! Who wants to go first?”

His gaze swept over the area where the Super Martial Artist disciples were gathered, especially toward the new and senior Super Martial Artists from the major peaks.

Over at Nine Heavens Peak, Li Wen sat with a calm and unconcerned air, peeling a strange-looking nut, showing no intention of entering the ring.

Du Yun nudged his arm. ”Aren’t you going to go? Win some glory for our Nine Heavens Peak? Our peak took first place in the Flying Star Level round just now. The pressure’s on.”

Li Wen leisurely swallowed the nut, took a sip of his drink, and then said in a low voice,

”What’s the rush? There are plenty of senior brothers and sisters on our peak who are still Super Martial Artists. Let them go first.”

His gaze swept over a few nearby senior disciples who were eager to give it a try.

Sure enough, for the first Super Martial Artist group, a senior disciple with a calm and steady expression from Nine Heavens Peak soon stood up.

His name was He Qiang, and he had just reached the Sixth Layer of the Nine Heavens Divine Body.

The contestants sent out by the other peaks were also mostly around this level.

”Second round, begin!” Zhou Yi commanded.

Compared to the fierce, lightning-fast spectacle of the Flying Star Level, this group seemed... much more plain and simple.

Twelve ”ropes” of god-fiend aura—visibly thinner, weaker, and far less condensed than those of the Flying Star Level—wrapped around the Profound Steel Ball.

The ball moved, and it was fast, but it lacked the space-tearing oppressiveness of the Flying Star Level group.

The struggle between them looked more like a slow-motion replay.

The difference in the quality of the god-fiend auras was visible to the naked eye.

Many of the ropes trembled visibly during the pull, showing a clear lack of resilience.

The outcome was decided quickly and without any suspense.

Xingyan Peak, thanks to a disciple who had cultivated their peak’s Super Grade technique to a high level, ultimately dragged the Profound Steel Ball back to their area.

The Xingyan Peak disciples burst into cheers.

As for Senior Brother He Qiang from Nine Heavens Peak, he came in second. At the last moment, his purple aura-rope was disrupted by another powerful aura and snapped, causing his efforts to fall short at the final hurdle.

”What a shame.” Chen Xing, sitting next to Li Wen, shook his head with a hint of regret. ”Senior Brother He was so close.”

The discussions in the stands grew louder. ”The disciples from Nine Heavens Peak at the Super Martial Artist stage are still a bit lacking, not as good as the ones at the Flying Star Level.”