High Martial: I Grind Professions

Chapter 228: Chapter 157: Protective Sword Seal, Flying Star Formed

He methodically tamed the torrent of energy—enough to obliterate an ordinary person—and channeled it to scour and temper every inch of his flesh, muscles, and bones.

Cycles of destruction and rebirth played out within him, each one making the foundation of his Divine Body more substantial and profound.

After two hours of extreme tempering, the energy in the cultivation chamber slowly subsided.

The residual purple lightning on Li Wen’s body receded into him. His expression was calm, his aura growing as heavy and stable as a mountain.

When he left the cultivation chamber and descended to the second floor of the Thunder Attraction Tower, the scene had completely changed.

The entire second-floor hall was packed with a jostling crowd. Almost every disciple of Nine Heavens Peak currently present had gathered here, craning their necks in anticipation.

The moment they saw Li Wen’s figure appear at the stairwell, the silence was shattered.

”Congratulations on achieving the grand completion of your Divine Body, Senior Brother Li!” a disciple shouted excitedly.

”Congratulations to our Nine Heavens Peak on producing another Ninth Layer Nine Heavens Divine Body!”

More people chimed in, their voices loud and filled with excitement and pride.

”Congratulations, Senior Brother Li Wen!”

The waves of sound converged, sincere and fervent.

Faced with this onrushing tide of congratulations, Li Wen wore a gentle smile. He cupped his fist in salute to the crowd, his attitude humble and devoid of any arrogance.

The crowd parted, forming a path. Du Yun, Fang Chenghong, and Chen Xing stepped out and walked quickly toward him.

”You...” Du Yun thumped Li Wen’s shoulder, admiration practically overflowing from his eyes. ”The Ninth Layer! You’ve really brought us glory!”

Fang Chenghong also smiled and nodded. ”That’s right. We all started at the same time, and now you’ve left us in the dust.”

Despite his words, he was clearly overjoyed.

Chen Xing was more succinct: ”Ridiculously strong!”

Faced with the sincere congratulations from his three old friends, Li Wen’s smile deepened. He patted each of them on the shoulder and said earnestly,

”The path of the Divine Body is all about accumulation and persistence. You’ve all built a solid foundation. Given time, you might just catch up.”

Hearing this, all three grew solemn and nodded seriously.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with his acquaintances, Li Wen made his way back to his villa, Number 1, near the foot of Nine Heavens Peak, followed all the way by the ardent gazes and congratulatory shouts of the other disciples.

However, just as he stepped into the courtyard, a message came through his personal terminal, sent directly from the headmaster’s office.

”Come to the rear mountain of Enlightenment Peak at once.”

It was the same cliff edge as before, overlooking a sea of clouds, serene and profound.

A gentle breeze stirred the headmaster’s simple robes.

Li Wen’s figure appeared silently at the edge of the cliff. He bowed respectfully. ”Headmaster.”

The headmaster turned, his ancient eyes falling upon Li Wen. He studied him for a moment, his gaze seeming to pierce through flesh and bone, straight to the depths of his soul.

After a long moment, a smile of approval graced his lips. ”Very good. The Ninth Layer of the Nine Heavens Divine Body. Li Wen, you have done exceptionally well—far exceeding my expectations.”

”I don’t deserve such praise. It is only thanks to the school’s nurturing that I dared not slack in the slightest,” Li Wen replied humbly.

”There’s no need for such modesty.” The headmaster waved his hand dismissively, strolling over to a stone table at the cliff’s edge and sitting down. He gestured for Li Wen to join him.

”Throughout the centuries of our university’s history, those who have achieved the Ninth Layer of the Nine Heavens Divine Body have been few and far between. Every single one was a peerless prodigy, and every one of them shed their last drop of blood for the Human Race.”

The headmaster’s voice grew heavy, thick with the weight of history and remembrance.

”Take Lin Shuo of our Nine Heavens Peak, five hundred years ago. He was a peerless genius who also cultivated his Divine Body to the Ninth Layer before he was twenty. While still in the Great Sun Realm, he could already punch above his weight, slaying enemies who had just reached the Marquis Level. However, his brilliance made him a target. He was ambushed in a Star Domain by Shadow assassins. Besieged by four Marquis-level Shadow experts, he fought to the death, killing three and severely wounding one, but ultimately fell to exhaustion, a tragedy left to haunt the Star Domain.”

A flash of sorrow crossed the headmaster’s eyes. The word ’Shadow,’ when it left his lips, was laced with icy killing intent.

”Then there was Meteor Marquis Zhao Qian, three hundred years ago,” the headmaster continued,

”He became a Marquis before the age of fifty. Relying on the supreme speed granted by the Ninth Layer of his Nine Heavens Divine Body, he charged in and out of the Ten Thousand Beasts Territory seven times, earning glorious achievements in battle. In the end, however,

he was on a mission protecting a rear base for our home world when the Demon Race paid a great price to have a top-tier, King-level Great Demon use a priceless treasure to forcibly infiltrate our home world for a surprise attack.”

Li Wen’s expression turned grave as he listened in silence.

The headmaster glanced at Li Wen, as if seeing right through to the question in his heart.

”Are you thinking that since the Nine Heavens Divine Body is unrivaled in speed—especially for someone who has perfected the Ninth Layer—he should have been able to escape, even if he couldn’t defeat that King-level member of the Demon Race?”

”Yes, that is precisely what confuses me,” Li Wen admitted with a frank nod.

The gap between a Marquis and a King is immense. But with Meteor Marquis’s speed, if he had focused solely on escaping, even a King would have had a hard time killing him instantly.

”That is because the Demon Race used the Heaven-Encompassing Net,” the headmaster said gravely,

”It is an exceptionally rare, domain-type treasure. Within the Heaven-Encompassing Forbidden Area it creates, space itself seems to solidify. Speed is suppressed to its absolute limit. You’d be lucky to use even a tenth of your Body Technique’s full power.”

”A domain-type treasure?” A chill went through Li Wen as he realized the gravity of the situation.

The headmaster nodded slightly.

”Correct. You should know that when a cultivator breaks through to the Flying Star Level and condenses their own domain, they have crossed the threshold to becoming a true expert. Domains vary immensely.

Some, like the Heaven-Sundering Sword Domain, are focused on offense. Others, like the Greenwood Spirit Domain, are for recovery and healing. And naturally, there are also those that specialize in trapping and binding enemies.

For instance, one of the signature Divine Bodies of Xingyan Peak, the Star Inference Divine Body, is world-renowned for its ability to manifest the All Heaven Stars Array to trap and kill its foes.