High Martial: I Grind Professions

Chapter 284: Chapter 170: Half a Year Later

The foundation he had built, in particular, having reached the supreme Ninth Layer of the Nine Heavens Divine Body, was rock-solid, perfectly supporting the impending transformation.

Deep within his sea of consciousness, the unique origin of his Blade Intent—signifying seventy percent progress toward the Blade Soul Realm—was also quietly settling and purifying under his tranquil introspection, silently preparing him to cross the threshold into the Way of the Blade.

Time ticked by, second by second. The only sound in the quiet room was his long, slow breathing.

Outside the window, the festive atmosphere of the city pass was shrouded by a heavy sense of duty, while inside, Li Wen used this personal silence to push his entire being to the absolute peak of its current potential.

...

The afternoon flowed by in silence.

Sitting cross-legged, Li Wen finally opened his eyes. Deep within them, it was as if a Star River swirled for a moment before returning to calm.

He exhaled a long, frosty breath. The profound and solid foundation within him, already tempered to its absolute limit, was like a thousand times-refined gold, with no trace of superficiality left to purge.

”Finally perfected,” Li Wen muttered, his voice calm and unwavering.

He inspected himself thoroughly. His meridians were wide and resilient, his flesh and blood pulsed with vigorous life, the power of his Primordial Spirit was as dense as mercury, and the origin of his Blade Intent within his sea of consciousness had been purified to its absolute zenith.

This was the absolute peak of what he could achieve at the Peak of Bright Moon Realm.

He glanced at the electronic clock embedded in the wall of the quiet room. It read: 4:10 PM, January 27, 232, of the Galactic Calendar.

’Time to go back.’ With a flicker of his thought, Li Wen sent a message to the garrison’s Captain Zhang, Zhang Zhen: ”Captain Zhang, I’m heading home for a bit. I’ll be back later.”

The message was short and to the point.

He got up, straightened the black combat uniform he always wore, and stepped out of the quiet room.

Without the slightest hesitation, his figure blurred and transformed into a flowing streak of purple light.

His speed was immense. In an instant, he had already crossed the complex fortress passage, bursting out into the open sky from a hidden exit.

He had already shared a simple yet warm lunch with his comrades at the garrison; now was the time to return home for a family reunion.

’Wasn’t this the whole reason he’d requested a transfer back to Bluestone County? To be by his parents’ side at moments like these?’

The streak of light shot through the air, tearing across the gloomy twilight of the winter sky.

With his current speed, which surpassed that of an ordinary Marquis Level fiendgod, crossing such a short distance took but an instant.

In the blink of an eye, the streak of light converged, and Li Wen’s figure was already hovering at the entrance to a quiet residential area beside Bluestone County’s most bustling central commercial street.

The streets below were festooned with lanterns and streamers, brimming with a thick holiday atmosphere. The surging crowds were a stark contrast to the grim, cold silence of the underground fortress.

He didn’t make a show of it. He landed quietly, like any ordinary person returning home from afar, and followed the familiar path toward his family’s villa.

When he reached his front door, the lock, which had long since recorded his biometric information, opened silently.

”Dad, Mom, I’m back,” Li Wen said gently.

”Ah Wen is back!” his mother, Wang Juan, called from the living room, her voice filled with pleasant surprise.

His father, Li Hong, also poked his head out from the kitchen, his face wreathed in smiles. ”Perfect timing. The dumplings your mom’s been making are almost ready.”

As Li Wen walked into the living room, his gaze narrowed slightly.

In a corner near the balcony, he saw several exquisite gift boxes and baskets. The gold-stamped emblems on the packaging were clearly the logos of Bluestone County’s major merchant associations and official departments.

”Oh, those,” Wang Juan said, following his gaze as she came out of the kitchen wiping her hands.

”Some of the county’s bigwigs had people send them over. They said it was to thank you for guarding Bluestone County and keeping the peace. Your dad said we couldn’t really refuse them, so we just left them there for now.”

Wang Juan’s tone held a note of resignation, but deep in her eyes was a glimmer of pride in her son.

Li Hong walked over and sighed.

”Back when you were still in school, no one ever sent gifts to our home. Now... it’s different. We accepted them, but we haven’t dared to touch anything inside.”

He patted Li Wen’s shoulder. ”But the peace and stability you’ve brought to this family is something these gifts can’t compare to.”

Li Wen nodded, understanding perfectly.

’This is the most direct change that comes with power and status.’

He smiled. ”Mom, Dad, it’s nothing to worry about. Just leave them be. Use whatever you want from them; don’t deprive yourselves. As for my affairs, you don’t need to worry.”

The tempting aroma of dumplings soon wafted from the kitchen, mingling with the scent of other dishes.

The family of three gathered around the small, round table. A lively New Year’s gala rehearsal played on the TV, filling the room with a cozy warmth.

Their cozy New Year’s Eve reunion dinner officially began.

Wang Juan kept piling food onto Li Wen’s plate, reminding him to take care of himself out there, while Li Hong asked if his cultivation was progressing smoothly and whether he’d run into any new problems.

The atmosphere at the table was light and cheerful.

After a few drinks, Wang Juan finally couldn’t hold back any longer. She asked with a smile,

”Wen, you’re twenty-four now, you’re not a kid anymore. With so many wonderful girls around, has there really not been a single one who’s caught your eye? Look at Old Hu’s son, he’s the same age as you, and I heard...”

”Ahem,” Li Hong interrupted with a light cough. ”His mind is on his duties right now. Guarding our Bluestone County isn’t easy. There’s no rush for that other stuff.”

But even as he said it, his eyes held a hint of inquiry.

Li Wen chuckled and popped a dumpling into his mouth. ”Mom, that’s because his interests are broad. Me? My heart belongs to my blade, and my path is still long. You can’t force fate. It will come when it’s meant to.”

He paused, his tone growing more serious. ”Besides, with the way things are now, it’s not the right time to think about that. First, I have to protect our home. Only when everyone is safe can we think about settling down our own little family.”

Li Hong and Wang Juan exchanged a look. Their hearts ached for him, but they also understood the burden on their son’s shoulders. They said no more on the subject, only reminding him to be extremely careful and to take care of himself.

After dinner, he helped clean up, then watched some television with his parents, making small talk and sharing a few laughs.