High Martial: I Grind Professions

Chapter 249: Chapter 160: The Bright Moon is Achieved, Qingshi is in Peril

His body, perfected to the Ninth Layer of the Nine Heavens Divine Body, was nourished by the new level of True Essence. It was like refined steel being reforged in a furnace; its inner vitality and strength reached new heights. Every cell in his body greedily absorbed the transformative power of the purple-gold Bright Moon True Essence.

He didn’t rush to test his new abilities. Instead, he sat on the meditation cushion and regulated his breath for about fifteen minutes, allowing the sudden surge of power to settle and become orderly.

Then, Li Wen stood up.

He had perfectly concealed the aura fluctuations from his breakthrough, leaving no trace.

His steps were steady and powerful as he walked toward the training ground again, his heart burning with the desire to verify his newfound strength.

With a grasp at the void, a long blade appeared in his hand.

Without any buildup, without gathering power, he didn’t even use his Blade Intent.

He simply channeled the new True Essence of the Bright Moon Realm, following his most instinctive and fluid striking motion to unleash a casual slash at a special alloy target ten meters away—a target designed to measure impact force.

SHIIING—!

A blade of light, formed purely from refined purple True Essence, instantly crossed the distance.

BOOM! A muffled explosion, far deeper than any from his previous blade practice, rang out.

The target, capable of withstanding a typical attack from an Early-stage Bright Moon Realm practitioner, now bore a gash several inches deep at its center. The edges of the cut were exceptionally smooth, and the sheer force of the impact had even knocked the entire thing back an inch or so.

’A casual slash, and its power has more than doubled...’ Li Wen silently assessed. A faint ripple of joy stirred in his heart, but what he felt more deeply was a new clarity of understanding.

He now clearly understood that as one’s realm increased, the power difference between each level was not a linear progression. Instead, it was an exponential, near-frenzied surge.

’Back in the day, before the Flying Star Level, I could rely on my Blade Aura to easily jump two major ranks and slay Super Martial Artist Level Demon Beasts... Back then, a huge gap in technique was enough to bridge the chasm between cultivation realms,’ Li Wen muttered to himself, analyzing his current condition.

’And now, at the Early-stage Bright Moon Realm, with my Blade Soul Realm mastery and my perfected Ninth Layer Nine Heavens Divine Body... if I don’t use the power of my Primordial Spirit and rely solely on my Blade Skill and physical body...’

’I estimate that at best, I could clash with an ordinary practitioner at the Peak of Bright Moon Realm, and it would most likely be a stalemate. If I faced an opponent at the Peak of Bright Moon Realm who had also reached the Soul Realm...’ Li Wen shook his head slightly. ’The outcome would be hard to predict. Even if I won, it would be a bitter and arduous victory.’

’As for jumping another major realm to challenge a Great Sun Realm expert?’ A solemn look flashed in Li Wen’s eyes. ’That would be tantamount to suicide. The disparity in the quantity and quality of True Essence alone is like an impassable chasm.’

’However...’ Confidence surged within Li Wen. ’I have my Primordial Spirit!’

’If I don’t use the Shocking God Stab and simply fuse the power of my Primordial Spirit into my True Essence, my attacks will carry immense spiritual pressure and have armor-breaking properties...’

Li Wen calculated. ’I should be qualified to skirmish with, or even briefly resist, an expert at the Early-stage Great Sun Realm. If their technical skill is average, I might even have a chance to win.’

’If I were to fully integrate the power of my Primordial Spirit into my physical body and erupt with its full might for a short time...’ Li Wen sensed the terrifying, faintly discernible potential within him.

’My strength, speed, defense, and recovery would all skyrocket to an unimaginable level... I should be able to go head-to-head with or even suppress a typical expert at the Late-stage Great Sun Realm.’

He then clear-headedly added a critical caveat: ’Of course, this is all based on the assumption that my opponent hasn’t comprehended the ’Realm of the Dao’...’

’The Soul Realm versus the true Realm of the Dao...’

An image of the stone walls in the Blade Dao Legacy Area, inscribed with the vast imprints of the Dao, appeared in Li Wen’s mind.

’That is a fundamental difference in one’s level of existence, in the very essence of power. A Great Sun Realm expert who has comprehended the Realm of the Dao, even if they are only in the initial stage, holds a dimensional advantage over us in the Soul Realm when it comes to the application of power and the control of principles. An existence like that could probably shatter all the techniques I currently take pride in with a single move.’

The surge in his strength brought joy, but this clear, almost cruel, awareness kept his mind in a state of unprecedented clarity and composure.

Breaking through to the Bright Moon Realm was not the destination. Instead, it was the starting line for a higher and more difficult climb.

The road ahead was still long.

And thousands of miles away, the slowly expanding Stargate and the potential for sudden changes in the Demon Realm both indicated that this peaceful time for cultivation might not last much longer.

...

In the virtual world, above the vast and boundless Star River Square, floated ranking charts symbolizing different cultivation realms.

The light of the Flying Star Chart was the most dazzling. The name of Li Wen had long been engraved at its top, a symbol representing the pinnacle of the younger generation.

But in an instant, the name ’Li Wen’, which shone like a star, vanished from the top of the Flying Star Chart without any warning.

At first, this change was only noticed by a handful of Flying Star Realm Martial Artists who were refreshing the chart and checking the rankings.

But the disappearance of the name at the top was like a giant boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating turbulent ripples.

"The top spot is empty?! Where’s Li Wen’s name?"

"What’s going on? Is it a system error?"

"Impossible! The Flying Star Chart has never made a mistake like this!"

After a brief moment of shock and discussion, some clear-headed individuals immediately grasped the key point.

There were usually only two explanations for a name disappearing from the Flying Star Chart.

Death, or a realm breakthrough.

Fire Hall University was the core of Blue Star, the headquarters of the Fire Hall. It was the cradle of humanity’s strongest experts, the last place an accident could happen.

No one would be absurd enough to think that Li Wen had met with misfortune.