153: Chapter 153 (Combined Chapters, 10,000 words)

Chapter 153: Combined Chapter (10,000 Words)

The core was still a Lightning Induction Platform, but it was much larger and its texture was even darker and heavier.

The ceiling was not a thundercloud vortex, but an incredibly complex multi-layered energy Formation.

At this moment, terrifying energy fluctuations that caused one's heart to palpitate were brewing at the core of the Formation, a feeling that far surpassed the thunderclouds in Room Yi-1.

Several massive, shimmering Purple Crystals were embedded in the Formation, clearly intended to provide a more powerful and...

...more condensed Lightning Element energy for the Breakthrough.

Li Wen walked to the center of the Lightning Induction Platform and stood still, taking a deep breath.

The mental cultivation essentials of the Nine Heavens Divine Body required for breaking through to the sixth layer were already etched into his mind.

Without needing preparation, with a single thought, Iv11 [Absolute Focus] instantly activated.

His thinking became incredibly clear and transparent; everything around him seemed to slow down, leaving only the upcoming Breakthrough process and the circulation of Qi and blood within his body.

Simultaneously, deep within the Sea of Consciousness between his brows, the Second Layer of Nascent Soul power was quietly mobilized.

His powerful Mental Energy acted like the most precise scanner and controller, covering every cell of his body and accurately controlling every shred of energy and change.

"Begin!" He actively triggered the Formation.

Buzz—!

Blinding light instantly filled the entire quiet room.

A pillar of lightning—several times more powerful than the one in Room Yi-1, more condensed, and even containing hints of the world's heavenly pressure—descended like a Spear of Punishment from the Nine Heavens. It tore through the Formation's light barrier and struck the top of Li Wen's head without reservation, carrying an Aura that could destroy all things.

In an instant, his entire being was completely swallowed by the blindingly brilliant lightning.

The disturbance in the Grade-A Room immediately drew the attention of everyone in the main hall on the second floor of the Lightning Induction Tower.

The sudden explosion of terrifying energy fluctuations and the vibrations that seemed to shake the very mountain caused all the Disciples—whether waiting or just coming out—to change expression and look toward the Breakthrough quiet room.

"Someone is breaking through in a Grade-A Room? This commotion—it's so strong!"

"Is it a lightning induction or a Breakthrough?"

"Damn! It's a Grade-A Breakthrough Room! Someone is breaking through to the sixth layer?!" an experienced senior Disciple shouted in shock.

Every Breakthrough of the Nine Heavens Divine Body involves introducing the next level of divine lightning into the body; from the fifth to the sixth layer, one must endure the tempering of the sixth type of divine lightning.

Everyone's gaze instantly focused on that tightly closed alloy door, filled with shock, anticipation, and even a trace of tension.

The sixth layer of the Nine Heavens Divine Body is a watershed with an extremely high failure rate; once successful, it means Li Wen already possesses the qualifications to break through to the Flying Star Rank.

This is also the standard for measuring whether one has successfully cultivated a Super-grade Divine Magic Arts.

In recent years, very few people in Nine Heavens Peak have been able to break through at the seventh layer.

Most Disciples break through with a sixth-layer Nine Heavens Divine Body. Even so, their combat power still looks down upon their peers.

It is also the layer that most Nine Heavens Peak Disciples pursue.

Inside the quiet room.

The terrifying energy of the lightning pillar poured into his body.

However, under the 110% Comprehension Ability bonus provided by Iv11 [Absolute Focus] and the precise, dead-angle-free control of the Second Layer of Nascent Soul, Li Wen's sensation was not one of pure painful destruction.

That Lightning Tribulation energy—vast enough to instantly destroy a small hill—was guided by the Mind-Cultivation Technique. Part of it transformed into the most violent forging hammer, performing a deeper, almost essential-level tempering and reorganization of his recently perfected fifth-layer Divine Body Foundation.

His muscles, bones, and flesh emitted a brilliant glow within the lightning; the Lightning Patterns on his bones became more complex and profound, like natural Dao Marks.

Another part was rapidly converted by the Mind-Cultivation Technique into a torrent of the purest Origin Lightning Element.

This newborn power, far exceeding anything before, followed the path of the sixth-layer Mind-Cultivation Technique, smashing through profound energy node barriers like a hot knife through butter, constructing a more complex, powerful, and deeper Divine Demon Body framework within his body.

On the surface of his body, that layer of pale purple light grew brighter and brighter, with strange runes faintly circulating, appearing and disappearing within it.

On top of his original steady and heavy Aura, a hint of more ancient and overbearing lightning pressure began to seep out.

Although the external energy oscillated violently, under Li Wen's own powerful control, the Breakthrough process appeared incredibly efficient and... stable.

The sixth-layer threshold that had troubled countless cultivators of the Nine Heavens Divine Body was being blasted open by him in one go, thanks to the cheat-level support of his dual talents.

The lightning gradually subsided, and the blazing light in the quiet room slowly retracted.

When the halo finally fully internalized back into his body—Boom!

A brand new, vast and steady Aura of an Advanced Super Martial Artist, which also contained overbearing lightning fluctuations, spread out from Li Wen without reservation.

He slowly opened his eyes; deep in his pupils, two clusters of lightning, condensed as if solid, flashed and vanished, as if a sleeping God of Thunder had awakened.

Nine Heavens Divine Body—Sixth Layer! Accomplished!

The news of Li Wen successfully cultivating the Nine Heavens Divine Body to the sixth layer...

...was like a heavy bomb dropped into a calm lake, once again setting the entire Kindling University campus network and every corner ablaze.

"Monster! An absolute monster! It's only been half a year, and he's at the sixth layer!"

"Sixth layer in half a year... is he really still human? I remember the Eldest Senior Brother of Nine Heavens Peak, Gu Yan, took nearly two years to get from entry to the sixth layer back then, right?"

"It's beyond ridiculous! His speed at the first and second layers was scary enough, but this sixth layer is practically like riding a rocket!"

"Nine Heavens Peak really found a treasure this time. The top three of this year's gold rankings are all over there, especially that Prodigy Li Wen."

.

"Next question, everyone place your bets: guess how long it will take for Great God Li Wen to break through to the seventh layer?"

The Kindling University Disciple groups were in constant heated discussion; almost everyone participated in guessing the time for Li Wen's seventh-layer Breakthrough.

Strangely, not a single person questioned 'whether' he could break through, as if it were a foregone conclusion.

His performance had completely conquered everyone, making the voices of doubt vanish entirely.

Everyone now only wanted to bet on the time it would take for him to create his next miracle.

The scene shifts to the edge of a martial arts field at Nine Heavens Peak.

Du Yun had just finished a round of Spear Intent tempering, his training uniform soaked in sweat. When he tapped on the news notification popping up on his watch, he froze on the spot.

The screen displayed the campus news flash about Li Wen breaking through to the sixth layer of the Nine Heavens Divine Body.

He watched silently for a few seconds, then slowly put away his watch and let out a long breath. His face was a mix of complex emotions: shock, bitterness, but eventually, they all turned into pure admiration and a hint of relief.

He shook his head and laughed, speaking to the air as if talking to himself, or as if completely setting down some burden: "There's absolutely no comparison. With this kind of speed, I can't catch up at all. Fine, from now on, I'll just compete with myself."

1

He gripped the alloy long spear in his hand, his eyes becoming resolute again as he walked toward the next training project.

His Nine Heavens Divine Body had only just stabilized at the fourth layer not long ago.

Not far away, Fang Chenghong also saw the news.

His reaction was much calmer; a sincere smile even appeared at the corners of his mouth as he spoke to Chen Xing, who was wiping a sword blade beside him: "Hey, see that? I told you Brother Wen is incredibly strong. Now things are settled."

There was a hint of reflected glory in his tone.

Because of the relationship with Fang Chengwu, he naturally viewed Li Wen as an elder brother figure; he only felt happy about Li Wen's strength.

His Nine Heavens Divine Body was also not low, being at the Peak of the third layer.

Chen Xing, who was wiping his sword, paused slightly. He looked up toward the distant mountain Peak where lightning faintly flickered, his gaze sharp as a blade.

"Monster—" he whispered, then looked at the longsword in his hand and gripped it tightly. "But, there is always a heaven beyond heaven, and people beyond people. Good, pressure is motivation. I have to work even harder and gather enough strength to go to the second floor soon!"

The fighting spirit in his eyes burned fiercely; his progress was hot on the heels, also in the mid-to-late stages of the third layer.

As for the clamorous discussions and praise from the outside world, Li Wen, the center of the vortex, remained calm and unruffled.

He had already returned to his residence in the No. 1 Villa Area and was sitting cross-legged inside his quiet room.

The joy of breaking through to the sixth layer had already settled in his heart.

Sixth layer? In his eyes, this was merely a new starting point, far from the end.

The goal in his heart was clear and grand—nine layers of Perfection.

—

It was to strike for the Flying Star Rank in one go only after the Nine Heavens Divine Body had reached Major Achievement and his Physical Body and will were tempered to the Peak.

"The road is still long." Li Wen closed his eyes and looked inward. In his Sea of Consciousness, the Primordial Spirit Power surged like a tide, and his massive Mental Energy began to rapidly deduce and analyze the mental cultivation essentials regarding the sixth layer of the Nine Heavens Divine Body in his mind.

Every layer of the Nine Heavens Divine Body is a completely different chapter.

This is because the lightning power that needs to be received, refined, and wielded for each layer undergoes a qualitative change.

The corresponding cultivation paths, energy guidance methods, blood and Qi circulation frequencies, and even the resonance methods of mental will all require targeted adjustments.

The lightning intensity and characteristics of the sixth layer far exceed those of the fifth layer.

Fortunately, he had the profound accumulation of cultivating all the way to the fifth layer, giving him a deep understanding of this technique's core and logic of change.

More importantly, his Soul—which fused the high-speed information processing capabilities brought by the Iv11 [Scholar] class features...

...and the majestic power of the Second Layer of Nascent Soul—provided him with an unprecedentedly powerful deduction engine.

In just three days, the core mental cultivation of the sixth layer—which was originally profound and complex and would take many Genius Disciples several months of study—was completely broken down and thoroughly understood by him.

The meaning of every profound rune, the key nodes of every energy flow, and the mental state requirements for every mental will to cope with the violent lightning were all imprinted deep in his Sea of Consciousness, fully mastered.

On the morning of the fourth day after his Breakthrough, Li Wen appeared once again at the entrance of the main hall on the second floor of the Nine Heavens Peak Lightning Induction Tower.

This time, he walked straight toward the front-most cultivation area at the deepest part of the passage, where the lightning energy was most concentrated and violent.

Similar to his last visit, there were still groups of two or three senior Nine Heavens Peak Disciples waiting quietly in line outside the cultivation rooms in the middle and end sections of the hall.

When they saw Li Wen enter, their gazes were filled with a hint of awe and curiosity.

However, most of the quiet rooms in the front section remained empty, appearing exceptionally deserted.

Contained within were destructive energies capable of instantly killing an Advanced Super Martial Artist, enough to make most Disciples shrink back.

Li Wen opened the door to a quiet room labeled [Jia-5].

The heavy metal door slid open silently.

Boom!

It was as if a gate to Hell had been opened.

A terrifying Aura several times more violent than that of the Yi-1 quiet room surged out.

Inside the quiet room was no longer just pure white lightning, but a strange lightning glow mixed with something as viscous as ink, yet jumping with countless tiny dark blue electric arcs.

The air seemed ionized to the extreme, emitting a pungent smell of ozone and a strange, burnt rusty scent similar to molten metal.

Just the overflowing Aura caused Li Wen's powerful physique to instantly experience bursts of intense stinging and numbness, his muscles tensing involuntarily.

He walked in steadily, and the metal door behind him slowly closed, isolating the hellish scene.

He sat cross-legged in the center of the cold, hard Lightning Induction Platform.

"Whew—" He adjusted his breathing, his gaze sharp as a blade. "Let's begin."

With a thought, the Nine Heavens Divine Body · Sixth Layer Mind-Cultivation Technique operated at full power.

Iv11 [Absolute Focus] instantly activated, his Sea of Consciousness became empty and clear, and his Primordial Spirit Power was triggered simultaneously, acting like a high-precision radar network to sense every minute lightning change in the space.

Rumble!

Countless ancient Formations embedded in the walls, ceiling, and floor were instantly triggered.

The viscous ink-blue Lightning Liquid seemed to possess life, howling as it gathered into hideous lightning snakes that coiled around thick, blazing white lightning pillars, crashing down with a destructive might that could annihilate everything.

In an instant, Li Wen's figure was completely swallowed by the violent electric light.

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

This time, the "Lightning Plasma" was even harder to tame. It carried a strong corrosive and viscous sensation, crazily assaulting the newly formed Sixth Layer of Divine Power cycle, as if trying to tear apart and dissolve the Foundation that had just stabilized.

Even with Li Wen's current physique, his Meridians and flesh instantly felt the excruciating pain of being repeatedly pierced by billions of steel needles and corroded by strong acid.

But Li Wen's Primordial Spirit maintained extreme calmness throughout.

Under 【Absolute Focus】, his vast Mental Energy acted like a master traffic controller, precisely guiding his surging Super Martial Artist-level Qi and Blood, carving out an optimal path amidst the countless gaps of violent energy.

He forcibly restrained and guided the strands of destructive Lightning Plasma, following the trajectories set by his Mind-Cultivation Technique, to temper, compress, and fuse them.

Every cell was reborn amidst the wailing, becoming more resilient and nurturing even greater power.

With each completed cycle, a small portion of that ink-blue lightning was tamed, transforming into a deep and powerful blue mark within the depths of his Divine Demon Foundation.

Time flowed like a stream, slipping by quietly during his cultivation.

The calendar turned to December 28th.

His wristwatch emitted a special notification sound, breaking the silence of the villa's morning cultivation room.

Li Wen had just finished a round of morning Blade Technique training, his body steaming with white mist, as he picked up the wristwatch to check it.

It was a video message sent by his mother, Wang Juan, which also included a red envelope icon.

"Xiao Wen, happy birthday! You're nineteen now! Remember to eat well over there, don't just focus on cultivating; your health is the most important thing!"

In the video, his mother wore a warm smile, though her eyes were slightly moist.

Li Wen was slightly stunned. He had been in closed-door cultivation for the past few months, his mind completely immersed in breaking through his Cultivation Technique and tempering his Saber Intent, so he had long since lost track of the date.

Nineteen years old—so today was his birthday.

A wave of warmth surged in his heart, and he immediately called his mother back via video chat.

Looking at his parents' familiar and concerned faces on the screen, and listening to his father, Li Wenhai, say his concise yet powerful, "Stay safe, remember to take a break," Li Wen revealed a rarely seen, relaxed smile.

"Dad, Mom, I'll remember. Everything is fine over here. Don't worry about me."

He simply told them he was safe, without mentioning the hardship and pressure of his cultivation.

For him, his parents' health and peace of mind were the best birthday gifts.

The call did not last long. After hanging up the video, the softness on Li Wen's face vanished instantly, and his gaze became focused and solemn once again.

A birthday? It was just a regular marker on the long road of cultivation.

He did not go to relax and enjoy himself as his mother had hoped; he didn't even prepare a slightly more sumptuous lunch.

He simply quickly replenished his high-energy nutritional supplements and turned to walk back into the villa's specially designed micro-training room.

Swing the blade!

Sink his waist! Twist his body! His arm sliced through the air, bringing with it a sharp whistle that tore through the sky!

In his Sea of Consciousness, the essence of the "Instant Rainbow Style" was repeatedly broken down and combined under the support of 【Absolute Focus】. The seed of his Saber Intent, amidst countless boring swings, absorbed power subtly yet firmly, growing slowly but continuously.

His figure darted at high speed within the narrow space of the training room. Every movement sought Perfection, and every blade swing was infused with his entire mental will. Sweat dripped constantly from his chin, hitting the floor and creating small water stains.

This was his nineteenth birthday—spent in the shedding of sweat and the tempering of his will.

"Hoo—stop!"

After nearly three hours of continuous extreme blade swinging, Li Wen finally stopped, his chest rising and falling slightly.

He raised his wristwatch and pulled up his cultivation panel:

【Skills: Blade Technique · Concept (28%), Five Styles of Dawn (Instant Rainbow Style 100%, Silent Rainbow Style (40%))】

【Cultivation Technique: Nine Heavens Divine Body · Sixth Layer (Progress 39.4%)】

"Half a month, and the Sixth Layer progress is nearly forty percent."

Looking at the data, Li Wen calculated in his heart, "At this speed, in about another month, there is great hope of pushing for the Perfection of the Sixth Layer."

At the starting point of nineteen years old, his gaze had long been cast toward the higher Seventh Layer, and that Realm of Nine-Layer Perfection, which symbolized the absolute Peak of the Nine Heavens.

Time flew by like sand slipping through fingertips.

Kindling University continued to operate in a tense and orderly atmosphere.

In the blink of an eye, it was January 28th, 227 Galactic Calendar.

Lunar New Year's Eve.

The air seemed to be permeated with a faint, unusual atmosphere of anticipation.

It was the warmth belonging to reunion and the New Year, although for the vast majority of Xinhuo students, they were still working tirelessly in their training rooms or the Virtual World at this moment.

Inside Villa No. 1, Li Wen woke up on time.

He slightly closed his eyes, mentally inspecting his own data, as a clear stream of information flashed through his Sea of Consciousness:

【Name: Li Wen】

【Age: 19】

【Realm: Advanced Super Martial Artist (Level 28.6)】

【Profession: Scholar Iv11 (93484 / 102400)】

【Skills: Blade Technique · Concept (32%), Five Styles of Dawn (Instant Rainbow Style 100%, Silent Rainbow Style (60%))】

【Cultivation Technique: Nine Heavens Divine Body · Sixth Layer (99%)】

The past month, just as he had expected, had yielded remarkable results.

The experience for the Scholar profession grew steadily under the efficient knowledge acquisition mode, and it was not far from leveling up.

The Silent Rainbow Style was also approaching Perfection through thousands of tempering sessions in the martial arts arena; every percentage point increase was accompanied by a deeper understanding of his Saber Intent.

Most importantly, the cultivation of the Sixth Layer of the "Nine Heavens Divine Body" had finally reached its end.

"One month later—" Li Wen whispered, opening his deep eyes, a flash of sharp anticipation crossing them. "The final one percent will be today."

He did not feel the slightest bit of Lunar New Year's Eve laxity. He got up, changed into a simple black training suit, and pushed open the villa's door with steady steps.

The cold morning breeze brushed against his face, carrying the unique purity of Xinhuo Star, as well as the unique lightning palpitations belonging to Nine Heavens Peak, faintly transmitted from the distant mountains.

He did not walk directly to Nine Heavens Peak, but instead, like many mornings in the past, he first went to the martial arts room to perform a short period of Saber Intent nourishment.

He unleashed the Silent Rainbow Style. The blade light was like a silent galaxy, soundless and traceless, yet it contained a sharpness that could cut through everything. The Concept seemed to become more perfect with every execution.

An hour later, he finally set off for the mountain that was shrouded in violent lightning Aura all year round—Nine Heavens Peak.

On the second floor of the Lightning Induction Tower, at the entrance of the Jia-1 quiet room, Li Wen swiped open the familiar door.

"Boom!"

The heavy alloy door closed, isolating him from the outside world.

In an instant, the surging plasma rushed toward him like a tidal wave.

The air was filled with the scorched smell of high-voltage ionization, and visible electric snakes constantly appeared and vanished in the air, emitting scalp-numbing cracking sounds.

This was the characteristic of the 【Jia】 section on the second floor of the Lightning Induction Tower—a high-voltage electric field that would make even a veteran Super Martial Artist cautious.

Li Wen sat cross-legged, his expression calm, eyes slightly closed, as the Mind-Cultivation Technique for the Sixth Layer of the "Nine Heavens Divine Body" operated at full power within him.

His tyrannical Qi and Blood power was like a furnace, instantly colliding with the violent lightning power invading from the outside.

Excruciating pain! A pain that went deep into the bone marrow and tore at the Meridians suddenly struck him.

This energy was inherently destructive, but for a Martial Artist cultivating the "Nine Heavens Divine Body," it was excellent nourishment for tempering the Divine Demon Foundation.

His Mental Energy was highly concentrated under the effect of 【Absolute Focus Iv11】, precisely guiding, cutting, and differentiating the lightning pouring down from above, forcing strands of energy into specific operation paths.

Following the complex paths recorded in the Cultivation Technique, it washed over his flesh, bones, internal organs, and the deeper Martial Dao Origin mark again and again.

Destruction and rebirth played out in every inch of his body tissue.

Every rebirth after destruction moved his cellular structure a step closer to a non-human state that contained the Divine Demon power of the lightning attribute.

Time slipped away in extreme pain and focus.

The two-hour standard cultivation time limit felt incredibly long to Li Wen, yet it also seemed to pass in the blink of an eye.

When the timing crystal emitted a low hum, signaling that the time was up, a faint, imperceptible "hum" simultaneously resonated from within Li Wen's body.

It was not a sound, but a mysterious resonance originating from the essence of life.

The Sixth Layer of the Cultivation Technique was complete!

He instantly stopped the technique, the surging lightning around his body suddenly subsiding, leaving only a faint purple glow that had not yet dissipated, flowing on his skin.

Fine beads of sweat seeped from his temples, but his eyes were as sharp as blades, searingly bright.

He stood up, feeling the power within him like a volcano about to erupt, as well as the sense of Perfection that came with the final trace of restlessness being completely smoothed out.

His body was already completely saturated with the Sixth Layer lightning energy, like a precious vase filled with holy liquid, with no more room for absorption.

The next goal was right before his eyes.

He pushed the door open and walked out, heading straight into the depths of the Jia section—there lay the passage leading to the Jia-rank Breakthrough quiet room.

The Jia-rank Breakthrough quiet room was far colder and more murderous in its environment than the ordinary training rooms.

A huge lightning induction platform was located in the center, and the ceiling was inscribed with multiple overlapping energy Formation runes, radiating an Aura that made one's heart palpitate.

The moment he stepped into the center of the lightning induction Formation in the quiet room, Li Wen understood what the hurdle of the Seventh Layer was.

The Sixth to the Seventh Layer was not just an improvement in Physical Body and Qi and Blood power, but also an ultimate test of one's mental will.

He triggered the Breakthrough Formation, and the energy core suddenly lit up.

This time, what poured down was no longer pure purple Lightning Plasma, but grayish-black energy rays intertwined with strands of viscous, cold, and seemingly sentient energy—Lightning Sha!

Lightning Sha was not lightning itself, but a fierce thing condensed over long years from the destructive intent and chaotic will to extinguish life contained within the lightning.

As soon as they appeared, they immediately pierced through Li Wen's protective Qi and Blood, like the coldest venomous snakes, crazily drilling toward the depths of his Sea of Consciousness.

A terrifying mental shock capable of freezing the Soul, carrying endless Chaos, dead silence, and destructive intent, erupted like a tsunami.

Once the defense line of the mind was breached, a Martial Artist would, at best, suffer a collapse of will and have their cultivation stagnate for life; at worst, their mind would be damaged, and they would become a muddled, foolish person.

This tribulation of Lightning Sha had stopped countless talented Nine Heavens Peak Disciples, making them stop gloomily before the Seventh Layer threshold or even destroying their entire path of cultivation.

However, Li Wen, who was at the center of the storm, faced this Lightning Sha invasion that would make even ordinary Flying Star Rank Divine Demons change color. Instead of showing any fear, he—a trace of imperceptible, almost mocking calmness appeared on his face.

""Absolute Focus", "Second Layer of Nascent Soul", activate!"

Li Wen thought silently.

Hum!

Within his Sea of Consciousness, the light of the Primordial Spirit suddenly burst forth.

It was no longer a blurry outline, but the Primordial Spirit itself, which had become increasingly condensed and clear after repeated tempering.

The Primordial Spirit Power transformed into an indestructible glazed light shield, firmly guarding his core consciousness within.

At the same time, after 【Absolute Focus Iv11】 was activated.

His mental thinking was instantly elevated to an unimaginably pure state.

Thousands of distracting thoughts vanished in an instant, and his mind was as clear as a bottomless ancient well. The monstrous chaotic and destructive intent invading from the outside crashed like huge waves against a towering rock that had been buried on the seabed for billions of years, remaining motionless.

The chaotic will and destructive intent carried by the Lightning Sha collided with that extremely pure mental barrier, emitting a silent yet intense impact.

However, no matter how the grayish-black energy rays rolled, shrieked, or tore, they could not shake that barrier in the slightest.

Li Wen's consciousness, under the support of these dual great powers, was like being in the center of the eye of the storm, tranquil to the extreme.

He even had the leisure to calmly observe and analyze: "It's truly potent. This resentment and destructive emotion—it's not entirely without benefits for tempering one's will. Unfortunately, the intensity is still insufficient."

Thoughts flashed like lightning, the core essence of the Cultivation Technique Breakthrough flowed through his heart.

He no longer defended passively; instead, he actively guided that seemingly terrifying torrent of Thunder Fiend, using the core Mind-Cultivation Technique of the seventh layer of the Nine Heavens Divine Body as a rein, and began to attempt—taming it.

"Rumble—!!"

Even more powerful purple-gold lightning, mixed with struggling and twisting Thunder Fiend, was actively drawn in by Li Wen, pouring into his body with speed and precision far exceeding his limits.

The excruciating pain escalated again. This time, it was not just his Physical Body; even his spirit felt as if it were being torn apart.

But for Li Wen, who had long been accustomed to being reborn in destruction and finding enlightenment in excruciating pain, this was merely another dual tempering of will and Physical Body.

"Refine for me!"

A low roar echoed in his heart.

Under the precise control of [Absolute Focus] and the absolute protection of the Second Layer of Nascent Soul, that Thunder Fiend, which once made people tremble with fear, actually appeared so—docile inside his body.

The gray-black Qi radiance was forcibly incorporated into the circulation path of his Cultivation Technique. Under the scouring of the violent thunder pulp and the calcination of his body's furnace, its chaotic will was gradually broken apart and extinguished.

The remaining pure destructive energy, conversely, blended perfectly with the power of the lightning, becoming a strange catalyst that stimulated his Physical Body's potential and forged the Foundation of the Divine Demon Tyrant Body.

This process could not be cheated; it required powerful control, vigorous accumulation, and a heart of will that had been tempered and was as firm as a rock.

Li Wen possessed all three!

Gradually, that gray Aura, which was heart-palpitating, unsettling, and full of chaotic destruction, began to—weaken.

Inside the quiet room.

Li Wen's already formidable Qi and blood, under the dual baptism of lightning and destructive energy, erupted with even more brilliant light, like a Phoenix in Nirvana.

The purple-gold light on his body surface gradually faded, replaced by a more restrained, deeper, pale golden halo that seemed to be born from Chaos and contained supreme might.

His muscles and bones resonated together, his internal organs shone, and every heartbeat was like a Divine Demon beating a war drum, shaking the stable spatial barriers.

A brand new Aura, more powerful, heavier, and closer to the Origin of life than that of an Advanced Super Martial Artist, slowly diffused from around his body.

The violent lightning and the entwining Thunder Fiend on the Lightning Induction Tower seemed to feel the birth of a king at this moment; they became docile and tame, finally calming down slowly.

Boom!

The last trace of Thunder Fiend was extinguished by the light of the Primordial Spirit and dissipated into nothingness.

The light of the Lightning Induction Formation also completely faded away.

Li Wen slowly opened his eyes.

Deep within his pupils, pale golden lightning seemed to be floating and emerging, extinguishing and birthing. His gaze was calm yet carried an indescribable majesty.

He looked down at his palms, his five fingers slightly tensing. A pale golden halo flowed between his fingers, and a sense of irresistible power filled his entire body.

"Nine Heavens Divine Body · Seventh Layer", completed!

The A-zone on the second floor of the Lightning Induction Tower on Nine Heavens Peak was originally secluded, empty, and quiet as a vacuum zone.

The disturbance caused by Li Wen's Breakthrough to the seventh layer of the Nine Heavens Divine Body was not exaggerated this time; there was no violent lightning explosion, nor were there any strange phenomena of leaking Aura.

Only a restrained warm current rose from his Dantian, gentle as a spring, silently scouring his bones and muscles throughout his body.

After a few breaths, everything returned to calm, as if nothing had happened.

Li Wen felt the surging power within him and nodded with satisfaction.

Breaking through to the seventh layer in just over half a year, this speed was indeed far beyond others, but he did not feel it was worth bragging about.

Cultivating the Nine Heavens Divine Body to this level required massive accumulation and tempering of will for every step forward. The Breakthrough just now was just a logical progression; there was no need to make a big fuss.

He gently exhaled a breath of turbid air, stood up, brushed off the dust on his body, and calmly left the quiet room.

When he returned to Villa No. 1, Li Wen did not delay and began his daily cultivation as usual.

He drew his saber and practiced the Five Styles of Dawn in the courtyard.

The Saber Intent was like lightning, coiling around his body in threads. Every stroke of the saber pursued extreme speed and precision, echoing the Physical Body strength of the Nine Heavens Divine Body.

After the cultivation ended, sweat soaked his sportswear, but he had no trace of fatigue; on the contrary, his spirit was even more invigorated.

Night fell over Kindling University.

Festive lanterns replaced the usual starlight, illuminating the Wudao Peak square as bright as day.

The huge circular main venue was crowded with people. The aroma of food and the sound of enthusiastic conversation blended together, overflowing with a festive atmosphere.

Li Wen walked out of the villa; outside, the lights were already lit.

A cold wind blew, carrying the crisp, clear scent unique to after the snow.

He gently exhaled a breath, and the white mist quickly dissipated into the night.

The seventh layer of the Nine Heavens Divine Body was complete. The surging power within his body was perfectly restrained. Externally, apart from his eyes being calmer and deeper, he looked no different from usual.

The joy of the Breakthrough was soon replaced by the sedimentation of daily cultivation. No one knew what kind of transformation had been completed beneath this calmness.

His smart bracelet vibrated; it was a message from Wang Shuo: "Brother Wen, have you gone out yet? Waiting for you at the meeting point!"

"Coming." Li Wen replied simply, adjusted his academy uniform slightly, and stepped into the noise outside.

He met up with Wang Shuo, Chu Feng, and Nangong Xue, his fellow hometown friends from Jiangnan, and walked together toward a small flying vehicle parked not far away.

The flying vehicle flew steadily, shuttling through the brilliant campus night scene.

But compared to the bustle outside, the few people inside were somewhat silent, their gazes involuntarily cast out the window.

Streams of light occasionally flashed past the flying vehicle at high speed; those were the Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters who could fly through the air.

"Flying Star Rank—" Wang Shuo watched the figure disappearing over the distant mountain top outside the window, his tone full of envy, "Whoosh, and they just flew past."

"Transcending the mundane, a Divine Demon Body, truly extraordinary." Nangong Xue also sighed softly.

"Below Flying Star Rank, all are ants." Wang Shuo patted the porthole of the flying vehicle, shaking his head and reciting a saying that was widely circulated in Kindling University, "We still have to rely on this iron lump."

Li Wen listened to his companions' discussion without saying anything, just looking out at the deep night sky.

He had long ago deeply felt the power of the Flying Star Rank on that New Year's Eve in Qingshi County, in that one slash from Ling Feng that annihilated a high-level Flying Star Rank Yao Beast.

That kind of great power was something to yearn for, and it also made one understand the possible responsibilities on one's shoulders.

And now, he was only a few steps away from that Realm.

When they arrived at the venue entrance, it was already a sea of people.

Kindling University had gathered Disciples from over a dozen cohorts, with more than two thousand people gathered together; the scale even exceeded that of the original Freshman Peak Selection Ceremony.

Disciples from the major Peaks naturally gathered in one place. The uniform styles were the same but had subtle differences, forming twelve distinct sections. The purple area of Nine Heavens Peak appeared somewhat empty among them.

When Li Wen and his group walked past, it immediately attracted the attention of many people.

"It's Li Wen!"

"Li Wen from Nine Heavens Peak is here!"

Whispered discussions reached his ears, and many familiar faces or those who were merely nodding acquaintances showed him friendly smiles.

Fang Chenghong waved from far away: "Brother Wen, over here!"

Du Yun stood at the very front of the Nine Heavens Peak area with his arms crossed. Seeing Li Wen, he nodded coolly.

Li Wen smiled and responded to each one, walking without stopping toward the exclusive seats of Nine Heavens Peak.

He could feel the gazes cast from all directions—scrutinizing, curious, admiring, and even some with a hint of Battle Intent.

In these past six months, from Drawing Lightning into the Body and shocking the school overnight, to breaking through several levels of the Nine Heavens Divine Body in just a few months, and finally breaking through to the sixth layer some days ago.

His name had long since risen from that of the Freshman top-ranked student to a height where it could be mentioned in the same breath as that peerless Prodigy from Lietian Peak, Ling Feng, who had long been firmly ranked first on the Disciple combat power rankings.

Just after sitting down, Li Wen keenly noticed a gaze.

Unlike the curiosity of other Disciples, this gaze was sharp and calm, yet carried a kind of inexplicable kindness.

He followed the feeling and looked up.

His line of sight passed through the noisy crowd and landed on the most core area of Lietian Peak.

A young man in dark gold sportswear sat there quietly. His sitting posture was not deliberately straight, yet he seemed to be integrated with this space, forming his own Aura.

It was Ling Feng.

The two people's gazes met in mid-air for the first time in a true sense.

There were no sparks flying as imagined, and no confrontational hostility.

In Ling Feng's deep, star-like eyes, there was first a faint trace of surprise, as if confirming something, and then that surprise turned into a warm smile.

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, and he nodded frankly and sincerely in Li Wen's direction.

That smile was very clean, carrying a hint of gratification, and also a gentleness of appreciating a talented junior.

Li Wen was slightly stunned.

He had imagined many scenes of meeting this legendary Senior Brother, but he never expected such calmness and kindness. A warm current quietly crossed his heart.

He remembered that desperate night in Qingshi County, that blood-colored saber light that descended from the sky like a Heavenly God, annihilating the giant beast.

Without that slash, the casualties in Qingshi County would have been incalculable, and he himself would definitely not have survived at that time.

Toward Ling Feng, he held respect in his heart, and even more, a heavy sense of gratitude.

At this moment, this smile instantly bridged the distance between the two hearts—both geniuses, yet both bearing the future of the Human Race.

Li Wen also smiled. It was a heartfelt, respectful, and equally warm smile, and he nodded solemnly in Ling Feng's direction.

The desire to surpass had not diminished, and the fighting spirit to climb had not vanished, but on this New Year's Eve, it was more of a camaraderie of mutual understanding and cherishing each other.

Yes, the situation of the Human Race was far from being something that internal disputes could bear.

Before long, the atmosphere in the venue suddenly turned solemn.

Above the high platform, halos flowed, space slightly distorted, and more than a dozen incredibly powerful Auras quietly descended.

The Peak Masters of the twelve Peaks, along with the Principal, appeared.

"Fellow Disciples, you have worked hard!" The white-haired Principal's voice was peaceful yet clearly reached every corner of the venue, "On this New Year's Eve, I hope you will temporarily set aside the fatigue of cultivation and enjoy yourselves tonight! For the future of the Human Race, for the Xinhuo not to be extinguished—cheers!"

"Cheers!"

"For the Xinhuo not to be extinguished—cheers!"

The earth-shaking cheers resounded through the sky, and over two thousand people raised their glasses to drink together.

Then, the Peak Masters of each Peak toasted.

The Peak Master of Nine Heavens Peak, Peak Master Fang Qinghan, swept his gaze over the area of less than a hundred people from his Peak, pausing imperceptibly on Li Wen.

With his vision at the Peak of the King-Sealing Rank, he easily saw through the powerful vitality hidden beneath Li Wen's calm surface, as if tempered by lightning a thousand times, as well as the Aura of the already stabilized seventh layer of the Nine Heavens Divine Body.

Although he had just broken through, his Foundation was thick, and his Qi and blood were vigorous, far exceeding his peers, and even more refined than many old Disciples.

A trace of imperceptible satisfaction and gratification flashed beneath Peak Master Fang Qinghan's serious face.