162: Chapter 162 Reunion with Fang Chengwu After Four Years

Blood-red light almost filled the entire screen area.

"Red alert!" Lin Zhan's expression suddenly sank like cold iron, covered in a layer of heavy frost. His voice, sounding as if squeezed from deep within his throat, carried a metallic texture: "High threat level!"

The five team members behind him held their breath simultaneously, the shock and suspicion on their faces instantly replaced by astonishment and gravity.

Red!

This meant the detection System's assessment of the invaders' energy Rank was sufficient to cause destructive damage to the current county.

Furthermore, it indicated that the arriving Yao Race were enough to put ordinary rescue Divine Beings at an extremely high risk of falling.

Green is safe, yellow is a danger warning, while red clearly marks: "Significant risk of massive casualties and Divine Being fatalities."

The administrative divisions of the entire Blue Star were not drawn arbitrarily, but based on the spatial node laws of the appearance of the Interstellar Gate.

For areas at the county level, theoretically, only small, temporary Interstellar Gates capable of allowing Flying Star Rank Yao Race to pass through would appear.

But the red alert erupting in Qingshi County right before them completely shattered this conventional understanding.

"Captain, what should we do?" Beside Lin Zhan, Deputy Captain Zhang Li asked rapidly, his voice filled with disbelief and the dryness caused by pressure: "According to protocol, we must provide support, but—"

He didn't finish his sentence, but the team members all understood.

Regulations state they must go, but there is significant room for maneuvering regarding when they arrive at the support site.

Should they rush over immediately, or—delay slightly?

Past experience has repeatedly proven that invading Yao Race rarely stay on Blue Star for long.

Most of their strategies involve utilizing the information gap of the initial raid to cause maximum destruction before humans can react.

The longer the delay, the greater the probability of human experts rushing to the scene upon hearing the news.

For the Yao Race, they also cannot afford to gamble.

If this area happened to have a Marquis Level human guarding it, or if there were a Marquis Level among the human reinforcements, then no matter how many of them rushed out, it would just be suicide.

Therefore, Yao Race invasions often have an invisible time window.

Precisely because of this, when facing such an extremely dangerous red alert, and the target area appears abnormal, a minority of rescue squads will choose to technically delay.

Arriving a little late, perhaps the Yao Race's window period would have already ended, they would have evacuated on their own, and the risk would naturally be lifted.

Human leadership is well aware of this behavior and often has to turn a blind eye.

After all, calculating from the cold value of combat power, a Divine Being Genius who has reached the Bright Moon Realm on the path of Cultivation likely has a potential value and significance to the Human Race far exceeding the loss of avoiding a catastrophic destruction in an ordinary county.

However, there was no trace of weighing or hesitation in Lin Zhan's eyes; his decision was as tempered steel: "Support! Depart immediately! At the same time, send a red alert distress signal to the Kindling University High Command and the Jiangnan Province Base Headquarters! Be fast!"

"Yes!" The five, including Zhang Li, responded in unison. All doubts were instantly suppressed by the command, and the hesitation in their eyes transformed into firm sharpness.

The duty of protection was carved into their marrow; there was no room for retreat.

The six figures did not pause for a moment, transforming into blurry streams of light invisible to the naked eye, rushing like lightning into the dedicated high-speed aircraft takeoff and landing channel next to the hall.

Vroom!

A streamlined aircraft that had long been on standby emitted a dull and powerful roar. Its jet-black fuselage shimmered with a cold metallic luster, and the anti-gravity engine activated instantly.

Under the effect of immense thrust, the aircraft lifted off almost vertically, precisely penetrating the dome of the channel that had already been opened above, like a black arrow released from a bow, piercing straight toward the sky dyed red by the sunset glow.

The immense acceleration was reduced to the extreme by Advanced anti-gravity devices.

"Target locked: Qingshi County west side coordinates (X-748, Y-203), straight-line distance 573.2 kilometers! Maximum engine thrust activated, expected to arrive over the target area in 1 minute and 37 seconds!" Inside the cabin, a synthesized electronic voice broadcasted coldly and clearly.

"Attention, everyone!" Lin Zhan's voice clearly reached everyone's ears: "Highest level combat readiness."

"Understood!" The neat response carried a sense of solemnity.

The tail of the aircraft spewed hot blue flames, and the speed climbed to a terrifying level in an instant, tearing through the sky.

With unyielding determination, it sped toward the target area, which had been dyed scarlet by the alarm due to the blooming of the "gate".

The cabin was filled with silent gravity.

Only the continuous, stable, yet heart-palpitating low roar of the engines echoed.

Everyone subconsciously tightened their grip on their weapons, or mobilized the True Qi within their bodies that was running to the limit, ready to erupt.

The cold air was permeated with the lingering smoke of gunpowder and the omens of bloodshed.

They knew very well that the splash of blood-red on the screen likely foreshadowed a fierce battle, perhaps even a life-or-death struggle.

Just as the aircraft carrying Lin Zhan and the other five tore through the air, transforming into a stream of light and advancing at full speed toward Qingshi County five hundred kilometers away.

Deep underground, only a few dozen miles from the Interstellar Gate, the Yao Race army had already assembled.

Twenty Bright Moon Realm Great Yao, exuding fierce auras, stood like small mountains.

Behind them were one hundred elite Yao soldiers at the Peak of the Flying Star Rank, each of their eyes flashing with bloodthirsty cruelty.

One hundred and twenty tyrannical streams of Demonic Qi converged, forming a terrifying black pillar of energy that arrogantly broke through the rock strata, shooting straight into the sky above the surface.

The Demonic Qi soared into the sky, stirring the clouds above until they became dim and turbid.

Without any superfluous instructions, these Yao Race, who had long been instilled with orders by Shi Li, the moment they arrived at the surface.

Began to act under the leadership of the leading Bright Moon Realm Late Stage Tiger Yao.

Without need for words, violent power erupted instantly.

Huge Yao claws and condensed Yao power bombarded the ground like raindrops; the hard rock strata were as fragile as tofu under absolute power, and a huge passage was forcibly blasted open, leading directly to the surface.

"Whoosh—!"

An Eagle Yao, relatively small in size and covered in iron-gray feathers, soared into the sky.

It hovered at a low altitude, its sharp eyes veiled with a materialized eerie Yao light, like two scanning probes, rapidly sweeping the horizon.

In just a few breaths, it locked onto the silhouette of that human settlement in the distance—Qingshi County.

"Roar!" The Eagle Yao let out a short, sharp cry, pointing precisely in the direction of Qingshi County.

Without the slightest hesitation.

One hundred and twenty figures, wrapped in heaven-surging Demonic Qi, like a breached black flood, sped toward Qingshi County at a terrifying speed approaching the speed of sound.

The distance of a few dozen miles was too short for the Yao Race, who were at least at the Peak of the Flying Star Rank.

Running at full strength, the sound of the wind turned into sharp whistling in their ears, and the ground retreated rapidly beneath their feet.

From the moment the Yao assembled and rushed out of the surface, to the Eagle Yao locking the position, and then to them pouncing beneath the tall city walls of Qingshi County, the entire process took only a minute and a half.

This time was so short that the alarm in Qingshi County only just rang through the clouds, and the emotion of terror had only just begun to spread across the faces of the residents.

Many people hadn't even had time to put down their work and run to the nearest shelter.

Destruction descended suddenly at this very moment.

"Boom!"

"Crack—!"

Several buildings on the outermost perimeter near the city wall bore the brunt of it.

A huge Bear Yao roared, its palms wrapped in the power of ten thousand jun, slamming down hard. The sturdy alloy concrete structure collapsed instantly as if made of paper, and smoke and dust mixed with fragments of flesh and blood soared into the sky.

A dark green light blade condensed from dense Yao power swept across, cutting half a block of buildings in half, and the screams stopped abruptly.

Despair, like the coldest ice water, instantly submerged the area of this county near the city wall.

Crying, fleeing, and the wails before death intertwined, forming a scene of a living hell.

And just at this moment, when blood permeated the air and countless lives were withering, at the end of the horizon, a silver dot of light rapidly enlarged, arriving in the blink of an eye.

The aircraft hovered violently at the edge of the county, and the hatch opened instantly.

The six, Lin Zhan and his team, did not hesitate for a moment, transforming into six light rainbows of different colors, fiercely shooting into the center of the chaotic battlefield, just in time to meet the raging Yao Race flood head-on.

"Kill!" Lin Zhan's roar drowned out the clamor.

His entire skin instantly turned into a texture like mysterious crystal, shining with dazzling silver-white brilliance.

The High Grade Divine Ability "Mysterious Crystal Battle Body" was fully activated; it did not focus on defense, but was born for extreme offense.

Holding a huge Mysterious Crystal Battle Saber, his movement was like lightning. Ignoring the harassment of the surrounding Flying Star Rank Yao Race, he was the first to lock onto the Bright Moon Realm Tiger Yao and charge.

Every slash carried the power to collapse mountains and split rocks; wherever the blade passed, the air was torn apart with piercing shrieks.

At the same time, a thick, earthy-yellow light curtain suddenly opened, covering a radius of several hundred meters.

This was the companion in the team who specialized in the High Grade "Mysterious Yellow Undying Body"; the toughness of his Divine Body endowed him with unimaginable defensive power and recovery ability.

Within the Domain, he seemed to transform into a moving mountain barrier, forcibly blocking several fatal attack beams for his companions.

Even when claws tore his arm, revealing white bones, the earthy-yellow halo flashed, and the flesh and blood visibly squirmed and recovered.

As long as his head and vital points were undamaged, he was like an undying body, firmly holding the front line.

Another companion was wrapped in cyan-green gale wind, their figure erratic; wherever they passed, countless small, sharp wind blades were generated out of thin air, cutting the Flying Star Rank Yao Race, greatly reducing the pressure on their teammates.

Another person cultivated the High Grade "Blazing Sun Divine Fire Body", with raging flames all over their body; when they threw their fists, they were roaring fire dragons, burning everything they touched.

The six cooperated tacitly, with the companion of the "Mysterious Yellow Undying Body" as the core barrier, Lin Zhan and the fire-attribute companion as the sharp knives for the offensive, and the wind-attribute and the other two companions with strange methods responsible for roaming, containment, and point-killing.

Upon the first clash, the fierce impact of the Yao Race was forcibly curbed; of the several Bright Moon Realm Great Yao rushing at the front, three were instantly cut into two by Lin Zhan's fierce Mysterious Crystal Battle Saber.

Lin Zhan's Battle Intent was wild, the silver-white saber light shining on the battlefield; he specifically picked on the Bright Moon Realm Late Stage Great Yao, every slash a life-and-death struggle.

He abandoned all unnecessary dodging, trusting completely in the protection of his companions behind him.

Under the terrifying explosive power of the "Mysterious Crystal Battle Body" and the self-sacrificing cover of his companions, he harvested the lives of the Bright Moon Realm Great Yao at an astonishing speed.

In just a few minutes, nearly half of the Bright Moon Realm Great Yao, a full ten, fell dead under his blade.

However, the Yao Race's numerical advantage was too great.

One hundred and twenty Yao Race, at least at the Flying Star Peak, surged in endlessly like a fearless frenzy.

The six, Lin Zhan and his team, were like six rocks in the raging waves; under the huge disparity in strength, every battle was walking on the edge of life and death.

The intense battle, the desperate counterattacks of the High-Rank Yao Race, and the massive consumption of continuously maintaining their Domain and Divine Ability—all were madly overdrawing their True Qi and physical strength.

The earthy-yellow light curtain of the "Mysterious Yellow Undying Body" began to flicker, and the recovery speed gradually could not keep up with the speed of injury.

The dazzling silver light of the "Mysterious Crystal Battle Body" also dimmed, the Intent was no longer as unrivaled as it was at the beginning, and the power of wind and fire also seemed to lack follow-up strength.

Two fists are ultimately no match for four hands.

Deep wounds began to continuously add to the six of them, and blood soaked their clothes.

Even with the powerful defense of the "Mysterious Yellow Undying Body", when his arm was completely severed again by a poisoned bone spur, the recovery of the Domain instantly became incomparably slow.

The other companion responsible for maneuvering and pinning down the enemy also suffered from insufficient Qi; unable to dodge in time, their chest was pierced by a sudden attack, and they instantly lost most of their combat effectiveness.

The situation on the battlefield took a sharp turn for the worse!

The remaining Bright Moon Realm Great Yao, leading the Flying Star Rank Yao Race, launched an even more frenzied siege.

Lin Zhan's body was also covered in several wounds deep enough to reveal bone, and his crystalline skin was riddled with cracks.

"Hold the line! Every extra second counts! Buy more time for the civilians to evacuate!" Lin Zhan roared his final command hoarsely, his voice flecked with blood.

There was no fear in his eyes, only a resolve burning to the extreme.

The five of them surrounded their companion with the severed arm, who practiced the "Xuanhuang Indestructible Body," burning with their final light and heat.

The crystalline battle saber unleashed a blinding light one last time, severing the head of a pouncing leopard Yao, at the cost of his left shoulder being nearly torn apart.

Another companion, skilled in fire, exhausted their last bit of Qi to detonate their core flame, perishing together with two pouncing Bright Moon Realm Early Stage Yao.

The final line of defense was crumbling.

"Am I going to die here? I really want to... see the future..." A final thought flashed through Lin Zhan's mind. His crystalline battle body dimmed completely, his inner Qi exhausted, like firewood burned to ash.

He straightened his spine, attempting to use his broken body to make one last stand, his gaze locked tightly onto the ferocious tiger claw mere inches away. Just as the claw was about to crush Lin Zhan's skull, and despair enveloped the last few God-Demon warriors, a terrifying will, as vast as the starry sea and as majestic as a ten-thousand-foot mountain, suddenly descended!

The entire battlefield, spanning tens of miles, had its space instantly frozen.

The dust flying in the sky halted in mid-air, the roaring flames instantly extinguished, and all the Yao Race currently attacking crazily, whether at the Flying Star Rank Peak or Bright Moon Realm Late Stage, were all suddenly stiffened, as if their throats had been gripped by an invisible giant hand.

That terrifying pressure, originating from the essence of life and the depths of the Soul, made every Yao Race tremble like chaff in the wind.

Even their bone marrow exuded a chilling fear; the ferocity and ruthlessness from just a moment ago had vanished, leaving only an instinctive, irresistible trembling.

"Vile beasts! How dare you commit such atrocities!"

A low, grand roar, like the Nine Heavens thunder exploding in one's ears, and yet also resonating directly in the depths of every living creature's Soul.

This sound was not sharp, yet it contained unparalleled majesty and rage, piercing directly through the body to shock the Soul.

The space above Qingshi County twisted slightly, and a figure stood there, though no one knew when they had arrived.

The newcomer wore a simple cyan long robe; their face was ordinary, yet they carried a profound majesty that made one afraid to look directly at them.

It was none other than King Shanyu, a King-rank God-Demon who guarded the largest underground fortress in Jiangnan Province.

He did not even look directly at those stiff, trembling Yao Race, merely waving his hand casually.

Hum—!

An invisible yet more terrifyingly vast Domain than any physical entity instantly expanded, like mercury pouring onto the ground, and in an instant, it enveloped all the remaining Yao Race on the battlefield.

Whether it was the shivering Bright Moon Realm Late Stage Great Yao, or the Flying Star Rank Yao soldiers who were as dull as puppets, not a single one was left outside its coverage.

Within the Domain, time seemed to lose its meaning.

In the next instant, there was no earth-shattering explosion, nor any scene of flesh and blood flying.

The nearly sixty surviving Yao Race covered by the Domain, whether they had powerful physical bodies or tough carapaces, all disintegrated, dissolved, and vanished silently like bubbles under the scorching sun.

The Yao Race army that had been rampaging a moment ago had now completely turned to dust, dissipating into nothingness.

All that remained on the battlefield were ruined walls, a heavy scent of blood, and the remains of the six human God-Demon warriors who had long since fought to their deaths but still maintained their respective combat postures.

King Shanyu's gaze fell upon the six, including Lin Zhan; a trace of imperceptible heaviness and regret flashed in his profound eyes, before returning to a state of utter calm.

His figure descended slowly, and he began to deal with the tragic battlefield and the countless terrified survivors.

galactic calendar year 229, June 7th, evening.

Inside the Grade A No. 1 Courtyard on Nine Heavens Peak, the Qi in the cultivation room slowly calmed down.

Li Wen opened his eyes, having just finished today's cultivation.

It had only been a few days since his promotion to the Bright Moon Realm, and his body and the surging power were still subtly reconciling.

Out of habit, he picked up the special terminal placed to the side, his fingertips sliding across the smooth screen to light up the application icon for the Kindling University internal news network.

This habit had been formed on the day Ling Feng descended the mountain.

Whenever he thought that the day he would descend the mountain to guard an underground fortress was not too far off, Li Wen reminded himself that he must keep a constant watch on the real-time situation across Blue Star.

News was the fastest window.

He was preparing to routinely browse the briefing on the Yao Race invasions across various regions today, but his gaze froze the moment the screen lit up.

An extremely glaring headline was pushed to the top in bold, eye-catching font:

"Changning City, Qingshi County Suddenly Attacked by Twenty Bright Moon Realm Great Yao and One Hundred Flying Star Rank Peak Yao Soldiers!"

"Qingshi County is being attacked by multiple Bright Moon Realm Yao Race?" Li Wen's pupils contracted suddenly, his first reaction being intense skepticism; this completely overturned his previous understanding. "How is this possible? It's impossible for an Interstellar Gate that allows Bright Moon Realm beings to pass through to spawn near a small county!"

This was a point repeatedly emphasized in Kindling University's common sense education, and it was also the experience summarized by humanity over more than two hundred years of observing the laws of cosmic energy flow.

Interstellar Gates created by small spatial disturbances usually only have an energy level capable of supporting the passage of Flying Star Rank Yao Race; Bright Moon Rank ones only appear near medium and large underground fortresses.

In a small county like Qingshi County, such a large-scale invasion of high-level Yao Race had never occurred in history.

However, a cold chill immediately crept up his spine.

The information source of the internal news network was extremely reliable; the possibility of it being fake was zero.

An ominous premonition, like cold vines, instantly wrapped around his heart, tightening with each passing moment.

Qingshi County. His parents were still there.

Back then, just a single Flying Star Rank Late Stage Yao Beast had almost caused the entire Qingshi County to fall.

Now... it was twenty Bright Moon Realm ones, plus over a hundred Flying Star Rank Peak Yao Race.

Once the city fell, it would be a complete and utter extinction.

For the small county that raised him, for the hundreds of thousands of ordinary people living there, for... the parents living there...

The mere appearance of this thought made him feel suffocating fear.

That would be an absolutely, absolutely unacceptable outcome.

With a faint, imperceptible tremor in his fingertips, he tapped on that headline.

The screen rotated, loading briefly.

During these few short seconds of waiting, Li Wen had never felt time pass so slowly, his heart beating heavily and rapidly in his chest.

He even held his breath, all his attention locked tightly onto the screen, silently repeating a nearly humble plea in his heart over and over again: "Please be okay... please, just be okay..."

The page refreshed. Below the bold headline, the first line of the main text jumped into view with perfect clarity:

[The six Bright Moon Realm God-Demon warriors of the Changning City Garrison Team (Lin Zhan, Zhang Li, Li Zhenhua, Wang Tie, Chen Mo, Song Xue) fought to the death without retreating, all sacrificing themselves heroically to buy precious time for King Shanyu to arrive. Twenty Bright Moon Realm Great Yao and one hundred Flying Star Rank Peak Yao soldiers have all been executed, and Qingshi County has been saved!]

His suspended heart finally crashed back into place, but it did not land on solid ground; instead, it sank into a quagmire of intertwined ice and fire.

His parents were safe—this realization caused his tense body to relax slightly for a moment.

But the heavy feeling of suffocation followed immediately after.

They had held the line. The price was the lives of six Bright Moon Realm God-Demon warriors.

Six human Prodigies in the prime of their lives, at the same Realm as him; their names were listed there—Lin Zhan, Zhang Li, Li Zhenhua, Wang Tie, Chen Mo, Song Xue.

They were the saviors of his parents and the hundreds of thousands of people in Qingshi County. This realization weighed heavily on his heart.

He looked silently at those six names, word by word, as if he wanted to carve them into the depths of his Soul.

Heroes—they were worthy of the title.

His gaze continued to Move down, and he also saw the follow-up arrangements released by the official authorities.

The internal school group message from Kindling University was pinned and quoted: "The spirits of the six alumni—Lin Zhan, Li Zhenhua, Zhang Hao, Wang Tie, Chen Mo, and Song Xue—will return to their alma mater tomorrow at 9:00 AM. According to school regulations, they will be interred in the Xinhuo Ancestral Vein."

The next day, early morning. The air was permeated with an invisible heaviness.

Li Wen changed early into plain, dark-colored clothing and walked out of the courtyard.

Last night, he had confirmed via phone that his parents were physically unharmed, aside from being a bit shaken.

This safety was bought with the flesh and blood of those six alumni he had never met, who had given their lives for his loved ones.

The funeral was held in a solemn and dignified hall halfway up the mountain, backed by lush green forests, named the "Hall of Heroic Souls."

When he arrived, many Disciples from different main Peaks of Kindling University had already gathered on the wide plaza in front of the hall.

The usual vitality and energy were replaced by a low grief and suppressed solemnity.

Everyone present, regardless of their cultivation level, was silent and heavy-faced.

The sorrow congealing in the air was too thick to dissipate.

He could see some senior Disciples with red eyes and tightly pressed lips, clearly struggling to control their surging emotions.

Some of them might have known Lin Zhan and the others, or even fought side-by-side with them.

Li Wen did not speak; his gaze briefly met with a few familiar Disciples, and they nodded to each other, the heaviness already conveyed in that gesture.

Entering the hall, six coffins covered with the Xinhuo flag were placed in the center.

Li Wen walked to the front of the line, took a deep breath to suppress the turmoil in his heart and the guilt stemming from gratitude, and bowed deeply and with the utmost respect toward the direction of the six heroic remains.

This was the highest respect Kindling University offered to teachers and elders, now dedicated to the six fallen heroes.

Subsequently, the principal personally presided over the funeral.

His face, usually gentle and indifferent, now showed only deep sorrow and solemnity, his voice echoing low and clearly in every corner of the hall.

There were no impassioned slogans, only a calm recollection of their lives and a quiet narration of the significance of their sacrifice.

Every note struck at the hearts of everyone present.

The entire ceremony was solemn and sorrowful.

As the coffins were carried to the Xinhuo Ancestral Vein for burial, watching the procession slowly disappear into the towering pines and cypresses, an indescribable sense of empathy gripped everyone present.

The fate that befell Lin Zhan and the others today might, perhaps, be the reality for many of them tomorrow.

In this solemn farewell, a cold hatred burned, settled, and solidified silently in the depths of Li Wen's chest.

He looked up at the sky outside the hall, which was bright yet seemed to be shrouded in a haze; the thought in his heart became incomparably clear and firm: Exterminate the Yao Race.

This hatred would be endless.

galactic calendar year 229, December 7th, dusk.

On the front courtyard Martial Arts Field of the Grade A No. 1 Courtyard on Nine Heavens Peak, Li Wen's figure moved and flickered under the gradually fading daylight.

The alloy-forged long saber in his hands transformed into streaks of light difficult for the naked eye to discern, cutting through the air and emitting... a faint, continuous hum.

The air was permeated with the unique aura of Thunder Evil power, intertwined with the sharp whistle of metal tearing through the airflow.

He was practicing the first Move of the "Profound Vault Rainbow Silence Chapter": Star Sprint.

The saber light was no longer independent, segmented strikes, but was increasingly trending toward a continuous, seamless, and integrated trajectory.

Every slash, retraction, turn, and thrust seemed to follow a deeper rhythm, pointing toward the same core goal—pushing that 99% comprehension to the final 100%.

Sweat soaked his training clothes, clinging to his solid body, but his gaze became increasingly focused and sharp, as if the entire world contained nothing but the blade in his hand and the Move in his heart.

At one moment, when the last golden-red rays of the setting sun stubbornly pierced through the thick thunderclouds that perpetually hung over Nine Heavens Peak, casting light right onto the center of the Martial Arts Field, Li Wen's figure paused abruptly, then suddenly accelerated like a falling meteor.

Chi—!

A blade light, far more condensed, swifter, and more unstoppable than before, flashed, as if condensing thousands of stars into an instant, tearing through the stillness of dusk.

With this strike, the sense of stagnation in Li Wen's heart was suddenly cleared.

It was done.

The final 1% of the Star-Galloping Move had come naturally, achieving Perfection.

The fragmented insights of countless days and nights of hard training regarding Move variations, power operation, and the compatibility of Concepts were perfectly fused at this moment, no longer obstructed.

The golden afterglow plated his sweat-drenched body with a brief yet glorious halo, like the silhouette of a war god standing on a battlefield.

He slowly sheathed his blade, exhaled a long breath of turbid air, his chest echoing with the gratification of the Move reaching Perfection.

After returning to his room and rinsing off, Li Wen sat cross-legged, his mind sinking into the depths of his consciousness, skillfully calling up the information panel that had accompanied his Transmigration:

[Age: 22]

[Realm: Bright Moon Realm Early Stage (Rank 42.9)]

[Profession: Scholar Lv13 (86440 → 151240 / 409600)]

[Skills: Blade Technique - Blade Soul Realm (19% → 20%), Profound Vault Five Moves (Star-Galloping 99% → 100%)]

[Cultivation Technique: God-Shocking Sting - Level Five (100%)]

As his gaze swept over the clear data on the panel, memories from half a year ago instantly flooded his mind.

The Interstellar Gate that appeared abruptly outside Qingshi County, the fearless charge of six Senior Brothers at the Bright Moon Realm including Lin Zhan, and the suffocating funeral held at the Hall of Heroic Souls in the end.

After that, the word "Yao Race" completely faded from an abstract Concept in Li Wen's consciousness, transforming into a bloody entity of hatred; it was the culprit behind the disappearance of the young faces of his Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters.

In the past half year, he had attended more than one funeral, and each time was like carving a deeper mark in his heart.

Their sacrifices became the motivation for his almost self-abusive Cultivation over the past six months.

In half a year, at the level of the Bright Moon Realm, his Physical Body Rank had increased by a solid 2.9 Ranks; this speed was terrifying.

Based on this calculation, stepping into the Late Stage of the Bright Moon Realm in a year and meeting the hard requirement for going down the mountain to kill Yao was not a delusion.

It was not just his Physical Body that had improved.

His insight into the Blade Soul Realm of the Blade Technique had successfully crossed the 20% threshold due to the Perfection of the Star-Galloping Move.

He could clearly feel that with the successive Breakthroughs of the Profound Vault Five Moves, the path of the Blade Soul Realm was being firmly paved.

As for the God-Shocking Sting, after he achieved a Breakthrough to the Bright Moon Realm, he successfully inscribed the fifth-level rune, and after half a year of nurturing with True Essence and the Primordial Spirit, it had now reached the Perfection of the fifth level.

This meant that with the lethality of this Primordial Spirit Divine Ability alone, he was already qualified to face an ordinary Marquis-level Expert head-on.

As night fell, Li Wen changed into clean clothes and flew out of the courtyard.

Today was the day Gu Yan, the Senior Brother of Nine Heavens Peak, was going down the mountain, and he had to go to attend the farewell ceremony.

The gathering place was brightly lit, but the atmosphere carried the solemnity and reluctance unique to partings.

Li Wen's arrival was like a stone thrown into a calm pool of water, immediately attracting everyone's gaze.

"Senior Brother Li!"

"Senior Brother Li Wen is here!"

Greetings rang out one after another.

Except for the protagonist of the night, Gu Yan, who was already at the Bright Moon Realm, all other Disciples present were at the Flying Star Rank.

In Kindling University, the capable are respected; those at the same Rank are ranked by seniority, while those across Ranks address those with higher Realms as Senior Brother.

Li Wen was not only an early entrant to the Bright Moon Realm, but also firmly ranked at the forefront of the flying star ranking, already the undisputed number one person at Kindling University.

This respect came from the heart.

Li Wen's expression was calm, nodding in response to every fellow Disciple's greeting, his gaze finally falling on Gu Yan, who was wearing a brand-new combat suit with a gentle and peaceful expression.

He remained refined, but there was a bit less of the gentleness he had on the mountain in his brows, and a bit more of the decisiveness and composure of someone about to go down the mountain for training.

"Senior Brother Gu." Li Wen walked up to him.

"Junior Brother Li," Gu Yan smiled, his gentleness tinged with gratification, "It seems it won't be long before I have to wait for you down the mountain. Your speed of Cultivation is truly making others despair."

"Senior Brother, why not consolidate for a few more days?" Li Wen felt the aura on Gu Yan that had not yet fully stabilized.

Gu Yan's smile slightly faded, his eyes becoming sharp as an eagle's: "Don't worry, it's not a hindrance. Now that Prodigies of the Yao Race are running rampant down the mountain, we have achieved success in our studies, how can there be any reason not to fight? The situation has become increasingly tense recently. Small and medium-sized Interstellar Gates that can pass Bright Moon Rank Yao Race have appeared frequently near the county town, and medium-sized Interstellar Gates that can pass Day-Rank ones are becoming more and more numerous—"

His voice lowered, "If I go down the mountain a day earlier, perhaps I can block a bit more and save a few more people."

His words caused the surrounding Disciples, who were previously chatting softly, to fall completely silent.

The atmosphere suddenly became heavy and oppressive.

"Then I wish you a safe journey, Senior Brother." Li Wen looked into Gu Yan's eyes and said solemnly, "You must kill more Great Yao and return safely."

"In the past half year—the Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters who were carried back—" a young Disciple who had joined the Peak half a year ago said softly to his companion, his voice trembling slightly, his eyes slightly red.

"Yeah," his companion responded in a low voice, clenching his fists, "I heard that resources are beginning to tilt towards preparations for war, and the defenses in many places are tight. I wish I could be as strong as Senior Brother Gu Yan and Senior Brother Li Wen right now!"

Gu Yan heard the faint discussion, took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over the young, eager, yet worried and determined faces around him, and finally landed on Li Wen.

"Junior Brother Li," his voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears, "You have transcendent talent, you must cherish the time on the mountain. I hope—next time we meet, I can witness the Divine Might of your Nine Heavens Divine Body, and see you slaughter the Yao Race in all directions."

Li Wen understood the expectation and weight in Gu Yan's words.

He did not speak, but nodded forcefully, his eyes incomparably firm.

Gu Yan smiled, that gentleness returning to his face, as if carrying expectations for the future.

He patted Li Wen's shoulder hard, turned to face the wider crowd, and said loudly: "The time has come! Fellow Junior Brothers and Sisters, Gu Yan, is off to slay Yao!"

"Slay Yao!"

The low response rang out under the night sky of Nine Heavens Peak, full of power and blessings, and also seemed to be declaring the unyielding will of the Xinhuo students to the increasingly cruel world down the mountain.

Under the lights, there were countless young, firm faces, yet they were burdened with a heavy future.

The farewell procession wound its way toward the foot of the mountain.

Li Wen stood on the edge of the crowd, watching Gu Yan's gradually receding back, feeling the urgency and oppression permeating the surroundings.

In the night sky of the Blue Star, there seemed to be invisible shadows expanding.

The road under his feet was heavy and long.

Time flew by, and another half year had passed since Gu Yan went down the mountain.

The morning of June 1st, 230 of the galactic calendar.

When the gentle sunlight spilled into the quiet room through the antique window lattices of the No. 1 Courtyard of Nine Heavens Peak, Li Wen, who was sitting cross-legged, slowly opened his eyes.

In his deep gaze, the power of the Thunder Evil lurked without being released, and the aura around him was as deep as the sea.

It had been four years.

From the weak youth who stepped into Kindling University, to the current number one person who shook the academy, the head of the flying star ranking, and the youngest Bright Moon Realm God-Demon in the past hundred years, the greenness of youth on Li Wen had long since faded.

His tall and straight posture contained astonishing power, and the unique aura originating from the Perfection of the Nine Heavens Divine Body in his every Move was steady and heavy, possessing an extraordinary demeanor.

He habitually glanced at the invisible panel in the depths of his spirit:

[Age: 22]

[Realm: Bright Moon Realm Early Stage (Rank 45.1)]

[Profession: Scholar Lv13 (151240 → 216040 / 409600)]

[Skills: Blade Technique - Blade Soul Realm (30%), Profound Vault Five Moves (Star-Galloping 100%, Thunder Strike 50%)]

[Cultivation Technique: God-Shocking Sting - Level Five (100%)]

Without lingering too long, his gaze quickly withdrew.

Four years like one day, changes were all in the diligent Cultivation.

After washing up and eating the high-energy customized meal prepared by the smart butler, Li Wen habitually walked toward the study in the corner of the courtyard.

The morning light shone through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, making the study bright and quiet.

Six hours of deep reading and learning every day had long become an instinct branded in his Bloodline, an important cornerstone supporting the continuous improvement of his strength.

But today, when he picked up a book, his state of mind had a slight ripple more than usual.

A heavy sense of anticipation came from the milestone about to be reached—learning for ten thousand hours.

This habit, which he had insisted on since the panel was activated, had traversed time and space, experienced four years of university storms, and was finally going to welcome its second qualitative change node today—the reward for the ten thousand-hour achievement.

Time passed quietly amidst the turning of book pages and the collision of thoughts.

Six hours passed in a flash.

[You have studied diligently for six hours, Scholar Experience + 360]

[Profession: Scholar Lv13 (216040 → 216400 / 409600)]

After two familiar messages, the long-awaited golden text finally popped up on the panel:

[Congratulations, you have become the first person on this server to achieve the "Learning for Ten Thousand Hours" achievement, rewarding "Scholar Experience Acquisition * 1.5 times"]

Li Wen's eyebrows raised slightly, a flash of joy in his eyes.

He had thought it would be a one-time grant of a large amount of Scholar Experience, but he hadn't expected it to be a permanent bonus reward—a 50% increase in the rate of Scholar Experience acquisition.

This meant that from now on, the 360 points of Scholar Experience he should have received every day would increase to 540 points.

The increase might not seem obvious in the short term, but once the time dimension is elongated, the value of this reward will grow exponentially, greatly shortening the long road to his future promotion to Advanced Scholar level.

"A very practical reward." Li Wen said to himself, a satisfied arc appearing on the corner of his mouth.

He closed the heavy book in his hand and was about to get up to enjoy lunch when his smart terminal on his wrist made a special, light sound.

In order to focus on Cultivation, his terminal settings had very strict message filtering, and only messages from a few important contacts could send alerts.

This sound immediately caught his attention.

He tapped the screen, and a familiar name came into view: "Teacher Fang".

That refined teacher who had enlightened him in martial arts during his third year of high school, wore gold-rimmed glasses, and always wore a crisp gray suit.

It had been a full four years since they parted in Qingshi County.

A feeling mixed with surprise and nostalgia welled up in his heart, and Li Wen immediately clicked on the message:

[Teacher Fang: Li Wen, I will be at Kindling University soon.]

The message was concise, but the content made Li Wen's spirit lift.