171: Chapter 171 Six Months Later

Immediately after, with the Cloud Dragon King as the center...

A pale gold Domain, intangible and formless yet as vast as an ocean, spread silently.

In an instant, it covered the entire battlefield, completely enveloping those ferocious Yao Race baring their fangs and brandishing their claws.

Within the Domain, time and space seemed to fall into a strange stagnation.

The pouncing shadows of the Yao, the spewing demon flames, the waving sharp claws—every hideous movement belonging to the Yao Race was, in this split second, like a painting cast into water.

Silently, they began to distort and decompose, eventually turning completely into nothingness, without leaving even a speck of dust behind.

[As I write this, I hope readers will remember our Domain w̆̈̆̈k̆̈̆̈̆̈ă̈̆̈n̆̈̆̈.c̆̈̆̈ŏ̈̆̈m̆̈̆̈ to read anytime]

Annihilation in the truest sense.

The battlefield, which had been filled with earth-shattering roars a moment ago, fell into a dead silence in the blink of an eye, leaving only a thick, inseparable smell of blood and the torn earth to prove the fierce battle that had occurred here.

The pressure suddenly vanished, and the taut heartstrings of the seven remaining garrison Divine Demons abruptly loosened.

Their overextended bodies and spirits could no longer hold out; like puppets with their strings cut, they all slumped backward and fainted.

An imperceptible heaviness flickered in the Cloud Dragon King's eyes.

The power of the Domain extended gently, like invisible palms supporting the seven fallen people, slowly laying them flat on the scorched but relatively clean ground.

With a flick of his finger, seven Medicinal Pills emitting a soft luster and a refreshing aroma landed accurately into each of their mouths.

The Medicinal Pills melted upon entry, their powerful life energy quickly nourishing their broken bodies and stabilizing their injuries that were on the brink of collapse.

After doing all this, the Cloud Dragon King stood with his hands behind his back.

A cyan-purple rainbow light of incredible speed streaked across the sky.

Like a bolt of lightning tearing through the night sky, it arrived at high speed accompanied by a piercing sonic boom, landing steadily in front of him.

The rainbow light faded, revealing Li Wen's figure. His forehead was slightly beaded with sweat, clearly having flown here at full speed; his breathing was slightly hurried, but his eyes remained calm and sharp.

As soon as Li Wen landed, his gaze swept over the instantaneous peace of the battlefield and his unconscious comrades on the ground, and he understood the situation.

He immediately retracted the True Essence and lightning circulating around him, took a step forward, and bowed deeply to the Cloud Dragon King with a sincere and respectful posture: "Thank you for your help, Junior Martial Uncle! Had you not arrived in time, not only would Antai County have been in peril, but I fear I would also have been unable to escape that fatal ambush earlier."

His tone was sincere and frank, without any sense of taking things for granted.

The fact that the Cloud Dragon King could descend upon the Antai County battlefield at the exact moment the Leader of the Snake Department moved to intercept him was no mere coincidence.

It must have been an arrangement made long ago by the principal, placing this crucial insurance policy by his side.

This bow was not only for the protection of Antai County but also for that invisible life-saving grace.

Looking at this young junior who possessed extraordinary talent and illustrious military merits yet maintained a rare humility, the Cloud Dragon King's square face showed a gentle and undisguised look of admiration as he nodded: "It is my duty, no need for such formalities. Your alertness and strength were the keys to turning this danger into safety."

After a few brief words, the characteristic light of military aircraft engines began to flicker and approach in the distant sky, signifying that military reinforcements had arrived.

The Cloud Dragon King said to Li Wen: "The matter here is concluded; the follow-up can be left to the military. Stay here for a moment, and once they have taken over, return to Qingshi County immediately. I also need to return and report."

"Yes, I respectfully see you off, Junior Martial Uncle!" Li Wen bowed again.

The Cloud Dragon King nodded slightly, and then his figure rippled like water. Without any world-shaking Aura, he silently merged into space and vanished from the spot, as if he had never appeared.

Li Wen did not leave immediately but quietly guarded the seven unconscious garrison members as instructed.

Until several large military medical transport boats and escort mechs roared down, and professional medical personnel quickly stepped forward to take over the treatment and battlefield cleanup.

He conducted a brief handover with the officer in charge, and only after confirming the arrival of support and follow-up arrangements did he feel at ease.

The aircraft he had been piloting earlier had been completely destroyed during the surprise attack by the Leader of the Snake Department.

He looked toward Qingshi County; the distance wasn't short, but for him at this moment, it wasn't a difficulty.

With a light tap of his feet on the ground, his entire being once again turned into a rapid rainbow light, tearing through the air and streaking toward Qingshi County at a speed far exceeding conventional cognition.

The speed granted to him by the Ninth Heavens Divine Body's Ninth Level Perfection allowed him, in the Bright Moon Realm, to look down upon most Marquis-level Divine Demons when traveling.

The night wind whistled in his ears, and the mountains and rivers beneath his feet receded rapidly.

In just a few short minutes, the familiar outline of Qingshi County, which guarded the Interstellar Gate, was already in sight.

Time flies like an arrow, and the sun and moon move like a shuttle.

In the blink of an eye, another half-year passed.

January 27th, galactic calendar year 232, coincided with the traditional New Year's Eve festival of Blue Star.

In the early morning, as the first light filtered through, Li Wen woke up in the courtyard.

He didn't get up immediately but habitually summoned the information panel in his mind that only he could see.

[Name: Li Wen]

[Age: 24 years old]

[Realm: Bright Moon Realm Peak (Level 48.7 → 49.9)]

[Class: Scholar Lv14 (120 → 97320 / 819200)]

[Skills: Blade Technique - Blade Soul Realm (70%), Xuanqiong Five Styles (Star Gallop 100%, Thunder Strike 100%, Tianque 100%, Star Vortex 50%)]

[Cultivation Technique: God-Shocking Sting - Sixth Layer (100%)]

After half a year of accumulation, his various abilities continued to advance steadily along their established trajectories.

A few days ago, his Physical Body Realm finally climbed to the Peak of the Bright Moon Realm, a natural progression.

The core conditions for breaking through to the Great Sun Realm—the Realm of Saber Intent and will—he had already possessed for a long time.

With the help of the Absolute Focus provided by Scholar Lv14, his Blade Technique Realm had advanced triumphantly to 70% of the Blade Soul Realm, only thirty percent away from that supreme level of the Dao of the Blade Domain.

The stabilization of his Foundation had been completed almost perfectly during the polishing of the past few days.

However, breaking through a major Realm was no small matter. Li Wen had always acted steadily, and to ensure nothing went wrong, he decided to consolidate further during the day today.

He had a small expectation in his heart: to complete the Breakthrough before the New Year's bell rang, welcoming this special New Year's Eve as a Great Sun Realm Divine Demon, considering it a New Year's gift to himself.

With his mind set, he closed the panel, stood up, and walked toward the washroom.

The cold stream of water washed away the last trace of sleepiness.

After enjoying a specially made breakfast full of abundant energy, Li Wen walked with steady steps into his study filled with ancient books.

The daily, unshakeable six hours of reading and study was his unique method for rapid growth and the Foundation of his Scholar class advancement; he would not allow the slightest slackening.

The rustle of turning pages was the only rhythm in the courtyard.

Six hours of time flowed exceptionally fast in the ocean of knowledge, and in the blink of an eye, it was already noon.

Within the alloy corridors of the Qingshi County Underground Fortress Pass, footsteps were steady.

Li Wen did not go back to his home on the surface to have lunch with his parents.

Since taking on the heavy responsibility of guarding the Qingshi County Interstellar Gate over a year ago, it had gradually become an unwritten rule to stand together with the stationed team members during every festival.

In the massive dining hall, the lights were bright, and a few exquisite dishes had been specially added, the plating carrying a bit of a festive flavor, but compared to the reunion dinners outside, it ultimately seemed much simpler.

What permeated the air more was the solemnity of year-round border guarding and the longing for family far away.

“Brother Li, over here!” Zhang Zhen's voice carried a rugged enthusiasm as he motioned for Li Wen to take a seat at a large round table.

Dozens of Divine Demons were seated around the table, their Realms ranging from the Flying Star Realm to the Late Stage of the Bright Moon Realm; they were all teammates who had stood side-by-side for a long time on this silent battlefront around the Interstellar Gate.

“Captain Li, Happy New Year's Eve!” a team member who looked even younger than Li Wen greeted with a smile, his tone carrying heartfelt respect.

Li Wen nodded and sat down: “Happy New Year to you too, everyone has worked hard. Eat more; it's the New Year, relax a bit.”

The simple greetings opened up the atmosphere.

Everyone began to eat, and the conversation naturally revolved around the thrilling moments of missions over the past year, insights from cultivation, and imaginings of what home looked like.

“I had a video call with my daughter last night; the little thing has grown quite a bit taller. She said she saved some dumplings for me—sigh, I just can't eat the ones she wrapped herself.”

An older middle-aged team member, Brother Chen, whose face bore the marks of wind and frost, sighed, his tone full of guilt and longing.

“Your wife didn't scold you over the phone, did she?” a teammate nearby teased.

“Heh, she didn't scold me; she just told me to guard well, saying that peace at home is better than anything else.”

Brother Chen gulped down some hot soup, a look of relief appearing on his face, though the sense of responsibility was etched even deeper.

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

Another young team member chimed in, "True, our position is special; we can't step away for even a moment. Just think back to the alarm in Nanzha County last year; if it weren't for Team Leader Li—"

"Hey, why bring that up? Eat, just eat." Zhang Zhen placed a piece of meat into Li Wen's bowl, "Brother Li, you must try this."

Listening to them, complex emotions surged within Li Wen.

He could understand the regret deep in everyone's eyes about not being able to return home. Except for him, whose home was right in Qingshi County, everyone else was from elsewhere.

But it was precisely this shared contribution and sacrifice that made their camaraderie, forged through life-and-death trials and day-to-day companionship, exceptionally profound.

At this moment, a slender young man wearing glasses stood up with a glass of wine and walked over to Li Wen.

His name was Zhao Mingyu, Li Wen's Junior Brother from Kindling University. He was one year below Li Wen, currently at the early stage of the Peak of the Flying Star Realm, and had been assigned to Qingshi County with Li Wen at that time.

"Senior Brother Li," Zhao Mingyu's voice was not loud but very clear. He looked at Li Wen with earnest eyes, "This glass—it's my toast to you."

He paused, seemingly organizing his words: "During several missions, if it weren't for your timely assistance, I and several other brothers might have already perished. That first time the Yao Race general charged the formation, and the ambush last month—your life-saving grace is something this Junior Brother has always kept in his heart."

His words were simple and sincere, without a hint of exaggeration.

The team members nearby, including those he had mentioned, also put down their chopsticks, looking at Li Wen with the same gratitude in their eyes.

Looking into his sincere eyes, many scenes from the past year flashed through Li Wen's mind.

He picked up his wine glass and stood up, responding calmly, "Junior Brother Zhao, you are too kind. Guarding the same gate and looking out for one another is our duty. Being able to return alive together is the best reward. We should have been prepared for this responsibility of protection when we first entered the school. Standing here now, regardless of rank, we are all fulfilling it."

He gently clinked his glass against Zhao Mingyu's, "The Kindling is passed on; safety is a blessing."

This response was not passionate, but it carried a heavy weight—it was an acknowledgment of their contributions and a hope for future safety.

Zhao Mingyu nodded heavily, a slight glint in his eyes, and downed the wine in one gulp.

This simple toast was like a microcosm; in the dining hall, this "reunion," built upon bonds of battle and a sense of responsibility, appeared exceptionally warm and resilient on this Lunar New Year's Eve afternoon.

In the afternoon, Li Wen returned to his quiet room located deep within the Underground Fortress Pass.

He did not immediately prepare for the final Breakthrough but instead sat down cross-legged.

His consciousness sank into his Sea of Consciousness, like the most skilled artisan meticulously inspecting his Foundation once more: the resilience and width of his Meridians, the vitality of thunder contained within his flesh, and the flowing radiance of his Primordial Spirit figure—

Everything was repeatedly probed, smoothed out, and consolidated by his Mental Energy.

Especially the Foundation constructed by the supreme Perfection of the Ninth Layer of the Nine Heavens Divine Body; it was as stable as a rock, perfectly supporting the impending qualitative change.

Deep within his Sea of Consciousness, the unique Origin of Saber Intent, which represented 70% progress in the Blade Soul Realm, was also quietly settling and purifying amidst this tranquil introspection, silently accumulating strength to welcome the gateway to the Dao of the Blade.

Time passed second by second; only his long, slow, and steady breathing remained in the quiet room.

Outside the window in the Underground Fortress Pass corridor, the festive atmosphere was wrapped in a heavy sense of mission. Meanwhile, inside the room, Li Wen was pushing his entire state to the absolute limit he could currently attain within this silence that belonged solely to him.

An entire afternoon flowed by in silence.

Li Wen, sitting cross-legged, finally opened his eyes. In the depths of his pupils, it seemed as if a galaxy flowed before returning to calm.

He exhaled a long breath of cold air mixed with frost. The thick, solid Foundation within his body, which had been tempered to the limit, was like refined gold forged a thousand times, with no trace of instability remaining.

"Finally, it is Perfection," Li Wen whispered to himself, his tone calm and ripple-free.

Repeatedly examining himself, his Meridians were wide and resilient, his flesh was full of vigorous vitality, his Primordial Spirit Power was as condensed as mercury, and the Origin of Saber Intent in his Sea of Consciousness had settled and purified to a pinnacle point.

His current state was already the absolute limit he could reach at the Peak of the Bright Moon Realm.

He glanced at the electronic clock embedded in the wall of the quiet room: January 27, 232 of the galactic calendar, 4:10 PM.

"It's time to go back." Li Wen's thoughts flickered, and he sent a message to the Garrison Team Leader, Zhang Zhen: "Team Leader Zhang, I'm heading home for a while; I'll be back later."

The message was concise and clear.

Rising, he straightened his usual black combat uniform and stepped out of the quiet room.

Without the slightest hesitation, his figure swayed slightly, and he suddenly transformed into a streaming purple rainbow light.

The speed was so fast that he instantly crossed the complex Underground Fortress Pass corridor and broke through the air directly from a hidden exit.

Having shared a simple yet warm lunch with his comrades at the station at noon, this was the moment to return home for reunion.

Wasn't the original intention of applying for a transfer back to Qingshi County precisely to be able to stay by his parents' side at this moment?

The rainbow light pierced the sky, cutting through the slightly gloomy winter dusk.

With his current speed, which surpassed that of ordinary Marquis-level Divine Demons, crossing this distance took only an instant.

In the blink of an eye, the rainbow light retracted, and Li Wen's figure was already hovering at the entrance of a quiet residential area next to the busiest central commercial street in Qingshi County.

The streets below were decorated with lanterns and streamers, overflowing with a thick festive holiday atmosphere. The crowds were bustling, a stark contrast to the grim and cold silence of the Underground Fortress Pass.

He did not draw attention to himself and landed quietly, like an ordinary traveler returning home, walking along the familiar path toward his own villa.

Back at the front door, the lock, which had long since registered his biological information, opened silently.

"Dad, Mom, I'm home." Li Wen's voice was gentle.

"A Wen is home!" His mother, Wang Juan, called out from the living room with a voice full of surprise.

His father, Li Hong, also poked his head out from the kitchen, his face full of smiles: "Just in time, the dumplings your mom is making are almost ready."

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

He saw that in the corner near the balcony, there were several rather exquisite gift boxes and baskets; the gold-stamped emblems on the packaging were clearly the logos of several major chambers of commerce and official departments in Qingshi County.

"Oh, those," Wang Juan followed his gaze, walking out of the kitchen while wiping her hands, "They were sent by some influential people in the county. They said it was to thank you for guarding Qingshi County and keeping the area safe. Your dad said we couldn't refuse them, so we just left them there for now."

Wang Juan's tone carried a hint of helplessness, but deep in her eyes, there was also a trace of pride for her son.

Li Hong walked over and sighed: "Back when you were still in school, no one ever sent things to our house. Now—it's different. But even though we accepted them, we didn't dare to touch anything inside."

He patted Li Wen on the shoulder, "However, the stability you've brought to our family is something these things can't compare to."

Li Wen nodded, understanding in his heart.

This was the most direct change brought about by strength and status.

He smiled: "Dad, Mom, these are just small matters. Leave them there; use what you need to use, don't shortchange yourselves. As for my affairs, just rest assured."

The appetizing aroma of dumplings soon wafted from the kitchen, mixed with the scent of other dishes.

The family of three sat around a small round table. On the television, a lively rehearsal for the New Year's Gala was playing, and the room was filled with warmth.

The warm Lunar New Year's Eve reunion dinner officially began.

Wang Juan kept placing food in Li Wen's bowl, nagging him to take care of his health while away, while Li Hong was concerned about whether his Cultivation progress was going smoothly and if he had encountered any new difficulties.

During the meal, the atmosphere was relaxed and happy.

After a few rounds of drinks, Wang Juan eventually couldn't help herself and asked with a smile: "Wenwen, you're twenty-four now, not small anymore. There are so many outstanding young women up on the mountain and down below; is there no one you fancy? Look at that boy from the Hu family; he's the same age as you, and I heard—"

"Ahem," Li Hong gave a light cough to interrupt, "The child's mind is on his career right now. Guarding our Qingshi County isn't easy; those things aren't urgent."

Although he said that, his eyes also revealed a hint of inquiry.

Li Wen laughed, picked up a dumpling, and popped it into his mouth: "Mom, that's just his broad personal interest. Me? My heart is on the Blade; the road ahead is still long. As for fate, it can't be forced; when it's time, it will come naturally."

He paused, his tone becoming more serious, "Besides, in the current situation, it's not the time to think about such things. First, guard the home; when everyone is safe, only then will our own small family have a Foundation."

Li Hong and Wang Juan exchanged a glance, feeling a bit heartbroken, but they understood the burden on their son's shoulders, so they said no more, only urging him to be extremely careful and to make sure to take care of himself.

After the meal, he helped clean up and accompanied his parents to watch television programs for a while, chatting and laughing about everyday life.