176: Chapter 176 Reunion with an Old Friend, the Way of the Sword is About to Be Completed

The Primordial Spirit avatar's movements became incredibly focused and slow.

Wisps of Primordial Spirit Power, as thin as a hair but condensed to the extreme.

Guided by an invisible, hair-precision engraving knife, they traced mysterious and unpredictable trajectories within the void-like Sea of Consciousness.

Each stroke was accompanied by a high level of concentration of Divine Sense and a profound understanding of the rune's true meaning.

The rune lines were not simple connections but contained complex and profound Law fragments such as space folding, energy extreme changes, and consciousness penetration.

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The entire process was extremely mentally taxing, far more draining than any high-intensity battle.

Sweat seeped from the forehead of Li Wen's physical body, then evaporated.

Time ticked by, second by second.

From outlining the basic framework to filling the energy circuits, and then engraving the core destruction nodes—the seven-foot Primordial Spirit avatar was as steady as a rock, its movements carrying a near-cold, precise aesthetic.

The surrounding Primordial Spirit Power, like a rushing galaxy, continuously converged onto the avatar's fingertips, transforming into strokes of runes.

About half an hour later.

When the Primordial Spirit avatar drew the last wisp of Primordial Spirit Power and placed the final stroke at the core point of that complex rune structure—

Zzzzt!

The entire Sea of Consciousness space seemed to be suddenly gripped by an invisible force, then abruptly relaxed.

Within the God-Shocking Sting rune floating before the Primordial Spirit avatar, all the heart-stopping sharpness, bone-chilling killing intent, and terrifying energy fluctuations—all externalized auras vanished in an instant.

It shimmered with a dull yet extremely restrained luster.

If not for Divine Sense deliberately probing it, one would almost overlook its existence, like a plain and unadorned piece of black jade, quietly floating in the Sea of Consciousness.

Returning to simplicity, all sharpness concealed.

This was the mark of the successful engraving of the seventh layer of the God-Shocking Sting.

It was also the key to its qualitative change in power, capable of threatening Marquis-level Experts across ranks—extreme concealment and explosive power.

Although the Primordial Spirit avatar's Face appeared weary, the corners of its mouth couldn't help but curl upward in an extremely subtle arc.

He reached out his hands in a moon-cupping gesture, took this dark rune—which had completed its basic engraving and possessed initial power but still needed time to be nurtured—into his mouth, and finally submerged it into the core Origin space inside his body.

Nurturing began.

The Primordial Spirit avatar immediately centered its mind, beginning to slowly nourish and refine this newborn "Sting" with its own Origin Primordial Spirit Power.

Each session of nurturing would make its connection with Li Wen's Primordial Spirit tighter, and its power would gradually increase, pointing straight to the moment of complete nurturing, where the sharpness was thoroughly internalized and the power climbed to its Peak.

Li Wen, sitting cross-legged in the quiet room, slowly opened his eyes. A brilliant gleam flashed in his pupils and vanished, returning to depth and peace.

Feeling that brand-new core trump card gestating in the depths of his Sea of Consciousness, a sense of groundedness from controlling power and bearing responsibility rose in his heart.

The sunlight outside the window was already bright; a new day of protection and battle was about to begin on the magnificent Blue Star defense line.

Time flowed silently like a white horse passing a crevice.

In the blink of an eye, it was December 28, 233 of the galactic calendar.

Today was Li Wen's 26th birthday.

On this special day, Li Wen had no intention of resting.

Over the past year or so, under his command, the defense line of Changning City had been as solid as a fortress, and the harassing Yao Race had nearly gone extinct.

This peace brought a continuous influx of population, making this fortress city increasingly crowded, with people from all walks of life mixed in.

Li Wen knew that beneath the surface calm, there might be undercurrents, which was the significance of his daily routine patrols.

With the help of his Primordial Spirit perception, which had skyrocketed after breaking through to the Middle Stage of the Great Sun Realm and now had a precise coverage radius of over five kilometers, Li Wen, like an invisible net, combed through every corner of Changning City time and time again.

The low-level informants of the lurking Shadow Organization often could not escape this near-dimensional-reduction scan.

Unfortunately, most of those dragged out were peripheral figures who knew little about the core of the Shadow Organization or the movements of the Yao Race; some were even confused about who they were working for, making them of limited value.

The sky was a wintry grey-white, and the cold air was biting.

Li Wen's Primordial Spirit thoughts, like invisible tentacles, swept across Changning City No. 1 Experimental Primary School.

The area around this recognized top academic institution was bustling with traffic.

Just then, a familiar aura and image were "seen" by him.

It was his martial arts initiation teacher and homeroom teacher from high school, Wang Hu.

Years later, Wang Hu still maintained that tough spirit, though some traces of time and hardship had been added between his brows.

He was holding a timid little girl, about six or seven years old, and was standing in front of a slightly chubby middle-aged man wearing a Dean's badge.

Across the noisy crowd and traffic, Li Wen clearly heard fragments of their conversation.

The Dean's smile was polite but distant, his voice lowered: "——Mr. Wang, I understand your intentions, but resources are limited—so many parents are vying for them, and the school has to consider everything comprehensively. Just for the student quota, the waiting list goes until the year after next—of course, there isn't absolutely no way—"

That suggestive tone was all too familiar.

Wang Hu pursed his lips tightly, his fist at his side unconsciously clenched, then slowly relaxed.

His ordinary dark blue cotton jacket, the old-model smart watch on his wrist, and his slightly awkward movements when handing over the seemingly very ordinary local specialty—all silently explained his situation.

Finally, he sighed imperceptibly, pulled his daughter out of the crowd, his figure exuding an indescribable loneliness, his steps somewhat heavy.

Li Wen recognized that little girl; she was the apple of his eye that the other party had mentioned when he used to correspond with Wang Hu.

Wang Hu was upright and even a bit stubborn in his bones. Back then, he had taken good care of the impoverished Li Wen but had never asked for anything in return.

Now, his strength was still stuck at the High-level Martial Artist level, and life in this turbulent society was clearly not easy.

Li Wen had given him his contact information, but Wang Hu had never bothered him with private matters. This time, sacrificing his pride to beg someone so his daughter could get into a good school was likely his limit.

Therefore, Li Wen did not appear.

He knew Wang Hu's pride; intervening rashly at this moment might instead embarrass him.

He silently noted this down and continued to project his vast Primordial Spirit thoughts toward other areas of the city.

On the other side, Wang Hu silently held his daughter's hand, crossing more than half the city.

The further east they went, the lower and older the buildings appeared, and the streets became narrower.

They finally stopped in front of an old residential building complex in the eastern suburbs.

Opening one of the thin alloy doors, a damp chill rushed toward them.

The house was not big, the furnishings were simple, and the wall plaster was cracked and peeling in some places.

Even such an old house was something he had spent most of his funds to acquire.

The sound of stir-frying and cooking fumes came from the kitchen.

"You're back?" A woman wearing an apron leaned out, and after seeing Wang Hu's expression, she swallowed the rest of her words.

Her figure still showed some of her youthful contours, but the fine lines at the corners of her eyes were clearly visible in the dim light, and her skin showed traces of hard work.

"It didn't work out?" Her voice sank.

"Yeah." Wang Hu responded simply, changed his shoes, and entered the house.

The woman told her daughter to go back to her room to do homework and pulled Wang Hu to the end of the hallway.

The cold wind sneaked in through the window cracks, making people shrink their necks.

"Didn't you say you had some confidence before you left? Why are you wilting now?" The woman's voice rose, carrying irrepressible anxiety and dissatisfaction. "Sister Liu's child, their conditions aren't even as good as ours, so how could they get in?"

"It's different, she has connections on her uncle-in-Law's side—"

"Connections? Connections just mean the money wasn't used in the right place!" The woman interrupted him. "You just can't bring yourself to beg people, and you're reluctant to spend that little bit of money on gifts?"

"It's not a money issue!" Wang Hu suddenly looked up, his Face flushed red. "It's that person—"

"It's you who are dying for Face and suffering for it!" The woman's eyes also turned red. "To secure our daughter's future, what's wrong with lowering your head? Is your pathetic self-esteem that important? More important than our daughter's future?"

Looking at Wang Hu's Face, which was flushed red but unable to retort, a wave of anger surged up. "Fine, you won't beg people, you can't lose Face! I will! I'll go beg Li Wen, okay?" She almost roared out the name.

"Don't talk nonsense! Why would you go find him!" Wang Hu snapped, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

"What's wrong with finding him? He was your student! Who doesn't know that he is the biggest backer in Changning City now? The whole of Changning relies on him to be guarded! You, his former homeroom teacher, can't even open your mouth to ask him for such a small favor?"

The woman questioned him like a machine gun, tears rolling down her Face. "You claim to be doing this for the students, but now that it's your turn, can't you consider the favor the students have shown you—and think of your daughter? She is Li Wen's Junior Sister!"

Wang Hu felt as if all his strength had been drained, his proud head slowly drooping.

The cold concrete wall of the hallway pressed against his back.

His daughter's sensible and knowledge-thirsty eyes appeared before him.

On one side was the code of conduct he had strictly upheld for most of his life, and on the other was his daughter's future.

The long silence solidified in the cold wind.

Finally, Wang Hu's shoulders slumped, and a hoarse voice squeezed from his throat: "—Don't go. I—I will go find him tomorrow."

The woman was stunned, then quickly wiped her Face. The anger and sadness from moments ago miraculously dissipated, leaving only a hint of anticipation. "That's right! For our daughter—it's not shameful. Come on, go inside. Dinner is ready, and I made what you like today."

She tugged at Wang Hu and pushed the door open to enter the house; the sound of the stove being reignited came from the kitchen.

In the core area of the Changning City Underground Fortress Pass, there was a simple office.

On the screen in front of Li Wen, a city map flickered.

Zheng Ming, the director of the Changning City City Defense Coordination Office, who had just finished reporting the overall situation of the daily patrol and was about to leave, was called back by Li Wen.

"Director Zheng, wait. There is a private matter, please help me handle it while you're at it." Li Wen's tone was calm.

Zheng Ming immediately stopped and turned around, his body subconsciously standing straighter, his tone respectful: "Captain Li, please give your orders."

"At Changning First Primary School, there is a person named Wang Hu whose daughter is having some trouble with enrollment. I checked the process; it should be compliant. If it's convenient, please help communicate and finalize it."

Zheng Ming was first stunned, then his Face filled with an even more enthusiastic smile: "So it's this matter! Captain Li, rest assured, there is absolutely no problem! It's a small matter, leave it to me! What is the child's name?"

As he asked, he quickly took out an electronic memo.

Li Wen provided the name and added, "Just handle this matter discreetly; there is no need to specifically mention that I suggested it."

Zheng Ming understood immediately and patted his chest to guarantee: "Understood! Captain Li, rest assured, it will definitely be handled properly, and not a whisper will leak out!"

He immediately realized that this was an old acquaintance of Li Wen, and the other party seemed not to want to make a fuss.

Leaving Li Wen's office, the respect on Zheng Ming's Face receded, but that sense of efficiency remained undiminished.

He returned to his office and dialed a communication number.

After it connected, his voice became quite authoritative: "It's me, Zheng Ming. In this year's list of new students for the First Experimental Primary School, there is a child named Wang Xi, whose father is Wang Hu. The enrollment qualification needs to be implemented immediately; add them to the first-tier list, go do it now—don't ask why! This is a special arrangement related to the coordination of city defense tasks, and I will inform the City Government simultaneously—yes, immediately! After it's done, notify that Mr. Wang, and be sincere in your tone."

Orders were quickly passed down level by level, with astonishing efficiency.

That evening, a few home-cooked dishes were placed on the old table at Wang Hu's home, and the atmosphere was somewhat dull.

Wang Hu shoveled rice, thinking about how to bring it up tomorrow; the matter weighed on his heart like a stone.

His wife silently served him vegetables without saying much.

Suddenly, the communicator on his wrist rang sharply—an unfamiliar local number.

Wang Hu answered with confusion: "Hello?"

"Hello! May I ask if this is Mr. Wang Hu?" The voice on the other end was extremely polite, even a bit hurried.

"It is. Who are you?"

"That's great, Mr. Wang! I am Xiao Zhang from the Academic Affairs Office of Changning First Experimental Primary School! Good news! Regarding your daughter's enrollment, we have re-reviewed the Materials and processes. We are very sorry; it was our oversight before! It is now confirmed that your daughter's enrollment qualification fully meets the first-tier admission standards! On behalf of the school, I am officially notifying you. Please bring your child to complete the enrollment procedures tomorrow morning if you are free! We are truly sorry for the trouble we have caused you!"

The voice on the other end of the phone was enthusiastic, with a hint of imperceptible nervousness.

Wang Hu was completely stunned, his mouth half-open, the phone still pressed to his ear, as if what was coming out of it was an alien language.

His wife stopped her chopsticks and stared at him nervously.

"Ah? —Oh—oh okay—thank you—" Wang Hu hung up the phone incoherently and looked at his wife in a daze.

"What happened? Whose call was it? What did they say?" his wife asked eagerly.

"It's—it's the First Experimental Primary School—" Wang Hu's voice sounded like he was sleepwalking, "They said—they said they made a mistake—Xi Xi—can go handle the paperwork tomorrow—"

The woman's eyes lit up instantly, and she stood up abruptly, both surprised and delighted: "Really? That's great! That's wonderful!"

She spun around in place with joy. Seeing that Wang Hu was still in a daze, she couldn't help but push him: "Why are you just standing there! It's a good thing! I told you, our Xi Xi is so smart, she would definitely get in!"

Wang Hu finally reacted slowly, the stiff expression on his Face gradually loosening. A complex emotion of disbelief and uncontrollable joy rose up, finally turning into a long, relieved sigh.

He didn't know who had moved their finger behind the scenes, nor did he know why that admission ticket, which originally seemed like a chasm in his heart, had fallen so easily.

He only knew that his daughter's problem was solved.

He picked up his bowl and shoveled a mouthful of rice that had already gone a bit cold.

The rice grains chewed in his mouth seemed to carry a hint of unreal sweetness.

Time flowed, and before he knew it, it was July 1st, 234, galactic calendar.

Since taking over the core responsibility of the Changning City defense line, Li Wen had been guarding here for two full years.

Over seven hundred days and nights, his blade had been stained with blood, and his battle results were remarkable.

The Yao Race that had fallen under his blade had long since exceeded a thousand in total.

Among them, only one or two out of ten actually came from the Changning City Underground Interstellar Gate. Most were obtained during the repeated emergency support of the surrounding areas and while executing patrol and clearing missions outside.

Frequent killings caused a condensed and heavy Evil Qi of the Yao Race to wrap around his body, like an invisible blood mist, constantly attempting to erode his spirit and impact his Sea of Consciousness.

If ordinary Martial Artists were infected by this clinging Evil Qi, at best their minds would become restless and their strength would greatly regress, and at worst, they would suffer a mental breakdown. However, Li Wen had long since become accustomed to it.

He even took the initiative to guide this ferocious Evil Qi, treating it as a whetstone, day and night tempering and honing his own will, making it increasingly pure and resilient, like cold steel that had been tempered a thousand times.

For two years, no matter how tense the war was or how trivial the daily affairs were, Li Wen had never neglected his Cultivate of Blade Technique for a single day.

The daily fixed five-hour [Absolute Focus] period was his mandatory course that never wavered.

Over the years, his spirit had been immersed in the vast and subtle [Profound Vault Rainbow Silence Chapter], repeatedly comprehending, deducing, and brandishing his blade.

That solid barrier standing between the "Blade Soul Realm" and the "Dao Realm," under his persistent grinding like water wearing down stone, had long been fragile, like a spider web spread on window paper.

When he went on his morning patrol today, an unprecedentedly strong premonition lingered in his heart—it was today.

After patrolling all the warning nodes in Changning City as usual in the morning, Li Wen returned to his quiet study in his courtyard in the suburbs.

There were many ancient books on the bookshelf; he took out a rare edition discussing the changes in spatial energy, calmed his mind, and immersed himself in it.

Reading was one of the most stable ways to acquire Scholar experience, and also a good method to broaden one's thinking and settle one's spirit.

In the afternoon, the scorching sun poured onto the earth.

Li Wen's figure turned into a purple rainbow light as fast as a meteor, instantly skimming over the urban jungle, and landed on a desolate but solid nameless hill to the west of Changning City—this was the place where he usually practiced his Blade Technique.

The moment his feet touched the solid rock on the ground, that sense of Breakthrough lingering in his heart suddenly became incomparably clear and surging, as if a dormant volcano was about to erupt.

With a slight movement of his mind, the [Absolute Focus] state was silently activated. All the colors and sounds around him seemed to be filtered out in an instant. His spirit was as clear as a bright mirror, reflecting only the blade in his hand and the Dao in his heart.

He slowly raised his hand, not in any fixed form from the [Profound Vault Rainbow Silence Chapter], but by immersing his spirit into the refinement and fusion of the core Concept of the five Blade Technique styles.

The extreme speed of [Star Gallop] turned into intent, with the will guiding space. The overwhelming force of [Thunder Strike] turned into rhythm, magnificently shaking the Divine Soul.