High Martial: I Grind Professions

For the first time, a look of profound shock appeared on his face, a face that was always as steady as a mountain.

He knew Nangong Xue’s strength better than anyone.

’To be... defeated so cleanly?!’ 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

He looked at Li Wen, his gaze growing graver than ever before. Within that gravity, a fierce battle intent began to burn.

In that moment, Li Wen’s threat level in his mind skyrocketed to an unprecedented high.

The final duel.

On the vast virtual stage, only two people remained.

It was as if the air had been sucked out of the arena, leaving only the sound of their heavy, stifled breaths.

All the noise faded away. Countless eyes from across the colosseum, from across the entire Jiangnan province, were locked onto these two peak geniuses.

Chu Feng, the champion of the first provincial mock exam, and Li Wen, the dark horse who had appeared out of nowhere to decisively slay Nangong Xue.

Chu Feng said nothing. He simply raised his spear, its tip aimed at Li Wen from a distance.

The dormant aura around him erupted like an awakening volcano, suddenly surging and boiling over.

The dark silver spear hummed and vibrated. Its presence was no longer condensed and mountain-like. Instead, it exuded an unparalleled sharpness, as if it could tear the sky and pierce through anything.

The full power of his late-stage Spear Intent was on display.

Li Wen swung his long saber, the blade letting out a low hum as it cut through the air. He remained in a state of absolute focus, his eyes calm yet as deep as a starry sky.

He immediately assumed the opening stance of the Defensive Form.

But the Blade Intent brewing around him was circulating rapidly, carrying the faint sense of overlapping waves, as if ready to unleash a surging, tide-like attack at any moment.

There were no more probing moves.

"Army-Breaker: Sun-Piercer!" Chu Feng was the first to attack, his spear striking like a dragon.

A beam of dark gold spear light, condensed to its absolute limit—fast, decisive, and tyrannical.

It seemed to pierce through space itself, aiming straight for Li Wen’s face! It was a killing blow that ignored all defense, a strike designed to shatter a wide area with a single point!

"Overlapping Waves: Ninth Layer!" Li Wen’s thoughts raced as he instantly switched techniques.

The arc of his Defensive Form instantly converged as his long saber slashed across the air.

Each slash was faster and heavier than the one before!

The grayish-white saber light surged like layer upon layer of monstrous waves, containing explosive power compressed to its very limit as it rushed to meet the terrifying beam of spear light.

BOOM—!!!

A deafening roar exploded in the virtual space! The grayish-white waves of saber light clashed violently with the dark gold spear beam!

A violent, ring-shaped shockwave of energy erupted, instantly clearing away all the virtual dust on the ground! The intense light was so blinding that countless people couldn’t keep their eyes open!

SCHHNK! SLAAASH! The two figures shot past each other in the heart of the explosion.

When the light faded, the two stood back-to-back.

Chu Feng looked down at his chest. A saber wound, deep enough to have nearly run him through, was rapidly dissolving into the light of the virtual world’s rules.

His eyes were filled with shock and disbelief, which finally gave way to a bitter, resigned smile. He whispered:

"A fine... blade..." Before he could finish, his body dissipated into the light of the virtual world’s rules.

Li Wen staggered, propping himself up with his saber to keep from falling.

A gruesome spear wound on his left shoulder, one that had nearly destroyed it, was rapidly healing under the same rule-based light.

Blood stained half his body red.

His face was pale, his Spiritual Power almost completely depleted. He could no longer maintain his state of absolute focus.

But his eyes were astonishingly bright.

’I won!’

By that brutal, razor-thin margin, he had slain Chu Feng—the recognized strongest combatant of his generation in Jiangnan province.

He had reached the summit!

High above the virtual colosseum, a massive light screen flashed with golden light, and an announcement that would shake the entire province rang out:

"Jiangnan Province Second Mock Exam · Comprehensive Combat Assessment · Final Rankings—"

"First Place: Li Wen (Bluestone Third Middle School)!"

"Second Place: Chu Feng (Provincial Capital First Middle School)!"

"Third Place: Nangong Xue (Provincial Capital Second Middle School)!"

...

The glittering golden name "Li Wen" hung high at the top of the list.

The crowd went wild! The entire stadium was in an uproar!

"Fi...First place!"

"Li Wen won!! He really beat Chu Feng!! Number one in Jiangnan!"

"My god! Bluestone Third Middle? What kind of backwater place is that? Li Wen... that name is about to become legendary!"

"A miracle! An absolute miracle! A student from some county’s Third Middle School just soared to the very top of Jiangnan!"

The public viewing area erupted in a deafening roar as countless people leaped to their feet, shouting in excitement.

The section for Bluestone Third Middle School completely exploded. Everyone was screaming, jumping, and hugging each other, crying tears of joy.

For a county-level middle school to produce the champion of the Jiangnan provincial mock exam was an absolutely unprecedented honor.

The observers from the various martial arts universities could no longer remain seated.

Shock, amazement, scrutiny, fervor... all sorts of emotions swirled together.

"Challenging those above his level, taking on two at once, and ultimately claiming the top spot... Even for a Technique Awakened, a record like that is simply heaven-defying," someone muttered.

"His combat intelligence, adaptability, and control over his techniques are all at a terrifying level. Even if he’s eventually limited by the ceiling for Technique Awakened, he’s still more than worthy of an S-rank contract."

The eyes of the martial arts university observers gleamed.

"We have to contact him immediately. We can’t let anyone else get to him first!" Minds raced in the booths of the various martial arts universities, and countless directives were sent out in an instant.

...

In the prodigy viewing area.

Fang Yiming and the others were silent. All traces of contempt had vanished from their faces, replaced only by the dejection of being utterly surpassed, mixed with a hint of resentment.

In that moment, the name "Li Wen" spread like a wildfire, instantly sweeping across the entire Jiangnan province.

Countless high schools, factions, and news outlets were all repeating the name.

A legend from a county-level middle school had appeared out of nowhere, shattering the monopoly held by the top prodigies from the provincial capital.

And so, the second provincial mock exam came to a close.

But a new legend, the legend of Li Wen, was just beginning.

...

「The next morning, April 22nd.」

Sunlight streamed through massive floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the main signing room on the top floor of the Fire Hall’s Bluestone branch in a bright, dignified light.

Li Wen, dressed in a clean and tidy standard-issue combat uniform, stood before a large electronic signing platform.

Beside him stood Chen Yuanfeng, the Hall Master of the Bluestone branch. He wore a gentle smile, but the depths of his eyes held an unconcealable admiration.

"Li Wen, congratulations." Chen Yuanfeng’s voice was filled with praise.

"The champion of the Jiangnan provincial mock exam! That result far exceeded our initial expectations. Your actions have proven your unparalleled talent and potential. The Fire Hall’s Jiangnan provincial headquarters even held an emergency meeting last night because of your performance."

He solemnly operated the control console.

"Therefore, on behalf of the Fire Hall, I am formally extending you an invitation for an S-rank core seed contract.

This contract represents our highest hopes for your future and our most resolute support. You will be the first person to ever hold an S-rank contract from our Bluestone branch since its founding!"

Chen Yuanfeng pointed to the densely packed clauses hovering on the electronic screen. The core terms were highlighted:

Rank Promotion: V4 upgraded to V5 (S-rank Contract Seed).

Resource Provision: Fire Hall Points, Core Cultivation Points, cash stipend, and access permissions all tripled from the original A-rank contract.

Divine Demon Foundation: ...

Seeing that last item, a ripple of genuine, irrepressible excitement finally appeared in the depths of Li Wen’s calm eyes.

The Fire Hall would provide all foundational treasures for the Super Martial Artist’s Divine Demon stage.

This was the primary reason he had sought an S-rank contract.

It was the foundation needed to build a supreme Divine Demon body and ascend to the absolute peak of the Martial Dao.

He had frantically climbed the ranks in the arena and fought desperately for his place in the provincial mock exam, all for this very moment.

The Fire Hall’s resources and promises had just paved more than half of his path to becoming the strongest Super Martial Artist and reaching the Divine Demon Realm.

"I accept." Li Wen took a deep breath and, without a moment’s hesitation, swiped his finger across the signature area on the electronic screen.

"Identity verification successful!"

"Iris verification successful!"

"Spiritual fluctuation binding confirmed!"

"Signing process complete! S-rank core seed contract is now in effect!"

HUM!

As the confirmation tone sounded, a soft light projected from the signing platform and scanned Li Wen’s body, appearing to update the authentication mark within him.

At the same time, the personal terminal on his wrist lit up, and his information page automatically refreshed: