High Martial: I Grind Professions

He hadn’t wasted the past month.

He had buried himself in the library and the Cultivation Technique inheritance hall, and after considering his own personality and aptitude, he had long since set his sights on a specific goal.

Figuring it was best to get it over with, Wang Shuo summoned his courage and quickly walked to the edge of the main stage to face the twelve Peak Masters and their immense auras.

He took a deep breath and his gaze swept across them. Without much hesitation, he walked directly to the front of the Sky-splitting Peak Master and stood there respectfully.

He chose Sky-splitting Peak.

The Sky-splitting Peak Master’s red eyebrows rose slightly. He seemed surprised that the disciple ranked last would choose him so quickly, but he simply gave a slight nod in confirmation.

The distant crowd of Sky-splitting Peak disciples erupted in welcoming laughter and applause.

Seeing Wang Shuo find his place, Li Wen and the few others from Jiangnan Province breathed a sigh of relief.

And so, the Peak Selection Ceremony officially began.

One hundred ninety-ninth, one hundred ninety-eighth... One by one, the disciples stepped forward to stand before their chosen Peak Masters, each decision long since deliberated.

In front of the main stage, the nascent forms of twelve lines, all of different lengths, began to take shape.

Unsurprisingly, the line before the Sky-splitting Peak Master was far and away the longest, quickly forming a veritable serpent.

Xingyan Peak, Bibo Peak, and other peaks known for their established legacies also drew considerable numbers.

Meanwhile, the space before the Nine Heavens Peak Master—that aloof figure in black robes—remained conspicuously empty and desolate.

Thus far, not a single person had dared to step forward.

The Nine Heavens Divine Body passed down on Nine Heavens Peak was the foremost of the twelve Super Grade divine arts at Xinhuo University. Its potential was unmatched and its power vast, but it was also infamous for its dangerous cultivation and incredibly high threshold.

Countless stunningly brilliant prodigies had hit a wall with it, unable to make an inch of progress. In the end, they were forced to switch to other divine arts, wasting the best years of their cultivation journey.

During the previous Peak Selection, not a single disciple chose Nine Heavens Peak, a testament to its desolate reputation.

For the dozen or so Marquis Level powerhouses on the distant viewing platform, and for the senior disciples craning their necks to watch from the periphery, it was a familiar sight to see their gazes sweep over that empty line.

"...Twentieth place, Chen Xing, step forward and choose your Peak!"

The resonant voice of the Marquis Level expert presiding over the ceremony echoed out.

A disciple of average build took a deep breath and strode forward under the watchful gaze of hundreds.

He didn’t hesitate. With resolute steps, he headed straight for the front of the plaza, walking past the long, star-like line for Xingyan Peak and the imposing queue for Sky-splitting Peak.

Finally, to the mild surprise of everyone below the stage, he came to a firm stop before the seat of the Nine Heavens Peak Master.

"Student Chen Xing wishes to enter Nine Heavens Peak."

His voice wasn’t loud, but it was like a stone dropped into a still lake.

"Oh?"

"He actually chose Nine Heavens Peak?"

"Ranked twentieth... He has courage, but still..."

A buzz of discussion rose from the crowd.

The senior disciples of Nine Heavens Peak—dozens of figures with reserved auras who had seemed detached from the proceedings—finally showed a flicker of emotion in their eyes.

He was only ranked twentieth, but after a string of disappointments, they finally saw a junior brother heading their way. A rare smile appeared on a few of their faces as they exchanged affirming nods.

"’Not bad. This junior brother has good taste, not just following the crowd.’"

"’We’re finally open for business. I hope he can last...’"

On the main viewing platform, the attention of the Marquis Level experts also turned to this spot.

One of them nodded slightly. "Ranked twentieth, yet his ambition isn’t low. His courage in choosing Nine Heavens Peak is commendable."

Another, however, shook his head nonchalantly. "His comprehension and disposition are passable, but to cultivate the Nine Heavens Divine Body... it’s a long shot. In previous years, even top-five geniuses have failed and fallen into obscurity, to say nothing of someone ranked twentieth. He’ll most likely struggle for a few years before having to shamefully switch to another technique."

The brief ripple of excitement didn’t last long.

As everyone watched, the twentieth-ranked disciple took his place before the dais of the Nine Heavens Peak Master, becoming the first and only figure in that lonely line.

After him, new disciples continued to step forward one by one to choose their Peak.

Whether it was out of fear for the dangers of the Nine Heavens Divine Body or a preference for safer Super Grade techniques, not a single one of the next dozen or so disciples chose Nine Heavens Peak.

As the lines for the other Peaks grew longer and longer, Nine Heavens Peak remained starkly solitary. The desolation was so palpable it almost became a form of tangible pressure.

Until—

"Third place, Fang Chenghong, step forward and choose your Peak!"

That name seemed to possess a magical quality, instantly capturing the entire audience’s attention.

Fang Chenghong, third on this year’s Golden List. His overall strength was said to be great enough to have taken first place in the previous year’s assessment.

Even more famously, long before the assessment, he had publicly declared his goal: he would cultivate the Nine Heavens Divine Body or nothing at all.

The Marquis Level clan elder standing behind him, Fang Jingshan, was the source of his greatest support and confidence.

Although everyone had been expecting it, when Fang Chenghong actually rose to his feet and began to walk forward under the watchful eyes of the entire crowd, the murmuring intensified dramatically.

"Here he comes! It’s Fang Chenghong, just as expected!"

"Third on the Golden List, exceptionally talented... I hear he’s built an incredibly solid physical foundation. Maybe he actually has a chance?"

"’The Nine Heavens Divine Body is just too difficult. Even the Peak Master himself said that none can even begin to learn it without peerless comprehension and matchless willpower. Fang Chenghong is strong, but I’m afraid even he...’"

"’Tch, you don’t get it! His clan has definitely made thorough preparations. They might even have a Secret Technique or special resources to help him break through.’"

Countless gazes followed his every move, a mixture of speculation, anticipation, and doubt.

Fang Chenghong’s resolve was firm. He paid no mind to the discussions swirling around him. His eyes were sharp, his steps as steady as a boulder, and his goal was clear: Nine Heavens Peak.

Under the complex gazes of the entire crowd, he finally arrived before the seat of the Nine Heavens Peak Master and announced in a clear, loud voice: