High Martial: I Grind Professions

Otherwise, forcibly advancing by 0.2 levels in a single month during the Late-stage Great Sun Realm—a stage where every step up was like climbing to the heavens—would be nothing short of a fantasy.

’I’m just a little more than a single step away from the Peak of the Great Sun Realm...’

As Li Wen felt the True Essence within him—surging like a great river, blazing like a furnace—a fervent anticipation welled up in his heart.

The Peak of the Great Sun Realm was the stepping stone to attaining the rank of Marquis.

Being a Marquis Demigod wasn’t merely a leap in cultivation realm; it represented the supreme glory bestowed by the Human Race.

Every Marquis-level expert would receive their own unique title—the most direct form of recognition for those who had made immense contributions to humanity or possessed the strength to establish their own sect.

But what Li Wen valued was far more than the glory—it was the transformative surge in power that accompanied it.

An ancient saying circulated throughout the Human Race’s cultivation world: "All below the rank of Marquis are but ants."

The confidence behind this statement stemmed from the unique ability awakened at the Marquis realm—the Star Dome Domain.

The Star Dome Domain was practically an all-encompassing combat power multiplier.

It required no extra energy to maintain, acting as a sovereign space formed by the projection of one’s own power.

Within this domain, a Marquis-level expert’s perception grew sharper, their ability to mobilize energy became faster, and the very Laws of the world would bend in their favor.

Everything from speed, strength, defense, and recovery to control over worldly energies and resistance to mental attacks would receive a significant boost.

The feeling was akin to having a peerless master—one who was perfectly in sync with your thoughts and an expert in domain amplification—providing flawless support right beside you.

In fact, the effect was even more potent, as the domain was an extension of one’s own power, making the synergy impeccable.

This didn’t mean that demigods who specialized in a particular type of domain became obsolete.

Quite the contrary! The Star Dome Domain could stack perfectly with a specialized domain, creating a synergistic effect where one plus one equaled more than two.

When an offensive domain was stacked with the Star Dome Domain, its destructive power would become even more ferocious, while its inherent defensive weaknesses would be shored up by the Star Dome Domain’s holistic reinforcement.

When a defensive domain was stacked with the Star Dome Domain, its defenses would become nigh-impregnable, while its counter-attacks or control abilities would be imbued with far greater offensive potency.

The Star Dome Domain had no fixed attribute alignment, but it could perfectly accommodate and amplify domains cultivated in any other specialization.

It set a Marquis-level expert on the path to becoming a true all-rounder with no weaknesses, while simultaneously allowing them to push their primary specialization to its absolute extreme.

Its wondrous applications filled Li Wen with an intense desire to break through.

HUUU—

Li Wen slowly exhaled, suppressing the turmoil in his heart before closing his eyes once more.

’I still need to deepen my comprehension of the Saber Dao. My physical body still needs to be steadily refined. The Peak of the Great Sun Realm is just ahead, and the dawn of the Star Dome Domain is already in sight.’

The path of cultivation was taken one step at a time.

The peace of Changning City, and indeed the entire human world, required greater strength to uphold.

Inside the tranquil cultivation chamber, a vast yet restrained energy once again began to gather silently, with him at its center.

...

Somewhere on Earth, in a vast space buried deep beneath thick layers of rock, lay the lair of "Shadow."

The atmosphere in the grand council hall, which had once belonged to the twelve leaders of Shadow, was now completely different.

The hall was not occupied by human leaders, but by three Great Demon Kings exuding a potent demonic aura. They were three of the seven who had escaped the raid on Mountain Rain Pass.

They had reined in a portion of their auras, but the pressure unique to the Great Demon King level was still faintly palpable.

Yet these three beings, who could make ordinary demigods tremble in fear, now carried themselves with exceptional restraint.

Their gazes were all fixed on the figure seated upon the hall’s main throne.

Seated on the throne was a man who appeared to be in his youth.

He was handsome, with an air of exotic, demonic charm. He appeared no different from a normal person, save for the murky light that occasionally flashed in the depths of his eyes, betraying his inhuman nature.

His aura seemed ordinary, but if one tried to probe it, they would find it as unfathomable as an abyss.

"It’s been a month. Why hasn’t Fu Yan come to regroup?" the young man asked, lifting a cup of some unidentifiable liquid. His voice was placid, yet it carried the unquestionable authority of a superior.

One of the Great Demon Kings below, a hunched figure with a cold and sinister aura, hurriedly bowed.

"Reporting to the Wujing Demon Saint, this subordinate has heard some things. Fu Yan’s most prized direct descendant, Fu Ye, fell at the hands of Li Wen—the Human Race’s new Marquis-candidate and Great Sun Realm prodigy. The resentment in Fu Yan’s heart runs deep; I suspect he has gone to seek revenge."

"Fu Ye..." Wujing Demon Saint tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest of his chair. "That little fox with the rather impressive cultivation talent? I remember him. For him to make that old fox Fu Yan disregard the need to remain hidden and risk seeking revenge... it seems he truly considered Fu Ye the apple of his eye."

A wry smile touched his lips. "Then again, that fits the famously protective nature of the Celestial Fox clan."

"Forget it," Wujing said with a wave of his hand. "Since he’s so hung up on it, forcing him to come back now would just mean his heart isn’t in it. We’ll set him aside for now. The rest of you have been undercover for over a month. You should be well-acclimated by now. It’s time to get down to business."

"We obey the Demon Saint’s will!" the three Great Demon Kings declared in unison, their demeanor reverent.

The words had barely faded when Wujing Demon Saint’s gaze flickered. He turned toward the entrance of the hall, as if he had sensed something.

"Oh? Speak of Fu Yan, and here he is. He made it just in time."

Sure enough, moments later, a figure emerged from the passageway and entered the hall.

It was none other than the Great Demon King Fu Yan, the Five-tailed Celestial Fox who had just arrived.

His gaze immediately fell upon Wujing Demon Saint on the throne. Instantly suppressing his travel-worn exhaustion, he strode forward and bowed deeply.

"Fu Yan has arrived late. My respects, Wujing Demon Saint."