High Martial: I Grind Professions

Inside the cavern, battle intent boiled like molten lava.

Outside, the final, dead silence before the storm shrouded Blue Star.

War was about to begin.

...

...

On the rear mountain of Enlightenment Peak, verdant pines and cypresses concealed a pavilion filled with ancient charm.

Inside the pavilion, the recently awakened Venerable Gu He, Hu Canghe, exuded a calm that spoke of ages past. He sat across from Principal Ye Qin and Xingxuan Venerable Su Meng.

On the stone table, a holographic projection of Blue Star's entire defense system silently flowed, revealing every detail of its mountains, rivers, cities, and fortresses.

Ye Qin's finger moved across the Star Map, his voice steady:

"Our current forces and defensive lines are concentrated around ninety-four core fortress cities and the Stargate fortress cluster. This creates a defense-in-depth network, allowing them to support one another."

Venerable Gu He's gaze swept over the projection, and he nodded slightly.

His finger finally stopped on several areas of the Star Map where the connection between Blue Star and the Demon Realm was most intense, and where spatial fluctuations were most violent. His brow furrowed with a trace of solemnity:

"These arrangements are comprehensive. But... Wujing Demon Saint. How are we to deal with him?"

Ye Qin picked up a teacup from the stone table, his expression calm:

"Regarding Wujing, Senior Brother Hu, you needn't worry excessively. He is indeed a huge problem, but his situation is also quite delicate."

He set down the teacup, his tone firm:

"Right now, the strongest combatant the Demon Race can field on Blue Star is the Wujing Demon Saint, who descended via possession. A possessed body, however, comes with immense limitations. At best, his combat power can only be restored to its pre-possession level. Even with the aid of treasures bestowed by the Demon Emperor, he can barely reach the level of a standard Venerable."

Xingxuan Venerable Su Meng took over the conversation, her voice cool and clear:

"On the other hand, we have three Venerables holding the line. Even I, with the shallowest cultivation, have strength exceeding that of a standard Venerable. As for Senior Brother Ye and you, Senior Brother Hu, you have both reached the level of top-tier Venerables."

Her fingertip traced an invisible circle of encirclement in the air above the projection.

"The moment Wujing Demon Saint attacks with his full power anywhere on Blue Star, the resulting energy fluctuations will be impossible to completely conceal. We'll be able to lock onto his position instantly. If we can just stall him for a few dozen seconds, the three of us together can completely eliminate him."

Ye Qin nodded and added:

"Wujing himself knows this better than anyone. He is the Demon Realm's single greatest investment on the Blue Star battlefield, and his strategic value far exceeds that of all other Demon Race members combined."

"If he falls, the Celestial Fall Plan will completely collapse. Therefore, during the upcoming full-scale invasion, the number of times he personally takes action will be reduced to an absolute minimum."

"He won't take risks unless he is absolutely certain of victory or has no other choice. The true offensive will be led by the Great Demon Kings and Demon King clusters under his command."

The grave look in Venerable Gu He's eyes gradually faded, replaced by a flicker of understanding:

'I see. An asset too valuable to be risked... So this Wujing has become a field marshal with his own hands tied.'

"In that case, we just need to stick to the plan and focus our defenses on the top-tier Great Demon Kings and the Demon King clusters."

The three Venerables fell silent, their gazes returning to the Star Map.

On the defense map, points of light and lines representing defensive positions and forces silently adjusted, refined, and reinforced themselves according to their will.

The most critical, core defensive network for the Human Race of Blue Star in their fight against the Demon Race grew clearer and more solid, piece by piece, within the silent pavilion.

With the strategic deployment decided, the next step was the precise allocation of forces.

To prevent any possible risk of leaks, the three Venerables adopted the most cautious method: summoning the King-level god-fiends one by one for individual briefings.

The first to step into the pavilion was an old man dressed in a simple gray robe.

His hair and beard were white, but his eyes were sharp as lightning. He stood straight as an ancient pine, his aura contained like an abyss, yet hinting at unfathomable depth.

It was none other than the publicly acknowledged number one expert below the Venerable level in the Fire Hall—the Celestial Martial King.

His skills and Primordial Spirit had long since reached the Transformation Realm. If the low ebb of the Spiritual Energy tide hadn't hindered his body's final metamorphosis back then—and if he hadn't been so ambitious, insisting on creating a complete, Venerable Level ultimate technique while still in the King Realm—he would have become a Venerable long ago.

Even so, the ultimate technique he created was astonishingly powerful, and his strength was infinitely close to that of a standard Venerable. His speed, in particular, was already on par with theirs.

Facing this highly respected and exceptionally powerful senior, Venerable Ye Qin showed the reverence one would reserve for a master.

"Senior Brother," Ye Qin said, clasping his hands in a salute.

"In this coming war, mobile reinforcements will be critical to the overall outcome. No one but a senior with your combination of speed and strength can bear this great responsibility. We will have to trouble you, Senior Brother, to hold the central command and reinforce any critical areas as the battle unfolds."

The Celestial Martial King's calm gaze swept over the key nodes on the Star Map, and he gave a serene nod:

"It is my duty. Wherever the crisis is, that is where I will be."

After the Celestial Martial King, the Heaven-Dominating King entered. He was burly, with a domineering aura as fierce as fire.

His skills and Primordial Spirit had also touched the threshold of the Venerable level. Although the ultimate technique he created was a notch below the Celestial Martial King's, his combat power had ferociously reached the level of a threshold Venerable.

He was assigned to defend Yanjing City, Blue Star's most densely populated city and its economic heart.

Entering next was the Mountain-Toppling King, whose aura was as steady as a mountain.

His skills and Primordial Spirit had stepped into the Venerable Level, and though the refinement of his ultimate technique was slightly less than the Heaven-Dominating King's, his combat power was close to that of a threshold Venerable.

He was assigned to defend Linjiang City, whose population was second only to Yanjing's.

After him came the Blood Moon King, his Body Technique ghostly and his sharp aura tinged with a hint of bloodlust.

His skill realm had entered the Venerable Level, his Primordial Spirit was at the 4th Layer, the Day Travel Realm, and speed was his forte.

He was also given a support role, responsible for the rapid response in another vast region.

One by one, the King-level god-fiends left Enlightenment Peak in silence, carrying the Venerables' secret orders and heavy responsibilities.