High Martial: I Grind Professions

There was one more crucial matter that needed confirmation—the change in how Scholars gained experience.

’Level 16... according to the settings of that game, this is the real starting point for unlocking large-scale experience gain methods like writing and publishing or teaching and imparting knowledge.’

Li Wen sat at his desk, his fingers unconsciously tapping the surface, his gaze as sharp as an eagle’s.

His memories of the game from his past life were crystal clear.

After level 16, a Scholar could gain experience points by having others purchase or read their published works, or by imparting knowledge to others.

This was a world of difference from his previous method of gaining experience solely through his own studies. It meant his efficiency in gaining experience was about to take a quantum leap.

His eighteen years of reading and accumulated knowledge in literature, history, philosophy, and even basic sciences transformed into a surging torrent at this moment.

His fingertips danced across the smart terminal’s virtual keyboard, his thoughts flying.

He quickly organized, integrated, and elevated the systems of knowledge, cultivation insights, and even his deep thoughts on the current war between the Human Race and the Demon Race from his mind.

After just a few short hours of focused work, a paper titled *On the Essence of Speed and Will Breakthrough* took shape and was refined to completion.

The paper cleverly integrated his core insights on extreme speed and his experience of breaking through the barrier of his own will.

Its content was profound yet accessible, containing both metaphysical speculation and implicit inspiration for tempering a Cultivator’s will.

When the last character was typed, Li Wen quickly uploaded it to Blue Star’s largest comprehensive knowledge-sharing and literary platform—the Firewood Library.

As he watched the status of his work change to "Published, Pending Review," only the last faint traces of purplish-red remained in the sky outside his window.

He took a deep breath, stood up, and paced a few steps within his study.

His brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of struggle and hesitation in his eyes.

’Exploit a bug...’ The thought swirled in his mind.

According to the game’s rules, one purchase and download of his paper should theoretically grant him one experience point.

If he could get a massive number of ordinary people, not just Scholars, to buy this paper, it wouldn’t just be enough to get him to level 20.

Given the population of Blue Star, it would be more than enough to get him to level 30.

’Would the system really allow such an obvious loophole to exist?’ Li Wen was torn.

He was well aware of how strict the system’s rules were, yet he couldn’t resist the immense temptation of leveling up quickly.

’Screw it, I’ll try it first! If the exploit works, it’s a heaven-sent opportunity. If it doesn’t, I’ll give up on the idea for good and stop wrestling with it.’

Having made up his mind, Li Wen no longer hesitated. His figure vanished once more.

「In the core district of Changning City, inside a spacious courtyard serving as the Li family’s temporary residence.」

The courtyard was brightly lit, and the atmosphere was lively.

Li Wen’s parents, Li Hong and Wang Juan, were chatting with a few close relatives from the Li family.

Naturally, the topic turned to the glory of their own son being enfeoffed as the "Changning King," their words filled with pride and gratification.

Li Wen’s sudden appearance was like a stone tossed into a calm pond, instantly drawing everyone’s attention.

"Brother Wen!"

"Ah Wen is back!"

The clansmen all stood up and greeted him enthusiastically, their eyes filled with admiration.

Li Wen had something on his mind, but he maintained a gentle smile as he returned everyone’s greetings.

"Hello, Uncles and Aunts. I need to see my parents about something."

He then turned to Li Hong and Wang Juan. "Dad, Mom, come home with me for a moment. There’s something I need to talk to you about."

Li Hong and Wang Juan exchanged a glance, both seeing the confusion in the other’s eyes.

But out of absolute trust in their son, they stood up immediately without the slightest hesitation.

"Alright."

Before the clansmen could ask any more questions, Li Wen instantly unfolded his invisible Cosmic Domain, gently but irresistibly enveloping his parents.

Space distorted slightly, and the three of them vanished on the spot before the astonished eyes of their relatives.

The next moment, they were back in Li Wen’s home.

The moment they entered the living room, Li Wen focused his mind again, and the powerful energy of his Cosmic Domain spread out.

It completely enveloped and isolated the entire house and even a small surrounding area.

This formed an invisible barrier, preventing any possibility of mental probes or physical spying.

"Ah Wen, what is it? Why are you being so secretive?" Wang Juan asked worriedly, looking at her son’s serious expression.

Li Hong also looked grave. "Did something happen? Is it related to the Demon Race?"

"No, Mom, Dad, don’t worry. It’s a good thing, but I need you to cooperate with me on a small test."

Li Wen tried to make his tone sound relaxed. He quickly took out his spare personal smart terminal.

He operated it quickly, pulling up the Firewood Library’s interface and showing his parents the paper he had just uploaded, *On the Essence of Speed and Will Breakthrough*.

"Dad, Mom, use your own smart terminals, log into the Firewood Library, find this paper, and then... buy and download it."

Li Wen pointed at the cover, speaking a little quickly, his eyes fixed on his parents’ actions.

"Buy and download a paper? That’s it?" Li Hong and Wang Juan were even more baffled.

Did he have to be so secretive just to have them buy a paper?

Although they were completely confused, they had always followed their son’s requests unconditionally.

Li Hong was the first to take out his personal smart terminal. He skillfully logged into the Firewood Library platform, searched for the title, and sure enough, he saw the new work signed with Li Wen’s name.

He opened the details page, selected the purchase option, and paid the not-so-expensive fee in reading points.

Immediately after, Wang Juan followed suit, completing the same purchase on her own account.

Throughout the entire process, Li Wen held his breath, his mind highly focused.

He kept his mind locked on the Scholar class information panel in his Sea of Consciousness, waiting for the notification that his experience points had increased.

The seconds ticked by.

The living room was unusually quiet, with only the faint light from the smart terminal screens illuminating their three faces.

One minute later.

Not a single thing happened.

Five minutes.

There was still no change.

The numbers after [Class: Scholar LV 16 (86/3,276,800)] remained completely unchanged.

’As expected...’ Li Wen let out a long, silent sigh. His tense shoulders relaxed slightly, but an undeniable trace of disappointment still flickered in his eyes.

’The rules are set in stone. Only people who also have the ’Scholar’ class can provide me with experience points by purchasing and reading my work.’

This result confirmed his deepest concern. The system had blocked the shortcut of using friends and family to mass-farm experience.

"Ah Wen, what’s wrong?"

His mother, Wang Juan, keenly caught the fleeting look of disappointment on Li Wen’s face and asked with concern.

"It’s nothing, Mom." Li Wen quickly adjusted his mentality, a smile returning to his face as he waved his hand.

"It’s fine now. The test results came out just as I expected. Please try not to mention what just happened to anyone else, especially the part about me asking you to buy the paper."

"As long as you’re okay." Seeing that his son didn’t want to elaborate, Li Hong didn’t press the matter, only reminding him,

"Just be sure you know what you’re doing. Go handle your business if you have things to do. Remember, whatever you do, safety comes first."

"Mhm, Dad, Mom, I know. I’ll go take care of a few things then."

Li Wen smiled and nodded, the lingering trace of regret in his heart already dispelled.

Since the bug couldn’t be exploited, there was no need to waste any more mental energy on it.

With a flash, his figure disappeared again.

The next second, Li Wen’s figure appeared at the very top of the tallest steel watchtower in Changning City.

A biting gale howled, making his robes flap loudly.

Below him was the fortress city, its lights twinkling to life one by one, a testament to its tenacious survival.

Above him, the massive and oppressive silhouette of the Demon Realm’s phantom shimmered with an ominous light in the night.

The cold touch of the metal spire through the soles of his shoes helped his chaotic thoughts finally settle.

’If I can’t exploit a bug, then I’ll use the proper method and earn it fair and square!’

Li Wen’s gaze swept over the city below and toward the vast distance, his eyes once again becoming firm and full of fighting spirit.

’In the game’s first major version, the class level cap is LV 20. Blue Star has billions of people. Even if only one in a thousand or one in ten thousand meets the conditions to be a Scholar, that’s still an enormous base number!’

’Add to that our fellow humans on the three planets of Red Flame Star... as long as I play my cards right, reaping enough experience points to grind the Scholar class to the max level of 20 will be far from difficult!’

’It just means spending a bit more time and energy on writing, publishing, promotion, and dissemination.’

’My name, Li Wen, and the appeal of the ’Changning King’ title are the best advertisements in themselves!’

’All I have to do is a little promotion on the platform, use my status as a hero of the Human Race to hold a few public ’knowledge-sharing’ sessions or ’insight lectures,’ and it’ll be entirely feasible to attract a large number of Scholars to buy and read my papers.’

’As for efficiency... one paper, one Scholar purchase, only gives one experience point?’

’No problem! If one paper isn’t enough, I’ll write ten! If ten isn’t enough, I’ll write a hundred!’

The night wind rustled the tips of his hair, and the corners of Li Wen’s mouth curved into a smile filled with confidence and drive.

A clear path to rapidly accumulate Scholar experience through his own influence, diligent creation, and legitimate means had already been paved in his mind.

He slowly closed his eyes and began to conceptualize the direction for his next paper.

The eight-hour peak comprehension experience in the wilderness had given him a deeper understanding of extreme speed and space, which would be excellent material.

At the same time, the mysteries of the 5th Layer of the Primordial Spirit, the Possession Realm, within his Sea of Consciousness, and even his combat experience from fighting a Demon Race king...

All of this was priceless knowledge, a treasure trove that would make any Scholar or Cultivator flock to him.

The bottleneck in gaining experience was now clear, but the path to a higher level still stretched out before him.

Li Wen stood atop the lonely watchtower, like a king about to embark on an expedition for knowledge, quietly awaiting the next opportunity for a breakthrough.

...

「At the same time.」

「Jiangnan Province, West District.」

Night had fallen, and the giant fortress city seemed exceptionally tranquil under the faint halo of the Demon Realm’s phantom.

Inside a quaint courtyard in the West District, the lights were soft.

At a desk sat a slender, silver-haired old man.

He wore a pair of reading glasses on the bridge of his nose, his eyes behind the lenses deep and focused as his fingers skillfully swiped across the light screen in front of him.