High Martial: I Grind Professions

Wang Hu laughed heartily.

"That girl and her mother are behind us. They should be here soon. I was just worried I’d be late!

This is the birthday banquet for the number one expert of the Human Race. The place will be filled with Marquis and King-level experts. It would be pretty awkward for a lone Super Martial Artist like me to be standing around! So I rushed over to get here early."

His words carried their usual heartiness, along with a barely perceptible hint of self-deprecation.

Li Wen shook his head with a smile. "You’re joking, Teacher Wang. Everyone here, regardless of their cultivation level, is an old friend, elder, family, or close companion whom I respect."

He then turned to Fang Chengwu. "Teacher Fang, have you been well? Is everything going smoothly for Chenghong? I heard he returned to Red Flame Star."

"Everything’s fine, just fine," Fang Chengwu said with a nod. A hint of pride shone in his eyes as he spoke of his cousin.

"That kid Chenghong has been making rapid progress in actual combat, thanks to you. He’s just always talking about wanting to come back and ask for your guidance in person."

The three of them chatted casually as they walked, the atmosphere relaxed and friendly.

Soon, the sky outside the manor grew increasingly busy.

Streaks of light—some flying on their own, others in airships—landed one after another outside the Li Manor.

"Haha, Li Wen, happy birthday!" a bold voice called out. It was Du Yun.

This old friend, whom Li Wen had known since his time at Xinhuo University, was now a Marquis-level expert.

He exuded the fierce aura of a battle-hardened warrior, but his gaze toward Li Wen was filled with sincere admiration and a touch of a silent sigh: ’Just how in the world does this guy cultivate?’

"Du Yun!" Li Wen greeted him with a smile and gave his old friend a firm hug.

Immediately after, Ling Feng’s figure appeared.

He still had that gentle and refined appearance, but his aura was more reserved and profound, a clear sign that his strength had also improved considerably.

"Li Wen, happy birthday. I meant to arrive earlier, but I was handling some final matters related to the reconstruction."

He offered his congratulations with a smile, his words already treating Li Wen as an important figure to whom he needed to report.

"Senior Brother Ling, thank you for your hard work. Please, come in," Li Wen said with a nod.

Next to arrive was Sun Rui.

This junior brother, who had once seen Li Wen as a rival to chase, a genius who had likewise cultivated the Nine Heavens Divine Body to the 9th Layer, was now on the verge of stepping into the King Level.

When he saw Li Wen personally greeting guests at the door, he was overwhelmed by the honor and hurriedly bowed.

"Greetings, Saint Venerable! Congratulations on your birthday, Saint Venerable!"

His tone was utterly respectful.

Li Wen smiled and made a lifting motion with his hand, preventing him from bowing.

"Junior Brother Sun, there’s no need for such formalities between us. Please, come in."

One after another, more familiar faces arrived.

There were classmates from Xinhuo University with whom he had fought side by side, high-ranking officials from Changning City who had supported him in his early days...

Li Wen hadn’t invited many people, but every single one was an "old acquaintance" who had left a mark on his journey of growth.

His attitude remained unchanged—humble and nostalgic, without a hint of the airs one might expect from the Human Race’s number one expert, the Changning Saint Venerable.

He remembered everyone’s name and the small stories associated with them.

When he spoke with them, his sincerity and calm demeanor made every guest feel completely at ease, filling their hearts with emotion.

The banquet hadn’t officially started yet, but people had already gathered in the manor’s reception hall and garden.

Servers moved among the guests, offering fine wine and delicacies.

The air was filled with the ebb and flow of lighthearted conversation, with the topic naturally revolving around the man of the hour—Li Wen.

"...It’s truly unbelievable."

Ling Feng held his wine glass, watching Li Wen in the distance as he spoke in low tones with Teacher Wang Hu, listening intently. He whispered to Du Yun and Sun Rui, who were standing beside him,

"My first encounter with Junior Brother Li was during a Demon Beast raid in Bluestone County. Back then, he was just a high school senior, not even a Martial Artist... How many years has it been? It feels like a dream."

Du Yun nodded in deep agreement, his expression complex.

"Yeah. From a Martial Artist to a Marquis, a King, and then a Venerable... He covered a journey that takes others hundreds or even thousands of years in just over two decades.

Purging Blue Star, sweeping through the Demon Race on Red Flame, Cangwu, and Bingsu stars, and sealing the Stargate... Every single one of these achievements is the stuff of legends. It’s incredible every time I think about it."

He paused, his voice growing softer. "What’s even rarer is that he’s reached the absolute pinnacle, yet his original intentions haven’t changed."

Sun Rui nodded emphatically, a light shining in his eyes.

"That’s the mark of the Saint Venerable’s character! He values old ties and never forgets his roots."

Wang Hu’s daughter, Wang Xi, had also arrived by now. She had grown into a graceful young woman, and her cultivation had reached the level of a Super Martial Artist.

She secretly watched the legendary "Changning Saint Venerable" laughing and chatting with her father.

Her father could even pat his shoulder just like he used to, and the Saint Venerable’s face held nothing but a gentle smile. She was both shocked and moved by the sight.

Fang Chengwu stood a short distance away, watching Li Wen, who remained calm and composed despite being surrounded by guests. A storm of emotions churned within him.

He remembered the young man who had suddenly burst forth with astonishing brilliance in the second semester of his senior year of high school.

He remembered the breakthroughs that had shattered his understanding time and time again...

’The Human Race is truly fortunate to have such a Saint Venerable.’ He silently raised his glass and toasted in Li Wen’s direction.

The banquet proceeded in a warm and lively atmosphere.

Li Wen was like a true host, but also like an old friend reuniting after a long separation.

He moved among the guests, speaking warmly with everyone, reminiscing about the past and talking about the present.

Candlelight illuminated his calm profile. Laughter and cheerful voices filled the manor, creating a heartwarming scene.

However, beneath this warmth, the increasingly distinct fluctuations of the world’s projection in his Spiritual Sense served as a constant reminder.

This brief period of peace was merely the final calm before the storm.

The Four Emperors of the Demon Realm were accelerating their plans at any cost, and the countdown to the final battle had already begun.

It would be a half-month at the shortest, two months at the longest.

He raised his glass, his gaze sweeping over the hall full of old acquaintances, seeing the genuine smiles on their faces.

Listening to them talk about the hope for Blue Star and the various other human planets after their reconstruction, the conviction to protect them in his heart became as firm as iron.

No matter how perilous the path ahead, for the sake of the light before him, for the sake of the homeland and Star River behind him, he had to win that battle!

Amidst the fading lights, deep within his gaze, lay a battle intent vaster than the starry sky and a responsibility even heavier.

The birthday celebration was also the starting point of a new campaign.

...

The lively and warm birthday banquet felt as if it were just yesterday, but Li Wen’s life had already returned to its familiar rhythm.

Every morning, as the sun’s rays filled Changning City, he would unfailingly appear by his parents’ side, either to enjoy the breakfast his mother had carefully prepared or to stroll through the newly restored and vibrant gardens of the Li Manor, listening to his father recount interesting anecdotes from the city.

For Li Wen, who knew a storm was coming, this simple companionship was priceless.

From afternoon until late at night, his figure could be found on the cold and deathly silent Blackrock Trial Star.

The aftershocks of the energy storm here had not yet completely subsided, making it the perfect place to temper himself.

He set aside all complex Secret Techniques and focused on cultivating the purest form of saber techniques.

Every chop, slash, upward swing, and thrust seemed basic, but each contained his profound understanding of the Five Forms of his saber art: "Severing Void," "Falling Star," "Thunder Prison," "Imperial Guard," and "Instant Flash."

He swung his saber not only to improve his proficiency with "Instant Flash," but also for the small but steady increase in his Martial Daoist experience points.

Time slipped away quietly during his focused cultivation, like sand through his fingers. In the blink of an eye, more than twenty days had passed.

January 20, 247, Galactic Calendar.

In the early morning, soft light filtering through a gap in the curtains woke Li Wen, who was sitting cross-legged in his quiet room.

He slowly opened his eyes. Deep within them, a Star River seemed to turn, profound and serene.

With a flicker of thought, the familiar panel appeared in his consciousness:

[Age: 39]

[Realm: Venerable]

[Class: Martial Daoist Lv. 4 (1588/1600), Scholar Lv. 20]

[Skills: Saber Arts · Venerable (Severing Void 100%, Falling Star 100%, Thunder Prison 100%, Imperial Guard 100%, Instant Flash 94%)]

[Cultivation Techniques: "All Things Return to Ruins Finger" · 1st Layer (100%), "Shocking God Stab" · 7th Layer (100%)]

His gaze lingered for a moment on the line "Martial Daoist Lv. 4 (1588/1600)."

After more than twenty days of unceasing saber practice, his experience points were once again nearing the threshold for a level-up, with only 12 points remaining.

Meanwhile, his proficiency with the Fifth Form, "Instant Flash," had steadily risen to 94%, just a step away from perfection.

Once all Five Forms were perfected, his self-created saber art, which integrated multiple Laws, would reach the absolute peak of the Venerable Level.

It would be enough to be passed down for generations as another legacy technique to protect the Human Race.

Each of the five saber forms had its own strengths.

Severing Void integrated parts of the Speed Law and the Space Law, pursuing the ultimate slashing speed and the ability to cut through space itself.

Falling Star condensed parts of the Strength Law; its momentum was as heavy as a collapsing mountain, its power as vast as a falling star.

Thunder Prison drew upon parts of the Lightning Law and the Space Law; the blade’s light formed a prison, its thunderous power devastating, possessing both destructive and binding properties.

Imperial Guard corresponded to parts of the Defense Law and the Space Law. Once mastered, this form could withstand an attack from the Saint Realm.

Instant Flash comprehended the essence of the Light Law and the Time Law. The saber struck like a beam of light, arriving in an instant, and could even slightly affect the perception of time’s flow.

The key to a Venerable Level ultimate technique was to comprehend and fuse fragments of Laws.

But to truly step into the Saint Realm, one needed to specialize more deeply in a single Law until they could touch the origin of its rules.

Different Laws varied immensely in power.

The Time Law was universally acknowledged as the strongest, reigning supreme over all other Laws.

The Space Law came second, mysterious and unpredictable.

Laws such as Destruction, Lightning, and Strength were ranked in the third tier, renowned for their ultimate destructive power.

The path before Li Wen was full of choices.

Should he pursue the supreme Time Law? Or choose the Space Law?

Or perhaps leverage the explosive advantage of the Lightning Law?

He could also try to cultivate multiple Laws simultaneously, but that would inevitably slow his progress toward the Saint Realm.

Li Wen had yet to decide which path to take.

’Forget it. The most important thing today is to level up as a Martial Daoist,’ Li Wen thought, suppressing his complicated thoughts.

The morning passed as usual, with a warm, home-cooked meal and a walk with his parents through the reconstructed districts of Changning City.

He watched the hope brimming on the faces of pedestrians on the streets, feeling the vitality of Blue Star’s rebirth after the calamity.

As noon approached, he finally bid his parents farewell.

His figure flickered, tearing through space to descend upon the eternally desolate landscape of the Blackrock Trial Star.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Li Wen flipped his wrist, and the battle saber that had accompanied him through all his campaigns appeared in his hand.

He abandoned all flashy moves, starting with the most basic chops, slashes, and thrusts.