High Martial: I Grind Professions

Chapter 114: Chapter 91: Breakthrough Reward (Part 2)

’This kid... Has it only been half a month since he signed the contract?’ He subconsciously calculated the time, his mind reeling in shock.

He clearly remembered how, just half a month ago in the stands in Bluestone County, Fang Chengwu had fought tooth and nail for Li Wen’s A-rank contract, proclaiming his immense potential.

But even so, he hadn’t dared to hope that in just half a month, the young man would actually make such a monumental leap. After the shock came an irrepressible joy.

”Excellent! Just excellent!” Sun Zhenshan couldn’t help but strike his fist into his palm. A gratified and appreciative smile spread across his face, and a sharp glint flashed in the depths of his eyes.

’Fang Chengwu, oh, Fang Chengwu, you really managed to cultivate a peerless, uncut gem. And I, Sun Zhenshan, was the one who insisted on giving him that A-rank contract. My judgment and decision were right on the money!’

Once his initial joy subsided, he immediately recalled a tradition of the Fire Hall.

When a contracted prodigy broke through a key realm, the organization would bestow a correspondingly generous reward of cultivation resources as a sign of encouragement and support.

After a moment’s thought, Sun Zhenshan made his decision.

He opened his communicator and, using his internal clearance, sent both the news of Li Wen’s breakthrough and a personally signed directive—”Issue the corresponding realm-breakthrough reward at the highest possible standard”—to the person in charge of Li Wen’s local branch: Chen Yuanfeng, Hall Master of the Fire Hall’s Bluestone Branch.

”Hall Master Chen, I have incredible news! Your branch’s prodigy, Li Wen, has broken through to the Momentum Realm! As per protocol, you are to go in person, represent the organization, and deliver his congratulatory reward! The file has been sent to your system. Please handle this immediately!”

Chen Yuanfeng was in the middle of handling branch affairs when he received the message and directive personally issued by Director Sun. He, too, was shocked.

’Breaking through to the Momentum Realm in half a month? What kind of monstrous speed is that!’ Even though he had been a Hall Master for a long time and was accustomed to seeing talented individuals, this news still staggered him.

”Understood, Director Sun! I’m heading to the Third Middle School at once!” Chen Yuanfeng got up without a moment’s hesitation and immediately accessed the warehouse’s requisition authority.

He knew the weight behind Director Sun’s words—”highest possible standard” and ”go in person”—and understood that it signified the immense value the Fire Hall placed on Li Wen.

He personally went to the warehouse to retrieve the standard reward package for A-rank seed members breaking into the Momentum Realm, and on his own initiative, added several extra bottles of Starlight Concentration Liquid, which Li Wen’s purchase history indicated he desperately needed.

And so, while Li Wen was still being led by Fang Chengwu from the Martial Arts Room to the principal’s office, ready to be greeted by the proud and joyful principal and teachers, Chen Yuanfeng’s private car was already pulling through the gates of Bluestone Third Middle School.

Inside the principal’s office, Principal Huang was already waiting, his face beaming. He looked at Li Wen as if he were a priceless treasure, endlessly asking about the details and sensations of his breakthrough.

Fang Chengwu stood quietly to one side, hands folded before him. His expression was serene, and a gentle, gratified smile graced his lips as he watched Li Wen.

Just as they were all enjoying the pleasant conversation, a KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK sounded at the door.

The door opened, and in walked Chen Yuanfeng, the Hall Master of the Fire Hall’s Bluestone Branch. He was dressed in formal attire and wore a smile that was both warm and dignified as he personally carried two exquisite silver cases.

”Congratulations, congratulations, Principal Huang, Teacher Fang!”

Chen Yuanfeng’s voice boomed before he had even fully entered. His eyes immediately found Li Wen, and they shone with unconcealed astonishment and admiration.

”And special congratulations are in order for the great hero of our Fire Hall, the young prodigy himself, Li Wen! Congratulations on breaking through the threshold of the Momentum Realm! Your future is truly limitless!”

Seeing the very Hall Master who had personally represented the Fire Hall to sign his contract, Li Wen maintained his usual humility and gave a respectful bow. ”Hall Master Chen, you’re too kind. It was just a lucky break.”

”A lucky break? HA! There wasn’t a shred of luck involved!” Chen Yuanfeng laughed and waved his hand, signaling that there was no need for such modesty. His tone was sincere.

”Breaking through to the Momentum Realm in half a month! Across the entire Jiangnan Province, or even beyond, how many people could possibly accomplish such a feat? This is the perfect combination of genuine talent, perseverance, and destiny! I can hardly even begin to imagine what your future holds!”

He got straight to the point, gently placing the two cases on the desk.

”Today, under the personal order of Director Sun Zhenshan, I have come on behalf of Fire Hall headquarters specifically to present you with a gift for your breakthrough, my young friend Li Wen! This is the organization’s acknowledgment of a true prodigy and a symbol of our hopes for you!”

He personally opened the first case. Inside were neatly stacked Energy Crystal Cards, emitting a soft glow of energy.

”In accordance with the standards for an A-rank seed member breaking through to the Momentum Realm, you are hereby awarded two million Fire Hall Points!”

Two million Fire Hall Points!

This sum was nearly equal to a huge portion of the Fire Hall Points Li Wen had painstakingly accumulated thus far.

Next, Chen Yuanfeng opened the second, slightly smaller case. Inside, ten vials of a deep blue liquid lay neatly arranged, each one twinkling with a magnificent, starry light.

”Also, taking into account the immense drain on your Spiritual Power during the breakthrough and your subsequent need to stabilize your new realm, the organization has added an extra ten vials of a Tier 3 Spiritual Power recovery and nourishment elixir—Starlight Concentration Liquid! We hope you find it beneficial!”

’Starlight Concentration Liquid! And ten whole bottles of it!’ Seeing this gift, and especially after learning that Director Sun himself was paying attention to his breakthrough, Li Wen was overcome with a huge sense of surprise and a profound, heart-felt warmth.

This reward couldn’t have come at a better time! He had already spent a huge amount of Fire Hall Points buying large quantities of Starlight Concentration Liquid to fuel his training and his consumption in the arena. He had been starting to worry if his remaining points would be enough to exchange for more training resources and cover his expenses in the Infinite Arena.

The two million Fire Hall Points and ten precious bottles of Starlight Concentration Liquid were a godsend. They not only solved his urgent resource crisis but also served as a powerful affirmation of his breakthrough.

”Thank you for the organization’s generous gift! Thank you, Director Sun! And thank you, Hall Master!” Li Wen forced himself to suppress his excitement, his voice sincere and full of gratitude.

”This reward is incredibly important! I will not fail to live up to your expectations. I’ll work hard to improve and bring honor to the organization!”

Seeing Li Wen remain so humble, determined, and level-headed even in the face of such a massive reward, Chen Yuanfeng felt a deep sense of satisfaction. ’Director Sun really does have a good eye,’ he thought, full of admiration.

Watching this unfold, the smile on Fang Chengwu’s face grew even more gentle and serene, his eyes filled with pride and encouragement for his disciple’s growth.

Principal Huang also watched the scene, an increasingly gratified smile spreading across his face.

For a time, the principal’s office was filled with a palpable joy for the prodigy’s breakthrough and boundless hope for the future.

But the storm set off by this ”Momentum” had only just begun to ripple through the small pond of Bluestone Third Middle School. Its waves were destined to spread far and wide, into a much larger world.

Li Wen’s gaze drifted past the scenery outside the window, settling once again on the second provincial mock exam, now less than half a month away.

Now, with the power of the newly-mastered Momentum Realm at his fingertips and abundant resources in hand, his goal of placing in the top three in the entire province seemed much clearer than it had just half a month ago. And... it was a goal far more worth fighting for.

...

The setting sun, like molten gold, stretched the silhouettes of Bluestone Third Middle School’s buildings into long shadows.

Li Wen left the principal’s office carrying two heavy metal cases. He walked alone toward Hongyi Building, his feet treading on the dappled light of the setting sun.

The cases contained resources that were crucial for his future, but they also carried the immense weight of both pressure and motivation.

He returned to his private Martial Arts Room on the top floor, shutting out the clamor of the outside world.

He placed the case marked with the Fire Hall emblem on a console and took out the thick stack of Energy Crystal Cards first.

The cards were warm and smooth to the touch, shimmering with a faint, flowing energy. Each card held ten thousand Fire Hall Points, and with two hundred cards in total, it was the exact two-million-point breakthrough gift delivered by Hall Master Chen.

These Energy Crystal Cards were like large-denomination bills—far less convenient than the Fire Hall Points in his personal account. Their only real advantage was the visual impact: the moment you opened the case, the sight of all that flowing, energetic light was enough to make your heart race.

Li Wen took out a special tablet connected to the Fire Hall’s internal network and launched the points-conversion program.