High Martial: I Grind Professions

Chapter 320: Chapter 182: A Mere Threshold to Marquis

”Yes, Sir.” Li Wen nodded, his heart finally at ease.

With the Mountain Rain King personally escorting him, Zhao Zheng’s journey was now completely secure.

After a brief confirmation, the Mountain Rain King wasted no more time. A gentle power of the Laws lifted Zhao Zheng, and the two of them transformed into a streak of light, continuing toward the Fire Hall.

Li Wen watched the light disappear over the horizon, then retracted his True Essence.

He glanced around the ravaged battlefield but did not linger.

A streak of light appeared once more as he turned and flew back at the same astonishing speed, returning to his post as a Guardian of Changning City.

The wilderness valley fell silent once more. Only the enormous craters and scorched marks remained, a silent testament to the recent Marquis Level ambush and the shocking rescue and counterattack.

...

「Galactic Calendar 235, October 3rd. High noon.」

The personnel vacancy left by Zhao Zheng’s departure for the Fire Hall was quickly filled.

A formal transfer order from the Fire Hall quietly arrived at the information terminal of the Changning City underground fortress.

The contents of the order were clear.

First: Former Vice-Captain Li Wen is to assume the position of Captain of the Changning City Stargate Fortress, effective immediately.

Second: A new Vice-Captain will be appointed by headquarters and is expected to arrive shortly.

To Li Wen, this change was nothing more than a natural transfer of duties, and he gave it little thought.

He was more concerned with the fortress’s daily defenses and the effort to clear out newly infiltrated members of the Demon Race.

But for the rest of the team, this was undoubtedly a cause for celebration.

”Captain Li, congratulations on the promotion!”

”Congratulations, Captain Li!”

Li Wen had just finished his patrol and walked into the command room, where he was immediately surrounded by his team members, all congratulating him at once.

Their smiles showed their genuine approval.

In his years in Changning City, Li Wen’s military record was illustrious. He had crushed the Demon Race’s invasions time and again, establishing a level of prestige that was second to none.

Faced with everyone’s enthusiasm, Li Wen waved his hand with a slightly helpless expression. ”It’s just a title. My responsibilities haven’t changed. As long as everyone continues to do their part, we’ll be fine.”

But this obviously did little to dampen his team members’ spirits.

Seeing that he couldn’t get out of it, Li Wen had no choice but to go along with their wishes.

”Alright. In that case, I’ll treat everyone to a small get-together in the mess hall tonight. We’ll just have a simple meal. Let’s call it a send-off for Senior Brother Zhao and a start to my... new position.”

That evening, the small mess hall was brightly lit, the atmosphere exceptionally lively.

Nearly every member of the team was there.

During the dinner, everyone raised their glasses—which were filled with a common, unremarkable fruit wine from the logistics department.

They toasted Li Wen for taking on his new, heavy responsibilities, and they toasted Zhao Zheng for the bright future ahead of him.

”Come on, Captain Li, this one’s for you!”

”Captain Li, with you here in Changning, we can all rest easy. Let’s have another!”

”Yeah, and I hope things go well for Zhao, and that he achieves his breakthrough as soon as possible!”

Li Wen smiled, raised his glass in response, and drank with the others.

Although the drink in their cups was no different from water to Fiendgods with Cultivation at or above the Flying Star Realm, the camaraderie it represented made the meal feel exceptionally precious.

After three rounds of drinks, they each circulated their Cultivation Techniques. The insignificant traces of alcohol in their systems were instantly vaporized and dispersed, leaving them as clear-headed as ever.

「The next morning, at the first light of dawn.」

After completing his routine high-altitude city patrol and inspection of the fortress’s defensive nodes, Li Wen didn’t immediately return to his quiet chambers to study texts or hone his Blade Intent, as he usually would.

The new Vice-Captain mentioned in the transfer order was due to arrive this morning.

As Captain, it was his duty to welcome his new partner and colleague.

He straightened his combat uniform and walked with a steady gait toward the spacious landing pad inside the underground fortress.

Before long, a silver-gray, high-speed vessel bearing the Fire Hall insignia descended with a low hum, landing precisely on the designated spot.

The wash from the engines gradually subsided, and the hatch slid open.

A figure in a crisp combat uniform appeared in the hatchway.

The man was tall and slender, with a handsome face and eyes as sharp as a razor’s edge. He carried the heroic air of a seasoned warrior, along with a sharpness that seemed to have been honed by battle.

”Senior Brother Ling Feng?”

When that familiar face came into view, a clear flicker of surprise crossed Li Wen’s eyes, despite his mountain-like composure.

The young man who stepped onto the solid ground of Changning City was indeed Ling Feng.

He saw the fleeting astonishment on Li Wen’s face, and the corners of his mouth curved upward in a barely perceptible arc. His expression held a hint of ’I knew it,’ along with an unreadable complexity.

”Junior Brother Li, it’s been a while.” Ling Feng’s voice was clear and carried its usual crispness.

After a moment of surprise, Li Wen’s expression quickly returned to its usual calm, his smile sincere.

”It really is you. Welcome to Changning City.” He stepped forward.

Their gazes met.

The Li Wen before him stood tall, his aura condensed. The depth and power forged in countless trials of blood and fire radiated from him naturally.

Even Ling Feng, who had entered the Great Sun Realm long ago and prided himself on having no equal among his peers, could now clearly sense it from the junior brother who had once needed his help: an oppressive presence as deep as the ocean and as heavy as a mountain, and a sharpness that was restrained to its absolute limit.

The one who was once playing catch-up had now surpassed him, taking charge of an entire sector.

A flicker of indescribable emotion mixed with astonishment flashed through his heart.

It was quickly suppressed by his genius’s pride, replaced by a fierce fighting spirit. ’This is good, too,’ he thought. ’It proves that my decision to request a transfer to Changning was the right one.’

Li Wen didn’t notice the fleeting thoughts racing through Ling Feng’s mind, assuming he was simply surprised by the surroundings or by being recognized.

He turned to the few core team members who had followed him and made the introduction.

”Everyone, let me introduce you. This is Senior Brother Ling Feng, a renowned genius Fiendgod from Fire Hall University. From today on, he is the new Vice-Captain of Changning City.”

”Captain Ling!”

”We’ve heard so much about you, Captain Ling!”

The team members greeted him with smiles, their tones respectful.