High Martial: I Grind Professions

Chapter 364: Chapter 204: Saber Art Breakthrough, Domain Realm

He could see the unspoken words in Li Wen’s eyes and his fondness for this sea of lightning.

Hearing this, Li Wen felt a surge of gratitude, but even more so, a sense of guilt.

He knew full well that his group’s core mission was to venture deeper into the Star Domain as quickly as possible to find opportunities. The entire team couldn’t be held back for his sake alone.

He quickly said, ”Senior Brother Celestial Martial, I appreciate your kind intentions. But this lightning phenomenon seems to be a perfect match for my own path, while it may not be the best place for our other junior and senior brothers to gain insights.

If I hold everyone back from their own opportunities, my conscience won’t be clear. How about this: please lead the others forward, Senior Brother, and find a phenomenon more suited to them.

I can stay here and meditate on my own. With my speed, even if the Demon Race shows up, I can protect myself and escape even if I can’t win.”

The Celestial Martial King looked at Li Wen’s firm and sincere gaze, then glanced at the other Barons.

”Senior Brother Celestial Martial, let me stay behind with Senior Brother Li. I also cultivate the Nine Heavens Divine Body, so observing the lightning here is very suitable for me as well.”

Seeing the Celestial Martial King’s gaze sweep over, Sun Rui offered to stay.

Hearing this, the Celestial Martial King’s eyes flickered back and forth between Li Wen and Sun Rui a few more times.

It was true. Besides Li Wen and Sun Rui, while the others were also moved by the lightning, it was nowhere near the point of being an indispensable opportunity.

He pondered for a moment before making a decision.

”Very well. Junior Brother Li makes a good point. This place is indeed a great opportunity for you and Junior Brother Sun, one that shouldn’t be missed.

With the speed of your Body Techniques, self-preservation shouldn’t be a problem. You two can stay here and meditate in peace. We’ll continue onward.”

Then, the Celestial Martial King looked at the other three Kings.

”Junior Brother Nine Netherworld, Junior Brother Yan Dan, Junior Brother Myriad Phenomena, let’s keep moving and find a Law phenomenon suitable for everyone.”

”Yes, Senior Brother Celestial Martial.”

The light of the Celestial Martial King’s domain flared slightly, once again enveloping the six Barons. Together with the King of the Nine Netherworld, Yan Dan King, and Myriad Phenomena King,

they transformed into a streak of light, bypassing the vast sea of lightning and flying deeper into the Star Domain.

Soon, only Li Wen and Sun Rui remained at the edge of this world of lightning, a place filled with the power of destruction and creation.

The two of them quickly calmed their minds.

Li Wen stared at the billions of lightning bolts that raged violently before him, seemingly in a state of eternal chaos. His gaze was as sharp as a blade, completely devoid of distracting thoughts.

His aura grew heavy and focused. He slowly sat cross-legged in the void, his mind completely immersed in that sea of destruction forged from ultimate speed.

...

Several days passed quietly amidst the roar of lightning and the flash of blade light.

Li Wen floated at the edge of the lightning world, his mind fully immersed in comprehending the concept of ”speed.”

Billions of silver-purple lightning bolts flowed wantonly before him. Every creation and destruction, every tear in space, contained the ultimate mystery of speed.

Combining his accumulated insights into saber techniques with his [Absolute Focus] state, he continuously observed, deduced, and simulated within the safe zone, occasionally swinging his saber on a small scale to verify his theories.

The afterimage left by his blade as it cut through the void could almost keep up with the surging Electric Snakes.

After several days of silent meditation and verification, the quantitative change finally triggered a qualitative one.

The moment he swung his saber once more, its tip guiding a few stray wisps of electricity through a profound trajectory—HUM!

A brand-new Blade Intent, one that embodied the characteristic of ”extreme speed,” erupted from within him!

The saber hummed, a soft tremor that wasn’t deafening but seemed to strike directly at the very fabric of space.

With Li Wen at its center, the pale purple prototype of a domain, several miles in diameter and composed of countless minute streams of saber qi, suddenly took shape!

Within the domain, the air was sliced into a uniform flow of particles, and the stray lightning energy was forcibly bound and drawn in.

It actually resonated and danced with the lightning for a brief moment, forming a unique ”Saber-Lightning Domain”!

Although the commotion from this breakthrough was contained within a relatively small area, the resulting phenomenon of triggering a portion of the Law of lightning and the spatial fluctuations still spread out like ripples from a stone tossed into a calm lake.

”HISS—!!” Not far away, Sun Rui was abruptly jolted from his deep state of meditation. His eyes flew wide open as he stared in disbelief in Li Wen’s direction.

He clearly felt a domain’s power—incomparably sharp and tinged with the wild aura of lightning—taking form.

That wasn’t a simple burst of energy; it was the manifestation of a ”domain,” a sign of stepping into a higher realm—

’A Domain Realm Saber Skill?!’ Sun Rui’s heart pounded wildly.

He knew Li Wen’s talent was extraordinary, possessing the combat power of a King even while in the Baron Realm. But they had only been in the Star Domain for a few days!

’He actually broke through the saber skill bottleneck that has plagued countless gods and demons for their entire lives and stepped into the Domain Realm?’

’This speed... It’s simply inconceivable!’

At that moment, any lingering thought of competing with Li Wen completely vanished from his mind, replaced by profound shock and a touch of wistfulness.

’A monster! A true monster! To be born in the same generation as such a prodigy is both a pressure and an honor.’

At almost the same instant Sun Rui was struck with shock, several hundred miles away...

...a Demon Race exploration team, which had spent several days finally reaching the vicinity of the lightning world...

...abruptly came to a halt. Its leader, a one-horned giant ape—the top-tier Great Demon King, the Mountain-Splitting Ape King—stopped dead in his tracks.

The four ordinary but equally ferocious Great Demon Kings of various forms behind it also sensed the unique energy fluctuation, one fused with a sharp Blade Intent.

”Hm? An energy fluctuation? Has some creature had a breakthrough or obtained a great opportunity here?” A trace of greed flashed in the Mountain-Splitting Ape King’s enormous, bell-like eyes.

”Big Brother, the source of the fluctuation is clear! It’s just ahead!” a bat-winged Demon King shrieked.

”After it!” the Mountain-Splitting Ape King roared, taking the lead as he transformed into a streak of brown light and shot forward.

The Demon Kings behind it immediately followed, their eyes also gleaming with a thirst for opportunity and excitement for potential prey.

Following the still-fading energy ripples and spatial tremors, they soon pierced through a chaotic curtain of lightning.

They saw the figures standing alone at the edge of the lightning—two humans.

And judging by their auras, they were just two Baron-level gods and demons.

”They’re Human Race Barons! Two of them!” the bat-winged Demon King’s voice was filled with ecstasy.

”A heaven-sent opportunity! Anyone sent to the Star Domain must be a prodigy the Human Race is heavily investing in. The merit for killing them will definitely be high!”

Another Demon King, its body covered in bone spikes, licked its lips, a savage light revealing itself in its eyes.

The savage light in the Mountain-Splitting Ape King’s eyes intensified, and its killing intent boiled over.

”Spread out! Surround them from all four sides, don’t let them escape! I want them alive; he might be carrying a treasure he just obtained!”

At its command, the Great Demon Kings instantly transformed into afterimages. Relying on their ability to adapt to the chaotic space, they silently sealed off all of Li Wen’s and Sun Rui’s possible escape routes.

They closed in from all directions on the area where the dense Blade Intent and lightning aura lingered.

The icy killing intent was so tangible it seemed to freeze the turbulent energy flow in the surroundings.

However, the moment his saber skill broke through to the Domain Realm, Li Wen’s spiritual sense had already undergone a qualitative leap.

It had become sharper and more expansive, and he even felt a faint, peculiar affinity with this chaotic Star Domain.

The unrestrained, violent demonic auras were like bonfires in the night, already clearly reflected in his Primordial Spirit’s perception.

A hint of coldness flashed across Li Wen’s eyes. Far from panicking, he felt a surge of eagerness for battle and a frigid killing intent.

’My Domain Realm is newly formed. I need a suitable opponent to test this new power and stabilize my realm.’

’One top-tier Great Demon King leading several ordinary ones... this lineup...’

’I can’t afford to provoke that top-tier Mountain-Splitting Ape King for now, but the ordinary Great Demon Kings seem like perfect whetstones.’

’Their underestimation and rash advance make this an even better opportunity.’

With that thought, Li Wen sent a private mental transmission to Sun Rui.

”Junior Brother Sun, five Great Demon Kings are approaching. In a moment, you flee towards Senior Brother Celestial Martial’s group. I’ll stay behind and test my saber on them.”

”Five Great Demon Kings? Alright. Senior Brother Li, be careful.” Sun Rui was startled at first, but then he nodded.

He didn’t try to persuade Li Wen to come with him. After all, Li Wen already possessed the combat power of a King before his saber skill breakthrough. Now, his power was likely approaching that of a top-tier King. Even if he couldn’t win, escaping wouldn’t be a problem.

After instructing Sun Rui, Li Wen continued to feign ignorance. He even reined in some of the aura that had been leaking out from his recent breakthrough, slowly regulating his breathing on the spot.

The pale purple prototype of his saber domain flickered in and out of existence around him, making it seem as if he were in a weakened state while consolidating his new realm.

Ten li! Five li! Three li!

Not until the encircling Demon Race members had closed in to just one li away, almost completely sealing off any room to evade,

did Li Wen and Sun Rui ”suddenly notice” and look up, a perfect hint of ”surprise” and ”panic” on their faces.

He turned without hesitation, the Saber-Lightning Domain around him contracting sharply as his speed exploded.

He appeared to flee in utter panic toward the weakest member of the encirclement—a snake-like Demon King.

”HISS HISS! Trying to run? Stay here for this king!”

Seeing this, the Snake Demon King let out a piercing, savage laugh. Its massive body twisted like a giant whip, instantly cutting off their path.

It opened its enormous maw, and a foul, dark-green toxic mist spewed forth, coalescing into dozens of durable chains of poison that swept over them, intent on entangling both Li Wen and Sun Rui.

At the same time, its giant tail, covered in jet-black scales that glinted with a dark light, tore through space. It carried enough terrifying power to shatter mountains as it brutally whipped toward the back of Li Wen, who was charging right at it.

It was supremely confident. There was no way a mere Human Race Baron could escape its two-pronged pincer attack.

Just as the poison chains were about to bind him and the giant tail was about to strike—

all the ”panic” in Li Wen’s eyes instantly vanished, replaced by an icy, indifferent, all-seeing glint of slaughter!

”BUZZ—!”

The contracted, pale purple prototype of his domain suddenly expanded at a hundred times its previous speed, instantly enveloping the Snake Demon King and its attacks.

Within the domain, space itself seemed to be sliced, bound, and slowed by a billion invisible, high-frequency vibrating blades.

The Snake Demon King’s incomparably swift movements suddenly became slow and clumsy, as if it had sunk into a viscous swamp filled with Blade Intent.

Its poison chains were annihilated inch by inch within the saber domain, and the trajectory of its giant tail became clearly discernible, its power weakened layer by layer.

And in that same instant, Li Wen’s figure vanished.

Fast! Impossibly fast!

He seemed to have merged with a real bolt of purple lightning that was tearing space apart!

That wasn’t a Body Technique. It was the effortless movement granted by his domain of ”speed.”