High Martial: I Grind Professions

Chapter 459: Chapter 297: Time Tower

An opponent like that held an immense appeal for him, both for honing his skills and for increasing his Martial Daoist experience points.

”That’s right. Master 9-star, the recognized number one of this batch. He can even rank among the very top of all Venerable Realm cultivators in the entire Morod Intermediate Empire,” Lorne Meck confirmed, his tone tinged with gravity.

Li Wen nodded, then looked at Lorne with a hint of curiosity. ”Lorne, what’s your rank?”

Lorne Meck didn’t hide it, stating frankly, ”Master 6-star.”

This rank would be a source of pride anywhere else, but here at the Source Net base, which was teeming with geniuses, it was only considered upper-mid tier.

After speaking, he asked back with curiosity, ”What about you, Li Wen? What’s your rank? To get into Source Net, you must be at least close to Master, right?”

”Me?” Li Wen replied calmly. ”Sun 5-star.”

”Sun 5-star?” The expression on Lorne Meck’s face instantly froze, his eyes filled with undisguised shock and doubt.

He sized Li Wen up and down in disbelief. ”That’s impossible! I’m familiar with Source Net’s selection criteria. Although it’s a comprehensive assessment, the threshold for the skill realm category is extremely high.

”Forget the Sun rank, even the Extraordinary rank would barely meet the minimum standard. You have to be at least close to the Master level to qualify! Are you... hiding your true strength?”

He simply couldn’t believe that someone at the Sun rank would be invited by Source Net.

Seeing Lorne’s ”you must be kidding me” expression, Li Wen gave a helpless smile and explained,

”I’m not hiding anything. I’ve only been fighting in the Ultimate Arenas for a day, all told. I just haven’t had time to climb the ranks yet.”

”I see... Reaching Sun 5-star in one day is still very impressive.” Lorne Meck finally nodded, relieved.

’To reach Sun 5-star in a single day, his true rank must be at least at the Master level. As expected, Source Net doesn’t misjudge people.’

Such things were not uncommon in the cosmos. After all, the universe was too vast, and there were always people who initially lived only in remote star systems, having never encountered the Virtual Cosmos.

Combined with Li Wen’s low-grade bloodline, it all made sense.

With this ”misunderstanding” cleared up, not only did Lorne Meck not look down on Li Wen, but the atmosphere of their conversation became even more harmonious.

Lorne Meck guessed that Li Wen probably wasn’t very clear on the details of this trial, so he began to share some more critical information about the base:

”Li Wen, you need to pay close attention during the upcoming year-long trial. There will be a comprehensive ranking every month, and this ranking will directly determine how many rare resources you’re allocated for the following month.”

”Resources?” Li Wen pressed. ”What kind of resources, exactly? I’ve been curious, since Source Net can already rank us in the Virtual Cosmos, why gather us all here?”

A trace of yearning and solemnity flashed in Lorne Meck’s eyes. ”Good question! This is precisely where the true foundation of Source Net, as one of the four great titans of the cosmos, lies!

If it were just a simple ranking and selection process, the Virtual Cosmos would be more than enough. But Source Net went to the trouble of summoning us to this physical base on Sharp Edge Star,

precisely because some of the resources provided during this year of training are things that money can’t buy on the outside!

Even the royal family of the Morod Intermediate Empire doesn’t normally have access to core resources like these!

Only a titan on the level of Source Net has the ability to provide them.”

’Even the royal family of an intermediate empire can’t access them?’ Li Wen was inwardly shaken.

He realized he might have underestimated the importance of this place.

Lorne Meck nodded emphatically. ”That’s right! One of the most central and precious resources is usage time in the Time Tower!”

”The Time Tower?” The name was novel to Li Wen.

”Yes! The Time Tower!” Lorne Meck’s voice was filled with irrepressible excitement. ”It’s a cosmic wonder that can alter the flow of time!

Although there are some special celestial bodies in the universe, like those near black holes, that can also alter the flow of time, they only slow it down.

The Time Tower, however, can accelerate time! And the side effects on the user are minimal; it has almost no impact on one’s foundation or potential!”

He looked at Li Wen, his gaze burning, as he painted a tempting picture. ”Just imagine it, Li Wen! While only a few days pass in the outside world, you could be inside the Time Tower’s accelerated domain, cultivating for several years!

When a year passes on the outside, you will have actually spent decades, or even centuries, in secluded cultivation inside!

Your power realm, your comprehension of your techniques, your accumulated experience... to what terrifying degree will they have improved?!”

’Such a miraculous object actually exists?!’ Even with his steadfast will, Li Wen couldn’t help but be moved.

He possessed the comprehension boost of a max-level scholar, making his learning ability already exceptional. The only thing he lacked was sufficient time to polish his skills and accumulate experience.

This Time Tower was like a divine artifact tailor-made for him.

Whether used to deduce more profound saber techniques or to frantically grind for Martial Daoist experience points, it would be an immeasurably huge asset.

The mere thought of being able to enter and cultivate for a period of time made his blood boil with excitement.

”And that’s just the Time Tower!” Lorne Meck continued, his voice still filled with emotion,

”Other resources, like the ’Soul Origin Tower,’ which can temper the origin of one’s soul; the ’Star Marrow Chamber,’ which can strengthen the particulate structure of the physical body; and the ’Myriad Phenomena Mystic Realm,’ which can simulate various extreme environments to hone one’s will and comprehension of Laws...

Although they aren’t as heaven-defying as the Time Tower, they are all priceless treasures that are nearly impossible to find in the outside world! Enough to drive any Cultivator mad!”

His tone shifted, taking on a hint of gravity. ”But precisely because these resources are so precious, the usage time allotted to each person is extremely limited.

So, Li Wen, the first month is absolutely crucial! Although resources are distributed equally during the first month, that’s just to let everyone adapt and showcase their abilities from the same starting line.

Your ranking in the first month will determine how many resources you get in the second month—especially your time in the Time Tower!

Here, getting ahead means staying ahead. Falling behind once could mean being left completely in the dust.

This year is an incredibly precious opportunity for transformation for everyone, including myself! We must give it our all!

If we miss this chance, entering these places again in the future will require exchanging a massive amount of merit points.”

The two exchanged a few more notes about the base and some rumors before Lorne Meck got up to leave and returned to his own room.

Li Wen walked into his private chamber, closing the door and shutting out the noise from the outside world.

The furnishings inside were simple and practical, and the chamber was filled with a kind of Energy Field that quickly calmed the mind.

He stood in the center of the room but didn’t immediately begin cultivating. Lorne Meck’s words echoed in his mind, especially the description of the Time Tower.

”The Time Tower...” Li Wen murmured to himself, an unprecedented glint flashing in his eyes.

He had originally thought this year-long trial was mainly about familiarizing himself with the cosmic environment, completing Source Net’s evaluation, and incidentally honing his skills to raise his Martial Daoist level in the Ultimate Arenas.

But now, he had completely changed his mind.

’Time! That is precisely what I crave most right now!’

He had cultivated for a mere forty years, yet he already stood at the peak of the Venerable Realm, possessing a physical body comparable to the Saint Realm and a powerful Primordial Spirit.

If he could receive the boon of the Time Tower—even just for one year in the outside world, which could mean decades inside the tower—how terrifying would his improvement be?

For the chance to grind Martial Daoist experience points alone, it was absolutely worth fighting with everything he had for a higher ranking and more time in the Time Tower.

’The first month... I have to secure a good ranking!’ Li Wen’s gaze was resolute as he sat down cross-legged.

He didn’t rush to enter the Ultimate Arenas in the Virtual Cosmos. Instead, he first calmed his mind.

He began carefully planning how to maximize his improvement over the next month and be fully prepared for the first ranking battle.

After a short rest, a thought stirred in Li Wen’s mind.

By connecting his consciousness to the Star Pivot, he instantly re-entered the vast, boundless space of the Virtual Cosmos.

Since he had decided to achieve an excellent result in the first month’s ranking battle at the Source Net elite training base,

then raising his core strength—his Martial Daoist level—was an urgent top priority.

Although he was still unclear about the specific content and format of the subsequent trials,

the simple principle that ”the stronger one’s combat power, the greater one’s advantage” was an irrefutable truth, whether on Blue Star or among the cosmic Star River.

And right now, the fastest and most efficient way to raise his Martial Daoist level was undoubtedly through high-intensity combat, especially against powerful opponents.

Without much hesitation, Li Wen’s figure appeared directly in the lobby of the Ultimate Arenas.

He immediately began a new round of matched challenges.

As Li Wen’s victories piled up, his one-hundred-percent win rate became a dazzling tag, and the ranks of the opponents the system matched him with rose accordingly.

At the same time, the victory points from each win grew more substantial, and the speed of his rank progression accelerated.

Time slipped away quietly in the flashes of light from one post-battle settlement screen after another.

Ten matches, twenty, fifty, one hundred...

Starting from the Sun rank, Li Wen’s figure repeatedly flashed into the arena, swung his saber, and ended the battle.

His opponents’ ranks gradually climbed from low-star Extraordinary to high-star Extraordinary.

But without exception, none could withstand his saber techniques for more than a moment. It was always a clean and decisive one-shot kill.

Finally, after the light of another victory faded, Li Wen’s rank insignia burst forth with a brilliant silver light.

Its form became more complex and profound—he had successfully advanced to [Extraordinary 1-star]!

At this point, there were less than two hours until the simulated dawn in the Virtual Cosmos.

And only three hours remained until the first morning assembly at the Sharp Edge Star training base.

With the jump in rank, the matchmaking pool also suddenly rose to another level.

When his new opponent appeared in the arena, the [Master 1-star] insignia above their head was clearly visible.

This burly alien Venerable, whose skin resembled cracked lava, was visibly stunned for a moment upon seeing Li Wen’s rank of only Extraordinary 1-star, a flicker of astonishment in his eyes.

’Extraordinary 1-star? Matched with me?’

He mumbled to himself and then, filled with intense curiosity, subconsciously pulled up Li Wen’s detailed combat record panel.