High Martial: I Grind Professions

Chapter 505: Chapter 317: Condensing the Wish Power Clone (Part 2)

The golden light on the surfaces of the Wish Stones peeled off in silky strands, like streams drawn by some unseen force.

They transformed into motes of pure Wish Power, pouring ceaselessly into the clone’s body.

In truth, the Wish Power clone could absorb energy from the universe through its Primordial Spirit World and convert it into Wish Power, but Li Wen chose not to do so.

This was because having the clone slowly absorb and convert cosmic energy was a despairingly inefficient process.

It would be a mere drop in the bucket compared to what was needed to fill its Wish Power reserves, which were like a dried-up lake.

Several years would be a conservative estimate.

To replenish its Wish Power more quickly, the fastest way was to absorb it from Wish Stones.

Absorbing pre-refined, concentrated Wish Power was the only truly efficient method.

This was why Li Wen had exchanged for the Wish Stones before his breakthrough.

A radiant light swirled within the room.

One after another, the Wish Stones lost their luster and crumbled into a grayish-white powder that drifted down.

In contrast, the Wish Power clone’s aura grew denser and more substantial at a visible rate.

The miniature Primordial Spirit World, like a nourished seedling, began to glow brighter, its operations becoming smoother and more natural.

The clone’s body no longer felt like an illusory construct of energy.

Li Wen’s true self could clearly feel the power swelling within his clone.

The clone’s gaze grew sharper, and the willpower it contained steadily rose.

Time passed quickly, and the next morning arrived.

Having consumed tens of thousands of Wish Stones, Li Wen’s Wish Power clone finally stopped its absorption.

As the final wisp of golden Wish Power merged into the clone, the last Wish Stone disintegrated into dust and scattered.

The clone slowly opened its eyes, a brilliant light flashing within them for an instant before vanishing.

The clone’s aura was now deep and profound, indistinguishable from his true self. It had become a genuine, fully-powered Tier One Primordial Spirit Star Lord!

Upon closer inspection, however, the newly-formed Primordial Spirit World’s operations were still a bit rough; it would need time to achieve perfect synchronization.

’And this is just for a newly created Tier One Star Lord Wish Power clone. It already consumes so many Wish Stones in one go.’

Li Wen’s true self and his clone simultaneously gazed at the thick pile of stone dust on the floor, silently calculating the cost.

He had used about thirty thousand Wish Stones.

At an exchange rate of five Primordial Stones for every one Wish Stone, that was equivalent to burning through one hundred fifty thousand Primordial Stones at once!

A sharp pang of financial pain shot through him.

Even though Li Wen had the ten million Primordial Stones from Ancestral Master Chang Jia, he still felt the sting of this expense.

Even with a fortune in hand, this astronomical rate of consumption still alarmed him.

Fortunately, he had joined the Source Net’s internal ranks, so he shouldn’t be too short on Primordial Stones in the future.

Thinking of the internal Source Net contract he had signed with Blood Blade, Li Wen felt a little more at ease.

The benefits and resource allocation for internal members would be a vital safeguard for his future cultivation.

’I wonder what the conditions are to become a core member of the Source Net. I hear only then do you truly never have to worry about resources again.’ A hint of yearning flickered in Li Wen’s eyes.

’Core members! They were the true inner circle of the Source Net, with a supply of resources that would reach an unimaginable level.’

But the requirements were so high that even for the current Li Wen, it felt unattainable.

A flash of desire crossed his eyes. That was the state he longed for: to be completely free from resource constraints and pursue the peak of power without any distractions.

Back on Blue Star, he had only focused on cultivation and never had to worry about resources.

He missed the days on Blue Star, when he was backed by an entire civilization and the legacy left by Ancestral Master Chang Jia, and resources were his for the taking.

Now that he was much stronger, even with the ten million Primordial Stones gifted by Ancestral Master Chang Jia, he had discovered that the currency really didn’t go very far, especially after buying two Tier One Primordial Spirit Dharma Artifacts recently.

A single Tier One Primordial Spirit Dharma Artifact cost three million Primordial Stones. He bought two identical ones, which cost him six million Primordial Stones.

After also exchanging some for Wish Stones, he now had only a little over three million of the ten million Primordial Stones from Ancestral Master Chang Jia left.

This was another major reason he had chosen to join the Source Net’s internal ranks; ten million Primordial Stones truly wouldn’t last him long.

This financial pressure was one of the direct motivators behind his decision to join the Source Net.

After all, once he gained an initial mastery of the Time Law, his breakthrough to the Saint Realm would cost a fortune in Primordial Stones. And if he wanted to save time in his future cultivation, he would need Primordial Stones at every turn.

Mastering the Time Law, acquiring the rare materials for his Saint Realm breakthrough, obtaining treasures to accelerate his cultivation—each of these was a resource-devouring beast.

Moreover, others only focused on a single cultivation path and only had to spend for one, but as a dual cultivator, he had to pay double.

Furthermore, the prices of Primordial Spirit Dharma Artifacts increased exponentially with each tier.

A decent Tier Two Primordial Spirit Dharma Artifact started at tens of millions of Primordial Stones, while Tier Three Dharma Artifacts cost upwards of a hundred million.

Li Wen felt immense pressure thinking about the terrifying expense of upgrading to higher-tier Primordial Spirit Dharma Artifacts in the future.

His three-million-odd Primordial Stones weren’t even enough to buy half of a decent Tier Two Dharma Artifact.

In short, if he wanted to grow stronger quickly, he would need Primordial Stones at every step.

This was the reality of the path to power in the cosmos.

Resources were the foundation, the accelerator, and an unavoidable barrier.

...

Meanwhile, as Li Wen’s Wish Power clone completed its absorption...

「At this moment.」

In the courtyard of the residence where Li Wen and his cohort were staying, a crowd had gathered to say their farewells.

In the faint morning light, the courtyard was already bustling with activity.

The geniuses from Li Wen’s trial cohort gathered in small groups, the atmosphere a mix of parting sorrows and hopeful anticipation for the future.

Over the past year, these elites from various backgrounds had been competitors, but they had also forged a strong sense of camaraderie.

They might be scattered across the cosmos in the future, but the friendships and connections they made here were a potentially priceless network.

Outsiders often misunderstood geniuses like them, assuming they were all aloof and solitary.

In truth, it was a matter of perspective. Ordinary people were not worth their time, but things were different here. No one who made it to the trial base was mediocre.

These were all potential peers, so during the past year, the group hadn’t just focused on cultivation; they had also been busy networking.

It was a testament to the reality of life at the base: competition and cooperation coexisted, and even geniuses needed to communicate and earn each other’s respect.

Lorne Meck was waiting in the courtyard, with people periodically coming over to strike up a conversation with him.

As the third-ranked prodigy of his cohort, Lorne Meck was one of the focal figures in the crowd.

Just then, Li Wen finally walked out of his room and into the courtyard.

In an instant, the chatter in the courtyard died down.

All eyes, filled with a complex mixture of awe, envy, and other emotions, snapped to him.

Clearing the eighth floor, defeating a sovereign from an Emperor Star, specializing in the Time Law... Li Wen was already the undisputed legend of the base.

Lorne Meck, who was in the middle of a conversation, didn’t hesitate for a second.

A smile even more sincere and radiant than before instantly broke out on his face. He cut his conversation short, took a few quick steps, and strode over to greet Li Wen.

This proactive gesture showed his sincere respect for absolute strength, and it also hinted that the two of them were closer than the other students.

”Li Wen!” Lorne’s voice was filled with genuine joy. ”I heard you officially signed on with the Source Net’s internal division. Congratulations!”

The news had clearly spread quickly among the base’s elite circle.

”Yes.” Li Wen gave a slight nod, his expression serene. ”The Source Net’s resources and environment are better suited for my current stage of development.”

The two exchanged a few pleasantries.

A hint of melancholy tinged Lorne’s voice as he spoke of their imminent parting.

”I’ll be heading back to my family’s star system soon. What about you? What are your plans?”

He voiced the question on everyone’s mind in the courtyard: where was this legend headed next?

”I’ll be heading to the Source Net branch on Alka Star,” Li Wen answered clearly.

”According to procedure, all internal Source Net members within the Alka High Empire begin their centralized training and mission dispatches there.”

He paused, his gaze seeming to drift toward the distant stars. ”As for where I’ll go after that... even I can’t say.”

Alka Star, the core of a High Empire, was a convergence point for top-tier resources and the fiercest competition. It was undoubtedly the prelude to a much grander stage.

A fleeting look of disappointment crossed Lorne’s eyes, but it was quickly replaced by his usual cheerfulness.

He laughed brightly. ”Got it! Well then... let’s keep in touch in the Virtual Cosmos!”

”Alright.” Li Wen nodded, replying crisply, ”See you in the Virtual Cosmos.”

As they spoke, the scheduled time for departure arrived.

Personally escorted by Head Instructor Blood Blade, all the students who had completed their trials, including Li Wen and Lorne, proceeded to the base’s massive interstellar port.