Chapter 294 - 174: Mid-stage Great Sun Realm, Shocking God Stab 7th Layer

Chapter 294: Chapter 174: Mid-stage Great Sun Realm, Shocking God Stab 7th Layer

He stood on the observation deck of a towering integrated defense center in Changning City, his gaze sweeping over the steel jungle below—a city now several times larger than it once was.

New types of protective fields flickered in and out of sight at the city’s key nodes.

In the direction of the former Bluestone County, all that remained in his perception was a distant, vague, and empty coordinate point.

His parents had been safely settled in the city’s core residential area, where security was far higher than it had been back in the county. This put his mind at ease.

His communication wristband vibrated slightly, projecting a vast 3D schematic of a surveillance network composed of multiple satellite city outposts and underground defense nodes.

He quickly reviewed the overall defense posture report following the integration of the Bluestone County sector.

His new responsibilities were even greater. He was no longer just protecting a piece of his homeland, but a critical node that ensured the safety of millions.

Li Wen exhaled, his eyes once again sharp and focused.

The war was far from over; it merely continued in a different form within the shadows of this super-metropolis.

And his blade would continue to guard this hard-won new order and new hope.

...

「Galactic Calendar, Year 233, January 30th. Dawn.」

A private courtyard deep within the underground city fortress.

More than half a year had slipped by silently. It was New Year’s Eve once again.

In the early morning, as the first rays of the winter sun pierced the window lattice, casting a soft, bright patch on the snow-white walls and gradually filling the room, Li Wen slowly emerged from a state of deep meditation.

His mind was still immersed in the afterglow of the world’s flowing energies, but out of habit, he immediately summoned his panel:

[Name: Li Wen]

[Age: 25]

[Realm: Early-stage Great Sun Realm (Level 52.6)]

[Class: Scholar Lv. 14 (296,040/819,200)]

[Skills: Blade Technique · Soul Realm (99%), Profound Dome Five Forms (Star Rush 100%, Lightning Smite 100%, Celestial Gate 100%, Star Core 100%, Soul Abyss 100%)]

[Cultivation Technique: Shocking God Stab · 6th Layer (100%)]

His eyes scanned the lines of data.

Compared to when he first entered the Great Sun Realm a year ago, all his stats had grown significantly.

His physical Cultivation had advanced steadily, and he was no longer far from the Mid-stage Great Sun Realm. The experience bar for his Scholar class, built up through long and persistent study, was also progressing at a stable pace.

However, what captured most of Li Wen’s attention right now was still the Blade Technique realm entry.

99%.

With the aid of the [Absolute Focus] ability granted by his Lv. 14 Scholar class, plus a full year of ceaseless, arduous cultivation and insight, his Blade Technique had finally reached the peak of the Soul Realm.

The "Profound Dome Five Forms" recorded in the Profound Dome Rainbow Silence Chapter had long since been tempered to 100% perfect mastery, becoming like second nature to him.

Now, only the final and most critical step lay before him: to fuse the Blade Intents of the Five Forms, merging them into one to forge a blade path that was uniquely his own.

That was the threshold of the Dao Realm.

The Dao Realm was of utmost importance; it was one of the core conditions for unlocking the gate to becoming a Titled Godfiend.

If one’s skill realm could not enter this state, they would likely never glimpse the mysteries of a Titled Godfiend in their entire life.

But for Li Wen, this critical life-or-death juncture that plagued countless Godfiends at the Peak of Great Sun Realm didn’t cause him much stress.

With an aid as heaven-defying as the Scholar panel, breaking through was only a matter of time.

His Blade Technique realm had always progressed ahead of his physical Cultivation.

He estimated that, without any unexpected fortunate encounters, it would take about four more years for his physical Cultivation to reach the Peak of Great Sun Realm.

As long as he could reach the Dao Realm within four years, it wouldn’t become an obstacle to his growth.

’A year... maybe less,’ Li Wen thought.

Relying on his current experience and the five hours of extreme dedication provided by [Absolute Focus] each day, he was confident he could significantly shorten that time.

The many thoughts flashed through his mind, and Li Wen dismissed the panel.

He got up, washed up quickly, and consumed a high-energy compressed nutrient meal supplied by the base for breakfast. His energy was quickly replenished to a full state.

Then, just like any other ordinary day, he walked to the quiet study in his villa and began his six hours of high-intensity study for the day.

When the last book on energy-pattern theory was closed, the brightness of the light strips simulating natural light in the study had just been adjusted to mimic high noon.

Li Wen finished his studies on time, got up, and headed to the public cafeteria in Changning City’s underground fortress.

"Captain Li, Happy New Year!"

"Senior Brother Li, Happy New Year’s Eve!"

"Junior Brother Li, come sit over here!"

As soon as he stepped through the doors of the spacious and bright cafeteria, a chorus of enthusiastic greetings rose up to meet him.

A gentle smile appeared on Li Wen’s face as he nodded in response to each of them. "Happy New Year. Happy New Year’s Eve."

Having been stationed in Changning—a medium-sized city fortress even more important than Firmrock Fortress—for half a year, he had long since become familiar with every Godfiend permanently stationed here.

The structure of the garrison was similar to Firmrock’s. Its core was composed of several Godfiends at the Peak of Great Sun Realm who formed the top-tier combat force, each responsible for a different sector.

The team leader, Captain Zhao Zheng, was a Godfiend at the Peak of Great Sun Realm who still seemed full of energy. At over seventy years old, he was still considered to be in his prime for someone at his level.

His own skills had already reached the Dao Realm, making him the strongest person in the team, at least publicly.

Right now, he was smiling and waving Li Wen over to sit with him.

"Junior Brother Li, come take a look. The kitchen staff added some special dishes today." Zhao Zheng pointed to the lavish buffet table. The festive atmosphere brought a bit of warmth to the usually stark cafeteria.

The food was indeed more exquisite than usual, featuring flavors from various regions.

The team members were either gathered around tables or chatting in small groups, sharing stories of perilous missions from the past year, exchanging insights on combat and cultivation, and speaking of their longing for their families far away.

Occasionally, the topic of conversation would also turn to Captain Zhao Zheng.