In terms of skill, his rate of progress was still nothing short of terrifying.

He had only taken a single week to completely master the Guan Yue Form—the final of the Flowing Rainbow’s Five Forms, which embodied the true meaning of a mountain crashing down with unparalleled, ferocious might—and bring it to perfection.

At this point, all five core blade techniques recorded in the Flowing Rainbow Shocking Magpie Chapter—Skimming Shadow, Stacking Waves, Guarding the Pass, Sky Hanging, and the Guan Yue Form—had been mastered to 100% proficiency.

The Power Realm of his blade technique had also been pushed to an unprecedented peak of 99%.

He was now just a single step away from the legendary Blade Realm, a state where "the blade acts before the thought" and "all techniques return to their source."

His Scholar experience points also climbed steadily with his unceasing daily study and contemplation. He was now just over three thousand points away from the alluring Level 10.

That meant double the comprehension!

Whenever he thought of this, Li Wen’s expectations for what lay ahead became even clearer. ’The future is full of promise.’

Today was a particularly special day.

Tomorrow was the sacred assessment day for new student enrollment at the Human Alliance’s most prestigious Martial Dao institution—Fire Hall University.

To ensure nothing went wrong, almost every candidate qualified for the assessment would choose to set out today, heading for Fire Hall University in a distant province.

Li Wen, as the pride of Jiangnan Province, was no exception.

Breakfast was a warm moment shared with his parents.

In his parents’ eyes, there was both a reluctance to see him go and the profound pride of parents with high hopes for their son’s success.

They fussed over him with advice, and Li Wen simply responded with a calm smile.

After a simple yet warm breakfast, Li Wen bid his parents farewell and headed straight for the Bluestone County branch of the Fire Hall.

Ever since he had learned more about the world’s true situation from Fang Chengwu, he understood that humanity wasn’t just holed up in cities and carving out hunting zones to defend against the native Demon Beasts of Blue Star.

The native beasts were kept around as an inexhaustible source of meat and materials, and more importantly, as indispensable whetstones for the growth of low-level Martial Artists.

Humanity’s true enemies were the Alien Demon Race, who tore through space to invade Earth, attempting to turn Blue Star into their colony and hunting ground.

This cruel truth gave Li Wen a deeper understanding of the weight carried by the name "Fire Hall" and the mission of passing the torch that it represented.

While waiting at the branch hall, Li Wen didn’t waste a single moment.

He once again shut himself in his familiar, private, exclusive Martial Arts Room on the 14th floor.

With single-minded focus, he practiced the Flowing Rainbow’s Five Forms. His figure left a trail of afterimages as the gleam of his blade flashed like a startled rainbow one moment, suppressed the world like a mountain the next, then crashed like waves in a vast ocean.

With every flourish of his blade, he sought any opportunity to merge the five distinct yet deeply connected intents into one, hoping to grasp that final 1% and forge his own Blade Intent.

He was well aware of how difficult this final step was.

Otherwise, it wouldn’t have barred ninety-nine percent of Flying Star Level experts for years, or even decades. Many were trapped until their vitality waned from its peak, with only a lucky few managing to break through.

Worse still, many spent their entire lives trying, only to perish without ever glimpsing the gateway to that higher realm.

This chasm between the Power Realm and the Realm of Intent had buried the ambitions of countless geniuses.

Li Wen, however, remained calm and composed about it.

With his current status as the top candidate from two provinces, an S-rank contract holder, at the Peak of Power Realm with his blade, and a newly-minted Martial Artist, his admission into Fire Hall University was already a certainty.

Breaking through to the Blade Realm ahead of schedule would be great, but if it required more time and polishing, he was perfectly at ease with that.

He was especially calm when he remembered that his Scholar level would soon break through to 10, granting him double comprehension. That would be the perfect opportunity to attempt merging the Five Forms and breaking through to Blade Intent.

BZZZZ—

Just as the chimes for noon seemed to still be echoing over Bluestone County, a sharp and distinct buzz suddenly rang out in the Martial Arts Room, precisely interrupting Li Wen’s fluid movements.

It was a communication request from Chen Yuanfeng, the Hall Master of the Bluestone County Fire Hall branch.

Li Wen accepted the call.

"Li Wen, the dignitary from the Jiangnan provincial headquarters is about to arrive! Get to the rooftop terrace, quickly!" Chen Yuanfeng’s voice was filled with irrepressible excitement and reverence.

Li Wen returned his blade to the rack, a faint ripple disturbing the usual calm of his heart.

He quickly rinsed off the light sweat from his training, changed into a set of the Fire Hall’s custom silver-gray martial fatigues, and was then personally escorted by Hall Master Chen Yuanfeng into a special express elevator to the top floor.

The elevator doors slid open silently, revealing the spacious rooftop platform of the Bluestone branch hall.

「Five minutes later.」

The early summer sun was scorching at noon, but all eyes were drawn to the behemoth that had suddenly appeared in the sky above the branch hall.

A streamlined, shuttle-shaped aircraft, over fifty meters long, hovered motionlessly a dozen meters above the hall.

Its hull was forged from a strange, dark metal that seemed to swirl with starlight. Fine, blue-purple lines of light occasionally flashed across its surface, tracing arcane circuits of flowing energy. It was a silent testament to cutting-edge technology and immense power, far surpassing any civilian vehicle.

The craft’s lines were fluid yet powerful. It had no visible propellers or thrusters, only a massive anti-gravity field at its base emitting a soft halo. This field held it steadily aloft, not disturbing even a ripple of air on the building below.

In the sunlight, it looked like a slumbering celestial beast, exuding a soul-stirring majesty and power.

The sudden arrival of such a magnificent vessel in little Bluestone County had already drawn countless onlookers, who stopped in their tracks to gaze up, their suppressed gasps of awe rippling through the streets.

PSSSH— A hatch on the side of the aircraft slid silently downward, forming a ramp.

A figure then emerged, stepping out slowly.

Without the aid of any external device, he simply "walked" down from over ten meters in the air, descending steadily, step by step.

It was as if he were treading not on empty air, but on solid ground.

An invisible aura radiated out with his every step. It wasn’t deliberately oppressive, yet it instantly caused the breath to catch in the throats of Li Wen and Chen Yuanfeng on the rooftop.

The man appeared to be in his thirties or forties, his handsome face defined by sharp, chiseled features.

His eyes were as deep as if they held the Star Sea itself, a sharp light glinting within them whenever he blinked.

He wore a simple but exceptionally crafted black combat uniform with silver trim. A faint, dark emblem resembling the Fire Hall insignia was visible on his shoulder.

As he walked, he exuded an unintentional air of majesty—the kind only cultivated by one long accustomed to a high position, holding the power of life and death. It was layered with the steady composure of a man forged on countless battlefields, tempered by blood and power.

His mere presence seemed to make the very air around him grow still.

This was one of the rulers of Jiangnan Province, the magnate who commanded all its Fire Hall branches—the Marquis Level expert, Marquis Jiangling, Lu Feng!

"Your subordinate, Chen Yuanfeng, Hall Master of the Bluestone branch, pays his respects to Marquis Jiangling!"

Chen Yuanfeng immediately bowed low, his posture deeply deferential and his tone filled with heartfelt reverence.

"Student Li Wen pays his respects to Marquis Jiangling!" Li Wen followed suit, offering a respectful greeting that was neither servile nor arrogant.

He had known who was coming as soon as he received the notification: a true powerhouse who presided over Jiangnan Province, one of the magnates managing all the Fire Hall branches—a genuine Marquis Level Super Martial Artist.

Marquis Jiangling’s gaze rested on Chen Yuanfeng for only a moment before settling entirely on Li Wen.

A warm smile spread across his stately face, like the first thaw of winter snow.

"Li Wen. I’ve long heard of you," Marquis Jiangling said, his voice rich and powerful.

"For a small place like Bluestone County to produce a true dragon like you is a great fortune. First place in the provincial skills assessment twice in a row, capable of slaying a Demon Beast on par with a mid-tier Super Martial Artist while still Unranked..."

"The miracles you’ve performed in Bluestone County would be dazzling even on the national stage. Excellent! Fire Hall University needs prospects like you."

The unconcealed admiration and approval in his tone made even Chen Yuanfeng, standing to the side, flush with excitement.

Li Wen’s expression remained calm as he bowed slightly again. "Your Lordship is too kind. I will do my best."

"Mm, it’s getting late. Let’s be on our way." Marquis Jiangling nodded and turned, heading for the ramp of light extending from the hatch.

After bidding farewell to Chen Yuanfeng, Li Wen quickly followed.

As he stepped into the spacious, brightly lit cabin, Li Wen immediately saw several familiar faces.