Chapter 283 - 170: Half a Year Later (2)

Chapter 283: Chapter 170: Half a Year Later (2)

His foundation was now almost perfectly stable, honed and solidified over the past few days.

However, breaking through to a new major realm was no small matter. Li Wen had always been cautious, and to ensure it went off without a hitch, he decided to spend the day consolidating his foundation further.

He held a small hope in his heart: to complete his breakthrough before the New Year’s bells chimed. He wanted to greet this special New Year’s Eve as a Great Sun Realm Fiendgod—a New Year’s gift to himself.

With his mind made up, he closed the panel, got up, and walked to the washroom.

The clear, cold stream of water washed away the last trace of sleepiness.

After enjoying a special breakfast packed with abundant energy, Li Wen walked with steady steps into his study, which was piled high with ancient books.

His daily six hours of reading and studying—a routine he never broke—was the sole secret to his rapid growth. It was also the foundation for advancing in his scholar profession, a duty he could not neglect in the slightest.

The rustling of turning pages was the only rhythm in the courtyard.

Six hours passed by in a flash, flowing swiftly in the ocean of knowledge. In the blink of an eye, it was noon.

In the alloy corridors of Bluestone County’s underground fortress, footsteps echoed steadily.

Li Wen didn’t return to his home on the surface to have lunch with his parents.

More than a year had passed since he took on the solemn duty of guarding the Bluestone County Stargate. It had gradually become an unwritten rule for him to spend holidays with his garrisoned teammates, standing together through everything.

The enormous dining hall was brightly lit. A few extra exquisite dishes had been prepared, their presentation adding a festive touch. But compared to the reunion dinners happening outside, it all seemed far more modest.

What filled the air, more than anything, was the solemn atmosphere of those who perpetually guarded the frontier, and their longing for faraway family.

"Brother Li, over here!" Zhang Zhen’s voice was full of hearty enthusiasm as he beckoned Li Wen to a large round table.

Dozens of Fiendgods were seated around the table, their realms ranging from the Flying Star Realm to the late-stage Bright Moon Realm. They were all teammates who had fought shoulder-to-shoulder for a long time on this silent front line around the Stargate.

"Captain Li, Happy New Year’s Eve!" a team member who looked even younger than Li Wen greeted with a smile, his tone full of sincere respect.

Li Wen nodded and sat down. "Same to you. Everyone’s worked hard. Eat up. It’s the New Year, so relax a little."

The simple greetings broke the ice.

Everyone began to eat, and the conversation naturally turned to thrilling moments from missions in the past year, insights on cultivation, and imaginings of what home was like.

"I video-chatted with my daughter last night. The little one has grown a lot again. She said she saved some dumplings for me... Sigh, but I won’t get to eat the ones she made with her own hands."

A middle-aged team member, Brother Chen, whose face bore the marks of wind and frost, let out a sigh, his voice full of apology and longing.

"Your wife didn’t chew you out on the phone, did she?" a teammate next to him joked.

"Heh, she didn’t scold me. Just told me to guard my post well, that the family’s safety is more important than anything."

Brother Chen gulped down a mouthful of hot soup. A bit of relief showed on his face, but the weight of his responsibility was etched even deeper.

Another young team member chimed in, "Yeah, our position is a special one; we can’t leave it for a second. Think about that alarm from Nanzha County last year. If it weren’t for Captain Li..."

"Hey, why bring that up? Eat, eat." Zhang Zhen placed a piece of meat on Li Wen’s plate. "Brother Li, try this."

Li Wen listened, complex emotions welling up in his heart.

He could understand the regret deep in everyone’s eyes for not being able to return home. Aside from him, whose family was right here in Bluestone County, everyone else was from out of town.

But it was precisely this shared sacrifice that had forged their bond, making it exceptionally profound through life-or-death trials and the time they spent together day in and day out.

Just then, a slender young man wearing glasses stood up with a glass of liquor and walked over to Li Wen.

His name was Zhao Mingyu, Li Wen’s junior from Xin Huo University and one year his junior. He had recently reached the Peak of Flying Star Realm and had been assigned to Bluestone County at the same time as Li Wen.

"Senior Brother Li," Zhao Mingyu’s voice wasn’t loud, but it was clear. He looked at Li Wen with a sincere gaze. "This one... is a toast to you, from me."

He paused, as if gathering his words. "On several missions, if you hadn’t intervened in time, I and several of our brothers would have been done for long ago. That first time when the demon general charged our formation, and that sneak attack last month... Your junior has never forgotten the debt of you saving my life."

His words were simple, without a hint of exaggeration.

Several team members nearby, including some of the men he had just mentioned, also stopped eating, their gazes fixed on Li Wen with the same gratitude.

Li Wen looked into his sincere eyes as many scenes from the past year flashed through his mind.

He picked up his own glass and stood up, responding calmly:

"Junior Brother Zhao, you exaggerate. We guard the same gate; it’s our duty to watch over and help one another. Making it back alive together is the best reward. This responsibility to protect is something we should have prepared for when we entered the university. Standing here now, regardless of rank, we are all fulfilling that duty."

He lightly tapped Zhao Mingyu’s glass. "The torch is passed on. Safety is a blessing."

This response wasn’t enthusiastic, but it carried a heavy weight. It was an acknowledgment of their sacrifices and a hope for future peace.

Zhao Mingyu nodded heavily, a slight glint in his eyes, and drained his glass in one go.

The simple toast was like a miniature portrait of their lives. In the dining hall, at noon on New Year’s Eve, this "reunion"—one built on camaraderie forged in battle and a shared sense of duty—felt exceptionally warm and resilient.

In the afternoon, Li Wen returned to his private chamber, located deep within the fortress.

He did not immediately begin his final preparations for the breakthrough, but instead sat down cross-legged.

His consciousness sank into his sea of consciousness. Like a master craftsman, he once again meticulously inspected his foundation: the resilience and width of his meridians, the thunderous life force contained within his flesh and blood, the radiant light flowing around his miniature Primordial Spirit...

Everything was repeatedly scanned, smoothed, and solidified by his Spiritual Power.