Planet Pulverizer: A Mortal's Ascent

Chapter 215: Future

In Li Pin's mansion at the Martial Arts Village, visitors came in steady streams. Aside from Martial Saints, many influential Astral Cultivators also stopped by, hoping to get to know Li Pin. However, except for a few—like Lian Hongchen, Fang Lingjue, and Cao Tianyou—Su Mai and Liu Xuanfeng turned away most of them.

No longer having to worry that their presence might affect Li Pin's performance in the competition, they stayed for several hours. The lively atmosphere within the mansion lingered until the evening, when everyone started to take their leave one after the other.

After Lian Hongchen and the others left, Li Pin followed Su Mai to Su Feiyu's mansion.

Su Feiyu had fought a fierce battle with Nan Lifeng, leaving her gravely injured. Despite receiving treatment with astral equipment, she had yet to fully recover her primordial qi.

When she saw Li Pin arrive, Su Feiyu immediately sat up in bed, her pale face breaking into a sincere smile. "Congratulations, our world champion."

"Thank you."

Su Feiyu was the last opponent whom Li Pin would have to face before he was officially crowned the winner. Of course, she was merely an opponent on paper.

"How's your condition?"

"I'll have another session of astral equipment treatment tomorrow, but full recovery will take at least three to five days," Su Feiyu replied, smiling. "Make sure to challenge me first the day after tomorrow. Otherwise, I might not have enough stamina to compete with anyone else."

"You are the only one left I can challenge," Li Pin said.

Su Feiyu nodded. "Then, I'll thank you for showing mercy in advance."

Li Pin smiled. "I should be the one thanking you."

After exchanging pleasantries, Li Pin politely took his leave.

Watching Li Pin leave, Su Feiyu lay back on her bed, deep in thought for quite a while. She only collected herself when Su Mai returned.

Su Mai noticed her unusual emotional state and soon understood the situation. He sighed. "Li Pin's Dragon Prince spot is secure now. For the next two years, he'll likely be training and studying in the Dragon Gate Hall, preparing to ascend to be Extreme Martial Saint and stand at the threshold of becoming an Astral Cultivator."

"I know," Su Feiyu said, looking at Su Mai with a hint of relief. "During this time, I've realized that he and I are not on the same path. Taibai is too small to contain him. His future... is destined to be as dazzling and brilliant as the stars in the sky."

Su Mai nodded. "It's good that you can see this. Had Li Pin only been one of the top ten, you two would’ve made for a perfect match. Even if he had entered the top three, I would have tried to get you together to keep him in the Taibai Kingdom and make him a part of the royal family. But... he won the championship and claimed the world champion title... in only three rounds, no less."

Su Mai then sighed deeply. "He is so outstanding that he has exceeded our imagination. The only barrier left in his way is that crucial step. Once he takes that step... his future is beyond measure!" n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

He paused. "At least, it's not something I can compare to."

Su Feiyu glanced at Su Mai.

Her uncle was a Top-Tier Astral Cultivator! If even he couldn't compare... It meant Su Mai believed Li Pin could eventually become a Master Astral Cultivator!

A Master Astral Cultivator was a being who stood at the pinnacle of every industry—be it martial arts, cultivation, business, or politics. Such a person could single-handedly stabilize a nation.

In times of turmoil, before the official ranking system for Astral Cultivators was established, Ordinary Astral Cultivators were considered county-level, local tyrants. High-Class Astral Cultivators were known as city-level, ruling over a region. Top-Tier Astral Cultivators were state-level, overseeing territories.

As for Master Astral Cultivators...

They were a national-level powerhouse!

Only with a Master Astral Cultivator could a country ensure its place on the world stage. If a country didn’t have one, it wouldn't even be eligible to join the human alliance led by the Six Extremities.

Yet, Su Mai boldly predicted that if Li Pin could overcome the life-or-death trial, he could one day reach such heights.

She was just a princess without the talent for astral cultivation. To her, Li Pin was someone out of her league.

Su Mai said, "While these things can't be forced, I believe we can reach a mutual understanding. Therefore, I'll arrange for you to enter the Dragon Gate Hall. Given your excellent performance in the martial competition, joining as a core member should not be a problem.

"Those close to the water's edge will be the first to catch the fish. As for whether you can hold onto him..."[1]

"I understand," Su Feiyu nodded. "Knowing him early on is my greatest advantage."

Su Mai smiled, confident in his royal family member's education.

Su Feiyu knew what could and couldn't be done. He didn’t have to instruct her on every little thing. She could handle things on her own.

"Maintaining close relationships and gradual development is our greatest success."

***

In the mansion.

Li Yunyao was video chatting with Li Yunyan, excitedly describing Li Pin's outstanding performance at the World's Top Martial Competition.

Of course, every match had been broadcast live. Even though Li Yunyan and others were far away in Jiang Province, they had been able to watch Li Pin's matches live.

Yet, Li Yunyao described the matches in vivid detail with great relish. Seeing Li Yunyao like this, Li Yunyan's brow softened, and she smiled gently.

Spotting Li Pin, Li Yunyao quickly called out to him. "Brother's here."

Li Pin had been heading to the training room when Li Yunyao called for him. He stopped and looked at his sister, Li Yunyan, on the screen. "Is everything okay at home?"

She nodded. "Everything's fine."

Then, Li Yunuan seemed to remember something and added hesitantly, "There have been a lot more phone calls lately."

Li Pin quickly understood what she meant. He said, "Handle it as you see fit. We should repay those who have helped us in the past when we are capable enough. But for others... cut them off decisively if necessary, or you'll inevitably face big trouble."

Li Yunyan nodded. "I understand. I am just worried it might affect your reputation...."

"Reputation?" Li Pin chuckled softly. "If something as trivial as this can affect it, then such a reputation isn't worth having."

He planned to have Qin Rouran call Qin You, believing that the Qin family patriarch would be more adept at handling this matter.

After chatting for a bit, Li Pin left for the training room.

He lit the Spirit-Restoring Incense, then opened a box given to him by Su Mai.

The box was large, but its contents were quite simple. Two boxes and one manual.

Li Pin opened the identical boxes together to find two pearls inside.

It was as Li Pin had expected."Essence-Gathering Pearl."

Li Pin glanced at the Essence-Gathering Pearl. "One was a reward from the organizing committee for winning the world champion title, and the other... was a personal gift from Fu Qingtian."

As he murmured, he picked up the manual.

This manual was not a secret martial art. Rather, it contained Fu Qingtian's insights into cultivation at the Martial Saint realm.

Furthermore, these insights were not from forty years ago.

Despite having become a Legendary Astral Cultivator and one of the Supreme Experts in Tianyuan, Fu Qingtian had never ceased studying martial arts. He had dedicated himself to improving the success rate of Martial Saints advancing to the realm of Astral Cultivators.

The manual, recently written, offered a Supreme Expert's perspective and elaborated on the various mysteries of the Martial Saint realm. It meticulously detailed every aspect of the Martial Saint realm before Li Pin.

Li Pin flipped through the pages. "Martial Saints... five tiers! The Extreme Martial Saint is at the fourth tier, while the fifth tier Martial Saints... each have the qualifications to compete for the title of King of the Century. Their failures are not due to a lack of strength; sometimes, it's simply bad luck..."

However, the fifth tier of Martial Saints was considered a lofty aspiration for many. Those in this tier not only possessed the strength of Extreme Martial Saints but also unique, innate talents, which could not be acquired through later effort.

For instance, some individuals had sharp senses. Some had extraordinary vision. Others had exceptional hearing. There were even people with extraordinary digestive abilities.

Among them, the most remarkable were innate divine strength, immortality, a heart of utmost sincerity, and sudden enlightenment.

Wang Liancheng was the best example of innate divine strength.

As for immortality, it didn’t mean that these individuals couldn’t be killed or enjoy eternal life, it simply meant immense resilience and remarkable resistance to injuries.

The previous King of the Century—Li Wu—had such a talent.

During his mortal years, he endured twenty-two gunshots. Three of the bullets had even found their way into his head, getting lodged inside. Yet...

He survived the ordeal.

Aside from these King of the Century's achievements, those who possessed unique innate talents also had a significantly higher success rate of refining their qi into Spirit and achieving the state of Extreme Transcendence than ordinary people.

The book mentioned Ling Qingfeng, a legendary expert of Tianyuan, who possessed the Heart of Sincerity. With this ability, he could repeatedly sense danger and opportunities, thereby avoiding misfortune and turning the impossible into possible.

From a Martial Saint, he smoothly transitioned to the path of an Astral Cultivator without encountering major risks. Today, he stood at the pinnacle of Tianyuan.

Li Pin flipped through the manual and quickly formed a vague idea of his own strength. "I'm now... probably at the third tier?"

"But speaking of innate talent...."

His keen perception could be categorized as "innate talent."

Additionally, with his Innate Qi-Refining Technique's Foundation Building Chapter breaking the genetic lock and paving a new path in martial arts, he was also developing the "Divine Strength" talent.

Thinking about it... I seem to have two innate talents?

Li Pin pondered. "I'm afraid it might not be as simple as that..."

Combining the Foundation Building Chapter of the Innate Qi-Refining Technique with his martial arts system and the ever-developing innate "Clairvoyance" talent, he could help not only nurture the "Divine Strength" talent, but he could also advance in other directions.

For instance, he already possessed the self-healing passive ability. In addition, the Innate Qi-Refining Technique provided him with a "Recovery" effect. If he merged these two together, would they turn into the "Immortality" talent?

Moreover, while the Heart of Sincerity dealt with a form of intuitive perception, enlightenment enhanced the learning ability. This learning capability could be compensated for with additional time.

The Zhulong of Time had the power to distort time, making him feel as if only half an hour had passed while twelve hours had actually slipped by in the outside world.

If he delved deeper into this ability in the future...

Could he make it so that he experienced twelve hours internally while only half an hour passed externally? Would it be possible to absorb twelve hours' worth of knowledge in just half an hour? To an ordinary person, wouldn't that seem like a form of enlightenment?

Li Pin contemplated this as he gazed down at the manual he was holding.

"The future... holds great promise."

1. it implies being in the right place at the right time can lead to success. ☜