Planet Pulverizer: A Mortal's Ascent

Chapter 319: Award Treasure

Wen Xingchen returned swiftly.

After Li Pin finished a set of Celestial Body-Tempering Fist, Wen Xingchen bowed to him respectfully. "I have lived up to your teachings, Master. I have fulfilled my task and condensed the Lifeform Force Field."

Li Pin nodded in acknowledgment. "Mm."

Since accepting Wen Xingchen as a named disciple, Li Pin had guided him through at least ten training sessions. Though the attention given couldn't compare to what Li Yunyao or Lin Xiaolu had received, it was no less than what he offered Qin Rouran and Xiang Xiaoyue.

Fortunately, Wen Xingchen did not disappoint him. In three months, he comprehended the Innate Embryonic Breath Technique, traveled to Great Shang to rent a piece of astral equipment, and condensed his Lifeform Force Field.

"Alright, adjust your state. Condensing the Lifeform Force Field is only the first step toward becoming a Martial God. You are not considered a true Martial God until you can use the Lifeform Force Field to disrupt the Celestial Force Field," Li Pin stated.

"I will strictly follow your teachings, Master," Wen Xingchen replied respectfully.

Once Wen Xingchen left, Li Pin opened the box he had brought. In addition to renting the astral equipment to condense the Lifeform Force Field, Wen Xingchen had also been tasked with selling Astral Crystals and purchasing Primordial Electric Crystals and other cultivation materials.

The box contained exactly that—fifty pieces of Primordial Electric Crystals.

Over the past few months, Li Pin had made multiple trips deep into the Black Gold Mine to exterminate Ghouls, obtaining several High-Grade Astral Crystals and various astral equipment resources.

Such a large sum of money couldn't circulate within the Molong Country at all costs, especially given that its official annual fiscal revenue was less than 400 million.

Any attempt by Xiangye Territory to sell these High-Grade Astral Crystals within Molong Country, even through commercial departments Great Shang established, would inevitably attract direct intervention from the Molong Royal Family.

It wasn't that he feared the Molong Royal Family; rather, he simply wished to develop the Black Gold Mine area and quickly enhance his own cultivation with its resources. He lacked the time or energy to destroy the Molong Royal Family and deal with the mess they had left behind in the country.

As long as the Molong Royal Family remained compliant, Li Pin had no intention of taking further action.

Speaking of which, where did Wen Xingchen get so much capital to rent the astral equipment? Li Pin pondered.

He recalled some irregular behaviors Wen Yusheng exhibited in the Xiangye Territory.

Well, they weren't exactly irregular. Unlike other lords, who primarily exploited their people to line their pockets, Wen Yusheng and his people managed to implement a system that took from the people to provide for the people.

Moreover, while improving the livelihood of the Xiangye citizens, they also managed to maintain a military force of 600... which had now expanded to 1,200.

To outsiders, it seemed that Wen Yusheng only managed to establish his presence in Fenglin and Hanmu Territories with the help of the Dragonfist Sect, which secured the funding needed to complete their expansion. However, Li Pin knew the truth behind it.

The expansion of the Xiangye Territory's military strength had little to do with the Dragonfist Sect.

This... was not the power a small lord should possess.

Also, for a lord in a poor, remote place like Molong Country, Wen Yusheng seemed to know too much. His daughter, Wen Li, in particular, was proficient in three—no, four—languages. Even the Molong royal princesses might struggle to match her in skill.

Li Pin let his thoughts wander briefly before quickly casting them aside. What did it matter if Wen Yusheng had secrets? As long as he dutifully guarded the Black Gold Mine, completed the excavation of its resources, and brought him enough materials to grow stronger, that was all that mattered.

In fact, in three to five years, once Li Pin no longer needed to exchange Adamantium and Mithril for Primordial Electric Crystals, he wouldn't mind handing the mine over to Wen Yusheng and his people.

Li Pin picked up a Primordial Electric Crystal and began to refine it.

During the process, he activated the Celestial Martial God Manual. He could distinctly feel his Celestial Magnetic Field becoming more active.

Two hours later, Li Pin stopped to assess the changes within him.

"Before creating the Celestial Martial God Manual, the efficiency of refining Primordial Electric Crystals had been relatively low. Now, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say the effect is immediate. With enough Primordial Electric Crystals, my magnetic field strength will break through before my qi and blood reaches three hundred."

The magnetic field strength and qi and blood complemented each other; the faster the magnetic field strength broke through, the quicker the qi and blood would increase.

Previously, before his magnetic field strength exceeded ten, even at his high cultivation level, Li Pin could only increase his qi and blood by four points a month. If it had been someone else, a gain of two points would have been considered remarkable.

It would take six to seven years to temper the body with the Celestial Force Field until it reached a qi and blood value of 150. However, once the magnetic field strength broke past ten, the tempering effect would surge.

If it reached thirty, the results in the immediate term would likely multiply several times. Only after his qi and blood exceeded three hundred would the pace slow down slightly.

"While the efficiency is high, the consumption is also enormous. Even with some conservation, I'd need at least three Primordial Electric Crystals daily. For optimal efficiency, five pieces are needed. If I dedicate myself to intensive training day and night, I wouldn't be surprised if it reached seven or eight."

That equates to nearly a billion in expenses.

It might sound like a lot, but with such an investment, he could reach the level of a Top-Tier Martial God, comparable to a Master Astral Cultivator, within a year.

Nurturing a Master Astral Cultivator with only tens of billions?

Forget tens of billions, any nation would be willing to spend hundreds of billions if it meant producing a Master Astral Cultivator.

Li Pin made his decision. "I must intensify the development of the Black Gold Mine,"

No one knew how many Ghouls and Majin lurked within the Black Gold Mine. Estimates from various factions suggested over ten thousand, but those numbers were decades old.

In these past decades, the mine had been abandoned. Countless desperate individuals had flocked to the area, risking their lives to extract iron and silver ore. Who knew how many new Ghouls had been added to the ranks.

For at least the first three years of mining, a powerful presence had to be stationed at the Black Gold Mine. High-Class Astral Cultivators or Martial Gods would be necessary.

Given the mine's vast area, one or two people wouldn't be enough. If trouble arose elsewhere, they wouldn't be able to respond in time. At least ten High-Class Astral Cultivators or Martial Gods would be needed to maintain order.

However, stationing High-Class Astral Cultivators was out of the question. Any capable ones were already snatched away, or they were living it up in the Great Moon.

Expecting them to endure the harsh conditions of the mine for three years?

Not a chance.

That left only the Martial Gods.

Li Pin took out the unused transparent crystal he had been keeping.

"A Skill Crystal..." he muttered softly.

The next moment, he focused his mind, and his consciousness quickly entered a pure white space. Familiar with this state, he didn't hesitate and swiftly recorded his memory of the celestial movement trajectory.

He even selectively edited these memories, removing anything unrelated to cultivation.

After finishing the recording of the celestial trajectory, he noticed there was still space left in the pure white realm. After a moment of thought, he unfolded the Celestial Martial God Manual.

However, the information inside was vast and complex. Some parts, drawn from his recent experience of creating the technique, couldn't be further simplified or optimized. @@novelbin@@

Before long, the pure white realm was completely filled, leaving him with a sense of regret.

It seemed unlikely that neither the Innate Primal Chaos Technique nor the Innate Embryonic Breath Technique would fit.

"I still need to gradually test the latter part of the Celestial Martial God Manual myself. Whether it will work is still uncertain, so there's no need to record it here. If I skip the second half, there will be enough space to record the Innate Primal Chaos Technique, allowing its recipient to enter the spiritual stage of cultivation."

Li Pin took this lesson to heart.

The Ghoul King was rare, and the transparent crystals were equally scarce.

He needed to utilize this treasure more sensibly next time, avoiding wastage as much as possible.

"At least it's a lesson learned. Now, let's see if this Skill Crystal can truly help someone master new skills, techniques, and insights effortlessly, saving them from the grind of cultivation."

Li Pin contemplated for a moment before calling out, "Have Wen Xingchen come and see me. Notify Shi Shihu to come as well."

Xing Ying's voice responded promptly from outside. "Understood."

Before long, Wen Xingchen arrived at the study under Xing Ying's guidance.

"Master."

Li Pin spoke calmly. "I told you that if you could cultivate the Innate Embryonic Breath within three months, I would grant you an opportunity. Do you remember that?

"Condensing the Lifeform Force Field doesn't make you a true Martial God. Even grasping the power of the Celestial Force and disrupting the Celestial Magnetic Field is only the beginning. You still have a long way to go."

"I understand, Master."

"Good. You've likely heard the rumors outside. It is said that a Martial God requires exceptional talent to comprehend the Celestial Force Field. Of course, the act of letting a Master Astral Cultivator use the Astral Technique to simulate the Celestial Force Field doesn't count. Recently, I have carefully organized my cultivation system and my insights regarding the Celestial Force Field."

Li Pin opened a box and revealed a transparent crystal inside. "It's right here."

Wen Xingchen looked at the crystal in the box, momentarily stunned. "What is this...?"

"Perhaps it should be called a heritage stone? Skill Crystal works too," shared Li Pin. "Inside is a segment of my insights into the Celestial Force Field and the cultivation of the Martial God path. If you absorb it into yourself, it can achieve a similar effect to a transmission of knowledge."

Hearing this, Wen Xingchen's pupils dilated. "This crystal... this Skill Crystal, can do such miraculous things!?"

"Go ahead and comprehend it well. Understand the Celestial Force Field as soon as possible to truly step into the Martial God realm." Li Pin pushed the box toward him. "Don't let me down."

Wen Xingchen fully understood the value of this treasure. The ability to transmit someone's cultivation insights through memory to another person was invaluable, far beyond what even rare astral equipment could offer.

Master is entrusting me with such a valuable item....

Wen Xingchen took a deep breath and solemnly promised, "I will give it my all, Master."

Li Pin responded, "Very well."

Wen Xingchen then bowed and left with the Skill Crystal.

Shortly after his departure, Shi Shihu arrived.

"Master, what do you need from me?"

Li Pin instructed, "I've noticed your comprehension of the Black Tortoise True Art is quite good. I want you to pass this technique on to everyone in the Dragonfist Sect, helping them to cultivate the Innate Embryonic Breath as soon as possible to lay the groundwork for condensing their Lifeform Force Fields."

Shi Shihu hesitated slightly, but he still agreed. "Understood."

The age of Martial Gods had begun, and clinging to the sect's heritage without sharing it had little significance. Embracing the current opportunity was the way forward.

"I'll make the arrangements right away."