Planet Pulverizer: A Mortal's Ascent

Chapter 344: Locate

Hovering in midair, Li Pin stared at the distant horizon for quite a while.

At the end of the day, he wasn't an Astral Cultivator. He lacked the unique connection that existed among them.

Ying Zhao and Hong Zhenshan had already distanced themselves to the point where he could barely discern their traces. With them hell-bent on fleeing, Li Pin would find it incredibly difficult to catch up.

This was compounded by the fact that their escape route did not align with the direction of the celestial movement.

Li Pin felt a sense of confusion wash over him, and he began to reflect on the earlier battle.

"The mental spirit of a Master Astral Cultivator is formidable. When fully unleashed, it can disrupt my spiritual state, interfering with the operation of my Celestial Force Field.

"In theory, one of them could focus on disrupting my force field while the other attacks me with full force. That could force me to lose the advantage. From that point on, it would turn into a battle of attrition."

"If my endurance and stamina exceed those of Ying Zhao and Hong Zhenshan, once they exhaust their astral energy, their deaths would be inevitable. But if their spiritual will, combined with Atomic Will, grants them greater endurance, I could very well be the one to tire and perish."

So... in theory, Ying Zhao and Hong Zhenshan could certainly turn the tables! Why, then, did they suddenly flee when they still had the energy to fight, instead of battling until the last moment?

Whoosh!

As Li Pin pondered this, a figure swiftly approached from afar, cutting through the sky. It was Xiang Tianxing.

Xiang Tianxing's eyes were filled with astonishment as he halted. "Li Pin, I sensed the departure of the two Master Astral Cultivators. It seems you've won? You defeated both Masters on your own!?"

As soon as Li Pin heard Xiang Tianxing's words, he quickly understood why they had fled.

"Sensed their departure...."

The case was solved. If Xiang Tianxing could sense the two Masters, then they could naturally sense him as well.

While Ying Zhao and Hong Zhenshan could potentially turn the fight around, they knew it wouldn't be very wise to fight to the bitter end with a Master Astral Cultivator nearby.

Li Pin couldn't help but glance at Xiang Tianxing with a bit of regret.

Meeting an old friend was always a good thing, but his arrival couldn't have come at a worse time.

Xiang Tianxing was a bit surprised. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"It's nothing," Li Pin replied.

Xiang Tianxing had followed him out of goodwill, so he couldn't hold it against him.

Xiang Tianxing didn't ponder the matter further. He remarked with a contemplative expression, "Ying Zhao and Hong Zhenshan have been renowned Master Astral Cultivators for years, far surpassing those who are new to the realm. For you to defeat both of them at once... you're already a force to be reckoned with."

He looked at Li Pin. "And it's only been a year."

During the King of the Century grand battle—about a year ago—Li Pin had barely been on par with a High-Class Astral Cultivator.

While he had killed the legendary mage Cang Shengdao back then, that victory was due to timing and circumstance—it couldn't be replicated.

After only one year, his strength had surged past Top-Tier Astral Cultivators and reached the levels of Master Astral Cultivators—people who would be regarded as significant figures anywhere in the world.

Even though Xiang Tianxing had mentally prepared himself on the way, witnessing this undeniable feat still left him deeply moved. This kind of progress was truly astonishing.

"I didn't defeat them," Li Pin admitted. "The mental prowess of a Master Astral Cultivator is overwhelming. They used their will to harness the Atomic Will, influencing the material world and disrupting the operation of my Celestial Magnetic Field. I couldn't do anything to them."

"You didn't defeat them?" Xiang Tianxing was taken aback. "Then why—"

"They sensed your presence and realized it wouldn't do them any good to continue the fight, so they simply left."

Li Pin paused. "This battle has given me a clearer understanding of my current strength. The path of cultivation still has a long way to go."

Xiang Tianxing looked at the modest Li Pin and remained silent.

He couldn't believe that Ying Zhao and Hong Zhenshan, with their domineering nature as Master Astral Cultivators from Great Shang, would retreat so easily if they had any advantage.

The only reason for their withdrawal was clear—they sensed danger. Deadly danger.

In that light, Xiang Tianxing's claim that Li Pin was already a force to be reckoned with among Master Astral Cultivators wasn't an exaggeration.

"What's your plan moving forward?" Xiang Tianxing asked.

"I'll continue my cultivation at Dragonfist Sect," Li Pin answered. "Ying Zhao and Hong Zhenshan may not have gained the upper hand against me, but to save face for Great Shang, they will certainly send even stronger forces after me. Peak Master Astral Cultivators, several of them, or perhaps... even a Legend."

He continued calmly, "I'm curious to see how far I can hold out."

"A Legend..." Xiang Tianxing's expression turned serious. "What if you can't withstand it?"

"Then I'll just run."

He glanced at Xiang Tianxing and laughed. "You wouldn't really think I'm the type to charge into battle knowing I can't win, would you? I understand the principle of running when I'm outmatched."

Li Pin could merge with the Gaia Celestial Force field. While pursuing someone might be difficult if they weren’t moving in alignment with Gaia’s orbit, escaping was a different matter—few could catch him when he chose to flee. Even in their Starlight Body, the opponents would struggle to outlast him.

"Can you really do that?" Xiang Tianxing raised a brow. "I thought your Martial Will was all about never admitting defeat."

"Of course not." Li Pin chuckled. "I've always believed that no one in this world can remain invincible forever. Unless there's no other choice, it's perfectly normal to choose to run when faced with an opponent you simply can't defeat."

"What about the battle against Cang Shengdao?" Xiang Tianxing asked. "Why did you...?"

"I didn't lose, did I?" Li Pin replied. "Cang Shengdao perished, yet I'm still alive."

Xiang Tianxing opened his mouth, momentarily unsure of how to respond.

"Are you returning to the Great Shang Trade Fair or back to the Dragonfist Sect?" Li Pin inquired.

"I'll go back to Great Shang. As the leader, I can't be away for too long. Plus, I'm at ease now that I see you're doing well."

Li Pin nodded.

As men, these two weren't the kind to dwell on sentimental matters.

"Are you really not going back to Taibai?"

"I have already said that I would return when the time is right, but not now."

Xiang Tianxing chose not to press further. He had tried, but it was clear he couldn't sway him.

"Then if trouble or danger arises, make sure to let me know. You might be stronger than me now, but just ask. If I can help, I will," Xiang Tianxing said seriously.

"I know." Li Pin smiled slightly. "When the time comes, I won't hesitate to ask."

Xiang Tianxing looked at him, sighing inwardly. He understood that, given Li Pin's character, he probably wouldn't want to owe anyone a favor, even in life-threatening situations.

Xiang Tianxing waved his hand as he prepared to leave. "Take care."

Li Pin nodded.

At that moment, Xiang Tianxing thought of something and probed, "Are you planning to keep your identity under wraps for a while longer?"

"I've never actively hidden it." Li Pin shrugged. "I can't just go around telling everyone, 'I'm Li Pin, the pioneer of the Martial God path.'"

Xiang Tianxing recalled the respect the people from the Dragonfist Sect had for Li Pin. With his current status, if he didn't actively say it, no one would dare ask for his exact name.

So... is this really all a misunderstanding?

"Of course, I find it troublesome as well. I've finally enjoyed a peaceful year," Li Pin added.

"Is that the main reason?" Xiang Tianxing chuckled. "Your battle today against Ying Zhao and Hong Zhenshan erupted in the skies above the capital of Molong, under the watchful eyes of many. The outcome—two Master Astral Cultivators fleeing for their lives—will spread like wildfire across Great Moon and even the world."

He looked at Li Pin, his gaze carrying weight. "This isn't just about defeating two Master Astral Cultivators. It's also because... you faced them head-on as a Martial God."

Li Pin understood Xiang Tianxing's implication. Defeating two Master Astral Cultivators as a Martial God!

A year ago, on Crimson Flame Island, he had unveiled the secrets of the Martial God path and dragged the legendary mage Cang Shengdao down with him in a near-catastrophic manner.

This propelled the Martial God path to prominence. Various nations, including the Six Extremities, established institutions to guide Martial Saints in achieving the Martial God status, investing significant resources into research.

However, as they began to grasp the truth behind his battle with Cang Shengdao, the once-revered Martial God system fell from grace. It quickly became incomparable to the Astral Cultivators, Astral Palace system, or astral equipment system.

If not for the possibility that Quasi-Martial Gods who condensed Lifeform Force Fields had a high chance to directly meditate on the Astral God and become Astral Cultivators, other countries would have stopped investing so much effort in the Martial God system.

Even now, the managers of the institutions established by various nations were not Martial Gods, but Master Astral Cultivators. This alone reflected how these countries perceived the Martial God's standing.

However, after today, everything would change. Li Pin had openly defeated Master Astral Cultivators using his strength as a Martial God, and he did so while facing two opponents at once.

Regardless of any underlying circumstances, he had genuinely showcased the strength of the Martial God path to the world.

Once this news spread, all martial artists would surely be stirred once more.

"I don't like trouble," Li Pin said, meeting Xiang Tianxing's gaze. "However, if some matters are truly unavoidable, I won't shy away."

Xiang Tianxing's expression turned serious. "The rise of the Martial God path will inevitably touch some people's interests, provoking certain counterarguments... especially among those whose thinking is rigid. Attempting to better accept the power of starlight, they will instinctively reject and despise anything that affects them.

"So... let me return these words to you: no one can remain invincible and unbeatable forever. When faced with an insurmountable enemy... run. Don't handle it like you did against Cang Shengdao."

Li Pin nodded with a smile. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Xiang Tianxing's gaze lingered on him for a few seconds before he waved his hand. "Take care."

"Mm."

He watched as Xiang Tianxing left. Once Xiang Tianxing disappeared from sight, he turned and headed back toward the Dragonfist Sect.

Back when he had fought Cang Shengdao, he had understood the danger surrounding him—the life-threatening danger. Even so, he still hadn't backed down.

As for why he hadn't done so... he simply didn't want to lose.