Planet Pulverizer: A Mortal's Ascent

Chapter 238: Li Pin

Legendary astral equipment! The pinnacle creations of the astral equipment craft!

Among the Six Extremities of the World, the Great Shang was situated on the far side of Gaia, distant from Tianyuan. Meanwhile, Tianyuan bordered the Solar Radiance United Empire, another nation of the Six Extremities.

Within the Solar Radiance border lay the Bloodmoon Gorge, a place far more perilous than Tianyuan's Demon-Sealing Fortress.

Originally just a gorge, the Bloodmoon Gorge had expanded over the years, now stretching thousands of miles.

Back then, to prevent the demonic creatures from spreading out of Bloodmoon Gorge, nearly all Master Astral Cultivators of the Tianyuan Federation were called to action, leading to an unprecedented battle. It became the most brutal battle in the Tianyuan Federation's history.

After that battle, the Bloodmoon Gorge no longer expanded toward Tianyuan but instead took root firmly within Solar Radiance territory.

In response, the National Guardians of the Solar Radiance United Empire gathered at the border of the gorge to establish the Solar Radiance Gate. It became the first line of defense against the Bloodmoon Gorge's further encroachment.

It was during this battle that Legendary Astral Crystals and materials were discovered, leading to the creation of numerous legendary astral equipment.

The three legendary astral equipment in the Dragon Gate Hall were the spoils of wars forged from the materials obtained in that battle.

Most astral equipment was designed as small accessories to minimize interference and ensure they did not hinder the abilities of martial artists or Astral Cultivators. These three legendary astral equipment were no exception.

A ring, a bracelet, and a necklace, all radiating a green hue.

This green came from the primary material used in this set of legendary astral equipment, the Demon King's Blood.

Even from close proximity, Li Pin could sense the waves of energy radiating from the three pieces, permeating his body and invigorating his spiritual state.

Ran Dongsheng explained, "Legendary astral equipment is different from most astral equipment. Like a Master Astral Cultivator, they exert a powerful 'assimilation' effect on others. Without a Martial Will, even High-Class Astral Cultivators should avoid using them. A Martial Saint should not wear them for more than three hours at a time, so we set a three-hour limit per session.

"The path of astral equipment is impressive, but it can lead to dependence. Remember, true strength comes from within. Do not become overly reliant on external objects and neglect your own power."

Li Pin nodded. "I understand."

"Good. This area has been designed as a high-standard training room. You can cultivate here," Ran Dongsheng said, then left the palace with the elderly man.

Soon, only Li Pin remained in the vast hall.

"Legendary astral equipment..." Li Pin murmured as he put on the three pieces of astral equipment one by one.

As the mysterious power from the three legendary astral equipment stimulated him, Li Pin felt a clarity and perception far beyond what a top-tier astral equipment could provide. This perception went beyond the limitations of mere attributes, guiding him into an entirely new realm.

"This feeling...."

It was said that wearing three top-tier astral equipment together at the same time often triggered special effects.

This was even more true for rare and legendary astral equipment.

This sensation of stepping into a completely new realm... was clearly result from the combined power of the three legendary astral equipment.

Li Pin focused his mind and followed the guidance of the legendary astral equipment, trying to discern the path this new realm led.

However, truly delving into this realm was no easy feat.

Still, with his innate "Clairvoyance" talent, he persisted in his attempts. After repeated efforts, he sensed that he was grasping something.

Gradually, he felt a shift in his perception.

It was as though he had pierced the barriers of matter and energy, entering a mysterious spiritual domain. In this domain, the concepts and rules of the material world no longer held sway. Instead, what greeted him was... a deeper awareness.

In this awareness, Li Pin felt as though he had become an insignificant speck of light, facing a colossal fireball so immense that words could not do justice to its grandeur. The gap between them was unimaginable, like comparing the faint glow of a candle to an infinite cosmic star.

Yet, because this tiny candle of light was ignited by the sunlight, an intangible connection seemed to form between them. Despite being a light so faint like that of a mere candle, its faint glow persisted in the presence of the eternal, great sun.

"Sunlight...."

Li Pin quietly sensed this mysterious and extraordinary phenomenon, carefully interacting with the light.

As he touched it, he clearly felt himself seemingly turn into an actual candle, "bathing" in this light.

In an instant, the small candlelight that had once illuminated only the darkness and cold around him was now enveloped in the boundless radiance and warmth of the great sun.

The feeling was like stumbling upon a futuristic, advanced nation after being lost for years in a harsh, freezing wilderness. This nation was extraordinarily advanced, with a clean and bright environment. It had an abundance of food, clothing, and supplies. It was as if he had stepped from hell into heaven.

Even with Li Pin's strong will, he found himself almost overwhelmed by the allure.

Luckily, he had always remained cautious of Astral Gods and astral energy.

After a brief moment of indulgence, he forced himself to snap out of this sensation of crossing from savagery to civilization

"This is..." Li Pin took a deep breath. "Bathing beneath the Starlight!"

His earlier sensation was identical to the descriptions found in the manuals, where Astral Cultivators successfully meditated on the Astral God and bathed beneath the starlight.

The reason he felt as though he was moving from barbarism to civilization, from the warmth of candlelight to the brilliance of the sun, was because...

Starlight could help him break free from his shackles!

It could shatter the chains that bound humans, allowing them to evolve from weak beings into higher life forms.

Just like primitive humans, those who rejected starlight remained starving, constantly on the brink of peril. But those who accepted it embraced civilization and marched toward the future.

"Was that... meditating on the Astral God?" Li Pin murmured to himself. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

The realm he had just touched upon was the very world that Extreme Martial Saints yearned for after transcending their limits, refining their qi into Spirit. In that realm, they could bathe beneath the starlight, forcibly leave imprints of Astral Energy within their bodies, and thus step into the realm of Astral Cultivators.

In other words... after entering that mysterious realm with the help of his "Clairvoyance" talent, if he wished, he could now bathe beneath the Starlight. He could let astral energy permeate his being and modify his body, allowing him to walk the path of an Astral Cultivator.

There was no need to undergo the life-threatening trials that other Martial Saints endured. Those trials that honed their spirit, purified their will, and built invincible momentum through battles against top-tier martial artists on the King of the Century's battlefield. There wasn’t a need to transcend the boundaries between the ordinary and the extraordinary just to glimpse the realm of the Astral God anymore.

Li Pin's emotions surged.

"To meditate on the Astral God and step into the realm of Astral Cultivators, just like that...?

"I have always thought I would have to endure countless trials and struggles, and even the battles on the King of the Century battlefield. To claim the title of King of the Century, become the number one in the martial arts world, and break my limits with an invincible spirit and will, achieving ultimate transcendence.... But now, all of that has been completely invalidated. None of it matters anymore."

Astral Cultivator! Astral Cultivator! This was what it meant to be an Astral Cultivator!

The great sun before the candlelight! The advanced among the primitive!

All he had to do was push open this door, accept the starlight, let Astral Energy flow through him, and become an Astral Cultivator. From that moment on, a whole new world would open up before him.

Becoming an Astral Cultivator didn’t conflict with Li Pin’s aspirations. He could continue pursuing martial arts, but now with the identity of an Astral Cultivator, aiming for the peak.

The only difference was that he would not simply strive to stand at the peak of the martial arts world. Instead, he would compete with Legendary Astral Cultivators, legendary ferocious beasts, and demonic creatures to claim the title of the strongest in the world! Leading humanity, competing against all species, and reclaiming the throne of Gaia.

Li Pin closed his eyes. "An Astral Cultivator...."

He once again transformed into a beam of light. This light seemed insignificant when compared to the blazing great sun. Yet, it appeared that faint glimmers surrounded him.

Li Pin focused and carefully sensed them.

With the legendary astral equipment amplifying his "Clairvoyance" talent to its peak, Li Pin could now perceive even the faintest lights, ones that would have been imperceptible under the ancient sun's brilliance.

At first, he thought these lights represented other Astral Cultivators. But he quickly dismissed that idea. There were far too many of them, so many that it defied imagination, like a vast, glittering starry river.

All the Astral Cultivators across Gaia, along with the beasts and demonic creatures, could not make up even one ten-thousandth of this starlight.

The stellar radiance bathed all lights in its glow, causing them to flicker faintly and intertwine into a magnificent tapestry.

It was far more dazzling than the stars overhead, a sight so grand that human language could scarcely describe even a fraction of its brilliance.

Li Pin distinctly felt his spirit shake deeply. The shock threatened to overturn his mind, deny his beliefs and his will, and even strip him of his sense of self.

This was... "Assimilation!"

Unlike others, who were subtly and gradually influenced, his "Clairvoyance" talent allowed him to sense every tiny change. This made the assimilation's impact all the more intense for him, far beyond what others might notice.

It could even be said that the Astral God's "assimilation" was attempting to kill his "Clairvoyance" ability, aiming to make him just like the countless other Astral Cultivators in the world.

Faced with the threat of "death," his "Clairvoyance" fiercely resisted, making the impact on his soul extremely intense.

"So... if I become an Astral Cultivator and continue on this path, will my 'Clairvoyance' talent gradually fade away as the degree of 'assimilation' increases?

Li Pin slowly reached this conclusion. "Thank you for giving me the most crucial leverage."

Just a little more! It was so close!

"Everyone has different choices and paths, but... ever since Fang Lingjue recommended me to join the White Crane Sect in Zanglong City, I think I already had my answer and made my decision."

Li Pin's gaze grew incredibly bright. "I am who I am!"

His spirit soared, shining brilliantly under the temptations, challenges, and trials of becoming an Astral Cultivator.

"I am Li Pin!"