Planet Pulverizer: A Mortal's Ascent

Chapter 247: Choice

Even after Li Pin left the stage, the area beneath the stage remained eerily silent.

Everyone was in utter disbelief. This included Zhang Yuesheng and Su Feiyu, who watched Li Pin with shock.

They had imagined countless outcomes, including Li Pin using a forbidden secret art and emerging victorious after a life-and-death struggle, drenched in blood. After barely edging out Ye Chengyuan at the cost of a near double defeat, he would finally replace Ye Chengyuan as the new number one on the Transformative Dragon List and the top Martial Saint of Dragon Gate Hall.

Yet, never in their wildest dreams could they have anticipated it to play out this way.

Li Pin had won! And with such ease!

The victory felt surreal, almost like a dream.

He swept through his opponent with overwhelming power! Crushing everything in his path!

"Alright," Li Pin said to Su Feiyu and Zhang Yuesheng. "Let's go."

Startled by his words, Zhang Yuesheng and Su Feiyu snapped out of their daze. "Oh, oh."

They glanced at Ye Chengyuan, who stood silent on the stage. He seemed to be mumbling something to himself.

Then, they quickly caught up with Li Pin and disappeared from the area.

Once Li Pin, Zhang Yuesheng, and Su Feiyu left, the oppressive, frozen atmosphere that had gripped the area finally began to dissipate. It was as though time itself had started moving again.

Immediately, the crowd of thousands erupted into a roar of conversation.

"How could this happen...! Ye Chengyuan... he actually lost!?"

"His defeat isn't the most terrifying part. What's truly shocking was how easily he was defeated! It was an utterly crushing defeat! The Dragon Gate Hall has held nothing back nurturing Ye Chengyuan. They had funneled him with immense resources! He's even said to be a future rival to Wang Liancheng, the Supreme Martial Saint!"

"How did Li Pin become so strong!? The gap between them feels like watching a battle between a Supreme Martial Saint and a peak Astral Cultivator! It's as if... they belong to entirely different realms."

Murmurs of discussions filled the air.

"Li Pin! Li Pin! Could it be... another 'Invincible Li' is about to rise in Dragon Gate Hall?" Zhang Xujin muttered softly.

He suddenly realized how intense this year's competition had become.

Then, as if something clicked, he couldn't help but glance in Cang Yunxiao's direction.

The Golden Dragon, first on the Hidden Dragon List, wore a grim expression.

After staring at Ye Chengyuan on the stage for a moment, Cang Yunxiao looked at Li Pin and the others who were leaving.

Eventually... he turned and left without a word.

Zhang Xujin could understand how he felt.

Li Pin's streak of defeating thirteen people in a row threatened Cang Yunxiao's position at the top of the Hidden Dragon List. This forced him out of hiding to challenge Liu Xuanming, second on the Transformative Dragon List.

However, before the rankings could even be updated, Li Pin had already returned with another battle, and it was a victory over Ye Chengyuan nonetheless, at the top of the Transformative Dragon List.

Li Pin had one-upped Cang Yunxiao again.

That kind of feeling... couldn't be pleasant.

Hong Feng sighed bitterly. "Li Pin is only twenty-three. For a long time to come, I fear the entire Dragon Gate Hall's grandmasters and Martial Saints will live under his shadow."

No one else spoke. Even the woman in green no longer dared to speak recklessly at this point. Her gaze toward Li Pin now carried an involuntary hint of admiration.

Elsewhere, the Great Sun Chosen One sighed deeply. "Li Pin... he's gotten stronger again."

"I've said before; he's like a mountain, a mountain so high that even if we spent our entire lives climbing, we might never reach its peak." Song Wuya looked perfectly calm. "But as long as that mountain stands, I believe that, one day, I'll conquer it."

Zhao Yushi gazed at him with a complex expression. "We're making progress, but Li Pin is advancing too..."

Song Wuya responded, "There's always a higher mountain. Once we cross the one in front of us, another taller one awaits. But isn't that... the most exciting part? At least we know the way forward. We have a clear goal.

"And step by step, we will keep moving, climbing. Someday, we'll cross countless peaks and stand atop the highest summit, watching the sunrise, the sea meets the sky, and the clouds drift by."

With those words, he turned and left.

Zhao Yushi listened silently, her expression hard to read. After a long pause, she quietly muttered, "I admit, you're strong... but I won't give up."

With that conviction, she followed after Song Wuya.

As everyone else left, the Great Sun Chosen One muttered to himself, "Kindness should be repaid. Especially a saving kindness... Maybe I should pay Martial Saint Li a visit?"

***

All the grandmasters and Martial Saints were caught in a state of disbelief. Even Zhang Songbai, a Top-Tier Astral Cultivator, found his mind replaying the scene of Li Pin effortlessly blocking Ye Chengyuan's all-out sword strikes again and again.

What Li Pin displayed couldn't simply be described as martial arts techniques or secret arts. Yet somehow, it still felt like it truly belonged within the realm of martial arts.

He believed Ye Chengyuan was nearly as strong as Wang Liancheng. Yet when faced with this approach, even Ye Chengyuan couldn't fight back.

At that moment, Ye Chengyuan's voice echoed in his ears, "What exactly was that...? Is my heart truly not pure enough?"

Zhang Songbai snapped back to reality. He shifted his gaze toward Ye Chengyuan.

What he saw was a trace of confusion in the eyes of this Martial Saint, whom the Dragon Gate Hall had spent vast resources to nurture. That confusion stemmed from having his power which he had always relied on rendered worthless.

Through this confusion, he might achieve some enlightenment, allowing his mind to evolve and his thoughts to elevate. However, that was unlikely.

What was more likely was that Ye Chengyuan might fall deeper into confusion until he could no longer extricate himself. He might even start to deny his own spiritual beliefs at one point. If it went badly, his Martial Will could very well collapse.

Zhang Songbai knew how important Ye Chengyuan was to the Dragon Gate Hall. With only six months left before the King of the Century grand battle, nothing could go wrong at this critical juncture.

Therefore, he quickly consoled Ye Chengyuan, "It's not that your heart isn't pure enough. You simply didn't perform at your best in this match, causing you to fall short of Li Pin.

"When Martial Saints clash, many variables are at play. Even falling short in one area could skew the outcome. Mental Spirit, their condition at that time, willpower, and conviction, all of these are key factors. From the very start, you didn't treat him as a real opponent. You were only curious. You just wanted to observe the martial arts of this twenty-three-year-old world champion.

"Meanwhile, Li Pin.... Ever since joining Dragon Gate Hall, he's lived under the shadow of your title as the number one Martial Saint. He must have prepared meticulously for this battle. With such careful planning, you were bound to lose."

"I couldn't even break through his 'Lunar Youying,'" murmured Ye Chengyuan. "And he hadn't even drawn his sword...."

Zhang Songbai firmly said, "'Lunar Youying' is a domain-type technique, a more advanced application of 'Force' that is focused on defense. If he had used his sword while deploying this technique, wouldn't that be like piercing his own defense?

"If I'm not mistaken, this is likely the most powerful move Li Pin has recently mastered."

He looked at Ye Chengyuan and continued, "If you had treated him as an opponent like Bai Liying, Ying Zhen, or the White Emperor, and pushed yourself to your peak spiritual state, you would've broken through his defense. Once that happened, the tides will turn, and the balance of power would have shifted instantly."

"Treat him as an opponent like Bai Liying, Ying Zhen, or the White Emperor...." A spark returned to Ye Chengyuan's eyes. After a while, he let out a long breath. "It's my fault. Li Pin... is indeed strong, but not as invincible as he seems."

Zhang Songbai said earnestly, "Before you face your opponent, you must first confront yourself! You've spent too much time in Dragon Gate Hall recently, basking in the title of 'Invincible Ye.' It has made you restless. This loss isn't necessarily a bad thing for you. I hope you will learn from it and reflect on your inner self.

"If you don't adjust your mindset, in the King of the Century Competition six months from now, you'll end up a supporting character."

"I was indeed arrogant before." Ye Chengyuan gazed in the direction where Li Pin had disappeared. "He... is a formidable opponent! Especially his potential... it may already rival Wang Liancheng! In the future King of the Century grand battle, he will surely shine with the brightest light! But... I won't belittle myself.

"I may be older than him, but once I seize the title of King of the Century, I'll challenge him again. Then, I'll make him understand that even outside Dragon Gate Hall, the name 'Invincible Ye' will still reign supreme."

Seeing Ye Chengyuan's rekindled fighting spirit, Zhang Songbai nodded in satisfaction.

But soon after, a thought crossed his mind.

Li Pin's strength was likely already on par with Wang Liancheng, who had been hailed as the most promising contender for the King of the Century title in the last fifty years....

If Li Pin could represent the Dragon Gate Hall in the upcoming King of the Century Competition, it would be a great honor for the hall if he claimed victory!

Zhang Songbai hurriedly left. "I need to inform the hall master immediately."

***

"Dragon Prince Li..."

On the way back, Zhang Yuesheng's eyes were filled with excitement. "You've won! You've defeated Ye Chengyuan and have become the undisputed number one on both the Hidden Dragon List and the Transformative Dragon List. From now on, you'll replace Ye Chengyuan as the new number one Martial Saint of Dragon Gate Hall! You will be the 'Invincible Li' after 'Invincible Ye!'"

Li Pin remained calm, showing little excitement.

Ever since he had comprehended the mysteries of the "Lifeform Force Field," this outcome was already expected.

Su Feiyu, walking beside him, looked at his composed demeanor, her eyes reflecting his figure entirely.

After a while, something occurred to her. She suddenly asked, "Ye Chengyuan was Dragon Gate Hall's most promising candidate for the upcoming King of the Century Competition. Now that you've defeated him... will you compete in the grand battle six months from now?"

Zhang Yuesheng's excitement stilled for a moment at her words. He quickly realized the importance of the question and looked at Li Pin with eager anticipation.

The King of the Century Competition! The highest honor in the hearts of all martial artists! Nôv(el)B\\jnn

After all, the King of the Century Competition wasn't just about Tianyuan; it was about the entire world!

Li Pin would step out of Tianyuan, ascend the world stage, and compete with Extreme Martial Saints and Supreme Martial Saints from across the globe for the throne of King of the Century!

It was the ultimate glory! The final swan song for all Extreme and Supreme Martial Saints!