Planet Pulverizer: A Mortal's Ascent-Chapter 289: Shield

A collective gasp echoed as people watched Li Pin launch his attack on Cang Shengdao through the distant drones.

"What's going on? How is Fu Qingtian allowing Cang Shengdao to attack Li Pin? Time isn't even an issue—he holds the Void Ring! If he wanted, he could stop him in less than a second. The whole process wouldn't even take that long!"

"The stronger someone is, the more stubborn they tend to be. Li Pin has gained a reputation for being unruly since his debut. It's said that even Fu Qingtian's attempts to train him couldn't get through. As far as I know, they had a falling out."

"I understand the reasons behind this situation. I just want to say one thing: Li Pin really has no idea what he’s doing. Only Fu Qingtian could tolerate him; if it were me, I would have let him fend for himself long ago. A genius? What does that matter?

“A genius who hasn’t grown yet should lay low and respect his mentors. History is filled with talented individuals who perished before reaching their potential!"

"No matter how unruly Li Pin is, he did help Fu Qingtian secure the position of supreme commander, didn't he? If Fu Qingtian stands by and lets him die at the hands of Cang Shengdao... tsk tsk..."

"I've heard Fu Qingtian told him he'd step in the moment Li Pin asked for help. But Li Pin, as a Martial God, is far too proud. Look at him now, relying on his own strength against a Legendary Mage, the highest achiever of the Astral Palace system!"

This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.

Similar conversations echoed among the powerful figures across the Six Extremities.

"Truly, the young are fearless. Or is it that he has just lost his mind? Hahaha!"

"What on earth is Li Pin thinking? Is his pride so important that he wouldn’t ask for him? He’s that stubborn? With his accomplishments, he's destined to become a Legend. If he really has any issues with Fu Qingtian, he could settle them after becoming a Legend or even a Supreme Expert. Why dig in now?"

"Hey, how do you know this isn't Fu Qingtian's plan? Who can guess the thoughts of Legends?"

Many either scoffed at Li Pin's actions or watched with malicious amusement. Some grew frustrated, criticizing him for not understanding the ebb and flow of circumstances.

Amid the crowd's discussions, the screen showed Li Pin piercing through a massive fireball over thirty meters wide. His force, infused with the radiant power of the Great Sun Golden Crow, collided with the tangible starlight surging from Cang Shengdao.

Rumble!

A blinding brilliance filled the sky, consuming the screen. Several drones lost their footage amidst the raging astral energy. Only a few distant drones managed to maintain the transmission, though the signal flickered. This was the interference of the Astral Cultivators' power on technological products.

Fortunately, Cang Shengdao wasn't a true Legendary Astral Cultivator. Otherwise, once he fully unleashed his killing intent and struck, no technological device would’ve managed to track his movements.

As the starlight dispersed, a visible ring of fire erupted from Cang Shengdao, much like the shockwave of a nuclear blast. The moment it appeared, it carried an intense, violent force that sent Li Pin flying.

Cang Shengdao, now wrapped in a layer of solidified starlight, became almost invisible to the naked eye.

"There's no contest. They aren't even on the same level," a Top-Tier Astral Cultivator familiar with the Astral Palace path remarked.

"That's an Astral Energy Shield, derived from the resonance of nine Astral Palaces after achieving Legendary status. It's why Legendary Mages are called Legends. This shield can neutralize nearly all attacks, reducing the damage from even a Master Astral Cultivator's full-strength strike to less than ten percent."

He shook his head. "Li Pin truly thinks that just because the Astral Palace system hasn't fully evolved, he can deal with them like he would High-Class Astral Cultivators? Without breaking their Astral Energy Shield, which is almost like their natal ability, everything he does is in vain."

As he spoke, Cang Shengdao clasped his hands again.

Massive orbs of fire intertwined and fused into a raging hellish dragon, roaring as it lunged toward the airborne Li Pin.

The intense heat... could easily melt steel into molten iron and reduce a skyscraper to ashes.

If the fire dragon's full power were unleashed, it would rival the devastation of cluster bombing, turning an entire county into ruins.

"The Hellfire Dragon...."

Seeing this, some Astral Cultivators couldn't bear to watch a promising future powerhouse of humanity like Li Pin perish. Foolish child, ask for help. A stiff neck breaks easily.[1]

***

In Taibai.

Due to the confrontation between Li Pin and Fu Qingtian, the live broadcast had been cut off. Everyone was still immersed in the joy of Li Pin seizing the King of the Century title and pioneering the Martial God path.

That was especially the case in Jiang Province City, where people were filled with a sense of shared pride. Those who had once fought Li Pin in the Jiang Province Competition, including Core Force and Formation martial artists, felt a deep sense of accomplishment, as if they had contributed to his rise.

At Li Pin’s house at Riverscape Marvel, Li Yunyao, Lin Xiaolu, Qin Rouran, and Xiang Xiaoyue were in an uproar.

"My brother is simply incredible! Why would I still need pictures with anyone else for social media? He's the best support I could ever have!"

Li Yunyao stood on the sofa, raising her arms and shouting, "I've decided! When he returns, I'm going to make him teach me martial arts! I want to be a Martial Saint, and then a Martial God, just like him!"

"Brother Li Pin... he's absolutely perfect," Lin Xiaolu murmured, her cheeks flushing slightly.

Her words prompted Qin Rouran and Xiang Xiaoyue to nod repeatedly, their eyes shimmering like rippling water.

"Yaoyao, when will Brother Li Pin be back?" Xiang Xiaoyue asked, her face full of anticipation. "I want to follow him and become a Martial God too."

"Very soon! The King of the Century Competition will end soon, and he'll return right after. Let's think about how we should welcome him," Li Yunyao said enthusiastically.

The girls nodded in agreement, excitement brewing as they started discussing their plans.

***

"Li Pin, you should consider yourself lucky. I'm only using powerful Astral Techniques to kill you quickly. You'll die in agony. Otherwise... after you killed the only family I had left, even if I carved you into a thousand pieces, it wouldn't quench the hatred in my heart!"

Cang Shengdao stood, bathed in radiant starlight, the blazing flames he controlled swirling around him like a fiery dragon, roaring as it engulfed Li Pin.

"Now... turn to ash—"

Rumble, rumble!

His words were cut short by a deafening clap of thunder.

The thunderous roar erupted from the electromagnetic currents. Li Pin's speed suddenly soared to a new level. He broke free from the fiery dragon that was capable of melting even steel and dodged to its side.

Though the scorching heat nearly set him ablaze and seared his lungs with every breath, the Astral Technique didn’t cause him any serious harm.

"Your attack power isn't bad, but your speed... too slow! If this is all a Legendary Mage can offer... then I'm truly disappointed," Li Pin remarked as he flew alongside the Hellfire Dragon.

Li Pis was already fast, but as his connection to the Celestial Magnetic Field deepened, his speed surged even more.

"It's enough to kill you!" Cang Shengdao growled, his Astral Palace vibrating.

The power of his nine Astral Palaces stacked and resonated, forming a new fiery ring that surged outward. It crashed into Li Pin, who was charging at supersonic speed.

But just as they were about to collide, Li Pin abruptly soared into the air. A faint explosion echoed as a ring of white airwaves rippled around him.

This was... supersonic speed with a mortal body!

Cang Shengdao's pupils dilated.

At that moment, Li Pin soared into the sky like a Nine Heavens Kunpeng. Once he escaped the blast of the fiery ring, he raised his hands high.

As he did so, a radiant, great sun rose from the center of his joined palms. His fully unleashed qi and blood, paired with the Lifeform Force Field's influence on the Celestial Force Field, made it seem as though he was striking down with the power of a sun.

"Your strongest technique can't break through my Astral Energy Shield, yet for me... I just need one chance to annihilate you completely...."

Rumble, rumble!

The violent energy slammed into Cang Shengdao's Astral Energy Shield once more.

At that moment, he distinctly felt an immense, unfathomably vast presence bearing down on his shield, which manifested from the nine beams of starlight.

Vaguely, he perceived the reflection of a planet, one so colossal that just the tip suffused his entire world.

As the power collided with the Astral Energy Shield, the very fabric of space trembled violently.

Shattered Starlight burst forth like divine blades, shooting in all directions.

Yet, as the nine Astral Palaces within Cang Shengdao resonated and vibrated together, the structure of the Astral Energy Shield remained stable.

Even as Li Pin unleashed the Celestial Magnetic Field's power to its limits, merging it into the Great Sun Golden Crow for a full-force strike, the shield didn't budge.

Cang Shengdao, who had managed to withstand the overwhelming force that words couldn't describe, let out an unrestrained, wild laugh. "Hahaha! Is that all?"

Especially when he noticed Li Pin's body straining under the unbearable pressure, with capillaries bursting after the strike.

A realization struck Cang Shengdao. "The disruption of the Celestial Magnetic Field depends on your body, and this... is the strongest attack you can muster! If you continue to merge with the Celestial Force Field, it will be your body that collapses first!"

1. implies that someone who is stubborn is likely to fail. ☜