Planet Pulverizer: A Mortal's Ascent-Chapter 465: Invitation to battle

Li Pin brought Yan Zhong, the Early-Stage Legend, beyond the atmosphere. Here, even a life-or-death battle wouldn't cause much harm to Gaia.

Of course, if it really came to a fight, Li Pin wouldn't allow Yan Zhong any chance to damage the planet.

Upon reaching this place, Li Pin withdrew the Celestial Force Field's restraint on Yan Zhong.

Freed, Yan Zhong didn't flee. Instead, he hurriedly spoke. "A misunderstanding! Your Excellency, there must be some misunderstanding between the Divine Dragon Empire and the Gaia civilization!"

He had realized that Li Pin followed the Celestial Martial Arts path, and it was impossible for a martial artist to become Gaia's Destiny Child.

The will of the great Astral God Yin Luo was not something a single planet or civilization could oppose.

"The moment the Divine Dragon Empire transformed Gaia's civilization system, it was destined that only one of us could be the dominant force," Li Pin said.

Yan Zhong paused abruptly. The silence lasted briefly before he said, "Your Excellency, true dragons cannot grow in shallow waters.

"A Celestial Martial Arts Prodigy like yourself shouldn't be limited to a small planet like Gaia. The Divine Dragon Empire is your true stage!"

He quickly adjusted his approach and continued, "The Divine Dragon Empire rules the Dragon Swamp Nebula. In the Candle Light Star Ring, when other forces—including the Homo Sapien Alliance—come to the Dragon Swamp Nebula, we are always their first choice.

"Over a thousand years, we've built vast connections. If you join us, we can support you in participating in the Astral Beast Mountain, the Astral Command Academy, or even the Astral Domain Research Institute's evaluations. Those places are where you can truly shine."

"The crystal you released earlier contained Yan Zun's spiritual secret art, didn't it?" Li Pin asked. "Yan Zun hasn't broken through to Tier Three Legend yet, has he?"

Yan Zhong froze briefly. He quickly replied, "That secret art was sealed by the Grand Patriarch more than ten years ago—102 years ago by your world's calendar. But 40 years ago, the Grand Patriarch had already achieved Tier Three Legend.

"Otherwise, how could he have easily crushed the Flaming Dragon Empire's Tier Two Legend—Fire Dragon God?"

Li Pin said, "Yan Zun's mental spirit didn't shake my inner spirit. So you must know that I'm not inferior to him in this aspect."

He paused slightly. "I may not have mastered a spiritual secret art, but I can sense the vitality within that power. It's still very active. It couldn't have been sealed for more than three years."

Yan Zhong's heart sank.

It was precisely because Li Pin hadn't been affected by the crystal containing the Grand Patriarch's spiritual secret art that he concluded that Li Pin wasn't any weaker than their Grand Patriarch.

That was why he had decisively ordered Qing Lin and the others to destroy the Astral Gate. But he never expected that Li Pin could deduce the Grand Patriarch's strength from the secret art alone.

"Ancient civilizations like yours must have countless hidden foundations. The only issue is how to use them," Li Pin continued, his tone steady. "Besides, there's great terror in life and death. The greater the pressure, the faster the progress. I'm willing to help your Grand Patriarch."

Yan Zhong's pupils dilated slightly.

Li Pin spoke truthfully. "My current combat strength is at the peak of Tier Two, but my realm has already reached the third tier. At the fastest, in two or three years, or at the slowest, in seven or eight, I will reach the threshold of Tier Three Legend."

This statement caused Yan Zhong's already heavy heart to sink further.

At present, his combat strength was at the peak of Tier Two Legend! Yet his realm had already advanced to the point where he could step into the threshold of Tier Three Legend in three to five years?!

He's too powerful! How could Gaia, a newborn civilization, produce such a monster?

This was like conquering a poor, backward, sweltering country, only for that country to suddenly give birth to a tribe with technology advanced enough to crush the entire world.

It was utterly unreasonable.

"So, I'll give you a chance to send a message to your Grand Patriarch." Li Pin extended a finger. "The second phase of Astral God Yin Luo's great era will end in less than a year and a half.

"One year from now, I will step into the Divine Dragon Empire and engage in a battle that will determine the life or death of both Gaia and the Divine Dragon Empire!"

"One year!?"

A faint glimmer flashed in Yan Zhong's eyes. If we had a year....

Li Pin seemed to catch the thought crossing Yan Zhong's mind.

"Let me be clear. Unless your Grand Patriarch has some terrifying hidden trump card, without reaching the third tier, he won't win. The best outcome would be mutual destruction."

Li Pin's words were straightforward and precise, yet within that clarity lay an unshakable confidence.

No–it wasn't mere confidence! It was dominance and arrogance!

Li Pin said, "I'll give him one year to enter seclusion, train relentlessly, and break through to Tier Three Legend. If he succeeds, the Divine Dragon Empire will remain the ruler of the Dragon Swamp Nebula. If not..."

His fingers slowly clenched into a fist. "The Divine Dragon Empire's millennia of glory will come to an end. From then on, there will be no Divine Dragon Empire, only Gaia Civilization and the Divine Dragon Province."

Yan Zhong's emotions surged violently, as if struck by an unprecedented humiliation. Divine Dragon Province!?

Yet, as he looked at Li Pin's calm face, as though stating nothing more than an inevitable fact, he forced himself to suppress his emotions and think clearly.

This was a world where power concentrated in a single individual could reshape history.

If Yan Zun had single-handedly destroyed the mighty Flaming Dragon Empire, then why couldn't this man—someone who claimed he would achieve Tier Three strength within seven to eight years—shatter the Divine Dragon Empire in the same way?

If Yan Zun fell, what else could the Divine Dragon Empire rely on to resist the might of a Tier Three Legend?

Technology? Many technological devices could indeed unleash planet-pulverizing power, but their rigidity and lack of adaptability could never match an elite powerhouse.

The enemy could disguise themselves at the atomic level and infiltrate enemy lines, reaching these devices. With a simple motion, any weapon would turn to dust.

Under such circumstances, the only option might be mutual destruction—taking the Divine Dragon Empire, the ruler of the nebula, down alongside a fledgling civilization like Gaia.

Even then, they would only destroy Gaia's main civilization, not the Tier Three Legend, Li Pin, himself.

As long as Li Pin survived, he could rebuild Gaia from the ruins. It was only a matter of time.

Yan Zhong's breathing grew heavy. Li Pin's words painted a future so terrifying it felt suffocating.

They could only rest their hopes on the Grand Patriarch now....

Yan Zhong forced himself to calm down. He looked at Li Pin, realizing that only one could survive between the Divine Dragon Empire and Gaia.

The smirk and flattery were gone. He coolly said, "I will relay your request to the Grand Patriarch. A year from now, if you want to fight, not a single member of the Divine Dragon Empire's imperial family will retreat."

"Good." Li Pin nodded. "But before that, I need some help from you."

"I will not leak any information about the Divine Dragon Empire," said Yan Zhong with a heavy voice, a glint of resolve flashing in his eyes.

"No need." Li Pin remained calm. "You know the Cosmic True Dragon Secret Arts, don't you? Use its techniques. Let's see if you can escape from me."

He looked at Yan Zun. "Of course, you can also choose to give up resistance and die in my hands."

Yan Zhong stared at Li Pin, quickly understanding his intention. He wanted to experience the Cosmic True Dragon Secret Arts firsthand to study it and find a way to counter the Grand Patriarch.

He doesn't know that the Grand Patriarch has never cultivated this art....

Yan Zhong didn't care about exposing the Cosmic True Dragon Secret Arts to Li Pin. If Li Pin wanted to test it through him, so be it.

Besides... who would willingly choose death when there was a chance to survive? If he could endure this year and survive till the day the Grand Patriarch faced Li Pin, there might still be hope.

"As you wish," Yan Zhong responded in a low voice.

Li Pin extended his hand. "Come."

Yan Zhong took a deep breath, reigniting his battle intent. Yet deep inside, he sighed.

He had kicked an iron wall.

Before the second phase began, using the Cosmic True Dragon Secret Arts—a technique unique to the Divine Dragon Empire—to transform other civilizations would usually proceed smoothly. If successful, the Divine Dragon Empire would've easily integrated a new civilization as a subordinate planet.

If they showed some tolerance, these weaker but promising civilizations, enhanced by Astral God Yin Luo's modifications, would even willingly join the empire.

But when they encountered a civilization as powerful as Gaia... once the transformation started, only one civilization could remain dominant.

The resulting backlash was inevitable. Either the Divine Dragon Empire would conquer, or the transformed civilization would rise in defiance.

***

There was nothing that worked better in refining one's martial arts than practical combat.

Though the opponent this time was somewhat weak, he brought a completely different and flawlessly refined cultivation system into the fight.

As the saying goes, "By observing a falling leaf, one can predict the arrival of autumn."[1]

With his extraordinary talent, Li Pin excelled at observing and learning.

At first glance, as he fought Yan Zhong, it seemed like he was studying and dismantling the Cosmic True Dragon Secret Arts.

But in truth, he was using his own insights and knowledge to counter and unravel an entire cultivation system, refining his battle methods in the process. This allowed him to compensate for his surplus in his cultivation realm but lack of battle power.

Of course, Yan Zhong had no idea of this. Even if he knew, he wouldn't believe it. No one could achieve such a thing—just as no one could uncover an entire civilization's social structure through casual conversation.

While Yuan Zhenchuan and the others interrogated the captured Heavenly Realm prisoners, Li Pin used Yan Zhong to sharpen his techniques, borrowing his opponent's cultivation system to refine his own combat style.

At the same time, Li Pin had Yan Zhong publicly announce the news of his challenge to Yan Zun of the Divine Dragon Empire.

In an instant, the dozens of civilizations in the Dragon Swamp Nebula, long suffocated by the immense pressure of the Divine Dragon Empire—or rather, the formidable Legendary figure, Yan Zun—erupted into activity.

The name of Gaia resounded throughout every corner of the Dragon Swamp Nebula.

It even began to spread beyond, reaching the areas within the Candle Light Star Ring.

1. implies that by paying attention to the subtle signs around us at present, we can better understand and prepare for the future. ☜

R𝑒ad lat𝒆st chapt𝒆rs at free𝑤ebnovel.com Only.