Planet Pulverizer: A Mortal's Ascent-Chapter 512: Confront

The Netherlord stared at Li Pin for a long while, unable to process what he had just heard. Just cheer for you? Are you sure you're not joking?

After a long while, the Netherlord concluded that Li Pin had to have enough confidence to defeat the Supreme Demonic Sword. Only someone with such confidence would speak so casually, saying that Cang Ruoxi's cheering would be enough.

For a moment, the Netherlord let out a slight sigh of relief. Confidence was reassuring.

The Netherlord said, "The Supreme Demonic Sword is in your hands now."

As soon as the words left his mouth, a dark sword appeared in the Netherlord's grasp. Its blade was tinged with blood-red, and the hilt held a dark red crystal that glowed faintly.

It looked almost alive, as if proclaiming its immense power and otherworldly nature.

With just one glance, an uncontrollable desire surged within Li Pin, compelling him to claim the sword as his own.

He had a feeling that just holding it would grant him an immediate breakthrough in his Demigod insights and cultivation and the power to refine the Mara's Astral World Fragment. Ascending to the level of the Astral God seemed within reach.

In that moment, he imagined himself shining like the great Astral God Yin Luo, illuminating the galaxy and proving that his martial path, his vision, and his way were the only truth in the world.

But this feeling quickly faded as another thought crossed his mind.

What would it mean to have my path be the sole truth? To be the world's strongest? Wasn't that just the end of the road? No more breakthroughs? I would become the ultimate guidepost, with no path left ahead. That would be a sad existence.

Was that truly what he wanted?

No. It wasn't.

Li Pin shook off the sword's influence and quickly regained his composure. "Hmm?"

As he broke free from the sword's sway, he realized something and shifted his gaze to the Netherlord.

The Netherlord's eyes flickered with surprise, followed by admiration. "Li Pin, I believe you might really stand a chance against the Supreme Demonic Sword."

"Did you activate its power?" Li Pin asked with a smile. He savored the moment briefly and added. "Its power is... intriguing."

"Intriguing?"

The Netherlord was momentarily at a loss for words. Only Li Pin would dare to describe the Supreme Demonic Sword's power as such.

"Let's do it," Li Pin said, extending his hand. "Let Ruoxi come and cheer for me."

"Do you really want Ruoxi to come?" The Netherlord frowned. "You want her to stand by you during the critical moment against the Supreme Demonic Sword?"

"Yes." Li Pin nodded. "It's important."

"Why?" The Netherlord was puzzled. "If it were me, having her by my side might strengthen my resolve to face the sword. But you..."

He paused. "You may be her father, but you've only known her for a short time. If you're claiming your bond is strong enough that she gives you the strength to defeat the sword, I absolutely don't believe it."

The Netherlord, still gripping the Supreme Demonic Sword, looked at Li Pin. "So, what's the real reason?"

"Why..." Li Pin glanced toward Cang Ruoxi, taking a moment to think. Then he answered, "Perhaps... it's so she can witness it."

Turning back to the Netherlord, he added calmly, "To witness the moment I defeat the Supreme Demonic Sword."

The Netherlord fell silent, reflecting on Li Pin's words.

He recalled when Li Pin and Cang Ruoxi first met. At that time, she had said that she found him familiar.

He also recalled the odd things Li Pin had said and the strange encounter he had had with that mysterious group in Starshine City, who had claimed they were from a place beyond this world.

In a moment of clarity, the Netherlord seemed to understand something.

"Our world is different from yours, isn't it?" he asked.

Li Pin remained silent, but his lack of denial was answer enough.

The Netherlord pressed further. "The key difference is Ruoxi, isn't it?"

Li Pin said nothing, his steady gaze calm and fearless.

After a long pause, the Netherlord nodded. "I understand now."

A ripple of spiritual fluctuation passed through him, as if conveying a command. Li Pin didn't attempt to interpret its meaning and simply waited patiently.

"The Supreme Demonic Sword," the Netherlord murmured, gazing at the dark red blade in his hand.

He thought, As the strongest Divine Weapon of the three domains, it bore a resemblance to a piece of art. Yet, it clearly did not belong to the Moon Demon, Celestial Barren, or Mortal Domains.

This sword came from a far greater world. Perhaps it originated from the same world as Li Pin and his companions.

***

Not long after, Su Yun's younger sister, Su Yuqing, brought Cang Ruoxi over.

"Dad," Cang Ruoxi called out as she stepped forward and hugged the Netherlord.

Her expression suggested she had sensed something unusual.

The Netherlord smiled in response. "Hmm."

Then, Cang Ruoxi turned to Li Pin and greeted him, "Dad."

The form of address was the same, but it lacked the hug. The difference in treatment was obvious.

"Soon, your father Li Pin will face a formidable opponent. Make sure to cheer for him," the Netherlord said.

"Ruoxi, whether I can win depends entirely on you," Li Pin said with a smile.

Hearing this, Cang Ruoxi clenched her fists and nodded firmly. "I will cheer for you, Dad!"

Under Li Pin's expectant gaze, she seemed to recall something and quickly added, "My dad is invincible!"

Li Pin nodded with a smile. "Good."

The Netherlord observed the interaction and then solemnly handed the Supreme Demonic Sword to Li Pin. "It's up to you now."

Li Pin nodded as well. He took the sword and said, "To ensure I don't lose control of the power during the battle, I will go to the God Kingdom. You can cheer for me from outside."

"Alright," the Netherlord replied, waving his hand.

As the power of the God Kingdom surged, Li Pin appeared in a vast wilderness thousands of kilometers away.

Although the Netherlord and the others still seemed to be standing in the courtyard, watching him, a powerful spatial barrier now separated them. This barrier was so strong that even a God King would struggle to break through it in a short time.

Li Pin turned his attention to the sword in his hand. He murmured, "Supreme Demonic Sword."

Channeling his powerful mental spirit into the divine equipment, he guided its force into his body.

"Let's see what kind of power you truly possess."

Buzz, buzz!

The next moment, ripples spread through his spiritual world.

Li Pin did not resist. Instead, he guided the force to strike his inner spirit, as if using it to confront the Supreme Demonic Sword—or the rules derived from the Astral God Mara's inner spirit power.

This confrontation seemed to enrage the Supreme Demonic Sword, causing it to unleash a wave of unprecedented malice that surged within him. It tempted him with visions of its immense benefits.

With the Supreme Demonic Sword, every obstacle in cultivation would disappear.

With the Supreme Demonic Sword, his growth would become astonishingly rapid.

With the Supreme Demonic Sword, no one could stand against him. He would be invincible.

Various thoughts flooded his mind, drawing out the desires within him. Yet Li Pin offered no resistance, allowing these desires to emerge freely.

"Overcome all bottlenecks, reach the peak of martial arts, become unbeatable in battle... What else? What more!?"

A surge of spiritual resonance erupted from his inner spirit. Under the sword's influence, an unprecedented future unfolded before him—a life so extraordinary that even the concept of a cheat code couldn't describe it.

Unbeatable talent, boundless power, supreme status, unrivaled authority, endless wealth—everything awaited him. All he needed was to wield the Supreme Demonic Sword. With it, he could have it all.

"So, this is my ultimate form!?"

Immersed in these illusions of talent, power, status, and wealth, Li Pin retained a sliver of clarity.

That clarity not only persisted but grew stronger, expanding as the sword's power tried to corrupt him. It seemed on the verge of surpassing even the Supreme Demonic Sword's power.

Li Pin felt the immense strength brought by the sword's corruption. "The power of the Supreme Demonic Sword is unstoppable!"

The temptation... it was like a direct ascent to the top!

But... it was not enough!

Li Pin's inner spirit was as unyielding as a boulder, as firm as fine steel.

No matter how the Supreme Demonic Sword's power tried to corrupt him, even attempting to turn him into a world-dominating Martial God or supreme demon, it could never erase his core belief.

Because... he didn't need his Clairvoyance gift to understand himself.

He knew exactly what he wanted. The Supreme Demonic Sword, instead of controlling him, sharpened his understanding of his own inner spirit.

"Stronger! Supreme Demonic Sword, your power must be stronger! Astral God? Supreme being? The more powerful, the better!"

Li Pin gripped the sword tightly, refusing to resist its influence. "Show me your limits!"

Transcendence! The essence of his inner spirit was all about transcendence and evolution! Endless surpassing, infinite evolution! To transcend everything! Including... himself!

"When I stand unmatched, with no one left to surpass, one opponent will still remain!"

In his inner spirit, a flame erupted like a supernova, radiating light that illuminated his entire inner spirit world.

"Myself!"

This was his true self.

With this newfound brilliance, his inner spirit confronted the ultimate form of himself, conjured by the Supreme Demonic Sword—a super being that could extinguish a galaxy with its will or illuminate one with its gaze.

Its strength was overwhelming, suffocating.

Yet, faced with this suffocating pressure, Li Pin felt a profound sense of spiritual fulfillment, akin to one who has grasped the ultimate truth and finds peace even in the face of death.

"The ultimate version of me... can be this powerful? My path... can reach such heights?"

The next moment, Li Pin let out a hearty, carefree laugh. "Hahaha!"

His unrestrained laughter echoed endlessly through the God Kingdom.

Too powerful! This form was too powerful!

It only strengthened his resolve, solidifying his path.

His path was clear.

"The ultimate me..."

Li Pin's inner spirit burned fiercely, its boundless brilliance like an ocean, raging and boiling uncontrollably.

It ultimately transformed into battle intent.

A battle intent that incinerated everything. A battle intent that consumed everything.

Even if he had to fight to the last moment, the final drop of blood, the last shred of will, he would embrace it without the slightest regret, his fighting spirit fueled by a willingness to endure any hardship as if it were the sweetest of treats. Until...

"I surpass myself, defeat myself, and ascend to a new me!"

"The only me! The eternal me! And then..."

"Surpass eternity itself, and achieve the infinite me!"