Planet Pulverizer: A Mortal's Ascent-Chapter 268: Circumstance

Li Pin called out, "Warden Xiang."

"Get in," Xiang Tianxing responded, his sharp gaze constantly scanning the surroundings.

As his eyes swept over the area, everyone nearby felt an indescribable fear rising within them. In an instant, they seemed paralyzed, standing stiffly in place, their eyes filled with uncontrollable terror.

During this process, Xiang Tianxing carefully observed their reactions. Once he saw no signs of disguise or anything unusual, he withdrew his gaze.

Li Pin loaded his baggage onto the vehicle and got in. "No need for such caution. If any Astral Cultivators were nearby, wouldn't you have detected them long before they approached?"

"Astral Cultivators aren't the real threat. The real danger lies with Martial Saints."

Xiang Tianxing remained vigilant. "Maybe it's because you've been training in the wilderness for some time that you're unaware of the turmoil out here. The situation has become so chaotic that even the Supreme Martial Saints are afraid to venture out. I personally know of no less than ten assassination attempts recently."

He glanced at Li Pin. "If even the Supreme Martial Saints are being targeted, what about you, the widely recognized 'King of the Century'?"

Li Pin understood what he meant. "So, you're worried that a Martial Saint will come to assassinate me?"

Xiang Tianxing nodded seriously.

Astral Cultivators could sense other Astral Cultivators, but when a Martial Saint deliberately suppressed their aura and concealed themselves, who could tell them apart from ordinary people?

Li Pin glanced at the terrified pedestrians who were gasping for air. Some of them were so shaken that their legs gave out, and they couldn't even stand, collapsing right onto the ground.

This was all just from an Astral Cultivator's stern, cautious gaze. There was no anger, no killing intent, just a brief moment of observation.

Ordinary people... were truly fragile in the face of Astral Cultivators. No wonder Astral Cultivators rarely showed themselves to regular people. To them, common folk probably resembled delicate porcelain dolls, easily shattered or broken with the slightest misstep.

Yet, the laws within Tianyuan still provided substantial protection for ordinary citizens, preventing Astral Cultivators from acting recklessly or committing senseless slaughter.

Under such circumstances, many Astral Cultivators simply distanced themselves from the world or ordinary people, avoiding the trouble of accidentally harming someone and complicating their own lives.

"To be honest, the threat of assassination from Martial Saints doesn't worry me much anymore," Li Pin said.

Xiang Tianxing chuckled. "Heh... that line sounds familiar. During the reign of the previous King of the Century, a Supreme Martial Saint once claimed himself to be invincible too.

"Turns out that before the King of the Century grand battle even began, he had offended a top-tier martial arts faction. An Extreme Martial Saint and two Top-Tier Martial Saints besieged him. He couldn't even take one of them down in his final struggle."

Xiang Tianxing looked at Li Pin. "I know you've mastered the Lifeform Force Field, so ordinary Martial Saints are nothing to you. But remember, the human body has limits."

Li Pin smiled. "That's why we chose to pave a new path and break those limits, right?"

"But you haven't yet become an Astral Cultivator." Xiang Tianxing glanced at him. "Unless you're wearing one of the Six Divine Rings, like the Void Ring, no Astral Cultivator can hide in plain sight from another Astral Cultivator."

"I haven't become an Astral Cultivator yet. But... unless it's a Top-Tier..."

Li Pin stopped mid-sentence, realizing his statement might sound too boastful.

After all, he still couldn't sweep through all High-Class Astral Cultivators just yet. Some well-armed High-Class Astral Cultivators were strong enough to battle against Top-Tier Astral Cultivators yet to reveal their Starlight Bodies.

Carefully selecting his words, Li Pin continued, "Anyone below High-Class shouldn't pose much of a threat to me."

"Arrogance is a martial artist's greatest downfall," rebuked Xiang Tianxing.

"I'm just stating facts," Li Pin replied, patting his backpack. "Could you help me deal with these spoils of war?"

Xiang Tianxing didn't need to look to sense the astral energy radiating from within.

"Astral equipment? And high-grade ones too?"

"Yes. Exchange them all for Primordial Electric Crystals. Get as much as you can."

"Alright."

"Thanks."

"No need to thank me. If you'd just take my words to heart, that would be thanks enough."

Xiang Tianxing's expression turned uncharacteristically serious. "Li Pin, I have to say, your personality needs some adjustment. If you keep this up, you're bound to suffer a major setback."

"You want me to change my personality?" Li Pin looked at him and smiled. "If I change, would I still be me?"

"That's because you haven't gone through something that forced you to change," Xiang Tianxing said, as if recalling something. "Actually, your personality has already changed. From what we've learned, you weren't always like this."

Li Pin remained silent.

Seeing this, Xiang Tianxing sighed. He knew his advice wouldn't get through. "You're now the center of everyone's attention. For your safety, I'll contact Su Mai to escort you to Dragon Gate Hall. Better yet, if you could reach the special training base in Tianyuan Royal Capital, that would be ideal."

"The special training base? No thanks. As I've explained before, I have my own methods of cultivation."

"I understand. It might sound preachy, and I know you're not fond of that. But potential is only potential. Even if you become a legend one day, what then? Sure, having more Legends is good for our people. But if that Legend refuses to be controlled and doesn't share our cause, would that really be a benefit to the human race? Or would it be a threat?"

Xiang Tianxing looked at the rather calm Li Pin. "Take the Divine Adoration Sect, for example... Though they don't have a Legend, their existence alone ties up the efforts of several Legendary figures. That makes them more dangerous than legendary ferocious beasts.

"If we had known one of those Legendary seeds would turn out like that, should we have destroyed him early on? Or should we have continued pouring resources into him?"

Li Pin understood the implication behind Xiang Tianxing's words. He also understood why Xian Tianxing said these words to him.

He was too much of a loner, so much so that no one was willing to invest in him despite his immense potential, which rivaled a legendary seed.

It was like a county lord managing a town. Even if someone in that town became the national top scorer with limitless potential but was unruly and rebellious... would that county lord support him?

Of course not! Maintaining surface-level courtesy would already be more than enough.

If that student also displayed signs of a dangerous, sociopathic personality... people would only stay further away from him.

Li Pin understood what Xiang Tianxing meant. He also understood why Xiang Tianxing had said these words to him.

After sitting quietly in the car for a while, Li Pin smiled and finally spoke again. "So... you mean to say that everyone should obediently stay in their assigned positions, follow the path laid out for them, and only then will it benefit humanity and the world?"

"The world is inclusive, and each person has their own unique potential... But at the very least, we must stay on a generally correct course," Xiang Tianxing said, looking at Li Pin. "The path you've chosen, I only see you on it. I don't see anything beyond you."

"You're calling me selfish."

Xiang Tianxing shook his head. "Selfishness is natural. Cultivation, after all, is a deeply personal journey. But in this life, it shouldn't just be about cultivation. You need a purpose, a meaning behind it. Or at the very least, you should know what drives your cultivation. It shouldn't be cultivating... just for the sake of cultivating."

"I once thought we were the same," Li Pin remarked.

"We share similarities, but we're not exactly the same."

Li Pin looked at him. "No, we are not."

He knew Xiang Tianxing had received orders from above and was now in some type of struggle.

Li Pin said, "I understand that your position influences your vision, that the world you're exposed to limits your thinking. The way you've been worn down shapes your heart. But once you get used to all of this, you can never break free from it. You'll remain trapped."

"Break free...." Xiang Tianxing's expression grew more serious. "What you're talking about could be seen as values, worldviews, or life philosophies... Adults must pay the price for any choice they make. If you truly want to break all of these...."

He looked at Li Pin. "What price are you willing to pay?"

"Price?"

Li Pin recalled why he had first embarked on the martial arts path.

Life was so small, so fragile. Not just the opponents he had killed one after another, or the lives lost to natural disasters and chaotic wars. Even something as simple as an infected wound could bring death. And he could only stand by, watching helplessly, not understanding why they died.

Life... was as fragile as duckweed, easily destroyed by the slightest storm.

If... it meant remaining such a fragile existence... then....

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"Everything," he answered.

Xiang Tianxing squinted. "You..."

"Time will prove everything," Li Pin repeated. With that, he smiled as if nothing had happened. "Stop the car."

Xiang Tianxing looked at him deeply as if trying to discern whether Li Pin's words had come from youthful arrogance, or... a true reflection of his heart.

"Stop the car," Li Pin repeated for the driver.

After a brief silence, Xiang Tianxing waved his hand.

The driver pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road.

Li Pin pushed open the door and stepped out.

Just as he was about to leave, Xiang Tianxing suddenly called out, "Li Pin!"

"Hm?"

"In half a month, what you asked for will be in your mansion," Xiang Tianxing said.

"And..." he hesitated, his eyes lingering on Li Pin's back, "don't die."

Li Pin waved his hand with a smile, then strode away confidently.

Watching his departing figure, Xiang Tianxing sat silently in the car.

"Warden, the higher-ups did say that as soon as Li Pin shows up—"

The driver started to speak, but Xiang Tianxing cut him off before he could finish.

He kept his gaze fixed on Li Pin's receding silhouette, not uttering a single word until it completely vanished from view.

To be one step ahead of the world makes you a genius. Two steps ahead, and you're a madman.

Li Pin... has he lost his mind?

Or has he truly found a more advanced, more correct path?

Perhaps... as he said... time will prove everything.