Planet Pulverizer: A Mortal's Ascent-Chapter 310: Treasure

The value of this treasure was beyond question, especially for Astral Cultivators following the Astral Palace system who needed to master technique formations. After all, combining and forming a Legendary Astral Technique was an exceedingly complex process.

Each of the nine Astral Palaces required precise recording of the correct Astral Techniques, the interaction, combination, and resonance between them. For a technique to eventually evolve to the legendary level, everything had to be flawless. There was no room for error.

These Skill Crystals would allow an Astral Palace practitioner to make unprecedented progress in their cultivation without having to worry about the configuration and combination of the palaces.

All they had to do was follow the path laid out by the Legendary technique and advance steadily.

It was like becoming a physics professor. Normally, it would take a great deal of studying, comprehension, and time. But with a Skill Crystal... it would be like directly transferring the professor's knowledge into another person's mind.

Of course, this analogy was somewhat exaggerated. The crystal in his hand couldn't store that vast amount of knowledge, but that didn't diminish its immense value.

Li Pin pondered. If this is truly the crystal's function, then it cannot simply be judged with money anymore. It would be priceless, a strategic resource, much like top-tier or rare astral equipment. Even the Six Extremities might intervene and clear out the Black Gold Mine, forbidding anyone from accessing it. According to the books Wen Xingchen had read, there were multiple Ghoul-mutated Ghoul Kings within the mine.

For now, this information cannot be leaked. If the crystal is as miraculous as I think, just one would be enough to cover my training resources for a long time.

Of course, he would still need to test it out first.

Li Pin rolled the transparent crystal between his fingers, his gaze falling on Wen Xingchen nearby. This man had already reached the Martial Saint realm back when he was 24. After 6 years, he was now close to becoming a Top-Tier Martial Saint.

For Wen Xingchen to reach the level of an Extreme Martial Saint, he'd need to further temper his mental spirit. Not to mention the need to raise his qi and blood.

Refining the mental spirit is far more important than increasing the qi and blood limit, though, Li Pin thought.

His gaze pierced through the heavy night, looking toward Wen Xingchen's residence. "Over the past two months, I've optimized the process of condensing my Lifeform Force Field and reduced the standard from needing legendary astral equipment to rare ones."

Renting rare astral equipment was much easier than renting legendary ones. Given that Great Shang had even sold legendary astral equipment before, renting rare ones a few times was hardly a problem. As long as the price was right, everything was negotiable.

"The Black Gold Mine truly is a treasure trove."

Li Pin tossed the crystal lightly. It seemed he would need to occupy the mine for some time. With the resources from the mine, he wouldn't have to worry about having insufficient funds to acquire materials for his cultivation.

Li Pin contemplated. Taking control of the Black Gold Mine on my own might not be enough...

Just as he was deep in thought, he sensed something and suddenly glanced in a particular direction. "Hmm?"

Two uninvited guests had silently entered the manor.

"Their precise control over qi and blood... Extreme Martial Saints, and ones skilled in stealth," Li Pin noted.

Had they not approached from his direction, and if he hadn't raised his awareness of Vitality, Qi, and Spirit to an unprecedented height after condensing his Lifeform Force Field, he might not have noticed them.

Indeed, Martial Saints are a lot more adept at stealth and reconnaissance compared to Astral Cultivators, whose overwhelming presence makes them detectable from afar.

"I know you're after Wen Yusheng... but sneaking through my courtyard, isn't that being a bit disrespectful to me?"

Li Pin put away the crystal, clasping his hands behind his back as he left the courtyard. He didn't even reach for his sword. Step by step, following his senses, he made his way toward an archway.

As he neared, two figures were surveying the courtyard beyond, seemingly assessing the distribution of people within. When their peripheral vision caught sight of Li Pin approaching, both Martial Saints froze in surprise.

In the next moment, the older one made a swift decision. "We have been compromised! Let's teach him a lesson. Kill everyone who sees us, except Wen Yusheng!"

"We should've done this earlier. Why bother leaving knife marks on their beds while they sleep? It's so pointless," the other responded, his gaze shifting to Li Pin. He gripped his knife, a cruel glint forming in his eyes. "Blame yourself for seeing what you shouldn't have—"

Before he could finish, Li Pin made his move.

He didn't even use the Blood-Seething Secret Art. Force erupted from his feet, propelling him forward. In an instant, he was upon the Martial Saint. Before the Martial Saint could react, Li Pin's right hand thrust out, fingers spread wide, clamping over the man's entire face, cutting off his words.

"Mm!"

The sudden attack sent the Martial Saint into shock, and he immediately began to struggle.

However, a force far beyond his resistance suddenly surged through Li Pin's arm.

The man felt himself go flying, as if he had been hurled into the clouds.

Before he could regain his balance, an even more violent power crushed him back down, burying him into the abyss.

In his daze, the world shifted. He could feel countless sparks of lightning shooting from the back of his head and down his spine. It was a distorted perception, the result of countless neurons snapping. Then, a tidal wave of uncontrollable, searing pain surged through him, following the electric shock and completely consuming his consciousness.

In the eyes of the older Martial Saint, his junior brother, having just prepared to strike, was suddenly approached by this man who appeared out of nowhere. With astonishing speed, the man seized his brother's head and, using only one hand, lifted his eighty-kilogram body before violently smashing him into the ground.

Bang!

A violent tremor erupted, scattering stone fragments in all directions, breaking the manor's nighttime silence.

"Who are you!?"

Amidst the older Martial Saint's furious roar and the sudden burst of his qi and blood, Li Pin swiftly turned and charged again.

A clash's inevitable!

The older Martial Saint, now fully alert, let out an enraged shout and unleashed a powerful punch, his qi and blood surging in a violent outburst.

The Aura Force from his punch detonated, creating visible shockwaves that pushed the air aside. In the space several meters wide surrounding both Li Pin and himself, the air compressed as if solidifying, ready to explode in the next moment like a massive wall breaking apart.

This was the killing move he had perfected over thirty-three years of rigorous training in Dragonfist, a modification of the ultimate Void Break technique.

Once this punch was thrown, nothing—be it a soaring dragon or a leaping tiger—could withstand it; all would be pulverized into dust.

Yet, this punch, capable of shattering a tiger, was met with an unstoppable force as Li Pin opened his hand, as if encountering an entire world capable of devouring all power thrown at it.

The turbulent shockwaves, explosive Aura Force, and boiling qi and blood were all frozen in place, gathered in front of his palm until he gripped them tightly with his fingers, like an entire mountain being caught in his grasp. Even the arm that had thrown the punch was seized.

Li Pin caught the incoming fist and gave it a sudden shake. A surge of overwhelming power penetrated through the older Martial Saint's arm, tearing through every joint, leaving nothing intact.

It was like a derailed train. With all his joints dislocated, bones splintered as they misaligned and snapped apart.

The agonizing pain akin to having his arm shattered into dozens of pieces was unbearable. It forced even someone as iron-willed as him to let out a scream.

"Ah!"

His cry pierced the night, causing lights throughout the manor to flicker on.

Yet even so, the violent force that had shaken his arm hadn't fully dissipated, further ravaging his body.

At that moment, it felt as though every bone and joint in his body had dislocated, even his teeth rattling loose, blood spurting from his mouth. His entire body collapsed, unable to muster any strength.

When Li Pin released his grip, the man's limp body crumpled to the ground, his eyes filled with uncontrollable terror.

"You... you..."

His voice was hoarse, barely able to speak, while his eyes fixed on Li Pin with a look of horror, as if staring at a demon.

Li Pin didn't bother explaining. He stood there, waiting in silence.

The manor's guards reacted swiftly, and a squad of armed soldiers was the first to arrive. They were momentarily stunned when they saw Li Pin.

Before they could speak, Wen Xingchen's figure darted over, landing swiftly in the courtyard.

Seeing the two subdued figures at Li Pin's feet, Wen Xingchen immediately understood what had happened. Intruders!

"This is your responsibility now," Li Pin said.

"Thank you, Martial God Li," Wen Xingchen replied with a heavy tone.

"Martial God?"

The older man, whose body had been thoroughly shattered but still clung to life, heard these words and showed a look of disbelief.

At that moment, Wen Yusheng arrived in a hurry, under the protection of Qiao Yuanshan.

Qiao Yuanshan, a native of this land his whole life, recognized the older man at first sight. "It's you!? He Yun from the Dragonfist Sect!?"

"The Dragonfist Sect?"

Li Pin, who had been about to leave, paused when he heard Qiao Yuanshan mention the man's name. He looked at He Yun. "I've heard the sect master of the Dragonfist Sect achieved the Martial God realm. Is this true?"

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"Of... of course it's true!"

Despite the excruciating pain, He Yun gritted his teeth and forced out each word. "This is... a misunderstanding... you would be wise to let me go... you wouldn't want to face the wrath of our Martial God and the thirty-six Martial Saints of Dragonfist Sect..."

"Interesting," Li Pin mused. "I've heard the Dragonfist Sect has a long and renowned history. Their Black Tortoise True and Azure Dragon Moon-Embracing Art are among the finest. If they can produce a Martial God so quickly, they must be extraordinary. I'd like to see it for myself."

He turned to Wen Xingchen. "Arrange a guide for me tomorrow. I plan to visit the Dragonfist Sect."