Planet Pulverizer: A Mortal's Ascent-Chapter 557: Surrender

The battle between Astral Gods was far less earth-shattering than battles between Divine Beings or Legends.

Absolute control brought complete mastery, allowing them to channel power with precision down to the smallest detail, leaving no energy wasted. Even an Astral God's fall might pass in silence, unnoticed.

But... Li Pin couldn't maintain the Stage Three Limit Break indefinitely.

With the White Mirror’s avatar as a reference, he could rely on the World Heart and his Clairvoyance to gauge the energy levels of his own attacks, ensuring every strike landed with perfect accuracy.

But the moment the avatar collapsed, the energy condensed to its limit burst free. Like neutron star matter suddenly released from its binding field, the immense energy erupted, illuminating the starry sky.

That brilliance stretched across millions of kilometers, reaching the two Yu Clan members and the Ashen Council's Chairman, watching from afar.

***

Battles between Astral Gods were unimaginably fast.

Even with their absolute domains neutralizing atomic interactions to prevent catastrophic destruction, they still traversed the vacuum at nearly one-tenth the speed of light.

This terrifying velocity brought an equally terrifying frequency of clashes.

Under such circumstances, Yu Hanyan, Ao Qingcang, and even the Tier Five Legend Yu Yu could barely make sense of it. All they knew was that a fierce Astral God battle raged within the Dust Sea Asteroid Belt.

The scale of this clash had already surpassed the limits of what Legends could perceive, standing far beyond their comprehension.

Then, Yu Yu's communication bracelet vibrated, pulling her gaze from the distant battlefield.

Seeing the projected figure, she bowed respectfully. "Patriarch?"

Before she could finish speaking, Yu Jianglong's stern voice came through.

—Leave immediately! As fast as possible!

"Leave?" Yu Yu froze, glancing toward the battlefield. "But the fight is still ongoing—"

That single glance sent a jolt through her mind.

The battlefield's aura no longer held three presences. The chaotic three-way clash was gone.

At some unknown moment, one of the auras had silently vanished, leaving nothing behind. Not a single trace remained, neither spirit nor energy.

Yu Yu's pupils dilated sharply. The aura that vanished belonged to...

"The Grand Patriarch!?" she shrieked.

The Grand Patriarch... has lost!?

Yu Jianglong spoke in a regretful tone.

—Li Pin is stronger than we anticipated.

"Li Pin?" Yu Yu's widened eyes filled with disbelief. "Li Pin!?"

What does the Patriarch mean?

The one who crushed the Grand Patriarch's avatar wasn't the powerful Astral God's combat-specialized avatar wielding Divine Weapon. It was Li Pin!?

Yu Hanyan, Ao Qingcang, and Ao Suanzi were just as shaken, turning their stunned gazes toward her.

Yu Jianglong pressed urgently.

—Hurry and leave! Return to Yin Luo at once—

Just then, a voice came from his side.

—It's too late. Let them stay. Let them see who the true victor is.

Another voice followed.

—No need. If Li Pin is dead, then the victor is that mysterious Astral God. But if Li Pin is still alive...

Yu Yu quickly recognized them as the two Grand Patriarchs of the Yu Clan.

Both of Yu Suichen's avatars had been destroyed by that mysterious Astral God, and now... Yu Zhenxuan's avatar had also appeared on the other side of the communication.

Yu Yu felt a chill run down her spine. Has his avatar been destroyed as well?

Just moments ago, she had thought they were at a safe enough distance to observe. But now, a deep sense of dread overwhelmed her.

The exchange between the two Astral Gods only intensified the chill creeping through her bones.

"Alive? How? That was a combat-specialized avatar wielding Divine Weapon! Its Power Level is estimated at 300,000! How could Li Pin, a mere Divine Being, possibly survive?"

—300,000 Power Level... My full focus was on that mysterious Astral God's combat-specialized avatar in the final moments. However, we Astral Gods still maintain awareness of our surroundings.

—I saw Li Pin's final strike, but I couldn't react in time... In that instant, his Power Level exploded... It was no less than 300,000!

"A Divine Being!? With a Power Level matching that of an Astral God's combat-specialized avatar—300,000!? How is that possible!?"

—Yes, how is it possible? That's why I need to see the result firsthand.

As they spoke, Yu Zhenxuan's avatar for communication appeared before Yu Yu.

His expression was grave. "Keep your eyes on the battlefield. I need to know who the final victor is."

Even across the communication link, Yu Yu felt a tremor at the intensity of the Grand Patriarch's gaze. She wasn't sure if it was awe of the Astral God's presence or pure fear from hearing such a terrifying revelation.

"300,000 Power Level... 300,000 Power Level..." Ao Qingcang muttered, as though the number weighed as much as a star, crushing him with such intensity that he could hardly breathe.

A Power Level of 300,000!

He knew Li Pin was strong. A Divine Being's standard Power Level was typically over 120,000.

But 300,000? The difference was staggering. It was the kind of difference that meant instant annihilation upon contact.

"How could this be..." Ao Qingcang groaned, his voice hoarse.

The shock had frozen his thoughts, severing the connection between his mind and body. When he finally managed to speak, his vocal cords barely responded.

Beside him, Yu Hanyan's mind went blank. Only one thought echoed in her head. Defeat. The invincible Grand Patriarch had been defeated. And the one who defeated him... is Li Pin.

Even with the Astral God Grand Patriarchs personally descending with their avatars, the Yu Clan still couldn't bring him down...

The truth, the outcome—it all felt like a nightmare she couldn't wake from.

At that moment, a brilliance erupted, so dazzling it seemed to illuminate the entire Dust Sea Asteroid Belt. Energy surged outward, sweeping across all directions.

Yu Zhenxuan saw the radiant light with his own eyes. "This is a sign that the Astral God can no longer control their power precisely... One presence will vanish soon. The battle will be decided."

Yu Suichen couldn't hold back. "Who won!?"

Yu Yu shuddered and quickly sensed the battlefield.

One of the two auras had already disappeared. The remaining one was...

"Li Pin," Yu Yu murmured.

Yu Jianlong's pupils dilated sharply. Even with some mental preparation, he still found it hard to believe. "That was a combat-specialized avatar carrying Divine Weapon!"

It was no exaggeration to say that this was the most powerful form an Astral God could manifest in the Material World.

Yu Zhenxuan and Yu Suichen repeated the name in their minds. Li Pin! Li Pin!

They fell silent.

Ao Qingcang, Ao Suanzi, Yu Hanyan, and the others felt as if they'd plunged into an ice cavern. Their faces turned deathly pale.

"Li Pin is... invincible now."

After a long pause, Yu Zhenxuan sighed. "As long as he doesn't push those aristocratic clans into a life-or-death struggle... no one in the Material World can stop him."

Yu Suichen was at a loss for words. "A Divine Being actually reaching this level...."

Across their endless lifetimes, they had never seen anything like it.

Li Pin was the first.

"If I recall correctly, Li Pin has cultivated for less than ten stellar years?" Yu Zhenxuan suddenly asked.

The moment those words fell, an icy chill shot through Yu Yu, raising goosebumps all over her skin.

Her lips trembled as she answered, "Yes."

Yu Zhenxuan sighed. "Withdraw from the Yin Luo Galaxy."

A moment later, another thought struck him. Leaving now would be a waste.

Moreover, with Li Pin's talent... while Li Pin was just a Divine Being, Yu Zhenxuan couldn't dismiss the possibility that Li Pin might one day become an Astral God.

More than just a possibility. The odds were high.

That realization made his decision clear. "The Yu Clan will withdraw from the Astral God's succession battle. All investments and constructed assets will be handed over to the Gaia Civilization. If I remember correctly, our investments are in the nebula under their jurisdiction."

"Understood,” Yu Jianglong quickly responded. "We've already invested no less than ten trillion Secondary Cosmic Currency."

"Ten trillion.... That’s not enough."

Yu Zhenxuan turned to the clan patriarch. "Go to the Gaia Civilization in person. Bring a gift. Turn hostility into peace. Even if we can't be allies, we must at least ensure this doesn't make us enemies."

Yu Jianglong's eyes flickered with disbelief. "Compensation!?"

How... how has it come to this? No matter how extraordinary Li Pin is, he was still just a Divine Being.

The path to Astral God was unimaginably difficult. Even if he succeeded, how would he endure the brutal early phase of the Astral World?

And even if he survived the initial phase and secured a foothold in the Astral World, there was no reason for the Yu Clan to fear him with the amount of influence they had.

"Just follow orders," Yu Zhenxuan said firmly. "Failure comes with consequences."

His harsh stance cut off Yu Jianglong's words.

Yu Zhenxuan glanced at the others on the call—Yu Yu, Yu Hanyan, and the rest.

—From now on, submit to Li Pin. Follow his lead.

Whether Li Pin would accept them or kill them on the spot... it didn't matter. If their deaths could appease an unparalleled Divine Being and turn hostility into peace, sending a few more people his way was a small price to pay.

Because... after shattering an Astral God's combat-specialized avatar, Li Pin was no longer someone to be viewed as just a Divine Being.

With power rivaling a combat-specialized avatar, he was, in essence, already an Astral God—an Astral God who walked the Material World.

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