Planet Pulverizer: A Mortal's Ascent-Chapter 561: Choice

She probably doesn't even qualify as a peerless genius.

With that thought, Li Pin withdrew his gaze from Yu Hanyan and turned to Yu Yu.

Yu Yu was a Tier Five Legend, but she had reached her current realm only after four to five hundred stellar years of cultivation.

Four to five hundred stellar years just to achieve Tier Five Legend? What a waste of a lifetime. She, too, is beyond saving.

He shifted his focus to the other two young women.

Seeing this, Yu Jianglong quickly smiled and said, "These are Yanyun and Yanrou. They will assist Gaia Civilization in transferring those investments.

"In fact, if you don't mind, Sacred Li, they could stay by your side, serving tea, doing laundry, and making your bed. They are twins, and they also share a unique inner spirit connection. Their minds have been attuned to each other since childhood."

The two stepped forward and respectfully saluted.

"Greetings, my lord. I am Yanyun."

"Greetings, my lord. I am Yanrou."

"Inner spirit connection?"

A thought crossed Li Pin's mind, reminding him of his pursuit of the Perfect Realm. Wasn't that also a manifestation of my inner spirit and power being perfectly in sync?

It was similar to quantum superposition, where a mere shift in thought directed the flow of power.

"Not bad," Li Pin remarked.

They had cultivated for just over a dozen stellar years. Yet they managed to show traces of inner spirit power thanks to their special properties of their innate connection.

If studied properly, this could aid not only his own comprehension of the Perfect Realm, but also help Si Xing and Li Yunyao better awaken their inner spirit power.

Yu Jianglong subtly exhaled in relief. "As long as you're satisfied, Sacred Li."

Li Pin's gaze fell on the Yu Clan patriarch, his eyes burning with intensity. "Actually, I'm more curious about you than them."

This look made Yu Jianglong's heart skip a beat.

"Me?"

Yu Jianglong's mind stirred. Could it be that Sacred Li has... certain special interests? If that's the case... then for the sake of my clan.... Li Pin nodded. "Yes, you."

He scrutinized Yu Jianglong, and under the perception from his Clairvoyance, the man's peculiarities became glaringly clear. After a long moment, Li Pin asked, "You're like me, a Divine Being. But why do I sense that your mass and energy surpass mine by a significant margin?"

"Mass and energy?" Yu Jianglong hesitated before giving a wry smile. "My situation is rather unique. No normal Divine Being would ever wish to end up like me."

"Explain," Li Pin prompted.

Yu Jianglong explained, "The reason my mass and energy are greater is that I have refined more Astral World Fragments. But the Mini Astral World that comes with it is a burden. For a Divine Being to ascend and become an Astral God is already far more difficult than for a Legend.

"After all, a Legend only needs to imprint their inner spirit upon the Astral World, whereas we must merge our entire Mini Astral World with it, becoming something akin to a land god or mountain deity within the Astral World itself.

"Because I absorbed too many Astral World Fragments, I've practically severed my own path to ascension."

He recounted his journey, explaining how a stroke of fortune had turned into a curse.

With a sigh, Yu Jianglong continued, "Had I absorbed fewer Astral World Fragments, achieving Astral Godhood would have been difficult, but still possible. But now...."

Li Pin listened, nodding.

For a Divine Being, there were two major hurdles to becoming an Astral God.

The first was merging with the Astral World. This was like sending an object into outer space—the larger the object, the harder it was to launch. If a Legend was a satellite, then a Divine Being was a space station.

The second hurdle was surviving the transition. Newly ascended Divine Beings received no protection and had to face the dangers of the Astral World alone.

Divine Beings inherently relied on external forces to progress, making it harder for them to reach the Perfect Realm compared to Legends.

Without the Perfect Realm, entering the Astral World was like being thrown into a river without knowing how to swim. From there, you'd either learn how to swim or you drown. Most Divine Beings who overcame the first hurdle perished during this "beginner's phase."

That said, Li Pin had already solved thirty percent of the second problem. Upon merging with the Astral World, an Astral God's power would rapidly rise to around one million.

At present, Li Pin could perfectly control a Power Level of 300,000. Thirty percent was an overestimate—after all, one million was just a baseline. Some with deep foundations reached 1.1 million, 1.2 million, or even 1.5 million.

Li Pin mused, "Come to think of it, the stronger one's Mini Astral World, the greater the chance of surviving the beginner's phase...."

"But the risk also grows," Yu Jianglong pointed out.

Li Pin nodded. It's a matter of choice. No, it isn't even a real choice. Like choosing between a ten percent chance for one billion or a one percent chance for ten billion—ninety-nine percent of people would go for the one billion.

"I understand what the Yu Clan wants," Li Pin said. "But... I have a condition."

"Please, speak," Yu Jianglong responded immediately. "If it's within our power, we will do everything we can to fulfill it."

"Let me witness the true power of your Mini Astral World—one that has absorbed twelve Astral World Fragments," Li Pin said bluntly.

Yu Jianglong was momentarily stunned. Then, recalling Li Pin's nature and everything they knew about him... he realized Li Pin's request aligned with his character.

Yu Jianglong nodded. "Alright, Sacred Li, since you have spoken, I will give everything within my power to fulfill this."

"Let's go," Li Pin said, then glanced at those in the hall. "Yu Yanyun and Yu Yanrou stay. The rest of you may leave."

At that moment, the meticulously dressed Yu Hanyan widened her eyes. "I—"

Before she could speak, Yu Yu—realizing that she might have misunderstood Li Pin—quickly grabbed her. The moment their hands touched, a wave of mental spirit power descended. With Yu Hanyan's mere Tier Two Legendary strength, she couldn't withstand the pressure.

She lost control over her body, and Yu Yu swiftly pulled her away.

"Forgive us, Sacred Li," she quickly said. "We'll leave now."

Li Pin remained silent.

He walked out of the reception hall with Yu Jianglong.

A few people were still waiting outside. Among them were Council Chairman Ao Qingcang of the Ashen Council and Deputy Council Chairman Ao Suanzi.

Normally, a visit from the Ashen Council would warrant Gaia's full hospitality. Yet this time... they hadn't even been allowed entry into the hall, waiting quietly outside instead.

Yu Jianglong cupped his hands. "We've brought these people as well. Sacred Li, you may handle them as you see fit."

Li Pin glanced at Ao Qingcang. The Ashen Council Speaker quickly spoke up. "We failed to recognize greatness. The Ashen Council is willing to offer all our resources to Gaia and become one of its provinces...."

Li Pin pondered briefly.

Then he turned to Xiang Tianxing and Yuan Zhenchuan, who had already arrived. "I'll leave them to you." fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

Both Legendary figures cupped their hands solemnly. "Understood."

This was a minor issue, hardly worth Li Pin's direct involvement.

With that, the two left.

As Li Pin walked away, a pale, frail man behind Ao Qingcang raised his head in disbelief.

This person was none other than Hong Feng—the very instigator of the conflict.

This self-proclaimed prodigy had once thought he had Gaia completely under his control. But after Li Pin killed the Frost Dragon Demigod, the Ashen Council had restrained him.

Since learning that he had provoked such a terrifying adversary, he had lived in constant fear. It seemed inevitable that one day, Li Pin would come to claim him, and Ao Qingcang would hand him over, allowing Li Pin to deal with him as he saw fit.

Living with the certainty of his imminent death, knowing it would come soon, but not knowing exactly when, was a torment beyond measure.

Now, as Ao Qingcang brought him here, he thought the agony would soon end. He even convinced himself that when he faced Li Pin, he would uphold his pride as a genius.

After all, Li Pin was also from a native civilization, so surely he would understand. Perhaps, if he showed enough courage, Li Pin might even spare him.

But the reality was far harsher. Li Pin never even glanced at him.

No, not a single glance. Not even a mention of his name.

To Li Pin, the mastermind behind Gaia's suffering was nothing more than a trivial insect, so insignificant that he wasn't even worth noticing.

That indifference hurt far more than death ever could.

Hong Feng trembled uncontrollably, his mind unraveling. "I... I am Hong Feng, a once-in-a-millennium prodigy... I even had the potential to become an Astral God... How dare you—"

He roared, suddenly trying to lunge forward.

But as soon as he moved, Ao Qingcang, who understood Li Pin's immense power, turned pale. Already terrified, he had been watching closely, fearing things would escalate.

The moment he saw Hong Feng lose control; Ao Qingcang acted without hesitation.

A surge of precisely controlled energy swept over Hong Feng, whose cultivation had already been crippled.

The energy flared within Hong Feng's already crippled body, erupting in searing heat. In the blink of an eye, he was reduced to ashes—executed so flawlessly that not even a ripple disturbed the surroundings.

Clearly, Ao Qingcang was striving for absolute control, though he had not yet mastered it.

Both Li Pin and Yu Jianglong sensed the energy surge.

Seeing Hong Feng's ashes and Ao Qingcang trembling on his knees despite being a Legendary figure, Li Pin was slightly puzzled. He turned to Yuan Zhenchuan. "Who was that?

"That was... Hong Feng," Yuan Zhenchuan answered.

"Hong Feng?"

Li Pin thought for a moment.

He remembered the name. It was Hong Feng who had caused Gaia's struggles in the past few stellar years. Because of him, the Ashen Council had asked the Yu Clan to intervene, leading to the descent of the Astral God's avatar and the ensuing battle.

But now that Ao Qingcang had personally eliminated him, it seemed the Ashen Council had purged itself from within. That was enough.

In the end, Hong Feng had achieved one thing: he made Li Pin remember his name.

But... that was all.

"Let's go," Li Pin said, turning to leave with Yu Jianglong.

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