Planet Pulverizer: A Mortal's Ascent-Chapter 638: Malfunction

Li Pin examined the data.

"The Eternal Ascent of Humanity Initiative had been running for over a dozen epochs. In that time, only a few hundred managed to become Cosmic Radiance."

A few hundred? Something feels off.

The initiative operated on a century-long cycle, selecting top talents from across the world to enter the Humanity Sanctum after passing rigorous assessments. With over a dozen eras passed, the total number of participants should have easily exceeded a hundred thousand.

Yet, out of that many, only a few hundred had reached Cosmic Radiance?

Even if that "few hundred" was at its theoretical highest at 999, that was merely a one percent success rate. Compared to the claimed ten percent, the gap was staggering.

Li Pin continued flipping through the records and came across two alarming figures—the elimination and mortality rates.

Less than half of the participants made it through an entire era without being eliminated. Moreover, as a program dedicated to nurturing Cosmic Radiances for humanity, the initiative had naturally become a prime target for alien factions unwilling to see humanity's rise.

It was said that many of these factions maintained a detailed bounty list in secret. Anyone who managed to kill a top-ranked Sacred Child or Dao Child of the initiative would receive a substantial reward.

Aside from strengthening its efforts to protect the Humanity Sanctum's members, the Sacred Flame Hall turned a blind eye to these bounty lists.

Danger fostered pressure. And in a place where humanity's brightest gathered, arrogance and defiance were ingrained.

These prodigies didn't fear these alien bounty lists. On the contrary, they took pride in their bounties. In the most elite circles, if you weren't listed on multiple alien bounty lists, or if your bounty wasn't high enough, you were essentially a failure and would be looked down upon.

This very mentality resulted in a shocking mortality rate. Half of the participants never made it through. In other words, regardless of whether they achieved Cosmic Radiance, fewer than twenty percent managed to survive a full era in the Humanity Sanctum.

The current number of permanent disciples was nowhere near the expected hundred thousand. Only a little over thirty thousand remained.

Li Pin skimmed the records listing those who had fallen to assassinations and couldn't help but reflect on an old saying, "The tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled."

A genius is only a genius if they live long enough to prove it. No matter how extraordinary they were, if they perish halfway, what did it matter?

Among the list, the names that stood out most belonged to the three most renowned prodigies of the Humanity Sanctum, all of whom were killed by Cosmic Radiance.

It was precisely because they were Cosmic Radiance entities that, despite living at the heart of human territory under the secret protection and surveillance of other Cosmic Radiance guardians, all three were unable to escape their fate. When the opportunity arose, they were hunted down and slain.

Of course, any alien Cosmic Radiance daring to expose themselves in the heart of human territory would almost certainly face a swift and overwhelming counterattack. In the end, nearly all of them were annihilated, reduced to ashes.

Yet... just the fact that these alien races were willing to lose a Cosmic Radiance to take these three down spoke volumes about their talent.

The reason for that was simple. They were prodigies who had yet to ascend to Cosmic Radiance but were already catching glimpses of the Supreme level.

"Liu Tianyuan, Xuan Chengming, Yu Qiudao. These three were hailed as the highest glory of the Humanity Sanctum."

As Li Pin read through the materials, his mind filled with yearning. Supreme Prodigy! Their talents are so overwhelming that the alien races were willing to trade a Cosmic Radiance's life just to eliminate them.

They hadn't yet reached Cosmic Radiance, but their renown already surpassed more than ninety percent of those who had.

"Just how terrifying must their talent be? Clairvoyance? Immortality? Innate True Spirit? Or perhaps Destiny Epiphany? A Child of Origin?"

After going through the materials, Li Pin finally understood why Astral God Yun Tu had such strong feelings about his entry into the Humanity Sanctum.

The universe was simply too vast. There were hundreds of billions, perhaps even trillions, of galactic systems like Yin Luo. Within each, the population rivaled the countless stars in the sky.

With such an immense territory and such an unfathomable population, it was inevitable that some would rise to become peerless figures capable of dominating an era and overshadowing an entire epoch.

Compared to those who could ascend to Astral God in a century, reach Eternal Solar Flare in a millennium, and step into Cosmic Radiance in an epoch, he wasn't all that remarkable.

Li Pin sighed. "Compared to true supreme prodigies, I still have a long way to go."

For the first time, he realized how narrow his ambitions had been. Focusing solely on Yin Luo and Yuan Yang was far too small-minded.

It was no different from a student who only aimed to dominate high school, or at best, the entire nation, never once looking beyond the confines of "school." They failed to step toward the greater world, the vast sea of stars, and the boundless future of humanity.

Buzz, buzz!

Just as he was lost in thought, his communication bracelet vibrated.

As he connected the call, Si Yue's holographic image appeared. She got straight to the point.

—Pioneer Li, I just received some news that might interest you. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

—Ever since you issued your challenge to the Aristocratic Alliance, the Si Clan has been closely monitoring their movements. Everyone knew they wouldn't just sit back and wait for you, and that they were bound to stir up trouble behind the scenes.

—After some careful observation, we confirmed it. But their target... isn't you. It's Ai Sa.

"Ai Sa?"

Li Pin glanced at her. "What are they up to? Don't tell me they plan to take out Ai Sa first, then focus all their strength on a final showdown with me?"

Si Yue was momentarily at a loss for words.

—Uh...

She was unsure how to respond to Li Pin's confidence in treating himself as the ultimate boss.

After a while, she responded.

—That's not the case. Based on our observations, over the past few stellar months, the Aristocratic Alliance has been spreading rumors about Ai Sa, claiming he's short and merely a child. And it seems they're trying to trace the source of these rumors... back to you, Pioneer Li.

Question marks almost appeared on Li Pin's forehead.

Spreading such a rumor... Interesting.

"Wait," Li Pin said, surprised. "Don't tell me you came all this way to inform me that Ai Sa fell for it and is heading straight for our Candlelight Star Ring?"

He wasn't afraid of Ai Sa. His only concern was that Ai Sa, in his rage, might not be able to fight at his full strength.

—That's not it. The Aristocratic Alliance clearly underestimated the deterrence a Cosmic Radiance race holds in the Yuan Yang Star Domain. Their plan had barely begun when some clans within the alliance defected to Ai Sa's side, bringing him the truth and evidence.

—Ai Sa is now furious. He's leading his elite forces straight at the Aristocratic Alliance, and judging by the way he acts, he won't stop until he wipes out their entire presence in the Yin Luo Galaxy.

Si Yue chuckled.

—The Aristocratic Alliance has been scheming behind the scenes, first against you and now against Ai Sa. But this time, it looks like they played themselves. The best outcome they can hope for now is to drag Ai Sa into mutual destruction, which would leave you as the biggest winner.

Her tone took on a hint of admiration.

—Pioneer Li, the Candle Light Alliance is truly fortunate this time. If Ai Sa and the Aristocratic Alliance end up destroying each other, our rise will no longer be just a distant dream.

Li Pin's expression darkened. "Mutual destruction?"

That was the last thing he wanted. Though he had shifted his focus from the Yin Luo Galaxy and Yuan Yang Star Domain to the Humanity Sanctum, the entrance exam was still more than two stellar years away.

He had no intention of just waiting around.

"I can't let them fight to the death," said Li Pin.

He sprang to his feet and immediately messaged Xiang Tianxing.

Li Pin: Contact the Astral Gate leading to the Galactic Core! I want an unobstructed passage all the way!

Xiang Tianxing had no idea what was going on, but he agreed without hesitation.

Xiang Tianxing: Understood.

Even after sending the message, Li Pin still felt it wasn't fast enough. He quickly contacted Xuan Jian.

Li Pin: I might need your flying vessel. Wait for me at the Astral Gate.

Xuan Jian responded decisively.

Xuan Jian: Alright.

Si Yue hesitated for a moment, then, recalling Li Pin's personality, asked.

—Pioneer Li... are you planning to stop them from going to war?

Li Pin didn't respond.

He wouldn't make it in time. Once there, he'd have to act accordingly.

If it came down to it... he'd back the stronger side.

***

Li Pin made arrangements with Xiang Tianxing and quickly set off for the Galactic Core.

"Those big shots may disapprove of that Grand Patriarch from the Golden Emperor Clan, but Yuan Xiangguang and Zi Zhongtian are trampling all over the Alliance's rules!

"How can a mere Aristocratic Alliance possibly take on Ai Sa? If they fail, those big shots will inevitably intervene with their avatars to protect their chosen candidates. And when that happens, what am I supposed to do? Do I stop external forces from entering Yin Luo or not!?"

He cursed under his breath. "If I don't, what happens to the Alliance's authority? But if I do, setting aside whether I even can or not, the Aristocratic Alliance will be finished. And once that happens, no one will be able to stop Ai Sa from seizing Astral God Yin Luo's inheritance..."

If Ai Sa truly got the inheritance, those big shots would undoubtedly hold him accountable.

As expected, taking sides too early in a clash of titans just to curry favor with a certain big shot would only lead to utter ruin.

For a brief moment, Lan Yunguang felt an urge to give up entirely. "To hell with it all!"

However, as an Astral God, his rationality ultimately prevailed.

He thought, At the end of the day, the Homo Sapien Alliance's authority... is nothing but a facade. As long as the Aristocratic Alliance plays along later, I can still save face. The real issue lies with those key figures.

If Ai Sa slaughters the Aristocratic Alliance's carefully nurtured candidates and claims Astral God Yin Luo's inheritance unchallenged, those figures will turn their dissatisfaction toward me. When that happens, my future will be as good as over.

With that thought, he immediately summoned his trusted aide. "Hurry! Shut down the monitoring system! No, I'll do it myself. I'll make it malfunction."