Planet Pulverizer: A Mortal's Ascent-Chapter 644: Pause

Bathed in terrifying energy fluctuations like a burning star, Ai Sa looked at Li Pin, his eyes grim. "His inner spirit realm is more advanced than mine."

Despite not yet becoming an Astral God, Li Pin possessed an inner spirit realm on par with an Eternal Solar Flare.

How was that possible? Without the Astral World's special environment or a prodigy's natural talent, it was impossible to comprehend the Perfect Realm, let alone achieve an inner spirit mirror.

The only reason Ai Sa could comprehend the Perfect Realm was that the members of the Golden Emperor Clan were born able to sense the Astral World. By establishing a channel with it, they simulate the oppressive sensation of being within the Astral World.

Li Pin, a human, possesses this ability as well?

"Damn it! Had I been in the same realm, I could have killed you effortlessly!"

Ai Sa felt furious yet helpless. He had no hope of killing Li Pin unless he used the life-saving artifact bestowed upon him by the Grand Patriarch.

Looking at Ai Sa, who had transformed into a blazing star shrouded in extreme heat and energy, Li Pin couldn't help but say, "This energy intensity is way too high. It is far beyond mine!" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

It was precisely because of Ai Sa's immense energy intensity that he could afford such a reckless, wasteful strategy.

Yes, Li Pin considered this wasteful. In fact, this indiscriminate expenditure of energy was rather painful for Li Pin to witness.

If he had such energy intensity, he would dare to battle an Astral God head-on, let alone Ai Sa.

As it currently stood, unless he wielded the Supreme Demonic Sword, he couldn't possibly break through Ai Sa's blazing solar state.

As for the interference of the Supreme Demonic Sword on his mind, the power of the Dao Realm was enough to suppress it.

Ai Sa was not an Eternal Solar Flare-level Astral God, nor had he mastered any inner spirit secret arts, so Li Pin had no need to use the Dao Realm's power against him.

However, defeating such a formidable opponent using external means would diminish his own pride as a prodigy, which was not ideal.

As Li Pin pondered, he turned to look at Ai Sa. Coincidentally, Ai Sa was also looking back at him. At that moment, both seemed to understand the meaning in each other's eyes.

"Go back, train well. When you've achieved success in your cultivation, or at least have improved your control over your power, let's fight again?"

"It is you who should go back and train properly! How do you have the audacity to fight against me with such weak energy intensity!?" roared Ai S, pursing his lips. " I'm tired today and will make a move first. You may look for me when you're able to increase your energy intensity. Your current energy intensity isn't enough for me to even get warmed up."

"Okay." Li Pin nodded. "Go back and cultivate well. Don't disappoint me."

"Hmph!"

Ai Sa snorted coldly, turned around, and headed toward his warship.

At that moment, all the affiliated forces who had witnessed his divine might cheered enthusiastically. However, these cheers didn't transmit across the endless vacuum.

Li Pin also withdrew his gaze from Ai Sa, turned around, and returned to the flight vessel piloted by Xuan Jian nearby.

Xuan Jian cupped his hands and greeted Li Pin with respect in his eyes. "Pioneer Li."

Having personally witnessed Li Pin slay the three Eternal Solar Flare Astral God's avatars, Xuan Jian no longer had any doubts about whether Li Pin could achieve Eternal Solar Flare. That was a given. The goal Li Pin was pursuing wasn't the Eternal Solar Flare, but Cosmic Radiance.

Li Pin nodded at Xuan Jian and boarded the flight vessel.

Then, as Xuan Jian started the flight vessel, Li Pin seemed to recall something and suddenly asked, "What is the Burnout State?"

Xuan Jian appeared to have anticipated Li Pin's question and immediately explained, "There are several major differences between Starshine and Solar Flare. The first aspect is that Starshine continuously adapts and enhances energy intensity, while Solar Flare focuses on energy levels.

"The second aspect is that Starshine seeks to perfectly control their power, while Solar Flare, after achieving perfect control and attaining a state of inner spirit clear as a mirror, delved into the changes of the inner spirit.

"When they inscribe a secret art upon their inner spirit, their avatars manifested with the changes of this art could burn all the gathered power of the Astral Gods in an instant, thus entering the so-called Burnout State."

"Only those who have mastered inner spirit secret arts can enter the Burnout State?" asked Li Pin.

"Yes." Xuan Jian nodded. "Moreover, to enter the Burnout State, the avatar must consume a significant amount of inner spirit power. If the avatar is damaged, the main body will also be affected. The most crucial part is... any Astral God's avatar that enters the Burnout State will have an exceptionally clear link to its main body at that moment.

"In other words, when an Astral God combusts themselves, their main body will be exposed. Some powerful figures who have mastered origin-tracing secret arts can even directly attack the main body across space through one's avatar that is in the Burnout State, causing serious damage or even death."

Li Pin listened and nodded.

He had gained an understanding of the Burnout State. However, something didn't quite make sense to him, and he asked, "Isn't the condensation of a True Spirit supposed to require a pure and flawless inner spirit? Why would someone choose to inscribe a secret art upon their inner spirit?"

"Because condensing a True Spirit is too difficult," Xuan Jian answered truthfully.

He looked at Li Pin and said, "The transition from Eternal Solar Flare to Cosmic Radiance, though part of the three cultivation stages within the Astral Worlds, was a metamorphosis from cosmic life to eternal life. The difficulty of this advancement surpassed that of a Tier Six Legend or Divine Being transitioning to an Astral God.

"Countless Eternal Solar Flare had been stuck at the threshold of Cosmic Radiance, unable to progress. In the end, they had no choice but to take an alternative path through cultivating secret arts."

He explained, "Engraving a secret art onto the inner spirit would indeed compromise its purity. However, it's not possible to build something new without destruction!

"Only when the inner spirit was completely reduced to nourishment for the secret art, would there be a chance. In that final moment, when the art was pushed beyond an extreme, beyond what the inner spirit can endure, then there'd be a small chance... that the power of the inner spirit would be reborn from destruction, emerging as a newly purified consciousness. Then, by refining this consciousness, one can transition into the True Spirit Realm in a single leap."

"Destroying to construct?" Li Pin understood this concept. "Is this an attempt to generate yang from the extreme of yin? And yin from the extreme of yang?"

Hearing Li Pin's remark, Xuan Jian immediately nodded. "Exactly."

"It's not easy, is it?" Li Pin asked.

Xuan Jian answered, "It's very, very difficult."

He recalled something and continued, "However, compared to the pure refinement of the inner spirit to True Spirit, this method increased the probability of ascending to Cosmic Radiance by more than tenfold."

He sighed. "In this era, the rapid increase in the number of Cosmic Radiance cultivators is partly because they are largely unaffected by the power of Eternal Oblivion as long as they do not engage in combat with experts of the same level. Another key factor is the existence of this method, which had reduced the difficulty for Eternal Solar Flare to ascend to Cosmic Radiance."

"Would this be considered a form of progress in this era?" Li Pin commented.

"It is indeed." Xuan Jian nodded. "Just like the emergence of the Divine Realm, which gave Demigods hope of becoming Astral Gods."

"Destroying to construct is not an easy task, is it?" Li Pin asked.

"It is indeed not easy. Theoretically, it is a life-or-death gamble. Failure means definite death," said Xuan Jian.

He continued, "However, the reason this method had become widely practiced in recent times is closely related to the special treasures nurtured in the depths of the Astral World. Some of these treasures can greatly enhance inner spirit resilience, preventing the inner spirit from collapsing too easily.

"There are also some that can strengthen and stabilize one's spirituality, allowing cultivators who failed to transform their inner spirit to retain a sliver of consciousness and reincarnate for another attempt at cultivation."

Pausing briefly, he added, "However, these treasures are extremely rare and precious, usually found only in the core regions of the Astral World... places where only Cosmic Radiance cultivators can freely roam..."

Li Pin nodded and did not continue asking further.

At this moment, Xuan Jian probed, "For billions of stellar years, our Xuan Family has accumulated a vast collection of books and records, detailing countless cultivation secrets and resources from across the boundless planets. If you have any need for them, you are most welcome to visit our family, Pioneer Li. All of our records will be freely accessible to you."

Li Pin glanced at Xuan Jian and quickly understood his intention. This was an attempt by the Xuan Family to recruit him.

However, he knew that mere records would not be enough to truly bring him into the Xuan Family's faction. But if he did browse through their vast collection, he would inevitably owe them a favor. In a way, that would tie him to the Xuan Family's cause.

"There's no need for that," replied Li Pin. "The evaluation for the Eternal Ascent of Humanity is about to begin. Once completed, my personal clearance will be raised to Level 40. By then, I should be able to access all the information I need."

Xuan Jian's pupils dilated. "Level 40!?"

Level 40 clearance was the standard for Eternal Solar Flare! In the current world, those who had obtained Level 40 clearance before becoming Astral Gods had, without exception, made immense contributions to the Human Race. For example, developing a drug that could temporarily enhance inner spirit resilience, inventing a production line for standardized divine equipment with greater prowess, or researching methods to counter powerful alien races.

Each of them had a distinguished standing among humanity.

Li Pin and his team had just entered the Eternal Ascent of Humanity initiative and were already receiving such privileges. This fully demonstrated the high profile of the Eternal Ascent of Humanity Initiative and the immense potential of those who were part of it.

Li Pin extended his hand, and dozens of divine equipment floated around him.

"I have gained quite a lot of spoils from this battle," said Li Pin.

Eternal Solar Flares' combat-specialized avatars were far wealthier than those of ordinary Astral Gods. Most Astral Gods' combat-specialized avatars would already be considered luxurious if they possessed three to five pieces of divine weapons. However, none of the combat-specialized avatars of Eternal Solar Flare had less than ten divine weapons on them.

This was especially true for Shang Jinzhao. Li Pin had found forty divine weapons on him alone. Among them, thirty-three divine pieces were part of a complete set. He planned to keep this particular set, but the remaining pieces could be sold in exchange for cultivation resources.

"I need you to help me make a trip to the Divine Treasury Hall and exchange these pieces for some resources." Li Pin smiled. "Since I intend to compete for the position of Astral God Yin Luo's successor, I must produce some results. Even if I have to throw resources at it, I need to ensure my success."

Xuan Jian took a deep breath, clasped his hands solemnly, and said, "I will not let you down!"