Planet Pulverizer: A Mortal's Ascent-Chapter 285: Dao Conflicts

"What's going on?!"

On the warship, Fu Qingtian, still watching the broadcast, heard Li Pin's comments and couldn't hold back his scolding. "How could Li Pin say something so outrageous during a global broadcast?"

He immediately turned to Mo Wangqing and ordered, "The King of the Century Competition is over. Cut the broadcast!"

"Yes," Mo Wangqing responded promptly and went to carry out the order.

Yuan Zhenchuan shook his head in disbelief. "This kid.... His talent is undeniable, but so is his arrogance and recklessness."

Arrogant and reckless....

This assessment made Fu Qingtian frown.

The joy he initially felt from Li Pin winning the King of the Century title and securing the position of supreme commander had largely faded.

Fu Qingtian sighed. "Li Pin is truly impulsive. His talent may be exceptional, but he does not exhibit Wang Liancheng's maturity and composure in his actions."

"A Martial God, breaking through the sky with a sword and subduing mountains and rivers with his fist? Making such bold claims in a globally televised event about something he hasn't even achieved yet is too ambitious.

"If Martial Gods fail to reach such a level in the future, then countless martial artists will have gone down this path for nothing, squandering their youth in the future. How many lives will this ruin?!"

This was like a newly established company using a world-class program to advertise, claiming it would become the number one in the world and inviting talents to join.

It wasn't just painting a pretty picture; it was fraud!

Yuan Zhenchuan nodded in agreement. "Indeed, that little fellow Liancheng is far more prudent in his approach,"

Li Pin... was too impulsive.

Yan Zhenchuan glanced at Fu Qingtian."Contact Wang Liancheng and have Li Pin wait for us at the port. Don't let him speak recklessly anymore. We can cut off the live broadcast signal and correct the media's narrative, but other factions... if they were to exploit a world-class broadcast and push him into making inappropriate statements... it could cause significant damage."

Fu Qingtian nodded and quickly got in touch with Wang Liancheng again.

***

Upon receiving the message, Wang Liancheng was slightly taken aback.

Despite feeling a sense of "kings should not meet," he could only follow Fu Qingtian's instructions.[1]

Seeing Li Pin about to leave, he quickly called out, "Lord Li Pin, please wait."

Li Pin paused and looked over at the man known as the "legend."

Long before he began exploring the martial world, Wang Liancheng's name was already well-known. He was the martial artist who had had a qi and blood level of forty-nine when he was only at the initial stage of the Core Formation realm, rivaling that of Martial Saints.

After demonstrating such exceptional talent, he was abruptly prioritized training by the upper echelons of Tianyuan, receiving direct guidance from Fu Qingtian himself.

To ensure Wang Liancheng's smooth participation in the King of the Century Competition, the Tianyuan higher-ups had pushed Li Pin forward into the limelight, seemingly to draw fire away from Wang Liancheng.

As it stood, Wang Liangcheng had lived up to the careful nurturing he received from Fu Qingtian and Tianyuan's higher-ups. If Li Pin hadn't been a variable in this year's competition, and no other factors jumped into the picture, Wang Liangcheng would've most probably stood out as the best competitor and taken the title himself.

Wang Liancheng said, "Lord Li Pin, our victory in this King of the Century Competition is largely thanks to you. Our renowned Master and Legendary Astral Cultivators, including His Excellency Lord Fu Qingtian, are already on their way by boat. They intend to personally welcome you back to Tianyuan. Please wait a moment."

"No need for that," Li Pin replied calmly. "I came to participate in the King of the Century Competition merely to give myself a sense of closure, to prove something for the martial world. There's no need to trouble the Master and Legendary Astral Cultivators to welcome me personally. Lord Fu Qingtian needn't trouble himself."

He chuckled lightly. "I'm unworthy of such honor."

With that, he cupped his hands and prepared to leap off the several dozen-meter-high cliff.

"Wait a moment..." Wang Liancheng hurriedly called out. Looking at Li Pin, he quickly added, "Lord Fu Qingtian has something he wishes to say to you."

Fu Qingtian?

Li Pin didn't think there was much to discuss with Fu Qingtian. However, considering his immense contributions over the years in guarding Tianyuan and humanity... Li Pin felt that it was only proper to show him respect.

Li Pin calmly turned his gaze back to Wang Liancheng.

Moments later, a holographic image was projected from Wang Liancheng's device. Though merely a projection, the moment Fu Qingtian appeared, starlight seemed to scatter and converge around him.

This was the aura belonging to a Legend! And one of the strongest Legends to boot! Even the mere projection of his will was accompanied by starlight.

Moreover, as his gaze swept over Li Pin, the latter felt an almost tangible presence weigh on him. It was as intense as that of Xiang Tianxing's presence in person.

As Fu Qingtian's figure appeared, all the Martial Saints on the cliff bowed respectfully. "All hail the Supreme"

Wang Liancheng, Ye Chengyuan, Xi Mi, and others were among them. They too showcased the respect they had for Fu Qingtian, this Supreme Expert from their time.

Fu Qingtian ignored the Martial Saints and directed his gaze straight at Li Pin.

—It's not easy to meet you.

"You flatter me, Lord Fu," Li Pin responded respectfully, acknowledging Fu Qingtian.

However, Li Pin's eyes didn't carry the fear of a subordinate facing his superior. "May I ask what orders you have for me?"

—It seems you harbor some dissatisfaction toward me.

Fu Qingtian continued.

—But I don't quite understand. Have I not offered you guidance in your training? Did I not invite you to the special training base for focused cultivation? I believe I've done what I could. You simply chose not to accept my goodwill. So, I'm unclear about the source of your dissatisfaction.

"It's irrelevant whether I'm satisfied or not. The outcome is what matters, isn't it? With my Martial God physique, I've earned the title of King of the Century. At the same time, I can congratulate you on becoming the supreme commander. That's enough for me."

Li Pin didn't engage in a verbal argument with Fu Qingtian, yet his attitude... already spoke volumes.

Fu Qingtian sighed.

—For this, I should thank you. I heard your explanation of the Martial God's path. Once the Lifeform Force Field is condensed, the success rate for transitioning to an Astral Cultivator should significantly increase, right? That's excellent! If you're willing, we can go directly to Tianyuan's capital.

—Once you transition to an Astral Cultivator, I will provide all the resources you need for your training as a High-Class, Top-Tier, and Master Astral Cultivator. Additionally, I will spare no effort to help you achieve Legendary status!

He paused slightly.

—I am confident that within eight years, I can help you reach the level of a Legendary Astral Cultivator!

"I appreciate your goodwill, Lord Fu, but I have no intention of transitioning to an Astral Cultivator," Li Pin responded with a smile. "I believe the martial path is not inferior to the Astral Cultivation system. In fact, I think it's a better fit for us humans. As I continue to explore and innovate along this path, I believe that one day, martial arts can reach a level comparable to Legends."

Fu Qingtian frowned at these words.

—It seems you've been greatly influenced by Xiang Tianxing and the others, harboring a bias against the Astral Cultivation path.

"It's simply a matter of choosing different paths at different times," Li Pin said calmly. "I understand the Legends' reasoning, but I believe we should forge our own path instead of relying on intangible things like luck and talent. This way, even if one day no more talented individuals are born, humanity will still have the strength to resist the ferocious beasts and demonic creatures."

—Is it because you feel troubled by your lack of talent? But you've already become a Martial God. Wouldn't it be easy for you to transition to an Astral Cultivator? Isn't this our path to evolution?

—Moreover, I have already understood the Lifeform Force Field you spoke of in the Martial God's path. Once condensed, the chance of transitioning to an Astral Cultivator will greatly increase. No longer will one need to risk their life to elevate themselves. Now, everyone has a smooth path to advancement."

"It's not the same," Li Pin replied. "The ultimate direction of the Astral Cultivation path contradicts my personal vision of evolution. Humans should only rely on themselves. Cultivation is a very personal pursuit, and it should not depend on others."

—Wrong.

Fu Qingtian's hologram looked at Li Pin.

—Humanity became Gaia's dominant force because they are adept at utilizing tools and harnessing all available power. We research plants and cultivate them into rice. We domesticate wild beasts and turn them into livestock....

—Moving forward, we observed the atmosphere and water currents to harness natural energy, and we studied the sun to understand nuclear transformation. Aren't all these examples of leveraging external forces?

He emphasized.

—Mountains and rivers, the sun, moon, and stars—all of these follow the same principle. Even the Astral Gods in higher dimensions are no different.

"Then let people choose for themselves," Li Pin said. "Whether to transition to an Astral Cultivator after condensing the Lifeform Force Field or to continue down the path of the Martial God... let them decide."

—If there was still time, that indeed might have been worth attempting and promoting. But... we don't have enough time left.

Fu Qingtian's expression was solemn.

—Martial artists are an essential component of Tianyuan's high-end combat power. Each year, the number of Top-Tier Astral Cultivators produced through the martial arts system accounts for thirty percent of the total new Top-Tier Astral Cultivators.

—If all Martial Saints follow you down this uncertain path of the Martial God, Tianyuan, and even the entire human race, will face a shortage of one-third of its high-end combat power. As humanity prepares to counterattack the ferocious beasts and demonic creatures, we are in desperate need of new blood. Do you understand what that means?

Li Pin silently gazed at Fu Qingtian.

—Tianyuan has no fewer than ten thousand Martial Saints. If they could refine qi into Spirit and meditate on the Astral God, based on their accumulated experience in the Martial Saint phase, they could quickly become Top-Tier Astral Cultivators in as little as one or two years, or at most three to five years.

—This would yield a group of over ten thousand Top-Tier Astral Cultivators! That's a number that far surpasses the current total in all of Tianyuan! Acquiring this power would mean that reclaiming humanity's dominance in Gaia and launching a counteroffensive against perilous regions would only become a matter of time.

—If you lead them down the Martial God path, three to five years later, do you really believe they could reach a level comparable to Top-Tier Astral Cultivators?"

Fu Qingtian spoke emphatically.

—You are just sacrificing all the martial artists in pursuit of your own path! People should not be so selfish!

"Lord Fu, you are not a Martial God," Li Pin smiled slightly. "Why are you so sure that three to five years from now, Martial Gods cannot reach a level comparable to Top-Tier Astral Cultivators?"

Fu Qingtian's expression dimmed with disappointment.

—Li Pin, I know that the success of reaching the Martial God realm has instilled in you unprecedented confidence, leading you to believe that paving a path above the Martial God level to achieve a status comparable to Top-Tier Astral Cultivators is no challenge.

—But you must understand that opening the Martial God path is not solely your achievement; it is built on the foundation laid by countless Martial Saints over decades, even centuries, who sacrificed their blood and lives. You merely took the final step.

He looked at Li Pin with a stern expression.

—Or maybe... you're pushing this martial path so hard because you want to become the Martial Ancestor, the teacher of all martial artists!? When all Martial Saints and Martial Gods become your disciples, and you possess billions of martial artists serving as your students, you will become the leader of the greatest faction in Gaia, an uncrowned king basking in the highest honor?

Li Pin stared at Fu Qingtian, who returned the gaze, his expression just as serious.

Behind them, hundreds of Martial Saints watched in stunned silence, not daring to breathe.

The atmosphere hung heavy, as though frozen in place.

After a long silence, Li Pin suddenly smiled. "Time will prove everything."

With that, he turned around, leaped, and soared like a great roc spreading its wings on the wind, leaping off the cliff.

1. Suggesting it Is unwise for powerful people to come together. ☜

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