Planet Pulverizer: A Mortal's Ascent-Chapter 436: Sword Nurturing

Li Pin wasn't surprised. "Great Shang...."

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The Great Shang proclaimed itself the strongest country in the current era. They naturally couldn't sit idly by after missing two recent pivotal moments.

As the strongest of the Six Extremities, knowing their place wasn't an idea they were familiar with. Stirring up trouble from behind the scenes and pushing the Solar Radiance Gate and the Celestial Martial God Hall into conflict perfectly aligned with their interests.

It was just that their methods were a bit crude, bordering on contemptible. But it probably didn't matter to them so as long it achieved the desired goal.

Li Pin said, "I'll verify whether the Great Shang is truly the faction that persuaded you. But since you've already come to challenge the Celestial Martial God Hall and are prepared to meet your end, let's not waste this opportunity. Let's make the most of it."

Long Xiang grew fearful and quickly said, "Hall Master Li, I'm here merely to discuss the trade of Skill Crystals for the future development of the Gaia people. I mean no harm."

"Oh, I mean no harm either. I just hope that you can take Gaians' stand and make a contribution," Li Pin said.

He subdued Long Xiang and took him straight toward the Great Moon Imperial Tomb.

By now, the area around the Great Moon Imperial Tomb had been entirely cleared of demonic creatures.

One of the top nine Top-Tier Martial Gods, Lin Xinchen, was stationed here. Joining him were Master Astral Cultivator Lin Baizhan and Ling Qingfeng, a Legend from Tianyuan.

The primary reason for such a powerful lineup was the alternate dimension located within the Great Moon Imperial Tomb.

When Li Pin brought Long Xiang to the mountain at the center of this alternate dimension, Lin Xingchen, Lin Baizhan, and Ling Qingfeng all came out to greet him.

"Hall master."

"Martial God Li."

Li Pin nodded slightly and directly addressed Ling Qingfeng, "For the time being, have him block the rift and purify the dark magic with astral energy."

It'd be a waste to kill someone in the Heavenly Realm.

Ling Qingfeng glanced at Long Xiang, looking a little surprised and puzzled.

Long Xiang's countenance turned pale. "Dark magic!?"

However, he didn't dare to put up any resistance before Li Pin. If he did, he had no doubt that Li Pin would kill him without hesitation.

Great Shang wasn't actually the true instigator, but Long Xiang had painted them as the culprits as a calculated gamble, an attempt to kill two birds with one stone. If the gamble paid off, his master's rise to the pinnacle of Gaia would face no further opposition from any other factions.

***

Li Pin personally escorted Long Xiang along with Ling Qingfeng to the central area of the mountain where dark magic surged. After assigning Ling Qingfeng to personally oversee the site, Li Pin left the core region.

In the outer area, Lin Bai Zhan and Lin Xing Chen waited respectfully.

Li Pin asked, "Have any aliens been arriving recently?"

Lin Baizhan replied, "Ever since someone arrived three months ago and clashed with us, no one has come again."

Li Pin nodded.

He had always known that the ones on the other side of this alternate dimension who proclaimed to be from the Holy Dragon Clan weren't to be trifled with.

A few months ago, they behaved relatively amicably when they couldn't linger in this dimensional space for long. However, six months ago, they began making additional demands. Three months ago, the two sides even came to blows.

However, Li Pin, who was well-prepared, convinced Yuan Zhenchuan, and they sent Ling Qingfeng to assist the Celestial Martial God Hall in guarding this alternate dimension.

The top-notch Tier Two Holy Dragon Clan members believed they were invincible against Gaia's Legends. However, as Gaia had experienced what could be called a "version update," the result was easily predictable.

With Ling Qingfeng, who had mastered multiple Heavenly Realm Astral Techniques, it wouldn't take much effort to slay a member of the Holy Dragon Clan member strong enough to hunt Legendary demonic creatures.

"Don't let your guard down," Li Pin instructed.

After this brief reminder, Li Pin quickly left.

However, after leaving the alternate dimension, Li Pin did not immediately head to the Great Shang. He pondered for a moment before activating the Void Ring. With the mystical power of the Divine Ring, he instantly appeared outside the Empire.

"I can feel that I'm on the right path, but... I'm still missing one crucial module. Once it's completed, I will have the true power to destroy a Starlight Body."

In the current era, if anyone had the greatest certainty to destroy a Heavenly realm Starlight Body in a single strike... it would be the Royal Empire's Supreme Ge Lin who mastered the Sword Nurturing Technique.

***

In a serene and picturesque manor on the outskirts of the imperial capital, Ge Lin was somewhat surprised after hearing the report from his attendant. "Li Pin?"

He felt that he and Li Pin didn't share much of a connection, so why would this Supreme figure of the Celestial Martial God Hall suddenly visit him?

However, as one of the top-notch experts amongst the Gaians, Li Pin's visit was not something he could reasonably refuse.

He nodded immediately. "Escort him to the Tranquility Room and serve the finest Serenity Incense and Enlightenment Tea."

The attendant bowed respectfully and quickly took his leave.

Ge Lin changed his attire and went to the Tranquility Room.

Li Pin was already waiting there when he arrived.

"Sorry to intrude," Li Pin said.

Ge Lin replied, "I am very surprised by your visit, Hall Master Li."

Seeing that Ge Lin wasn't the type to beat around the bush, Li Pin decided to be blunt. "I've come to seek advice from you, Your Excellency Ge Lin. I've heard that the Sword Nurturing Technique can destroy Heavenly Realm Starlight Bodies. How is it accomplished?"

When Ge Lin heard Li Pin's words, he fell silent. He only spoke again after a while. "This is the Sword Nurturing Techniques' core secret, yet you're asking me that?"

"Your Excellency, I wonder if you have any conditions. If it's within my ability, I'll do my best to fulfill them."

Ge Lin looked calmly at Li Pin. "Conditions...."

Li Pin also maintained a calm expression and met his gaze without flinching,

The reason he sought the Sword Nurturing Technique and its secret to defeating Starlight Bodies was primarily to address the impending crisis of Gaians entering the second stage of contact with other species.

Li Pin believed that there were certainly numerous Heavenly Realm figures among other powerful races. If defeating each one required significant time and effort, the side with a numerical advantage would hold too much power.

Gaia needed a way to neutralize this advantage and create a strong deterrent. Only when Heavenly realm beings realized they were no longer invincible would they truly feel fear—fear the Gaia civilization.

Ge Lin stared at Li Pin for a long time before finally saying lightly, "Since you've asked, I'll teach you."

Li Pin met Ge Lin's gaze and quickly understood the true meaning behind his words. He immediately smiled and then nodded. "Thank you."

"Do you have Skill Crystals?" Ge Lin asked.

He knew that Skill Crystals likely didn't hold as much weight to the Celestial Martial God Hall as he had imagined. Besides, he felt his Sword Nurturing Technique was worth a Skill Crystal.

Li Pin did not hesitate and promptly took out a Skill Crystal he carried on him.

Ge Lin accepted it, his mental spirit waves fluctuated intensely. He quickly imprinted the complete Sword Nurturing Technique onto the Skill Crystal.

Soon, he handed the Skill Crystal back to Li Pin, slightly fatigued. "Look through it first, and ask me about the additional aspects afterward."

Li Pin nodded.

He quietly comprehended the Sword Nurturing Technique that Ge Lin had perfected.

However, as he fully understood the true nature of the technique, he couldn't help but feel some regret.

Ge Lin's approach was different from his own.

Ge Lin's Sword Nurturing Technique, rather than being purely a sword technique, was more of a mental spirit secret art. A Starlight Body reconstructed its body through a life imprint and was nearly indestructible as long as astral energy remains present. However, cultivators had to undergo the process of activating their life imprint.

The Sword Nurturing Technique didn't only destroy the physical body and annihilate energy, it also obliterated the mental spirit. If a cultivator's mental spirit were to be erased while they were in their starlight forms, they would naturally lose the ability to reconstruct their body through their life imprint.

Compared to his approach, this sword technique leaned more toward the collective will of the Divine Kingdom lineage. It accumulated vast amounts of mental spirit power, unleashing unimaginable might. Examples included abilities like the Divine Kingdom's teleportation.

However, Ge Lin's method of accumulating mental spirit power was through the Sword Nurturing Technique. It nurtured the blade over a long period to build an immense reservoir of mental spirit power. This culminated in a single strike that severed matter, energy, and mental spirit alike.

After thoroughly understanding the sword technique, Li Pin pondered briefly before taking out a small booklet. "This is a combat technique I've developed over the past year. It's called the Atomic Disintegration Technique. Your Excellency Ge Lin, perhaps it may aid you in further perfecting your Sword Nurturing Technique."

Even though the Sword Nurturing Technique didn't offer him much assistance, it didn't mean he could take it without offering something in return.

Ge Lin hadn't even demanded anything in exchange when he asked for the technique.

"The Atomic Disintegration Technique?" repeated Ge Lin.

He quickly thought of something and carefully examined the booklet.

As a Supreme of his era, he lacked neither talent nor intellect. As he studied the Atomic Disintegration Technique, he quickly understood why Li Pin had come specifically to seek his advice on the Sword Nurturing Technique.

However, he did not rush to respond. Instead, he patiently flipped through the booklet and carefully grasped its concepts.

After a long time, he said, "I understand now."

He went on to look at Li Pin. "Can you do it?"

"I did it, but not fully." Li Pin said, "I can disrupt the stability of Astral Techniques and hinder their casting, but I cannot destroy a Starlight Body."

Li Pin paused for a moment, thinking. He then explained, "I originally thought atoms was the foundation of astral energy, and that destroying atoms would mean destroying astral energy. But now it seems I oversimplified things. I'm not an actual Astral Cultivator, so I don't understand the exact nature of astral energy or Starlight Bodies...."

"No! Your approach isn't wrong!" Ge Lin suddenly exclaimed. "Your problem is that you haven't destroyed enough."

Li Pin looked up. "Hmm!?"

Ge Lin declared firmly, "I've studied astral energy and Starlight Bodies more than once. Perhaps the essence of such power is more refined and mysterious than atomic energy. But for us Heavenly or Legendary Astral Cultivators, atoms are the foundation of astral energy!

"There are three ways to destroy a Starlight Body. I chose the third—obliteration of the mental spirit! Most people can only choose the second option—to deplete their energy! And what you're doing now is the first... crushing atoms!"

"Crushing atoms?" Li Pin quickly made a connection. "The purpose of crushing atoms isn't to destroy astral energy itself but to... eliminate the medium it relies on in this world!? Without a medium, astral energy would naturally cease to exist!?"

"That's right." Ge Lin nodded firmly. "As long as you can disintegrate the atoms in an area entirely and swiftly, the Starlight Body will collapse instantly."