Planet Pulverizer: A Mortal's Ascent

Chapter 99: Destroy

Chilong!

The moment Qiu Chuyun faced the impact of Lin Pin's Fist Intent, he realized how fearsome Li Pin really was. Likewise, he came to understand that Li Pin really had what it took to kill Sect Leader Qiu Chufeng.

Qiu Chufeng might be a Martial Saint, but he couldn't escape old age.

Over the past half month, the investigation team had worn him out, leaving his mental state in poor condition. The combat power he could exert was only at the level of an ordinary Internal Aura Grandmaster at best.

If Li Pin further enhanced the prowess he displayed at this moment through the use of external aids, such as the Blood-Seething Powder, his strength could truly reach an adequate enough realm to contend against Qiu Chufeng in a life-and-death battle. The outcome of such a battle would be uncertain.

Qiu Chuyun didn't understand how Li Pin's combat power hadn't diminished much after his battle with the Sect Master. However, he knew that he was in a very dangerous situation. He knew that this fight with Li Pin would be even more perilous than his encounter with that ferocious Blood Python in Snake Valley three years ago!

Amidst such a life-and-death crisis, he was forced to push his qi and blood to their absolute peak. He even resorted to activating a secret art despite knowing it would damage his primordial qi for the next one or two months. He was faced with no choice. He had to withstand Li Pin's strike at all costs!

"Aargh!" Qiu Chuyun let out a savage howl.

His qi and blood started to boil and burn in an unnatural way.

Despite being struck and having his arm broken, he seemed unfazed, growing more ferocious with each clash.

With his qi and blood erupting, he took Li Pin's strike of the Eight Enormities True Fire Chilong head-on. Their fists collided, punch for punch, force for force, as he desperately tried to block Li Pin's relentless attacks.

Li Pin quickly discerned the core issue. "He's using a secret art?"

Unfortunately for Qiu Chuyun, his secret art fell short of Li Pin's own Blood-Seething Secret Art. The technique Qiu Chuyun used only boosted his power by twenty percent. Furthermore, it significantly impaired his control over his strength.

This level of control... Li Pin thought.

Li Pin took a deep breath. As the energy surged through his nerves like electric currents, he was pushed to his limits once more.

Undergoing nine variations in one strike, the storm-like strike of the Eight Enormities True Fire Force, Xiangliu, turned his fist into a whirlwind and completely engulfed Qiu Chuyun.

Before Qiu Chuyun could recover from the overwhelming pressure of nine successive strikes, a Double-Layered Force hidden within one of the blows exploded violently within him.

The damage the hidden force inflicted wasn't considered anything severe. The crucial point lay in its timing. It had ruptured a crucial point in Qiu Chuyun's qi and blood flow.

Instantly, Qiu Chuyun's surging qi and blood became akin to a burst balloon, scattering everywhere.

Qiu Chuyun was struck with horror. "No!"

Before he could regain control over his tumultuous qi and blood, Li Pin's punch thundered down, its force accompanied by the roar of the sound barrier being broken, striking right before Qiu Chuyun's eyes.

An unprecedented sense of mortal danger stimulated every cell in Qiu Chuyun's body, forcing him to urgently cry out, "Stop!"

Bang!

Without pausing, Li Pin's lightning-fast strike unleashed its force, shattering Qiu Chuyun's outstretched left hand.

The pure power and savage nature of the Aura Force shattered his ulna and even pulverized it! The unabated force then hammered into his chest, penetrating his bones, shattering his organs, and sending him flying backward. Blood sprayed everywhere.

However... this wasn't the end!

"During a moment of life and death, one must seize the slightest opportunity to counterattack, not just yell 'stop'...."

Having struck Qiu Chuyun down with a single punch, Li Pin stepped forward and raised his right foot, aiming for Qiu Chuyun's head. Li Pin smashed down with all his might. "Die!"

***

"No! The Vice Sect Master is in danger!"

"Stop!"

"We surrender!"

The disciples of the Solar Vermillion Sect who had followed Qiu Chuyun to the Five Elements Sect shouted in unison.

Experts like Jiang Zhenhai were a half-beat too slow to react. However, Chang Yuanshan, having closely been observing the battle, erupted his Blood Core without hesitation and lunged forward to intervene.

When Li Pin suppressed Qiu Chuyun with his Fist Intent, he had already anticipated that the situation might not unfold as the Solar Vermillion Sect's disciples had expected and that they would react, so he deliberately moved a little closer.

Seeing his master on the verge of death, Chang Yuanshan, the Aura Force martial artist, couldn't maintain his composure any longer.

Having coiled himself for the attack, he unleashed his form like a celestial fire serpent, weaving a complex pattern with his body as he layered and amplified his force with each movement. His punch struck with the force of a muffled thunderclap, sending ripples through the air.

Aura Force!

He unleashed his most powerful Aura Force Strike!

If Li Pin was obstinate in following through with his attack to kill Qiu Chuyun, this strike would surely hit him.

In the end, all martial artists were mortal. Even a formidable grandmaster could be killed in their sleep with a kitchen knife.

Confronted with Aura Force more potent than any sword or knife, if Li Pin dared to resist with his own flesh and blood, best case scenario he would be grievously injured.

A single misstep and he could even be struck down by the sheer might of the Aura Force.

"How dare you!"

Seeing Chang Yuanshan daring to disrupt the arena battle on the Five Elements Sect's turf, Cao Tianyou thundered with anger and abruptly stood up.

However, before he could make any move, Li Pin laughed heartily. "Excellent!"

In the blink of an eye, he pivoted around and thrust his right hand at an astonishing angle, his qi and blood surging. Li Pin's power burst forth as he met Chang Yuanshan's charging assault head-on.

Boom!

Aura Force erupted!

In the hurried exchange, Li Pin did not gain any advantage from Chang Yuanshan's attack. However, it was merely this one exchange that didn't go in his favor.

After that, he completely ignored Qiu Chuyun, whose arms were nearly incapacitated. Li Pin's aura surged like a fierce tiger pouncing and he ruthlessly shifted his attack to Chang Yuanshan.

"Stepping onto the stage means you put your life on the line!" bellowed Li Pin, letting out a hearty laugh.

His edge sharpened by countless battles, Li Pin's Fist Intent surged out like a wave. Those who had never faced Li Pin's fist force directly could never imagine the immense pressure they had to endure.

Chang Yuanshan felt his mind pounding, and even his heartbeat slowed down. "How could this be..."

***

Cao Tianyou came to a halt. He seemed to have noticed something. "Grandmaster Li... is gathering his strength!"

He's accumulating immense strength through the enjoyment of battle, aiming for a moment in the future when he can muster all his strength and willpower to ascend to the realm of Martial Saint!

Typically, such considerations were reserved for grandmasters approaching perfection in their Internal Aura realm. Yet surprisingly, Li Pin had already been preparing at his current level.

Cao Tianyou felt his heart pounding. "Martial Saint! Martial Saint! His ultimate aim has always been to become a true Martial Saint!"

He knew that Li Pin's future was limitless, believing he could potentially reach the level of a Martial Saint, but... that was merely an optimistic hope.

Yet at this very moment, he had never been more certain that Li Pin would one day stand at the pinnacle of martial arts and ascend to the realm of Martial Saint.

That belief steeled even more especially as he looked at the messed-up Qiu Chuyun, the seasoned Aura Cultivation Grandmaster, lying on the arena floor with his arms shattered and his fighting ability lost, groaning in pain.

Cao Tianyou took a deep breath. "He's too strong!"

First, he killed Qiu Chufeng, and then he defeated Qiu Chuyun....

"I have a feeling I'm witnessing a legend! Witnessing the rise of a legendary Martial Saint!"

***

On Solar Vermillion Sect's side, the other Core Formation and Aura Force experts reacted swiftly.

Seeing Qiu Chuyun lying on the arena floor, they quickly urged Jiang Zhenhai, "Quick, senior martial brother! Rescue the Vice Sect Master and take him to the martial society! With the help of the astral equipment, there's a chance we can heal him! As long as we still have a grandmaster, the Solar Vermillion Sect can rise again!"

Watching as Chang Yuanshan struggled to keep up with Li Pin in their fierce fight, Jiang Zhenhai's eyes filled with fear and conflict.

Li Pin's words echoed in his ears. Stepping onto the stage means you put your life on the line....

If he stepped into the arena, it would mean he had to face Li Pin. He would have to face the man who had killed Grandmaster Zhou Chaoguang, the man who had decisively defeated their Vice Sect Master before their very eyes. He would also have to face the man who had supposedly murdered their Sect Master.

He could avoid the martial competition by simply surrendering. But if he stepped onto the stage, it would be as if he had taken the initiative to fight, leaving him with no way to evade or hide! How could he possibly contend with someone who could defeat even a grandmaster?

With these thoughts racing through his mind, he stood frozen in place, trembling slightly. Jiang Zhenhai's face alternated between pale and flushed, too afraid to make a move.

"Martial brother!?"

"Senior Martial Brother!?"

Their startled screams echoed in his ears.

In the next moment, another deafening boom shattered the air once again.

Bang!

This was a direct confrontation between two Aura Forces.

As expected, Chang Yuanshan lost in their confrontation. He was violently sent flying backward, blood dripping from his right hand, where several fingers were undoubtedly broken.

As Chang Yuanshan was propelled backward, Li Pin strode forward, swiftly closing the distance.

"Save him!"

"Li Pin... are you aiming to wipe out the Solar Vermillion Sect!? Let's take the Sect Master along and fight our way out!"

"This is the greatest crisis the Solar Vermillion Sect has ever faced! The Sect Master's fate is unknown, and the Vice Sect Master is in critical condition. If Martial Brother Chang were to fall too, the Solar Vermillion Sect would cease to exist!

"For so many years, the Solar Vermillion Sect has been our second home. Our relatives and friends have managed to become wealthy all thanks to the property under the Solar Vermillion Sect. Today, it is time for us to fight for our home!

"Brothers and Sisters of the Five Elements Sect, the Solar Vermillion Sect harbors no ill will towards you! Today, we are only seeking to protect ourselves!

"Once this ordeal passes, the Solar Vermillion Sect will extend a generous apology to all of you from the Five Elements Sect! However, if you stand in our way, we will fight with our lives on the line without hesitation! It is up to you to choose whether to live or to die!"

Of the slightly over sixty people from the Solar Vermillion Sect, nearly half abruptly stood up, lurching together toward the center of the arena.

Strength lies in numbers. The saying 'two fists can't fight four hands' was no mere saying. In a relatively confined space without enough room to maneuver, three or five Grandmasters could easily overpower an Aura Force practitioner.

The Solar Vermillion Sect couldn't gather three to five grandmasters, but they had dozens of Covert Force and Transformative Force martial artists. With this strength, besieging an Aura Force practitioner was not out of the question.

Among the group of elites the Solar Vermillion Sect brought from the capital city, other than the Martial Saint Qiu Chufeng, there was an Aura Cultivation Grandmaster, an Aura Force expert, and six Core Formation experts.

More than half of these Core Formation experts had been lost at the hands of Li Pin.

Meanwhile, someone still needed to remain at the Solar Vermillion Sect headquarters. With that, only Jiang Zhenhai and Qiu Changfeng were left here.

Qiu Changfeng was inferior to Jiang Zhenhai in terms of strength. However, seeing that Jiang Zhenhai was intimidated by Li Pin's strength and immobilized, Qiu Changfeng stepped forward to rally all the disciples to take action.

For a moment, the entire place went into chaos.