Planet Pulverizer: A Mortal's Ascent

Chapter 102: Request

Lian Hongchen was sitting in his car right outside the Solar Vermillion Sect's gate. He watched the steady stream of Five Elements Sect disciples going to and fro. His thoughts were consumed by the news he had just received.

"Li Pin... I thought I had already overestimated him. I never expected him to give me such a huge surprise," Lian Hongchen remarked, his face lighting up with an uncontrollable smile. "This Li Pin..."

The person behind the wheel was Lian Hongchen's nephew, Lian Xiyue.

At just thirty-seven years old, he had already achieved the Aura Force realm and begun tempering his organs.

Despite his formidable cultivation, upon receiving the information over the past hour, he couldn't help but say, "I thought I was already considered a martial arts genius. However, compared to Li Pin... I'm not even close! Even though Qiu Chufeng had grown old and his strength had declined, he had once been a Martial Saint who manifested Spirit Force. To think that Li Pin could kill such a prominent figure dominating the Jiang Province City..."

"The saying 'fists fear the young' is no empty phrase! Unlike Astral Cultivators, martial artists face a stark reality, miss a day of practice, you slow down, miss two, and you lose half your skill. Long-time martial artists are often weighed down by fame and fortune. How much time can they truly dedicate to training each day?[1]

"In contrast, young martial artists are vibrant, passionate, and courageous, like the rising sun that illuminates the world! They dare to fight, to charge, to strive! Comparing the two, the difference becomes obvious," Lian Hongchen remarked sincerely. "In terms of qi, blood, and technique, I may be better than I was five years ago. But if I were to face off against my younger self in a life-or-death battle, the one to fall would undoubtedly be me of now."

"Uncle, you're too humble. Over the years, you have never slacked off with your martial arts practice."

"It's not about slacking off," Lian Hongchen said, waving his hand and reflecting deeply. "The older I get, the clearer one truth becomes to me."

His eyes betrayed a hint of melancholy. "Humans have their limits."

He raised his head, gazing into the profound darkness of the night. "Martial Saints often speak of mastering oneself with limitless willpower. However, the constraints the human body imposes are immovable by individual will."

Lian Xiyue listened, uncertain about how to console him.

"Alright, enough talk. Let's get out of the car," Lian Hongchen said with a smile. "I have a feeling that betting on Li Pin will be the wisest decision of my life."

"Uncle, do you think we can finally take down Lin Yuzhi this time?" Lian Xiyue asked eagerly.

"This will depend on how Lin Yuzhi responds next. But we have a strong relationship with Li Pin. In contrast, Lin Yuzhi has thrown his lot in with Gu Haoran, who's against Li Pin. With this advantage, we can't lose no matter what," Lian Hongchen declared confidently.

Ring, ring!

At this moment, his phone rang.

Lian Hongchen looked down at his phone. Seeing the number, he gave Lian Xiyue a meaningful glance.

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Lian Xiyue quickly got out of the car and began inspecting the surroundings for any signs of surveillance.

After half a minute, he nodded to Lian Hongchen.

Lian Hongchen finally answered the call.

"Old Wang, why are you calling me at this hour? Do you have any updates on Lin Yuzhi?

—He's the man who managed to secure the position of chairman of the Jiang Province Martial Society. It won't be easy to deal with him. Even now, he's still unwilling to personally intervene.

Lian Hongchen frowned. "That's troublesome. With his status, staying idle is never a mistake. Even if there are issues, they're minor and won't affect him."

—I have a plan, but it requires that the martial arts genius cooperate with us. There will also be many unstable variables. The key lies in whether you are confident in that martial arts genius.

"Tell me about it," Lian Hongchen said.

Wang Tianyi briefed the matter over the phone.

After listening, Lian Hongchen pondered for a moment before replying, "I'll ask for his opinion."

—My people will be arriving soon. Give me a definite answer before then.

"Alright," Lian Hongchen responded. He then asked, "Did Lin Yuzhi leave any evidence when he instructed you to carry out your task?"

—Do I need you to remind me about that?

Wang Tianyi retorted before hanging up.

With that, Lian Hongchen didn't waste any time. He got out of the car and headed straight for the Solar Vermillion Sect.

Upon arrival, Cao Tianyou and Jiang Qingyue came out to greet him.

"Chairman Lian," they said.

"Sect Master Cao, you've been incredibly effective. You've already taken down the Solar Vermillion Sect. That's impressive," Lian Hongchen said with a smile.

"Chairman Lian, you're joking. You know well enough how the Solar Vermillion Sect was taken down," Cao Tianyou replied with a bitter smile. He then added with a sigh. "I really feel like we old timers can't keep up with the times. The younger generation... their efficiency is just too high."

Jiang Qingyue nodded in agreement. "When I heard that Qiu Chufeng, the Martial Saint of the Solar Vermillion Sect, personally took action against Li Pin, the only thing that crossed my mind was that it was all over.

"But less than an hour later, while I was still on my way back to Jiang Province City from Zanglong City, Li Pin had not only defeated Qiu Chufeng, the Martial Saint, but also killed Qiu Chuyun, the grandmaster, without even pausing for breath," He chuckled. "Honestly, I thought someone was playing a joke on me."

Lian Hongchen laughed. "Hahaha, if anyone else wants to play that kind of joke on me, I'll prepare some good wine in advance. They can keep it going as long as they want."

Jiang Qingyue and Cao Tianyou nodded with smiles.

Finally, Jiang Qingyue dived into the main topic of concern. "By the way, Chairman Lian, about the aftermath of this matter..."

Sensing what was on Jiang Qingyue's mind, Cao Tianyou smiled and replied, "Don't worry. Qiu Chufeng had been absolutely confident in killing Grandmaster Li and solidifying his false allegations; he didn't even bother to pretend. As soon as he saw Grandmaster Li, Qiu Chufeng attacked him without showing him the investigation order."

Jiang Qingyue was startled. "He didn't show the investigation order?"

"Yes, as everyone knows, many cameras can only record video and not audio. The cameras in Grandmaster Li's house are no exception...."

"But they could also malfunction," Lian Hongchen added with a smile.

Smiling, Cao Tianyou said, "Yes. In short, from the video, it's clear that Qiu Chufeng and his group broke into Grandmaster Li's courtyard with hostile intentions. You should all know very well how the law handles such cases, right?"

"Of course. With the right to unlimited retaliation, there's only one option when dealing with criminals who illegally invade our private property: eliminate them without hesitation!"

Lian Hongchen nodded with a smile. "This matter will not pose any trouble."

Jiang Qingyue let out a small sigh of relief. "That's settled then."

"Alright, I still have some matters to discuss with Grandmaster Li. He's—"

"In Qiu Chufeng's study room," Cao Tianyou interrupted. "I'll take you there."

"Just send a disciple to take me," Lian Hongchen replied. "You should arrange for the high-value items to be moved as soon as possible. Waiting too long could cause trouble. But, don't worry, it shouldn't be a major issue."

Lian Hongchen didn't want to reveal his relationship with Captain Wang to Cao Tianyou.

Cao Tianyou was understanding about it. With the Solar Vermillion Sect being such a valuable asset, it was inevitable that others would try to get a piece of the pie. He nodded. "Alright."

Cao Tianyou summoned a disciple to escort Lian Hongchen to the study room. More precisely, he would show him the way to the training room built to Martial Saint standards right beside the study room.

In the training room, Li Pin was enthusiastically experimenting with the Solar Vermillion Force.

He discovered that the various transformations within the Solar Vermillion Force aligned perfectly with his Eight Enormities True Fire Force, Bifang.

The Eight Enormities True Fire Force displayed the vast and imposing nature of Hundun, the sinister and ruthless qualities of Qiongqi, the all-encompassing nature of Taotie, the domineering force of Taowu, the sky-soaring agility of Tengshe, the nine-variations strike of Xiangliu, and the lightning-fast speed of Chilong. Bifang, however, stood apart by unleashing a fierce, explosive power that obliterated its target, even at the cost of self-destruction.

With his mastery over the Five Elements Body Refining Art and the Five Elements Unity, the explosive power he could unleash from it had already surpassed that of Bifang.

However, now... the Solar Vermillion Force revealed the potential to optimize Bifang, Taowu, Tengshe, and Xiangliu, focusing on enhancing their explosive speed. This meant striking first with overwhelming force without sacrificing intensity!

Though it could cause harm to both himself and his opponents, he had the Innate Qi-Nurturing technique combined with a passive "healing" ability to quickly replenish and heal himself. At most, it would make him a bit weary and consume primordial qi.

The technique was gentler and more sustainable compared to the Blood-Seething Secret Art.

Knock, knock!

"Grandmaster Li, are you in there?"

Li Pin dispelled the Solar Vermillion Force. "Chairman Lian? Please, come in."

Lian Hongchen walked into the training room, closed the door, and took a careful look at Li Pin.

Despite the bandages on his hands, he appeared remarkably unharmed. Seeing that, Lian Hongchen couldn't help but express in awe, "Killing a Martial Saint, several grandmasters, and incapacitating countless Aura Cultivation, Core Formation, and Core Force experts... all in one night... And here you stand, completely unscathed.

"Your prowess... even a true Martial Saint might not measure up to it."

"You're too kind," Li Pin replied with a smile.

The night had indeed been fulfilling for him. His only regret was that he hadn't gotten the chance to face Spirit Force. Qiu Chufeng had failed to unleash it.

If he had been able to unleash it and allow Li Pin to experience its might for himself, Li Pin might've been able to grasp its true essence. By then, not only would he excel in the Jiang Province Martial Competition, but he could also single-handedly dominate the national competition.

"Tomorrow is the round-robin phase of the Jiang Province Martial Competition. Grandmaster Li, with your level of cultivation, participating in the round-robin..." Lian Hongchen smiled. "I'm afraid that even if the other nine contestants teamed up, they wouldn't stand a chance against you."

Li Pin was a bit surprised. "Can I face all nine of them at once?"

Lian Hongchen shook his head. "Uh... No, that can't be done."

"I see," Li Pin replied, feeling a slight regret.

Lian Hongchen looked at Li Pin, pondered for a moment, and then cautiously asked, "Grandmaster Li, what are your plans moving forward?"

"Chairman Lian, please say whatever is on your mind freely," Li Pin cut to the chase.

Lian Hongchen, considering the potential achievements Li Pin might reach, decided to be straightforward, "Although this may seem presumptuous, I'd like to ask you for a favor. If you assist me, then in the future, as long as it concerns Jiang Province, your matters will be my matters."

Li Pin didn't immediately respond, just looked at Lian Hongchen. "Go on."

"I'd like to request that you forgo the first place in Jiang Province and the national competition," Lian Hongchen said solemnly. He then quickly added, "Of course, I understand that achieving first place in Jiang Province and the national competition is a great honor for you. I won't let you miss out on this honor. Instead, I will personally ensure you receive an invitation to the World's Top Martial Competition!"

1. imply young people often have superior physical strength and energy. ☜