Planet Pulverizer: A Mortal's Ascent

Chapter 185: Youying

"You're first in the preliminaries, which means you're the first to compete, so you’ll be choosing your opponent as you wish. Additionally, any competitor who has already experienced a battle at least once a day can refuse further challenges. So... you should pick the weakest opponent to be your first opponent."

Tuo Bafeng's gaze swept over the nine competitors. "I think Yan Hongtu or Ying Long would be good choices. If not, you could even pick the Sixth Princess directly for an easy win and a chance to rest. However, I wouldn't recommend this. Instead, save the Sixth Princess for a match after you've faced several strong opponents and exhausted much of your physical and mental energy.

“That way, when she surrenders, you'll have three days of consecutive rest and recovery—"

Before Tuo Bafeng could finish his sentence, the host’s voice rang in the venue, "Now, let's welcome our top qualifier, Li Pin from Taibai Kingdom's Five Elements Sect! A twenty-three-year-old Martial Saint! Please take the stage and select your first opponent!"

Tuo Bafeng was momentarily stunned. "It's starting already?"

He looked at Li Pin standing up. "Remember my advice, choose—"

Li Pin raised his hand. "I understand."

He strode confidently onto the hundred-meter-long arena made of a special material called Seismic Rock.

"Wait, you forgot your sword...!" Tuo Bafeng shouted.

Li Pin waved him off and proceeded onto the stage.

As Li Pin stepped onto the arena, his youthful face, striking appearance, and sunny demeanor instantly drew cheers from the crowd. The applause from the female spectators was especially deafening, like a roaring wave that pierced the heavens and left the male spectators with their ears ringing.

"As expected of the top qualifier. His popularity is immense," Tuo Bafeng murmured sincerely.

Amidst the cheers, the host approached Li Pin. "Martial Saint Li, do you have any words for the audience?"

"Time is precious. Let's get started," Li Pin replied.

"Very well. As the top qualifier, you may choose your first opponent. Who will it be?"

Li Pin's gaze landed directly on the meditating man standing with his sword in his hand. "Cheng Yufeng."

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Upon hearing this name, Zhao Yushi, Great Sun Chosen One, Song Wuya, Duan Yidao, Nan Lifeng, Su Feiyu, Ying Long, and Yan Hongtu were all startled.

Cheng Yufeng's eyes abruptly snapped open. They were blazing with a fierce intensity.

Tuo Bafeng stood there, dumbfounded for several seconds. He clutched his forehead in anguish. "I knew it. His temper.... I've really messed up as a tactical advisor."

The host’s voice boomed in the arena. "Excellent. Our top qualifier, Martial Saint Li, has chosen his opponent. The first match will be an incredible Martial Saint duel! This is truly thrilling. Let's see if Cheng Yufeng of the Divine Sword Manor will accept the challenge—"

Whoosh!

Before the host could finish speaking, Cheng Yufeng had already soared upward. With his long sword held firmly, his clothes billowing as if riding the wind, he gracefully glided toward the arena.

His swift appearance on the arena floor was his way of answering the host.

"Challenge accepted! Challenge accepted! Sword Saint Cheng has responded with his action! He accepts the challenge!"

The host was brimming with enthusiasm. "Day one! This is just the first day of the round-robin matches! A decisive battle, often saved for the final moments, is about to commence! Let's see if Martial Saint Li can maintain his top position from the preliminary until the end, or if Sword Saint Cheng will prevail and prove who truly deserves to vie for the number one spot!"

With that, the host quickly left the stage, handing the arena to the two competitors.

"Please,” invited Li Pin.

"I don't understand," Cheng Yufeng said. "Theoretically, the most likely candidates for the top spot are us, the four Martial Saints. Our primary goal should be to eliminate the six who are merely fillers. Yet you chose me first... to clash in a Martial Saint battle..."

He looked at Li Pin, a glint of sword intent rising in his eyes. "Do you think... that ordinary people can no longer stir your fighting spirit? What is it exactly...?"

Li Pin explained, "My tactical advisor briefed me on the strategy. He said that competitors outside the top five seeds are my backup. If my strength or mental state is depleted after a fierce battle with a top seed, I should fight them next. Therefore, I need to keep them in reserve."

He continued, "As for choosing you first... my tactical advisor told me that you’re the weakest among the five seeded competitors. If I am to challenge anyone, it would be you."

The Sword Intent within Cheng Yufeng faltered slightly. In the next moment, a fierce and violent Sword Intent erupted from him, soaring into the heavens. The Sword Intent carried a terrifying murderous aura capable of purifying the world and creating it anew.

"Arrogant!"

Clang!

The sword aura shattered the air.

Like a streak of light tearing through the night sky, a sword gleam flashed with chilling brilliance, striking with lightning speed. Cheng Yufeng’s Sword Intent arrived even before he did.

This young master of the Divine Sword Manor had spent nearly twenty years honing his swordsmanship, refining his Sword Intent to the peak possible at his age. That single Sword Intent from someone like him could shatter the spirit of a weak-willed Internal Aura Grandmaster, leaving him mentally traumatized.

Even in the best-case scenario, his opponents would be tormented by incessant nightmares, leading to severe mental and physical deterioration. In the worst case, they would suffer complete mental collapse, and their consciousness would be extinguished, leaving them in a vegetative state.

This was a technique straight out of a fantasy novel, a true example of killing without leaving a trace.

Li Pin looked at the cold gleam of lightning. "This... Sword Intent... Impressive, even Lin Yuzhi fell short compared to it."

He leaped to the side and avoided Cheng Yufeng's lightning-fast strike. Simultaneously, he took a deep breath and struck down with a palm-strike.

An overwhelming aura, akin to a crashing mountain, descended.

Buzz, buzz!

Cheng Yufeng could vaguely see a swirling vortex of chaos appearing behind Li Pin, a realm that seemed more like a black hole than true chaos.

This realm emitted a strange force that combined pressure, gravity, and repulsion, interfering with his sword. As a result, his lightning-fast and frigid sword intent was easily evaded by Li Pin.

"You can't escape!" Cheng Yufeng roared, his snow-white clothes billowing in the wind as his sword whistled and glittered with chilling light.

Li Pin unleashed another palm strike. Though it appeared to be a simple strike, each time he delivered a palm, the chaotic space would appear to have been crushed by an immense force.

Despite Cheng Yufeng's formidable and fierce Sword Intent, each strike into this chaotic void caused his techniques to turn sluggish. His sword slowed down, and his movements became heavy, as if he were treading through a high-gravity field.

Under these conditions, the threat of his sword significantly diminished, allowing Li Pin to consistently evade and deflect his attacks using his strikes, movements, and techniques. Furthermore, over time, the pressure from Li Pin seemed to intensify, and his combat techniques became increasingly adept.

It wasn’t long before Chen Yufeng was hit with a realization. "You're using me as a practice dummy!?"

He, the young master of Divine Sword Manor, a sword saint, and the swordsmanship prodigy groomed by the manor as the future King of the Century, was being used as a practice dummy by this upstart at the World's Top Martial Competition!

"I shouldn't have used you as a practice dummy, but your attitude hasn't been proper either." Li Pin smiled faintly at Cheng Yufeng. "Despite my taunts, you've held back your Blood Core, secret arts, and even your Spirit Force. Is this some kind of game to you? Out of respect for a Martial Saint, I'll humor you."

"You're courting death!"

Cheng Yufeng's rage finally boiled over at Li Pin's arrogant demeanor. With a thunderous roar, he unleashed the full power of his Blood Core. The blazing qi and blood surged forth like a burst dam, instantly flooding from his Blood Core to his limbs and bones.

As he charged forward, he became like a divine sword. His mental spirit, qi, and blood seamlessly integrated and permeated every part of his muscles and bones under the guidance of his will.

He seemed to merge with his sword, becoming one with it. In this state of Man-Sword Unity, his sword energy surged through the air, like an eagle soaring through the sky or a comet streaking toward the moon.

The sword sliced through the air, creating a visible white shockwave accompanied by a piercing sword shriek.

The sword intent arrived before the sword itself. Li Pin felt like an invisible force was piercing through his skin and flesh. His skin pimpled with goosebumps. Finally...!"

Li Pin took a deep breath. As the lethal aura approached, his mind seemingly transcended the limitations of his physical body. The surrounding space appeared to form a perceptual domain within a ten-meter radius. Inside this sphere, he could sense every little detail.

He threw his punch.

In this mysterious state, what had seemed like chaotic voids quickly condensed into a single point.

Eight Enormities True Fire Force, Hundun! Taotie! Merge! Lunar Youying![1]

Li Pin met Cheng Yufeng's explosive Blood Core and Spirit Force sword strike, which came like a shooting star, with his newly refined Lunar Youying. With pinpoint precision, he slashed through and forcefully deflected Cheng Yufeng's approaching sword.

Clang!

A shockwave erupted! The sword cried out in anguish!

Cheng Yufeng felt as though his sword had been struck by an anti-tank round. The shockwave scattered, accompanied by a thunderous roar.

The explosive force, akin to the cataclysmic tremors of a collapsing world, the impact broke Cheng Yufeng's right hand, sending the sword hurtling from his grasp. It spun rapidly through the air for several dozen meters before embedding itself half a meter deep into the seismic rock arena with a resounding crash.

The sheer power behind Li Pin's punch was evident in the devastating aftermath.

1. Youying stands for specter in English, it is a term often used in Chinese mythology and folklore to describe creatures or spirits that are associated with darkness, gloom, and the supernatural. ☜