Planet Pulverizer: A Mortal's Ascent

Chapter 23: Habit

Changfeng Martial Hall.

Li Pin was practicing his fist techniques at the side. Be it the coaches or students, everyone minded the distance between them and him so as not to disrupt his focus.

His performance that morning had conquered everyone at the Changfeng Martial Hall.

Without realizing it, his status had slowly surpassed that of Yang Danqing, becoming second only to the head of the Changfeng Martial Hall, Fang Lingjue.

After finishing a set of punches, Li Pin let out a long breath.

Without the need to concentrate on sensing, he could imagine the changes in his qi, blood, and physique.

[Qi and Blood +0.03]

Total value: 29.81.

"The next step is to condense the qi to form a Core. Last time, although I was in a rush to attempt to form a Core, I had prepared quite a lot. Despite so, my attempt still failed. This makes it clear that it's not easy to form the Core. This time, I have to be extra cautious."

Li Pin intended to polish his Core Force bit by bit until he eventually and gradually formed his Core over time. This method was akin to using overwhelming power to break through all restraints in Heavenly Dao. It was really cumbersome. However, it was a safe method.

This method of polishing Core Force might be tedious for other Transformative Force experts. However, for the "extremely gifted" Li Pin, it was just a matter of making continuous and repetitive improvisations and optimizations. From there, he would then work on making it an instinctive ability to turn his Force into a uniform state.

Li Pin seemed to notice something and looked to the side. He saw Fang Lingjue. He returned at some point and was watching him practice.

When Fang Lingjue saw that Li Pin had noticed him, he asked, "Are you done?"

"I'm done."

"How about having a seat in my office?"

"Sure," Li Pin responded, following Fang Lingjue into the office.

After entering the office, Fang Lingjue personally brought water over to make tea for Li Pin. However, halfway through, Li Pin took the teapot from him.

"I'll do it."

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Fang Lingjue didn't insist and examined him for a bit. It was about half a minute before he said, "You've achieved Core Force."

"Mmhmm. In moments of life and death, one's thoughts race like lightning, making it the best time for an epiphany breakthrough," Li Pin responded.

"That's true, but that's a very dangerous move, and you might end up getting nothing in the end," Fang Lingjue explained. "There is a type of people in the martial arts world who are called "Dao pursuers". However, looking at the many Dao pursuers who exhaust their all for martial arts, none of them could progress far on this path."

Li Pin understood Fang Lingjue's intention. He was advising him to be careful in the future. Li Pin nodded and said, "I understand. Life and death are the only important things in life. I treasure my life more than everyone else."

That was indeed the case, and it was because Li Pin wanted to know the extent to which the human body could evolve.

In today's world, those who achieved the peak of humanity without any shortcomings were titled kings of the century. However, even they couldn't withstand machine gun shells. At best, they could only rely on Aura Force to deflect the bullets away.

No one knew what lay beyond this phase.

He wanted to check it out. Hence, he was not going to die easily.

"It's great that you see it that way," Fang Lingjue continued. "I was concerned that you might become hooked on the adrenaline rush of rapid breakthroughs after achieving two breakthroughs through life-and-death battles. Now I can see that you've kept your cool. It seems I was overthinking things."

Li Pin merely smiled.

"When you signed up for the Jiang Province Martial Competition before the Astral Advent Festival, we all thought that you were just going with the intent to gain experience. Now it seems that... you had some plans right from the start?" Fang Lingjue glanced at him. "The younger generation will really surpass the older generation as time passes."

Li Pin replied, "I just thought that when the Jiang Province Martial Competition rolls around, I should be able to make further progress in my cultivation. And to be honest, I'm not confident I'll be able to make a name for myself at the Jiang Province Martial Competition, or even fight my way into the top ten."

Core Formation!

It was a phase he had never reached in his previous life.

"Self-discipline and self-confidence." Fang Lingjue nodded. "Now that you can hit Core Force, do you want to go to Jiang Province to get your Associate Senior title?"

"There's no rush. It's just a certification," Li Pin said.

"That's true," said Fang Lingjue. Then, he added, "Neither is now the right time too."

"Hmm?"

"You've seen the Death Valley's order to gather martial artists, haven't you?"

"I've seen it."

"Death Valley, as its name suggests, is dangerous. Taibai has been at peace for a long time and many martial artists have lost the knack of fighting ferocious beasts and fighting for survival space with demonic creatures in turbulent times. In the past few months, the national enrollment of martial artists has been less than a hundred. There's now a rumor that the top officials will issue a mandatory conscription order."

Fang Lingjue continued, "If this news has reached even me, this matter can be almost confirmed."

Li Pin nodded after hearing that.

"After achieving Core Force, the next step will be to attain Core Formation. Do you have any method in mind for this?"

"I've summarized my lifelong learnings and figured out the path to attain Core Formation. However, I have yet to put it into practice to see the effects," Li Pin answered.

Fang Lingjue was stunned and looked at Li Pin with disbelief. "Don't tell me you don't have any inherited legacy?"

He continued to ask, "What about your Master?"

Li Pin slowly shook his head.

"That's impossible!" Fang Lingjue leaned forward. "How did you... manage to achieve Core Force if you have no master?"

"I studied and analyzed on my own. Also ... I've watched one month's worth of videos," Li Pin said.

Fang Lingjue was shocked speechless, and he stared at Li Pin in disbelief, his breathing turning heavier. After a while, he lost his composure and blurted, "F*ck!"

The corner of Li Pin's mouth twitched.

"Are you a monster?!" Fang Lingjue said. "To strike out Core Force at this age is basically something that only a disciple of a Martial Saint, or an extremely outstanding grandmaster, can do. But now you're telling me that you have not inherited any legacy?! You don't even have a decent practice method?!"

Li Pin nodded in agreement. "That is indeed the case."

Fang Lingjue leaned back in silence for a while before letting out a breath. He abruptly took a USB flash drive out of the drawer.

"Take this. It contains the information of the White Crane Sect's White Crane Fist. I'll refer you to join the White Crane Sect. If you don't have any inherited legacy and have only relied on yourself to cultivate to such a level, you'll have hope to become the disciple of a grandmaster, or even a Martial Saint."

"That won't be necessary."

Li Pin didn't accept the USB drive.

Fang Lingjue frowned. "Why?"

"No particular reason." Li Pin chuckled. "I'm just not used to respectfully saluting and calling someone 'Master.'"

Fang Lingjue was stunned. Immediately afterward, his pupils contracted.

He looked at this young man who had a harmless smile.

Fang Lingjue had thought that he understood this young man to a certain degree after knowing him for more than two months. That was why he took out the White Crane Fist's records so readily. However, at this moment, when he saw Li Pin laugh as he uttered those words... for the first time, Fang Lingjue felt as though he had never really understood this person.

He was stubborn.

Or rather...

Proud!

There was an indescribable pride that was rooted deep in his sinews, coiled in his mind and will. It radiated a kind of indestructible sharpness.

Such a simple sentence was like the sharp reflection of a sword, shined through the clouds and to the world.

It seemed that... he was destined to leave a sensational trace in this world.

Finally, after a long time, Fang Lingjue recovered. He couldn't help but ask, "Is it hard to be... respectful?"

In society, which person would be able to stand tall without yielding? Who could refuse to lower their head? How hard could it be to address someone as their teacher or master? He found this hard to understand.

"It's not hard," Li Pin continued. "But I'm not used to it."

Fang Lingjue said, "But if you continue this way, you will have a hard time."

"Discovering problems and solving them—this process in itself is interesting," replied Li Pin.

Fang Lingjue didn't continue to say further. He understood that this was a case of a youngster who had no fear.

Perhaps Li Pin was trying to polish his spiritual beliefs, not allowing his "thoughts" to be hindered.

Politeness, respect, courtesy.

Li Pin was willing to be polite and courteous, but because he couldn't get used to yielding and lowering his head, he would have to give up on these major shortcuts.

This young man....

"A heart that is loftier than the sky," commented Fang Lingjue.

"I only hope it won't be a life more fragile than paper," Li Pin responded with a smile.

He knew that that would be how Fang Lingjue thought in his heart, but he didn't care. In his previous life, he had no aptitude and no inherited legacy, but he was still able to progress in his training to reach the peak of Transformative Force within ten or so years. He had only been half a step away from achieving Core Formation.

In this life, he was equipped with a gift. If he still couldn't follow his heart to live an unrestricted and sensational life in pursuit of his greatest desire—cultivation—it would be simply a waste to be living another lifetime.