Planet Pulverizer: A Mortal's Ascent-Chapter 428: Showdown

Yuan Zhenchuan, Fan Xiu, Qiao Baishi, Xiao Donghai, Zhao Kunwu, Bai Ying, and the others all looked up in surprise.

He wants a fight!? The Solar Radiance Sovereign... wants to challenge Li Pin? To decide who would become the chairman... through battle?

But... how could this be?

It wasn't that the request was unreasonable. In a world where ultimate power determined authority, it made sense that the strongest should be followed.

The problem was, the Solar Radiance Sovereign had to have heard about Li Pin's past feats—single-handedly facing two supreme-level demonic creatures and defeating them both. Yet, even so, he chose to challenge Li Pin?

That was where the absurdity lay.

While the Solar Radiance Sovereign was indeed strong, the disparity in strength between them was clear. Despite that, he insisted on deciding the first chairman through a battle.

Someone murmured, "There's only one explanation for this—the Sovereign's strength must be greater than what he's shown—or what we anticipated."

"Could it be... the Solar Radiance Sovereign has broken through? Has he reached a realm beyond Legendary? If anyone could surpass the Legendary realm and enter a new domain, it would be him."

"A battle... as long as it doesn't reach the point of life and death, is indeed the best way to settle this. Whether the Solar Radiance Sovereign or Li Pin wins, their position will be undisputed, and no one will question it."

The more perceptive legends turned their attention to the Solar Radiance Sovereign, but they also cast furtive glances at Li Pin, waiting for his response.

If the Solar Radiance Sovereign could truly match Li Pin in strength... it would be a great boon for Gaians.

Li Pin looked at the Solar Radiance Sovereign, and a certain emotion he hadn't expected to experience surged through his heart.

Years ago, when he was just starting out, he had risen through the ranks by defeating top-tier experts, earning his identity and status through direct combat. Now, at the Gaia Alliance, he found himself the target of another challenge.

And the challenger? The recognized strongest figure in Gaia—founder of the Solar Radiance Sect and guardian of Blood Moon Gorge: the Solar Radiance Sovereign.

How things had changed... it was truly extraordinary.

Under the anxious yet expectant gazes of the crowd, Li Pin stood up, smiling faintly. "Let's go. To the Redrock Canyon."

Solar Radiance Sovereign smiled and replied, "Very well."

Seeing this, Yuan Zhenchuan realized that this duel was inevitable. Clearly, resolving global matters through a vote at the conference wasn't suitable for Legends and Supreme Experts with immense power.

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He announced, "The leader of the Gaia Alliance should indeed be the strongest among us. So be it. This expansion conference is now over. We will proceed with the legendary conference phase and release the details to the public afterward."

The reporters and representatives from smaller nations at the back broke into a commotion. It was clear that the Legends had decided to resolve this issue themselves, an issue that concerned humanity's future.

Though some harbored dissatisfaction, they could do little but suppress it. When the Legends made a decision, no lesser power could overturn it.

***

Redrock Canyon was a vast fault zone stretching over a thousand miles north of Great Shang. The harsh terrain here had long served as a testing ground for Legendary Astral Techniques, making it the perfect place for a battle between Supreme Experts.

From dozens of miles away, Supreme Experts like Fan Xiu, Zhao Kunwu, and other Master and Legendary Astral Cultivators observed the scene.

At the center of their gaze were Li Pin and the Solar Radiance Sovereign, hovering several hundred meters apart in the air.

The Solar Radiance Sovereign looked at Li Pin's face, youthful despite his newfound maturity. Feeling very emotional, he said, "In less than twenty-five years of cultivation—strictly speaking, less than five—you stand before me, the world's strongest. Li Pin, in every way, you are the undisputed number one of this era."

"You're too kind," Li Pin replied calmly.

The Solar Radiance Sovereign sighed heavily. "But... Gaia is too small. The more I interact with others, the more I realize how fragile Gaia is.

"It's so weak that a minor external disaster could obliterate it. It's so insignificant that even Gaia's greatest talents seem nothing compared to the outside world...."

His gaze grew heavy. "Because of this fragility, after studying your records, I've come to a decision. Although your existence is a blessing to Gaia, I cannot allow you to lead as the first chairman of the Alliance. I must stop you from taking Gaia into the universe."

Li Pin sensed something from the Solar Radiance Sovereign's words. His eyes sharpened, and he quickly asked, "You've contacted extraterrestrial civilizations?"

Solar Radiance Sovereign admitted, "Consider it a mutual pursuit."

Hearing this, Li Pin's demeanor turned cold. "Do you understand the consequences of your actions?"

"The envoy from the Divine Dragon Empire made it clear: a great era is coming. If we isolate ourselves or stay stagnant, Gaia will miss its chance and be crushed into dust in the future."

Solar Radiance Sovereign paused. "It is either a slow death, or a leap of faith out of the comfort zone to secure a new future—my choice is the latter."

Li Pin's gaze hardened, but he said nothing more.

He knew why he had stepped forward to compete for the Gaia Alliance presidency. In the uncertain and turbulent first phase, where the future of Gaia's human race was unclear, every Legend and Supreme Experts, standing at the pinnacle of the world, had their own vision of the right path.

Everyone believed their way was the only correct one, that only they could save Gaia. These convictions could not be swayed by persuasion.

To prevent them from pulling in different directions, hindering Gaia's development, he had decided to step forward and take on the leadership role.

Now, the stubborn Solar Radiance Sovereign stood before him, convinced that contacting the Divine Dragon Empire was the answer. In some ways, he wasn't much different from figures like Wu De or Fu Qingtian.

Li Pin said, "So, it seems you've gained something from the Divine Dragon Empire that makes you think you can defeat me?"

"The time was short. I didn't have the chance to thoroughly analyze the cultivation methods they provided or check for any hidden dangers. But I've learned a few Astral Techniques.

"After mastering them, I realized how crude our understanding of astral energy is. We actually use precious astral energy for starlight transformation? It's like burning money as firewood."

The Solar Radiance Sovereign smiled faintly. "Now, Martial God Li, please evaluate."

"Shall we begin?" Li Pin asked.

The Solar Radiance Sovereign replied with a nod. "Begin."

The moment Solar Radiance Sovereign nodded, Li Pin vanished, a white shockwave erupting from where he stood.

In the next instant, Solar Radiance Sovereign felt a force akin to the impact of an orbital kinetic weapon explode on the invisible barrier in front of him

It was... his Atomic Force Field!

Yes. The Atomic Force Field was a power that all cultivators who dominated the Atomic Will should command. A Legend—or rather, a Heavenly Realm Cultivator—fused their life form with the Atomic Will. By controlling this Atomic Will, they create a force-field shield with the atoms, distributing all incoming attacks evenly across it.

As Li Pin crossed the distance at breakneck speed, he delivered another punch.

His punch shattered the very space in front of him, leaving edges and jagged edges, like a broken mirror. It was as though his fist had struck an invisible glass.

"Impressive speed," the Solar Radiance Sovereign praised. "But for now, I've only mastered three new Astral Techniques that suit me best. They don't enhance speed, but the Atomic Force Field provides defense, while the solar furnace supplies energy. That's enough for me."

His spiritual energy erupted.

The tremors from his own will and Atomic Will reached its peak. With control over Atomic Will, the space before him, which had been filled with cracks, seemed to reset, instantly returning to its original state.

Li Pin's pupils dilated slightly at the sight, but he didn't stop.

Rumble, rumble!

A violent thunderstorm erupted from him, as if a star within was spinning rapidly. The energy released from its rotation surged into his fists, pushing his strikes to their peak in an instant.

In a single breath, Li Pin had thrown more than a dozen punches.

Each punch seemed to contain the explosive power of several thousand tons of TNT. The terrifying, violent energy quickly radiated outward from him, forming a blazing hurricane at its center that spread relentlessly in all directions, ripping apart the clouds across hundreds of miles.

The storm stirred up by the turbulent clouds swept down to the ground, plunging the Redrock Canyon into darkness as though it were facing the end of the world.

Thankfully, this area had been set aside for legendary duels and the testing of Astral Techniques. Otherwise, such destruction would have flattened an entire city.

Bang, bang, bang, bang!

The relentless thunder of Li Pin's frantic punches echoed through the area.

The Solar Radiance Sovereign's spiritual will seemed to have fully merged with the Atomic Will.

Each strike fractured Solar Radiance Sovereign Atomic Force Field in localized areas, sending tremors through his mental spirit. Yet his mental resolve remained like steel, unshaken despite the continuous assault.

With every burst of spiritual power, the fractured Atomic Force Field swiftly repaired itself.

However, as the shockwaves continued, the Solar Radiance Sovereign recalled something. Li Pin had landed 188 punches when defeating Blood Titan. Who could say whether 188 was his limit?

"An incredible display of power and speed..." muttered Solar Radiance Sovereign.

With that, he no longer hesitated. He clasped his hands together, and a massive sun seemed to ignite within him, quickly coming to life.

Unlike before, this time, the glowing sun did not take the form of an attack like the fission-type Astral Technique. Instead, it transformed into a furnace, emitting an incredibly intense energy fluctuation.

A massive amount of astral energy was fed into the furnace, undergoing atomic transformation to fuel its blazing energy—an overwhelmingly terrifying force.

Solar Radiance Sovereign maintained the furnace's stability. In the next moment, he drew a powerful surge of energy from it, transforming and condensing it into something resembling a plasma light cannon.

"Legendary Astral Technique—Divine Radiance Beam."

In the blink of an eye, brilliant light, like that of stars, erupted from his hands and enveloped Li Pin.

Though the energy level of this light did not surpass the scope of Legendary Astral Techniques and could be considered mediocre even within that category, it moved at the speed of light, making it almost impossible to evade.

Even more terrifying was the continuous energy provided by the solar furnace inside the Solar Radiance Sovereign, enabling this plasma-like attack to maintain a constant barrage.

In other words... this was an unrelenting, nonstop Legendary Astral Technique.