Planet Pulverizer: A Mortal's Ascent-Chapter 462: Disappointed

Tu Tan and Dao Ming, whom Li Pin had encountered half a month earlier, were also there.

There were other Heavenly Realm Experts from the Solar Radiance Empire alongside them, accompanied by hundreds of Master and Top-Tier Astral Cultivators.

As for High-Class and Ordinary Astral Cultivators, they weren't qualified to participate in such a battle.

Theoretically, even Top-Tier Astral Cultivators lacked the qualification to participate. The minimum requirement for basic soldiers in planetary-level battles across the universe was Earthly Realm Astral Cultivators, equivalent to the Master Astral Cultivators.

As Li Pin arrived outside the alternate dimension of the Solar Radiance Gate, his gaze quickly fell on a massive, transparent vortex visible to the naked eye. "Hmm?"

The vortex towered over ten meters high, twisting space itself. Rings of spatial force mixed with waves of starlight, radiating outward in all directions.

A large number of lifeforms could vaguely be seen gathering behind the transparent vortex, poised and ready.

"Has the Astral Gate already been fully activated?" Li Pin asked.

Yuan Zhenchuan replied, "Our understanding of the Astral Gate is far too limited. The Celestial Dragonians provided us with some data, which allowed us to disrupt this Astral Gate's operation.

"However, the Divine Dragon Empire quickly realized we had contact with other civilizations and quickly adopted a diversionary tactic. They opened a second Astral Gate on the other side of Gaia, in the territory of the Royal Empire."

He continued, his tone heavy. "As for this Astral Gate, residual fluctuations remained. We assumed they were normal reactions from its collapse and only instructed Tu Tan and Dao Ming to monitor it closely. But now it's clear—they were stabilizing this so-called collapsed Astral Gate in secret. At this point, it's ready to activate at any moment."

Tu Tan stepped forward, worry written across his face. "The Divine Dragon Empire values us far more than we anticipated. It's clear they hold the absolute advantage, yet they've resorted to such cunning tactics against Gaia.

"This suggests a high probability of Legendary figures stepping in directly. Unfortunately, most of our main forces and newly constructed Astral Formations were sent to deal with the second Astral Gate...."

Li Pin calmly said, "In civilization wars, one must never let their guard down. This is a lesson we must learn."

It was fortunate he had returned to Gaia ahead of time. Even with their overwhelming advantage, the Divine Dragon Empire acted with such caution and ruthlessness. If he had stayed on Planet Taibai cultivating, Gaia might have had already fallen by the time the news reached him and he rushed back.

The enemy could have used those days to set up Astral Formations on Gaia itself.

At that point, things would become truly dire. Astral Formations relied on the planets themselves. If Li Pin had to destroy one fully activated on Gaia with his full strength, the damage to the planet would be catastrophic.

Yuan Zhenchuan shifted his gaze onto Li Pin. "This was our oversight. If the Divine Dragon Empire attacks within the next hour or two, only those of us here can stop them.

"The only Astral Formation we have left is the one we set up earlier, that hasn't been dismantled. It amplifies Divine Radiance Beam by thirty percent, but it's nowhere near the scale or power of the Royal Empire's three great Astral Formations."

"Recognizing a mistake is the first step to fixing it," Li Pin said calmly. "As for the lack of forces and Astral Formations... it doesn't matter. I will handle it."

Yuan Zhenchuan's eyes flickered with hope. "Can a Supreme Expert truly match a Legend?"

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"You'll see for yourself," Li Pin replied.

As the two spoke, ripples from the ten-meter-tall transparent vortex grew stronger. Then, as they reached a certain threshold, the ripples suddenly calmed, becoming stable and orderly.

At that moment, among the thousands of lifeforms beyond the vortex, a portion stepped forward and directly entered the transparent vortex.

"They're here!"

"That's too fast! Master and the other Heaven Realm experts haven't arrived yet!"

"Damn it! The Divine Dragon Empire is too cunning. They already have the absolute advantage, yet they still play such diversionary tricks!"

A commotion erupted among the Solar Radiance Empire's Heavenly Realm practitioners and the hundreds of Top-Tier Astral Cultivators who had rushed over.

Fear flashed in the eyes of more than half of them. Some even began to think that submitting to the Divine Dragon Empire wouldn't be so bad—letting Gaia become one of its provinces might not be the worst outcome.

Buzz, buzz!

As faint ripples spread outward, a man clad in black heavy armor appeared in everyone's field of vision. His imposing figure resembled a battlefield general.

The moment he appeared, Yuan Zhenchuan was astounded. "Yan Zhong!"

Over this period, they had gathered information from various civilizations about the Legends of the Divine Dragon Empire, including extensive details on its powerful Heavenly realm experts.

The moment the man in pitch-black heavy armor appeared, his identity became clear. He was none other than Yan Zhong, the Imperial Prince, Guardian of the Alliance Stars, and the legendary general responsible for external diplomacy, outreach, and warfare.

Their worst fear had come true.

The Divine Dragon Empire had actually dispatched a Legendary Expert to deal with Gaia!

As Yan Zhong's domain spread out, Yuan Zhenchuan, Dao Ming, Tu Tan, and the others realized in horror that their resonance with Atomic Will had been pushed to its absolute limit.

Yuan Zhenchuan withdrew, sharply shouting, "This is bad! Get out of his domain and launch attacks from outside! Otherwise, he'll easily disrupt and interrupt all our astral techniques!"

Li Pin stepped forward just as Yuan Zhenchuan retreated.

His Natal Planet flared into motion, and a faint magnetic force field enveloped him, directly blocking the expansion of Yan Zhong's domain.

Yan Zhong's gaze shifted to Li Pin. He indifferently said, "The Child of Gaia?"

"Somewhat disappointing, but..." Li Pin looked at Yan Zhong, his expression as calm as still water, "I am sure this isn't the full extent of your domain's power, is it?"

Li Pin slowly floated into the air. He raised a hand and gestured. "Come—show me what level of power a Legend like you can truly achieve."

Yan Zhong remained silent for a moment, then said, "It seems you've contacted other civilizations and received a fair amount of help. You think you can stand against us. If that's the case..."

Buzz, buzz!

Li Pin's inner spirit detected a sudden surge in the Atomic Will within Yan Zhong's domain. It exploded like a spark igniting a keg of explosives.

At the moment of the explosion, Yan Zhong's figure split into two. One took off into the air, while the other appeared before Li Pin, who was still rising, at an inconceivable speed.

The next moment, a fist carrying the force of nuclear fusion struck toward Li Pin's head with thunderous momentum.

The terrifying shockwave, mixed with violent atmospheric changes, exploded outward with the two of them at its center.

A visible ripple shot out at speeds many times faster than sound, tearing open a trench over thirty miles long and more than three hundred meters wide and deep. Dust and waves of air surged, spreading far into the distance.

Chaos erupted instantly, with sand and stones flying everywhere. Countless Master and Top-Tier Astral Cultivators retreated in all directions.

Meanwhile, Heavenly Realm Experts continued to emerge from the stable Astral Gate, arriving on Gaia. They didn't act immediately, instead, they looked up toward the distant sky with faces filled with fervor.

However, at the center of the terrifying shockwave, an unbelievable sight unfolded before everyone's eyes.

Yan Zhong's devastating punch appeared to land on Li Pin, but it stopped just a few centimeters from his head, blocked by an invisible force field. The punch couldn't move forward even an inch.

The shockwave was the energy released when Yan Zhong's punch collided with this invisible field.

The result was clear.

Li Pin looked at Yan Zhong. "Is that it?"

Yan Zhong's expression darkened. "You..."

In the next moment, the atomic power in his domain boiled and converged, erupting with the brilliance of a sun.

Before this light could scatter, he gathered it again into his hands. Bringing his hands together, it seemed as if he gripped a blazing sun and swung it fiercely toward Li Pin's head. "Die!"

At the moment of impact, boundless brilliance erupted, as if a miniature sun had appeared in the sky. Its radiance was so intense that it even outshone the real sun above.

Such destructive power rivaled the explosion of a hydrogen bomb with a yield of tens of millions of tons.

Yet... even this terrifying attack, landing directly on Li Pin, failed to cause any harm.

Not only that—when Li Pin extended his right hand and spread his fingers, a terrifying force field extended from his palm, chasing the searing brilliance that had scattered like a raging sun.

Or rather... it chased the immense heat within the light.

The force field contracted, pulling back the light and its heat, reversing the explosion as if rewinding a film. In less than a breath, the blazing sun-like energy was gathered back into Li Pin's palm.

As he closed his hand, the overwhelming radiance quickly faded.

Only Yan Zhong remained, his fist still swinging, but suspended ten centimeters in front of Li Pin, as if frozen in place.

"An Early-Stage Legend, huh?" Li Pin's expression held a hint of disappointment. "I really shouldn't have expected too much."