Planet Pulverizer: A Mortal's Ascent-Chapter 474: Slave

Si Xing glanced at Yu Shengjin. "Enslavement Mark?"

Being enslaved with a Servitude Mark meant that a person's life and death were in their master's hands. However, a Servitude Mark couldn't stop a slave from ending their own life. If their lives became unbearable, a slave could escape their fate through suicide.

An Enslavement Mark was different. It required its bearer to fully submit to the mark's power. Their thoughts would be subtly altered, and they would be compelled to follow the caster's will, even to the point of losing their sense of self.

For many Legends, this fate was worse than death.

But judging from Yu Shengjin's expression, Si Xing could tell the man was carrying a deep, blood-soaked grudge.

Across the vast galaxy, Legends like him were far too common. Countless individuals were willing to sacrifice everything for revenge.

However,

Yet reality was cruel. If mere determination could grant a Legend the aid of inner spirit wielders—beings of at least Tier Four power—those mighty figures would have been buried beneath endless pleas.

Considering Gaia's situation, Si Xing left the choice to Li Pin. Having already informed him of the details of the Enslavement Mark, it was all up to Li Pin.

At that moment, Li Pin's mind stirred with an idea.

He immediately asked Si Xing through spiritual transmission, "If the enslaved person's thoughts and will are subtly altered, then what if the first command is to focus entirely on cultivation and understanding inner spirit?

"Wouldn't they enter a state of undivided focus, free from distractions?"

Si Xing gave Li Pin a strange look.

After a long pause, he replied, "Theoretically, it sounds possible. But the inner spirit is the most elusive power. Even the Supreme beings—those who stand at the peak of the universe and guide humanity—wouldn't claim to fully understand its mysteries.

"Yes, the enslaved would follow the caster's will, but their inner spirit would already be tainted, no longer pure. Using this method to comprehend inner spirit is practically impossible."

This answer left Li Pin feeling slightly disappointed. If his idea had been feasible, he wouldn't have minded using this approach to help Li Yunyao. After all, the threshold for comprehending Vacuum Pulverizer was simply too high, and she was unlikely to succeed using the conventional method.

Si Xing added, "There were once great figures who experimented with this. While they failed to achieve inner spirit, they managed to cultivate the target to Tier Three Legend. Then, by transforming them into a Demigod, they were able to guard the planets those figures wished to protect. Many of those attempts succeeded."

He glanced at Yu Shengjin. "Of course, a Tier One Legend is too weak. Raising someone to Tier Three would require far too many resources. Whether to proceed is up to you."

Li Pin and Si Xing's conversation took place spiritually. Yu Shengjin was unaware of it.

Nevertheless, Yu Shengjin understood one thing clearly—he was only a Tier One Legend, and with his life in Li Pin's hands, he had no leverage to negotiate.

To add weight to his words, Yu Shengjin spoke again, "I hope you'll allow me to personally kill the emperor of the Divine Dragon Empire, Yan Hui!"

His voice carried a deep solemnity. "Twenty-three stellar years ago, I had a harmonious family, a childhood friend who was like a destined companion, and unmatched cultivation talent.

"My future was full of promise. But because I refused the Divine Dragon Empire's invitation—refused to marry into their imperial family and wed their 122nd princess—they cruelly destroyed my family."

Yu Shengjin's eyes filled with profound sorrow. "They slaughtered the entire city I lived in, killing over 300 thousand people. All to fabricate the illusion of retaliation by the Flaming Dragon Empire.

"But I know the truth—it was the imperial family of the Divine Dragon Empire. After my investigation, I found out it was Yan Hui who personally gave the order. His goal was to force me into submission, to make me serve the imperial family as their sharpest weapon."

Xue Feng and Qi Yan remained silent.

Such an act... was exactly what the Divine Dragon Empire would do.

For talents like Yu Shengjin, the choices were clear: either join a major faction, or face destruction.

The Divine Dragon Empire's only mistake was failing to cover their tracks properly, letting Yu Shengjin uncover the truth.

"From the moment I started cultivating, it took me just two stellar years to reach the Heavenly Realm. If had one or two more stellar years, I could have stepped into the Legendary realm.

"But I didn't dare to break through. I suppressed my cultivation for ten stellar years, afraid that standing out too much would invite the imperial family's killing intent.

"Even after reaching Tier One Legend, I had to walk on thin ice, never daring to reveal any abnormality. Yan Hui had placed restrictions on me that allowed him to sense my condition at any time."

Yu Shengjin gave a bitter smile. "But now that he's dead, I have nothing to hold me back. If I want, I can break through to Tier Two Legend in no time."

Si Xing was a little surprised. "Three or four stellar years to achieve Legend...."

That level of talent was quite decent—especially given his background.

In fact, Si Xing already considered Yu Shengjin a genius, albeit barely.

Yu Shengjin said, looking at Li Pin. "Over these years, I've been investigating the Divine Dragon Empire, looking for opportunities. I'm very familiar with the operation of their capital's Astral Formation and the locations of some precious treasures. I can help you gain the greatest benefit from the Divine Dragon Empire."

Si Xing immediately transmitted the methods for forming the Enslavement and Servitude marks to Li Pin. "How you decide is up to you."

Li Pin nodded. After briefly digesting the differences between the Enslavement mark and the Servitude mark, he already had an idea.

He looked at Si Xing. "The comprehension of inner spirit and the Divine Realm Yan Zun mentioned earlier—where do they rank in the vast universe?"

Si Xing quickly understood Li Pin's question and answered directly, "A genius. An absolute genius. If you follow the path toward Legend, reaching Tier Six and sensing the Astral World would place you among peerless geniuses. Any major faction would go to great lengths to recruit you."

"What if I refuse?" Li Pin glanced at Yu Shengjin. "Would I end up like him?"

"Major factions wouldn't," Si Xing confidently denied. "They have the resolve and broad-mindedness. Forget peerless genius, not even a supreme prodigy would make them resort to such actions."

"What about medium or small factions?" Li Pin asked.

"I can't give a definitive answer," Si Xing said. "But among some small factions... many people tend to develop a 'if I can't have it, I'll destroy it' mindset."

He paused for a moment. "Never underestimate the darkness of human nature."

"I understand." Li Pin nodded with a smile. "You come from the Starwheel Sea, right?"

"Yes, Si Clan of the Starwheel Sea," Si Xing replied, returning the smile.

Talking to intelligent people always made things easier, Si Xing thought.

He continued, "Regardless of the origin of your 'Divine' body—whether it's from extraordinary talent or Celestial Core Fragments—just the fact that you can comprehend inner spirit is enough for the Si Clan to take notice. Therefore, I would like to invite you to join us."

"Join the Si Clan..." muttered Li Pin.

He didn't respond immediately. Instead, he said, "You don't know enough about me yet. I suggest you stay in Gaia for a while, get to know my personality first, and then decide whether to extend the invitation. This way, we can avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings."

Si Xing was slightly puzzled. "Your personality?"

Isn't it normal for the strong to have some quirks? What kind of personality requires such special attention?

Still, since Li Pin said so, he nodded.

A phrase came to Li Pin's mind. A tree that stands out in the forest is bound to be blown down by the wind.[1]

He smiled faintly. If winds could destroy a tree, then the tree simply wasn't strong or large enough.

The Progenitor Tree beneath Death Valley's alternate dimension, for example, felt indestructible, impervious to even the fiercest storms.

Li Pin turned to Yu Shengjin and said, "I agree to your request."

"Thank you," Yu Shengjin replied solemnly.

"Come. Let go of your spiritual defenses. You only have one chance," Li Pin instructed.

Yu Shengjin nodded.

Forming the Enslavement Mark wasn't a particularly complex technique. The key lay in the use of inner spirit.

As stated before, inner spirit was the prerequisite for advancing from Tier Three Legend to Tier Four. It was also a core element for Demigods to achieve the Divine Realm. It was essentially the dividing line between ordinary and powerful life forms in the universe.

On the surface, it appeared to be a power that everyone could understand, but in actuality, its collateral gains were far greater than anyone could imagine.

The Enslavement Mark could establish a direction right from the start, subtly influencing a person's thoughts and will. Many would set it for absolute loyalty to themselves.

But Li Pin took into account both Yu Shengjin’s remarkable talent and his extraordinary patience in pursuing vengeance against the Divine Dragon Empire. Eventually, he opted for a different approach.

He will obey my commands, yet deep down, he will always yearn to defeat me and break free from my control. For this, he will cultivate diligently in secret, though he won't dare make a reckless move without absolute certainty.

This aligned perfectly with Yu Shengjin's character.

The Enslavement Mark gradually shaped one's thoughts, and the more compatible it was with their natural disposition, the more efficient the transformation.

Soon, Li Pin planted the Enslavement Mark on Yu Shengjin. He then placed the Servitude Marks on Xue Feng and Qi Yan.

The Enslavement Mark was deeply inhuman, requiring that the marked individual had not even the slightest thought of resistance. The Servitude Mark, however, was more "forgiving"—at least the marked individual could escape control through suicide.

Once Li Pin finished placing the marks on the three Legends, Si Xing spoke. "Go deal with the Divine Dragon Empire first.

"As the ruler of the Dragon Swamp Nebula, the wealth it has accumulated over the years will be quite useful for Gaia's development. As for whether you'll agree to join the Si Clan, we'll discuss that in detail once you're done."

Li Pin nodded and turned to Yuan Zhenchuan and the others. "Gather a team."

Gaia lacked sufficient high-level combat power, but Li Pin's confidence remained unshaken.

With his record of crushing Yan Zun and other Legends, annihilating an allied army of over a thousand Heavenly Realm cultivators, and now commanding three Tier-One Legends, neighboring nations wouldn't dare act recklessly.

"Come with me to inspect the Gaia Divine Dragon Province."

1. means that if you are different or stand out from the crowd, you are more likely to face criticism, opposition, or even persecution. ☜