Chapter 152: Karma

"Alright then."

Seeing Li Pin's firm attitude, Su Yongsheng didn't want to push him further. He was left with no choice but to say, "We at the Astral Hall sincerely hope that you will join us. Our doors will always be open for you."

Li Pin nodded in acknowledgment.

"Grandmaster Li, by teaching for one month, you've earned an opportunity to use the astral equipment for cultivation. Additionally, you've trained three students who managed to manifest their Force. Even though, for various reasons, one of them didn't credit you as the primary contributor, I've decided that you should receive five hours of cultivation time," Su Yongsheng said.

Five hours.... It was clear that this was a way of allowing him to enjoy the privileges of a senior instructor in advance.

Li Pin nodded slightly. "Thank you."

At this moment, something occurred to Li Pin. He suddenly asked, "Can I bring a student along when I use the astral equipment?"

"Bring a student along?" Su Yongsheng was taken aback. "There are only three astral equipment... and they are a set. If you let someone else use one or two of them separately, the results might not be ideal...."

"I understand. I have my reasons."

"Of course, that's fine," Su Yongsheng agreed.

As long as the astral equipment wasn't damaged, he didn't mind giving Li Pin a bit of leeway.

Soon after, Li Pin arrived at the tall tower where the astral equipment was stored.

Qin Rouran had already received his message and was waiting for him in front of the tower by the time he arrived.

Seeing Li Pin, she quickly stepped forward and greeted him, "Brother."

Li Pin waved his hand. "Let's go."

𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

The two headed together toward the room where the astral equipment was stored.

Elder Wei, who was in charge of guarding the astral equipment, noticed Li Pin's arrival and smiled slightly. "Planning to make one last push before the World's Top Martial Competition, huh? Trying to forge your Martial Will?"

Li Pin was a bit surprised. "Elder Wei, how did you know about that?"

"

Haha

, how many years has it been since a young talent qualified to be invited to the World's Top Martial Competition emerged in Jiang Province? Of course I would have heard about it." Elder Wei laughed. "Incredible. We'll all be cheering for you in front of our TVs, waiting for you to bring Taibai Jiang Province's name to the world stage."

Li Pin nodded slightly. "I'll do my best."

Hearing their conversation, Qin Rouran looked at Li Pin with a hint of admiration.

Over the past few days, the news of Li Pin being invited to participate in the World's Top Martial Competition had been spreading like wildfire throughout the martial society.

Everyone in Jiang Province was spontaneously organizing groups to travel to Tianyuan Capital to cheer for Li Pin, this fellow Jiang Province native. That was especially the case for those having witnessed Li Pin's battle, in which he single-handedly defeated the top ten young experts.

Once an uncrowned king, Li Pin had, by now, completely solidified his title as the top martial artist of Jiang Province.

As for the former number one, Gu Haoran? No one remembered him anymore.

Even if someone did mention him... it's probably just as "Oh, that guy Grandmaster Li defeated in that one-versus-ten battle."

Li Pin had unwittingly amassed a considerable following.

This was particularly true for Qin Rouran, who had been living with him lately. She deeply understood his dedication, diligence, and sense of responsibility.

"Go ahead. The door's already open. You have five hours. You young folks can experiment as much as you like, just don't break anything," Elder Wei said with a smile.

"It won't come to that," Li Pin replied.

Practicing martial arts was different from sparring. There's no need to worry about losing control and breaking things during combat practice.

After the two entered the room, Li Pin swiftly equipped the three top-tier astral equipment. In an instant, a surge of heightened mental spirit and vastly enhanced perception flooded his mind. This feeling was strangely intoxicating. It even gave rise to an illusory sense of power.

Describing it as "having a sharp weapon in hand, one's killing intent naturally arises" might be an exaggeration, but...[1] it's similar to the feeling of when a child in the countryside had a sturdy stick in hand, he'd always feel the urge to break something.

Qin Rouran looked at Li Pin, who had called her over, her curiosity tinged with a hint of anticipation. "Brother, what should I do?"

"Let me start with assessing your condition first ...."

Qin Rouran nodded. "

Oh

."

She proceeded to start lifting her skirt.

"No need for that, it's not bone reading."

As Li Pin spoke, he glanced at Qin Rouran, dressed in a light beige long dress, looking quite sweet and innocent. "Besides... it's better to wear training clothes in the future."

"There wasn't supposed to be any combat training today...." Qin Rouran muttered.

She didn't like wearing tight-fitting clothes. Instead, she preferred the refreshing and natural feel of dresses.

"It's just sensing your qi and blood and practicing some fist techniques, nothing major," Li Pin said.

With the help of the astral equipment's profound abilities, he quietly sensed the flow of qi and blood within Qin Rouran.

Just as he had anticipated. Thanks to the heightened perception the astral equipment provided, his ability to accurately gauge the flow of qi and blood within Qin Rouran improved by several levels.

Previously, he needed physical contact to determine that her qi and blood were around forty-eight points. However, it was different now; Li Pin could assess it with almost complete accuracy just by standing beside her.

He reached out and placed his hand on Qin Rouran's chest, where her heart was. "Circulate your qi and blood."

Immediately, he could clearly feel a surge of hot energy flowing through her entire body.

"I'll guide you. Move slowly."

"Okay."

Her jade-like face carried a hint of unease. She felt her body slightly tingling, as if she couldn't muster any strength.

"Stop overthinking. Focus and be serious," Li Pin emphasized.

Qin Rouran looked at where his hand was placed and murmured, " I know...."

She forcibly calmed herself down and controlled her qi and blood, directing it according to Li Pin's guidance. However, due to her overly sensitive skin, the qi and blood she gathered would often dissipate, causing her progress to be only marginally faster than when Li Pin wasn't wearing the Astral Equipment.

This left Li Pin a bit speechless.

Dealing with gender differences was a hassle. If Qin Rouran were a man, this wouldn't have been so awkward, and she wouldn't have such a hard time concentrating.

"It's done," Li Pin finally said, tracing a few paths on her body. "Just follow these routes in turn."

With that, Li Pin withdrew his hand.

"Ok."

For some reason, she felt a strange sense of emptiness. Still, facing Li Pin's urging, she dared not waste any time. After all, the time for using top-tier astral equipment was limited.

She immediately followed the route Li Pin had outlined and began practicing her punches. Li Pin pushed his spiritual perception to its limit, constantly adjusting her qi and blood circulation.

With each of Li Pin's perceptions, guidance, and corrections, Qin Rouran finally began to sense something. When the feeling grew stronger, Li Pin would personally step in, guiding and teaching her how to apply the force. As Qin Rouran's condition improved, the explosive sensation grew stronger and stronger...

After about three hours, Qin Rouran no longer needed Li Pin's guidance and became increasingly skilled on her own. Even though she was drenched in sweat, making her long dress cling to her body, she refused to pause. Her movements were growing more intense.

Finally, when the feeling reached its peak...

Qin Rouran couldn't help but let out a high-pitched cry: "Brother, I... I think I—"

In the next moment, all her qi and blood surged out due to the intense exercise. The air in front of her exploded with the force of her punch, creating a visible white shockwave.

Li Pin smiled slightly at the sight. "You've done it!"

"

Ha, ha, ha!

"

Qin Rouran panted heavily, drenched in sweat. Her face was visibly fatigued from the intense exercise. Yet, her eyes sparkled with excitement.

After a brief rest, she couldn't help but turn her gaze to Li Pin: "Brother... did I really just—"

Li Pin affirmed with a nod. "Yes, you've manifested your Force."

"I...."

Qin Rouran felt her mind struggling to keep up.

Just like that... she manifested her Force? Wasn't it supposed to take three to five years for an Astral Cultivator to go from bathing beneath the starlight to manifesting their Force and mastering their own explosive qi and blood!?

And how long has it been for her? Half a year! In just half a year, she had managed to manifest her Force!

Such speed.... She didn't know about the other countries, but in Taibai, that kind of speed was absolutely unprecedented.

Even some Martial Saints who relied on sheer luck, burning themselves out to embark on the path of Astral Cultivators, needed several months to adapt to their significantly stronger qi and blood and regain control over their Force.

In the Tianyuan Federation's records of transitioned Martial Saints, the shortest took a full seven months! Longer than the time she has taken!

How could this be? Am I more talented than those Martial Saints who had transitioned to become Astral Cultivators?

No! It's Li Pin! It's all thanks to Li Pin!

Qin Rouran looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with admiration. "Brother...."

"You have one more hour to adapt to this state. Remember how it feels," Li Pin advised patiently. "Within ten days to half a month, you'll have full control over your Force Manifestation and qi and blood. After that, you can continue to bathe beneath the starlight, increase your qi and blood to over a hundred, and become an official Astral Cultivator."

Qin Rouran nodded vigorously.

"Continue," Li Pin urged, resuming his supervision of Qin Rouran's martial arts practice.

He was very meticulous in his teaching. The sooner Qin Rouran mastered her Force Manifestation and became a official Astral Cultivator, the sooner he could fulfill his agreement with the Qin family.

With the Qin family's protection and the existing relationship between Li Yunyan and Qin Guangming, even if he did face unexpected dangers, they would still be safe.

In other words, he no longer had any concerns.

With the money and assets he left behind for them, he felt he had finally repaid the karmic debt he owed as "Li Pin."

With this debt settled, he could now go all out and compete in the World's Top Martial Competition without any worries.

He would immerse himself fully in the experience, seeking to grow and evolve through the intense challenges of battling various Quasi-Martial Saint and even true Martial Saint level fighters.

Even if he were to die in the competition, he would face it with no regrets and complaints.

This was the path he chose.

1. possessing a sharp weapon easily leads to thoughts of violence. ☜