Chapter 300: System

In a garden adorned with simple floral arrangements, a girl with a ponytail and a pleated skirt approached Li Pin. She appeared sweet and gentle.

"You are... Wen Li, right?" said Li Pin.

He vaguely remembered her. She was Wen Yusheng's third daughter, whom he had introduced during last night's banquet.

"Yes," answered the girl, looking a bit reserved. "Uncle Li, hello... My father heard you wanted to learn the Great Shang language...."

Uh? Uncle?

Li Pin was briefly taken aback, but he quickly recalled his current appearance and the equal footing he shared with Wen Yusheng. It didn't seem inappropriate for her to address him as "Uncle."

"Relax, no need to be nervous," Li Pin said. "I remember Lord Wen mentioning that you're only sixteen, yet you've already mastered both the Great Shang and Tianyuan languages. That's impressive."

When speaking about her areas of expertise, the girl perked up. "Not just Great Shang and Tianyuan. I'm also proficient in the Royal Empire language, both in reading, writing, and conversation. Additionally, I am learning the Solar Radiance language with my private tutor right now."

"A linguistic genius." Li Pin smiled. "Then, I'll thank you for your help in advance."

"It's my honor," the girl replied quickly.

***

In the following days, Li Pin didn't rush to the Black Gold Mine to battle the Majin or Ghouls. Instead, he patiently dedicated time to learning the Great Shang language while attempting to simplify the Martial God training system.

After over fifty years of war, the Great Moon language had fallen out of use. While the older generation, like Wen Li's grandfather, might still be fluent in it, it had largely disappeared among her father's peers. In their generation, the Great Shang and the Royal Empire languages had become the widespread tongue, both in speech and writing.

Li Pin had previously taken the Great Shang language as an elective course at Hanyang University. He was able to make fast progress while revisiting the subject. As his proficiency in the Great Shang language grew, he gradually began to see results in his first attempt to simplify the Martial God system.

***

"I'm currently generating an electric current through cellular friction, boosting both speed and strength in a way similar to electromagnetic propulsion. Additionally, I've mastered Gaia's Celestial Magnetic Field, fully grasping the planet's orbital movement. With this level of understanding, I can harness Gaia's power to rotate the magnetic field."

In a small pavilion within the courtyard, Li Pin sat at a table, recording his findings in a book.

Among the two forces at his disposal, one was entirely his own. The other, however, exacted a heavy toll. His current level had already neared the upper limit of Gaia's Celestial Magnetic Field strength. In this regard, his mastery had far surpassed normal standards.

This was also why he could push himself to the point of perishing together with a Legendary Mage—a feat no other martial artist could achieve, even if they had also entered the Martial God realm.

"If I convert the energy from the current, my maximum output right now can reach between 750 to 800 kilowatts."

Considering that he had only just begun his Martial God cultivation, Li Pin recorded the electric current output he could exert as of now as "1" in his attributes.

"Based on my calculations, once this number grows to ten, my Lifeform Force Field will fully evolve into a Celestial Magnetic Field. At that point, I won't need to rely on my present method, which is essentially harnessing the Celestial Magnetic Field's power through a high level of cultivation to simulate magnetic field rotation."

As he spoke, he sketched a tree diagram.

"However, even after my Lifeform Force Field transforms, it will still be insignificant compared to Gaia's Celestial Magnetic Field. From my current understanding, Gaia's field's intensity can be defined as around 200 to 250. But since I haven't yet fully grasped all its mysteries, a more accurate range would be 250 to 300."

This gap was like comparing an ordinary person who hadn't undergone any training with a High-Class Astral Cultivator.

When Li Pin's magnetic field strength reached 250 or 300, he would break through Gaia's constraints, similar to a Natal Planet, transforming from someone who merely borrowed Gaia's power into one who commanded it.

At that point, the roles would reverse. His power would surpass Gaia, and he would step from the Planetary realm into the Cosmic realm.

Li Pin recorded all of these details. Soon, the tree diagram in his notebook began to take shape.

"The Martial God path isn't just about reaching different levels; it's a complete cultivation system, much like the Astral Cultivators."

Just as the Astral Cultivator system was divided into categories like Ordinary, High-Class, Top-Tier, Master, and Legendary Astral Cultivators, the Martial God system had similar stages.

"My current level could be considered that of a newly transitioned Martial God. In terms of combat power... I could match a High-Class Astral Cultivator."

Li Pin continued to fill in the diagram.

Above the Martial God level, when the electric current intensity increased from "1" to "10," the Lifeform Force Field would fully transform into a Celestial Magnetic Field. This was when the practitioner would become a High-Class Martial God, equivalent to a Top-Tier Astral Cultivator.

Beyond that, it would no longer be electric current but electromagnetic field intensity.

Once it reached 30, the Martial God wouldn't just be empowered by the Celestial Magnetic Field. Their own field would begin to resist Gaia's Celestial Magnetic Field. Even if their cultivation wasn't fully complete, his magnetic field power alone would allow him to defy Gaia's field and take flight.

This level, which Li Pin called the Top-Tier Martial God, could theoretically rival a Master Astral Cultivator.

However, given the power gap between Top-Tier and Master Astral Cultivators, Li Pin felt that he'd need to reach that level and test his strength in battle to know for sure.

When the magnetic field strength further increased to 100, the practitioner's Celestial Magnetic Field would have completed its first round of reinforcement. At this stage, the magnetic field fully merged with the body, creating a protective shield around every part of the body.

Or perhaps it's more accurate to call it... a biological force field?

At this point, the physical strength of a Martial God and their force field intensity would have reached a new-found height.

"At this stage... withstanding a low-yield nuclear explosion shouldn't be a problem."

Such a formidable body would naturally unleash equally powerful attacks.

In fact, if combined with certain secret arts that pushed the body's potential, someone's offensive power would likely surpass their defense.

Combat power at this level undoubtedly belonged to the Legendary realm.

Li Pin marked the number "100" with the word "Legendary."

"As for the name of this realm... maybe Legendary Martial God?"

Li Pin pondered for a moment before finally settling on Supreme Martial God.

"Beyond this... is the realm I'm currently at," Li Pin noted. "I've almost grasped all the mysteries behind Gaia's celestial movement... just one more step, and I can break through the shackles of my Natal Planet, reversing the control so that my magnetic field dominates Gaia's Celestial Magnetic Field."

He pondered for a moment. However, he understood that while his realm had reached this level, his actual power was still far from it.

In the future, if he truly wanted to shatter the Natal Planet and step into the Cosmic realm, his magnetic field intensity would need to increase to at least 250.

Li Pin glanced at the diagram he had sketched.

"Ordinary, High-Class, Top-Tier, Supreme Martial God... and the one who breaks the shackles of the Natal Planet would be... the Supreme Expert."

Looking at the words, he contemplated for a moment before adding a stage between Supreme Martial God and Supreme Expert.

𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

The Celestial Breaker. Or Celestial Pulverizer.

Breaking through the Natal Planet was itself a stage. After that, going from the Celestial Body realm to the Cosmic realm was an entirely new level.

In a sense, when the Celestial Breaker phase ended, the cultivation of a Martial God reached its conclusion. A martial artist who hadn't shattered their Natal Planet and a Supreme Expert who had were of totally different levels.

It was a completely different system, one that even he hadn't fully explored or conceived.

By then, cultivators would ascend from the Celestial Body realm to the Cosmic realm, just like how a planetary civilization evolved into a cosmic civilization.

***

"With my Thunder-Magnetic Elemental Body, improving the strength of my magnetic field is fairly efficient. But with more Primordial Electric Crystals, the efficiency could double. The Celestial Magnetic Field is the core of the Martial God stage. The stronger it is, the more it enhances the refinement of my body."

Li Pin quickly came up with an accurate number.

"Without the Primordial Electric Crystals, it would take me 3 to 5 years to raise my qi and blood to the threshold of a Top-Tier Astral Cultivator.

"But with enough Primordial Electric Crystals, I could first raise my magnetic field intensity to 10, shortening that period to 2 or 3 years. If I could push it further to 30, it could be done in under a year."

If I recall correctly, Primordial Electric Crystals come from Great Shang. The market price was around thirteen million. The cost should be much lower.

...

Of course, in a place like Great Moon, buying Primordial Electric Crystals without an extra markup from Great Shang would already be fortunate, let alone considering the cost price.

"Speaking of which... the Black Gold Mine was the largest during the Great Moon era. It wasn't abandoned because all the Mithril and Adamantium were mined, but because it was overrun by thousands of Ghouls and Majin. These creatures are high-tier demonic creatures, though on the weaker side of that category.

"In the enclosed environment of those underground mines, however, eliminating them would require several thousand, if not tens of thousands, of High-Class Astral Cultivators."

The cost was too high.

Both the Royal Empire and Great Shang had perilous regions within their own territories that required defense. Neither could afford to pull such a massive force to clear the mine.

And even if they did, who would claim the territory afterward?

If Great Shang took action, the Royal Empire would swoop in to reap the benefits. The same would happen if the empire made a move.

Thus, the Black Gold Mine, with its immense value, was abandoned and became a paradise for the Ghouls and Majin, plaguing the surrounding territories.

At this moment, Li Pin noticed a figure approaching hastily from outside, and he called out to him, "Lord Qiao Yuanshan."

Qiao Yuanshan, who seemed to be heading toward the Lord's Mansion, paused and quickly cupped his hands in respect.

"Martial Saint Li," he greeted, smiling. "If you need anything, just let me know."

"Meng Ren was buried yesterday, wasn't he?" asked Li Pin.

Qiao Yuanshan was momentarily confused. "Meng Ren?"

He had nearly forgotten about the minor character in the past ten days. Now that Li Pin brought it up, he remembered. "Yes, given his condition, he wouldn't have survived for more than a few days. His burial should have been around this time... I recall arranging for a relief department official to assist, since a thousand gold yuan is no small amount. I'll have someone check right away..."

"

Mm

."

Li Pin had secretly observed Meng Yang several times in recent days and knew his father had been buried by now.

Since the burial had taken place...

"Have Meng Yang come to see me," Li Pin said. After a moment, he added, "Bring the little girl with him."

Qiao Yuanshan quickly understood what Li Pin meant. "Martial Saint Li, the compensation of one thousand gold yuan you provided is already more than enough. There's no need—"

"It's fine." Li Pin waved his hand. "This is my own decision."

Hearing this, Qiao Yuanshan straightened up and bowed solemnly. "On behalf of Meng Yang and his sister, I thank you, Martial Saint Li."