Chapter 418: Punishment

"188 punches!?"

Hearing the brief exchange between Li Pin and Wu De, Yuan Zhenchuan, Tu Tan, Fan Xiu, and the others finally grasped the situation.

"188 punches, each comparable to a Legendary Astral Technique?!"

If even Fan Xiu, a genuine Supreme Expert by virtue of his combat prowess, was left stunned, then there was no need to mention Yuan Zhenchuan and Tu Tan, whose status as Supreme Experts stemmed from special circumstances.

The Master Astral Cultivators and even Legends felt their scalps tingle.

To rephrase Wu De's words... Li Pin had unleashed 188 Legendary Astral Techniques in less than ten breaths!? And he had released them consecutively!?

What do you call this!? This is what it means to bombard the battlefield with Legendary Astral Techniques!

It's no wonder the ninth layer of the Tenfold Heavenly Domains would suddenly collapse. What structure could possibly withstand such a dense and rapid barrage?

Fan Xiu was struck with a realization.

If Li Pin could throw 188 punches comparable to Legendary Astral Techniques within ten breaths, wouldn't that mean... that he could beat up a Legend 188 times?!

After all, a Legend had lower qi and blood than a lord-level demonic creature. They couldn't take on Legendary Astral Techniques head-on even if they used defensive Astral Techniques.

And now... Li Pin had just released 188 punches rivaling those techniques within ten breaths....

Forget Legends—even a Supreme Expert's Starlight Body couldn't repair itself so quickly. Li Pin would be dealing damage faster than the Starlight Body could regenerate.

Didn't this mean that... Li Pin could slay a Supreme?!

Fan Xiu immediately gazed at Li Pin, his eyes filled with shock.

He then turned to Wu De, who had asked the question. Having realized the implications, Wu De's face had turned pale by now.

Wu De wasn't alone. Tu Tan, Yuan Zhenchuan, Qiao Baishi, Bai Ying, and Zuo Xiangfeng—as well as other Legends and Supremes—all realized the same thing.

The Starlight Body might be as invincible as the rumors suggested, but every time an Astral Cultivator's physical form was obliterated, forcing them into their starlight form, they'd expend astral energy to regenerate.

Naturally, regeneration took time.

This was also why legendary-level demonic creatures could inflict fatal damage on Legends. They would force Legends into their starlight form and then use their ability to devour Starlight Bodies.

Typically, they would absorb 10 to 20 percent of the Starlight Bodies' astral energy. In the worst-case scenario, they could devour the Starlight Body entirely, turning it into a feast

Even if Li Pin didn't have the devouring traits of demonic creatures and could only destroy one percent of the Starlight Body with each strike, he'd only need a hundred punches to kill a Legend.

A Legend's recovery speed was fast, but Li Pin could unleash a barrage of punches within 10 breaths. 110 punches would be more than enough to kill a Legend.

And that was assuming each of Li Pin's punches only consumed one percent of the Starlight Body's energy. In reality, he was likely dealing far more damage.

Qiao Baishi couldn't help but ask, "Hall Master Li... are you sure you haven't stepped into the realm above Legendary?"

"It's just a different system," Li Pin replied.

In terms of various attribute data, he was actually inferior to those Supremes who had spent years refining their skills in the Legendary realm. However, his mastery and application of power far surpassed those of the Legends and Supreme Experts.

This was also why he felt that he had not yet surpassed the Legendary realm. However, that was not the main point.

Li Pin turned his gaze to Wu De. "I believe the earlier battle was sufficient to prove that I can face and kill a supreme demonic creature in a direct confrontation."

Wu De's face alternated between pale and flushed as he looked at Li Pin's somewhat indifferent gaze.

Despite feeling flustered, Wu De restrained himself, recalling the ferocity, dominance, and ruthlessness Li Pin had displayed when he blasted the Blood Titan. Even someone as fearless as him, confident he could restrain even the Legends known for their melee abilities, felt a twinge of fear.

Under the pressure of Li Pin's gaze, a sense of reverence involuntarily arose in Wu De's heart, and he lowered his gaze, unable to look into Li Pin's eyes. He admitted, "I was wrong.... I am willing to accept punishment."

He turned his head to look around. "With the collapse of the Tenfold Heavenly Domains, the many demonic creatures living within it will inevitably emerge, plunging this area into their shadow. Therefore, for the coming years, I will station myself in the southern region of the Star Alliance, hunting these demonic creatures. I will not leave until every last one of them is eradicated."

"That's not enough," Li Pin said calmly. "They are two reasons for your reckless actions, the actions that allowed the Tenfold Heavenly Domains to spiral out of control. On one hand, you believe that as a Legend, no one can punish you even if you commit heinous mistakes. On the other hand... it's your confidence in yourself."

Wu De's face turned pale.

"You believe that as the holder of the Frost Ring, the foremost of the Six Divine Rings, no one in this world dares claim they can defeat you with absolute certainty. Not even the Solar Radiance Sovereign could guarantee to emerge unscathed in a battle against you."

Li Pin stared at Wu De. "Thus, you believe that no Supreme Expert at the pinnacle of the world would risk their life to truly deal with you, no matter how heinous your mistakes are."

Wu De murmured softly, "Hall Master Li... I have realized my mistake and am willing to atone for my wrongdoing."

"I told you, that's not enough. Letting this matter pass so lightly—how can the thirty million souls on this land rest in peace?" Li Pin spoke in an ice-cold tone. "To ensure you learn your lesson and never dare make such mistakes again, the best solution is to strip from you what gives you the confidence to act as you do."

In a tone resembling a decree, he said, "Hand over the Frost Ring."

Wu De was astounded.

He wasn't the only one. Even Yuan Zhenchuan, Tu Tan, Fanxiu, and the Star Alliance members like Bai Ying, and Zuo Xiangfeng, were shocked.

Li Pin... was going to strip Wu De of his control over the Frost Ring!?

For a moment, all eyes fell on Wu De, waiting for his decision.

No one said a word to stop Li Pin.

They felt a looming sense of impending disaster. All would be well if Wu De kept his ring, regardless of Li Pin's words. However, once he relinquished it to him, a storm could sweep the entire world if news spread.

A Supreme Expert forcing another Supreme Expert to bow down and relinquish their greatest reliance... the impact of an event like this would inevitably shake the world.

The global power structure would be reshaped as a result.

Wu De's brows creased, and his expression turned conflicted. He gritted his teeth before resolutely declaring, "No! The Frost Ring has always belonged to the Star Alliance; to me, Wu De! How could I hand it over to you!?"

He said in a low bellow, "I am willing to voluntarily guard the Bloodmoon Gorge to atone for my sins. Hall Master Li, does this sound acceptable to you?"

Li Pin stared at Wu De. "Since it is a punishment, it must carry sufficient weight. I don't want to repeat myself for the third time. Hand over the Frost Ring."

Wu De could barely hold his composure any longer. "Li Pin! Are you trying to break the rules between nations and incite a civil war among Legends!?"

He knew very well that as long as he didn't hand over the Frost Ring, he would remain a Supreme of this era, ranked among the world's strongest. However, if he truly submitted to Li Pi's decision, he would fall from the pinnacle of Supreme Experts. He would be reduced to an ordinary Legend incapable of influencing the global power structure.

"The Human Alliance will be the one to decide on the outcome of this matter. But you, you do not represent the Human Alliance!" roared Wu De.

Having forced himself to maintain his dignity, Wu De backed down, not daring to continue opposing Li Pin. He turned to leave the area as quickly as possible.

𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

However, just as he was about to leave, a terrifying binding force descended upon him.

"As I've said, I won't repeat myself a third time. Since you refuse to hand over the Frost Ring... then..." Li Pin strode forward, his energy surging, "I'll take it myself!"

Wu De let out an enraged roar. "Li Pin!"

As starlight erupted about him, Wu De's figure rapidly expanded, trying to break free from the binding field.

Even a supreme-level demonic creature would require great effort to break free from the binding field. No matter how strong Wu De was, his strength mostly stemmed from the Frost Ring. How could his overall attributes compare to those of a supreme-level demonic creature?

Wu De watched as Li Pin leaped forward, clenching his fist, as if ready to throw a punch that would obliterate his physical form.

Realizing he would not be able to break free from the binding force field in time, Wu De's blazed the starlight about him to the extreme.

"You forced me to do this!" roared Wu De.

Starlight spread as a force of destruction condensed in Wu De's hand, forming what appeared to be a miniature sun.

This was the Legendary Astral Technique mastered by almost every top-notch Legend—Nuclear Fission.

However, before the technique could fully form, the binding magnetic field generated from the Celestial Magnetic Field violently shook, severely disrupting the Nuclear Fission process. The destructive energy scattered instantly, forming wild flames that spread in all directions.

At the same time, Li Pin's fist force pierced through the void.

Though it was merely an Aura Force, the explosive energy within it rivaled the destructive force of a Legendary Astral Technique.

The space centered on Wu De seemed to shatter on the spot, and even his Natal Spirit Armor could barely withstand it.

"Li Pin! The rules prohibiting battles between Legends are broken from this moment on! You will become the sinner of all humanity!"

With an unwilling roar, Wu De abruptly took on his starlight form.

Almost at the same time, the Celestial Force Field field that restrained him surged to its peak. The dazzling starlight radiating from him wildly struck out, attempting to break free from the binding field.

The binding field trembled violently, yet not a single ray of starlight managed to escape its confinement.

Moments later, Wu De's form reassembled, but what appeared before him was utter despair.

"How... how can the binding field... be this strong?!"

Bai Ying, watching from the sidelines, let out a silent sigh. "It's over. Failing to escape Li Pin's binding field means being unable to avoid having all astral energy wiped out until death... Wu De has lost."

Tu Tan's expression was complicated. He nodded heavily. "A crushing defeat!"

The defeat he spoke of was not just Wu De's but also his, and that of all Legends and Supremes who relied on external weapons to achieve their status.

If Li Pin could bind Wu De, he could naturally bind them as well. That also meant that he could kill them too.

From this moment on, even Supreme Experts in their starlight forms were no longer invincible.

Li Pin calmly looked at Wu De, his energy blazing like flames. He did not raise his fist.

Wu De, having taken on his physical form once more, no longer resisted.

He had already speculated way before he attempted to flee that he wasn't Li Pin's match. Li Pin was someone who could annihilate a supreme-level demonic creature with ease. He knew fully well he couldn't contend with someone like that.

This was precisely why he was willing to accept punishment and even volunteer to guard the Bloodmoon Gorge.

He understood the gap between them. However, that did not mean he was willing to accept it. Even so, the Celestial Force Field that tightly restrained him—and Li Pin's terrifying fist force that shattered his defenses without even touching him—undoubtedly crushed his last shred of hope.

The gap between them was just too big.

By the time Li Pin stepped forward, Wu De's spirit seemed to have been utterly crushed.

He raised his head and looked at Li Pin. "I've lost."

Finally, he slowly slid off the Frost Ring around his finger.