Chapter 528: Escape

"A suspected battle broke out between a Divine Being and an Astral God's avatar at the Sunset Astral Gate, ending with the defeat of the Astral God's avatar."

As they looked at the information displayed on Bai Lu's bracelet, silence fell over the group.

The Tier Six Legend Long Ying, the Divine Being Qi Ming, and the dozen or so pioneers in their team all froze, their eyes fixed blankly on the screen. It was as if a silencing spell had enveloped the area. No one made the slightest sound.

After a long pause, a pioneer hesitantly spoke. "Could this Divine Being be Li Pin's protector? Or did he secretly spend a fortune hiring one to follow him?"

Another pioneer from Qi Ming's team, specializing in intelligence gathering, responded, "The Sunset Astral Gate was built by the Forest Feather Sect and incorporated into the public transport network.

"To ensure it remains profitable, the sect enforces a strict monitoring system to guarantee its safety. According to their surveillance... only one Divine-level energy signature was detected."

Qi Ming's extensive connections within the Xian Ying Star Cluster's Astral Gate Transportation Department allowed him to monitor gate activities in real time. This advantage was why Long Ying chose to collaborate with him.

The pioneer had obtained some intercepted images while speaking and quickly displayed them on the screen. "I obtained this through personal favors from the Forest Feather Sect's surveillance system. This... is the Divine Being consistently monitored by their system."

Everyone immediately turned to the images. The figure displayed was none other than Li Pin—the very person they had dismissed as a mere avatar.

"According to the surveillance system, his peak Power Level once reached 180,000," the pioneer continued, presenting a comparison screenshot.

One figure showed just over 150,000, while the other clearly displayed an overwhelming 180,000.

This was near the upper limit of Tier Seven combat strength.

"Impossible... A 180,000 Power Level? How... could that be?"

Long Ying, who had been plotting against Li Pin, slumped back into his seat. His voice trembled. "Before entering the Divine Treasury Hall, Li Pin's Power Level barely exceeded 10,000. He was only a peak Celestial Martial Artist. How long has it been? How could his strength grow so drastically in less than four stellar years? How is this possible?"

Even Qi Ming wouldn't think about defeating an Astral God's avatar despite his strength. In an encounter like that, survival would be his primary concern.

From what Long Ying knew, these Astral God avatars typically had Power Levels of around 150,000. But Li Pin not only crushed an Astral God's avatar, he also displayed a terrifying 180,000 Power Level.

For Long Ying, this number was suffocating. It represented an insurmountable chasm—one he couldn't hope to cross for a very long time.

Li Pin's strength had yet to double his own, meaning Long Ying wouldn't be instantly killed in a confrontation. But that didn't mean anything. If he didn't die in an instant, he would die after one or two strikes.

With a complex expression, Bai Lu said, "This only shows how much he gained from the Mara Divine Treasure World. Historically, some have risen to prominence after breaking a Divine Treasure World.

"However, those cases were almost always team efforts. Even if one person took the lead, the critical information often came from others. In such cases, the rewards were shared among the group. But Li Pin is different..."

Qi Ming, Long Ying, and the others understood her meaning.

Li Pin was a newcomer. He had broken through the Mara World by the second phase. He had done it solely. No one else had played a significant role in the process. Under such circumstances, the benefits he reaped far exceeded anyone's imagination.

"We were wrong. All of us were wrong," Bai Lu said bitterly. "Li Pin left the Divine Treasury Hall alone, relying on nothing but his own strength. Because he... is strong enough!"

With the Divine Treasury Hall's suppression from above and the Astral Gods acting cautiously, someone with peak Tier Seven combat power on the Supreme Ladder could roam the vast universe freely.

The man in the golden robe remarked, a trace of fear in his eyes, "Li Pin wasn't bluffing when he claimed he had grown incredibly strong.... It wasn't arrogance that made him say those words. He wasn't courting death either. It was a sincere warning—a genuine plea for anyone below Tier Six or the Divine realm not to throw their lives away.

"He knew. Tier Six Legends without a Divine Weapon would still meet their end if they tried to covet what he possesses."

Long Ying and Qi Ming fell silent.

It was true. What Li Pin said... was all true. Anyone below Tier Six Legends or the Divine Realm targeting him would be courting death. Even ordinary Tier Six Legends or Divine beings wouldn't fare any better. It would still end in death.

Long Ying and Qi Ming felt an unexpected wave of emotion.

He... he was truly honest.

Fortunately, they had thought more carefully, mistaking it all as Li Pin's attempt to divert attention. Choosing to hold their positions instead of acting immediately, they avoided disaster. If they had charged in with their squad as soon as Li Pin left the Divine Treasury Hall, they would already be in the underworld awaiting judgment.

Not only would they have gained nothing, but the semi-divine and divine equipment they carried would've now belonged to Li Pin.

At this thought, Long Ying and Qi Ming exchanged glances, both shivering uncontrollably.

Lingering fear gripped their hearts.

So close—just a hair's breadth away.

The realization hit hard, and both waved their hands decisively. "Disperse, disperse!"

"Let's go to other Divine Treasury Halls. There's no point staying in the Mara Divine Treasury Hall."

"Exactly. We should avoid the Heaven Pierce Divine Treasury Hall too. It's better if we move far away. Maybe even leave this entire starfield and explore Divine Treasury Halls in another one."

Both of them were in agreement.

As for targeting Li Pin... they wouldn't mention it again. In fact, any actions that could remotely spread rumors about him would be swiftly erased to prevent leaving any trace that Li Pin might follow to settle scores later.

The other pioneers understood this well.

They were forced to leave their familiar grounds, but as the saying goes, "When you make mistakes, you face the consequences."

Compared to being hunted down by Li Pin, exile seemed the better outcome.

***

Only figures like Long Ying and Qi Ming, who had been keeping constant watch on Li Pin's movements and had strong networks, could learn about his situation immediately.

After Long Ying, Qi Ming, and the others packed up and left the Divine Treasury Hall, Fang Chunyang—also of notable background—learned the news. By then, however, the information had already spread, and the details he received were more comprehensive.

The clash between Li Pin and the Astral God's avatar had obliterated the satellite they were on, leaving no firsthand footage. Despite that, instruments had captured clear changes in their Power Levels.

Both values, whether 150,000 or 180,000, made Fang Chunyang's pupils dilate sharply.

"Li Pin..." he murmured.

Fang Chunyang couldn't help recalling the scene three stellar years ago when Li Pin first joined the Mara Divine Treasury Hall. Back then, Li Pin's inner spirit potential had been impressive, but his strength... was nothing remarkable. It almost seemed to him that reaching the fourth tier of the Legendary realm would have been Li Pin's limit.

Fang Chunyang marveled sincerely, "It's true what they say—three days apart, and you see someone in a whole new light!"

After a moment of thought, he quickly contacted the Dreamscape Astral God, the hall master of the Mara Divine Treasury Hall. When the call connected, Astral God Mi Meng's projection appeared.

—What is it?

Fang Chunyang didn't dare hide anything and immediately reported the events at the Sunset Astral Gate.

After hearing him out, Dreamscape Astral God responded curtly.

—We're already tracking this matter, and an Astral God stationed at the Homo Sapien Alliance Yin Luo Galaxy Office will personally handle it.

Her tone grew slightly colder.

—Even though that Astral God erased all traces of his identity, everything leaves evidence. It's just a matter of time before we uncover the truth. Our Divine Treasury Hall won't let this go.

Fang Chunyang suggested, "Li Pin is different from us. He doesn't have a faction backing him, but he wields the Solar Flare Divine Weapon—a treasure coveted even by Astral Gods. I think the Divine Treasury Hall should handle this investigation openly to deter any other Astral Gods with ulterior motives."

Astral God Mi Meng nodded slightly on the other end.

—I'll bring this to the annual meeting of the main hall.

She sighed helplessly.

—I thought that after redeeming so many cultivation resources, Li Pin would settle down for at least a decade before making any moves. I even planned to ask him about his intentions a few stellar years later, hoping to take him directly to the Void Divine Treasury Hall.

—But I got caught up in other matters and forgot about it, and now, just two stellar years in, he's left the Mara Divine Treasury Hall without a word.

Fang Chunyang agreed. "Thankfully, he's grown significantly in these two stellar years. Otherwise, this time... it could have ended badly, and our Divine Treasury Hall would have lost face."

Fang Chunyang belonged to a family organization within the Divine Treasury Hall. Though a pioneer, his position differed from that of the independent Pioneers who worked on their own. Naturally, he cared deeply about the development and future of the Divine Treasury Hall.

—The Mara World and Void World are connected. I've marked their connection in my report. The main hall is likely to send a Solar Flare Astral God to investigate personally. No one would dare provoke us now.

Fang Chunyang nodded. Without Astral God-level interference, Li Pin's safety would be largely assured.

Then, as if recalling something, he asked, "Are Mara World and Void World truly connected?"

—The chances are growing stronger. Recent intelligence shows even more overlapping terms between the two worlds, like Celestial Barren Domain and the Supreme Demonic Sword. That Supreme Demonic Sword also turns negative emotions into a source of energy.

Her tone grew serious.

—Not only that, but there's also a top-tier entity in that world called the Immortal God Emperor. With three or four such parallels, the only explanation is that the two worlds are deeply connected. It's even possible that the Supreme Demonic Sword in Mara World is the precursor to the one in Void World.