Chapter 752: Again

In the company of Mo Xuan and Yuan Guang, Li Pin set off for the Supreme Ladder in the Sacred Flame Hall of the Astral World.

As they journeyed, news of Li Pin's return to challenge the Supreme Ladder after thirty years spread like wildfire, quickly sweeping across the entire Humanity Sanctum.

Had it been any other Astral God returning from a thirty-year seclusion to face the Supreme Ladder, it likely wouldn't have drawn much attention. But Li Pin was different. He had cultivated for less than two hundred stellar years. Over the past few decades, his fame had skyrocketed due to his rank on the Divine Race's Black List, where he stood at number nine. His name was now on everyone's lips.

If his mere return from seclusion had already attracted a steady stream of visitors and onlookers, the news of his challenge to the Supreme Ladder was bound to draw an even larger crowd.

Moreover, as Li Pin attempted the Supreme Ladder for the second time, the true reason behind his previous failure at the sixty-sixth step began to circulate. Under these circumstances, it didn't take long for countless people to be stirred.

***

On the mountain where Luo Shenxi resided, a young girl hurriedly flew up.

Before she even arrived, she had already used her divine senses to transmit the news to the palace. "Shenxi! Shenxi! Hurry, Li Pin has come out of seclusion and is going to challenge the Supreme Ladder again!"

Luo Shenxi immediately opened her eyes, ending her cultivation. "Li Pin!"

Ever since she learned that Li Pin had surpassed her and claimed the ninth spot on the Black List, she had thrown herself into even more intense training. For decades, she had relentlessly cultivated, sparing neither day nor night.

Now, hearing the girl's words, she stood up and spoke softly. " So, you're finally answering the world's doubts about you? At least your courage to challenge the Supreme Ladder as soon as you emerge from seclusion is admirable. It's no wonder the Black Abyss Highlord holds you in such high regard."

As she spoke, she had already left the palace, heading to meet the incoming girl.

"Shenxi, the reason Li Pin stopped at the sixty-sixth step of the Supreme Ladder last time wasn't due to a lack of strength. He actually had an epiphany at that moment and left in a hurry. According to him, if he had given his all, he could have reached the seventy-first or even the seventy-second step," the girl quickly explained.

Luo Shenxi's expression changed slightly. "Seventy-first, seventy-second step!?"

Her own record stood at the seventy-second step of the Supreme Ladder!

Luo Shenxi quickly regained her composure and, in a low voice, said, "He's ranked number nine on the Divine Race's Black List. It's no surprise he has that kind of strength. Stopping at the sixty-sixth step would be laughable."

The girl, still worried, glanced at Luo Shenxi. "Back then, his strength was enough to reach the seventy-first or seventy-second step. Now, after thirty years, he's going back to challenge the Supreme Ladder. I heard he's had another epiphany..."

Luo Shenxi replied indifferently, as if she had already read the girl's mind. "What? Are you worried he might surpass me and reach the seventy-third step?"

The girl hesitated, unsure how to respond. "

Uh...

"

"Perfect. Inspired by this ninth-ranked figure on the Black List, I've been cultivating day and night for the past few decades. With the foundation I've built, I feel I've made progress. It's time for me to challenge the Supreme Ladder again."

Luo Shenxi lifted off the ground. "This time, I'll directly step onto the seventy-third step... and if all goes well, I might even reach the seventy-fourth, surpassing the record that has stood since the establishment of the Humanity Sanctum."

The girl's eyes immediately brightened. "Shenxi, you've made progress too?"

Luo Shenxi replied with a faint smile, her tone exuding absolute confidence, "What? Is Li Pin the only one allowed to get stronger? Am I, Luo Shenxi, not allowed to improve? I just hope that when I challenge the Supreme Ladder this time, Li Pin won't disappoint me.

"I'll show him with my actions, and show the world, including the great Black Abyss Highlords and all the Supremes at the pinnacle of this world, who truly deserves to dominate this era, and who truly deserves to be number one in the Humanity Sanctum and at the top of the World Glory List!"

Whoosh!

With the pride of a supreme prodigy, Luo Shenxi, the top-ranking leader on the World Glory List for nearly ten thousand years, transformed into a streak of light. She swiftly joined the countless other lights leaving the Humanity Sanctum and headed straight toward the Sacred Flame Hall.

***

"Has the Hall Master come out of seclusion?"

"He's going to challenge the Supreme Ladder!? This is amazing! This time, he'll surely prove himself and showcase the true brilliance of a supreme prodigy!"

"Let's go, let's go! We might witness a miracle this time! We can't miss it!"

Upon hearing the news, Yu Xuexian, Yun Lai, Wang Fuyun, and the others quickly made their way to the teleportation area.

***

Elsewhere, Lin Tianhuang, Thousand Dust, Gu Yuan, and Sheng Xu didn't remain idle this time.

When Li Pin first challenged the Supreme Ladder, they barely gave him any attention. In their eyes, no matter how talented Li Pin was, he still needed time to grow. They could always focus on him in a few hundred or thousand years.

This judgment seemed confirmed by his performance, where he only reached the sixty-sixth step.

But this time... things were different.

Whether they liked it or not, they had to acknowledge the weight of the Divine Race's Black List. His position at number nine alone was enough to overshadow all the prodigies within the Sanctum.

In this situation, no matter how confident they were in themselves, it was hard to remain indifferent.

"Li Pin... I've heard that name so many times over the past decades that I could almost recite it in my sleep. So he's challenging the Supreme Ladder again, huh? This time, let's see what he's really capable of."

"Facts speak louder than words. Let's see if you can live up to the Divine Race's evaluation of you."

"Ranked number nine on the Black List! Do you truly deserve such an assessment from the Divine Race?"

The few giants, second only to Luo Shenxi, set off with a mix of curiosity and doubt, joining the crowd as they headed toward the Supreme Ladder at the Sacred Fire Hall.

***

The entire Humanity Sanctum was in an uproar.

More than half of the Starshine and Solar Flare members, as well as mentors at the Cosmic Radiance level, hurried to witness the spectacle upon hearing that Li Pin was challenging the Supreme Ladder right after emerging from seclusion. The teleportation area was running at full capacity.

As these members and mentors made their way toward the Supreme Ladder, Di Yiliu, ranked twenty-first on the World Glory List, stood conflicted atop his mountain.

"Sixty-sixth step... Sixty-sixth step.... He reached the sixty-sixth step without using any universe manifestation techniques or Cosmic Radiance Weapons! If he went all out, he might even make it to the seventy-first or seventy-second step..." he muttered, his emotions a whirlwind.

After a long pause, he seemed to come to terms with the reality of the situation and let out a long sigh. "Forget it. I can't compete. There's no way."

For Di Yiliu, his future seemed to hold the possibility of becoming a Cosmic Tyrant, if everything went according to plan. But if things didn't unfold as expected, he might struggle to grasp cosmic manifestation, getting stuck at the Cosmic Radiance Realm.

As for Li Pin, he was someone with the potential to aspire to the title of Heavenly Emperor. The gap between them was so vast that it was pointless to compare them. Fighting someone like him for a chance at glory would only lead to trouble.

Given that his plan to surpass Li Pin in battle and make a name for himself was doomed to fail, Di Yiliu realized he would need to find another way to stand out.

"Worst case scenario, I'll become a Tyrant. I have a good chance of becoming a Sacred Monarch too. And with some luck, I might even reach the title of Heavenly Emperor..." Di Yiliu mumbled, finally coming to a decision.

He flipped his hand and retrieved the Dragon Origin Dojo's token.

"Li Pin is likely to reach the seventy-second step this time. If things go well, hitting the seventy-third or seventy-fourth steps is within reach. Such an achievement deserves a congratulatory gift, and this token is perfect for it."

With his decision made, Di Yiliu felt a weight lift off his shoulders.

***

The journey from the Humanity Sanctum to the Sacred Flame Hall, and then from the Sacred Flame Hall to the Supreme Ladder, was actually not far.

Yet even in that short span of time, the news had already caused an uproar—not only in the Humanity Sanctum but also throughout the Sacred Flame Hall, where countless were stirred by the commotion.

By the time Li Pin, Mo Xuan, Yuan Guang, Shi Xingzun, and the others arrived at the Supreme Ladder, the area was already teeming with people. Among the crowd were individuals at the Starshine and Solar Flare Realms, as well as Cosmic Radiance experts.

Surprisingly, over ten Cosmic Tyrants had also gathered, and more Astral Gods were arriving from all directions.

At that moment, the number of Astral Gods gathered around the Supreme Ladder was likely already in the tens of thousands. If they waited any longer, the crowd would certainly double.

When Li Pin and Mo Xuan arrived, a dozen or so Cosmic Tyrants stepped forward, cupping their hands in greeting. "Hall Master."

Several well-connected Cosmic Radiance experts also approached.

Mo Xuan gave a nod to the Tyrants and Cosmic Radiance experts. In a way, Tyrants, Sacred Monarchs, and Heavenly Emperors were all ultimate lifeforms, much like the Cosmic Radiances. Their essence of life was fundamentally the same.

These major realms were all founded on the principles of the True Spirit, so it wasn't unusual for Cosmic Radiance experts and Heavenly Emperors to speak as equals.

But it was like the people of Gaia—equal in theory, yet a commoner would still feel uneasy in front of a head of state. Even if both were mortal, both just as vulnerable to a single bullet, the difference in presence remained.

"Is that Li Pin?"

"He really is something."

"Haha, let's see just how strong you are—strong enough to draw the Highlord's attention and rank ninth on the Divine Race's Black List."

After exchanging greetings with Mo Xuan, the Tyrants and Cosmic Radiance experts turned their eyes toward Li Pin, curiosity flickering in every gaze.

Mo Xuan gestured toward the Tyrants and Cosmic Radiance experts, then looked back at Li Pin with a smile of encouragement.

"Don't feel any pressure. Show them your true strength—let them witness the unparalleled talent of the human race."

Li Pin nodded. "It shouldn't be too bad."

With that, he shot into the sky like a streak of light, slicing through the air.

As curiosity and anticipation filled the crowd, their expressions gradually shifted to astonishment—then disbelief.

Li Pin crossed the seventy, seventy-second, and seventy-fourth steps. Then surged past the seventy-sixth... and the seventy-eighth.

Finally, he landed directly on the eightieth step of the Supreme Ladder.