Chapter 773: Strength

Liu Suxin panicked at Cai Tong's words, her eyes filled with fear. "This matter... Senior Sister... I..."

"You harmed a prodigy from the Human Race. His Majesty Light of Origin clearly gave you a chance to apologize, yet you refused to comply and even fled afterward. With such character, what makes you think the Master would ever accept you back into the sect?"

As Cai Tong spoke, she recalled the Light of Origin's brilliant feat of passing the eighty-second step of the Supreme Ladder not long ago. Her expression turned colder. "Master not only refuses to take you as a personal disciple again, but she has even revoked you from being a registered disciple. From today onwards, you are no longer allowed to refer to yourself as a member of the Immortal Bloom Sword Sect. Otherwise, you will be severely punished!"

"No, Senior Sister, I beg you, let me see Master just once..." Liu Suxin pleaded in haste.

"You have half a day to pack and leave the Immortal Bloom Sword Sect!" Cai Tong waved her hand forcefully, ignoring her completely. "The Immortal Bloom Sword Sect has no disciples as shameless and untrustworthy as you!"

"Senior Sist—"

Cai Tong frowned slightly. "Don't call me Senior Sister."

She advised, "Rather than wasting time here, you'd better hurry back and have the Liu Clan prepare offerings and go apologize to His Majesty Light of Origin. If you act now, there's still a sliver of hope. Otherwise, once Wang Fuyun brings this matter up to His Majesty and he pursues the matter, not only you, but your entire Liu family might be buried along with your foolish actions."

"You might want to learn what happened to the Zi, Yuan, Shang, and Ji Clans in the Yuan Yang Star Domain. Even though your Liu family is somewhat more influential, as long as you haven't produced a Cosmic Radiance, you're nothing in front of a true Cosmic Radiance. Let alone when you're before someone like His Majesty Light of Origin, who may one day become a Sacred Monarch or even a Heavenly Emperor."

After saying her piece, Cai Tong turned and left.

"A Heavenly Emperor..." Liu Suxin murmured those words in terror.

Her entire being suddenly drained of all vitality, qi, and spirit as she collapsed to the ground.

***

In the cultivation chamber of Li Pin's residence in the Sacred Flame Hall, Li Pin concluded his cultivation with a smile.

Seeing that Li Pin seemed to have stopped temporarily, Sasha asked the question she had held in her heart, "Why did you stop at the Supreme Ladder's eighty-second step last time in such a rush?"

"The Supreme Ladder?" Li Pin glanced at her. "Wasn't the Supreme Ladder meant to test out battle techniques and secret arts like the Grand Oblivion Art and Galactic Starburst?"

"You've pretty much figured out how that supreme treasure works," Sasha said.

"Considering the time, I should make a trip to the Divine Martial Emperor Palace of the Myriad Astral God Hall and claim a slot in the Ten Thousand Tribes Dominion War," Li Pin replied, rising to his feet.

Sasha said, "Your Galactic Starburst and Primordial Qi-Seeking Art have progressed quickly, almost perfected. Your Grand Oblivion Art has also taken some form. However, the Primordial Abyss True Demon Form and Infinite Star Abyss Body still haven't even begun. As for the Grand Evolution Sword Qi, you've not trained it at all. It might be difficult for you to get a spot in the competition."

She suggested, "Perhaps you can first make use of the Gate of Time and Space. With its help, you can experience the scene of attaining the Supreme realm. You can then tap on this to completely perfect your Galactic Starburst cultivation. Your application has already been approved. It was only delayed last time due to the matter at Dragon Origin Dojo."

"

Hmm?

" Li Pin was somewhat surprised. "You think I can't make it into the top ten?"

"I gathered data on all the Human Race participants in the Ten Thousand Tribes Dominion War and compiled a ranking. The top three would definitely be Emperor Ara, Yue Shu, and Xuan Chengming.

Sasha said tactfully. "Each one of them is a top-tier Tyrant. Emperor Ara, who is ranked first, even reached the Supreme Ladder's ninetieth step and possesses Sacred Monarch-level combat power! Even Zi Zaitian, who is ranked in tenth place, had reached the eighty-fifth step. With your current strength at the eighty-second step... I'm afraid it's not enough."

"Ninetieth step?" Li Pin was a bit astonished. "That's very strong."

Sasha fell silent for a moment before replying, "The first-ranked Emperor Ara aside. The tenth-ranked Zi Zaitian reached the eighty-fifth step, and the eleventh-ranked Luo Wuji also reached eighty-five.

"The only reason Luo Wuji ranks lower is that he likely relied on a powerful offensive peak Cosmic Radiance Divine Weapon, making his actual strength slightly inferior to Zi Zaitian. Regardless, all of them are visibly stronger than you. Even those ranked twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth reached the eighty-fourth step on the Supreme Ladder."

Sasha pointed out softly, "Maybe we shouldn't participate in the Ten Thousand Tribes Dominion. After all, your cultivation time has been too short. Compared to Tyrants, even the youngest ones, who have each cultivated for over ten thousand years, your disadvantage is too obvious. It's like how, in the world you were born in, even the most gifted child can't possibly complete elementary, middle, high school, and university all in one year."

"You're right," acknowledged Li Pin, nodding slightly. "With my current strength, I indeed have no certainty against Emperor Ara, unless I go all out and am prepared to perish together with him."

He looked up and said directly, "Let's go to the Gate of Time and Space."

Sasha was already used to Li Pin's way of speaking. No matter what, he had at least agreed to go to the Gate of Time and Space before heading to the Myriad Astral God Hall.

She responded promptly, "I've already submitted the application for you. The Sacred Flame Hall has replied, please arrive at the Gate of Time and Space within three months."

Li Pin nodded slightly. "Alright."

With three months remaining, he certainly wouldn't waste any time.

His Primordial Abyss True Demon Form, the Infinite Star Abyss Body, and even the Grand Oblivion Art all needed to be cultivated in the environment of the Abyssal Rift.

Meanwhile, his progress on Galactic Starburst and the Primordial Qi-Seeking Art had also slowed.

Under a situation where he couldn't cultivate any of his other techniques... Li Pin took out the Trinity Dao in his hands.

This cultivation method was far too incomplete. To a certain extent, it could no longer be called a technique. Anyone cultivating it would likely gain nothing, or worse, fall into madness. Its true essence resembled more of a concept, guiding someone along a path of thought.

Fortunately, this line of thought was quite similar to the one Li Pin had carved out himself. It was so similar that he seemed to have touched upon this kind of power in some mysterious way before.

"It's truly fascinating," Li Pin murmured to himself.

Through studying the incomplete Trinity Dao, he gained insight into the future self concept that lay beyond the perfected realm of Endless Reincarnation. He had a rough idea now, but it would still take time to refine it into a breakthrough in this Supreme-level secret art.

He was still missing some critical spark of inspiration.

When that inspiration struck, he might suddenly comprehend it, and Endless Reincarnation would reach a whole new level.

At that point, this secret art would surely become the strongest technique in his arsenal.

If he couldn't comprehend it, even if he were to endure for thousands or tens of thousands of years, or even dozens or hundreds of eras, he would still be unable to take that critical step.

***

Three months passed in the blink of an eye.

The Gate of Time and Space was located within the Sacred Flame Hall. As a result, Li Pin didn't need to spend time traveling in advance.

Be it the Sacred Flame Hall, the Endless Divine Mountain, the Omni-Merchant Guild, or the Heaven Ordainment Sect, almost all these factions had a Gate of Time and Space.

However, the ones who controlled the Gate of Time and Space weren't these factions, but the Supremes from the Supreme Council.

This was something the Supremes had left for future generations. To use it, one naturally needed their approval.

That was why even Mo Xuan and Ji Shun couldn't directly authorize its use and had to report the request to the Supreme Council.

***

The Gate of Time and Space was a completely white space. Anyone who entered it would lose all perception of time and space. Only a single vortex-like portal remained at the center.

Emperor Mo Xuan personally brought Li Pin to the vortex-like portal. There was no trace of estrangement in his expression from Li Pin having joined the Omni-Merchant Guild. Instead, he smiled and spoke.

"In just twenty short years, your strength rose from the eightieth to the eighty-second step of the Supreme Ladder. Such speed... honestly, when we first heard it, we were shocked. I finally understand why you had the confidence to sign up for the Ten Thousand Tribes Dominion War."

"It was mainly due to the two hundred thousand Creation Profound Crystals and the peak Cosmic Radiance Divine Weapon, Illusion Pagoda, from the Omni-Merchant Guild. Otherwise, I might not have progressed so quickly," Li Pin answered truthfully.

After all, Li Pin had also been distracted during this time, organizing his experience from Starshine, Solar Flare, to Cosmic Radiance. He integrated his understanding of these realms into the Phantom Space Technique as its foundation, in preparation for the next step—condensing mass and energy into quantum.

Emperor Mo Xuan replied, "Creation Profound Crystals and Illusion Pagoda may have helped, but your rapid improvement mainly came from your own talent. If you had another thousand years, you would certainly hold a place in the Ten Thousand Tribute Dominion War. But as for now..."

He looked at Li Pin with a smile. "The list of participants for the Ten Thousand Tribute Dominion War is finalized. You should already have an idea of their strength, right?"

Li Pin nodded and thought of that powerful being named Emperor Ara.

The ninetieth step! This kind of pressure...

"Very strong," Li Pin replied honestly.

"Strong is how it should be." Emperor Mo Xuan found Li Pin's response entirely normal. "You are a true supreme prodigy. I believe your future achievements could even surpass Zi Zaitian and that you may attain Heavenly Emperor or even Sacred Monarch before him. But for now, you still need time to settle and mature."

"Zi Zaitian?" Li Pin was taken aback. "Not Emperor Ara?"

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

"Hmm?" Mo Xuan gave him a puzzled look. "I recall we said you had to be ranked in the top ten to be able to participate in the Ten Thousand Tribute Dominion War, right? Based on all the factions' assessments, Zi Zaitian is ranked tenth among all contestants. Emperor Ara... is the strongest trump card, and his battles will determine where the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations Proposal will be trialed."

"If I'm not mistaken, Zi Zaitian was the one who reached the eighty-fifth step?" said Li Pin.

Mo Xuan nodded. "That's him."

Li Pin briefly considered the level of power he could unleash at full strength and replied, "If it's just him... I think it won't be a problem."