NABC Chapter 218: Return in Glory
Chapter 218: Return in Glory
Chapter 218: Return in Glory
Finally, with the intermediate category of the World's Top Martial Competition coming to a close, the battles for the adult category began.
Compared to the intermediate category, which boasted only five Martial Saints at most—among whom Li Pin and Song Wuya attained a breakthrough during the competition—the adult category had much higher standards. All ten participants were Martial Saints without exception. Additionally, they were all at least second-tier Martial Saints.
These Martial Saints didn't have any issues acting against their Martial Will, ensuring their strength wasn't hindered.
Even so, these tier-two Martial Saints found it difficult to reach the top three. This was because there were several third-tier Martial Saints and three Extreme Martial Saints above them.
The clashes between these Extreme Martial Saints vividly illustrated the term "human weapon."
If it weren't for the fact that the arena was made out of Seismic Rock, capable of absorbing tremors, the Spirit Force erupted with their every move would have shattered the floor.
Their every move could easily crack rocks. Their full-power impacts could cause the ground to sink and collapse, creating craters several meters wide. It was no exaggeration to say that a strike from a Martial Saint at full power was no less destructive than a hand grenade explosion. Breaking walls, shattering rocks, and destroying buildings were all easy feats.
Given a little time, they could even collapse a skyscraper by demolishing its supporting walls.
That was why a single Martial Saint could suppress an entire nation before the rise of Astral Cultivators.
Moreover, what set humans apart from animals was their ability to use tools. If a Martial Saint was backed up by logistical support, such as firearms and artillery, they could use guerrilla tactics to defeat thousands or even tens of thousands of enemies given enough time.
Li Pin watched the exchange between the two figures on stage. "Extreme Martial Saint...."
He knew that he still had a little way to go.
That was especially true considering that his mental spirit was only at twenty-six. The prerequisite for mental spirit for an Extreme Martial Saint was forty.
***
Time passed, and soon the the adult category's champion came into the limelight.
A forty-two-year-old Extreme Martial Saint named Wan Lichang claimed the championship.
Wan Lichang was not originally surnamed Wan, but his remarkable talent, shown when he placed in the top three during the 10th World's Top Martial Competition, quickly caught the attention of the Tianyuan royal family.
The royal family had arranged for him to be married to a princess, granting him the Wan surname and providing focused training.
He did not disappoint the royal family's expectations, emerging as the champion for the adult category this year and earning the title of being first in Tianyuan.
***
With the end of the competition for the adult category, the World's Top Martial Competition officially concluded. This triennial martial arts event, lasting three months, had come to a close.
Lately, many influences had sought to recruit or get close to Li Pin. However, Su Mai had blocked most of them.
Furthermore, to avoid disappointing Li Pin, Su Mai made a series of promises to him. Not only did he state that he planned to purchase him a piece of rare astral equipment, but he also bestowed a series of titles upon the Li Family.
Li Pin's late father was honored as one of the Top Ten Inspiring Figures of Taibai for his diligent work and for raising such exceptional talent.
As for rewards in the form of money and resources, they were abundant.
Even the Qin Family benefited greatly. Their company, which had been facing a bottleneck, now entered a new phase of development.
While facing threats from ferocious beasts and demonic creatures, the Top-Tier Astral Cultivators in the Vajra United Nations were divided into factions, constantly at war with each other.
Despite having tens of millions of square kilometers of territory and three hundred and ten million people, their total gross domestic product was less than that of a single city like Jiang Province City, let alone the entire Jiang Province.
Even the Five Elements Sect was richer than their province.
That country was war-torn and festered with poverty, disease, and the threats of ferocious beasts and demonic creatures. Even though a High-Class Astral Cultivator could easily reign over this place, few were willing to stay for long.
After all, a High-Class Astral Cultivator could live well and enjoy a high status in any advanced and prosperous country. Although they might not rule hundreds of thousands of square kilometers of land and millions of subjects alone, at least their lives would be secure.
They didn't have to worry about waking up one day to find themselves caught in the war between two Top-Tier Astral Cultivators, or that a high-tier demonic creature had reached their castle to devour them, taking them for a tasty treat.
From this perspective, many Astral Cultivators would rather live as billionaires in a country like Taibai than go to the Vajra United Nations to rule a domain of hundreds of thousands of square kilometers and millions of subjects.
Time flew as Li Pin and Su Mai conversed.
The train stopped at the capital for a day. Li Pin met the King of the Taibai Kingdom and participated in the ceremony to be enfeoffed as a viscount.
However, he did not stay in the capital for long.
After just three days, he returned to Jiang Province with Qin Rouran, Li Yunyao, Lin Xiaolu, and the others.
Somehow, news had leaked.
When the car carrying Li Pin drove out of the train station, a wave of cheers erupted from both sides of the station. Tens of thousands of Jiang Province City's citizens spontaneously gathered along the streets, shouting and welcoming Li Pin's arrival.
At this moment, the entire Jiang Province was booming with one name—Li Pin.
***
Su Feiyu had accompanied Li Pin to Jiang Province. In the car, she wore a smile. "If you were to run for Jiang Province Provincial Mayor, your election would be a done deal."
"Forget it, politics... aren't really my thing," Li Pin replied.
"Sometimes governing a place is not as difficult as you think. You just need to know how to use people. With your wisdom and power, you can rule a province. Your presence alone is the best guarantee for the prosperity and stability of this province."
Su Feiyu's smile widened slightly. "Besides... I believe that one day, you will become an Astral Cultivator, fighting on the front lines against ferocious beasts and demonic creatures. Your victories will inspire everyone in Jiang Province and Taibai. It's because you have the imprint of Jiang Province on you.
"When the day comes, even if you don't hold any official position in Jiang Province or Taibai, you will become the uncrowned king of Jiang Province, becoming a spiritual symbol for everyone!"
Li Pin did not respond. He silently sat in the car, looking out the window.
He was being escorted by police cars to his villa.
The entire villa area had been newly decorated with banners, balloons, and flowers everywhere.
His neighbors, whom he rarely met before, came out of their homes in their best attire and lined the streets to welcome Li Pin as he traveled down the road.
When Li Pin arrived outside his villa, he found Qin You, Qin Guangming, Mrs. Li, and the others waiting for him at the door. Jiang Province's series of administrative officials were also present.
It was at this moment that Li Pin finally realized what it meant to bring honor to his ancestors and return in glory.