Chapter 737: Chapter 737

When Li Pin stepped out from the Humanity Sanctum's teleportation zone, Liang Qiu immediately came forward to greet him. "You're finally back."

Wang Fuyun, Yun Lai, Yu Xuexian, and several others were with him. Anyone would go out of their way to preserve a connection with a future Tyrant.

Li Pin gave a slight nod in response. "Sorry to keep you waiting."

In addition to Hou Yun, there were a few more Solar Flare and several dozen Astral Gods behind him. They were additional forces Yuan Guang personally sent over to ensure his safety. This alone spoke volumes about how much the Humanity Sanctum valued Li Pin.

However, now that they had reached the sanctum, the Solar Flare and the leading Astral God teams didn't linger. After a quick salute, they turned and departed.

"This journey must have been tough," Wang Fuyun said.

"Not too bad," Li Pin replied casually.

"Your advancement site happened to be far from any quick-return route to the Humanity Sanctum. It seems the Heaven Ordainment Sect had something to do with it. The Hall Master even consulted an elder from their surveying team. But according to the Astral Map they provided, that area was indeed one of the safest zones... So, the Humanity Sanctum can't press the matter too much."

Liang Qiu paused briefly, then added, "Still, the fact that you made it back safely—that's what matters most."

Wang Fuyun, however, remarked, "Li Pin only returned safely thanks to his decades of cultivation in the Eternal Solar Flare Realm. For that, he even..."

He glanced at the Eternal Oblivion Force lingering on Li Pin's back, and his expression turned solemn. "If he hadn't risked everything to push his cultivation, how could he have returned unscathed? The Humanity Sanctum owes him an explanation."

"Hall Master Yuan Guang has already informed the other Hall Masters and started the negotiations," Liang Qiu said with a smile as he looked at Li Pin. "If all goes well, the Cosmic Radiance Divine Item that the Divine Treasury Hall applied for on your behalf will be upgraded. You might receive a top-tier divine weapon. At the very least, a high-grade one is guaranteed."

Li Pin gave a nod at the mention. "High-Grade Cosmic Radiance Divine Weapon..."

In the Astral World, each rank of Astral God corresponded to a matching tier of astral equipment. For instance, a Starshine Astral God could easily carry several pieces of Divine Weapons. It was almost expected of them.

But at the Cosmic Radiance level, the rate at which the Astral Gods possessed Divine Items decreased significantly.

Ordinary and Solar Flare Divine Weapons could be refined through special methods. However, crafting Cosmic Radiance Divine Items required Oblivion Force as its primary material.

This force could only be obtained in two ways: either through the Eternal Oblivion left behind by a fallen Cosmic Radiance, or from the emergence of Void Beings deep within the Abyssal Rift.

Due to the rarity of such materials, some of the less-established Cosmic Radiance still relied on Solar Flare Divine Weapons.

For those seasoned Cosmic Radiances, owning even a single piece of Cosmic Radiance Divine Weapon was already considered a mark of considerable wealth. That alone spoke volumes about the value of a High-Grade Cosmic Radiance Divine Weapon.

Li Pin disliked relying on external tools in battle, but he understood that while he could manage without them, their importance couldn't be overlooked.

He spoke up. "The area I advanced in—was it arranged by the Guardian Dharma King of the Heaven Ordainment Sect, King Great Luo of Wisdom?"

A troubled look appeared on Liang Qiu's face for a moment. After a pause, he replied, "That should have been coordinated by the elder in charge of this matter—"

"But the Guardian Dharma King has the power and authority to influence an elder's decision," Li Pin interjected.

Apart from the Sect Master and a few Vice Sect Masters, the highest-ranking position in the Heaven Ordainment Sect was the Guardian Dharma King. To attain that title, one had to possess the strength of a Sacred Monarch.

Below them, the branch sect leaders and elders were required to be at the level of a Tyrant. This made it clear that elders held a lower rank than the Guardian Dharma King.

Liang Qiu paused briefly, then continued, "It seems the Guardian Dharma King wanted to take you as his disciple, so he arranged for your advancement area to be closer to him. Of course, if you choose to join our Sacred Flame Hall, you'll quickly secure positions like attendant, researcher, and so on. Once you reach Cosmic Radiance, you'll even be directly appointed as a branch head or regional hall master, without needing to take an exam."

Li Pin nodded. "I understand."

He had only asked out of curiosity.

One step at a time. His top priority now was to determine his rank.

Just then, a voice rang out from ahead. "Li Pin."

A gentleman in white, radiating grace, swiftly approached through the air.

Wang Fuyun looked on, puzzled, but Liang Qiu immediately recognized him. "It's Thousand Dust."

He quickly added, "It's a clone of Thousand Dust."

Wang Fuyun, Yu Xuexian, Yun Lai, and the others were astounded at once.

Thousand Dust! A disciple of the Sanctum and the number one on the Starfire List! This update ıs available on novelFirｅ.net

It's said that his potential is so immense that, even across the first ten epochs, he could rank among the top.

His fame might not rival Li Pin's, who was personally acknowledged by the Highlord after emerging from the Heavenly Prison World. But before Li Pin joined the Humanity Sanctum, he had been one of the most talked-about figures there.

One of his clones had actually appeared!

Thousand Dust spoke nonchalantly, "Recently, rumors have been circulating from the Heaven Ordainment Sect, claiming that your title as a prodigy is undeserved. But compared to their opinions, I trust my own judgment more.

"Someone who mastered the Primordial Supreme Technique in just ten stellar years and then spent another thirty reaching peak Solar Flare level—no matter what others say, I firmly believe the issue isn't with you, but with the one spreading these rumors. They're just sour grapes."

Li Pin furrowed his brows. "Prodigy, undeserved?"

Could this be why he hadn't encountered any assassins on his way here?

Had he already faded from the spotlight before even getting the chance to enjoy the glory of being targeted by thousands of alien races trying to kill him?

"One thousand years! A full thousand!" Thousand Dust spoke with some regret. "I've stayed at the top of the Starfire List for far too long. It's been lonely."

He sighed. "That's why I've been hoping for someone to rise. Someone to challenge me, someone with the courage to stand before me and prove there's someone better than me! And Li Pin, you've given me hope."

Li Pin came back to his senses, looking at Thousand Dust. There was something strangely familiar about his words.

Meanwhile, Thousand Dust glanced back at him, his gaze filled with both encouragement and expectation. "Don't sell yourself short. Always stay true to your beliefs, Li Pin. Grow quickly. The faster, the better. Then... stand before me, challenge me... and defeat me!"

With that, he waved his hand. "I'll be waiting for that day."

He then turned and left, as elegantly as he had come, leaving no trace behind.

As Li Pin watched him go, he fell into deep thought. Why does he feel so familiar?

He mentally replayed everyone he had met or known, but... none of them seemed to fit.

Meanwhile, Wang Fuyun, Yu Xuexian, Yun Lai, and even Liang Qiu exchanged concerned looks, as if they feared Li Pin might be affected by those words.

After a long pause, Wang Fuyun spoke, "We've heard the rumors too. They're nothing but nonsense. If you weren't exceptional, how could you have been chosen by a great Highlord? How could you have reached peak Solar Flare in just a few decades? Like Thousand Dust said, some people just can't get what they want, so they spread lies, hoping to ruin you with malicious intent."

Liang Qiu's lips twitched at Wang Fuyun's words. He had no idea who this "rumor-monger" was. If he did, he might not have dared to say such things.

But both Wang Fuyun and Thousand Dust were right.

"We, in the Humanity Sanctum, believe in you. Otherwise, we wouldn't have applied for the upgrade to your Cosmic Radiance Divine Weapon," Liang Qiu added.

Li Pin remained silent, still lost in thought. He couldn't shake the feeling that Thousand Dust's words seemed strangely familiar. Have we met before?

"Li Pin, you're different from Thousand Dust," Wang Fuyun said, trying to comfort him. "Besides being number one on the Starfire List, Thousand Dust has also been the Dao Child of the Sanctum for a thousand years. That means he's had the special treatment and training of the Dao Child for all that time. As for you... you've been cultivating for less than two hundred stellar years."

Wang Fuyun continued, "In those less than two hundred years, you've mostly been working in isolation, without any renowned teachers guiding you. It's only natural that you might be a little behind him. But as you continue to grow and mature in the Humanity Sanctum, I believe that one day, you'll reach a level on par with him."

Li Pin glanced at Wang Fuyun. "Me? Comparable to Thousand Dust?"

Wang Fuyun encouraged him, "Yes, who knows? Maybe a thousand years from now, you'll be where he is today. You'll stand at the top of the Starfire List and rule over it for a thousand years, just like him."

Liang Qiu also added, "Thousand Dust is famous on the World Glory List too. If we look beyond pure strength and consider all aspects, he, along with Gu Yuan, Sheng Xu, Luo Shenxi, and Lin Tianhuang, are some of the most outstanding geniuses of this era.

"Each of them has been considered the supreme prodigy at some point, and since they all made it into the top one hundred on the Black List, they have the potential to compete for that title and dominate this era."

Li Pin, however, didn't pay much attention to those words. At that moment, he suddenly had an epiphany. He finally understood.

"It's me," Li Pin said.

The reason Thousand Dust felt so familiar was that these were the very things he himself used to say and do. Boldly encouraging his rivals, genuinely hoping they would reach their best and challenge him.

Is this... the mindset of a prodigy? The magnanimity and open-mindedness of a true prodigy?

As he gazed at Thousand Dust, whose figure seemed to mirror his own, Li Pin realized that his decision to return to the Humanity Sanctum instead of wasting time in the Shattered Star Sea had been the right one.

"I won't be going back to my residence for now," Li Pin said.

"If you're not going back... then what about us?"

"To make it easier for others to challenge." Li Pin smiled faintly. "Let's go determine a rank first."