Planet Pulverizer: A Mortal's Ascent-Chapter 483: Potential

"The most outstanding talents..." murmured Li Pin.

He did not oppose this statement. "What is the standard to be considered outstanding?"

Lan Chi answered, "The Homo Sapien Alliance believes that civilizations that fail to produce Legends within twenty stellar years are not worth wasting resources or time to guide or invest in. They should be left to their fate. Our standard cannot be lower than the Homo Sapien Alliance's. So, nurturing Legends within twenty stellar years is a must."

"What do you think, Chairman Li?" he asked.

Li Pin nodded. "Twenty stellar years.... Ten have already passed, leaving only ten more. So, you mean the final qualified candidates will be selected in ten stellar years?"

"Of course not! We can't do that," Lan Chi hurriedly explained. "A single delay leads to a series of setbacks. The entire second phase only spans ninety stellar years. If we waste another ten, the gap between the Candlelight Alliance and the other alliances will only grow. Therefore, I believe we should select a batch of seed candidates for training right now."

"Right now?"

Li Pin knew better than anyone regarding Gaia's situation. There wasn't a single noteworthy genius among its Astral Cultivators.

"These seed candidates won't be evaluated based on their current cultivation level but on their future potential. We'll conduct an assessment, select the most outstanding group, provide them with concentrated training and the best benefits, and rank them. The higher their ranking, the more resources will be allocated."

Lan Chi smiled. "The White Dove Federation has some connections. We've imported training equipment from the Astral World Research Institute called the Nine Tiers of Ascension.

"While it can't guarantee a hundred percent measurement of one's talent and potential, its accuracy is about eighty to ninety percent under controlled conditions, without accounting for serendipity or epiphanies. It's perfect for assessments and ensures fairness."

"Equipment from the Astral World Research Institute?"

Li Pin naturally recognized this organization. Like the Divine Treasury Hall, it was a subsidiary of the Supreme Council.

"Chairman Li, have you heard of the Supreme Ladder?" Lan Chi asked.

"I've heard of it," Li Pin replied.

Lan Chi explained, "There is talk outside of the Nine Tiers of Ascension. These nine tiers were initially derived from the first to ninth levels of the Supreme Ladder. Ascending the tenth step signifies becoming an Astral God.

"The Divine Transformation Peak simulate the first six levels of the Supreme Ladder. However, unlike the Supreme Ladder, it focuses more on assessing a person's mental spirit, willpower, comprehension, and inner spirit. Theoretically, the number of divine bridges one can achieve corresponds to their future maximum potential.

"Eighteen divine bridges mean the candidate has the potential to reach Tier Six Legend. This will help us identify which seed candidate to prioritize for training."

Li Pin pointed out, "You mentioned that there are uncontrollable factors such as opportunities and sudden epiphanies. If some candidates obtain these opportunities and their cultivation improves drastically, yet they aren't included in the training scope, wouldn't that be unfair to them?"

"That's why the rankings of the Divine Transformation Peak won't be fixed," answered Lan Chi, smiling. "They will be updated every stellar month. If those from the lower ranking surpass the ones in the higher ranking, then the resources will be reallocated to them."

Li Pin pondered for a moment and shook his head. "This method is good, but we must also consider other factors, such as the personality and mindset of the candidates. Otherwise, we might invest heavily in cultivating an outstanding Legend only for them to defect. There is also the possibility of a candidate who has been suppressed for a long time rising suddenly, resulting in a mental imbalance...."

He paused. "Moreover, how the resources are managed, distributed, and by whom will also raise many issues."

Lan Chi sighed quietly upon hearing this.

This was not a minor issue. In theory, whoever controlled the allocation of these resources could influence the attitude of the candidate being nurtured. If the candidate ultimately became an Astral God, they wouldn't remember the goodwill of other member nations. Only the people who had directly provided them with resources would benefit.

That was why the Immortal Wood Empire and the Ashen Council would rather hold back than let the White Dove Federation control the allocation rights, even though they had paid a steep price for the Nine Tiers of Ascension....

Lan Chi said, "Then there is only the second method. Each participating country can freely support the candidates they favor!

"Furthermore, those candidates can use their achievements to persuade other members of the countries to support them, respecting the rights of all parties and engaging in mutual selection."

He added, "Of course, to avoid wasting resources, only the top ten on the Nine Tiers of Ascension will be eligible."

"Placing the choice in the hands of individuals ensures that neither side will have objections," Li Pin said. "Any party must bear the consequences of their choices."

Lan Chi nodded.

He understood this principle well and knew that those civilizations would secretly train their candidates, leading to wasted resources.

However, humans were selfish by nature and such situations were inevitable.

Only when the top ten on Divine Transformation Peak displayed despair-inducing talents would they understand how to use resources wisely.

Lan Chi warmly entertained Li Pin.

During this time, Lan Yan diligently served tea and water, displaying impeccable elegance and manners.

Briefly sensing her vibrant, youthful aura, Li Pin speculated she had only been cultivating for less than ten stellar years.

In such a short timeframe, she had already become a Legend.

Clearly, she was one of the White Dove Federation's trump cards.

Lan Chi had her assist in the reception, clearly intending to help her forge alliances. This suggested that they did not expect any Gaians to break into the top ten of the Divine Transformation Peak.

However, considering the gap between Gaian Astral Cultivators and the geniuses of the Candle Light Alliance... Li Pin held little hope for them.

Even Gaia's strongest, the Solar Radiance Sovereign, had not yet reached the level of a Top-Tier Heavenly Realm. It would take him at least three to five more years to attain it. And that was only due to him obtaining the rich heritage of the Divine Dragon Empire.

Only by reaching the Top-Tier Heavenly Realm would a practitioner have a chance to aspire for the Legendary Realm.

As for how long it would take to achieve Legendary status...

No one knew.

***

Li Pin chatted for a while and then changed the topic. "The biggest difference between Tier Four Legends and Tier Three Legends lies in the comprehension of inner spirit power. Although inner spirit power doesn't increase a Legend's power limit, it makes their power extraordinarily stable. On this foundation, they can explore greater limits."

"Indeed." Lan Chi nodded. "Inner spirit power is the biggest distinction between Tier Four and Tier Three Legends. Even Tier Five Legends only achieve their level by fully exploring their inner spirit power and power systems, forming a near-perfect state. Through their expertise, they achieve perfection and create a spiritual closed loop. But...."

Lan Chi spoke with a hint of solemnity. "Regardless of whether the loop is closed, inner spirit power is the most hidden secret of a cultivator. If its core is discovered, it is vulnerable to targeted attacks. If they cannot withstand it, a closed-loop inner spirit will crack, and an unclosed-loop inner spirit will completely collapse."

Li Pin found these words vaguely familiar. "Targeting the inner spirit...."

Isn't this just like the martial will of a Martial Saint?

However, he quickly understood the significance of Lan Chi bringing up this topic.

Martial Will was a cultivator's secret. Inner spirit power was the same.

Si Xing knew he had comprehended inner spirit power. Yet, stuck at Tier Three Legend and lacking further understanding, he had never inquired about the mysteries of inner spirit power....

"So, is discussing inner spirit taboo?" Li Pin inquired directly, without much tact.

Lan Chi nodded. "Indeed. Unless it's an enemy, it's best not to inquire about someone's inner spirit power."

"I see."

Li Pin had wanted to observe Lan Chi's inner spirit power, but it seemed inappropriate now.

Li Pin lost the inclination to linger. After learning from the White Dove Federation's Grand Consul about the Candle Light Star Ring and the surrounding Star Rings' powers and rumors, he took his leave, citing urgent matters.

Lan Chi made a polite attempt to persuade him to stay. Seeing Li Pin's determination to leave, he did not insist. He instructed Lan Yan to see him off and specifically opened an Astral Gate to the Homo Sapien Alliance's office in the Yin Luo Star System.

Soon after, Lan Yan returned to the sky garden atop the tower.

Looking at Lan Chi, who was reviewing the power analysis reports of the surrounding Star rings, Lan Yan, this talented Legend, appeared puzzled. "Father, are you perhaps valuing Chairman Li too highly...? This level of treatment might not even be extended to the heads of the other families. After all, he is just a Celestial Martial Artist."

Lan Chi's expression turned stern. "So what if he's a Celestial Martial Artist? He has comprehended inner spirit power, he is at least a future Demigod. Is that not worth our attention?"

"I... I didn't mean it that way... It's just—" Lan Chi stammered.

Lan Chi snorted. "It's just that you feel humiliated, isn't that right? You, the Lan family's successor, a talented figure likely to comprehend inner spirit power and become the successor of the Astral God, had to serve tea and bow low to a Legendary Celestial Martial Artist."

He sternly looked at his daughter. "Don't think I didn't notice. All your smiles were superficial, devoid of genuine emotion. Is that how I taught you?"

His tone became more solemn. "You are indeed a seed candidate that the Lan family and even the White Dove Federation place great hopes in. But even if you excel and claim first place at the Divine Transformation Peak, that is no reason for arrogance. At least, until you truly become the first successor to the great Astral God Yin Luo, you must unite all possible allies."

Lan Yan quickly lowered her head. "Yes."

"Do you really think that there's no future for Celestial Martial Artist?" said Lan Chi, looking at Lan Yan. "Don't forget that the Si family's Si Xing from the Starwheel Sea was willing to stay in Gaia out of his own accord, acting as a guide for that civilization and treating Gaia as his exclusive domain. This has made it difficult for us to uncover detailed information about Li Pin... Do you think that this is because he values the Gaia civilization?"

Lan Yan was startled. "Are you saying... Chairman Li's potential is... more than meets the eye?"

"Although I don't know what that Young Master Si wants to conceal, never doubt the judgment of those scions from great families," Lan Chi said, waving his hand. "Did you follow my instructions to obtain his contact information when you sent him off? Remember to stay in contact with him."

"Yes," Lan Yan quickly replied.