Proficiency Maxed Out, Liver Become Mortal Sword Immortal — Chapter 19

Wonderful—Lin Yang wasn't asleep either.

"Still awake?" Yun Shu asked.

"What do you mean, still awake? Knocking like that, you'd wake even a hibernating bear inside." Lin Yang opened the door and spoke with faint helplessness.

Lin Yang was dressed only in thin white sleepwear at the moment, showing no particular reserve.

"Come run some missions with me. I just accepted a few," Yun Shu said.

"Run missions?" Lin Yang nodded. "Sure."

But then he realized what Yun Shu had said and raised his voice. "What did you say? A few missions?"

"Missions are taken one at a time. Very few people can complete several at once," Lin Yang said solemnly. "If they're low-level missions, that's possible. But anyone with a bit more strength probably wouldn't even look at those kinds of missions."

"Your strength is pretty good, but taking several at once is a bit much, isn't it?"

Missions corresponded to different ranks. Few people took missions far below their own level, and even fewer took many at once.

"I know, but we should be able to finish them, right?" Yun Shu said with a smile, then handed him the wooden token.

Lin Yang swept his gaze over it and saw the token marked with a red plaque. "..."

A C-grade Mission?

Not only had he accepted four missions at once, one of them was even a C-grade Mission?

What kind of concept was that? Even throwing both of them into it might not amount to anything!

"What did you just say?" Lin Yang blinked, then asked.

"We should be able to finish them."

"No, the sentence before that."

"Uh, still awake?"

"I'm asleep. Good night." Lin Yang shut the door, directly locking Yun Shu outside.

Yun Shu froze, then continued banging on the door. "Senior Brother Lin, I don't need you to fight. Just come with me. Help me carry some things—the payment won't be small."

After a moment.

Seeing that the door still had not opened, Yun Shu merely sighed softly. Senior Brother Lin probably truly did not want to take such a risk.

But that made sense. It was a C-grade Mission. Even Yun Shu himself had no absolute confidence in completing it, so there seemed to be no need to drag someone else along.

Just as he was about to leave.

The door suddenly opened. Lin Yang inside was already fully dressed, with his sword at his side.

He had not carried a sword before this.

"I have some pills here. Take them first—we might need them later," Lin Yang said. "Though I don't think our strength makes it possible for us to complete this, I'm still willing to believe in you once. The rest is negotiable, but for a C-grade Mission, I couldn't afford the compensation even if I sold everything I owned. When the time comes, you'll have to figure that out yourself."

Yun Shu's expression paused. He pressed his lips together and did not say much. "Let's go. Time to leave."

The two did not say much along the way. After going down the mountain, they rented two horses, using up Yun Shu's last bottle of Hundred Herbs Liquid.

They headed toward a valley.

This was where the first mission was located.

"Pick Herbs in Qingfeng Valley: a Crimson Flame Flower guarded by a Red Scale Python." Lin Yang took out the token, glanced at the valley before them, and spoke.

The place was overgrown with wild grass. No one knew where the Red Scale Python was hiding.

After tying up the horses, the two walked into the valley.

They had not gone far when they heard the horses neighing behind them.

"Oh no, my horse!" Lin Yang immediately turned back.

But he was still a step too late. A Crimson Figure shot into the sky and, in what seemed like an instant, swallowed one of the horses whole.

Just as it was about to swallow the other, a powerful palm wind struck its head in an instant.

Foul-smelling crimson blood sprayed out as it was sent flying, crashing heavily into the ground without even having time to let out a cry.

"Go take a look. Your horse might still be saved," Yun Shu said.

Lin Yang stared blankly at Yun Shu, then at the Red Scale Python that had been blasted to death several meters away, unable to react for a moment.

Before long, although the horse was pulled out, it had been crushed by the powerful pressure inside the Red Scale Python's belly and could no longer walk. Its four sturdy legs had all been broken.

"Who would've thought that while we were looking for it, it would come out on its own?" Yun Shu said with clear delight.

Though they had carelessly lost Lin Yang's horse, compared to what they had gained, the loss seemed negligible.

To spare the horse any further suffering, Yun Shu slaughtered it and roasted it over a fire. The two had a hearty meal.

They had set out at first light, and only two hours had passed so far.

"No time to waste. Let's go pick the herbs first," Yun Shu said.

Before long, the two spotted a crimson flower. Its red petals continuously bloomed with a blood-colored glow. The Red Scale Python had watered it with blood; this was the foundation of its path to power.

Yet losing one's life over a horse sounded rather tragic.

"The Demonic Snake's meat isn't worth much. What's valuable is its skin, flesh, and heart. Once I've skinned it, Senior Brother Lin can take them back first," Yun Shu said. "Then rent another horse and head straight for the next place. We'll meet up over there."

Lin Yang seemed to have only just realized it. "Blood Qi Projection—I suddenly remembered what that move of yours was. It was Blood Qi Projection!"

Then he stared at Yun Shu in utter shock. "You've already reached the Body Refining Peak?"

"Not yet. I haven't even reached the Late Body Refining Stage. I've merely gained slightly deeper insights into the Body Refining Technique," Yun Shu answered honestly.

"You haven't reached the Late Body Refining Stage, yet you killed a Red Scale Python at Body Tempering Stage Six with one palm strike?" Lin Yang did not believe it.

Setting aside the fact that, at the same level of strength, it was almost extraordinarily difficult for the Human Race to break through a Demonic Beast's defenses—even if they truly were of the same level, what was with that Blood Qi Projection?

Then, as though he had thought of something, his pupils abruptly widened. "Wait, you just mentioned insights into the Body Refining Technique, Blood Qi Projection... the Body Refining Technique... Great Accomplishment?"

He had recalled something from legend.

It was said that when the Body Refining Technique reached Great Accomplishment, one could project Blood Qi even before reaching the peak of the Body Refining Realm.

Lin Yang did not know how many people throughout the ages had accomplished this. The last time he had heard of it was in the Sect's records, which said that a hundred years ago, someone in Myriad Sword Pavilion had indeed achieved it.

But that person was the only one Myriad Sword Pavilion had produced in several hundred years.

Someone like this was absolutely a monster-level genius.

Yun Shu neither denied nor admitted it. He merely smiled. "Senior Brother Lin only needs to know that I have the strength to complete the mission."

Then he picked up his long sword and effortlessly sliced open the snake skin, which was as hard as refined iron.

Lin Yang: "..."

It was as though he could see a disciple with boundless prospects quietly rising to prominence.

But...

Myriad Sword Pavilion was ultimately an Immortal Path Sect. No matter how powerful body refinement was, it was only the foundation of the Martial Path.

Lin Yang shook his head, feeling somewhat regretful.

Junior Brother Yun only had a Triple Spiritual Root.

Yun Shu swiftly finished dismembering the Demonic Snake, leaving Lin Yang mildly astonished once more.

This sword was excellent—able to cut through iron as though it were mud.

"If Junior Brother Yun ever stops cultivating immortality one day, you could go into the slaughter business. This skill with a blade alone rivals the proficiency of those who have slaughtered cattle and horses for decades," Lin Yang said with a smile as he watched from the side.

By now, they no longer felt so unfamiliar with each other.

Yun Shu was merely a little stronger. His personality was still as kind and amiable as ever, without the slightest change.

"That makes sense, but I still have to cultivate immortality. If I don't cultivate, if I don't strive, then perhaps I'll become one of those cattle and sheep waiting to be slaughtered," Yun Shu said with a smile.

From beginning to end, Yun Shu believed in only one principle: if you did not work hard, others would surpass you. Once they did, you would be the fish on the chopping block while others held the knife.

Being the fish was not a pleasant feeling. Better to be the knife.

A faint heaviness settled in Lin Yang's heart. Yun Shu had said it with a smile, but that was only because he was optimistic. The Cultivation World was cruel.

A single level of greater strength could crush someone to death. A whole realm of difference was enough to create a gulf between two people as vast as heaven and earth.

Not to mention that within Myriad Sword Pavilion itself, such a strict hierarchy existed.

Mortals always envied those who could cultivate immortality, but who knew of the oppression of cultivation, the rank-based suppression lurking everywhere, and the hardship and helplessness of taking one wrong step and ending up dead without a burial place?

Immortal Sects always appeared glamorous on the surface, but in truth, everyone lived for themselves. Only with a heart of stone could one walk the path to immortality.

"Alright, see if there's anything else of value on this giant snake," Yun Shu said.

Then, with evident disdain, he kicked the skinned snake carcass before him.