Max Out Proficiency, Liver Become Mortal Sword Immortal

"Brother Yun, these clothes haven't been washed yet, have they? I'll take them over later, wash them, and bring them back to you," Li Jian said, glancing at the bloodstained clothes piled by the door.

"Alright, thanks." Yun Shu did not refuse.

The washing Li Jian spoke of meant taking them to the Menial Disciple washing room.

Since disciples' clothes were made from special materials, a single Cleansing Curse could wash a huge pile of them. It was extremely convenient, though Outer Sect Disciples only came to cast the spell after enough clothes had accumulated for a task.

Even the weakest Cleansing Curse required the Qi Refining Stage to perform. It was the one benefit Menial Disciples could enjoy, though in truth, the sect was not particularly harsh toward them.

Yun Shu had been planning to send the clothes over for washing anyway. Li Jian's arrival simply made it convenient.

Only after shutting the door did Li Jian take out eight bottles of Hundred Herbs Liquid and hand them to Yun Shu.

"Here are eight bottles of Hundred Herbs Liquid. Have a look," Li Jian said.

It was no wonder he was so cautious. To a Menial Disciple, eight bottles of Hundred Herbs Liquid were an enormous fortune.

When facing such a fortune, no amount of caution was excessive.

"Thanks." Yun Shu glanced at them before putting them away.

"You're welcome." Li Jian smiled. "Senior Brother Lin asked me to ask Brother Yun something. If Senior Brother Lin takes on any more tasks next time, will you still go?"

"I can consider it." Yun Shu thought for a moment, then nodded.

"I wonder, Brother Yun, your current strength..."

"Body Refinement Third Layer," Yun Shu replied casually. "I've merely gained some Insights into the Body Refining Technique."

Li Jian understood. Body Refinement Third Layer seemed perfectly normal when compared to the strength Yun Shu had shown before.

And it seemed explainable enough?

He had previously been at Body Refinement Second Layer, even Body Refining Second Layer Peak. After breaking through to the Body Refinement Third Layer, with the support of some Martial Techniques, it was possible.

Though there were still many things that did not add up, all he needed to know was that Brother Yun was formidable.

The strength Yun Shu had displayed before had already proven that.

As for secrets, who did not have a few secrets of their own?

There had indeed been precedents of those in the Body Refining Stage being able to Battle Above One's Level. One disciple's parents had both been powerful figures in the Mortal World, and he possessed several famous Martial Techniques that allowed him to fight above his level during the Body Refining Stage. Such examples were not uncommon.

In the forest.

A figure lightly vaulted over a branch, spun slightly atop it, then landed on the ground.

"This is Iron Bone Grass." Yun Shu took a crimson herb from between his teeth and handed it to Lin Yang.

Lin Yang's eyes lit up in delight. "You really got it! This task can be exchanged for two Qi Nurturing Pills. Usually, it takes a team of two Body Refining Fourth Level cultivators to get it. I never expected Junior Brother to take it from the Demonic Tiger's claws. We agreed on one pill each. Once we return, I'll give yours to you."

"Alright." Yun Shu smiled and nodded.

He had just tangled with a Fierce Tiger around Peak Body Refining Fourth Level for a while, then shaken off the Demonic Tiger and left. It was not because his strength and speed far surpassed the tiger's.

Demonic Beasts had a concept of territory, and the Demonic Tiger possessed rudimentary intelligence. It also feared ambushes. After all, the Demonic Beasts in the forest had always believed that the most dangerous beings were not the overlords In the Mountains, but cunning humans.

And that was indeed the case. Yun Shu had told Lin Yang to wait here. If the Demonic Tiger had truly dared to charge over, the two of them joining forces might not have been able to kill it, but they could still have left it in a miserable state.

"What a pity it didn't chase us. Otherwise, killing it might have let us exchange for a few more things," Lin Yang Sighed.

Yun Shu said nothing.

This was not greedy discontent, merely a natural human feeling of regret.

Taking something guarded by another and then killing the guardian Demonic Beast did sound rather like wiping out root and branch.

Still, Yun Shu did not mind much if it could strengthen him. Killing it was simply killing it—the natural order was competition, and the fittest survived. It was not as if he were slaughtering the innocent.

If he himself had unfortunately died beneath the tiger's claws, he could only have Sighed that his skills were inferior.

The Cultivation World was far crueler than this.

This was Yun Shu's fifth time teaming up with Lin Yang. At first, they had brought along several Menial Disciples, but later, the two of them had simply formed a team on their own. With Yun Shu as his helper, the number and quality of tasks Lin Yang completed were among the very best within the same realm.

Thus, Lin Yang was extremely grateful.

"Oh, right, Junior Brother. Tomorrow is the next test. You'll be able to become a true Outer Sect Disciple then, won't you?" Lin Yang seemed to recall something and turned to him.

Yun Shu nodded slightly.

Though he had not broken through again during this period, he had never stopped tempering his body and practicing his moves.

Over this month, Yun Shu had also learned some information about Outer Sect Disciples from Lin Yang.

Outer Sect Disciples could enter the Scripture Pavilion and come into contact with truly powerful Cultivation Methods and Martial Techniques!

After breaking through to the Qi Condensation Stage, they could even come into contact with deeper "Immortal Arts"!

There was no doubt that Yun Shu longed greatly for all of it.

"Prepare well. Do your best," Lin Yang said sincerely.

He genuinely felt that the Menial Disciple Area could not hold back the person before him.

At the very least, Yun Shu was already far stronger than he was.

If even this man could not enter the Outer Sect Disciple Area, then Lin Yang might as well request to become a menial himself.

"Thank you." Yun Shu looked at Lin Yang and smiled.

Lin Yang was merely somewhat arrogant. He was not truly a bad person.

They were using each other. Yun Shu used Lin Yang's status as an Outer Sect Disciple to take on tasks and obtain things like Hundred Herbs Liquid, while Lin Yang received a cut. Calling it cooperation was a little forced.

That afternoon.

Lin Yang brought the items over.

These were Qi Nurturing Pills, the lowest-grade kind of medicinal pill, something even some top pharmacists could refine.

Yet within the Mid Body Refining Stage and even the later stages, Qi Nurturing Pills were practically used as a universal currency.

Qi Nurturing Pills could nourish one's qi and blood and were greatly beneficial during breakthroughs. Under normal circumstances, no one would be willing to use them, but that did not affect their status as hard currency.

Looking at the pill handed over, Lin Yang said, "With this Qi Nurturing Pill, my chances of breaking through to Body Tempering Stage Six will increase greatly. This month has truly been immensely rewarding. It's all thanks to Junior Brother Yun."

He had already broken through to Body Refining Fifth Level a month ago and was now approaching Body Tempering Stage Six, though that was not something achieved overnight.

"No need to be polite."

After Lin Yang left, Yun Shu took out the Qi Nurturing Pill.

"Ding. Energy Substance detected—Qi Nurturing Pill. Absorb?"

"Absorb."

Yun Shu checked the panel.

His Energy Points had now reached ten.

The Qi Nurturing Pill had directly added three Energy Points. The rest had come from the tasks he had completed during this period.

Other than when he slept, he had been completing tasks while tempering his body. It seemed he had worked hard enough.

"I've gained quite a lot during this period. After entering the Outer Sect, it'll be enough to cultivate for some time." Yun Shu pondered.

That night, Yun Shu slept soundly.

Early the next morning.

Yun Shu rose early.

This time, he still came to the same Training Ground as before.

A long line had already formed here, everyone waiting in orderly fashion for the Elders and Deacons to arrive.

Tests for the Body Refining Stage barely attracted the attention of powerful figures. At most, a few Outer Sect Deacons and Elders would come.

"Ah, I wonder whether I'll pass the assessment this time. After I passed the test last time, I got held up at the assessment and never entered the Outer Sect."

This was a Menial Disciple at Body Refining Fourth Level.

Generally speaking, Body Refining Fourth Level was already enough to become an Outer Sect Disciple. Perhaps he had simply been unlucky, or perhaps he had Just Broke Through and had yet to fully stabilize his cultivation.

"You're doing well enough. I'm only at Body Refinement Third Layer. If it weren't for the Hundred Herbs Liquid, who would want to come here just to go through the motions? What use is a test? Can't someone's strength be seen at a glance? Wouldn't it be better to just give us two bottles of Hundred Herbs Liquid and let us go back to sleep?"

This fellow was a slacker.

His lying-flat attitude was exactly the same as Yun Shu's state when he had come for the assessment last month.

Yun Shu did not mock him. In fact, he deeply agreed.

When low-realm disciples faced those of higher realms, their strength could almost be sensed through qi and blood alone. There were no secrets.

As for the test, it was just going through the motions. It was redundant and had no real meaning. Not to mention that afterward, they still had to undergo assessments against disciples recruited from outside, and those who failed would be screened out. The whole thing made no sense.

Everyone Discussed Vigorously.

Yun Shu also lowered his head and waited. Then, at a certain moment, the noise suddenly ceased.

Yun Shu looked ahead. Several Outer Sect Deacons and Elders had arrived.

They all wore stern expressions, while several Old Men looked sage-like and ethereal. This was the bearing of an Immortal Sect.