"Breathing efficiency increased twofold?"
Su Yun was secretly astonished.
That meant his cultivation speed could increase even more.
He tried it, and found that his breathing efficiency had indeed doubled.
Soon, the time it took an incense stick to burn had passed.
The other Outer Sect disciples were still standing where they were, frowning in deep thought.
But Senior Sister Chen had already risen and left the hall, returning upstairs.
"Huh? Senior Sister Chen has left?"
"No! Please, explain it a little longer! I'm almost ready to break through!"
Some disciples noticed Senior Sister Chen's departure and let out a wail, beating their chests and stamping their feet, reluctant to see her go.
"Wait, did all of you understand? Or am I the only one who didn't?"
Of course, some disciples were still standing there in a daze.
They felt as if they had listened, and yet somehow hadn't.
Su Yun came back to himself, still wanting more.
If he could hear the explanation a few more times, perhaps he could improve the cultivation efficiency of the Breathing Technique even further.
Of course, gaining so much was already an unexpected delight.
After Senior Sister Chen left, the Outer Sect disciples present also departed in twos and threes.
Su Yun returned to the little courtyard where he lived.
The night passed without incident.
After listening to the explanation of the Breathing Technique, he was excited and diligently cultivated through the night. Current cultivation progress: 6%.
The next morning, a voice sounded in Su Yun's mind.
"As expected, the improved Breathing Technique has greatly increased my automatic cultivation efficiency."
"If I pair it with Body Tempering Pills and medicinal broth, I estimate I can break through to the Body Refining Ninth Stage in ten days."
Su Yun pondered to himself.
And after the Body Refining Ninth Stage came the breakthrough to the Mystic Profound Realm!
Normally, many Outer Sect disciples got stuck for a while after reaching the Body Refining Ninth Stage and couldn't immediately break through to the Mystic Profound Realm.
If they relied on slow cultivation, it could take them anywhere from a few months to a year or two to break through.
Of course, there was a way to speed up the process.
That was the Mystic-Breaking Pill!
But at the thought of this, Su Yun couldn't help frowning.
"Still, the Mystic-Breaking Pill is a second-grade pill, and it's quite difficult to refine. For an Outer Sect disciple to exchange for one, they need at least twenty thousand Contribution Points!"
"If too many people try to exchange for one and the supply runs low, the price will only rise."
He didn't have anywhere near enough Contribution Points to exchange for a Mystic-Breaking Pill.
"I could go take a look at the Mission Pavilion."
After thinking it over, Su Yun made up his mind.
In fact, he could also go to the Outer Sect Back Mountain and hunt monsters.
With his current strength, killing First-Grade Monsters would be easy.
Unfortunately, the sect had a rule forbidding disciples at the Body Refining Seventh Stage or above from hunting too many First-Grade Monsters.
After all, these disciples were already strong. If they killed recklessly, earning Contribution Points at a furious pace and wiping out all the monsters, what would the other disciples have left to train against in the Outer Sect Back Mountain?
So that method wasn't suitable for Su Yun.
After turning it over in his mind, he decided that taking on missions was the only way to accumulate a large number of Contribution Points.
A short while later, Su Yun arrived at the Mission Pavilion.
It wasn't exactly packed shoulder to shoulder, but there were still a remarkable number of disciples there to accept missions.
The mission board was covered with all sorts of assignments.
Some called for finding a particular treasure, some for exploring a treasure site together, some for hiring people to kill an enemy, and others for hunting monsters...
In short, the missions here covered just about everything.
"Hm? Junior Brother Su Yun?"
At that moment, a voice suddenly came from behind him.
Su Yun turned around and saw Song Que.
He was leading two Outer Sect disciples toward him.
"Senior Brother Song, are you bringing them here to accept missions?"
Glancing at the two Outer Sect disciples, Su Yun asked.
"That's right."
Song Que nodded, then explained.
"They've been cultivating in the sect for a year. Their cultivation is decent, but they lack real combat experience, so they asked me to pick a mission for them to get some training."
"I see."
Su Yun nodded in understanding.
The two disciples had fair skin, calm expressions, and exquisite ornaments hanging from their waists.
They were obviously from prominent lineages.
Their cultivation was decent, but they lacked experience, so they still couldn't be considered strong.
A short while later, Song Que found them a mission and continued chatting with Su Yun.
"Junior Brother Su Yun, you've been cultivating very quickly. You should be reaching the Body Refining Ninth Stage soon."
"After Body Refining comes the Mystic Profound Realm, and those who want to break through quickly usually need to take a Mystic-Breaking Pill."
"You came here to accept a mission because you want to accumulate Contribution Points as quickly as possible and exchange them for a Mystic-Breaking Pill, right?"
Song Que asked with certainty.
"That's right."
Su Yun nodded.
Seeing him nod, Song Que smiled.
"Junior Brother Su Yun, I happen to have a mission here that I accepted yesterday evening. Would you like to take a look?"
As he spoke, Song Que took out a green bamboo slip.
Su Yun took it and looked it over.
Seeing this, Song Que's smile brightened.
He had actually spent an hour yesterday searching through the mountain of missions before finding this one.
The reward for completing it included not only ten thousand Contribution Points, but also a Mystic-Breaking Pill!
Ever since learning that Su Yun's cultivation had already reached the Body Refining Eighth Stage, he had immediately realized that the treasure Su Yun needed most was a Mystic-Breaking Pill.
So, after finishing his work yesterday, he went straight to the Mission Pavilion and began searching through the missions for ones that offered a large number of Contribution Points.
Or, better yet, one that directly rewarded a Mystic-Breaking Pill.
In the end, he really did find one.
After Su Yun finished reading, Song Que said with a smile,
"City Lord Lin of Sky Pure City in Baoshan Prefecture has a daughter of peerless beauty, so captivating she could outshine the moon and shame the flowers. Her beauty was said to rival the Flower of Baoshan."
"But over the past month, a flower thief has appeared in Sky Pure City. He's suspected to be at the Mystic Profound Realm, has superb swordsmanship, and calls himself the Flower-Plucking Sword Lord."
"The name isn't bad, but he's vicious and ruthless. After taking a woman, he often destroys all evidence."
"The authorities issued a wanted notice, but this man is skilled at disguises, and his movement technique is even better than his swordsmanship. He easily evades capture, giving everyone a headache."
"Now, it's said that the Flower-Plucking Sword Lord has set his sights on the Flower of Baoshan. That's why City Lord Lin issued this mission to the major sects throughout the Imperial Dynasty."
"Junior Brother Su Yun, if you capture or kill the Flower-Plucking Sword Lord, you'll receive ten thousand Contribution Points and a Mystic-Breaking Pill, along with a reward from the authorities."
After hearing this, Su Yun's interest stirred, and he considered taking the mission.
Whether it was the ten thousand Contribution Points or the Mystic-Breaking Pill, both were excellent rewards.
Coming back to himself, Su Yun cupped his hands gratefully.
"Thank you, Senior Brother Song!"
"I'll take this mission."
Song Que nodded with a smile.
Then his smile faded, and his expression turned solemn.
"Junior Brother Su Yun, the Flower-Plucking Sword Lord's strength is unknown. If things go badly, remember to put your own life first."
In truth, he suspected Su Yun's strength might already surpass his own, which was why he believed Su Yun could take on the mission.
Otherwise, he would be setting Su Yun up.
"I'll remember."
Su Yun nodded.
Then he left the Mission Pavilion.
"The Flower-Plucking Sword Lord is fast. If I want to kill him, I'll probably need to cultivate a movement technique."
"But I don't have enough Contribution Points to exchange for a Human Grade High Tier movement technique right now."
Su Yun thought to himself.
He had three thousand Contribution Points left after exchanging for the Bone Forging Vajra Technique.
After that, he completed the mission to investigate the Crimson Blood Fruit and earned three thousand more.
Six thousand in total—he was still short by four thousand.
After thinking for a moment, he went to the Outer Sect Back Mountain and hunted some monsters, finally gathering enough Contribution Points.
Then he entered the Scripture Depository and spent some time choosing a movement technique.
"Spirit Roc Dustless Step!"
"It requires diligent practice to improve its cultivation efficiency and reach Great Mastery."
"Once mastered to perfection, I can cover ten zhang in an instant!"
This Human Grade High Tier technique was quite good.
It was said that an expert in the sect had observed a spirit roc and created the technique from what he learned.
Back in his courtyard,
Su Yun spent some time thoroughly familiarizing himself with the technique.
The next moment, a voice rang in his mind.
"Ding! Spirit Roc Dustless Step has begun automatic cultivation. Critical hit! Successfully learned!"
Whoosh!
Su Yun's mind stirred, and he began darting and leaping around the courtyard.
"Not bad. I'm a little faster, and more nimble too."
The courtyard wasn't very large.
But as Su Yun leaped about, he moved like a spirit roc, nimble enough to avoid every obstacle.
With the technique chosen, Su Yun naturally didn't waste any time.
He took his Black Blade and some belongings, then headed straight down the mountain.
This time, he didn't ride a swift horse.
Instead, he kept using Spirit Roc Dustless Step to travel.
Following the route on the map, he headed toward Baoshan Prefecture.
The scenery along the way flashed past his eyes.
On the sunlit official road,
Su Yun moved like the wind, kicking up one patch after another of yellowing leaves.
Flowers, grass, and dust, carrying the scent of worldly life, wafted into his nose, lending the journey a unique charm.
During this time, the occasional notification sounded in Su Yun's mind.
Time passed slowly.
Only when the blazing sun had turned red and evening was drawing near did Su Yun arrive in Baoshan Prefecture.
And just then, Spirit Roc Dustless Step finally broke through.
"Spirit Roc Dustless Step: By taking in the sights of the mortal world and traveling a thousand li, inspiration surged and cultivation speed soared. Successfully advanced to Minor Mastery!"
After reaching Minor Mastery, Su Yun's traveling speed naturally increased again.
At dusk, the setting sun hung halfway behind the mountains, the clouds glowing brilliantly.
At that moment,
An evening bell rang, its echo lingering in the air.
It sent a flock of geese into the sky, where they cried out as they soared.
Su Yun finally stopped and looked up.
Before him stood a vast city, alive with noise and bustle.
Sky Pure City had arrived!
Before you continue