Senior Sister Chen's Surprise, Body Refinement Ninth Level

After some time, Su Yun successfully obtained a Mystic-Breaking Pill from City Lord Lin.

Afterward, he rose to take his leave.

Watching Su Yun's departing back, City Lord Lin sighed with emotion, "This Young Hero Su truly has infinite potential; he actually managed to slay that wicked thief while only at the Body Tempering Realm."

"It was my daughter who had the keen eye to recognize his talent!"

"Over these years, my position has climbed higher and higher, yet my judgment has only grown worse."

Speaking of this, City Lord Lin felt a lingering fear.

If his attitude had been any worse back then, and he had displeased Su Yun enough for him to abandon the mission, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

"Father, if you think about it carefully, you will understand. That Young Hero Su dared to take on this mission voluntarily—how could he be an ordinary person?" Miss Lin remarked as she watched Su Yun's figure gradually shrink into the distance.

Although she could not cultivate and possessed no cultivation base, she was naturally knowledgeable about the various realms of cultivation.

To slay someone in the Profound Connection Realm while only at the Body Tempering Realm was naturally extremely difficult!

Even though she had realized earlier that Su Yun was no simple man, she had not expected his strength to be so formidable.

"Haha! It was your father who was blind." City Lord Lin laughed, his mood quite good. After all, the greatest crisis facing the Lin Mansion had been resolved, so he was naturally pleased.

Some time later, the news that a warrior from the Lin Mansion had slain the Flower-Plucking Sword Lord spread abroad. The entire city was instantly thrown into an uproar.

"What? The Flower-Plucking Sword Lord is dead? Is this true?"

"That's wonderful! He deserved to die!"

"Alas, it is just a pity that my elder brother's daughter could not hear this good news. I hope she can rest in peace in the afterlife."

In the taverns throughout the city, the air was thick with noise as gasps of surprise and cheers rose one after another. The matter was being discussed everywhere.

Subsequently, City Lord Lin ordered his men to deliver the corpse of the Flower-Plucking Sword Lord to the magistrate's office. As for the government bounty, Su Yun did not take it himself. He had City Lord Lin send the reward to the Su Estate. After all, the government bounty was only a few tens of thousands of taels in silver notes, and to him, silver notes were of little use now. It was better to send them home to maintain the financial operations of the Su Estate.

At dusk, the sunset glow illuminated the horizon for a thousand miles, birds chirped in the sky, and a cool breeze blew.

At this time, Su Yun successfully returned to the Mystic Blade Sect. He headed toward the Mission Pavilion, intending to submit his mission.

"Hmm?"

Before long, he saw Song Que standing in the square outside the Mission Pavilion, chatting and laughing with a female disciple. Seeing Su Yun, Song Que walked over with a smile on his face.

He looked Su Yun up and down. Seeing that Su Yun was completely unscathed, Song Que said with a look of surprise, "Junior Brother Su Yun, could it be that you have already completed the mission?"

"I have." Su Yun nodded.

Hearing this, Song Que could not help but exclaim, "Junior Brother Su Yun, perhaps your current strength has already completely surpassed mine!"

"Compared to you, Senior Brother, I still have a long way to go."

Su Yun replied with a smile.

The two walked and chatted, soon entering the Mission Pavilion and arriving at the registration desk.

After listening to Su Yun's account, the registration elder verified the details.

The Mystic Blade Sect had eyes and ears spread across thousands of miles.

Whether a disciple had truly completed a mission was easy to verify.

A moment later, he looked at Su Yun with a surprised expression.

"Su Yun, you are quite impressive to have slain the Flower-Plucking Sword Lord while still in the Body Tempering Realm."

"I have already deposited the ten thousand contribution points reward into your disciple token."

The registration elder stroked his white beard and handed the token back to Su Yun.

He then looked at Su Yun's face and sighed with admiration.

"I estimate that your current strength, even if not the best in the outer sect, certainly earns you a spot in the top three."

"You flatter me, Elder."

Su Yun took the disciple token and said with a smile.

After chatting for a while longer, he and Song Que left the Mission Pavilion.

On the way, Su Yun asked, "Senior Brother Song, do you know where one might acquire the pill formulas for Body Tempering Pills and Jade Marrow Pills?"

He had not forgotten that he was still providing room and board for an alchemist back at the Su Estate.

During this time, Su Ling had occasionally sent letters.

In the envelopes, she claimed to have perfectly mastered the alchemical knowledge and was ready to start refining pills at any time.

Naturally, he wanted to obtain the formulas so Su Ling could begin.

"Junior Brother wants pill formulas?"

Song Que looked surprised, then frowned and gave a wry smile.

"Junior Brother, pill formulas are quite precious. Even though I am an inner sect disciple, I have no access to them."

After all, he lacked a powerful patron or background, making him a grassroots disciple.

Since pill formulas were part of the foundation of major factions, he naturally could not reach them.

"However, I did think of someone who might be able to help you get them."

Suddenly, a figure flashed through Song Que's mind, and he spoke after some thought.

"Who?"

Su Yun was curious.

"It's Senior Sister Chen!"

Song Que explained with a smile, "Don't underestimate Senior Sister Chen; her background is quite astonishing."

"If she is willing to help, I can't say for sure about the Jade Marrow Pill formula, but she can certainly get you the Body Tempering Pill formula."

"Senior Sister Chen, is it?"

Su Yun's heart stirred, and he decided to give it a try.

Of course, he and Senior Sister Chen were merely passing acquaintances with no real friendship.

Therefore, he did not have much confidence.

"Junior Brother, I will speak with Senior Sister Chen about this, though I cannot guarantee success," Song Que said, his expression turning serious.

"Many thanks, Senior Brother Song."

Su Yun cupped his hands in gratitude.

The two chatted for a while longer before parting ways.

Upon returning to his small courtyard, Su Yun spent some time sorting through the spoils he had taken from the Flower-Plucking Sword Lord.

The two cultivation manuals he had looted were only of the Human Grade, and their value was not high.

However, there was a fair amount of silver, totaling one hundred thousand taels.

After a moment of thought, he turned the two manuals over to the sect in exchange for ten thousand contribution points.

Afterward, he returned to his courtyard to refine Body Tempering Pills and continue his cultivation.

The night passed without incident.

Early the next morning, a voice rang out in Su Yun's mind.

Breathing Technique has been diligently practiced for one night. During this period, a flash of inspiration occurred, greatly increasing cultivation progress. Current realm cultivation progress (66%).

Very good, the efficiency is quite decent.

It seems it won't be long before I can break through to the ninth level of Body Tempering.

Su Yun was quite satisfied with this speed of cultivation.

Afterward, he set off for the Seven-Story Purple Pavilion, intending to listen to Senior Sister Chen's lecture.

Some time later, he arrived, sat cross-legged, and listened attentively.

Breathing Technique has carefully listened to the lecture, gained deep insights, and begun to accelerate breathing. Cultivation efficiency increased!

Sure enough, after listening for only a short while, the Breathing Technique had already yielded results.

Specks of spiritual energy continuously surged into Su Yun's meridians.

This caused Su Yun's cultivation base to begin rising steadily.

At a certain moment, a voice rang out in his mind.

Breathing Technique has gained continuous insights, becoming completely absorbed. Entering an ethereal state, breathing efficiency increased fivefold for one hour!

At this moment, Su Yun discovered that the speed at which he absorbed spiritual energy was becoming faster and faster.

The twelve meridians within his body were like twelve roaring ancient beasts, crazily devouring the surrounding spiritual energy.

Hm?

In the center of the hall, Senior Sister Chen, who was in the middle of lecturing, looked at Su Yun with surprise.

Such a strong fluctuation of spiritual energy!

She discovered that a powerful suction force was emanating from Su Yun's body.

He was continuously devouring the surrounding spiritual energy!

Could it be that he has reached an epiphany?

At this moment, this thought could not help but arise in her mind.

Recalling what Song Que had told her yesterday, Senior Sister Chen's expression as she looked at Su Yun became increasingly curious.

To be able to slay the Profound-Accessing Realm Flower-Plucking Sword Lord while only in the Body Tempering Realm proves his extraordinary potential.

And now, he has even fallen into an epiphany because of a single lecture.

This Junior Brother Su Yun is truly just as Junior Brother Song said—an absolute monster!

Senior Sister Chen marveled inwardly.

With a shift in her thoughts, she decided to give Su Yun a helping hand.

From that point on, she moved from the simple to the profound, and the content of her lecture became significantly more advanced than before.

Her actions, however, made life miserable for the other disciples!

They sat cross-legged, one by one scratching their heads and looking bewildered, completely unable to comprehend the lecture.

But the Breathing Technique was overjoyed.

Breathing Technique has listened to an advanced lecture, inspiration has erupted, cultivation efficiency has skyrocketed. Current cultivation progress (75%).

The improvement of the Breathing Technique caused the efficiency of Su Yun's spiritual energy absorption to soar once again!

Gradually, the amount of spiritual energy being absorbed by the meridians in his body showed signs of nearing saturation.

Until, at a certain moment, a voice rang out.

Breathing Technique is cultivating at full speed. In one go, cultivation progress has been raised to one hundred percent. Successfully broken through to the ninth level of Body Tempering!