Invincible Beyond Heavens: Cultivating With A Broken EXP System

Under Su Wan’s guidance, Li Yun arrived at Elder Lin’s alchemy chamber, where Lin Shan was once again instructing Su Lan.

“So, were you successful?” Lin Shan asked as his gaze fixed on Li Yun, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Li Yun smiled and nodded. “I was.”

Without wasting any words, Li Yun took out his cauldron and began refining Body Tempering Pills once more. His movements followed the same sequence as before, yet they were far more polished, as though he had repeated the process countless times.

“His handling is far more mature than before,” Lin Shan thought, nodding in quiet approval.

What impressed him even more was that Li Yun had not changed his method. Instead, he had refined it, improving every detail as much as possible. That was what Lin Shan admired most. His two disciples had studied the experiences recorded in the tattered book and copied them carefully, but Li Yun had absorbed those experiences and used them to perfect his own path.

That difference in mindset was what set Li Yun apart. Su Wan and Su Lan were undoubtedly geniuses in alchemy, yet Li Yun’s approach placed him on an entirely different level.

Time passed as Li Yun continued refining the pills. Su Wan, Su Lan, and Lin Shan focused all their attention on him and the cauldron, watching every movement without looking away.

After three hours, the cauldron began to tremble.

“It’s time,” Li Yun said calmly as he prepared a bottle. He lifted the lid of the cauldron, and the pills shot into the air. He caught them with ease and sealed them inside the bottle.

“This fragrance…” Even before examining the pills, Lin Shan felt a powerful sensation from the aroma alone, and his body trembled slightly.

“Elder Lin, please examine them,” Li Yun said as he handed over the bottle.

Lin Shan accepted it solemnly, his hand shaking faintly. He took a deep breath, opened the bottle, and inspected the pills carefully.

After a brief moment, he spoke in a trembling voice. “Thirty six perfect grade Body Tempering Pills.”

At his words, both Su Lan and Su Wan froze in shock, their mouths falling open in disbelief. Even their master, a three star alchemist, could not refine a single perfect grade Body Tempering Pill, yet Li Yun had refined an entire set on his first true attempt.

What stunned them the most was not merely the result, but the success rate behind it. They had expected that even if Li Yun managed to produce perfect grade pills, there would be only one or two among many excellent grade ones. Instead, he had gone far beyond their expectations and refined all thirty six pills at the perfect grade.

The impact of that reality left the three of them shaken to the core.

Lin Shan let out a long sigh before finally speaking. “Li Yun, you are the first Supreme One Star Alchemist I have ever seen in the Southern Martial Domain.”

Li Yun smiled lightly and did not dwell on the praise. He understood that the title “Supreme” was reserved only for those capable of refining perfect grade pills or potions, yet by now he had grown accustomed to such results. To him, refining perfect grade items had already become something natural.

“Elder Lin, please accept these pills as a token of my gratitude for sharing your experience with me,” Li Yun said as he returned the tattered book to him. “This book helped me the most during these past few days.”

Lin Shan did not stand on ceremony. He put away the bottle of perfect grade Body Tempering Pills, then accepted the worn book he had lent Li Yun a week earlier.

He nodded and asked, “What are your plans now? With your talent in alchemy and perhaps even in the martial path, I doubt you will return to your city so soon.”

Li Yun nodded. “I plan to enter the Martial Ascension Gate. Their disciple selection assessment will be held in about five and a half months.”

“Martial Ascension Gate?” Lin Shan’s expression turned serious. “That sect’s assessment is extremely demanding. With the strength you are showing on the surface, I do not see you passing it.”

“Elder Lin, you do not need to worry about my strength,” Li Yun replied with a calm smile. “It is different from what it appears to be.”

He did not elaborate further, then added, “Miss Wan and Miss Lan could also come with me. With their cultivation at the Half Step Xiantian Realm, they would certainly qualify to become disciples of the Martial Ascension Gate.”

“Do not worry about them,” Elder Lin snorted, waving the matter aside as though the Martial Ascension Gate did not deserve his concern. “I have already decided which sect my two disciples will join.”

He continued in a gruff tone, “Focus on yourself, boy. I am still doubtful about your strength, but if you truly manage to enter the Martial Ascension Gate, there will be a chance for you to meet my disciples again in the future.”

“I understand,” Li Yun replied, his eyes lighting up slightly. From Elder Lin’s words, it was obvious that he possessed deep connections with one of the four great sects of the Southern Martial Domain.

“When do you plan to leave?” Elder Lin asked.

“I still need to refine the Obsidian Marrow Root,” Li Yun answered. “Once that is done, I will head straight for Martial Ascension City.”

Elder Lin nodded. “Five months is enough time for that journey.”

He added seriously, “Go ahead and refine the Obsidian Marrow Root, but be extremely careful. That root is exceptionally potent. I assume you are cultivating a body refining art to handle it?”

Li Yun nodded in confirmation.

“Good,” Elder Lin said. “I would not want you touching that root without a proper body refining technique.”

With that, Elder Lin dismissed Li Yun. He was already eager to examine the pills Li Yun had refined in greater detail and could barely restrain himself any longer.

When Su Wan and Su Lan accompanied Li Yun back to his residence, he immediately sensed that their attitudes toward him had changed. Su Lan, in particular, seemed completely different. Whenever their eyes met, she would lower her head in embarrassment.

Li Yun could only sigh inwardly.

“Miss Lan,” he said with a gentle smile, “your master has guided me as well, which means I can be considered his disciple too. That makes us fellow disciples in a sense, and therefore friends. Do not let what happened before stop you from speaking to me.”

Su Lan looked up at him, her eyes bright with surprise. “I did not expect you to be so broad minded.”

Li Yun shrugged casually. “I am a good man, after all.”

Su Wan smiled and asked, “Is there anything we can help you with? You will be traveling for five months, and I imagine you will need many preparations for such a long journey.”

Now that Su Wan had mentioned it, Li Yun realized that he truly needed many supplies for a nonstop five month journey to Martial Ascension City.

“Take this,” Li Yun said as he handed them a list. “It includes the ingredients for Body Tempering Pills and Qi Gathering Pills, along with some dried food for the road. I also need two top grade mortal rank cultivation arts, one for the flame element and one for the wind element. Make sure they are the best you can find.”

“Two top grade mortal rank cultivation arts for both wind and flame?” Su Wan repeated in surprise. “You need both of them?”

Li Yun nodded seriously. “Both, and only the best ones available in Pill Flame City.”

Su Wan nodded in response. “Leave it to us. Spirit Pill Pavilion deals not only in pills but also in cultivation arts. I already have a few in mind that should suit you well.”

She added, “We will come back to see you tomorrow morning.”

“Here, take this as well,” Li Yun said as he passed her a storage pouch. “There are around twenty thousand low grade spirit stones inside. That should be enough for two top grade cultivation arts.”

“Young Master Li, you really do not need to do this,” Su Wan began, but Li Yun cut her off.

“I insist,” he said calmly.

Su Wan let out a soft sigh. “If that is your decision, then we will accept it.”

With that, the two sisters left. Before disappearing, Su Lan stuck out her tongue at Li Yun in a mischievous gesture.

“Now I can finally cultivate in peace,” Li Yun muttered as he returned to his room.

Once inside, he relaxed and sat down cross legged. He took out the bottle containing the low grade profound rank Obsidian Marrow Root and examined it carefully.

“The Red Blood Jade Ginseng was only a top grade mortal rank herb, while this Obsidian Marrow Root has already reached low grade profound rank,” Li Yun murmured. “With this, I might be able to advance the Golden Battle Body directly to the fourth stage.”

With that Li Yun didn’t think much and swallowed the Obsidian Marrow Root directly.