Invincible Beyond Heavens: Cultivating With A Broken EXP System

”This, this...”

The silver-haired elder stammered for a while, then suddenly roared, ”I do not believe it! Zi Donglai, stop boasting and talking nonsense. You say this kid entered the Earth Ranking. Do you have any evidence?”

”Evidence?”

Zi Donglai sneered. ”Of course I have evidence. You are not qualified to know the changes in the Earth Ranking in advance, but that does not mean I am the same as you. Take a good look.”

With that, he flicked his wrist, and a jade booklet flew out, hurtling toward the silver-haired elder.

When Zi Donglai threw out the jade booklet, the silver-haired elder’s expression changed slightly. After picking it up and scanning it, his face became extremely grim.

It was real.

Everything Zi Donglai said was true.

As a Heavenly Core Realm powerhouse, the silver-haired elder knew that before Heaven Secret Tower officially released the revised Heaven Ranking, Earth Ranking, and Spirit Ranking to the entire Azure Void Region, it would first provide copies to some famous powerhouses in the region as a sign of respect.

As the Fifth Elder of the Heavenly Sword Sect’s Battle Hall and a powerhouse at the 9th level of Heavenly Core Realm, Zi Donglai naturally possessed this qualification.

In other words, Li Yun had actually entered the Earth Ranking with only Half-Step Earthly Core Realm cultivation. Moreover, his ranking was not low. He had entered the top hundred.

It was easy to imagine that once the revised Earth Ranking was officially released, the entire Azure Void Region would be shaken, and Li Yun’s reputation would inevitably spread throughout the region.

Yet just now, the silver-haired elder had tried to kick such a genius out of the ranks of Inner Sect Disciples. If he had actually done so, would he not have become the biggest joke?

Thinking of this, cold sweat immediately poured down the silver-haired elder’s body.

Becoming a joke was one thing, but if he were punished by the sect because of this, he might lose the lucrative position of managing the Mission Hall, which he had worked so hard to obtain. That loss would truly be immense.

”What is wrong, Zong Kui? Have you been struck speechless?”

Seeing the silver-haired elder’s shocked and fearful appearance, Zi Donglai sneered. ”Now, do you still want to kick Li Yun out of the Inner Sect? Do you still want to complain about me to the Sect Master?”

”No, no, no!”

The silver-haired elder shook his head repeatedly and quickly said, ”Zi Dong... no, Elder Zi, this matter is my fault. It was a momentary lapse in judgment that caused this mistake. Do not worry. How could I possibly kick a genius like Li Yun out of the Inner Sect? Not only will I not kick him out, but I will also report to the sect and make sure the sect treats Li Yun as a priority for cultivation, providing him with the best resources.”

”That is enough.”

Zi Donglai sneered. ”Zong Kui, do not play these useless games with me. The sect will naturally handle Li Yun’s cultivation, and we do not need you to say anything. I advise you to apologize to Li Yun immediately. If you cannot obtain Li Yun’s forgiveness, do not blame me for complaining about you to the Sect Master.”

”You!”

The silver-haired elder’s face instantly flushed red.

Zi Donglai was actually ordering him to apologize to Li Yun, a mere Half-Step Earthly Core Realm disciple. To him, this was simply going too far.

His first instinct was to refuse. However, when he saw Zi Donglai’s cold gaze, his heart trembled. He knew that Zi Donglai was serious. If he did not comply, Zi Donglai could really report him to the Sect Master.

Forcing down the humiliation in his heart, he looked at Li Yun and barely managed a smile. ”Well... Li Yun, what happened just now was my fault. Please do not take it to heart.”

”It is fine.”

Li Yun spoke indifferently, neither warm nor cold.

He had not taken the silver-haired elder seriously in the first place. Since Zi Donglai had stepped forward to teach the other party a lesson, Li Yun could not be bothered to pursue the matter further.

”Alright.”

Zi Donglai shook his head, waved his hand, and said, ”Li Yun, come with me. I am taking you to meet someone.”

With that, Zi Donglai turned around and walked forward swiftly and decisively, without the slightest hesitation.

”Yes.”

Li Yun nodded. He did not ask any further questions and immediately followed him.

They walked for a full half hour.

After half an hour, Li Yun and Zi Donglai entered a cave on a mountain peak in the back mountains.

As soon as they entered the cave, a wave of heat rushed toward them. The scorching temperature caused beads of sweat to appear on Li Yun’s skin.

The deeper they went, the higher the temperature inside the cave became. Toward the end, it was like walking inside a massive furnace. Without Earthly Core Realm cultivation, one probably could not remain there for even a second.

Finally, the two reached the end of the cave.

Looking ahead, they saw a small magma lake.

Gurgle! Gurgle!

On the surface of the small magma lake, rolling magma continuously churned and produced fist-sized bubbles. Those seemingly ordinary bubbles actually contained terrifying power. An ordinary Earthly Core Realm cultivator would likely die instantly if even a thin thread of that magma touched them.

Yet right in the center of this magma lake sat a sturdy old man with white hair, a white beard, and a clear, refined spirit.

He sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, seemingly dozing. However, when he sensed the arrival of Li Yun and Zi Donglai, he suddenly opened his eyes.

”Greetings, Elder Tianxu.”

A solemn expression appeared on Zi Donglai’s face. He bowed deeply, and his voice was filled with genuine respect.

’Elder Tianxu?’

Hearing Zi Donglai’s form of address, Li Yun could not help feeling greatly surprised.

The sturdy old man before him had white hair and a white beard, and his long hair hung down to his shoulders. This man was actually Elder Tianxu, the one who presided over the Forging Hall and stood among the truly top-tier figures of the entire Heavenly Sword Sect.

”Disciple Li Yun greets Elder Tianxu.”

Suppressing the shock in his heart, Li Yun immediately followed Zi Donglai and bowed respectfully.

”Mm.”

Elder Tianxu nodded. His gaze lingered on Li Yun for a moment, and a look of approval appeared in his eyes. ”You are Li Yun? You truly are a promising young talent.”

”The sect already knows what you did in the Lost Ancient City. Counting the incident in Southern Martial Domain, this should be your second time thwarting the Ironblood Sect’s plan, correct?”

The elder smiled faintly and continued, ”You have performed great services for the sect, so the sect will naturally not treat you unfairly. If I am not mistaken, you should have a Sword-Nurturing Gourd in your possession, right?”

”That is correct.”

Li Yun’s heart stirred. Seeming to realize something, he immediately took out the Sword-Nurturing Gourd.