Invincible Beyond Heavens: Cultivating With A Broken EXP System - Chapter 144: True Faces of People!
Chapter 144: True Faces of People!
“Let’s go.”
Since there was no longer any chance of stripping Li Yun of his rewards, remaining there would only invite ridicule. The Earth Pillar Peak First Seat let out a cold snort, turned sharply, and strode away. Ye Beichen followed closely behind him.
Li Yun watched their departing figures and gave a faint, mocking laugh.
“Some creatures should learn to chew on their own bones instead of constantly staring at someone else’s meal. What belongs to others will remain theirs. No amount of greed will change that.”
His voice was calm, yet the sarcasm was unmistakable.
Li Yun had never claimed to be gentle. If a dog barked at him, he would not bark back, but he would not hesitate to strike when necessary.
“How dare you?!”
Ye Beichen’s face flushed red with fury. Being compared to a dog was humiliation he could barely endure. For a moment, rage surged through him so violently that he nearly drew his sword on the spot.
Before he could act, the Earth Pillar Peak First Seat spoke coldly.
“Enough. What use is arguing now? The Four Peaks Tournament will be held in half a year. Return and cultivate properly. Once your strength grows, any humiliation can be repaid in full.”
Ye Beichen forced himself to calm down. The mention of the upcoming tournament steadied his breathing.
“That’s right. The Four Peaks Tournament is in half a year.”
He turned back toward Li Yun, his eyes burning with hostility.
“Li Yun, do not be too pleased with yourself. You have only one-star Aptitude. In half a year, your improvement will be limited. I, on the other hand, possess near ten-star Aptitude. Half a year is more than enough for me to advance rapidly. When that time comes, I will crush you completely.”
Li Yun responded without the slightest change in expression.
“Very well. I will be waiting.”
The indifference in his tone carried more weight than any insult.
Ye Beichen snorted and followed the Earth Pillar Peak First Seat out of the hall.
After their departure, the Profound Mystery Peak Lord also prepared to leave. He inclined his head slightly toward the Heaven Mandate Peak Head.
“I will take my leave.”
Then he turned to Han Lingxue.
“Come. Return to Profound Mystery Peak with me.”
Hearing the words of the Profound Mystery Peak Lord, Han Lingxue nodded obediently.
Before leaving, she glanced at Li Yun. For a brief moment, she considered walking over to offer a few comforting words. Yet her steps did not move. A flicker of hesitation passed through her eyes as her thoughts churned.
“Li Yun only has one-star Aptitude now. Even if my own Aptitude is not extraordinary, I am still an eight-star genius. He is destined to fall behind sooner or later. We will belong to two completely different worlds. There is no need to maintain this friendship.”
Another thought followed quickly.
“He has already offended Ye Beichen, who possesses near ten-star Aptitude. If I continue to associate with him, I will indirectly offend Ye Beichen as well. Offending someone like that for the sake of a person who will soon decline is simply not worth it.”
With that decision made, Han Lingxue withdrew her gaze and no longer looked at Li Yun. She followed the Profound Mystery Peak Lord away.
As she walked, she suddenly remembered the high-grade medicinal pill, the Spiritual Jade Pill, that she had once given Li Yun when he was injured in order to build goodwill.
A faint sigh escaped her lips.
“I wasted a Spiritual Jade Pill. Consider it the price of poor judgment.”
Although her voice was soft, Li Yun’s senses were sharp enough to hear every word clearly.
His expression did not change. He neither reacted nor spoke. However, the warmth that had once existed in his gaze toward Han Lingxue vanished completely. When he looked at her now, his eyes were cold, as though she were no more than a stranger passing by.
“Brother Li!”
A familiar voice suddenly called out.
Li Yun turned and saw Zhu Ximen approaching him.
Li Yun let out a faint laugh.
“Am I, a so-called waste with one-star Aptitude, still worthy of you calling me Brother Li?”
Zhu Ximen stopped in his tracks. His expression stiffened, and then anger flashed across his face.
“Li Yun, what do you mean by that? Do you think I befriended you because you were a genius? Do you think that if you lose your title, I would look down on you as well?”
His voice grew sharper.
“If that is what you believe of me, then pretend we were never friends. I, Zhu Ximen, will not stay where I am not trusted.”
Seeing that Zhu Ximen was genuinely upset, Li Yun was startled. He had not expected such a reaction.
“Brother Zhu, do not be angry. I was only speaking carelessly. I apologize.”
His tone softened immediately.
He had witnessed how quickly others had distanced themselves once his Aptitude was revealed. He had not expected Zhu Ximen to be so different.
“That is more like it.”
Seeing Li Yun apologize sincerely, Zhu Ximen nodded with satisfaction. He stepped forward and placed a firm hand on Li Yun’s shoulder. His voice was steady and deep.
“Brother Li, I do not know why that broken measuring orb only showed you as having one-star Aptitude. However, I refuse to believe that your talent is truly so simple. A person who can fight across ranks and defeat someone like Ye Beichen cannot be ordinary.”
His eyes were resolute.
“Work hard. In half a year, the once-a-decade Four Peaks Tournament of Martial Ascension Gate will be held. When that day arrives, you must stand on that stage and shine so brightly that those who mocked you today will understand what regret truly feels like.”
Li Yun felt a warmth stir in his chest. After everything that had happened, Zhu Ximen’s straightforward sincerity was like a clear stream cutting through dust.
“Do not worry,” Li Yun replied with a faint smile. “I will not disappoint you.”
At that moment, he suddenly realized that the unexpected outcome of his Aptitude test was not entirely a disaster. It had stripped away pretense and revealed people’s true colors. Those who valued only talent had already distanced themselves. Those who remained were genuine.
“Alright, I must return to Human Origin Peak with the First Seat. We will talk again when we have the chance.”
The Human Origin Peak First Seat was already signaling from a distance. Zhu Ximen waved once more at Li Yun before jogging over. Soon after, he followed the First Seat as they soared into the sky toward the towering Human Origin Peak suspended high above.
A calm voice sounded beside Li Yun.
“We should return to Heaven Mandate Peak as well.”
It was the Heaven Mandate Peak Head.
“Yes.”
Li Yun nodded. He cast one final glance at the hall before turning and following behind the Heaven Mandate Peak Head, heading toward Heaven Mandate Peak with steady steps.
