Mastered on the Spot? Zhang Chu: No, I Want to Try Too!

"Alright, we're here!"

"This is where I live—Clear Reflection Residence."

More than ten minutes later, the three of them finally stopped before a small courtyard with red walls and green tiles.

Looking at the courtyard before him, Li Yun was insanely envious.

Never mind its quiet, elegant surroundings; the place alone covered nearly a thousand square meters. Such a huge courtyard, inhabited by just one person—this was the treatment afforded to an Inner Sect Disciple.

It was simply not something Outer Sect Disciples could compare to.

The plaque hanging above the courtyard, bearing the words Clear Reflection Residence, also contained Martial Intent, somewhat like the Azure Cloud Residence of Outer Sect Elder Zhang Cong.

Standing before the gate and looking at the three words "Clear Reflection Residence,"

the system responded.

Observing Martial Intent, Cognition Points +30

Observing Martial Intent, Cognition Points +30

Observing Martial Intent, Cognition Points +30

The rate of increase was about the same as it had been in front of Azure Cloud Residence.

But after having tasted the three hundred points per second from the Vermilion Bird Stele at the entrance to Vermilion Bird Courtyard, this pace of thirty points every so often clearly could not excite Li Yun.

Still, something was better than nothing.

At least it was far more satisfying than clutching the Stance Cultivation Notes and painstakingly earning two points per minute.

Zhang Ruohan pushed open the gate.

She led Li Yun and Zhang Chu into the courtyard.

Inside, there was first a spacious yard, with side rooms on three sides.

Stone tables and stools stood in the yard. A spotlessly washed tea set rested on the table, while a black stone stele stood to the right, its purpose unknown.

But when Li Yun's gaze fell upon the black stone stele, the system immediately reacted again.

Observing Sword Testing Stele, Cognition Points +15

Observing Sword Testing Stele, Cognition Points +15

...

It did not add much, but it was fast. Li Yun secretly calculated that as long as he focused his eyes on the stone stele, he could gain fifteen Cognition Points every two seconds on average—equivalent to four hundred and fifty points per minute.

If he could stay in Clear Reflection Residence a while longer, the returns would be quite considerable.

"Have a seat..."

As the owner of Clear Reflection Residence, Zhang Ruohan did not put on any airs. After inviting Li Yun and Zhang Chu to sit, she personally brewed them a pot of tea.

As they drank tea, she told them about some things she had seen and heard within the Inner Sect.

Much of it was beyond the reach of ordinary Outer Sect Disciples, and it greatly broadened Li Yun's horizons.

Li Yun listened while secretly stealing glances at the Sword Testing Stele.

He felt utterly at ease.

More than half an hour passed just like that.

Zhang Chu, however, seemed unable to sit still any longer. He suddenly asked, "Li Yun, there's something I don't understand. When you entered the sect, weren't you of fifth-grade aptitude? That's three grades worse than my second-grade aptitude. So how has your Basic Stance Cultivation progressed so quickly?"

"Do you have some kind of trick?"

Li Yun had long known he would not be able to avoid this matter, and he had already prepared himself mentally.

"What trick could I possibly have?"

"I just obtained the Stance Cultivation Notes of an Inner Sect Disciple..."

As he spoke,

he took out the Stance Cultivation Notes Xu Qing had given him.

Zhang Ruohan's eyes brightened slightly. "May I have a look?"

"Go ahead. Why not?"

Li Yun looked utterly unconcerned.

Zhang Ruohan took the Stance Cultivation Notes and flipped through them. In less than ten seconds, she put them down.

With a bitter smile, she said, "Your Stance Cultivation Notes were written by Yuan Lie, an Inner Sect Disciple from thirty years ago. Yuan Lie was one of the few Inner Sect Disciples who cultivated Basic Stance Cultivation to perfection and comprehended three kinds of true intent."

"After becoming an Inner Sect Disciple, he made many copies of these notes and sold them specifically to Outer Sect Disciples."

"They've been circulating for many years."

"But to be honest, they are useful to many Outer Sect Disciples, though not by much."

"Really?"

Li Yun froze for a moment. "I studied the contents and thought they were quite useful..."

Zhang Ruohan shook her head. "Perhaps it varies from person to person. In any case, over all these years, you may be the only one who has relied on these notes to reach the Minor Accomplishment Realm in Basic Stance Cultivation within a month."

Li Yun: "..."

"I don't know about that. Anyway, lately I've been studying these notes. When I ran into Senior Sister Zhang, I was studying them too... Hmm, maybe I understood something from them."

"Senior Sister Zhang, may I borrow your courtyard to meditate for a while?"

Zhang Ruohan was somewhat surprised. A gleam flashed through her beautiful eyes as she immediately said, "Of course..."

Li Yun nodded, rose to his feet, and walked toward an open area nearby.

He sat down cross-legged.

Zhang Chu said in surprise, "Sis, is this guy about to..."

"Shut up!"

"Watch. Don't say a word!"

Zhang Ruohan shot Zhang Chu a fierce glare. Zhang Chu immediately did not dare speak again and could only watch Li Yun with a face full of confusion.

At this moment,

Li Yun silently activated the system.

He directly allocated points to Basic Stance Cultivation.

As Li Yun sat motionless in meditation, a figure appeared in his mind once more, silently performing the Twelve Stances of Basic Stance Cultivation.

Nearly a quarter of an hour passed.

Li Yun suddenly opened his eyes, bright light bursting from them.

In that quarter-hour,

he spent roughly six thousand Cognition Points and forcefully pushed Basic Stance Cultivation from the Minor Accomplishment Realm to the Proficiency Realm, with Cognition Points still remaining on the panel.

He smiled faintly and sprang to his feet.

Right before Zhang Ruohan and Zhang Chu, he began to perform Basic Stance Cultivation.

The very first stance, the opening stance, had barely been performed

when Zhang Ruohan shot to her feet in shock. Her face was filled with disbelief, as though she had seen a ghost.

She was dumbfounded.

The Proficiency Realm!

She clearly remembered that when she had first met Li Yun, his Basic Stance Cultivation had only reached the Minor Accomplishment Realm. How had he gone from sitting in meditation for a moment to directly reaching the Proficiency Realm?

This was like seeing a ghost in broad daylight!

By the time Li Yun completed all Twelve Stances, Zhang Ruohan was utterly speechless.

"Senior Sister Zhang..."

"That's how it is. I don't know how to explain it either. After carefully studying those notes, I calm my mind and contemplate them. Every time, I gain something..."

Zhang Ruohan: "..."

Zhang Chu, standing to the side, was so furious that he immediately slapped the table and rose to his feet.

"I don't believe it!"

"I have those notes too. I'll try right now!"

Zhang Chu hurriedly turned around and went to the open area nearby. Mimicking Li Yun's earlier pose, he sat cross-legged. He even deliberately took a deep breath before slowly closing his eyes.

Li Yun: "..."

Zhang Ruohan: "..."

The two looked at each other, utterly speechless.

Yet in less than half a minute,

Zhang Chu opened his eyes and stood up. He glanced at the two of them, then said dejectedly, "I can't do it... Li Yun, tell me, just how did you do it?"

Zhang Ruohan could not help rubbing her forehead.

She was so angry that she exploded on the spot.

In a flash, she rushed out and pinned Zhang Chu down for a savage beating. This bastard had utterly disgraced her.