"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 green with envy.
Never mind its secluded, elegant surroundings—its area alone was nearly a thousand square meters. Such a huge courtyard, lived in by only one person; this was the treatment afforded to an Inner Sect Disciple.
It was utterly incomparable to what Outer Sect Disciples received.
The plaque hanging above the courtyard, bearing the words Clear Reflection Residence, likewise contained Martial Intent, somewhat similar to Outer Sect Elder Zhang Cong's Azure Cloud Residence.
Standing before the entrance and looking at the three words "Clear Reflection Residence,"
the system reacted.
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 when he stood before Azure Cloud Residence.
But having already tasted the thrill of gaining 300 points per second from the Vermilion Bird Stele at the entrance of Vermilion Bird Courtyard, this pace of +30 every so often clearly could no longer excite Li Yun.
Still, something was better than nothing.
At the very least, it was far more satisfying than clutching the Stance Cultivation Notes and grinding out two points per minute.
Zhang Ruohan pushed open the door.
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 spotless tea set rested atop one table, while a black stone stele stood to the right, its purpose unknown.
But the moment Li Yun's gaze fell upon the black stele, the system immediately reacted again.
Observing Sword Testing Stele, Cognition Points +15 Observing Sword Testing Stele, Cognition Points +15 ...
The gains were not much, but the speed was fast enough. Li Yun quietly calculated that as long as he focused his gaze on the stele, he could gain fifteen Cognition Points every two seconds on average—equivalent to 450 points per minute.
If he could stay in Clear Reflection Residence a little 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 glancing at the Sword Testing Stele.
He felt incomparably content.
More than half an hour passed just like that.
Yet Zhang Chu seemed unable to sit still any longer. He suddenly asked, "Li Yun, there's something I don't understand. Didn't you have Rank 5 Aptitude when you entered the sect? That's three grades worse than my Second Grade Aptitude. How has your Basic Stance Cultivation progressed so quickly?"
"Do you have some kind of trick?"
Li Yun had long known this matter could not be avoided, and he had already prepared himself mentally.
"What trick could I possibly have?"
"I just got hold of an Inner Sect Disciple's Stance Cultivation Notes..."
As he spoke,
he took out the Stance Cultivation Notes Xu Qing had given him.
Zhang Ruohan's eyes lit up slightly. "May I take 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 set 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 Realm and comprehended three kinds of True Intent."
"After becoming an Inner Sect Disciple, he copied many versions of these notes and sold them specifically to Outer Sect Disciples."
"They have been circulating for many years."
"But to be honest, while they are useful to many Outer Sect Disciples, the usefulness is limited."
"No way?"
Li Yun froze for a moment. "I studied the contents and found them quite useful..."
Zhang Ruohan shook her head. "Perhaps it differs from person to person. In any case, over all these years, you may be the only one who managed to reach the Minor Accomplishment Realm in Basic Stance Cultivation within a month using these notes."
Li Yun: "..."
"I don't know about that. Recently, I've just been studying these notes. When I ran into Senior Sister Zhang, I was studying them too... Hmm, perhaps I comprehended something from them."
"Senior Sister Zhang, may I borrow your courtyard to sit in meditation for a while?"
Zhang Ruohan was somewhat surprised. A sharp glint flashed through her beautiful eyes as she immediately said, "Of course..."
Li Yun nodded, rose to his feet, and walked toward an empty patch of ground nearby.
He sat down cross-legged.
Zhang Chu said in surprise, "Sis, is this guy planning to..."
"Shut up!"
"Watch. Don't speak!"
Zhang Ruohan shot Zhang Chu a fierce glare. He immediately did not dare say another word and could only watch Li Yun with a face full of bewilderment.
At that moment,
Li Yun silently activated the system.
He directly added points to Basic Stance Cultivation.
As Li Yun sat motionless in meditation, a figure appeared in his mind once again, silently performing the Twelve Stances of Basic Stance Cultivation.
Nearly a quarter of an hour passed.
Li Yun suddenly opened his eyes, a bright radiance bursting forth from them.
In that quarter of an hour,
he had spent roughly six thousand Cognition Points, forcefully pushing Basic Stance Cultivation from the Minor Accomplishment Realm into the Proficiency Realm. The panel still had Cognition Points remaining.
He smiled faintly and rose in an instant.
Right before Zhang Ruohan and Zhang Chu, he began performing Basic Stance Cultivation.
The very first stance of the opening sequence had barely been performed
when Zhang Ruohan sprang to her feet in shock. Her face was written with astonishment, as though she had seen a ghost.
She was dumbfounded.
The Proficiency Realm!
She clearly remembered that when she first met Li Yun, his Basic Stance Cultivation had only reached the Minor Accomplishment Realm. How had he simply sat in meditation for a while and leapt straight into the Proficiency Realm?
This was downright seeing a ghost in broad daylight!
By the time Li Yun completed all Twelve Stances, Zhang Ruohan was completely 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 myself and contemplate them. Every time, I gain something..."
Zhang Ruohan: "..."
Zhang Chu, standing nearby, was furious. He immediately slapped the table and sprang 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 empty ground nearby. Mimicking Li Yun's earlier posture, 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, rendered speechless.
Yet in less than half a minute,
Zhang Chu opened his eyes and stood up. After looking at the two of them, he said dejectedly, "I can't do it... Li Yun, tell me, how exactly did you do it?"
Zhang Ruohan could not help rubbing her forehead.
She was so furious that she exploded on the spot.
In a flash, she lunged out and pinned Zhang Chu down for a savage beating. This bastard had simply made her lose all face.
Before you continue