Guiding Zhang Chu, Entangling Silk Force!

After getting beaten up by Zhang Ruohan, Zhang Chu felt quite wronged.

But he was still unwilling to give up.

He could not understand it. They both had a set of Stance Cultivation Notes, so why could Li Yun comprehend it so easily and advance by leaps and bounds, while he could not?

He walked up to Li Yun.

Then gave him a deep bow.

With a somewhat shameless grin, he said, "Li Yun—oh, no... Brother Li, teach me. Please teach me?"

Li Yun: "..."

He felt rather helpless.

"I can teach you, but could you stop talking like that? It kind of scares me."

Pfft!

Zhang Ruohan could not help but smile. These two really were a pair of living treasures.

Still, she did not interfere.

She also wanted to see how Li Yun would teach Zhang Chu.

Li Yun walked to one side. "Zhang Chu, let's make this clear first... I've never taught anyone before, so I can't guarantee it'll work just because I teach you. If you can accept that, come over now and perform the Zhuang Gong."

"I'll use my own understanding to correct you. What do you say?"

"Alright!"

Zhang Chu agreed and hurried to one side, beginning with the first stance.

"Stop! That's wrong!"

He had barely begun before Li Yun interrupted him.

Zhang Chu had only made half a movement before freezing in place. He had no idea what he had done wrong.

"What is it?"

Zhang Chu looked utterly bewildered.

Even Zhang Ruohan was somewhat puzzled. In her view, Zhang Chu did indeed have some flaws, but they were not unacceptable. Still, she said nothing and merely watched quietly.

Li Yun said sternly, "Your movement is wrong. You're too stiff!"

"The first stance of the Basic Stance Cultivation is called the Green Pine Stance. As the saying goes, stand like a pine tree. A green pine is straight, yes, but it should be upright, not rigid!"

"You were already rigid from the very start. You forced yourself straight for the sake of being straight, yet lost that natural, unrestrained ease. How could you possibly grasp the true essence of a green pine's uprightness?"

"Ah... aren't they both straight? There's a difference?"

"The difference is enormous. A tiny error can lead a thousand miles astray. Martial Dao is rigorous. Don't underestimate this little discrepancy—the effect it has on what comes after is immense."

At those words, Zhang Ruohan also fell into thought.

She could not help saying, "That's right. Li Yun is correct. No wonder I always felt something was strange when you performed it... It should be upright, not rigid... Zhang Chu, you little brat, listen to Li Yun and correct your movements."

"Alright, then!"

Zhang Chu shrugged helplessly. Since his sister had spoken, the consequences of disobedience would be severe. He did not want to invite another beating.

Yet although rigid and upright differed by only one word, their meanings were worlds apart.

Zhang Chu could understand the difference, but when he truly tried to change, he became at a loss.

If he exerted force, he became rigid.

If he did not exert force, he slumped.

He tried correcting himself several times, but never achieved the effect Li Yun described—straight and naturally upright, yet not rigid.

Left with no other choice,

Li Yun could only step in himself and demonstrate personally.

The moment he took his stance, it was completely different.

He merely stood there, seemingly in the simplest manner, yet he was like a green pine that had weathered countless storms, rooted firmly in place. Neither stiff nor slack, he even possessed a unique rhythm, creating a pleasing sense of beauty.

Zhang Ruohan's eyes shone with amazement. She had also risen from being an Outer Sect Disciple, and her Basic Stance Cultivation had once reached the Great Success Realm.

But after reversing into Innate, cultivating Innate True Qi meant she no longer needed to practice stances, so she had not continued studying Zhuang Gong in detail.

If she were asked to perform it now, she felt that she too would be unable to stand in a Green Pine Stance with such charm.

But Zhang Chu's realm was insufficient, and his eyes held only confusion.

He simply could not tell what exactly was different between his Green Pine Stance and Li Yun's.

Fortunately, after demonstrating for a while,

Li Yun carefully explained the subtleties involved, including the angles of the posture and the rhythm of breathing. He explained it all in plain language, and only then did the bewildered Zhang Chu gradually gain some understanding.

When he performed it again, it gradually began to look the part.

Then came the second stance, the third stance...

Nearly three hours passed.

Before they knew it, Li Yun had led Zhang Chu through all Twelve Stances of the Basic Stance Cultivation.

Once they were done,

Zhang Chu was beside himself with excitement.

"Hahaha... I've reached Initial Success?"

"I actually reached Initial Success in Basic Stance Cultivation... Sis, did you see that? Your little brother has reached Initial Success in Basic Stance Cultivation! Heh, heh, I'm impressive, right?"

Zhang Ruohan rolled her eyes in exasperation.

"What's so impressive about you? If Li Yun hadn't taught you step by step, could someone like you have reached Initial Success so quickly?"

"Uh... right, right, right... Li Yun, you're amazing!"

"Really, I've never admired anyone in my entire life. But you... I'm truly convinced now, from the bottom of my heart."

Li Yun immediately gave Zhang Chu a smile that was not particularly warm, yet remained polite.

He really only wanted to say two words.

So tired!

This Martial Dao business—cultivating it yourself and teaching it to someone else—were entirely different matters.

If he had not wanted an excuse to stay at Clear Reflection Residence a little longer and observe the Sword Testing Stele, he would have found an excuse to return to Rank 95 Academy long ago.

Still, it was not without benefits.

By teaching like this, he had invisibly reviewed the Basic Stance Cultivation himself. This review was actually recognized by the system, and without a sound, he gained an additional 300 Cognition Points.

This allowed him to discover another way to gain Cognition Points.

If he truly could not find a suitable target to observe in the future, he could try guiding others instead. He could gain Cognition Points and earn goodwill at the same time—killing two birds with one stone.

Just like now.

After guiding Zhang Chu's Basic Stance Cultivation to Initial Success, Li Yun could clearly sense that Zhang Ruohan's gaze toward him had become friendlier. Invisibly, he had gained Zhang Ruohan's goodwill and friendship.

This would clearly benefit him when establishing himself in the Celestial Martial Sect in the future.

However, it was getting late.

No matter how reluctant he was to leave Clear Reflection Residence, Li Yun had no choice but to take his leave.

Zhang Ruohan nodded and asked Li Yun to wait a moment.

Then she entered the house and brought out a book with a blue cover.

"Li Yun, your Basic Stance Cultivation has already reached the Proficiency Realm. After you return, find Zhang Cong, and you'll be able to receive a Martial Skill from the Martial Armory. But judging by your extraordinary comprehension, one Martial Skill may not be enough for your cultivation."

"I'll give you this Entangling Silk Force!"

"Ah... Senior Sister Zhang, isn't this inappropriate?"

"There's nothing inappropriate about it. You wasted half a day guiding Zhang Chu. I had originally promised to take you around the Inner Sect, but I failed to do so. Consider this Entangling Silk Force an apology."

"Don't worry. This Entangling Silk Force is privately owned by me. Giving it to you does not violate any rules, so you may study and cultivate it openly."

"When I have time next time, I'll visit you in the Outer Sect. Then I'll properly take you around Vermilion Bird Courtyard or some other courtyards, and introduce you to a few Inner Sect senior brothers and sisters while I'm at it."

"Ha, Senior Sister Zhang... you're too courteous. Then I'll accept it without further ceremony?"

Li Yun knew that Zhang Ruohan had truly accepted him and intended to draw him in, so he did not stand on ceremony as he accepted the Entangling Silk Force.

Just as Zhang Ruohan was about to personally see Zhang Chu and Li Yun out, a figure hurried over to the entrance of Clear Reflection Residence.

Before he entered, his voice arrived first.

"Haha, Ruohan, I heard you returned after completing your mission and even brought Outer Sect Disciples in. Why didn't you let me know first, so I could make preparations in advance?"

Zhang Ruohan's expression changed sharply.

Even Zhang Chu became nervous. He hurriedly tugged at Li Yun's sleeve and whispered, "My future brother-in-law, Zhao Chuanfeng, is here. This guy is a little petty, so don't say anything careless..."