Lift a Stone Only to Smash His Own Foot!

Of course, Gu Yunzheng had not kindly reminded Wang Erdong on purpose.

In truth, ever since that night, he had been holding back a breath of resentment. He could never understand exactly where he fell short compared to Li Yun.

Clearly, he possessed First Grade Aptitude, while Li Yun only had Rank 5 Aptitude.

Why had Li Yun reached the Initial Accomplishment Realm in Basic Stance Cultivation before him?

Unable to figure out why, that pent-up resentment remained knotted in his heart, leaving him uncomfortable no matter what. It had even affected his cultivation these past two days.

That was why he had deliberately brought it up.

He wanted everyone in Rank 95 Academy to know that they were all newly inducted Outer Sect Disciples, all starting from scratch with Basic Stance Cultivation. None of them had reached the Initial Accomplishment Realm, yet Li Yun alone had.

He wanted everyone to become jealous, disgruntled, even to ostracize Li Yun.

Thus, in Gu Yunzheng's telling—

Li Yun became someone who had secretly reached the Initial Accomplishment Realm in Zhuang Gong, yet kept it hidden, neither showing off nor revealing himself. He looked humble, but in truth, he simply looked down on the people of Rank 95 Academy.

He successfully stirred up the dissatisfaction of quite a few Rank 95 Academy disciples.

Yet Gu Yunzheng failed to notice that, while he was quietly slandering Li Yun, an enraged figure had also entered Rank 95 Academy.

It was Zhang Chu, who had sobered up and run back from Azure Dragon Courtyard.

Originally, he had intended to settle accounts with Li Yun.

That bastard had actually left him alone in Azure Dragon Courtyard. That was downright disloyal.

But he had not expected to hear Gu Yunzheng slandering Li Yun the moment he returned to Rank 95 Academy, and he could not hold himself back.

"Shut your mouth..."

"Gossiping behind someone's back and ruining their reputation—Gu Yunzheng, you have the nerve to call yourself the chief disciple?"

"You've got the nerve to show that face? With such petty tolerance, you're nothing but a vile little man."

Gu Yunzheng furiously turned around. "Zhang Chu... you bastard! What right do you have to curse me like that?"

Zhang Chu said disdainfully, "Curse you? It's already merciful that I didn't beat you up. You're simply not worth it!"

"You... Zhang Chu, don't go too far."

"When did I slander Li Yun? Everything I said was true. Li Yun only has Rank 5 Aptitude, so why did he reach the Initial Accomplishment Realm in Zhuang Gong faster than everyone else?"

"Anyone can tell after a moment's thought that he must have used some crooked, unorthodox method. And that man is always appearing and disappearing like a ghost, never practicing martial arts in the courtyard. He simply looks down on the people of Rank 95 Academy... Which word did I say wrong?"

"Initial Accomplishment Realm?"

Zhang Chu gave a cold laugh. "Who told you Li Yun was only at the Initial Accomplishment Realm in Zhuang Gong?"

"He had already reached the Proficiency Realm, all right? Under his guidance, even I reached the Initial Accomplishment Realm... Only you, this so-called chief disciple, know nothing of the real situation. You spend every day leading a pack of lackeys around, thinking yourselves above everyone else, while envying and slandering others. It's enough to make people laugh their teeth out."

"If I were Li Yun, I wouldn't even bother with you!"

As he spoke, Zhang Chu looked at another disciple. "Chen Shan, have you seen Li Yun?"

"Ah, Li Yun... He just went out. I don't know where he went."

"Damn it, that bastard left me alone in Azure Dragon Courtyard while I was drunk, then secretly ran back to cultivate. I'm going to settle accounts with him!"

Zhang Chu cursed through gritted teeth, then turned and ran out.

He knew where to find Li Yun.

If his guess was right, Li Yun should still be in the place where he had met his sister yesterday. That spot was relatively secluded, perfect for that bastard Li Yun to show off his skills.

The moment he left, the people in the courtyard erupted into an even greater uproar.

"Did you hear that? What did Zhang Chu just say?"

"Li Yun's Zhuang Gong isn't at the Initial Accomplishment Realm—it's at the Proficiency Realm?"

"You're joking, right? Reaching the Proficiency Realm in Basic Stance Cultivation within one month—wouldn't that shatter the fastest Initial Accomplishment Realm record among all previous Outer Sect Disciples?"

"Damn, are you stupid? This isn't merely breaking the fastest Initial Accomplishment Realm record. He's kicked that record straight down the mountain..."

"This Li Yun is simply a genius!"

"Could it be that a true dragon is about to emerge from our Rank 95 Academy?"

"Being in the same Outer Sect as such a peerless genius, wouldn't we all benefit from his light?"

Gu Yunzheng, listening to the cries of astonishment from the surrounding disciples, had already turned scarlet. Then his face darkened, black as the bottom of a pot.

"No..."

"I'm not talking about Li Yun's Zhuang Gong reaching the Proficiency Realm. I mean Li Yun and Zhang Chu... Didn't you notice? They actually went to the Inner Sect last night and even drank there?"

Chen Shan said with a strange expression.

The instant those words came out, the courtyard fell silent.

Only then did everyone realize it.

Their faces were full of shock.

Good heavens, truly good heavens. Li Yun and Zhang Chu could actually enter the Inner Sect and drink there... What kind of backing did they have?

For a moment—

Everyone looked at Gu Yunzheng differently.

As though they were looking at an idiot.

What chief disciple?

More like a fool!

Instead of currying favor with a fellow disciple who was both a genius and deeply backed, he had chosen to envy and slander him behind his back. It would be better to stay far away from someone like that, lest they be dragged down by him in the future.

"Come on, let's go practice martial arts."

"When Senior Brother Li returns, we should find a chance to seek his guidance too. Maybe we'll improve by leaps and bounds as well..."

"Yes, yes, yes... With Senior Brother Li in Rank 95 Academy, it's absolutely a blessing for Rank 95 Academy..."

Before long, everyone in the courtyard had dispersed.

Not a single person spoke to Gu Yunzheng again.

That included those who had previously surrounded him, calling him Senior Brother Gu at every turn.

When a wall fell, everyone pushed it over; when a drum broke, everyone took turns hammering it.

At this moment, Gu Yunzheng finally experienced what true isolation meant. But the problem was, he had originally wanted to isolate Li Yun, not himself.

Faced with this outcome, Gu Yunzheng's eyes turned bloodshot.

"You... you're all nothing but people who watch the wind and steer their sails, flattering the powerful!"

"Just wait! I refuse to believe that a mere Rank 5 Aptitude piece of trash is truly some genius. We'll see who comes out on top. I, Gu Yunzheng, will never lose to Li Yun!"

Gu Yunzheng left in fury, walking out of Rank 95 Academy as well.

Yet his words did not earn many serious looks. All they received was disdain.

Meanwhile—

In that same secluded little grove, Li Yun performed Basic Stance Cultivation stance after stance, from the First Stance to the Twelfth Stance, then back to the First Stance again.

How could it merely be as smooth as drifting clouds and flowing water, as natural as if formed by heaven itself?

More wondrously, when he finally returned to the First Stance and stood motionless, an aura like a verdant pine unafraid of wind and snow radiated from him, making people tremble in shock.

Zhang Chu, who had come to settle accounts with Li Yun, rushed to the edge of the grove. When he saw Li Yun standing still like a verdant pine, his mouth immediately fell wide open, large enough to fit an egg inside.

In that instant—

Zhang Chu felt a chill shoot from the soles of his feet up his spine and straight into his mind, leaving him cold all over.

"Is this guy some kind of freak?"

"How has he even comprehended True Intent?"