Acting Post

"What? An Outer Courtyard disciple is taking a bounty from the Job Posting Board?"

In an instant, the crowd of disciples was drawn in by this exclamation.

They turned their gazes toward the Job Posting Board, seeing from afar a tall, well-built youth peeling off a job notice.

This person was none other than Zhou Yun.

"It's him?"

Chen Jingping, standing within the crowd, felt his eyes light up slightly.

Further out on the periphery, Zhang Hu was left completely dumbfounded.

He truly could not believe that Brother Yun, who had always been as close to him as a brother, had quietly reached the point where he could take on a job from the board.

Could he have gone somewhere to drink and lost his mind?

No, given Brother Yun's temperament, he wouldn't do something he wasn't sure of, even if he were drunk!

But just how much bitter training would it take to go from three apertures to the threshold of Bright Force in less than ten days?

Could it really be that Heaven rewards the diligent?

Within the crowd, Lu Meng saw Zhou Yun's face clearly, his pupils trembling.

"Zhou Yun? How could he possibly take a job from the board? Could it be that he has reached Bright Force?"

"No, impossible! I had to rely on a Blood Coagulation Pill just to open my seventh aperture. How could a fisherman with no resources and no backing reach Bright Force!"

Lu Meng could not believe it, gritting his teeth with a sneer: "He must be doing this just to show off for a moment. Does he not know the rules of the martial arts hall? Daring to pull a notice at will—just wait for Master Liang to expel him from the Outer Courtyard!"

The Inner and Outer Courtyard disciples gathered around the board were all curious about this suddenly appearing Bright Force practitioner.

Not to mention, he was wearing the attire of an Outer Courtyard disciple.

As various discussions swirled around him, Zhou Yun merely smiled calmly and walked out of the crowd.

"Wait."

A sharp, feminine voice blocked his path as Shen Qingxue walked up to him.

"I posted this job. May I ask, Junior Brother, have you truly reached the Bright Force realm?"

Her eyes were fixed on Zhou Yun, and she felt more and more that this person looked familiar.

"Senior Sister, rest assured. Since I dared to take this notice, I would not be so arrogant as to overestimate my own abilities."

Zhou Yun cupped his hands in a salute.

"I know everyone in the Outer Courtyard who has reached Bright Force. How is it that I don't know your name?"

Liang Chengshi stepped forward, lifting his chin slightly: "This Junior Brother from the Outer Courtyard, Senior Sister Shen's job posting isn't something just any stray cat or dog can take. Don't ruin the rules of the martial arts hall just to show off for a moment."

"Senior Brother, do you have some advice?"

Zhou Yun could see that the other party was ill-intentioned, but he did not retreat.

It was perfect; now that he had reached Bright Force, he needed someone to practice with, and these Inner Courtyard seniors were the best sparring partners.

"Junior Brother has high spirits. Senior Brother will accompany you for a round."

Liang Chengshi grinned, unleashed his Black Ape Movement Technique, and charged forward.

This scene caused the other disciples to gasp in astonishment.

"Is that the Black Ape Movement Technique? Even among disciples who have reached Bright Force, not many have mastered it, right?"

"Don't you know who he is? Master Liang's only foster son! I heard he has the Fourth Form Bone; reaching Bright Force was like child's play for him."

Zhou Yun did not slacken, likewise employing the Black Ape Movement Technique to meet him, his gaze locked onto the black shadow.

Bang!

An incredibly fast fist struck Liang Chengshi's chest. His expression froze, and his body retreated several steps.

He clearly had not expected an Outer Courtyard disciple who had just broken through to Bright Force—or perhaps hadn't even reached it yet—to be able to master the Black Ape Movement Technique.

"Interesting."

Liang Chengshi's lips curled upward. He rubbed his aching chest and began to take it seriously.

He narrowed his stance, took a deep breath, and rushed toward Zhou Yun in a few quick strides.

Swish!

The Black Ape Fist utilized the power of his shoulders and back, creating a sonic boom in the air as it struck toward Zhou Yun's face with lightning speed.

Zhou Yun's eyes flickered. He stomped his right foot, dodged the punch by turning his body, and transformed his left hand from a fist into a palm, seizing Liang Chengshi's right arm and gripping it tightly with his five fingers.

Although the two were not using lethal moves, it was not a lighthearted sparring match either; one could tell that the outcome would be decided in a single exchange.

With his arm seized, Liang Chengshi tried to break free, only to find that the harder he struggled, the tighter the grip became.

This seemed to be a combination of the close-quarters techniques from the Black Ape Movement Technique and the clever force of transforming the Black Ape Fist from a fist into a palm.

It was impossible for a martial artist who had only just entered the realm to achieve such skillful application.

Liang Chengshi frowned. He took advantage of the momentum to spin in the air, using Zhou Yun's own force to break free from the predicament.

"I never expected that Junior Brother had not only broken through to Bright Force but also achieved minor success in two martial arts; it seems I have misjudged you."

Liang Chengshi's expression shifted as he cupped his hands in a salute.

"Achieving minor success in the Black Ape Movement Technique right after breaking through to Bright Force? Could it be that you learned this martial art before reaching Bright Force?"

Shen Qingxue's eyes brightened slightly; she felt as though she had discovered another precious talent.

Wait, if Lu Meng was not the person at the Black Market that day, then this person's physique, age, and martial arts all matched that individual perfectly.

"Have you been to the Black Market of our Sky Sea Escort Agency in the past few days?"

Shen Qingxue stared at Zhou Yun, questioning him word by word.

"I have never been to any Black Market; I am merely an Outer Courtyard disciple who focuses on practicing martial arts."

Zhou Yun cupped his hands, offering no further explanation.

However, standing within the small circle of the Inner Courtyard, the refined gaze of Chen Jingping remained fixed upon him, as if he had discovered something interesting.

"Say, Junior Brother, once one successfully breaks through to Bright Force, they must pay respects to Master Liang. How about we lead the way for you?"

Liang Chengshi smiled in a flash, leaning toward Zhou Yun and saying, "I have always found it difficult to reach minor success in the Black Ape Movement Technique; I wonder if you might have time to offer some pointers?"

"That is easy to say, Senior Brother, please."

Zhou Yun smiled slightly, neither refusing nor explicitly agreeing.

"Please, please!"

Liang Chengshi was quite delighted and gestured for him to proceed.

At this moment, Chen Jingping walked over and offered a gentle smile to Zhou Yun: "Junior Brother Zhou, long time no see."

"It is Senior Brother Chen. Thank you for clearing up my confusion that day."

Zhou Yun had not expected to see Chen Jingping here; it was clear that these four, including Senior Brother Wang Lan, were all part of the same circle.

It seemed he had inexplicably entered the circle of the younger generation of Black Stone Martial Hall.

"Junior Brother Zhou, there is no need for such formalities. It is I who should congratulate you on breaking through to Bright Force."

Chen Jingping said with a smile, seemingly not taking that past matter to heart.

Shen Qingxue followed the three of them from a distance, casting a glance at Wang Lan beside her and whispering: "Senior Brother Wang Lan, that person..."

"Indeed, his martial arts style is identical to the person at the Black Market that day."

Wang Lan nodded without a hint of doubt, then added: "If it truly is him, such a growth rate is impossible for someone merely in the Outer Courtyard. Could the martial hall have misjudged his aptitude?"

"That is unlikely. For now, we can only wait until we have seen Master Liang."

Shen Qingxue looked at Zhou Yun's back, feeling his mystery grow ever deeper.

"If there is an opportunity, I must use my family's influence to investigate this person."

The five of them soon passed through the Inner Courtyard disciple compound and arrived at a massive Martial Hall, where racks of various weapons—sabers, spears, swords, and halberds—stood to the side.

A robust middle-aged man with slightly graying temples stood in the center of the Martial Hall; he appeared to be practicing a certain leg technique, moving so fast that only afterimages remained.

The group seemed to see familiar shadows within the moves, yet it was not a martial art like the Black Ape; it seemed to be a new type of martial skill.

After a long while, the movement within the Martial Hall ceased.

"Master Liang, a new Outer Courtyard disciple has broken through to Bright Force."

Wang Lan stepped forward, cupping his hands respectfully.