Moving into the Inner Courtyard and Receiving Support

"Hmm? A Bright Force disciple from the Outer Courtyard?"

Liang Wanshan sat in a chair, lifted a cup of hot tea, blew on it, and looked Zhou Yun up and down.

He said with some satisfaction, "Not bad. Your blood and qi have been completely converted into force, and your foundation is fairly solid. It's no easy feat to become a disciple of the Outer Courtyard."

"How many months have you been here? What's your name, and what kind of bone structure do you have?"

Zhou Yun cupped his hands. "Master, this disciple is called Zhou Yun. I came to study at the Martial Hall three months ago, and I have a First Form Bone."

"First Form Bone?"

The teacup in Liang Wanshan's hand paused, and his brows knitted slightly.

He stepped in front of Zhou Yun and ran a large hand down his back to his shoulder blade, then nodded slowly. "Not bad. You truly have a First Form Bone. It's no small feat that you managed to break through to Bright Force."

"A First Form Bone? How could someone with a First Form Bone break through to Bright Force so quickly?"

Shen Qingxue could hardly put her feelings into words. Even she and the others in her circle, all of whom had at least a Fourth Form Bone, had taken a month to break through to Bright Force.

A First Form Bone—and when she had seen him at the Black Market last time, he had seemed to be only at around the Six Apertures. That had been just a few short days ago.

If it wasn't a coincidence, then this rate of growth was terrifying beyond belief.

Perhaps he's someone worth recruiting.

Shen Qingxue's cool expression shifted ever so slightly as a plan took shape in her mind.

On the other side, Wang Lan's gaze toward Zhou Yun had also clearly changed.

Only he and the young lady Shen knew Zhou Yun's true identity, so naturally they were curious about how he had broken through so quickly.

Could this man really have had some kind of fortuitous encounter?

Wang Lan narrowed his eyes slightly and raised his estimation of Zhou Yun another notch, but he still didn't regard him as a rival.

After all, his path had never led through this little Black Stone County. It lay in the Twelve Main Cities and even across the entire dynasty.

"Now that you've broken through to Bright Force, have you chosen a position from the Job Posting Board?"

Liang Wanshan said no more.

Even if someone with a First Form Bone managed to break through to Bright Force by chance, they would have exhausted nearly all their potential. Breaking through to Dark Force would be as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Becoming a Transformation Force master was even less likely—almost impossible.

It was out of the question to give him the intensive training reserved for the few in the inner circle, but as his master, Liang Wanshan still needed to offer some guidance.

"Master, this disciple has already accepted a position from the Job Posting Board. It seems to be connected to the Sky Sea Escort Agency."

Zhou Yun had no idea what the others were thinking and simply answered honestly.

"The Sky Sea Escort Agency is under Qingxue's faction. You can ask her for advice about that."

Liang Wanshan took a sip of tea. "Once you've finished sorting out the position, find Jingping and get a set of Inner Courtyard disciple's clothes. Then you can move into the Inner Courtyard."

"Move into the Inner Courtyard?"

Zhou Yun had never heard of such a thing.

"Senior Brother Zhou, there's something you don't know."

Liang Chengshi stepped forward with a grin. "Although our Martial Hall tests everyone's bone structure when they join, those with a Three-Form Bone Structure can become Inner Courtyard disciples right away."

"But we also leave the Outer Courtyard disciples a path forward: breaking through to Bright Force."

Liang Chengshi patted Zhou Yun on the shoulder, then glanced at Master Liang. "After all, a Transformation Force master once said that a person might be an Outer Courtyard disciple for a time, but they can't be one for their whole life."

"Master Liang, am I right?"

At that, Liang Wanshan didn't even raise an eyelid. He said calmly, "When you can beat me, then what you say will be right."

"Old fossil."

Liang Chengshi curled his lip and fell silent.

"Junior Brother Zhou, once you've settled into the Inner Courtyard, come find me at Earth No. 3 Courtyard during dinner tonight."

Shen Qingxue's lovely face remained cold as she turned and left the Martial Hall.

"Thank you, Senior Sister."

Zhou Yun watched her leave.

He felt that he had seen Senior Sister Shen somewhere before and found her somewhat familiar, but he didn't give it any more thought.

"Junior Brother Zhou, how about I show you around the Inner Courtyard?"

Chen Jingping stepped forward and smiled warmly at Zhou Yun. "The Inner Courtyard is more complicated than the Outer Courtyard. Senior Brother Wang Lan has just returned after spending years away, and Junior Sister Shen has to prepare for the next escort mission. As for Junior Brother Liang..."

"Don't worry, Senior Brother Chen. I won't take your job," Liang Chengshi said, raising his hand. "Once he's picked a courtyard, Senior Brother Zhou can give me a few pointers."

"That depends on what Junior Brother Zhou thinks."

Chen Jingping didn't answer directly. He just smiled without saying a word.

Liang Chengshi had already reached the threshold of Dark Force, yet he was calling a newly arrived Inner Courtyard disciple whose cultivation was far below his own "Senior Brother." It was obvious he wanted to treat Zhou Yun as a free master.

He had looked down on Zhou Yun before, but now he'd changed his tune faster than turning a page. That was probably one of the secrets behind his rapid progress in martial arts.

"Of course. I'll be relying on you to look after me from now on, Brother Liang."

Zhou Yun cupped his hands in salute.

"Absolutely!"

Seeing how readily Zhou Yun agreed, Liang Chengshi stepped aside to make way.

"Senior Brother Zhou, this way!"

"Junior Brother Zhou, the Inner Courtyard is mainly divided into three areas."

Walking ahead, Chen Jingping introduced each in turn. "The first is the Inner Martial Hall, where Master Liang usually practices martial arts and teaches."

"The second is the Dining Hall, where we eat. The last is the courtyards where we Inner Courtyard disciples live."

At this, Chen Jingping smiled. "Our Black Stone Martial Hall has kept more than thirty Inner Courtyard disciples year-round. Every one of them is at least at Bright Force or has the potential of a Three-Form Bone Structure."

"In other words, throughout all of Black Stone County, no one but our Black Stone Martial Hall can bring together more than thirty Bright Force experts at once. Even the government can't do it."

Zhou Yun pondered this. He had thought the Black Stone Martial Hall was just an ordinary power, but it had an astonishing number of Bright Force experts.

Were they really not afraid of drawing the government's suspicion? Even ordinary gangs with several hundred members usually had only one or two Bright Force experts to hold the fort.

"Junior Brother, there's no need to worry. Master Liang returned from Xiang City. Even if he took on hundreds of disciples and had more than thirty Bright Force experts under him, he wouldn't fear the government's power."

Chen Jingping seemed to have noticed Zhou Yun's concern and explained with a smile.

"Not only that, our Black Stone Martial Hall also has as many as nine Dark Force experts. There's Senior Brother Wang Lan, who's often away on missions, as well as some senior Inner Courtyard disciples. You'll get to know them one by one. Here we are."

As they talked, the two arrived at a square courtyard.

The plaque above the gate read Earth-Rank Courtyard No. 28.

Zhou Yun pushed open the gate and saw a standard four-sided courtyard, with an old locust tree growing in the middle.

Compared to a Common Dormitory shared by eight or nine people, this place not only had its own kitchen for cooking over a wood fire, but also a side room for guests. It could even accommodate three to five friends.

Outside the Martial Hall, a place like this would cost at least dozens of taels of silver if it were in a good location—and even then, it might not be enough.

"Every Inner Courtyard disciple is given a private courtyard, and they can keep it until they leave the Martial Hall."

After Chen Jingping finished speaking, he took a small porcelain bottle and a few bits of silver from his robes. "Junior Brother Zhou, I assume no one has offered you support yet?"

"Support? What does that mean?"

Zhou Yun asked humbly.

"Most Inner Courtyard disciples receive support from various factions. You must have heard the saying, 'The poor study, the rich practice martial arts.' Resources are essential on the path of martial cultivation."

Chen Jingping continued, "I represent the Xiang City Chen Clan. We can provide one Blood Coagulation Pill and three taels of silver each month. What do you think?"