"Alright, we're here!"

"This is my residence, Clear Shadow Residence."

After ten minutes or so, the three of them finally stopped before a small courtyard with red walls and green tiles.

Looking at the small courtyard before him, Li Yun felt intensely envious.

Not to mention its quiet, elegant surroundings, its area alone spanned nearly a thousand square meters; having such a large courtyard for just one person to live in was the true privilege of an Inner Sect Disciple.

It was completely incomparable to what Outer Sect Disciples received.

Moreover, the plaque hanging above the courtyard reading "Clear Shadow Residence" also contained Martial Dao true intent, somewhat similar to Outer Sect Elder Zhang Cong's Azure Cloud Residence.

Standing before the entrance and looking at the three characters of Clear Shadow Residence,

the System reacted.

【Observing Martial Dao true intent, Cognition Points +30】

【Observing Martial Dao true intent, Cognition Points +30】

【Observing Martial Dao true intent, Cognition Points +30】

The rate of increase was about the same as in front of Azure Cloud Residence.

However, having already tasted the rush of gaining 300 points per second from the Vermilion Bird stone stele at the entrance of Vermilion Bird Courtyard, this rate of only +30 every once in a while naturally failed to excite Li Yun.

Still, something was better than nothing.

At least it was far more satisfying than clutching the Stance Training notebook and grinding out two points per minute.

Zhang Ruohan pushed open the door and entered.

She led Li Yun and Zhang Chu into the courtyard.

Inside, there was first a spacious courtyard with wing rooms on three sides.

A stone table and stone benches were set in the yard, with a spotless tea set placed on the table, while a black stone stele stood on the right, its purpose unknown.

But when Li Yun's gaze fell upon that black stone stele, the System immediately reacted again.

【Observing Sword-Testing Stele, Cognition Points +15】

【Observing Sword-Testing Stele, Cognition Points +15】

...

It didn't add much per tick, but made up for it with sheer speed. Li Yun calculated silently: as long as his gaze remained focused on the stele, he gained an average of 15 Cognition Points every two seconds, amounting to roughly 450 points per minute.

If he could linger in Clear Shadow Residence for a while longer, the yield would be quite substantial.

"Have a seat..."

As the master of Clear Shadow Residence, Zhang Ruohan put on no airs whatsoever; after inviting Li Yun and Zhang Chu to sit, she personally brewed a pot of tea for them.

While sipping tea, she told them about some of the things she had seen and heard in the Inner Sect.

Much of this was completely inaccessible to ordinary Outer Sect Disciples, greatly expanding Li Yun's horizons.

As Li Yun listened, he secretly stole glances at the Sword-Testing Stele.

It felt exceptionally pleasant.

Just like that, more than half an hour slipped by.

Zhang Chu, however, seemed unable to sit still any longer and suddenly spoke up, Said, "Li Yun, there's something I don't quite understand. When you had your Entry evaluation, didn't you have rank-five Aptitude, three ranks below my rank-two Aptitude? How has your Basic Stance Training progressed so rapidly?"

"Do you have some kind of secret trick?"

Li Yun had known all along that this question was unavoidable and had already prepared himself mentally.

"What secret trick could I possibly have?"

"I merely obtained a Stance Training notebook from an Inner Sect Disciple, that's all..."

As he spoke,

he took out the Stance Training notebook that Xu Qing had given him.

Zhang Ruohan's eyes brightened slightly as she asked, "May I take a look?"

"Go ahead, why not?"

Li Yun responded nonchalantly.

Zhang Ruohan took the Stance Training notebook and flipped through it; in less than ten seconds, she set it back down.

With a wry smile, she Said, "This Stance Training notebook of yours was written thirty years ago by an Inner Sect Disciple named Yuan Lie. Yuan Lie was one of the few Inner Sect Disciples who managed to cultivation Basic Stance Training to Perfection and comprehend three kinds of true intent."

"After becoming an Inner Sect Disciple, he produced quite a few copies of this Stance Training notebook specifically to sell to Outer Sect Disciples."

"It has circulated for many years."

"To tell you the truth, while it does have some use for many Outer Sect Disciples, the effect isn't significant."

"No way, really?"

Li Yun paused in surprise. "I studied its contents and found it quite helpful..."

Zhang Ruohan shook her head. "Perhaps it varies from person to person. In any case, over all these years, you're probably the only one who managed to achieve Minor Achievement in Basic Stance Training within a month by relying on this notebook."

Li Yun: "..."

"I wouldn't know about that. At any rate, I've spent all my recent time studying this notebook, and when I ran into Senior Sister Zhang, I was also studying it... Well, maybe I managed to comprehend a few extra insights from it."

"Senior Sister Zhang, may I borrow your courtyard to meditate for a moment?"

Zhang Ruohan was somewhat astonished, a spark flashing across her beautiful eyes as she immediately Said, "Of course..."

Li Yun nodded, stood up, and walked over to an open area nearby.

He sat down cross-legged.

Zhang Chu Said in astonishment, "Sis, is this guy planning to..."

"Shut up!"

"Watch, and don't say a word!"

Zhang Ruohan glared sharply at Zhang Chu. Intimidated, Zhang Chu immediately shrank back from speaking and could only stare at Li Yun with utter bewilderment.

At this moment,

Li Yun had already silently activated the System.

He directly allocated points to 【Basic Stance Training】.

While Li Yun sat motionless in meditation, a figure had already appeared in his mind once again, silently executing the twelve stances of 【Basic Stance Training】.

Nearly a quarter of an hour passed.

Li Yun suddenly snapped open his eyes, a brilliant gleam bursting forth from his pupils.

In just this quarter of an hour,

he had consumed approximately six thousand Cognition Points, decisively thrusting 【Basic Stance Training】 from the Minor Achievement realm into the Mastery Realm, leaving 24,125 Cognition Points remaining on his System Panel.

Smiling faintly, he rose to his feet in an instant.

Right before Zhang Ruohan and Zhang Chu, he began executing 【Basic Stance Training】.

The very moment he initiated the opening stance,

Zhang Ruohan shot to her feet in disbelief, her face etched with complete shock, looking as if she had just seen a ghost.

She was utterly stunned.

It was the Mastery Realm!

She clearly remembered that when she had first met Li Yun, his 【Basic Stance Training】 had only reached the Minor Achievement realm. How had a single brief meditation session propelled him directly into the Mastery Realm?

This was downright unnatural!

By the time Li Yun completed all twelve stances, Zhang Ruohan was rendered completely speechless.

"Senior Sister Zhang..."

"That's how it is. I don't really know how to put it into words either; after studying that notebook thoroughly, whenever I quiet my mind to contemplate, I always make some gains..."

Zhang Ruohan: "..."

Beside them, Zhang Chu was so furious that he slammed the table and leapt up.

"I don't believe it!"

"I have that notebook too! I'll try it right now!"

Zhang Chu hurried over to the open ground, sat down cross-legged to imitate Li Yun's posture, and deliberately drew a deep breath before slowly shutting his eyes.

Li Yun: "..."

Zhang Ruohan: "..."

The two exchanged glances, utterly at a loss for words.

However, in less than half a minute,

Zhang Chu opened his eyes and stood up. Looking at the two of them, he Said dejectedly, "I can't do it... Li Yun, tell me, how on earth did you pull that off?"

Zhang Ruohan couldn't help but clutch her forehead.

Driven to absolute fury on the spot,

she darted forward and pinned Zhang Chu down to pummel him mercilessly—this scoundrel had utterly humiliated her.