Gu Yunzheng's cousin was named He Tingfeng, and accompanying him was Xu Youwu.

Both were Outer Sect Disciples of Bing 77 Courtyard.

Though all Outer Sect Disciples, those in the Jia, Yi, and Bing Courtyards had already been in the Outer Sect for their third year.

By this time, one either had to reverse Acquired into Innate to ascend to the inner sect, or rank in the top one thousand in the grand competition at the end of the three-year period to qualify to stay in the sect for another two years as a deacon; otherwise, once the three years were up, they would have to leave.

However, whether it was reversing Acquired into Innate or ranking in the top one thousand in the grand competition, neither had much hope—it was practically zero.

One could say both were just pitiful wretches swept along by the tempest among Outer Sect Disciples.

Yet no matter how pitiful, they had still cultivated for two years beforehand and had long reached the Body Tempering Ninth Level.

As for the Li Yun mentioned by Gu Yunzheng, neither of them took him seriously at all.

Having cultivated two years ahead, if they still couldn't handle a mere Outer Sect Disciple who had only entered the sect at the Entry for just over a month, wouldn't that make them a laughingstock?

The only things the two were worried about were the sect rules and what Gu Yunzheng said about Li Yun being suspected of having an inner sect background, possibly knowing an Inner Sect Disciple.

Having stayed in the Heavenly Martial Sect for two years, they knew very well.

The Heavenly Martial Sect recruited so many new Outer Sect Disciples every year, and there were definitely plenty of hidden Dragon and crouching tiger figures among them; they either possessed heaven-defying Aptitude or had all sorts of connections and backgrounds.

The latter was undoubtedly the most terrifying.

Those with heaven-defying Aptitude, no matter how heaven-defying, still needed time to grow; as long as they hadn't grown yet, they posed no threat.

Those with connections and backgrounds were different; offend the wrong person even slightly, and the trouble would be extraordinary.

However, after some thought, He Tingfeng and Xu Youwu still felt it wasn't a big deal.

It was merely suspected to be an inner sect background, nothing significant.

If it really came down to backgrounds, they had been in the Heavenly Martial Sect for two years and had come to know several Inner Sect Disciples through various opportunities; if an issue truly arose, they might well be able to ask an Inner Sect Disciple to mediate.

But that was the worst possible option.

Asking someone to step forward cost money; one couldn't expect someone to back them up based on mere words alone.

Unless pushed to the absolute brink,

He Tingfeng had no intention of asking Inner Sect Disciples for help.

They intended to take another, safer approach to deal with Li Yun—ambushing him in secret!

In any case, Li Yun didn't know them; as long as they disguised themselves slightly and found an opportunity, they could naturally teach Li Yun a painful lesson.

"All right, we know about this matter now, and we've identified the guy. Go on back first. Once we've dealt with him, we'll naturally come find you."

"However, you must not mention this to anyone else, or all three of us are finished. You only entered the sect at the Entry not long ago and haven't fully realized it yet, but the Heavenly Martial Sect's rules aren't just for show."

"If the Disciplinary Hall catches evidence, even a True Disciple would have to take a trip to the Disciplinary Hall, understand?"

Gu Yunzheng nodded hurriedly. "I understand. Cousin, don't worry, I'm not that foolish."

With that, Gu Yunzheng turned and left first.

As he left, he glanced at Li Yun from afar, a sneer curling at the corner of his lips. "Li Yun, think having an inner sect background makes you amazing? Think reaching Proficient in Stance Training makes you amazing? Daring to offend me, Gu Yunzheng—I have plenty of ways to ensure you have no foothold in the Heavenly Martial Sect."

After Gu Yunzheng left, He Tingfeng and Xu Youwu did not make a move right away either.

Though young, neither was a fool.

In broad daylight, cornering an Outer Sect Disciple and brawling—if they were discovered by patrolling disciples of the Disciplinary Hall with the slightest carelessness, they'd have three layers of skin ripped off.

They merely kept an eye on Li Yun and Zhang Chu from a distance, pretending to chat while following behind, waiting for a better opportunity to strike.

That was until they saw Li Yun and Zhang Chu enter Azure Cloud Residence.

The two knew there probably wouldn't be much of a chance today.

Cornering someone near Azure Cloud Residence was simply asking for an early grave.

Left with no choice, the two departed first.

...

In Azure Cloud Residence, after four days, Li Yun met Zhang Cong once again.

Zhang Cong was quite surprised.

But his surprise stemmed from Li Yun actually showing up together with Zhang Chu.

His expression darkened slightly.

"Zhang Chu, why did you come too? What are you doing here at my place?"

That fellow Zhang Chu snorted, walked straight over to sit down, and said, "Yo, as expected of an Outer Sect Elder, putting on such grand airs! Seeing me, you don't even address me as your cousin-uncle!"

"You..."

Zhang Cong's face twitched violently, nearly spurting a mouthful of old blood.

That was right; according to the seniority in the Zhang Clan, he indeed had to call Zhang Chu "cousin-uncle," but how old was Zhang Chu? Only sixteen years old this year, while he was already over sixty.

Furthermore, this was inside the Heavenly Martial Sect, in front of another Outer Sect Disciple.

How could he possibly bring himself to utter that "cousin-uncle"?

"Zhang Chu, stop messing around. This isn't back home, this is the Heavenly Martial Sect. Bound by sect rules, since you've also come to the Heavenly Martial Sect, you should address me as Elder."

"Tch... Li Yun, look, this Old fellow is actually using sect rules to suppress me."

Zhang Chu looked dismissive and even tugged Li Yun, wanting Li Yun to speak up for him, but how could Li Yun dare to open his mouth? Did he want to get himself into trouble?

"Zhang Chu, don't mess around."

"I'm here on serious business."

Hearing this, Zhang Chu immediately slapped his forehead. "Ah, right, right, right... serious business, I almost forgot."

"Heheh, Zhang Cong... no, Elder Zhang."

"I've heard that you promised if Li Yun's Basic Stance Training reached the Proficient stage within half a month, you would privately pass on a Martial Technique and Qi and Blood Pills to Li Yun, right?"

"Now that Li Yun is here, don't you try to renege on your debt! I'm telling you, my sister knows about this too... If you dare renege, I'll go tell my sister and see if you have any face left!"

Hearing these words, Zhang Cong's expression instantly changed.

Zhang Chu was still young and liked messing around, so he could dismiss it, but Zhang Ruohan was different; brilliantly gifted, she had long become an Inner Sect Disciple of the Vermilion Bird Courtyard, and her cultivation was hardly inferior to his.

Plus, there was seniority weighing down on him.

He truly didn't dare refuse to give Zhang Ruohan face.

"Li Yun, you went to the inner sect?"

"In reply to Elder, disciple indeed went to the inner sect. Thanks to Senior Sister Zhang's guidance, my Basic Stance Training achieved a major breakthrough over the past few days... That is why disciple has boldly come to see you."

For Zhang Cong to make it to Elder in the Heavenly Martial Sect's Outer Sect, he was naturally no pushover; hearing this, he immediately understood that Li Yun might truly have earned Zhang Ruohan's favor.

As for why she favored him, that was not important.

What mattered was that this face had to be given.

In addition, he hadn't planned on going back on his prior promise anyway.

He then smiled and Said, "Not bad. To be able to obtain the favor and guidance of an inner sect Senior Sister, you can be considered fortunate. Since that's the case, execute Basic Stance Training once more for me to see. If you've truly reached the Proficient stage in just a few days, then what I promised you previously can be fulfilled today!"

"One Martial Technique, two Qi and Blood Pills, you won't get any less!"

Li Yun nodded. "Yes!"

Then he prepared to adopt his stance.

"Hold on!"

Zhang Chu suddenly jumped out again. "I say, Zhang Cong, you're looking down on people too much! What 'reached the Proficient stage in a few days'... I think you've never seen a true Genius!"

"Let me tell you, Zhang Cong!"

"For a peerless Genius like my boss Li Yun, offering just one Martial Technique and two Qi and Blood Pills as a reward is simply an insult!"