"I..."

Gu Yunzheng's face turned bright red, his cheeks burning like fire.

Someone else had already achieved Initial Mastery in Basic Stance Training while he was still fumbling on the seventh stance, yet he had actually suspected them of secretly learning from him?

He felt an unprecedented sense of embarrassment.

He truly did not know how to respond.

Xu Qing paid him no mind. After glaring fiercely at Gu Yunzheng, he grabbed Li Yun with a face full of pleasant surprise.

"Your Basic Stance Training has already reached Initial Mastery?"

"In just one month?"

"A Genius, an absolute Genius... I was blind before. Come, come with me right now."

The excited Xu Qing tugged at Li Yun, moving to leave without another word.

Li Yun was a bit dazed.

He quickly asked, "Deacon Xu, where are we going?"

Xu Qing suddenly remembered something, stopped, and slapped his forehead hard.

"My fault!"

"This is completely my fault!"

"When you all were at the Entry, I thought no one could break the record for the fastest Initial Mastery of Basic Stance Training, so I didn't explain it clearly to you."

"In fact, the Outer Sect has regulations: breaking the fastest Initial Mastery record for Basic Stance Training, or reaching Initial Mastery within three months, both earn rewards."

"Not only did you reach Initial Mastery within three months, but you also broke the record. That means you receive not just a reward, but a double share!"

"I'll take you over to the Outer Sect Elder right now to claim your reward."

Li Yun's eyes lit up instantly. There was such a good thing?

Then what was there to hesitate about?

With rewards to collect, who would waste breath arguing with Gu Yunzheng?

It would be an absolute waste of time.

Immediately, he followed Xu Qing and hurried away.

Gu Yunzheng watched their departing figures, his face darkening until it turned incomparably grim.

"Bastard!"

"That damned Li Yun, what right does he have?"

"It's merely Basic Stance Training. I refuse to believe that with my Grade One Aptitude, I could actually lose to your Grade Five Aptitude. Just you wait, sooner or later I'll make you pay!"

Ever since arriving at the Heavenly Martial Sect, relying on his Grade One Aptitude and on Xu Qing personally selecting him as the head of Courtyard 95 of the Ren Branch, who dared not treat him with high regard?

Yet today, being struck down like this by Li Yun made him feel an unprecedented humiliation.

The hatred in his heart instantly turned into a raging inferno.

He gritted his teeth and secretly swore that sooner or later, he would take ruthless vengeance on Li Yun.

...

The residence of Outer Sect Elder Zhang Cong.

"What did you say?"

"One month from Entry, and Basic Stance Training reached Initial Mastery?"

"The record for the fastest Initial Mastery of Basic Stance Training across all past Outer Sect Disciples has been broken?"

"And the one who broke this record is a disciple with only Grade Five Aptitude?"

Zhang Cong looked at the excited Xu Qing.

No matter how he looked at him, he felt Xu Qing was joking with him.

"Xu Qing, do you think that because I have a mild temper, you can just make up a story and joke around with me?"

"I think you've grown quite bold!"

"Do you believe I could throw you out right now, cut your two-year deacon tenure short, and have you pack your bags and get out of the Heavenly Martial Sect overnight?"

Xu Qing replied, "It's true, Elder, please believe me. That disciple is named Li Yun, and I've already brought him here for you."

"I truly saw with my own eyes just now that his Basic Stance Training has reached Initial Mastery."

"This disciple wouldn't dare make jokes with you..."

"Is that so?"

Seeing Xu Qing's resolute look, Zhang Cong grew half-convinced and half-doubtful.

"Then bring him in so I can have a look."

"Yes!"

Having obtained Zhang Cong's consent, Xu Qing hurried outside.

At that moment.

Li Yun stood outside Zhang Cong's residence, casually surveying his surroundings.

It had to be Said, an Elder was indeed an Elder.

Even if he was only an Outer Sect Elder, to the Outer Sect Disciples, he still wielded immense power and authority.

His residence was a grand mansion spanning at least five thousand square meters.

A gilded plaque hung above the main gate inscribed with three large characters—Azure Cloud Residence. The calligraphy was exceptionally bold and imposing, faintly revealing a majestic and magnificent aura.

Before he knew it, Li Yun's attention was captivated.

After staring at it for a brief moment.

The System suddenly popped up a series of notifications.

【Contemplated Martial Dao True Intent, cognition points +30】

【Contemplated Martial Dao True Intent, cognition points +30】

【Contemplated Martial Dao True Intent, cognition points +30】

...

In merely ten seconds.

His cognition points had directly exceeded two hundred.

Li Yun was shocked speechless on the spot, followed immediately by wild ecstasy across his face.

"Holy shit!"

"This plaque contains Martial Dao True Intent, and contemplating it allows me to gain so much Martial Dao True Intent?"

"Then if I stand here for two hours, wouldn't I..."

Li Yun felt that he was about to hit the jackpot.

As long as he had enough cognition points, what did Initial Mastery of Basic Stance Training even matter? Tonight, he could drive it straight to Perfection.

Originally, he had felt somewhat displeased that Xu Qing had brought him here only to leave him standing outside alone.

Now, not a bit of that displeasure remained.

All his dissatisfaction vanished into thin air along with the skyrocketing surge of cognition points.

He quickly concentrated, fixing his eyes intently on the plaque above the main gate, his expression looking as though he wanted to glare the three words of Azure Cloud Residence right down from the wall.

Xu Qing, rushing out, happened to catch sight of this and couldn't help being amused by his expression.

"With that look of yours, one might think you could actually understand the Innate True Intent contained within the plaque."

"Stop looking. If you haven't reached that Realm, you won't understand it even if your eyes pop out."

Snapping back to reality, Li Yun looked at Xu Qing, sorely tempted to ask him if he had three words that were better left unSaid.

I only just discovered that the three words of Azure Cloud Residence could bring me so many cognition points, and you had to come out right now?

Couldn't you have come out a bit later?

"Let's go, don't just stand there dazed. Elder Zhang Cong wants to see you."

"Hurry and follow me inside."

"All right."

Li Yun felt helpless, but this matter was out of his hands, so he could only follow Xu Qing inside first.

Along the way, Xu Qing kept giving Li Yun reminders.

"Perform well."

"Be humble."

"Among the Outer Sect Elders, Elder Zhang Cong oversees Martial Instruction. A single word from him can decide whether any Outer Sect Disciple stays or leaves. But if you can earn his favor, I guarantee you will benefit immensely in the days to come."

Li Yun naturally nodded repeatedly.

He understood a basic truth.

A person could show off at times, or even be arrogant on occasion, but one could never fail to recognize when to advance and when to yield.

Xu Qing might have disregarded him earlier, and even subtly sided with Gu Yunzheng whom he favored, but right now, his recommendation to the Elder was completely sincere.

Therefore, there was no need whatsoever to dwell on that slight, subtle misunderstanding from before.

"Yes, I understand."

"Thank you for your guidance, Deacon Xu. In the future, regardless of whether this disciple achieves success in martial arts or not, I will never forget today's kindness."

Li Yun Said solemnly.

Hearing this, Xu Qing's Spirit was instantly lifted, and a touch of praise entered his eyes as he looked at Li Yun.

Previously, he believed Gu Yunzheng possessed Grade One Aptitude and had boundless prospects, so he offered him plenty of care both openly and behind the scenes, yet Gu Yunzheng had never Said anything like this.

Toward his care, Gu Yunzheng had merely accepted it as a matter of course, and nothing more.

Whether Li Yun's words were sincere or feigned, no one knew, but at the very least, the attitude was there.

Compared with Gu Yunzheng, the superior choice was instantly clear!