Silencing the Whole Hall, the True Dark Horse (Please Bookmark)

Inside the Great Hall, the atmosphere was utterly silent.

Gazes turned toward Qi Li and Qi Huo, sensing the Qi Refining Second Layer Spiritual Pressure emanating from them. Everyone immediately fell silent, utterly speechless.

No, two people at the Qi Refining Second Layer were actually stepping forward to compete for this Inner Sect Quota?

Were they overly confident in themselves, or was their information too outdated? Did they not know that there was a Fourth-grade Spiritual Root in the Lineage, whose Cultivation Base had at least reached the Qi Refining Third Layer Peak by now?

In truth, Qi Li and Qi Huo's information really was outdated.

The two had no backing and came from humble roots. Within the Main Vein, they had no Elders to rely on. One could say their information was even more limited than Qi Chuan's.

After all, Qi Chuan could still obtain information through Second Master Qi Baicang.

As for the two of them, ever since entering the Main Vein, they had focused solely on cultivating diligently. Four years later, they had now reached the Qi Refining Second Layer, and knew virtually nothing about the Lineage's circumstances.

Now that they had suddenly learned there was an Inner Sect Quota and three Outer Sect Quotas up for competition, how could they not give it a try? It cost nothing anyway.

What if there was a chance?

But reality was still rather cruel.

At the front, the Patriarch and the Elders wore helpless expressions as they watched the scene in the hall. They could imagine young cultivators at the Qi Refining Third Layer stepping forward to compete, but the Qi Refining Second Layer was a little too outrageous.

At once, several Elders exchanged glances. The Transmission Elder cast his gaze toward his own Granddaughter, signaling to her with his expression.

In the hall, Qi Chan'er saw her Grandfather's look and immediately nodded faintly. She rose directly to her feet and spoke in a clear, confident voice.

"Patriarch, Elders, this junior, Qi Chan'er, believes she is qualified to compete for the Inner Sect Quota. My current Cultivation Base is..."

"Qi Refining Fourth Layer!"

As her calm words fell, a wave of Mid Qi Refining Stage Spell Power and Spiritual Pressure burst forth from within her without the slightest concealment, rippling through the air.

When that Spiritual Pressure spread out, every gaze in the Great Hall fell still, and shock surfaced on everyone's faces.

"She has actually reached the Qi Refining Fourth Layer! Not the Qi Refining Third Layer Peak!"

"As expected of a Fourth-grade Spiritual Root!"

"She's only fourteen this year, isn't she? Mid Qi Refining Stage at fourteen—her talent is terrifying, and her future boundless!"

"It seems the Inner Sect Quota can belong to no one but her."

Everyone was stunned.

Although they had long known that Qi Chan'er possessed a Fourth-grade Spiritual Root, and that the Mid-stage Bottleneck would be less difficult for her than for ordinary people, it was still not so easy to break through. A good Spiritual Root was one thing, but with slightly worse luck, one could still be trapped for a very long time. There was something almost mystical about it.

For Qi Chan'er to enter the Mid Qi Refining Stage at fourteen with a Fourth-grade Spiritual Root was quite rare, adding another measure to her reputation as a prodigy.

This battle for the Inner Sect Quota should have no suspense at all.

And in truth, that was more or less how it was.

Once Qi Chan'er stepped forward, Qi Li and Qi Huo looked at each other. A trace of embarrassment appeared on their faces, and after exchanging glances, their faces reddened as they immediately sat back down.

They were the same age, yet she had already reached the Mid Qi Refining Stage while they were still at the Qi Refining Second Layer. How could they compete?

Had they known this earlier, they would not have stepped forward to compete.

Who could have known they would make such fools of themselves?

At the same time, the young cultivators under eighteen in the Great Hall, upon looking at Qi Chan'er, also gave up any thought of competing with her.

Among them, even disregarding age, the highest Cultivation Base was only the Qi Refining Third Layer Peak. None had reached Qi Chan'er's realm.

Not to mention that those at the Qi Refining Third Layer Peak were older than Qi Chan'er.

They could only give up and settle for second best, preparing to compete for the subsequent Outer Sect Quotas.

At the front of the Great Hall, Qi Family Patriarch Qi Wuyou and the Elders showed no surprise as they watched the scene. Quite a few Elders nodded faintly at Qi Chan'er.

Clearly, in their eyes, entering the Qi Refining Fourth Layer at fourteen was an extremely impressive achievement.

The Transmission Elder stroked his white beard. Seeing his Granddaughter suppress everyone the moment she appeared, pride and delight surfaced on his face.

In his heart, he also felt that his Granddaughter had brought him great honor.

But this was only the beginning.

Once his Granddaughter entered the Wind Moon Sect's inner sect, her future would become even brighter. He believed that, with her resolute nature, her ultimate achievement could not possibly stop at the Late Qi Refining Stage. At the very least, she would reach the Tenth Layer of Qi Refining Perfection. When she returned to the Lineage, she would surely take the position of Grand Elder.

As for Foundation Establishment...

To be honest, it was merely a hope. Even if his Granddaughter had a Fourth-grade Spiritual Root and entered the Wind Moon Sect's inner sect, it could only be said that she would have more opportunities to strive for Foundation Establishment.

That meant competing, as an Inner Sect Disciple, for the Wind Moon Sect's Foundation Establishment Seed—the position of True Disciple.

At that time, a Foundation Establishment Pill would be within arm's reach.

And if she could not obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill, she could only settle for second best and think of every possible way to acquire a Foundation Establishment Spirit Item. But that would greatly lower the chances of successfully achieving Foundation Establishment...

As countless thoughts flashed through the Transmission Elder's mind, Patriarch Qi Wuyou glanced into the hall and saw that Qi Chan'er was the only one standing. He nodded as well.

At present, the situation was already obvious.

He knew Qi Chan'er's talent well. Among the Qi Family's Young Men, not one could contend with her.

Thus, after a brief pause, he said, "If no one else wishes to compete, then I announce that this Inner Sect Quota shall go to Qi..."

"This junior, Qi Chuan, has also reached the Qi Refining Fourth Layer!"

Yet just as he was about to utter the name "Qi Chan'er," another calm voice unexpectedly rang out in the Great Hall.

What?

The moment those words were spoken, Qi Family Patriarch Qi Wuyou, the Elders, and the several dozen Xiu Xian practitioners in the Great Hall all turned to look in that direction.

In a corner of the Great Hall, a handsome Young Man slowly rose to his feet. He clasped his hands, respectfully saluted the Patriarch and the Elders at the front, and only then spoke calmly.

"Patriarch, Elders, this junior believes that I am also qualified to compete for the Inner Sect Quota!"

"I am also about the same age as Qi Chan'er!"

As his voice fell, Qi Chuan directly circulated the Evergreen Art. As his Spell Power flowed, the Mid Qi Refining Stage Spiritual Pressure he had kept concealed until now spread forth, permeating the air.

It allowed everyone in every direction and every corner of the Great Hall to sense it with perfect clarity.

A genuine Qi Refining Fourth Layer Spiritual Pressure was displayed without reservation beneath everyone's gazes.

Yet the owner of that Spiritual Pressure was an unfamiliar Young Man who had previously been utterly unknown and unnoticed.

At that sight, the entire Great Hall fell into dead silence. One could hear a needle drop, and every face was filled with utter astonishment.