Gift High-grade Magic Tool, Chengying Sword! The Elder Treats Him So Well??

Hearing Elder Willow Wood's words, Liu Ruyan and the others were all taken aback.

The few of them present were already the cream of the crop among the Seven Courtyards' disciples.

"Could it be some Senior Brother from the Inner Sect?" someone muttered under their breath.

"Impossible. Why would an elder summon an Inner Disciple to join us?"

"Then who could it be?"

"Besides us, who else in the Outer Sect is worthy of being personally named by an elder?"

Liu Ruyan furrowed her brows slightly, doubt stirring in her heart.

"Judging by the elder's demeanor, there's clearly something important at hand."

"All the outstanding disciples of our Seven Courtyards are gathered here."

"Who else could he be waiting for?"

With this thought, Liu Ruyan grew even more curious.

Elder Willow Wood paid no heed to their confusion, sitting calmly and composedly.

Just as everyone was puzzled, a figure slowly approached.

The newcomer wore a simple green robe, his expression serene, his gaze indifferent.

Who else could it be but Chen Changqing?

Seeing Chen Changqing arrive, Liu Ruyan and the others' gazes fell upon him in unison.

"Who is this person?"

"Never seen him before..."

"Fifth Layer of Qi Refining? That's it?"

"Surely the elder isn't waiting for him?"

The core disciples hesitated, their eyes tinged with oddity as they looked at Chen Changqing.

After all, even the weakest among them was at the Ninth Layer of Qi Condensation.

Liu Ruyan was even at Half-step Foundation Establishment.

And Chen Changqing was merely a disciple at the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining.

"What does the elder mean?"

"After waiting so long, this is who he's waiting for?"

Liu Ruyan narrowed her eyes, her gaze sweeping over Chen Changqing repeatedly.

Her sharp stare seemed intent on seeing through him completely.

Yet, after a thorough inspection, she found nothing remarkable.

"Hm?"

"Fifth Layer of Qi Refining?"

Just as Liu Ruyan and the others were hesitating, Elder Willow Wood's expression shifted dramatically!

"This... how much time has passed? He... he's already cultivated to the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining?"

Elder Willow Wood marveled inwardly.

The others present had no idea.

But Elder Willow Wood knew all too well.

Just over two months ago, Chen Changqing had only just broken through to the Qi Refining Realm.

Back then, he had even given Chen Changqing a pouch of Low-grade Spirit Stones as an investment.

What left Elder Willow Wood utterly stunned was that.

In such a short time, Chen Changqing's cultivation had already reached the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining.

"Even if he made full use of the Low-grade Spirit Stones I gave him."

"His cultivation speed shouldn't be this fast."

"Could it be... could this child truly be a once-in-a-century cultivation prodigy?"

Suddenly, a thought surfaced in Elder Willow Wood's mind.

Other than that, he could think of no other explanation.

As everyone sized up Chen Changqing, Chen Changqing was sizing them up in return.

"These people have dense auras, all with cultivation above mine."

"The weakest is at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining, and that White-clad Woman is unfathomably deep... faintly carrying the aura of Foundation Establishment."

"What does the elder want with me?"

By all logic, Chen Changqing's cultivation should be lower than Liu Ruyan and the others, so it was only natural that he couldn't see through their realms.

But his Qi Refining Realm was not the same as an ordinary Qi Refining Realm.

It was a Qi Refining Realm achieved after breaking through the Body Refining Extreme Realm.

On top of that, the Qi Refining art he cultivated was the exceedingly difficult Nine Revolutions Qi Refining Art.

Take an ordinary Ninth Layer of Qi Refining cultivator for example—the essence energy in their dantian would amount to no more than nine thousand strands.

Yet here, Chen Changqing, at merely the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining, already had a terrifying fifteen thousand strands of essence energy stored in his dantian.

Just as the two sides were sizing each other up, Elder Willow Wood snapped out of his shock and said:

"Everyone's here now."

"This is also a disciple of our Seven Courtyards, Chen Changqing."

As he spoke, Willow Wood stroked his beard with a smile and added:

"The reason I've gathered you all here is that a demon has been causing trouble in Qingxi Village, a hundred li away, and the villagers have suffered heavy casualties."

"The sect has decided to let our Seven Courtyards handle this matter."

"I've decided to take you all along, which will also serve as a training opportunity for you."

Hearing Willow Wood's explanation, Liu Ruyan and the others finally understood and showed excited expressions.

Slaying demons, accumulating merit, and tempering themselves—why not?

Chen Changqing nodded in understanding and muttered quietly to himself:

"So it's about killing demons!"

At that moment, Elder Willow Wood's gaze fell on Chen Changqing, and a flicker of surprise flashed through his eyes.

But it passed in an instant, and he returned to normal, not revealing the shock within him.

After all, it usually took ordinary Outer Disciples several years to go from the First Layer to the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining.

Yet Chen Changqing had done it in just over two months.

Elder Willow Wood was inwardly shaken, but his face showed nothing. After a moment of deliberation, he suddenly waved his sleeve.

"Swish!"

A clear sword cry rang out, and a jet-black longsword with a faint shimmer along its edge materialized before Chen Changqing.

"Hm?"

Seeing this, Chen Changqing frowned in confusion and asked:

"Elder? What is this?"

Before Willow Wood could answer, Liu Ruyan and the others had already gasped:

"That's a High-grade Magic Tool."

"It's Elder Willow Wood's Chengying Sword!"

"Why is the elder bringing it out?"

The few present were all astonished.

Even the usually aloof Liu Ruyan showed a hint of surprise in her beautiful eyes.

At this, Willow Wood smiled and said:

"Changqing, now that you're a Fifth Layer of Qi Refining cultivator."

"I imagine you don't have your own magic tool yet, do you?"

"This sword is called Chengying Sword, a High-grade Magic Tool. I'll grant it to you!"

Hearing this, Chen Changqing's heart stirred.

He had just been wondering where to get a magic tool.

Unexpectedly, Willow Wood directly gifted him the High-grade Magic Tool, Chengying Sword!

"Thank you, Elder!"

Chen Changqing said gratefully, reaching out lightly. The Chengying Sword fell straight into his hand.

The blade was cold to the touch, yet it faintly resonated with his own aura.

Seeing this, Liu Ruyan and the others all showed envy on their faces.

After all, a High-grade Magic Tool was already considered quite extraordinary among Outer Disciples.

Even some Foundation Establishment disciples might not necessarily possess a High-grade Magic Tool.

"Is Elder Willow Wood being too generous to Chen Changqing?"

"Giving a High-grade Magic Tool to a mere Fifth Layer of Qi Refining disciple?"

"What's so special about him?"

Liu Ruyan murmured quietly, unable to understand why Elder Willow Wood was so good to Chen Changqing.

"Since everyone is here, let us set out!"

At this moment, Elder Willow Wood's voice rang out.

The next instant, he flicked his sleeve, and a long sword condensed into form.

He rose into the air, riding his sword as it transformed into a streak of light shooting toward the horizon.

Liu Ruyan and the others, seeing this, each summoned their own Dharma Artifacts and gave chase after Elder Willow Wood.

The group all called forth their flying Dharma Artifacts, following closely behind.

Liu Ruyan stood atop a white jade flying sword, her robes fluttering, like a celestial maiden descending to the mortal world.

She cast a faint glance at Chen Changqing, thinking to herself:

"Though I can't see anything special about this person."

"He must be no simple character."