Hearing Willow Wood's words, Liu Ruyan and the others were all taken aback.
The few gathered here 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 the elder summon an Inner Sect disciple to come with us?"
"Then who could it be?"
"Other than us, who in the Outer Sect would be qualified to be personally named by the elder?"
Liu Ruyan frowned slightly, doubt stirring in her heart.
"Judging by the elder's demeanor, there is clearly something important going on."
"All the outstanding disciples of our Seven Courtyards are already here."
"Who else could he be waiting for?"
The more Liu Ruyan thought about it, the more curious she became.
Elder Willow Wood paid no mind to their doubts and remained seated with calm composure.
Just as everyone was wondering, a figure slowly approached.
The newcomer wore a simple azure robe, his expression tranquil and his gaze indifferent.
Who else could it have been but Chen Changqing?
When Chen Changqing arrived, Liu Ruyan and the others' eyes all settled on him without prior agreement.
"Who is this person?"
"Never seen him before..."
"Fifth Layer of Qi Refining? That's it?"
"The person Elder Willow Wood said he was waiting for couldn't be him, could it?"
The several disciples hesitated, their gazes upon Chen Changqing carrying a hint of strangeness.
After all, the weakest among them was already at the Ninth Layer of Qi Condensation.
Liu Ruyan was even at Half-step Foundation Establishment.
Yet Chen Changqing was merely a disciple at the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining.
"What does the elder mean by this?"
"After making us wait so long, this is the person he was waiting for?"
Liu Ruyan narrowed her eyes, her gaze constantly sizing Chen Changqing up.
That sharp gaze seemed as though it wished to see straight through him.
Yet after examining him for a while, she found nothing outstanding about him.
"Hm?"
"Fifth Layer of Qi Refining?"
Just as Liu Ruyan and the others hesitated, Elder Willow Wood's expression abruptly changed!
"Th-this... How long has it even been? He... he has already cultivated to the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining?"
Willow Wood marveled inwardly.
The others present did not know.
But Willow Wood could not have known more clearly.
Just over two months ago, Chen Changqing had only just broken through into the Qi Refining Realm.
At that time, he had even given Chen Changqing a bag of Low-grade Spirit Stones as an investment.
What stunned Willow Wood was that
in such a short time, Chen Changqing's cultivation had actually reached the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining.
"Even if he made full use of those Low-grade Spirit Stones I gave him,"
"his cultivation speed should not have been this fast."
"Could it be... could this boy truly be a cultivation prodigy seen only once in a hundred years?"
Such a thought suddenly arose in Willow Wood's mind.
Other than that, he truly could not think of any other explanation.
While everyone was sizing Chen Changqing up, Chen Changqing was also observing them.
"These people have dense auras, and their cultivation is all above mine."
"The weakest is at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, while that White-clad Woman is even unfathomable... She faintly carries the aura of Foundation Establishment."
"Why did the elder summon me here?"
Ordinarily, Chen Changqing's cultivation was lower than Liu Ruyan's and the others', so he should not have been able to see through their cultivation.
But his Qi Refining Realm was no ordinary Qi Refining Realm.
It was a Qi Refining Realm attained after breaking through the Body Refining Extreme Realm.
Moreover, the Qi Refining technique he cultivated was the exceedingly difficult Nine Revolutions Qi Refining Art.
For an ordinary cultivator at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, the essence qi in their dantian would only amount to nine thousand strands.
Yet Chen Changqing, though only at the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining, already possessed a terrifying fifteen thousand strands of essence qi within his dantian.
As both sides sized each other up, Elder Willow Wood recovered from his shock and said,
"Everyone is here."
"This is also a disciple of our Seven Courtyards, Chen Changqing."
As he spoke, Willow Wood stroked his beard and smiled before continuing,
"I gathered you this time because demons have been causing trouble in Qingxi Village, a hundred li away. The villagers have suffered grievous casualties."
"The sect has decided to let our Seven Courtyards handle this matter."
"So this old man has decided to take you along. It will also serve as a chance for you to gain experience."
After Willow Wood explained it, Liu Ruyan and the others finally understood, and excitement appeared on their faces.
Slaying demons and eliminating devils, accumulating merit, and tempering themselves—what was there not to like?
Chen Changqing nodded in understanding and muttered inwardly,
"So we're going to kill demons!"
At that moment, Elder Willow Wood's gaze fell upon Chen Changqing, and a flash of surprise swiftly passed through his eyes.
But in an instant, he returned to normal and did not reveal the shock in his heart.
One had to know that it took ordinary Outer Sect disciples at least several years to advance from the First Layer of Qi Refining to the Fifth Layer.
Yet Chen Changqing had done it in just over two months.
Though Elder Willow Wood was shaken inwardly, he did not show it. After pondering for a moment, he suddenly flicked his sleeve.
Whoosh!
A clear sword cry rang out, and a longsword as black as ink, its blade faintly gleaming with flowing light, immediately floated before Chen Changqing.
"Hm?"
Seeing this, Chen Changqing could not help frowning, his face full of confusion as he asked,
"Elder? What is this?"
Before Willow Wood could respond, Liu Ruyan and the others had already cried out in alarm,
"That is a High-grade Magic Tool."
"It is Elder Willow Wood's Chengying Sword!"
"Why has the elder taken it out?"
Everyone present looked astonished.
Even Liu Ruyan, who had always been aloof and cool, had a trace of surprise flash through her beautiful eyes.
At this, Willow Wood smiled and said,
"Changqing, you are now a cultivator at the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining."
"I imagine you do not have a Dharma Artifact of your own yet, do you?"
"This sword is called the Chengying Sword. It is a High-grade Magic Tool, and I shall give it to you!"
Chen Changqing's heart stirred upon hearing this.
Earlier, he had been wondering where he could obtain a Dharma Artifact.
He had not expected Willow Wood to directly give him the High-grade Magic Tool, the Chengying Sword!
"Thank you, Elder!"
Chen Changqing said gratefully. With a light stretch of his hand, the Chengying Sword fell straight into his palm.
The sword was icy cold in his hand, yet it faintly resonated with his aura.
Seeing this, Liu Ruyan and the others all revealed looks of envy.
After all, a High-grade Magic Tool was already considered exceptionally rare in the Outer Sect.
Even some Foundation Establishment disciples might not possess a High-grade Magic Tool.
"Elder Willow Wood is being far too generous to Chen Changqing, isn't he?"
"He gave a High-grade Magic Tool to a disciple at the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining?"
"What is so special about him?"
Liu Ruyan murmured softly, unable to understand why Elder Willow Wood treated Chen Changqing so well.
"Since everyone is here, let us depart!"
At that moment, Elder Willow Wood's voice rang out.
The next instant, he flicked his sleeve, and a longsword condensed into being.
He rose into the air, riding his sword as he transformed into a streak of light and shot toward the horizon.
Seeing this, Liu Ruyan and the others also brought out their own Dharma Artifacts and chased after Elder Willow Wood.
Everyone brought out their flying Dharma Artifacts and followed close behind.
Liu Ruyan stood atop a white jade flying sword, her robes fluttering as though an immortal maiden had descended into the mortal world.
She cast Chen Changqing an indifferent glance and thought to herself,
"Though I cannot see what is special about him,"
"he should not be simple."
Before you continue