At the commotion, Elder Willow Wood and the others hurriedly looked toward the sound.
Focusing their eyes, they saw Chen Changqing returning on his sword.
"Elder, I'm back."
Chen Changqing landed before Willow Wood and the others.
Willow Wood let out a breath of relief, then looked Chen Changqing over and asked,
"Where did you go?"
Chen Changqing's expression did not change as he said calmly,
"While pursuing the demonic cultivators, I accidentally entered an illusion array. It took some effort to break free."
Willow Wood gave Chen Changqing a long look but did not press further.
Then his gaze shifted toward Liu Ruyan and several other disciples.
"Ruyan!"
"You are outstanding disciples of the Outer Courtyard's Seventh Courtyard."
"Yet you let Chen Changqing, a Fifth Layer of Qi Refining disciple, pursue Demonic Sect cultivators."
"While you yourselves stood here watching the battle and seeking insight."
"You showed so little concern for your fellow disciple's safety. Isn't that far too selfish?"
As he spoke, Willow Wood wore a grim expression, his eyes sweeping over Liu Ruyan and the other five disciples.
Liu Ruyan froze. Her red lips parted as if she wanted to explain something, but the words that reached her mouth were swallowed back down.
The other disciples also lowered their heads in silence.
Seeing this, Chen Changqing hurriedly cupped his hands to Willow Wood in salute.
"Elder."
"You cannot blame Senior Sister and the others for this. I insisted on going."
"Now that all the demonic cultivators have been executed, our most urgent task is to return to Mount Shu Sect as quickly as possible and report to the Sect Master, lest the Demonic Sect make another move."
Hearing this, Willow Wood's expression softened somewhat. He nodded and said,
"Very well. This matter is indeed suspicious."
"The Demonic Sect suddenly appeared in Qingxi Village. They must be plotting something. We must report this to the Sect Master quickly and let him decide."
After that, no one delayed any longer, and they flew their swords back to Mount Shu Sect.
Along the way, Liu Ruyan would occasionally steal glances at Chen Changqing.
"Elder Willow Wood seems to value him greatly."
"When they set out from Shushan earlier, he gave him the high-grade magic tool, the Chengying Sword."
"And when they fought the Demonic Sect cultivators in Qingxi Village, he showed tremendous concern for him."
"What exactly is this boy's relationship with the elder?"
Liu Ruyan pondered in secret.
Besides that, something else also surprised her.
Chen Changqing was only at the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining, yet when he killed the demonic cultivators in Qingxi Village earlier, he had erupted with strength far beyond the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining.
Moreover, when he killed demonic cultivators, he showed no hesitation whatsoever—ruthless and decisive.
The more she thought about it, the more curious Liu Ruyan became about Chen Changqing.
At the same time, the other disciples felt deeply dissatisfied.
"Isn't Elder being far too biased? He actually scolded us over a Fifth Layer of Qi Refining disciple?"
"Isn't he just a 'closed-door' disciple? Is he worth taking so seriously?"
"We are the outstanding disciples of the Seventh Courtyard!"
"..."
The few of them simmered with indignation.
They had all seen that Elder Willow Wood was excessively protective of Chen Changqing.
Of course, they only dared to be angry and did not dare to speak.
At this moment, Liu Ruyan flew her sword over to Chen Changqing's side and asked with a smile,
"Junior Brother Chen, when I saw you fighting those demonic cultivators earlier, the fist technique you used was quite formidable."
Before Liu Ruyan could finish, Chen Changqing had already said,
"Thunderclap Divine Fist."
"I found it in the Technique Hall after breaking through to the Qi Refining Realm."
Liu Ruyan nodded in understanding and said with a smile,
"I see that Junior Brother Chen is only at the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining, but your true strength far surpasses that realm!"
Chen Changqing smiled faintly.
"You flatter me, Senior Sister. I am merely at the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining."
Seeing that Chen Changqing was unwilling to say more, Liu Ruyan did not ask further.
Time slipped away.
Before long, Chen Changqing and his group returned to the sect.
Elder Willow Wood immediately went to the main peak to find the Sect Master, while Chen Changqing and the others each returned to their own places.
After returning to his Half-Mountain Wooden Cabin, Chen Changqing hurriedly shut the doors and windows. Then he took out the token he had obtained from the Purple Mansion Secret Realm from his Storage Pouch and examined it carefully.
"Strange."
"What use does this token left behind by that great Violet Palace cultivator have?"
Chen Changqing turned it over and over, even trying to pour vital essence into it, but the token still showed no reaction.
"Forget it. Since I can't figure it out for now, I'll keep it first!"
With that thought, Chen Changqing put the token away.
Just then, a gentle voice suddenly came from outside the courtyard gate.
"Is Junior Brother Chen here?"
Chen Changqing pushed open the door and walked out, only to find Liu Ruyan standing outside the courtyard. She wore white robes like snow, her temperament cool and aloof.
"Why has Senior Sister come?"
Liu Ruyan smiled faintly.
"I came to see Junior Brother. And I wanted to ask whether you plan to participate in the upcoming Outer Court Competition."
"The Outer Court Competition?"
Chen Changqing was startled.
In the past, he would never have dared to imagine participating in an Outer Court Competition.
But after awakening the AFK Cultivation System, his cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds. Naturally, he had begun to consider it.
What Chen Changqing could not understand, however, was this.
Had Liu Ruyan come all the way to find him just to ask about that?
While Chen Changqing was lost in thought, Liu Ruyan was also studying him.
In the past, with her status as a Seven Courtyards prodigy and her Half-step Foundation Establishment cultivation,
she would never have paid attention to a disciple like Chen Changqing.
But in the battle at Qingxi Village, the strength Chen Changqing displayed and his decisive killing intent forced her to reevaluate this junior brother.
Coupled with Elder Willow Wood's regard for Chen Changqing,
Liu Ruyan found herself wanting to befriend him.
After a long silence, Chen Changqing nodded.
"Senior Sister! I should participate when the time comes."
At that, approval flashed through Liu Ruyan's eyes.
"Good. I hope Junior Brother can bring glory to our Seventh Courtyard."
With a wave of Liu Ruyan's jade-like hand, a medicinal pill immediately flew down before Chen Changqing.
"This Rejuvenation Pill can heal injuries and enhance cultivation."
"Junior Brother fought those demonic cultivators earlier, so you must have expended quite a bit. I'll give it to you."
After saying that, she gave Chen Changqing a smile. Without waiting for any response from him, she turned and left.
Chen Changqing took the pill floating before him. His brows furrowed slightly as he muttered to himself,
"What's going on?"
"Hasn't Senior Sister Liu always been cold and aloof?"
"Why does she seem like a completely different person around me?"
"Could it be... she has taken a liking to me?"
After thinking about it for a moment, Chen Changqing smiled wryly and did not dwell on it.
After returning to his room, he willed it and communicated with the system.
"System, how do I use these AFK Points?"
Very soon, the system's voice sounded in his mind.
[Ding!] [The host may consume AFK Points to increase AFK efficiency!] [Current AFK Points: 1024] [Use them?]
"Use them!"
Chen Changqing did not hesitate. If they could improve AFK efficiency, why not?
[Ding!] [1000 AFK Points consumed. AFK efficiency increased to 3 times!] [Current AFK speed: 3x!] [Current remaining AFK Points: 24.]
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