Before long, the man had already come to a stop within the Training Ground.
He wore a long azure robe, his features cold and stern, his gaze sharp as swords. Sword Qi faintly coiled around his body.
The terrifying pressure of his aura made many disciples' breathing seize up, leaving them with a suffocating sensation.
"Hmm?"
"Foundation Establishment Realm!"
Chen Changqing's pupils contracted as he immediately sensed the terrifying aura emanating from this man.
"Who is this person? How could he possess such imposing might?"
Chen Changqing was slightly startled inwardly.
He thought to himself that the Seven Courtyards actually had such a figure.
He had originally believed Liu Ruyan to be the strongest disciple of the Seven Courtyards, but this man's aura was clearly far more profound than Liu Ruyan's.
His cultivation had even stepped into the Foundation Establishment level.
As Chen Changqing assessed the man, the disciples of the Seven Courtyards had already bowed to him in greeting.
"Senior Brother Qing Yang!"
"Greetings, Senior Brother!"
"..."
The many disciples were all deeply respectful.
Even Liu Ruyan and the others slightly lowered their heads upon seeing the man arrive, showing him respect.
The man's expression remained indifferent. He paid no attention to those gazes and walked straight to the front, standing with his hands behind his back. His eyes swept across the entire venue, yet no one dared meet his gaze.
"Qing Yang? Who is he?"
Chen Changqing muttered quietly.
He could sense the powerful presence radiating from him.
Seeing this, Ran Hua immediately moved closer to Chen Changqing and lowered his voice.
"Senior Brother Chen, you don't know him?"
"He is Senior Brother Qing Yang, the Top of Seven Courtyards!"
"In the last Outer Court Competition, he fought his way into the top twenty. His strength is unfathomable!"
"Oh?"
Chen Changqing raised a brow.
He vaguely felt that this Outer Sect Competition did not seem as simple as he had imagined.
A Foundation Establishment cultivator like Qing Yang had only made it into the top twenty of the Outer Court Competition.
"Although I'm only at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining."
"My true combat strength should not be beneath the Foundation Establishment Realm, right?"
Chen Changqing pondered silently.
Ever since breaking through to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, he had not fought anyone, so even he could not quite gauge his exact strength.
But in Chen Qingfeng's view.
The cultivation art he practiced was the exceedingly difficult Nine Revolutions Qi Refining Art.
Even Elder Situ Yun, who guarded the Technique Hall, had said so.
The art was powerful indeed, but those capable of mastering it were few and far between. Otherwise, it would not have gathered dust in the Technique Hall.
While Chen Changqing was lost in thought, Ran Hua beside him continued.
"Senior Brother Qing Yang possesses extraordinary talent."
"But strangely, although he clearly qualifies to enter the Inner Sect, no one knows why he has remained in the Outer Courtyard."
"In this Outer Disciple Grand Competition, Senior Brother Qing Yang is the greatest hope of our Seven Courtyards!"
As he said this, Ran Hua's eyes fixed squarely on Qing Yang, brimming with admiration.
Chen Changqing did not pay much attention to this. He merely nodded thoughtfully.
"He could have entered the Inner Sect, yet he didn't?"
"This Qing Yang fellow is rather interesting."
Chen Changqing muttered inwardly.
With Qing Yang's arrival, all the disciples of the Seven Courtyards had assembled.
Before long, three streams of light descended from afar.
Boom!
A terrifying pressure immediately spread over the area.
This aura was far more powerful than Qing Yang's. Even a slight sense of it sent chills down one's spine.
Fortunately, after the arrivals came to a stop atop the platform, they restrained their pressure.
Looking closely, the leader had a kindly face. Who else could it be but Elder Willow Wood?
The two standing to Willow Wood's left and right were two Core Formation Realm deacons of the Seven Courtyards.
Upon seeing Elder Willow Wood and the other two appear, all the disciples immediately fell silent.
Elder Willow Wood swept his gaze over the crowd and said calmly.
"Everyone."
"I trust you all know why you have been gathered here today."
"Three days from now will be the Outer Sect Competition of our Mount Shu Sect!"
"I have summoned you today to announce the list of ten people who will represent our Seven Courtyards in this competition!"
As his words fell, the entire venue held its breath and waited for the results.
Being able to represent the Seven Courtyards in the Outer Sect Competition was already an immense honor, representing the Seven Courtyards' recognition!
Moreover, anyone who performed well and achieved a good ranking in the Outer Sect Competition could receive considerable rewards.
If one happened to catch the eye of an Inner Sect Peak Master, one could even join the Inner Sect directly.
By then, it would be like a fish leaping over the Dragon Gate, ascending to the heavens in a single step.
After all, the treatment of Inner Disciples was simply not something Outer Disciples could compare with. All kinds of cultivation resources were available in abundance.
Then, Elder Willow Wood casually waved his hand, and a Jade Slip appeared in his palm.
As the Jade Slip slowly unfurled, Willow Wood announced in a ringing voice.
"Qing Yang!"
"Liu Ruyan!"
"Zhao Wuji!"
"Lin Xiao!"
"Han Yue!"
"Fang Han!"
"Chu Feng!"
"Xiao Yun!"
"Wu Xiujie!"
The first nine names were all renowned genius disciples of the Seven Courtyards. Upon hearing them, everyone nodded, raising no objections.
"Who will the last one be?"
"They must also be one of our Seven Courtyards' prodigies."
"..."
Just as everyone hesitated over who the final spot would fall to, Elder Willow Wood directly read out the name.
"Chen Changqing!"
The instant Willow Wood read out the name "Chen Changqing," the entire venue exploded into an uproar!
"What?"
"Chen Changqing? Who's that?"
"Is there even someone like that in the Seven Courtyards?"
"The first nine are all top geniuses. Where did this Chen Changqing come from?"
"What's going on?"
"I've never heard of a Chen Changqing in the Seven Courtyards."
"..."
For a time, the disciples of the Seven Courtyards discussed heatedly.
They had no objections to the first nine people Willow Wood announced, for their reputations were well known.
But as for the name Chen Changqing, it was the first time the many disciples had heard it.
At this moment, countless puzzled gazes searched throughout the grounds, yet they could not find the person in question at all.
They all wanted to see just who this Chen Changqing was, this person chosen to represent the Seven Courtyards in the Outer Sect Competition.
After hearing Willow Wood's announcement, Ran Hua went completely numb.
"Chen... Chen Changqing?"
He muttered blankly, his head buzzing.
One had to know that every disciple able to represent the Seven Courtyards in the Outer Sect Competition was a heaven-blessed prodigy of the Seven Courtyards.
Ran Hua had never expected Chen Changqing to be selected.
Still stunned, Ran Hua finally came back to his senses. He abruptly turned his head, widened his eyes, and stared at Chen Changqing beside him.
"Senior Brother! You... you were actually selected?"
As Ran Hua spoke, the disciples of the Seven Courtyards present all turned to look.
Everyone's gaze focused in unison on Chen Changqing.
Whoosh!!
At that moment, Chen Changqing instantly became the center of attention.
"This person is Chen Changqing?"
"I've never seen him before!"
"Why does he deserve it?"
"He looks utterly ordinary, yet he can represent our Seven Courtyards in the Outer Sect Competition?"
"Just him?"
"Could there have been some mistake?"
"Sending someone like him to compete will only bring shame upon our Seven Courtyards!"
"..."
Before you continue