For a time, the disciples of the Seven Courtyards were filled with indignation.
In their eyes, Chen Changqing was utterly ordinary.
Before this, they had not even heard his name.
How could someone like him be chosen to represent the Seven Courtyards in the Outer Sect Competition?
Faced with the doubts all around him, Chen Changqing remained calm and paid them no heed.
He had vaguely guessed it long ago.
He had felt that Willow Wood would choose him.
"Elder Willow Wood truly thinks highly of me!"
Chen Changqing sighed to himself.
At first, Willow Wood had not paid much attention to him.
But after he broke through to the Qi Refining Realm,
Willow Wood had first given him a bag of Low-grade Spirit Stones and told him to cultivate as quickly as possible.
Then, during the trip to Qingxi Village several months ago,
Willow Wood had even brought Chen Changqing along. Before they left, he had bestowed the High-grade Magic Tool, the Chengying Sword, upon him.
His regard for Chen Changqing was plain for all to see.
At the same time, the disciples who had already been selected also fixed their gazes on Chen Changqing.
Liu Ruyan narrowed her beautiful eyes slightly, deep in thought.
"Strange."
"Why... why can't I quite see through his cultivation?"
Liu Ruyan muttered quietly.
When they had gone to Qingxi Village together before, she had seen at a glance that Chen Changqing was at the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining.
Yet when she saw him again this time, she found that she could no longer see through him.
"Could he have some Dharma Artifact on him that conceals his aura?"
Liu Ruyan guessed inwardly.
Qing Yang gave Chen Changqing a faint glance. He showed no emotional fluctuations and appeared exceptionally calm.
"I never expected the elder to give him the final spot!"
Zhao Wuji exclaimed, unable to stop himself from recalling the scenes of Chen Changqing killing Demonic Sect cultivators in Qingxi Village.
"His cultivation may not be high, but his combat strength is quite formidable."
"Back in Qingxi Village, he did kill quite a few Demonic Sect cultivators."
"..."
At the same time, Chu Feng, Xiao Yun, and the other disciples who had gone to Qingxi Village also began speaking.
Their impression of Chen Changqing was still quite deep.
Seeing this, Elder Willow Wood, who stood upon the platform, did not offer any further explanation for Chen Changqing. The corners of his lips lifted into a meaningful smile.
At that moment, a disciple suddenly remembered something.
The look in his eyes as he stared at Chen Changqing changed drastically, and he could not help crying out:
"I... I remember now!"
"Isn't Chen Changqing the Gate Guard Disciple who watches the Mountain Gate?"
"I ran into him at the Mountain Gate before. That kid was leaning against the main gate, dozing off and slacking!"
As soon as the disciple said this,
the entire scene exploded once more!
After learning that Chen Changqing was an obscure Gate Guard Disciple, the disciples grew even more dissatisfied.
"What?"
"He's actually a Gate Guard Disciple?"
"Did I hear that right?"
"What makes him qualified to represent our Seven Courtyards in the Outer Sect Competition?"
"He isn't even an official disciple. What right does he have?"
"Could the elder have made a mistake?"
"Have the Seven Courtyards really fallen so low that we need a disciple guarding the Mountain Gate to compete for us?"
"..."
For a time, countless disciples voiced their outrage.
Their doubts toward Chen Changqing reached their peak.
In their view, how could Chen Changqing, a mere disciple who guarded the Mountain Gate, possibly deserve to represent the Seven Courtyards in the Outer Sect Competition?
Hearing these discussions, the few disciples who had carried out the Qingxi Village mission alongside Chen Changqing merely smiled with knowing amusement.
They had seen Chen Changqing's strength and acknowledged him in their hearts.
"These fellows still don't know how formidable Junior Brother Chen is!"
"Though he is a Gate Guard Disciple who watches the Mountain Gate, his strength cannot be underestimated."
"Other than us, he can still be considered one of the best among the Seven Courtyards."
Zhao Wuji said with a faint smile.
Upon hearing Zhao Wuji's words, an unusual expression appeared on Qing Yang's previously calm face.
Just moments ago, he had not paid much attention to Chen Changqing.
It was only after hearing disciples recognize Chen Changqing's identity and say that he was a disciple guarding the Mountain Gate that Qing Yang developed some interest.
Now that he heard Zhao Wuji's words, which were full of praise for Chen Changqing, Qing Yang could not help taking a few more looks at him.
"He is merely a disciple guarding the Mountain Gate, yet he went out on missions with Zhao Wuji and the others."
"And from the looks of it, he seems to have performed rather well."
"What is so special about Chen Changqing that he has earned such favor from Elder Willow Wood?"
Qing Yang pondered inwardly.
The last time Elder Willow Wood had led people out on a mission, Qing Yang had happened to be in seclusion, so he had not gone with them.
Qing Yang was completely unfamiliar with Chen Changqing, but he could still tell one thing.
When Willow Wood went out on missions, he brought not only the outstanding disciples of the Seven Courtyards, but Chen Changqing as well.
That was enough to show how highly Willow Wood regarded Chen Changqing.
Moreover, Chen Changqing was also among those selected to participate in this Outer Sect Competition for the Seven Courtyards.
Willow Wood's expectations for Chen Changqing were therefore self-evident.
After giving it some thought, Qing Yang grew even more curious about Chen Changqing.
Just then, someone stepped out from the crowd.
This man was broad and powerfully built, with the back of a tiger and the waist of a bear. After glaring fiercely at Chen Changqing, he turned to Elder Willow Wood on the platform.
"Elder, I, Zhang Hu, refuse to accept this!"
"Why should a mere Gate Guard Disciple represent the Seven Courtyards? I want to spar with him!"
"If I can defeat him, then he must give up that spot!"
Zhang Hu spoke furiously. He possessed cultivation at the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining.
He had originally thought he would surely be selected this time and might even use the opportunity to enter the Inner Sect. Yet the spot had actually been snatched away by a Gate Guard Disciple!
As soon as Zhang Hu spoke, quite a few disciples present began echoing him:
"That's right, Elder!"
"What makes a Gate Guard Disciple worthy?"
"I want to challenge him too! If I can defeat him, then give me the spot for the Outer Sect Competition."
"It's not your turn yet. Let me do it!"
"Chen Changqing, do you dare fight me?"
"Aren't you all just bullying him? Chen Changqing, how about this—I'll let you use one hand!"
"..."
In an instant, the disciples of the Seven Courtyards were worked into a furious frenzy. In their eyes, Chen Changqing had become a soft persimmon, ripe for the squeezing.
After all, no matter how strong a Gate Guard Disciple who watched the Mountain Gate might be, how strong could he truly be?
If they could defeat Chen Changqing and obtain a place in the Outer Sect Competition, would that not be an enormous windfall?
Seeing so many disciples wanting to spar with Chen Changqing, Zhang Hu became unhappy and hurriedly said to Willow Wood on the platform:
"Elder, this disciple was the first to request a match with Chen Changqing!"
Elder Willow Wood smiled faintly and slowly raised a hand, signaling everyone to quiet down.
Then, his gaze shifted and fell upon Chen Changqing.
"Changqing, Zhang Hu doubts you and wishes to spar with you."
"What do you think?"
Chen Changqing remained calm. He slowly stepped forward, looked directly at Zhang Hu, and said, "I am willing to receive your instruction!"
Before you continue