At the sound, everyone turned to look toward the gateway to the Void Realm within the heavenly curtain.
As the light screen flickered, figure after figure gradually emerged.
Qing Yang, Li Yang, Wen Liang, Meng Zhou, Cui Hao...
The disciples who emerged from the Void Realm each flew toward their respective areas and landed.
At the same time, the scores on the Scoreboard atop the distant pillar of light finally froze, revealing the top twenty disciples.
Chen Changqing was impressively among them.
Though he was not at the top of the list, he held firmly to second place.
Besides him, Qing Yang, Li Yang, and the others were also among the top twenty.
In the Second Courtyard's area.
Cui Hao hung his head in dejection, grinding his teeth in fury.
That was because his score had not made it into the top twenty.
And that meant not only would he be unable to enter the Inner Sect, he would also lose his qualification for the subsequent Grand Tournament.
"Damn it!!"
Cui Hao was beside himself with rage.
"Junior Brother Cui, there is no need to be so angry. If you failed to enter the next round this time, just work harder next year!"
Wen Liang glanced at Cui Hao and consoled him.
"Senior Brother, I... I'm unwilling to accept this!"
Cui Hao spoke through his frustration.
"Hmm?"
Wen Liang frowned slightly upon hearing this. He too found it rather strange that Cui Hao had failed to rank among the top twenty on the Scoreboard.
After all, Cui Hao was at Foundation Establishment just like him.
Logically speaking, obtaining enough points to place in the top twenty should not have been difficult.
Afterward, Cui Hao did not hide anything and told him about having his points robbed in the Void Realm.
"Someone actually dared to rob you, Junior Brother Cui?"
"Who was that bold?"
Wen Liang was startled, looking somewhat incredulous.
With a dark expression, Cui Hao replied:
"I don't know his exact name, but that brat was from the Seven Courtyards. His cultivation wasn't high either—he was still at Qi Refining!"
"From the Seven Courtyards? At Qi Refining?"
After hearing Cui Hao say this, Wen Liang's brows sank, and Chen Changqing's image surfaced in his mind of its own accord.
"Could it have been that brat who snatched our opportunity?"
With that thought, Wen Liang shifted his gaze toward the Seven Courtyards' area.
Unfortunately, he did not see Chen Changqing.
At the same time.
In the Seven Courtyards' area, Elder Willow Wood looked at the returning disciples, Qing Yang, Liu Ruyan, and the others, his eyes flickering uncertainly.
"Strange?"
"Where is that boy Changqing?"
Willow Wood muttered to himself. All the Seven Courtyards disciples who had participated in the First Trial had emerged, yet Chen Changqing alone was nowhere to be seen.
He was exceedingly satisfied with Chen Changqing.
In this First Trial selection, Chen Changqing had charged straight to second place on the Scoreboard, bringing great glory to the Seven Courtyards.
"Qing Yang?"
"Where is Chen Changqing?"
After a brief pause, Elder Willow Wood suddenly looked at Qing Yang and asked.
"Hmm?"
Qing Yang was startled. He looked around but did not spot Chen Changqing.
"Elder."
"Junior Brother Chen hasn't come out yet?"
Hearing Qing Yang's answer, Willow Wood shot him a glare and said irritably:
"If he had come out, would this old man be asking you?"
Qing Yang looked thoroughly embarrassed and hurriedly said:
"There is no need for Elder to worry."
"Junior Brother Chen ranks second on the Scoreboard."
"He should come out shortly."
Though he said so, Qing Yang was deeply shaken inside.
He could not understand how Chen Changqing had obtained so many points.
What also made him curious was what exactly the opportunity was that Chen Changqing had snatched from him, Li Yang, and the others.
After hearing Qing Yang's words, Elder Willow Wood said nothing more and continued waiting.
Liu Ruyan's beautiful eyes shifted as she stared fixedly at the Void Realm's gateway.
"Why hasn't Junior Brother Chen come out yet?"
"Could something have happened to him?"
At that thought, her heart immediately became restless with unease.
Earlier, in that valley within the Void Realm, Chen Changqing had taken the opportunity from Li Yang and the others.
After that, she had not seen Chen Changqing again.
Although Chen Changqing's points were still there, there were Realm Beasts within the Void Realm with formidable Foundation Establishment strength.
If Chen Changqing had fallen prey to a Realm Beast, his Identity Token would remain, and his points would not be reset to zero.
The more Liu Ruyan thought about it, the more unsettled she became.
"What is going on?"
"Why... why am I so concerned about his safety?"
Liu Ruyan whispered softly.
She did not know why she had become so concerned about Chen Changqing.
At the same time.
Inside the Void Realm.
Deep within that valley, Chen Changqing abruptly opened his eyes. A dazzling glint flashed through them and vanished.
"The First Trial's time is up."
"It is time for me to leave this Void Realm as well."
Chen Changqing murmured to himself, then communicated with the system:
"System, extract the AFK Cultivation results!"
Very soon, the system's response sounded in his mind:
[Ding!] [AFK Cultivation complete.] [Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Technique comprehension progress: 3%.]
Following the system's notification.
Chen Changqing saw that a progress bar for the Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Technique had appeared on his attribute panel.
At this sight, Chen Changqing's heart trembled slightly.
But after thinking it over, he soon accepted it.
"This Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Technique is completely different from other Divine Abilities and cultivation techniques!"
"After AFK cultivating for several days, it has only reached 3% progress."
Right afterward, streams of golden light surged from the Little Golden Figure and entered Chen Changqing's body.
Very soon, every principle and essential meaning of the Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Technique was branded into Chen Changqing's mind.
After extracting the cultivation results, Chen Changqing smiled in satisfaction.
Just then, he suddenly discovered something.
At some unknown point, his cultivation had already broken through the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining and advanced to the Foundation Establishment Early Stage.
"I've... established my foundation?"
"Hahaha, there is actually such a good thing!"
Chen Changqing could not help bursting into laughter.
Although he had only comprehended 3% of the Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Technique, that tiny bit of progress alone had caused his strength to soar.
After steadying his mind, Chen Changqing did not linger. With a thought, he summoned the Chengying Sword and flew it toward the Void Realm's exit.
Elsewhere.
On the plaza outside the Void Realm.
The disciples from every courtyard had all returned from the Void Realm.
Only Chen Changqing of the Seven Courtyards had yet to emerge.
"What is going on?"
"Why hasn't Junior Brother Chen come out yet?"
"If we wait past the time limit, the Void Realm will close."
"Could something have happened to him?"
The Seven Courtyards disciples discussed among themselves.
Willow Wood's brows were drawn together, and his expression was somewhat unpleasant.
Liu Ruyan, meanwhile, was even more anxious than a cat on a hot tin roof.
Just then, movement came from the Void Realm's gateway, and ripples spread through the void.
The next moment, a figure flew out of the gateway on a sword.
Clad in flowing purple robes, handsome and spirited—who else could it be but Chen Changqing?
"Junior Brother Chen!!"
At the sight, Liu Ruyan cried out excitedly.
The nearby Seven Courtyards disciples were all astonished.
After all, Liu Ruyan was famous in the Seven Courtyards for her cold demeanor. Why was she so enthusiastic when facing Chen Changqing?
Before long, Chen Changqing had flown down into the area where the Seven Courtyards group stood.
Liu Ruyan was overjoyed, but then she discovered in surprise that Chen Changqing had actually broken through.
"Junior Brother Chen, you... you broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm?"
Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look, staring at Chen Changqing with disbelief written across their faces.
Qing Yang's pupils contracted slightly as he muttered to himself:
"Foundation Establishment Realm?"
"Could it be because of that opportunity earlier?"
Chen Changqing smiled calmly.
"I merely broke through by luck!"
At that moment, True Person Tianbo's deep, oppressive voice descended from the sky:
"The First Trial has concluded."
"Those ranked in the top twenty by points may enter the Inner Sect!"
"Next, the Second Trial of this Outer Sect Competition shall begin."
Before you continue