First Entry into the Inner Sect! The Compulsory Method!

As the light of the teleportation array gradually faded, Chen Changqing and the others finally set foot on the grounds of the Shushan Inner Sect.

The moment they entered the Inner Sect, waves of dense spiritual energy surged toward them like a tide.

Everyone felt their pores open wide, their internal spiritual power circulating on its own, several times faster than it had in the Outer Sect.

Seeing this, many disciples couldn't help but exclaim: "This spiritual energy... it's terrifyingly dense!"

"I feel like ten years of bitter cultivation in the Outer Sect can't compare to one month of quiet meditation here!"

"With this concentration of spiritual energy, even a pig could probably reach Foundation Establishment, right?"

"The gap between the Outer and Inner Sects is just too huge."

"No wonder so many Outer Sect disciples break their necks trying to get into the Inner Sect."

"... "

Liu Ruyan sensed the heavenly spiritual energy of the Inner Sect, a faint flush rising to her cheeks. "Such rich heavenly spiritual energy! If I cultivate here, I should be able to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm soon, right?" Full of anticipation, she glanced at Chen Changqing, her eyes brimming with gratitude. After all, the only reason she could enter the Inner Sect this time was entirely thanks to him. Earlier in the Void Realm, if Chen Changqing hadn't defeated Cui Hao and the others from the Second Courtyard and seized their points, with her Half-step Foundation Establishment strength, she would never have made it into the top twenty on the Scoreboard.

Qing Yang, after a brief perception, was also filled with longing. His cultivation had already reached Foundation Establishment Late Stage. "Core Formation is within reach now!" Qing Yang thought with excitement, his gaze firm.

Hearing the disciples' murmurs, Elder Zhao, who was guiding them, smiled faintly. Every year he led many Outer Sect disciples into the Inner Sect, so this was nothing new to him.

Compared to the disciples' shock, Chen Changqing appeared much more composed. His gaze swept across the scene, where amidst the swirling clouds and mist in the distance, seven towering peaks rose abruptly, like sky-piercing swords thrusting into the clouds. Each peak seemed to radiate a completely different aura—some blazing like fire, some heavy as mountains, some sharp as swords... "Are those the Seven Great Peaks of the Inner Sect? I imagine the spiritual energy within those peaks must be even denser!" Chen Changqing muttered to himself. He understood clearly that he had only just entered the Mount Shu Sect's Inner Sect; above this lay the Seven Great Peaks.

Just as everyone was marveling, Elder Zhao spoke up: "Stop gawking around. Follow me!" Hearing Elder Zhao's call, Chen Changqing and the others withdrew their gazes and, under his lead, arrived at an ancient hall. This was the registration point for Outer Sect disciples entering the Inner Sect.

Inside the hall, an old man in a gray robe sat at a desk. "Brother Zhao, bringing new recruits into the Inner Sect again," the old man said with a smile as he looked at Elder Zhao, his eyes sharp as lightning, sweeping over Chen Changqing and the others. His gaze lingered a bit longer on Chen Changqing and Liu Ruyan. After all, Chen Changqing was only at Foundation Establishment Early Stage, and Liu Ruyan was merely at Half-step Foundation Establishment. In the past, disciples with such cultivation levels rarely entered the Inner Sect. Hearing this, Elder Zhao smiled faintly and said, "Elder Qian, I've brought them to you. The rest is in your hands." With that, Elder Zhao didn't linger and simply turned to leave.

Elder Qian narrowed his eyes slightly and said:

"All you disciples who came from the outer sect."

"This inner sect is not like the outer sect, where you can be lazy."

"If you want to obtain more resources in the inner sect, you must strive for them yourself."

"In the inner sect, everything is decided by strength."

"Techniques, pills, caves, opportunities... all must be fought for by yourselves!"

As his voice fell, Elder Qian waved his sleeve.

"Swish, swish, swish..."

Immediately, jade slips flew into the hands of Chen Changqing and the others.

"The jade slips contain a detailed record of the inner sect's rules and matters needing attention."

"You need to familiarize yourselves with them, so you don't make mistakes and get expelled from the inner sect."

"Also, these are your identity tokens for entering the inner sect."

With that, Elder Qian waved his hand toward Chen Changqing and the others, and tokens fell into their hands one by one.

"Next, I will arrange your training grounds in the inner sect."

"Soon, inner sect disciples will come to take you there."

"When your name is called, you may follow the inner sect disciple and leave."

"Chen Changqing, Qingxiao Valley!"

Hearing Elder Qian call his name, Chen Changqing stepped forward.

At the same time, an inner sect disciple walked out from behind Elder Qian, smiling at Chen Changqing and saying:

"Junior Brother Chen, please follow me!"

Chen Changqing nodded, glanced at Qing Yang and Liu Ruyan, and then followed the inner sect guide disciple out of the hall.

Watching Chen Changqing's departing figure, a strange glint flashed in Liu Ruyan's eyes, carrying a hint of reluctance.

Soon, Chen Changqing followed that inner sect disciple to a mist-shrouded valley—Qingxiao Valley.

"Junior Brother Chen, this is Qingxiao Valley."

"It will be your training ground from now on."

"There are empty rooms in the valley; you may choose one yourself."

The inner sect disciple introduced, leading Chen Changqing into Qingxiao Valley.

At that moment, dozens of inner sect disciples were present in the valley.

"Oh?"

Seeing Chen Changqing arrive, everyone turned to look.

"This year's newcomer has arrived."

"Only one outer sect disciple was assigned to Qingxiao Valley?"

"This kid is only at Foundation Establishment Early Stage, yet he's already joined the inner sect. I wonder what's so special about him?"

"I wonder which of the Seven Outer Courtyards he's from?"

"I heard that the first place in this Outer Sect Competition was at Foundation Establishment Early Stage. Could it be this kid?"

"To win first place in the Outer Sect Competition at Foundation Establishment Early Stage, this guy must not be simple!"

"It seems I'll have to find time to visit him."

"..."

The inner sect disciples in Qingxiao Valley murmured, looking at Chen Changqing with curiosity.

Chen Changqing's expression remained calm, paying no heed to the chatter.

Before long, accompanied by the inner sect disciple, he chose a training spot in the valley.

Seeing that Chen Changqing had settled on his residence, the inner sect disciple took out a set of brand-new inner sect disciple robes and three ancient tomes.

"Junior Brother Chen."

"These are the robes for inner sect disciples."

"Also, these three tomes are the required cultivation methods for inner sect disciples."

"They are the Shushan Sword Technique, the Shushan Heart Method, and the Shushan Body Technique."

"Sword, heart, and body—unite the three, and you will have the true Shushan transmission."

Chen Changqing took them from the inner sect disciple and bowed slightly:

"Thank you, Senior Brother!"

The inner sect disciple gave a faint smile, did not linger, and turned to leave.

Once he was gone, Chen Changqing quickly opened the first page of the Shushan Sword Technique.

"The sword is the blade of the heart. Where the heart points, the sword shall cut."