Half-step Core Formation is Just a Threshold! An Unexpected Encounter!

Not long after.

Chen Changqing, under Wang Yang's guidance, arrived at the Hundred Strong Battle Arena.

At this moment, several hundred Inner Disciples had already gathered around the arena.

Every time someone challenged the Hundred Strong Ranking, it was considered a grand event.

Chen Changqing wore a calm expression, not paying it much mind.

He was merely bored, so he followed Wang Yang to take a look at this so-called Hundred Strong Battle. Murmurs rose from all around.

"Look, that's Wu Shanhe!"

"I heard this guy has already refined five thousand strands of true qi."

"He's not far from Core Formation either."

"Just his aura alone gives off an intense pressure!"

"I wonder if Wu Shanhe can succeed in his challenge this time?"

"Hard to say! Every Inner Disciple who makes it onto the Hundred Strong Ranking is a monster!"

"..."

Hearing the chatter around him, Chen Changqing shifted his gaze and landed on a figure standing atop the arena.

This person was a young man, clad in black robes, with a stern countenance.

Around him, vast spiritual power surged, his aura formidable!

Clearly, this was the Wu Shanhe mentioned by many Inner Disciples.

Chen Changqing sized up Wu Shanhe but didn't find anything particularly special.

After all, he had entered the Qi Refining Realm through the Body Refining Extreme Realm, and within the Qi Refining Realm, he cultivated the extremely difficult Nine Revolutions Qi Refining Art.

This meant that the number of essences within Chen Changqing's body far exceeded that of ordinary cultivators at the same stage.

A typical cultivator at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining had only nine thousand essences within them, whereas he had twenty-seven thousand when he was at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining.

Breaking through Qi Refining and stepping into Foundation Establishment required condensing the essences within the body into liquid, then continuously compressing and solidifying that spiritual liquid, ultimately forming a core.

In this process, the more true qi one condensed, the stronger their strength upon breaking through to the Core Formation Realm!

"This Wu Shanhe can be considered a top-tier expert even among Foundation Establishment cultivators."

"If I were to break through to Core Formation, even just the early stage, I'd probably be able to sweep through cultivators of the same rank, right?"

Chen Changqing muttered to himself.

He understood clearly that when a cultivator broke through to Foundation Establishment Late Stage, they would have completely converted all the true qi in their body into spiritual liquid, a process also known as Qi to Liquid.

Then, they would begin to condense and solidify the spiritual liquid, step by step advancing toward Core Formation.

Wu Shanhe had already condensed and solidified five thousand strands of true qi within his body, which could be considered half a step into Core Formation.

Just as Chen Changqing was lost in thought, Wang Yang beside him suddenly looked over and said:

"Junior Brother Chen."

"The threshold for the Hundred Strong Ranking is condensing and solidifying five thousand strands of true qi."

"And every disciple who makes it onto the Hundred Strong Ranking is a genius among geniuses!"

Chen Changqing nodded, didn't reply, and simply gave a faint smile.

Right then, a sound of something cutting through the air came from afar, growing closer.

Focusing his gaze, he saw a man flying down on a sword, landing on the Hundred Strong Battle Arena.

The man had long hair flowing, a blue robe fluttering in the wind, and features as delicate as a painting, giving off a gentle and refined aura.

Yet from his body emanated an indescribable sharpness.

"It's Senior Brother Zhou!"

"The main event has arrived."

"This Wu Shanhe's challenge target is him!"

"Senior Brother Zhou Tianhai ranks eighty-third on the Hundred Strong Ranking."

"Although Wu Shanhe's strength is not weak, Senior Brother Zhou is a genuine Core Formation cultivator."

"..."

The many Inner Disciples buzzed with discussion.

Chen Changqing took note, his gaze lingering on Zhou Tianhai for an extra two seconds.

"As expected of the Inner Sect!"

"Even disciples have reached Core Formation."

"If this were outside, he'd be more than qualified to be a Deacon Elder."

Just as Chen Changqing was muttering under his breath, on the arena, Wu Shanhe gave Zhou Tianhai a slight bow in greeting:

"Senior Brother Zhou, please instruct me!"

Zhou Tianhai smiled faintly and replied, "Please!"

"Boom!"

The next moment, Wu Shanhe wasted no time and made the first move.

His long sword swung, sword light cascading like a waterfall.

In an instant, a beam of sword radiance like a flowing ribbon shot straight toward Zhou Tianhai.

"Boom!"

Seeing this, Zhou Tianhai didn't take it too seriously and casually pushed out a palm.

When one looked again, his palm force had condensed into a substantial Golden Palm Seal in midair, and wherever it passed, the air exploded with cracks.

"Bang!"

In a flash, Wu Shanhe's sword force collided with Zhou Tianhai's Golden Palm Seal, erupting in a deafening blast.

A terrifying shockwave swept outward!

Many of the disciples watching around the arena were forced back by the blast.

Chen Changqing stood as steady as a bell tower, and upon seeing Zhou Tianhai's move, he couldn't help but whisper in awe:

"So this is the strength of a Core Formation cultivator? Truly formidable!"

At the same time, on the arena, Wu Shanhe's sword force was directly crushed under the impact of the Golden Palm Seal.

The residual palm force was still terrifying, charging straight at Wu Shanhe.

Seeing this, Wu Shanhe's face changed drastically. Without time to think further, he formed a sword seal with his hand, and another beam of sword radiance shot out, barely shattering the Golden Palm Seal.

Just as Chen Changqing was watching the battle, a familiar voice suddenly reached him:

"Junior Brother Changqing!"

"Hm?"

Chen Changqing followed the sound and saw a graceful figure approaching him with a face full of joy.

The woman was stunningly beautiful, with a slender figure, gentle and captivating.

Who else could it be but Liu Ruyan?

"Senior Sister Liu!"

Seeing Liu Ruyan, Chen Changqing was slightly surprised.

Earlier at the registration point, he had been the first disciple assigned away, and afterward, he had no news of Liu Ruyan or Qing Yang.

He hadn't expected to run into her here at the Hundred Strong Battle Arena.

"Junior Brother, are you also here to observe the Hundred Strong Battle?"

After drawing near, Liu Ruyan spoke with a shy, melodious tone.

Chen Changqing nodded and gave a soft "Mm":

"With nothing else to do, I thought I'd come see the Inner Disciple Hundred Strong Battle."

Liu Ruyan smiled tenderly and then asked:

"By the way, Junior Brother Changqing, which part of the inner sect were you assigned to cultivate?"

Chen Changqing didn't hide it and replied flatly, "Qingxiao Valley."

Hearing this, Liu Ruyan silently noted it down.

She had originally thought Chen Changqing might also ask where she was, but to her surprise, he didn't press further and instead waited for her to speak.

Liu Ruyan lightly bit her rosy lips.

She considered taking the initiative to tell him, but then thought—wouldn't that seem a bit unladylike?

After a brief pause, Liu Ruyan changed the subject: "How has Junior Brother's cultivation been lately?"

"Pretty good."

Chen Changqing answered casually.

And so, the two fell into idle chat.

What slightly surprised Chen Changqing was that Wang Yang, standing nearby, looked utterly stunned at the sight of Liu Ruyan.

Beyond that, Chen Changqing also keenly noticed that many of the surrounding Inner Disciples were casting covert glances in his direction.

Just then, a deafening blast rang out from the arena.

Following the sound, they saw Wu Shanhe being sent flying off the stage by a single palm strike from Zhou Tianhai.

Although Wu Shanhe had already reached half-step Core Formation, when pitted against a Core Formation disciple like Zhou Tianhai, he still ended up defeated.

The many Inner Disciples watching the battle all sighed with emotion.

"The gap in strength is just too great!"

"It feels like Senior Brother Zhou Tianhai wasn't even using his full strength."

"He's ranked eighty-third on the Hundred Strong Ranking, after all—how could he be so easily challenged?"

"..."