It did not take long.
Under Wang Yang's lead, Chen Changqing arrived at the Hundred Strong Battle Arena.
By then, several hundred Inner Disciples had already gathered around the arena.
Whenever someone challenged the Hundred Strong Ranking, it counted as quite the grand event.
Chen Changqing remained calm and did not pay it much mind.
He had only followed Wang Yang over out of boredom, to watch this so-called Hundred Strong battle. All around them, people were discussing it animatedly.
"Look, that's Wu Shanhe!"
"I heard he has already refined five thousand strands of true qi within his body."
"He isn't far from Core Formation anymore."
"Just his aura alone gives off an immensely powerful sense of pressure!"
"I wonder whether Wu Shanhe will succeed in his challenge this time?"
"Hard to say! Every Inner Disciple on the Hundred Strong Ranking is a monster among monsters!"
"..."
Hearing the discussions around him, Chen Changqing shifted his gaze toward a figure standing on the arena.
The man was a young man dressed in black, with a cold and stern face.
Vast spiritual power churned around him, and his aura was formidable!
He was clearly the Wu Shanhe whom the many Inner Disciples had been discussing.
Chen Changqing looked Wu Shanhe over but did not think much of him.
After all, he had entered the Qi Refining Realm through the Body Refining Extreme Realm, and within the Qi Refining Realm, he cultivated the exceptionally difficult Nine Revolutions Qi Refining Art.
As a result, the amount of essence qi within Chen Changqing far exceeded that of cultivators at the same realm.
An ordinary Ninth Layer of Qi Refining cultivator only possessed nine thousand strands of essence qi, while he had possessed twenty-seven thousand at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining.
To break through Qi Refining and step into Foundation Establishment—
One had to condense the essence qi within one's body into liquid, then continually compress and solidify the spiritual liquid until it finally formed a core.
And throughout this process, the more true qi one condensed, the greater one's strength would be upon breaking through to the Core Formation Realm!
"Wu Shanhe would count as a top-tier expert even among Foundation Establishment cultivators."
"If I break through to the Core Formation Realm, even if it is only the initial stage, I should be able to sweep aside cultivators of the same rank, right?"
Chen Changqing muttered to himself.
He understood clearly that when cultivators broke through to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, they would transform all the true qi within their bodies into spiritual liquid. This was also known as Qi to Liquid.
Only then would they begin to condense and solidify the spiritual liquid, advancing step by step toward the Core Formation stage.
Wu Shanhe had already condensed and solidified the true qi within his body to the extent of five thousand strands. He could already be considered half a step into Core Formation.
Just as Chen Changqing was lost in thought, Wang Yang suddenly turned to him.
"Junior Brother Chen."
"The threshold for the Hundred Strong Ranking is condensing and solidifying five thousand strands of true qi."
"And every disciple who can make it onto the Hundred Strong Ranking is the cream of the crop among geniuses!"
Chen Changqing nodded without responding, merely smiling faintly.
Just then, a piercing sound tore through the air from afar.
Looking over, they saw a man descend onto the Hundred Strong Battle Arena on a flying sword.
The man's long hair flowed behind him, while his green robes fluttered in the wind. His brows and eyes were as picturesque as a painting, giving him the air of a gentle and refined scholar.
Yet an indescribably sharp edge emanated from him.
"It's Senior Brother Zhou!"
"The main character has appeared."
"He's the person on the Hundred Strong Ranking Wu Shanhe is challenging!"
"Senior Brother Zhou Tianhai is ranked eighty-third on the Hundred Strong Ranking."
"Wu Shanhe may not be weak, but Senior Brother Zhou possesses genuine Core Formation cultivation."
"..."
The many Inner Disciples discussed the matter fervently.
When Chen Changqing saw this, his gaze lingered on Zhou Tianhai for two extra seconds.
"As expected of the Inner Sect!"
"Even its disciples include Core Formation cultivators."
"If he were outside, he would be more than qualified to serve as a Deacon Elder."
As Chen Changqing muttered quietly, Wu Shanhe gave Zhou Tianhai a slight bow on the arena.
"Senior Brother Zhou, please instruct me!"
Zhou Tianhai smiled faintly and replied, "Please!"
Boom!
The next moment, Wu Shanhe did not waste any time and chose to strike first.
His longsword danced, its sword light cascading like a waterfall.
In less than an instant, a sword radiance like a silken bolt shot straight toward Zhou Tianhai.
Boom!
Zhou Tianhai did not take it too seriously. He casually thrust out a palm.
At a closer look, his palm force condensed midair into a tangible Golden Palm Seal. Wherever it passed, the air exploded with crackling booms.
Bang!
In an instant, Wu Shanhe's sword force collided with Zhou Tianhai's Golden Palm Seal, erupting in a deafening explosion.
A terrifying shockwave swept outward!
Quite a few disciples watching around the arena were forced back by the blast.
Chen Changqing stood immovable as a bell. Watching Zhou Tianhai make his move, he could not help muttering softly.
"So this is the strength of a Core Formation cultivator? Truly powerful!"
At the same time, Wu Shanhe's sword force on the arena was crushed outright beneath the Golden Palm Seal's strike.
The remaining force of the palm was still terrifying as it rushed straight at Wu Shanhe.
Wu Shanhe's expression changed sharply. With no time to think of anything else, he formed a sword seal with his hand, sending out another streak of sword radiance that barely managed to shatter the Golden Palm Seal.
As Chen Changqing watched the battle, a familiar voice suddenly called out.
"Junior Brother Changqing!"
"Hm?"
Chen Changqing followed the voice and saw a graceful figure approaching him with delight written across her face.
The woman possessed peerless beauty, a graceful figure, and a gentle, captivating bearing.
Who else could it be but Liu Ruyan?
"Senior Sister Liu!"
Seeing Liu Ruyan, Chen Changqing was slightly surprised.
Earlier, at the registration area, he had been the first disciple assigned away. After that, he had received no further news of Liu Ruyan or Qing Yang.
He had not expected to encounter her here at the Hundred Strong Battle Arena.
"Junior Brother, have you come to observe the Hundred Strong battle as well?"
After approaching, Liu Ruyan asked in a shy and gentle voice.
Chen Changqing nodded and gave a soft hum.
"I had nothing to do, so I came to take a look at the Inner Sect's Hundred Strong battle."
Liu Ruyan smiled tenderly and then asked,
"By the way, Junior Brother Changqing, where in the Inner Sect were you assigned to cultivate?"
Chen Changqing did not hide it and answered evenly, "Qingxiao Valley."
Hearing this, Liu Ruyan silently committed it to memory.
She had originally thought that Chen Changqing would ask where she had been assigned as well. Who would have thought that he would not pursue the question and instead seemed to be waiting for her to speak?
Liu Ruyan lightly pursed her crimson lips.
She had intended to tell him voluntarily, but upon further thought, would that not seem somewhat improper and unreserved?
After a brief pause, Liu Ruyan changed the subject. "How has Junior Brother's cultivation been recently?"
"Quite good."
Chen Changqing replied casually.
Thus, the two began to chat.
What surprised Chen Changqing slightly was—
after seeing Liu Ruyan, Wang Yang beside him wore an utterly shocked expression.
Moreover, Chen Changqing keenly noticed—
that quite a few Inner Disciples nearby were casting covert glances in his direction.
Just then, a thunderous sonic boom erupted from the arena.
Looking over, they saw Wu Shanhe blasted off the arena by Zhou Tianhai's palm.
Although Wu Shanhe already possessed half-step Core Formation cultivation, he still met defeat against a Core Formation disciple like Zhou Tianhai.
The many Inner Disciples watching the battle all sighed in amazement at the sight.
"The gap in strength is simply too great!"
"It felt like Senior Brother Zhou Tianhai did not even use his full strength."
"He is ranked eighty-third on the Hundred Strong Ranking, after all. How could he be so easily challenged?"
"..."
Before you continue