Promotion to Qi Refining, Willow Wood Shocked?!

At this moment, the aura emanating from Chen Changqing's body was several times more formidable than before.

He slowly rose, feeling the surging power within him, and a smile curled at the corners of his mouth.

"Finally, I've broken through to the Qi Refining Realm!"

Now, he was no longer a mortal; he could truly be considered a cultivator.

After the excitement subsided, Chen Changqing calmed himself and, with a thought, sank his awareness into his dantian.

There, within his dantian, ten strands of essence floated like stars, dazzling and bright.

"So this is Qi Refining to Essence?"

Chen Changqing murmured softly, then mobilized one strand of essence from his dantian.

The essence flowed along his meridians, quickly reaching his arm.

"Boom!"

The next moment, Chen Changqing threw a punch in front of him.

The fist wind shook the air, causing it to explode!

"This strike actually has the force of ten thousand jin?"

Chen Changqing was stunned.

He knew that before, even at the Body Refining Extreme Realm, his strength had only reached four thousand jin.

Now, having broken through from the Body Refining Extreme Realm to the early Qi Refining stage, a single strand of essence could unleash ten thousand jin of force.

"Is this the gap between a cultivator and a mortal?"

"Just one strand of essence, and it's already a terrifying ten thousand jin!"

"If all ten strands were unleashed together, how terrifying would that power be?"

"I broke through from the Body Refining Extreme Realm to the Qi Refining Realm."

"I imagine ordinary early Qi Refining cultivators are different from me."

Chen Changqing pondered silently.

After a moment of thought, he quickly calmed down.

"The Qi Refining Realm is just the beginning."

"I still need to stay humble and keep AFK Cultivation!"

"For now, since I've broken through to the Qi Refining Realm, it's time to exchange for a Qi Refining cultivation technique."

"But before that, I should first go find Elder Willow Wood, register my cultivation level, and then head to the Technique Hall to pick a technique!"

Having made up his mind, Chen Changqing didn't delay. He immediately got up and headed toward Elder Willow Wood's residence.

Earlier, when he had broken through to the Mid Body Tempering Stage, he had gone to Elder Willow Wood to update some cultivation information.

At that time, Elder Willow Wood hadn't paid much attention to his breakthrough.

After all, Chen Changqing had been in the Seventh Courtyard of the Mount Shu Sect's outer sect for over a year now.

Taking that long to break through to the Mid Body Tempering Stage could only be described as slow.

Ran Hua, who had entered the sect after Chen Changqing, had long since broken through to the Late Body Tempering Stage.

"I wonder if Elder Willow Wood will be surprised to see me break through to the Qi Refining Realm so quickly?"

Chen Changqing muttered to himself.

Before long, he arrived at Elder Willow Wood's residence.

This time, Elder Willow Wood was sitting in the courtyard, drinking tea.

Seeing Chen Changqing approach, he was slightly taken aback.

"What is this kid doing here again?"

A little over a month ago, Chen Changqing had come to him to update his cultivation level from Qi Nourishing to Body Tempering.

Chen Changqing stepped forward, respectfully bowed to Elder Willow Wood, and said:

"Elder, this disciple has broken through to the Qi Refining Realm and has come to update his information."

"What?"

Hearing Chen Changqing's words, Elder Willow Wood's teacup paused mid-air, and a flash of surprise crossed his eyes.

"Broken through to Qi Refining?"

"In just over a month, he went from Body Tempering to Qi Refining?"

Elder Willow Wood was stunned. He moved his Spiritual Sense, sweeping it over Chen Changqing's body.

Upon this inspection, Elder Willow Wood's pupils involuntarily contracted.

"Indeed, it's the Qi Refining Realm!"

"And... his blood energy is thick, his foundation is solid—this is by no means a forced breakthrough through pills!"

What shocked Elder Willow Wood even more was that Chen Changqing's physical body was far stronger than that of an ordinary Qi Refining cultivator, and the essence within his body was condensed as solid as substance.

Clearly, he had laid an extremely deep foundation during the Body Tempering Realm!

"Just a month ago, he had only just broken through to the Body Tempering Realm."

"In such a short time, he's already reached the Qi Refining level."

"Could it be that this old man misjudged him before?"

"Is this child actually a monster? Possessing astonishing cultivation talent?"

A storm raged within Elder Willow Wood's heart.

For the first time, he felt that Chen Changqing was not so simple.

He pondered that perhaps the reason Chen Changqing had cultivated so slowly before, lingering in the Qi Nourishing Realm for over a year, was simply that he hadn't yet awakened.

Now, after awakening, Chen Changqing's cultivation speed had shot up like a rocket.

In a short span of time, he had already crossed the Body Tempering Realm and broken through to the early stage of Qi Refining.

"If this kid really is a cultivation genius."

"Then my Seventh Courtyard has struck gold this time."

Elder Willow Wood sighed inwardly.

Among the outer sect's seven courtyards of Mount Shu Sect, his Seventh Courtyard had always been the bottom of the barrel, receiving the least resources.

It was precisely because they lacked genius disciples that it was hard to stand out.

If Chen Changqing could rise, the Seventh Courtyard could turn things around too!

Thinking of this, Elder Willow Wood's heart stirred with excitement, though his face remained calm.

"Changqing!"

"Since you've already advanced to the Qi Refining Realm, there's no need for you to guard the mountain gate anymore."

"This way, you can devote yourself fully to cultivation."

What Elder Willow Wood didn't expect was that Chen Changqing shook his head after hearing this and said, "Elder, this disciple would rather continue guarding the gate!"

"Hm?"

Elder Willow Wood was taken aback, looking at Chen Changqing with a puzzled expression.

He wondered, who actually likes guarding gates?

His intention in letting Chen Changqing stop guarding the mountain gate was to allow him to spend more time on cultivation.

Seeing Elder Willow Wood's confusion, Chen Changqing smiled slightly and explained, "Elder."

"Actually, standing guard at the mountain gate is quite good."

"It's peaceful, and I can still cultivate well."

For Chen Changqing, if he stopped guarding the gate, he might be sent by Elder Willow Wood to train alongside other Seventh Courtyard disciples.

If that happened, with so many people and eyes around, it would only interfere with his AFK cultivation.

How could that compare to the freedom of guarding the mountain gate?

Leisurely and carefree, he could AFK cultivate without any disturbance!

"Hm?"

Elder Willow Wood frowned slightly at Chen Changqing's explanation, feeling something was off.

But after a moment's thought, he nodded and said, "Very well, since you want to guard the gate, I'll let you have your way!"

With that, he waved his sleeve, and a storage pouch flew out, landing in Chen Changqing's hand.

"Take these Low-grade Spirit Stones for your cultivation."

"Consider them a reward for you."

Chen Changqing's eyes lit up as he quickly took the storage pouch from Elder Willow Wood and bowed in thanks, "Thank you, Elder!"

Elder Willow Wood waved his hand, signaling Chen Changqing to withdraw.

Chen Changqing didn't linger and turned to leave.

Once outside the courtyard, he opened the pouch Elder Willow Wood had given him and glanced inside, finding several dozen Low-grade Spirit Stones.

"So many?"

"Why is Elder Willow Wood suddenly being so good to me?"

"Could it be that he's discovered something?"

Chen Changqing pondered inwardly.

At the same time, Elder Willow Wood watched Chen Changqing walk into the distance and sighed to himself:

"I hope this old man's investment will yield returns!"

"Chen Changqing, don't let me down..."