Using AFK Points, AFK Acceleration!

Seeing this commotion, Elder Liu Mu and the others hurriedly looked toward the source of the sound.

Focusing their eyes, they saw Chen Changqing returning on his sword.

"Elder, I have returned."

Chen Changqing landed before Elder Liu Mu and the others.

Elder Liu Mu breathed a sigh of relief, looked Chen Changqing over, and asked, "Where did you go?"

Chen Changqing's expression remained unchanged as he said indifferently, "I accidentally stumbled into an illusion formation while pursuing the Demon Sect cultivators and had to spend some effort to break free."

Elder Liu Mu took a long look at Chen Changqing and did not press him further.

Then, his gaze shifted toward Liu Ruyan and the other disciples.

"Ruyan!"

"As the outstanding disciples of my Seventh Courtyard of the Outer Sect."

"You actually let a disciple at the fifth level of Qi Refining like Chen Changqing go off to hunt down Demon Sect cultivators."

"While you stayed here to watch and gain insights."

"To disregard the safety of a fellow disciple in such a manner, isn't that a bit too selfish?"

As he spoke, Elder Liu Mu's face was heavy, his gaze sweeping directly over Liu Ruyan and the other five disciples.

Liu Ruyan froze, her red lips parting slightly as if she wanted to explain something, but she swallowed the words back down.

The other disciples also lowered their heads in silence.

Seeing this, Chen Changqing hurriedly bowed to Elder Liu Mu and said, "Elder."

"You cannot blame Senior Sister and the others for this; it was I who insisted on going."

"Now that the Demon Sect cultivators have all been executed, our top priority should be to return to the Mount Shu Sect as quickly as possible to report to the Sect Master, so as to prevent any further moves from the Demon Sect."

Hearing this, Elder Liu Mu's expression softened slightly, and he nodded. "Very well, this matter is indeed suspicious."

"The Demon Sect appearing in Green Creek Village so suddenly must have a hidden motive; we must report this to the Sect Master for a decision as soon as possible."

Following this, the group did not delay any longer and flew back to the Mount Shu Sect on their swords.

Along the way, Liu Ruyan would steal glances at Chen Changqing from time to time.

Elder Liu Mu seems to value him highly.

When we first set out from Shushan, he bestowed upon him the high-grade magic tool, the Shadow-Bearing Sword.

And just now, during the skirmish with the Demon Sect cultivators in Green Creek Village, he showed great concern for him.

What exactly is the relationship between this boy and the Elder?

Liu Ruyan pondered secretly.

Beyond that, what also surprised her was this:

Chen Changqing's cultivation was only at the fifth level of Qi Refining, yet when he killed the Demon Sect cultivators in Green Creek Village earlier, he had erupted with strength far exceeding that level.

Moreover, when he killed the Demon Sect cultivators, he did not show the slightest hesitation; he was ruthless and decisive.

The more she thought about it, the more curious Liu Ruyan felt about Chen Changqing deep down.

At the same time, the other disciples felt very unbalanced.

Is the Elder being too biased? To scold us for the sake of a fifth-level Qi Refining disciple?

Isn't he just a "closed-door" disciple? Is he worth such high regard?

We are the outstanding disciples of the Seventh Courtyard!

...

The group felt indignant.

They could all see that Elder Liu Mu was being overly protective of Chen Changqing.

Of course, they dared to be angry but dared not speak out.

At this moment, Liu Ruyan flew her sword to Chen Changqing's side and asked with a smile, "Junior Brother Chen, I saw you using a very powerful fist technique when you fought those Demon Sect cultivators earlier."

Before Liu Ruyan could finish her sentence, Chen Changqing had already spoken.

"Thunder Fist."

"I found it in the Technique Hall after breaking through to the Qi Refining realm."

Liu Ruyan nodded in realization and said with a smile, "I observe that Junior Brother Chen's cultivation is only at the fifth level of Qi Refining, yet your true strength far exceeds that realm!"

Chen Changqing smiled faintly and said:

"Senior Sister is too kind; I am indeed only at the fifth level of Qi Refining."

Seeing that Chen Changqing was unwilling to say more, Liu Ruyan did not press the matter.

Time slipped away quietly.

Soon, Chen Changqing and his group returned to the sect.

Elder Liu Mu went straight to the main peak to find the Sect Master, while Chen Changqing and the others returned to their respective quarters.

After returning to his small wooden cabin halfway up the mountain, Chen Changqing hurriedly closed the doors and windows. He then took the token he had obtained from the Purple Mansion Secret Realm out of his storage bag and examined it carefully.

"Strange."

"What exactly is the purpose of this token left behind by the Great Cultivator of the Purple Mansion?"

Chen Changqing turned it over and over, even attempting to inject his essence into the token, but it remained completely unresponsive.

"Forget it. Since I can't figure anything out for now, I'll just keep it for later!"

With that thought, Chen Changqing put the token away.

Just then, a soft voice suddenly came from outside his courtyard gate:

"Is Junior Brother Chen in?"

Chen Changqing pushed the door open and stepped out to find Liu Ruyan standing outside, dressed in white as snow, her temperament cold and aloof.

"Why has Senior Sister come?"

Liu Ruyan smiled faintly and said:

"I came to see how you were doing, and to ask if you intend to participate in the upcoming Outer Courtyard Grand Competition?"

"The Outer Courtyard Grand Competition?"

Chen Changqing was stunned.

If this were in the past, he would never have dared to consider participating in such an event.

However, with the awakening of his AFK Cultivation System, his cultivation had progressed by leaps and bounds, and he naturally had his own ideas.

Yet, what Chen Changqing could not understand was this:

Did Liu Ruyan really come all the way here just to ask him about this?

While Chen Changqing was lost in thought, Liu Ruyan was also observing him.

In the past, as a prodigy of the Seventh Courtyard with a cultivation at the half-step Foundation Establishment stage, she would never have paid any attention to a disciple like Chen Changqing.

But after the battle at Green Creek Village, the strength and decisive killing intent Chen Changqing had displayed forced her to re-evaluate this junior brother.

Coupled with the importance Elder Liu Mu placed on him, Liu Ruyan decided it would be wise to befriend him.

After a moment of silence, Chen Changqing nodded and said:

"Senior Sister! I believe I will participate when the time comes."

Hearing this, a flash of approval crossed Liu Ruyan's eyes as she said:

"Good. I hope you can bring glory to our Seventh Courtyard."

With a wave of her jade hand, a medicinal pill flew toward Chen Changqing.

"This Rejuvenation Pill has the effect of healing wounds and increasing cultivation."

"I imagine you suffered significant exhaustion while fighting those demonic cultivators earlier, so please accept this as a gift."

After saying this, she offered Chen Changqing a smile and turned to leave without waiting for his reply.

Chen Changqing took the pill hovering before him, his brows furrowing slightly as he muttered to himself:

"What is going on?"

"Isn't Senior Sister Liu always cold and aloof?"

"Why does she seem like a completely different person when it comes to me?"

"Could it be... that she has taken a liking to me?"

After a brief moment of thought, Chen Changqing gave a bitter smile and didn't dwell on it.

Returning to his room, he focused his mind and communicated with the system:

"System, how do I use these AFK points?"

Soon, the system's response echoed in his mind:

[Ding!]

[Host may expend AFK points to increase AFK efficiency!]

[Current AFK points: 1024 points]

[Use them?]

"Use them!"

Chen Changqing did not hesitate; since this could increase his AFK efficiency, why wouldn't he do it?

[Ding!]

[Consumed 1000 AFK points, AFK efficiency increased to 3x!]

[Current AFK speed: 3x speed!]

[Current remaining AFK points: 24 points.]