A system notification suddenly rang out.
Chen Changqing's heart jolted.
He hurriedly shut the courtyard gate and returned indoors.
Just moments ago, he had been wondering when the AFK cultivation at triple speed would end.
Who would have thought that whatever he wished for would come true?
"System, extract!"
Once inside, Chen Changqing immediately sent out the command with his mind.
Anticipation rose in the depths of his heart.
"I wonder what level my cultivation will reach after these months of AFK time?"
Just as Chen Changqing was lost in thought, a notification sounded in his mind:
[Ding!] [AFK cultivation results successfully extracted!]
As the system prompt fell, streams of golden light spilled from the three Little Golden Men before him.
Those golden lights then condensed like rivers, surging together into Chen Changqing's body.
Earlier, Chen Changqing's Sword Control Technique and Thunder Fist had already reached consummate mastery.
The Little Golden Men that had originally been AFK cultivating those two techniques had naturally begun AFK cultivating the Nine Turns Qi Refining Art.
In less than a moment, Chen Changqing felt waves of vast vital essence explode within his body.
"Boom!"
His aura began climbing step by step. Spiritual energy rushed through his meridians like surging rivers, swiftly gathering within his dantian.
Before long, the vital essence in Chen Changqing's dantian broke through eighteen thousand strands.
His cultivation also rose accordingly to the Qi Refining Sixth Layer.
But it was not over yet. The three Little Golden Men were still continuously injecting vital essence into Chen Changqing's body.
Soon, the vital essence in his dantian broke through once more, surpassing twenty-one thousand strands.
His cultivation instantly rose to the Qi Refining Seventh Layer!
But it still had not ended.
In the blink of an eye, he broke through to the Qi Refining Eighth Layer, with twenty-four thousand strands of vital essence within his body.
At this moment, golden light was still continuously radiating from the three Little Golden Men.
Chen Changqing's momentum soared like a rainbow. Strands of vital essence rapidly condensed within his dantian.
At one point, the amount of vital essence directly broke through twenty-seven thousand strands.
With that, Chen Changqing's cultivation directly broke through to the Qi Refining Ninth Layer!
Only then did the golden light stop spilling from the three Little Golden Men.
After extracting the cultivation results this time,
Chen Changqing's cultivation finally settled at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer.
"My goodness..."
Feeling the surging power within himself, Chen Changqing could not help drawing in a sharp breath.
"This leveling speed is like a calf riding a plane—so damn awesome it's gone straight to the heavens!"
His face was filled with excitement.
Though he had not reached Foundation Establishment in one step as he had imagined,
being able to raise his cultivation directly from the Qi Refining Fifth Layer to the Qi Refining Ninth Layer was already extraordinarily impressive.
After all, only a few short months had passed.
Looking across the entire Mount Shu Sect, even those monstrous geniuses of the Inner Sect might not be able to achieve such a cultivation speed.
"Good thing AFK cultivation has triple-speed efficiency."
"Otherwise, I'm afraid it would have taken me a long time to reach the Qi Refining Ninth Layer."
Chen Changqing muttered to himself.
Everything had worked out just right.
Now that his strength had reached the Qi Refining Ninth Layer, the Outer Sect Grand Competition would soon begin.
Thinking of the Outer Sect Grand Competition, Chen Changqing clenched his fists, fighting spirit blazing in his eyes.
This time, he was determined to claim first place in the Outer Courtyard Grand Competition!
Although his cultivation was only at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer, his true combat power far surpassed his realm.
After all, he cultivated the Nine Turns Qi Refining Art.
An ordinary Qi Refining Ninth Layer cultivator would only have nine thousand strands of vital essence in their dantian.
But Chen Changqing possessed a full twenty-seven thousand strands.
"Awesome!"
After thinking it over for a moment, Chen Changqing felt utterly refreshed.
"System, continue AFK cultivation!"
Time slipped away.
In the blink of an eye, ten days passed.
A melodious bell rang throughout the Seven Courtyards.
"Dong!"
The bell's resounding chime spread through the entire Seven Courtyards. All the disciples looked up, excitement appearing in their eyes.
They all knew that this was the Seven Courtyards' assembly bell.
News had already spread that the elders of the Seven Courtyards would select disciples to participate in the Outer Sect Grand Competition today.
Very soon, figures rushed toward the Seven Courtyards' training ground.
Upon hearing the bell, Chen Changqing walked straight out of his room and happened to run into Ran Hua.
"Senior Brother Chen!"
Ran Hua eagerly stepped forward.
"Hmm?"
After giving him a brief look, Ran Hua's heart trembled, and he could not help blurting out in surprise:
"Senior Brother, you didn't break through again, did you?"
Though he could not sense Chen Changqing's exact cultivation, Ran Hua could tell that Chen Changqing seemed stronger than the last time he had seen him.
Chen Changqing's lips curved slightly as he smiled. "I was lucky enough to make a small breakthrough."
Hearing this, Ran Hua gave a bitter smile and muttered inwardly:
"Another lucky breakthrough?"
"If only I could have that kind of luck."
Afterward, the two headed together toward the Seven Courtyards' training ground.
When they arrived, more than a hundred disciples of the Seven Courtyards had already gathered in the center of the grounds. The place was bustling with noise and excitement.
Chen Changqing and Ran Hua's arrival did not draw much attention.
After all, they had always been "transparent people" in the Seven Courtyards.
"So this is the Seven Courtyards' training ground?"
"I wonder when I'll be able to cultivate here?"
Ran Hua spoke softly with emotion. Although he and Chen Changqing were disciples of the Seven Courtyards, they were responsible for guarding the mountain gate.
One worked the morning shift, while the other worked the afternoon shift.
One was responsible for opening the gate, and the other for closing it.
Naturally, the disciples who could cultivate wholeheartedly at the Seven Courtyards' training ground possessed no ordinary aptitude.
Chen Changqing remained calm and unconcerned.
Cultivating at the Seven Courtyards' training ground was certainly not bad, but he did not take it to heart.
With the AFK Cultivation System, it made no difference where he cultivated.
Soon, several figures appeared.
Chen Changqing was not unfamiliar with these people. He had previously gone with them to Green Creek Village to carry out a mission.
Their arrival immediately stirred up a commotion.
"Look! It's Senior Brother Zhao and the others!"
"I heard they wiped out a group of demonic cultivators a few months ago."
"Elder Liu Mu was leading them!"
"It feels like Senior Brother Zhao and the others have improved again!"
"They'll definitely be among the participants in this Outer Sect Disciple Competition."
The Seven Courtyards' disciples discussed animatedly. Just then, a graceful figure in white drifted over like a fairy descending into the mortal world.
The woman had snow-white skin and an icy expression. Her perfect figure stood in stark contrast to the coldness on her face.
Who else could it be but Liu Ruyan of the Seven Courtyards?
Liu Ruyan's appearance instantly drew the attention of the entire crowd. Quite a few male disciples revealed looks of admiration in their eyes.
"Senior Sister Liu is here!"
"Half-step Foundation Establishment!"
"Senior Sister Liu will surely shine brilliantly in this Outer Sect Grand Competition!"
Just as everyone marveled at Liu Ruyan's stunning presence, a sharp Sword Qi suddenly tore through the sky.
"Clang!"
Immediately afterward, a man was seen arriving on a flying sword.
"Boom!"
A powerful Sword Qi pressure instantly blanketed the entire area, turning many disciples pale as they nearly lost their footing.
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