Seeing everyone depart.
Liu Ruyan swept down through the air and landed before Chen Changqing and Ran Hua.
"Junior Brother Chen."
"You truly are becoming harder and harder to see through."
"In just a few months, your cultivation has advanced at lightning speed."
"With such a cultivation pace, even those monstrous prodigies of the Inner Sect would likely be no match for you."
Hearing Liu Ruyan's praise.
Chen Changqing smiled faintly and said,
"You overpraise me, Senior Sister Liu."
"I merely had the good fortune to make a breakthrough."
Liu Ruyan gave a soft, alluring smile, becoming even more interested in Chen Changqing.
"Three days from now, see you there."
"I hope that in this Outer Sect Grand Competition, Junior Brother Chen will burst onto the scene and win glory for our Outer Sect's Seventh Courtyard."
With that, Liu Ruyan did not wait for Chen Changqing's response before flying away on her sword.
Ran Hua stood off to the side, staring blankly at Chen Changqing.
"Why do you tell everyone it was just a lucky breakthrough?"
"How could there be so many lucky coincidences in this world?"
No one knew better than Ran Hua just how quickly Chen Changqing's cultivation had improved.
Although Ran Hua had entered the sect later than Chen Changqing, he had been one step ahead of him in cultivation.
When Chen Changqing had still been in the Qi Nourishing realm, Ran Hua had already reached the late stage of Body Refining.
But afterward, for some unknown reason.
Chen Changqing's cultivation speed began to soar, charging ahead like a song of triumph.
Before long, he had surpassed Ran Hua.
Whenever Ran Hua asked about it, Chen Changqing's answer was always that he had merely been fortunate enough to make a small breakthrough.
"How exactly does Senior Brother Chen cultivate?"
He muttered quietly, truly unable to figure out how Chen Changqing had raised his cultivation so swiftly.
Just as Ran Hua was lost in thought, Chen Changqing glanced at him.
"Junior Brother Ran, aren't you leaving?"
"Are you planning to stay in this training ground and cultivate?"
Hearing this, Ran Hua finally snapped out of his thoughts.
The two did not linger any longer and headed back toward their residences together.
"Senior Brother Chen, Senior Sister Liu is famously cold and aloof in the Seven Courtyards."
"But when she faces you, she seems quite enthusiastic."
"Could she have taken a liking to you, Senior Brother?"
Chen Changqing smiled faintly and said,
"Junior Brother Ran, rather than spending time thinking about such nonsense—"
"You might as well put more thought into cultivation."
"Perhaps you'll be selected in the next Outer Sect Grand Competition."
Ran Hua looked embarrassed at once and hurriedly nodded.
"Senior Brother Chen is right to reprimand me."
Earlier, at the training ground, Ran Hua had watched Chen Changqing suppress Zhang Hu, who was at the seventh level of Qi Refining, with a single sword strike.
He immediately came to admire Chen Changqing greatly.
Moreover, he also knew.
With Chen Changqing's strength, there was a very high chance that he would be selected to enter the Inner Sect for cultivation in this Outer Sect Grand Competition.
After considering it, Ran Hua hurriedly followed close behind Chen Changqing, his face full of excitement as he flattered him.
"Senior Brother Chen! If we grow rich, don't forget each other!"
"Once you enter the Inner Sect, Senior Brother, don't forget your junior brother here!"
"With my aptitude, I don't know how much longer I'll have to remain in the Outer Sect. If Senior Brother can look after me a little in the future, I'll be able to live more comfortably out here as well."
Hearing Ran Hua's words, Chen Changqing could not help but laugh.
The Outer Sect Grand Competition had not even begun, yet Ran Hua already seemed certain that he would enter the Inner Sect.
Besides, Chen Changqing knew very well.
Obtaining a good ranking in the Outer Sect Grand Competition would not be so simple.
Take Qingyang, for instance. Despite his Foundation Establishment cultivation, he had only made it into the top twenty in the previous Outer Sect Grand Competition.
Seeing that Chen Changqing remained silent, Ran Hua frowned slightly.
He wondered whether his shameless flattery had displeased Chen Changqing.
Just as he was about to say something else, a shout suddenly came from nearby.
"Junior Brother Chen!"
Hearing this, Chen Changqing and Ran Hua both turned toward the sound.
Looking closely, they saw a figure slowly walking toward them.
"Why is he here?"
Chen Changqing frowned slightly, his gaze falling directly upon that tall, slender figure. Who else could it be but Qingyang, the number one disciple of the Seven Courtyards?
"Could he be here to put me in my place?"
As he observed Qingyang, this thought arose in Chen Changqing's mind.
In his view, he had drawn attention before the disciples of the Seven Courtyards earlier.
As the foremost disciple among the Seven Courtyards, Qingyang might very well have come to suppress him a little.
Though he harbored such doubts, Chen Changqing remained exceedingly polite on the surface. He cupped his fist toward Qingyang and said,
"Greetings, Senior Brother Qingyang."
Seeing this, Ran Hua hurriedly bowed to Qingyang as well.
Qingyang smiled faintly. His gaze upon Chen Changqing was unfathomably deep as he praised him.
"Junior Brother truly displayed great might today!"
"Before everyone in the Seven Courtyards, you suppressed Zhang Hu with a single sword strike."
"With that kind of strength, even I, your senior brother, feel somewhat ashamed of my inferiority."
Seeing Qingyang being so courteous, Chen Changqing replied humbly,
"You flatter me, Senior Brother."
"May I ask what Senior Brother Qingyang has come to see me about?"
Qingyang did not immediately answer Chen Changqing. His bright eyes remained fixed firmly on him.
That sharp gaze seemed as though it wished to see Chen Changqing through completely.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly being scrutinized by Qingyang in such a manner, Chen Changqing's expression gradually became solemn.
After a brief silence, Qingyang suddenly asked,
"Junior Brother Chen."
"May I ask which Lineage you belong to? Or which imperial dynasty you come from?"
In Qingyang's eyes, Chen Changqing surely possessed an extraordinary background.
With such talent and strength, he might be the child of some great power sent to Mount Shu to gain experience.
"Ah?"
Chen Changqing froze for a moment, then shook his head.
"I'm afraid Senior Brother Qingyang has misunderstood."
"I am merely an ordinary man from a small place, nothing worth mentioning."
Upon hearing Chen Changqing's reply, a trace of surprise flashed through Qingyang's eyes, but it swiftly returned to calm.
"Very well. Since Junior Brother is unwilling to say more, I shall not ask further."
At this point, Qingyang paused briefly.
When he spoke again, his tone had suddenly become far more solemn.
"I hope Junior Brother will go all out in the Outer Sect Disciple Competition three days from now and win glory for our Seven Courtyards!"
Chen Changqing nodded and said with a smile,
"I will naturally do my utmost."
Afterward, Qingyang did not remain any longer and turned to leave.
Watching Qingyang's retreating figure gradually fade into the distance, Chen Changqing frowned and began to speculate in secret.
"Qingyang came to find me just to ask that?"
"Was he testing something about me?"
After thinking for a moment, Chen Changqing let out a long breath and did not take the matter to heart.
Time flowed like water.
In the blink of an eye, three days had passed.
Early that morning, the summoning bell of the Seven Courtyards rang out once more.
Upon hearing the bell, Chen Changqing hurried toward the Seven Courtyards' training ground.
By the time he arrived, dozens of disciples from the Seven Courtyards had already assembled.
Elder Liu Mu stood at the front. Once he saw that everyone had arrived, he swept his sleeve and said,
"Set out with me!"
As he spoke, Liu Mu took the lead and flew away on his sword.
Seeing this, Liu Ruyan and the others summoned their flying swords one after another and chased after Liu Mu.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Chen Changqing was naturally no slower. Standing atop the Shadow-Bearing Sword, he flew through the air on his sword; the wind howled beside his ears, while mountains and rivers spread beneath his feet like a painting.
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