Following True Person Tianbo's announcement,
the disciples of the Seven Outer Courtyards were all exhilarated, each itching to try their hand.
"Hm?"
Chen Changqing noticed their reactions and frowned slightly, pondering to himself.
I thought the competition would be something like a series of arena matches.
I didn't expect a trial-clearing format.
All we're doing is entering the Void Realm to slay Realm Beasts. Why do they all look so excited?
As he mused, Chen Changqing swept his gaze around.
He could see the burning anticipation in the eyes of many participating disciples from the various courtyards.
Rumble!
At that moment, the gateway to the Void Realm in the sky had opened completely.
Chaotic energies surged within it, offering faint glimpses of mountains, rivers, and towering ancient trees.
At the sight, a keen light flashed in Qingyang's eyes, and his hands unconsciously clenched into fists.
It was plain to see that Qingyang was exceptionally excited.
Chen Changqing naturally noticed his expression too, and his brows knitted even tighter.
Before he could speak, Liu Ruyan furrowed her brows slightly and asked in puzzlement:
"Eldest senior brother, what's gotten into you?"
Qingyang took a deep breath and glanced over Liu Ruyan and the others before explaining:
"Junior sister Ruyan, you've only just joined Mount Shu, and this is your first Outer Sect Grand Competition."
"Naturally, you don't know what makes the Void Realm special."
His words immediately piqued everyone's interest.
"Senior brother, aren't we just entering the Void Realm to slay Realm Beasts?"
"Is there something else special about it?"
"..."
Qingyang narrowed his eyes slightly. Without keeping them in suspense, he said directly:
"The Void Realm is no ordinary place. It's a small world created by a Spirit Transformation powerhouse of Mount Shu!"
Everyone's hearts trembled at his words, and they all drew sharp breaths.
"Spirit Transformation?"
"That's a realm beyond Nascent Soul!"
"A separate space created by such a powerhouse must be extraordinary!"
"Senior brother Qingyang, what exactly is special about it?"
Qingyang exhaled at length and continued:
"You only know that the Void Realm contains Realm Beasts. What you don't know is that it also holds countless opportunities."
"Spirit herbs, ancient treasures, inheritances... too many to count."
"Some disciples have even obtained Spirit Treasures inside!"
"In the last competition, a disciple from the Second Courtyard found an Ancient Sword Manual deep within the Void Realm and was promoted straight into the Inner Sect."
As he spoke, a trace of fervor flashed through Qingyang's eyes.
Chen Changqing and the others were all stunned by what they heard.
"Holy crap!"
"There are even Spirit Treasures?"
"Is that really true, senior brother Qingyang?"
"..."
Everyone was beside themselves with excitement. After all, they possessed nothing more than magical implements.
Above magical implements were magical treasures, and Spirit Treasures stood higher still.
Beyond those were immortal treasures.
No one had imagined that the Void Realm contained treasures of such caliber.
The spirit herbs, inheritances, and other opportunities also set their hearts racing.
Hearing this, Chen Changqing's interest was immediately stirred as well.
There are that many good things in the Void Realm?
No wonder so many people looked impatient to get inside when it opened.
Looks like this trip won't just be about slaying Realm Beasts. I'll have to look for other opportunities too.
While Chen Changqing pondered, Qingyang nodded and added:
"The reason I gave up entering the Inner Sect was to take another gamble in the Void Realm!"
"Perhaps this time, I'll obtain a tremendous opportunity!"
Only then did everyone understand.
In the previous Outer Sect Grand Competition, Qingyang had placed in the top twenty, earning the right to enter the Inner Sect.
Strangely, however,
he had ultimately chosen not to enter the Inner Sect, remaining in the Seven Courtyards instead.
Quite a few disciples in the Seven Courtyards had found this puzzling.
After all, cultivating in the Inner Sect was far better than staying in the Outer Courtyard.
Now that Qingyang had revealed the truth, everyone finally understood that he had been after the treasures and inheritances within the Void Realm.
Chen Changqing silently muttered to himself:
So that's why.
I was wondering-with senior brother Qingyang's strength, wouldn't cultivating in the Inner Sect be much better than staying in the Outer Courtyard?
I wonder what I'll gain from this trip into the Void Realm.
At that thought, Chen Changqing's eyes filled with longing and anticipation.
Just then, Elder Liu Mu turned to look at Chen Changqing and the others, his expression solemn.
"Each courtyard may send forty people into the Void Realm. Once inside, you must stand together."
"Yes, Elder!"
The disciples answered Liu Mu in unison.
Forty people?
Chen Changqing was slightly surprised. Three days earlier, Elder Liu Mu and two stewards had announced the list of ten disciples from the Seven Courtyards who would participate in this Outer Sect Grand Competition.
He had assumed that only those ten would enter the Void Realm.
He hadn't expected the number to rise to forty.
Seeing Chen Changqing's puzzled expression, Qingyang explained with a smile:
"Junior brother Chen."
"The ten people selected earlier are the elites of our Seven Courtyards. The remaining thirty were chosen from the ordinary disciples."
"I'm sure you understand that greater expectations rest on the elites' shoulders."
"We ten aren't the only ones from the Seven Courtyards entering the Void Realm."
With Qingyang's explanation, Chen Changqing immediately understood.
According to senior brother Qingyang, the Void Realm contains plenty of opportunities.
Yet only disciples ever enter it. There must be restrictions on entry.
Otherwise, Mount Shu's big shots would surely have gone in themselves long ago!
While Chen Changqing was considering this, True Person Tianbo spoke from where he hovered in midair:
"The Void Realm has fully opened!"
"The outer sect disciples participating in this competition may now enter."
Following his announcement, the disciples from the various courtyards rose on their flying swords and flew into the Void Realm.
Chen Changqing and the others were no exception.
The instant he entered the Void Realm, system notifications rang out in Chen Changqing's mind:
[Ding!] [Blessed land for idle cultivation detected.] [Idle cultivation speed doubled.] [Change idle cultivation location?]
"Change it!"
Without a second thought, Chen Changqing chose to switch locations.
So the idle cultivation location can be changed too. What a pleasant surprise.
While Chen Changqing was lost in thought, Qingyang and the others had already scattered.
"Junior brother Chen, good luck!"
Liu Ruyan gave Chen Changqing a sweet, alluring smile, then turned into a streak of light and sped away.
Chen Changqing thought nothing of it.
He knew full well that if their sole objective were slaying Realm Beasts, working together would offer greater security and less danger.
But the Void Realm contained more than Realm Beasts. It held all sorts of opportunities too.
Under such circumstances, everyone naturally wanted to act alone.
An innocent man's jade could become his crime.
If someone obtained a treasure or inheritance and others learned of it, trouble would follow.
Coming back to his senses, Chen Changqing picked a direction at random and flew off on his sword.
He had not flown far when a thunderous roar suddenly came from ahead.
"Roar!"
Chen Changqing stopped and looked toward the sound, only to see a pitch-black, wolf-shaped demonic beast suddenly lunge at him.
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