Hearing this, everyone turned to look toward the gate to the Void Realm within the heavenly curtain.
As the light screen flickered, one figure after another gradually emerged.
Qingyang, Li Yang, Wen Liang, Meng Zhou, Cui Hao...
The disciples emerging from the Void Realm each flew toward their respective areas and landed.
At the same time, the points on the Points Leaderboard atop the distant pillar of light finally settled, ranking the top twenty disciples.
Chen Changqing was prominently among them.
Though he was not in first place, he held firm at second.
Besides him, Qingyang, Li Yang, and the others were also among the top twenty.
In the area belonging to the Second Courtyard.
Cui Hao hung his head in dejection, gritting his teeth in fury.
It was because his points had not made it into the top twenty on the leaderboard.
And this meant that not only would he be unable to enter the Inner Sect, he would also lose his qualifications for the subsequent rounds of the competition.
"Damn it!!"
Cui Hao was beside himself with rage.
"Junior Brother Cui, there is no need to be so angry. If you failed to enter the next round this time, just work harder next year!"
Wen Liang glanced at Cui Hao and comforted him thus.
"Senior Brother, I... I can't accept this!"
Cui Hao spoke in bitter frustration.
"Hm?"
Upon hearing this, Wen Liang frowned slightly. He too found it somewhat strange that Cui Hao had failed to enter the top twenty of the Points Leaderboard.
After all, Cui Hao, like him, possessed Foundation Establishment cultivation.
Logically speaking, obtaining enough points to reach the top twenty should not have been difficult.
Afterward, Cui Hao did not hide anything and recounted how someone had robbed him of his points in the Void Realm.
"Someone actually dared to rob you, Junior Brother Cui?"
"Who had such audacity?"
Wen Liang was startled, looking rather incredulous.
With a gloomy expression, Cui Hao replied,
"I don't know his exact name, but that brat is from the Seven Courtyards. His cultivation wasn't high either—he was still at the Qi Refining level!"
"From the Seven Courtyards? Qi Refining level?"
At Cui Hao's words, Wen Liang's brows sank, and Chen Changqing's image involuntarily surfaced in his mind.
"Could it be that brat who stole our opportunity?"
Thinking this, Wen Liang shifted his gaze toward the area belonging to the Seven Courtyards.
Unfortunately, he did not see Chen Changqing.
Meanwhile.
At the Seven Courtyards, Elder Liu Mu watched the returning disciples Qingyang, Liu Ruyan, and the others, his eyes flickering uncertainly.
"Strange?"
"Where is that kid Changqing?"
Liu Mu muttered to himself. Every disciple from the Seven Courtyards who had participated in the first round had come out, yet Chen Changqing alone was nowhere to be seen.
He was exceptionally pleased with Chen Changqing.
In this first-round selection, Chen Changqing had directly fought his way to second place on the Points Leaderboard, greatly bringing glory to the Seven Courtyards.
"Qingyang?"
"Where is Chen Changqing?"
After a brief pause, Elder Liu Mu suddenly looked toward Qingyang and asked.
"Hm?"
Qingyang froze and looked around, only to find no trace of Chen Changqing.
"Elder."
"Junior Brother hasn't come out yet?"
Hearing Qingyang's reply, Liu Mu shot him a glare and snapped irritably,
"If he had come out, would this old man still be asking you?"
Qingyang looked thoroughly embarrassed and hurriedly said,
"Elder, there is no need to worry."
"Junior Brother Chen ranks second on the Points Leaderboard."
"He should come out shortly."
Though he spoke thus, Qingyang was deeply shaken within.
He could not understand how Chen Changqing had obtained so many points.
Moreover, Chen Changqing had snatched away the opportunity that he, Li Yang, and the others had been fighting over. What exactly had that opportunity been?
Hearing Qingyang's words, Elder Liu Mu said nothing more and continued waiting.
Liu Ruyan's beautiful eyes shifted as she stared fixedly at the gate to the Void Realm.
"Why hasn't Junior Brother Chen come out yet?"
"Could something have happened to him?"
At that thought, her heart immediately became restless with unease.
Earlier, in that valley within the Void Realm, Chen Changqing had taken the opportunity from Li Yang and the others.
Since then, she had not seen Chen Changqing again.
Although Chen Changqing's points were still there, there were Realm Beasts in the Void Realm with formidable Foundation Establishment strength.
If Chen Changqing had fallen prey to a Realm Beast, his Identity Token would still remain, and his points would not be cleared.
The more she thought about it, the more unsettled Liu Ruyan became.
"What is going on?"
"Why... why am I so concerned about his safety?"
Liu Ruyan murmured softly.
She did not know why she had suddenly become so concerned about Chen Changqing.
Meanwhile.
Inside the Void Realm.
Deep within that valley, Chen Changqing abruptly opened his eyes, a dazzling gleam flashing through them.
"The time for the first round is up."
"It is time for me to leave this Void Realm as well."
Chen Changqing muttered to himself, then communicated with the system.
"System, retrieve the idle cultivation results!"
Soon, the system's response sounded in his mind.
[Ding!] [Idle cultivation complete.] [Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Technique comprehension progress: 3%.]
Following the system prompt.
Chen Changqing saw that a progress bar for the Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Technique had also appeared on his attribute panel.
At this sight, Chen Changqing's heart trembled slightly.
But after giving it some thought, he quickly came to terms with it.
"This Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Technique is completely different from other divine abilities and cultivation techniques!"
"After idling for several days, it has only reached 3% progress."
Immediately afterward, streams of golden light surged from the Little Golden Man and entered Chen Changqing's body.
Very quickly, every essential principle of the Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Technique was imprinted in Chen Changqing's mind.
After retrieving the cultivation results, Chen Changqing smiled in satisfaction.
Just then, he suddenly discovered something.
At some unknown point, his cultivation had already broken through the Qi Refining Ninth Layer and advanced to the Foundation Establishment Early Stage.
"I... reached Foundation Establishment?"
"Hahaha, there is such a good thing?"
Chen Changqing could not help laughing aloud.
Though the Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Technique had only reached 3% comprehension, that tiny bit of progress alone had caused his strength to soar.
After steadying his mind, Chen Changqing did not linger. With a thought, he summoned the Shadow-Bearing Sword and flew it toward the exit of the Void Realm.
Elsewhere.
On the plaza outside the Void Realm.
The disciples from every courtyard had all returned from the Void Realm.
Only Chen Changqing of the Seven Courtyards had yet to emerge.
"What is going on?"
"Why hasn't Junior Brother Chen come out yet?"
"If he waits until the time limit passes, the Void Realm will close."
"Could something have happened to him?"
The Seven Courtyards disciples discussed among themselves.
Liu Mu's brows were tightly furrowed, and his expression was somewhat grim.
Liu Ruyan was even more anxious, as though her heart were burning.
Just then, movement came from the gate to the Void Realm, and ripples spread through the void.
The next moment, a figure flew out of the gate atop a sword.
This person wore flowing purple robes and possessed a handsome, refined bearing. Who else could it be but Chen Changqing?
"Junior Brother Chen!!"
At the sight, Liu Ruyan cried out in uncontrollable excitement.
The Seven Courtyards disciples beside her all looked astonished.
After all, Liu Ruyan was famously aloof within the Seven Courtyards. Why was she so enthusiastic when facing Chen Changqing?
Before long, Chen Changqing had flown down into the area where the Seven Courtyards disciples stood.
Liu Ruyan was overjoyed, then suddenly discovered in astonishment that Chen Changqing had broken through.
"Junior Brother Chen, you... you broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm?"
Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look at Chen Changqing, their faces full of disbelief.
Qingyang's pupils contracted slightly as he muttered to himself,
"Foundation Establishment Realm?"
"Could it be because of that earlier opportunity?"
Chen Changqing smiled calmly.
"I merely broke through by luck!"
Just then, True Person Tianbo's deep, oppressive voice descended from the heavens.
"The first round has concluded."
"The top twenty on the Points Leaderboard may advance to the Inner Sect!"
"Next, the second round of this Outer Sect Grand Competition shall begin."
Before you continue