Those in the Top Twenty of the Points Ranking Can Be Promoted to Inner Disciples!

Hearing the sound, everyone turned their gazes toward the portal of the Void Realm in the sky.

As the light screen flickered, figures appeared one after another.

Qingyang, Li Yang, Wen Liang, Meng Zhou, Cui Hao...

The disciples emerging from the Void Realm flew down toward their respective courtyards.

At the same time, on the pillar of light not far away, the points on the leaderboard finally settled, ranking the top twenty disciples.

Chen Changqing was prominently among them.

Although he was not in the top spot, he held a firm second place.

Besides him, Qingyang, Li Yang, and the others were also on the top twenty list.

In the area belonging to the Second Courtyard.

Cui Hao hung his head in dejection, grinding his teeth in frustration.

This was simply because his points had not made it into the top twenty of the leaderboard.

This meant that not only would he be unable to enter the inner sect, but he would also lose his eligibility for the subsequent grand competition.

"Damn it!!"

Cui Hao was furious.

"Junior Brother Cui, there is no need to be so angry. If you didn't make it to the next round this time, just work harder next year!"

Wen Liang glanced at Cui Hao and offered this consolation.

"Senior Brother, I... I am not reconciled!"

Cui Hao voiced his frustration.

"Hm?"

Hearing this, Wen Liang frowned slightly. He also found it quite surprising that Cui Hao had failed to enter the top twenty of the points leaderboard.

After all, like him, Cui Hao was at the Foundation Establishment stage.

Logically speaking, obtaining enough points for the top twenty should not have been a difficult task.

Subsequently, Cui Hao did not hide anything and recounted how he had been robbed of his points by someone in the Void Realm.

"There is someone who dared to rob you, Junior Brother Cui?"

"Who has such guts?"

Wen Liang was taken aback, looking somewhat incredulous.

Cui Hao replied with a gloomy face:

"I don't know his specific name, but that kid is from the Seven Courtyards. His cultivation level isn't high; he's still at the Qi Refining stage!"

"From the Seven Courtyards? At the Qi Refining stage?"

After hearing what Cui Hao said, Wen Liang's brows furrowed, and the image of Chen Changqing involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

"Could it be that kid who intercepted our opportunity?"

Thinking this, Wen Liang shifted his gaze toward the area where the Seven Courtyards were located.

Unfortunately, he did not see Chen Changqing's figure.

Meanwhile.

In the area of the Seven Courtyards, Elder Liu Mu watched the returning disciples, including Qingyang and Liu Ruyan, his eyes flickering with uncertainty.

"Strange?"

"Where is that kid Changqing?"

Elder Liu Mu muttered to himself. All the disciples from the Seven Courtyards who had participated in the first round of selection had come out, yet Chen Changqing was nowhere to be seen.

He was extremely satisfied with Chen Changqing.

In this first round of selection, he had climbed all the way to second place on the leaderboard, bringing great honor to the Seven Courtyards.

"Qingyang?"

"Where is Chen Changqing?"

After a brief pause, Elder Liu Mu suddenly looked toward Qingyang and asked.

"Hm?"

Qingyang was startled. He looked around but did not find Chen Changqing's figure.

"Elder."

"Hasn't Junior Brother come out yet?"

Hearing Qingyang's reply, Elder Liu Mu glared at him unexpectedly and snapped:

"If he had come out, would I be asking you?"

Qingyang's face was full of embarrassment as he hurriedly said:

"Elder, there is no need to worry."

"Junior Brother Chen is ranked second on the leaderboard."

"He should be coming out any moment now."

Though he spoke these words, Qingyang was deeply shaken in his heart.

He could not fathom how Chen Changqing had managed to obtain so many points.

Furthermore, he was curious about the opportunity Chen Changqing had snatched from him, Li Yang, and the others—what exactly was it?

Hearing what Qingyang said, Elder Liu Mu did not say anything more and continued to wait.

Liu Ruyan's beautiful eyes darted about, fixed directly on the portal to the Void Realm.

"Why hasn't Junior Brother Chen come out yet?"

"Could something have happened to him?"

At this thought, her heart immediately became restless and uneasy.

Back in that valley within the Void Realm, Chen Changqing had seized the opportunity from Li Yang and the others.

Since then, she had not seen Chen Changqing again.

Although Chen Changqing's points remained, there were Realm Beasts within the Void Realm with strength not inferior to the Foundation Establishment stage.

If Chen Changqing had fallen victim to a Realm Beast, his Identity Token would 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 whispered to herself.

She did not know why she had become so concerned about Chen Changqing.

Meanwhile.

Inside the Void Realm.

Deep within that valley, Chen Changqing suddenly opened his eyes, a brilliant flash of light flickering through his pupils.

"The time for the first stage is up."

"It is time for me to leave this Void Realm."

Chen Changqing murmured to himself, then communicated with the system:

"System, extract the AFK cultivation results!"

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

[Ding!]

[AFK cultivation finished.]

[Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Technique comprehension progress: 3%.]

Following the system's prompt, Chen Changqing saw a progress bar for the Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Technique appear on his attribute panel.

Seeing this, Chen Changqing was slightly shocked.

But after a moment of reflection, he felt relieved.

"This Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Technique is completely different from other divine abilities and techniques!"

"After AFK cultivation for these few days, I have only reached 3% progress."

Immediately after, streams of golden light surged from the Little Golden Man and merged into Chen Changqing's body.

Soon, all the essential meanings regarding the Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Technique were etched into Chen Changqing's mind.

After extracting the cultivation results, Chen Changqing smiled with satisfaction.

Just then, he suddenly realized something.

His cultivation base had somehow broken through the Qi Refining Ninth Layer and advanced to the Foundation Establishment Early Stage.

"I have... reached Foundation Establishment?"

"Hahaha, what a pleasant surprise!"

Chen Changqing could not help but laugh out loud.

Although he had only comprehended 3% of the Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Technique, this progress alone had caused his strength to skyrocket.

After steadying his mind, Chen Changqing did not linger. With a thought, he summoned the Shadow-Bearing Sword and flew toward the exit of the Void Realm.

On the other side.

On the plaza outside the Void Realm.

The disciples from every courtyard had all returned from within the Void Realm.

Only Chen Changqing of the Seven Courtyards was nowhere to be seen.

"What is going on?"

"Why hasn't Junior Brother Chen come out yet?"

"If he waits past the time limit, the Void Realm will close."

"Could something have happened to him?"

The disciples of the Seven Courtyards discussed it in hushed tones.

Liu Mu furrowed his brows, his expression looking rather grim.

As for Liu Ruyan, she was burning with anxiety.

Just then, movement stirred at the portal of the Void Realm, and the void rippled.

The next moment, a figure was seen flying out of the portal on a sword.

The man was dressed in fluttering purple robes, handsome and dashing; who else could it be but Chen Changqing?

"Junior Brother Chen!!"

Seeing this, Liu Ruyan could not help but call out in excitement.

The nearby Seven Courtyards disciples, upon seeing this, all wore looks of astonishment.

After all, Liu Ruyan was famous in the Seven Courtyards for her coldness; why was she so enthusiastic when facing Chen Changqing?

Before long, Chen Changqing had already flown down to the area where the Seven Courtyards group was gathered.

Liu Ruyan was overjoyed, and then she discovered with surprise that Chen Changqing had actually broken through.

"Junior Brother Chen, you... you have broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm?"

Hearing this, everyone turned to look, staring at Chen Changqing in disbelief.

Qingyang's pupils constricted slightly as he muttered to himself:

"Foundation Establishment Realm?"

"Could it be because of that fortuitous encounter from before?"

Chen Changqing smiled indifferently:

"I just broke through by luck!"

At this moment, True Person Tianbo's deep, oppressive voice descended from the sky:

"The first round has concluded."

"Those in the top twenty for points may advance to the Inner Sect!"

"Next, we shall begin the second round of this Outer Sect Grand Competition."