Seeing Liu Ruyan's defeat.
Chen Changqing's gaze tightened slightly below the stage.
"Compared to these Foundation Establishment disciples, Senior Sister Liu's strength is indeed a little lacking."
"Besides... this competition isn't that simple."
Chen Changqing murmured.
Naturally, he had noticed that people like Li Yang, Wen Liang, and Meng Zhou had yet to make a move.
High in the sky, True Person Tianbo's gaze swept across the entire arena, seemingly absent-mindedly.
By then, Liu Ruyan had already returned to the Seven Courtyards' area.
"Senior Sister Liu!"
The Seven Courtyards disciples looked at her, all wanting to offer some consolation, yet none knew what to say.
Liu Mu smiled at Liu Ruyan and said,
"Ruyan."
"You've already done very well."
"Among the top twenty on the Points Leaderboard, you're the only one at half-step Foundation Establishment."
"Some Foundation Establishment disciples from the other courtyards didn't even make it into the top twenty!"
Hearing Liu Mu's words, Liu Ruyan forced out a faint smile.
After all, the difference in strength was right there.
How could she, merely at half-step Foundation Establishment, defeat Jiang An, who was already at Foundation Establishment Middle Stage?
Chen Changqing also glanced at Liu Ruyan and said calmly,
"Senior Sister Liu, victory and defeat are common affairs. There's no need to take it too much to heart."
Liu Ruyan nodded at that, feeling considerably better.
Seeing this, Qingyang's eyes flashed with determination.
The next moment, he did not hesitate. With a tap of his foot, he leapt onto the arena.
"Seven Courtyards, Qingyang!"
Qingyang's bright voice rang out. The longsword at his waist hummed as spiritual power fluctuations of Foundation Establishment Late Stage instantly swept through the entire arena.
Seeing Qingyang take the stage, Jiang An's expression grew solemn.
Everyone knew that Qingyang of the Seven Courtyards had ranked among the top twenty in the previous Outer Sect Grand Competition. His strength could not be underestimated.
After a brief pause, Jiang An came back to his senses and cupped his fists toward Qingyang.
"Senior Brother Qingyang, please enlighten me!"
Before his words had even faded, Jiang An did not wait for Qingyang's reply. Wind blades abruptly condensed in his hand.
In the next instant, he slashed out dozens of fierce wind blades, all shooting straight toward Qingyang.
"Trifling tricks."
Qingyang remained calm and drew a line through the air with two fingers.
"Clang!"
In an instant, a brilliant sword light poured forth like a falling Milky Way, shattering every one of the dozens of wind blades racing toward him!
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
"What?"
Jiang An was immediately stunned.
In his previous matches, he had won with ease.
Yet facing Qingyang, he felt immense pressure.
After all, Qingyang was at Foundation Establishment Late Stage.
While Jiang An was distracted, Qingyang flashed and vanished from where he stood.
Jiang An's expression sharpened. He did not dare think further and hurriedly formed hand seals to defend himself.
However, before Jiang An could complete his defense, Qingyang's figure had appeared before him like a ghost.
"What swift movement!"
Jiang An's face changed drastically.
Before he could react, a thunderous boom rang out.
"Bang!"
Qingyang's sword hilt smashed heavily into Jiang An's chest.
"Pfft!"
Jiang An was sent flying at once, spraying mouthfuls of blood as he fell straight from the arena.
"Seven Courtyards' Qingyang, victory!"
Seeing this, the entire arena was shocked, and discussion erupted.
"Qingyang truly deserves to be a veteran powerhouse who has participated in two Grand Competitions!"
"Exactly! Jiang An of the Third Courtyard is only at Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. How could he possibly be Qingyang's match?"
"This arena competition will still come down to the struggle among Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivators!"
"..."
In the Seven Courtyards' area.
After seeing Qingyang effortlessly defeat Jiang An of the Third Courtyard, the many disciples all shouted excitedly.
"Senior Brother Qingyang is incredible!"
"Yeah! He defeated Jiang An in just a few moves."
"Their strengths aren't even on the same level."
"I think Senior Brother Qingyang has an excellent chance of taking first place in the second round of the Grand Competition."
"Go, Senior Brother Qingyang!"
"..."
The Seven Courtyards disciples were exhilarated.
Liu Mu narrowed his eyes slightly, and a trace of expectation appeared in his gaze as he looked toward Qingyang.
Chen Changqing, however, remained calm and unruffled.
He knew perfectly well that Qingyang had defeated Jiang An so easily because of the gap in their strength.
And at that moment, quite a few disciples had yet to step onto the arena.
People like Li Yang, Wen Liang, and Meng Zhou were all nearly as strong as Qingyang.
After all, the four of them had confronted and exchanged blows in that valley within the Void Realm.
In midair, True Person Tianbo's gaze calmly swept over the arena.
"This generation of outer sect disciples has passable aptitude, but none have yet caught my eye."
True Person Tianbo sighed inwardly.
He had personally presided over this Grand Competition to scout promising seedlings in advance, intending to recruit them beneath his peak after they entered the Inner Sect.
Unfortunately, no one had yet caught his fancy.
Just then, a strange sound suddenly spread across the plaza.
"Boom!"
The ground shook violently.
Hearing it, disciples from every courtyard turned toward the sound.
They saw a burly figure, mountain-like in stature, slowly walking out from the First Courtyard's area as its disciples made way for him.
Even Li Yang, who had previously exchanged blows with Qingyang, instinctively stepped aside.
This alone showed that this person held an extraordinary position in the First Courtyard of the Outer Sect.
"First Courtyard, Shi Tian!"
After stepping onto the arena, the burly young man spoke in a voice like muffled thunder, making everyone's eardrums ache.
"What?"
"Shi Tian, first on the Points Leaderboard, is actually making a move?"
"He's a body cultivator! An invincible existence among those of the same realm!"
"Qingyang has run into a tough opponent this time!"
"..."
When Qingyang saw Shi Tian, his expression grew grave, though he was also surprised.
Having remained in the Outer Sect for so long, he had naturally heard of Shi Tian.
There were many methods of cultivation in this world.
Body cultivation was among the more powerful paths. Their physical bodies were peerless, and against those of the same level, they could practically crush them!
"Seven Courtyards boy, will you admit defeat yourself, or shall I help you?"
Shi Tian grinned, revealing stark white teeth.
"Admit defeat?"
Qingyang sneered coldly. Though he knew Shi Tian was formidable, how could he speak of defeat before they had even fought?
"Fight!"
With a sharp cry, Qingyang drew his sword first.
With one sword strike, Sword Qi surged like a rainbow!
Shi Tian paid no heed to Qingyang's incoming sword.
He stood rooted in place as steady as Mount Tai, his muscles seemingly forged from fine iron and his skin gleaming with a bronze luster.
As Qingyang's Sword Qi rushed toward him, Shi Tian suddenly stomped his foot, causing the entire White Jade Arena to tremble.
"Boom!"
The next moment, Shi Tian swung his arm and threw a punch.
A deafening roar resounded.
Shi Tian's fist struck Qingyang's sword edge, producing the clang of metal striking metal.
"What?"
"His flesh is resisting a spirit sword head-on?"
Qingyang was horrified, his face filled with disbelief.
Before he could recover, Shi Tian burst into wild laughter.
"What, is that all? It's not even enough to scratch an itch!"
As soon as his words fell, Shi Tian strode forward fiercely.
For a moment, the arena cracked apart!
When they looked again, he had already swung out his massive fist, making the air explode!
Seeing this, Qingyang hurriedly used his movement technique to evade.
"Competing in movement techniques with a body cultivator?"
Shi Tian sneered. His speed suddenly surged, and he charged at Qingyang like a savage bull.
"Bang!"
Qingyang failed to dodge in time and was struck squarely in the chest by Shi Tian's fist, coughing blood as he flew backward off the arena.
"Seven Courtyards' Qingyang, defeated!"
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