At this sight,
The disciples from the various courtyards watching the battle were all dumbfounded.
Only after a long while did they recover from their shock.
"What?"
"Chen Changqing... won?"
"Am I seeing things?"
"Even Shi Tian, a First Courtyard genius with a special physique, wasn't his match?"
"How was that possible?"
"A Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivator defeated a Foundation Establishment Late Stage body cultivator with one sword strike? And Shi Tian possessed the Stone Spirit Physique!"
"Just what divine ability was that sword strike?"
"It felt like he had merely drawn his sword once, didn't it?"
The disciples of the various courtyards cried out in disbelief.
When they had seen Chen Changqing step onto the stage to challenge Shi Tian,
no one had believed Chen Changqing could win.
After all, the gap between their cultivation realms was far too great.
Chen Changqing was only at Foundation Establishment Early Stage, while Shi Tian had already reached Foundation Establishment Late Stage. Moreover, he was a body cultivator reputed to be invincible among those of the same realm.
No one had expected the strength Chen Changqing unleashed afterward to be so terrifyingly overwhelming.
In the Seven Courtyards' area,
the disciples all stared with their tongues tied in knots, their heads buzzing.
"Junior Brother Chen... won?"
"He defeated Shi Tian, the First Courtyard's genius disciple?"
"Heavens!"
"Junior Brother Chen is far too fierce, isn't he?"
"What kind of sword technique did he use just now? How could it unleash such dreadful power?"
"This is wonderful! Our... our Seven Courtyards are going to become first in the Outer Sect Grand Competition!"
After their shock, the Seven Courtyards' disciples were beside themselves with excitement, their faces flushed red.
Even Elder Liu Mu was deeply shaken by the sight before him.
"Changqing, this boy... really does love giving people surprises!"
Liu Mu secretly sighed.
After the first round of the Outer Sect Disciple Competition, he had already been thoroughly satisfied.
Three disciples from the Seven Courtyards had entered the top twenty on the Points Leaderboard.
Chen Changqing had even ranked second on the list.
The Seven Courtyards had never achieved such results before.
Yet Liu Mu had never expected
that Chen Changqing's surprise for him would go far beyond that.
Now, right in the arena matches, he had defeated Shi Tian, the First Courtyard's number one disciple!
"It seems this old man's eye for talent is still quite good!"
"My investment was the right one!"
Liu Mu was in high spirits. He could already picture the day the Seven Courtyards would no longer be looked down upon.
In contrast to the Seven Courtyards' joy, mournful cries rose without end from the First Courtyard's side.
"No..."
"How could this be possible?"
"Senior Brother Shi Tian actually lost to Chen Changqing from the Seven Courtyards? And Chen Changqing is only at Foundation Establishment Early Stage?"
"How could it have come to this?"
"Our First Courtyard's number one disciple was defeated by a single sword draw?"
The disciples' faces were full of disbelief.
Li Yang's expression was incomparably grim.
He had long hated Chen Changqing to the bone.
Back in the Void Realm, Chen Changqing had taken advantage of the chaotic melee between him, Qingyang, and the others to sneak into the valley and snatch away the opportunity.
Li Yang had originally thought Chen Changqing was nothing more than a petty thief.
But now, he realized that he had been utterly mistaken.
"Has this brat been playing the pig to eat the tiger all along?"
"With such strength, he had remained completely unknown until now."
"Was he waiting for this Outer Sect Grand Competition to make a name for himself in one fell swoop?"
Just as the disciples of the various courtyards were still stunned,
Chen Changqing tapped the ground with his foot and flew down into the bottom of the enormous crater.
"Senior Brother Shi Tian, are you all right?"
Chen Changqing walked up to Shi Tian and extended a hand.
"Cough, cough..."
Shi Tian coughed lightly twice.
"Junior Brother Chen, that sword strike of yours just now... was indeed formidable!"
"I concede!"
As he spoke, Shi Tian seized Chen Changqing's outstretched hand and rose to his feet with his help.
As a body cultivation genius, he had pride of his own.
But Shi Tian was not someone who could not accept defeat.
In Shi Tian's eyes, strength had always been supreme.
A loss was a loss. There was nothing to argue about.
Seeing Shi Tian's magnanimity, Chen Changqing smiled freely.
"Senior Brother Shi Tian, you are very strong as well."
Chen Changqing was not merely flattering Shi Tian.
In his view, if he had not obtained the Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Technique in the Void Realm, the victor of this battle would truly have been hard to determine.
Just then, True Person Tianbo's voice suddenly descended from the sky.
"In this battle, Chen Changqing of the Seven Courtyards is victorious!"
"Is there anyone else who wishes to challenge him?"
Upon hearing True Person Tianbo's words, the entire area fell silent.
Even a genius like Shi Tian had been no match for Chen Changqing's single sword strike. How could they dare challenge him?
After waiting for a short while and seeing that no one else stepped forward to issue a challenge, True Person Tianbo immediately announced,
"Since no one else wishes to challenge him,"
"I hereby declare that in this Mount Shu Sect Outer Sect Disciple Competition,"
"Chen Changqing of the Seven Courtyards has claimed first place!"
With True Person Tianbo's announcement, the Seven Courtyards' area instantly erupted.
"We won!!"
"Our... our Seven Courtyards are first!"
"This feels far too dreamlike, doesn't it?"
"Who would have thought that our Seven Courtyards could actually seize the championship of the Outer Sect Disciple Competition?"
"Junior Brother Chen is mighty!"
The Seven Courtyards' disciples were wildly excited.
Elder Liu Mu could not hide his excitement either, his face flushing somewhat red.
At this moment, Chen Changqing and Shi Tian had already stepped down from the arena.
Shi Tian cupped his fists toward Chen Changqing before returning to the First Courtyard's area.
Chen Changqing was just about to join Liu Mu and the others when the space before him suddenly rippled.
Looking carefully, he saw that True Person Tianbo, who had originally been floating in midair, had unexpectedly appeared before him.
Upon seeing True Person Tianbo, Chen Changqing hurriedly bowed.
"Greetings, Peak Master!"
True Person Tianbo nodded lightly, his deep gaze studying Chen Changqing.
"Chen Changqing, where did you learn the sword technique you used just now?"
Seeing True Person Tianbo inquire about the origin of his sword technique, Chen Changqing did not conceal anything and explained everything truthfully.
"Reporting to the Peak Master."
"Earlier, while hunting Realm Beasts in the Void Realm, this disciple encountered True Person Qingxu's divine-sense incarnation. He bestowed this sword technique upon me."
After hearing Chen Changqing's explanation, True Person Tianbo immediately came to a realization.
Just now, he had been wondering why an Outer Sect disciple like Chen Changqing possessed the Yinyue Holy Dynasty's ultimate art.
He had never expected that it was an opportunity Chen Changqing had obtained in the Void Realm.
True Person Tianbo naturally had no doubts about Chen Changqing's words. Smiling faintly, he said,
"You boy are quite fortunate!"
"A senior like True Person Qingxu—even I would have to address him as Martial Uncle when meeting him."
"I hope that after entering the Inner Sect, you will work hard."
"Perhaps we will have a chance to meet again!"
After saying this, True Person Tianbo casually waved his hand, and a Jade Slip fell into Chen Changqing's palm.
"Within this Jade Slip lies my Nascent Soul Insight!"
"It should be of help to you!"
Having said that, True Person Tianbo did not wait for Yu Tianqing's response. His figure suddenly vanished.
His voice echoed through heaven and earth.
"This Outer Sect Grand Competition ends here."
"The Outer Sect disciples who entered the top twenty of the competition will gather in two days and proceed to the Inner Sect!"
Chen Changqing lowered his eyes to look at the Jade Slip in his hand. Without thinking much of it, he walked toward Liu Mu and the others.
Before you continue