Half a Step to Core Formation is Just a Threshold! An Unexpected Encounter!

It did not take long.

Led by Wang Yang, Chen Changqing arrived at the location of the Top 100 Ranking arena.

At this moment, hundreds of inner sect disciples had already gathered around the arena.

Every time someone challenged the Top 100 Ranking, it was considered a grand event.

Chen Changqing looked indifferent, not paying much attention.

He was merely bored, which was why he had followed Wang Yang to take a look at this so-called Top 100 battle, while the crowd around them buzzed with discussion.

"Look, that's Wu Shanhe!"

"I heard that this man has already refined five thousand wisps of true qi within his body."

"He isn't far from Core Formation now."

"His very aura exerts such intense pressure!"

"I wonder if Wu Shanhe will succeed in his challenge this time?"

"Hard to say! Every inner sect disciple on the Top 100 Ranking is a monster!"

"..."

Hearing the surrounding chatter, Chen Changqing shifted his gaze to the person standing on the arena.

The man was a youth dressed in black with a cold, stern expression.

Surging, majestic spiritual power swirled around him, his aura formidable!

Clearly, this was the Wu Shanhe mentioned by the many inner sect disciples.

Chen Changqing sized Wu Shanhe up, though he did not feel much of anything.

After all, he had entered the Qi Refining stage at the extreme limit of body tempering, and within the Qi Refining stage, he practiced the incredibly difficult Nine Turns Qi Refining Art.

This resulted in the amount of essence qi within Chen Changqing's body being far greater than that of cultivators at the same level.

An ordinary Qi Refining Ninth Layer cultivator possessed about nine thousand strands of essence qi, whereas he had twenty-seven thousand when he was at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer.

To break through Qi Refining and step into Foundation Establishment meant condensing the essence qi within the body into liquid, then continuously compressing and solidifying that spiritual liquid until it finally condensed into a core.

In this process, the more true qi one condensed, the stronger their strength would be upon breaking through to the Core Formation stage!

"This Wu Shanhe can be considered a top-tier expert even among Foundation Establishment cultivators."

"If I were to break through to the Core Formation stage, even if it were only the early stage, would I be enough to sweep through cultivators of the same rank?"

Chen Changqing muttered to himself.

He knew clearly that for a cultivator to break through to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, they had to convert all the true qi within their body into spiritual liquid, a process known as turning qi into liquid.

Then, they would begin to condense and solidify the spiritual liquid, stepping forward bit by bit toward the Core Formation stage.

Wu Shanhe had already condensed and solidified five thousand wisps of true qi within his body, which already counted as being at the half-step Core Formation stage.

Just as Chen Changqing was lost in thought, Wang Yang, who was beside him, suddenly looked his way.

"Junior Brother Chen."

"The threshold for the Top 100 Ranking is to condense and solidify five thousand wisps of true qi."

"And every disciple who makes it onto the Top 100 Ranking is a genius among geniuses!"

Chen Changqing nodded without replying, offering only a faint smile.

At that moment, the sound of something piercing through the air came from afar.

Looking closely, he saw a man flying down on a sword onto the Top 100 battle arena.

The man had long, flowing hair, his green robes fluttering in the wind, and his features were as refined as a painting, giving off a gentle and elegant impression.

Yet, from his body emanated an indescribable sharpness.

"It's Senior Brother Zhou!"

"The main event has arrived."

"He is the Top 100 member that Wu Shanhe is challenging!"

"Senior Brother Zhou Tianhai is ranked eighty-third on the Top 100 Ranking."

"Although Wu Shanhe's strength is not weak, Senior Brother Zhou is a genuine Core Formation cultivator."

"..."

The many inner sect disciples discussed fervently.

Chen Changqing watched, his gaze lingering on Zhou Tianhai for two seconds longer.

"As expected of the inner sect!"

"Even the disciples have reached the Core Formation stage."

"If this were outside, it would be more than enough to serve as an executive elder."

Just as Chen Changqing muttered to himself, Wu Shanhe bowed slightly to Zhou Tianhai on the arena stage.

"Senior Brother Zhou, please enlighten me!"

Zhou Tianhai smiled faintly and replied, "Please!"

"BOOM!"

The next moment, Wu Shanhe did not hesitate and chose to strike first.

He brandished the long sword in his hand, and the sword light flowed like a waterfall.

In less than an instant, a sword beam resembling a bolt of white silk shot straight toward Zhou Tianhai.

"BOOM!"

Seeing this, Zhou Tianhai did not pay much mind and pushed out a palm quite casually.

Looking again, one could see his palm force actually condensing into a solid golden palm print in mid-air, causing the air to explode wherever it passed.

"BANG!"

In an instant, Wu Shanhe's sword force collided with Zhou Tianhai's golden palm print, erupting with a deafening blast.

A terrifying wave of air swept outward!

Many of the disciples watching around the arena were forced back by the shockwave.

Chen Changqing remained as still as a bell, and seeing Zhou Tianhai's move, he couldn't help but sigh softly.

Is this the strength of a Core Formation cultivator? Truly formidable!

At the same time, on the arena, Wu Shanhe's sword force was crushed directly under the impact of the golden palm print.

The remaining power of the palm was still terrifying, heading straight for Wu Shanhe.

Seeing this, Wu Shanhe's expression changed drastically. With no time to think, he pinched a sword incantation, and another sword beam flashed out, only then barely shattering the golden palm print.

Just as Chen Changqing was watching the battle, a familiar voice suddenly came from behind.

"Junior Brother Changqing!"

"Hm?"

Chen Changqing followed the voice and saw a beautiful figure approaching him with a face full of joy.

The woman was stunningly beautiful, with a graceful figure and a charming, gentle demeanor.

Who else could it be but Liu Ruyan?

"Senior Sister Liu!"

Seeing Liu Ruyan, Chen Changqing was slightly surprised.

Back at the registration office, he had been the first disciple to be assigned, and he had no news of Liu Ruyan or Qingyang afterward.

He hadn't expected to run into her here at the Top 100 tournament arena.

"Is Junior Brother also here to observe the Top 100 tournament?"

After getting close, Liu Ruyan asked with a shy, gentle tone.

Chen Changqing nodded and gave a soft hum.

"I had some free time, so I came to take a look at the inner sect's Top 100 tournament."

Liu Ruyan smiled tenderly and followed up by asking, "By the way, Junior Brother Changqing, where were you assigned to cultivate in the inner sect?"

Chen Changqing did not hide it and said indifferently, "Azure Firmament Valley."

Hearing this, Liu Ruyan secretly took note.

She had originally thought Chen Changqing would also ask where she was, but who would have thought that Chen Changqing did not pursue the question, instead waiting for her to speak.

Liu Ruyan pursed her red lips slightly.

She had wanted to tell him voluntarily, but then she thought, would that be a bit unreserved?

After a brief pause, Liu Ruyan changed the subject. "How has your cultivation been lately, Junior Brother?"

"It's going quite well."

Chen Changqing replied casually.

Just like that, the two began to chat.

What made Chen Changqing feel slightly surprised was that Wang Yang, who was nearby, looked completely shocked upon seeing Liu Ruyan.

Besides that, Chen Changqing also keenly noticed that many inner sect disciples around them were casting subtle glances in his direction.

Just at this moment, a thunderous sonic boom erupted from the arena.

Following the sound, I saw Wu Shanhe blasted off the arena by a single palm strike from Zhou Tianhai.

Although Wu Shanhe possessed the cultivation of a half-step Core Formation, he still ended up defeated when facing a Core Formation disciple like Zhou Tianhai.

The many inner sect disciples watching the battle sighed with emotion at the sight.

"The gap in strength is just too vast!"

"It feels like Senior Brother Zhou Tianhai didn't even use his full power."

"He is ranked eighty-third on the Top 100 Ranking, after all; how could he be so easily challenged?"

"..."