Years of Secluded Cultivation, Rapid Progress, Foundation Establishment Late Stage!

With sighs of lingering emotion, the inner sect disciples watching the battle began to disperse one after another.

Liu Ruyan glanced at Chen Changqing, a flicker of reluctance passing through her eyes so faintly it was almost imperceptible, before she spoke:

"Junior Brother Changqing, I must return now."

"When I have time in the future, I will come to Azure Firmament Valley to find you."

Chen Changqing nodded slightly and bowed to Liu Ruyan in salute:

"Safe travels, Senior Sister!"

Hearing Chen Changqing's reply, Liu Ruyan felt a slight trace of surprise in her heart.

She had originally expected that Chen Changqing would at least ask about her situation.

Yet who would have thought that Chen Changqing did not seem to care much at all.

Forcing a smile, Liu Ruyan did not linger any longer and departed on her flying sword.

Chen Changqing did not dwell on it, instead looking toward Wang Yang, who stood nearby.

"Senior Brother Wang, the Top 100 Challenge has ended; we should head back to the valley."

As he spoke, Chen Changqing took the lead and began to walk away.

Seeing this, Wang Yang quickly snapped out of his daze and hurried to catch up with Chen Changqing.

Along the way, Wang Yang would occasionally cast glances at Chen Changqing.

Noticing Wang Yang's strange behavior, Chen Changqing could not help but ask:

"Senior Brother, why do you keep looking at me like that?"

Wang Yang gave a slightly awkward laugh and replied:

"Junior Brother Chen, I never expected that you would know Liu Ruyan."

Having seen Liu Ruyan take the initiative to approach and chat with Chen Changqing at the Top 100 arena earlier, Wang Yang had been utterly shocked.

"Hm?"

Chen Changqing frowned slightly and then said:

"Senior Sister Liu also came from the Seven Courtyards of the outer sect; we knew each other back then."

At this point, Chen Changqing paused for a moment, then asked with a curious expression:

"Senior Brother Wang, is it really that surprising that I know Senior Sister Liu?"

Back at the arena, Chen Changqing had already sensed something.

When Liu Ruyan had come up to speak with him, many inner sect disciples had cast strange looks his way.

At the time, Chen Changqing had assumed it was merely Liu Ruyan's striking appearance drawing the attention of the other disciples.

But now, it seemed the matter was not as simple as he had thought.

"Liu Ruyan is also from the Seven Courtyards of the outer sect?"

Upon hearing what Chen Changqing said, Wang Yang could not help but be shaken.

Chen Changqing nodded, feeling increasingly confused.

"Senior Brother, what is going on exactly?"

"Haa!"

Wang Yang took a deep breath, no longer hiding anything, and explained:

"Junior Brother Chen."

"You might not know this yet."

"After this Liu Ruyan entered the inner sect, she was taken directly under the wing of 'Cloud Perch Peak,' one of the Seven Main Peaks."

"The key is... she was only at the half-step Foundation Establishment stage!"

"To be valued so highly!"

As he said this, Wang Yang's face was full of envy.

Although being an inner sect disciple was already quite good, if one could enter the Seven Main Peaks to cultivate, their status and standing would naturally be on a different level.

"Cloud Perch Peak, is it?"

Chen Changqing muttered, feeling somewhat surprised.

He had not expected Liu Ruyan to have such an opportunity.

Wang Yang nodded and gave a soft hum of agreement:

"Indeed!"

"This Cloud Perch Peak is the sacred ground for female cultivators of the Mount Shu Sect."

"Every disciple on that peak is like a fairy descended to earth; not only are they peerless in talent, but they are also beauties of the mortal world."

"In short, any female disciple who can enter Cloud Perch Peak is a person of extraordinary talent."

After hearing Wang Yang say this, Chen Changqing felt a jolt in his heart.

The Seven Main Peaks held a transcendent status, even ranking above the inner sect.

Being selected directly by a main peak meant that Liu Ruyan's natural talent likely far exceeded what ordinary people could imagine.

Or perhaps, there were other unknown secrets hidden within Liu Ruyan.

It seems I underestimated Senior Sister Liu before.

I'm afraid her background is not simple at all!

Chen Changqing sighed inwardly.

One had to know that he was the champion of the outer sect disciple tournament.

Even so, he was only assigned to Azure Firmament Valley for cultivation.

The reason the battle of the top hundred was so intense and eye-catching was precisely because there was a chance to be selected by the Seven Main Peaks.

From this, it was clear that entering the Seven Main Peaks was something many inner sect disciples dreamed of.

Yet Liu Ruyan had been selected directly by Cloud Perch Peak.

There must be some secret behind this.

Perhaps it was Liu Ruyan's talent, or perhaps it was related to her identity.

After thinking for a moment, Chen Changqing pulled himself together and didn't dwell on it further.

Not long after, Wang Yang and Chen Changqing returned to Azure Firmament Valley.

"Senior Brother Wang, I'm going back to cultivate!"

After bidding farewell to Wang Yang, Chen Changqing returned to his living quarters.

Though he called it cultivation, he was actually just going back to his room to sleep.

Time slipped away quietly.

Before he knew it, three months had passed.

So much time has gone by; it's time to extract the results of the idle cultivation.

Chen Changqing's thoughts stirred as he directly communicated with the system.

"System, extract idle cultivation results!"

Soon, the system's notification sound echoed in his mind:

[Ding!]

[Idle time: 100 days.]

[Practiced Mount Shu Sword Technique × 1000 times.]

[Practiced Mount Shu Mental Method × 1000 times.]

[Practiced Mount Shu Movement Technique × 1000 times.]

[Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Technique cultivation progress: 5%.]

[Extract idle rewards?]

"Extract!"

Without further thought, Chen Changqing chose to extract them.

The next moment, he saw golden light flowing from the four Little Golden Men before him, sinking directly into his body.

Soon, he mastered the various essentials of the Mount Shu Sword Technique and the Mount Shu Movement Technique.

"Boom..."

Furthermore, after extracting the results of the Mount Shu Mental Method, the true energy in Chen Changqing's dantian rapidly transformed into spiritual liquid.

In just a few short breaths, twelve thousand strands of true energy were successfully converted.

His cultivation level also successfully broke through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

Chen Changqing opened his eyes, the sharp light within them receding.

"Foundation Establishment Middle Stage!"

"It's a pity that the Mount Shu Sword Technique and Mount Shu Movement Technique haven't reached Great Perfection yet."

"The key is that the progress of this Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Technique seems a bit slow; it's only at 5%."

Chen Changqing calculated the results of this idle cultivation session.

"System, continue idling!"

With that, his thoughts stirred, and he activated the system's idle mode once again.

Four months later.

[Ding!]

[Detected that Mount Shu Movement Technique has reached perfection through idle cultivation.]

[Extract idle cultivation results?]

"Extract!"

Chen Changqing chose to extract, then proceeded to demonstrate the Mount Shu Movement Technique.

His figure was like a phantom, coming and going without a trace!

Six months later.

[Ding!]

[Detected that Mount Shu Sword Technique has reached perfection through idle cultivation.]

[Extract idle cultivation results?]

"Extract!"

In an instant, all the essence regarding the Mount Shu Sword Technique flooded into Chen Changqing's mind.

Within a few short breaths, he had completely mastered the Mount Shu Sword Technique.

Afterward, Chen Changqing found a secluded spot to demonstrate the Mount Shu Sword Technique.

As the sword was drawn, a cyan sword beam soared into the sky, splitting the sea of clouds asunder.

Eight months later.

"System, extract idle cultivation results!"

Chen Changqing sent the mental command.

[Ding!]

[Idle time: 153 days.]

[Practiced Mount Shu Mental Method × 1800 times.]

[Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Technique cultivation progress: 10%.]

[Extract?]

"Extract!"

As Chen Changqing extracted the idle cultivation results, golden light radiated from the two Little Golden Men before him, rapidly pouring into his body.

"Boom!"

A terrifying aura suddenly erupted from within Chen Changqing's body, and all the true energy in his dantian was completely converted into spiritual liquid.

This meant that his cultivation had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage.