Advancing to Qi Refining, Liu Mu Was Shocked!

At this moment, the traces of qi emanating from Chen Changqing's body were several times stronger than before.

He slowly rose to his feet, feeling the surging power within him, a smile curling at the corners of his lips.

"I've finally broken through to the Qi Refining realm!"

Now, he was no longer a mere mortal. He could finally be considered a true cultivator.

After the excitement, Chen Changqing calmed himself and, with a thought, sank his awareness into his dantian.

There, ten streams of refined qi floated within his dantian like stars, dazzling and radiant.

"Is this what it means to refine qi into essence?"

Chen Changqing murmured softly, then mobilized one stream of refined qi from within his dantian.

That stream of refined qi traveled along Chen Changqing's meridians, swiftly circulating into his arm.

Boom!

The next moment, Chen Changqing threw a punch at the space before him.

The force of his fist shook the air, making it explode with a sharp boom!

"This strike actually carried the force of ten thousand jin?"

Chen Changqing was stunned.

One had to know that when he had previously reached the Ultimate Realm of Body Refining, he had only been able to exert four thousand jin of force.

Yet now, having merely broken through from the Ultimate Realm of Body Refining to the initial stage of Qi Refining, a single stream of refined qi could unleash ten thousand jin of force.

"Is this the gap between cultivators and mortals?"

"Just one stream of refined qi contains such terrifying force—ten thousand jin!"

"If all ten streams of refined qi were unleashed at once, how terrifying would their power be?"

"I broke through into the Qi Refining realm from the Ultimate Realm of Body Refining."

"Ordinary cultivators at the initial stage of Qi Refining should be different from me."

Chen Changqing pondered in secret.

After thinking it over for a moment, he quickly calmed down.

"The Qi Refining realm is only the beginning."

"I still need to guard against arrogance and impatience, and continue cultivating while idle!"

"Now that I've broken through to the Qi Refining realm, it's time to exchange for a Qi Refining cultivation method."

"But before that, I should first find Elder Liu Mu to register my cultivation, then head to the Technique Hall to select a technique!"

Having made up his mind, Chen Changqing did not delay. He immediately got up and headed for Elder Liu Mu's residence.

Earlier, when he had broken through to the middle stage of Body Refining, he had gone to Elder Liu Mu to update his cultivation information.

At that time, Liu Mu had not paid much attention to his breakthrough.

After all, Chen Changqing had already been in the Seventh Courtyard of the Mount Shu Sect's outer sect for more than a year.

Taking that long just to break through to the middle stage of Body Refining could only be described as slow.

Ran Hua, who had entered the sect after Chen Changqing, had long since broken through to the late stage of Body Refining.

"I wonder whether Elder Liu Mu will be surprised to see that I've broken through to the Qi Refining realm so quickly?"

Chen Changqing murmured.

Before long, he arrived at Elder Liu Mu's residence.

This time, Elder Liu Mu was sitting in the courtyard, drinking tea.

When he saw Chen Changqing arrive, he was slightly taken aback.

"What is this kid here for again?"

More than a month ago, Chen Changqing had come to him and changed his recorded cultivation from Qi Nourishing to Body Refining.

Chen Changqing stepped forward and respectfully bowed to Elder Liu Mu.

"Elder, this disciple has broken through to the Qi Refining realm and has come specifically to update my information."

"What?"

Upon hearing Chen Changqing's words, Elder Liu Mu's teacup paused in his hand, surprise flashing through his eyes.

"He broke through to Qi Refining?"

"It has only been a little over a month since I last saw him, and he has already broken through from Body Refining to Qi Refining?"

Liu Mu was utterly shocked. With a movement of his divine sense, he swept it over Chen Changqing's entire body.

At this inspection, Liu Mu's pupils could not help shrinking.

"He really is in the Qi Refining realm!"

"And... his blood and qi are abundant, his foundation stable. This was definitely not a forced breakthrough with pills!"

What shocked Liu Mu even more was that Chen Changqing's physical body was far stronger than that of ordinary Qi Refining cultivators, and the refined qi within him was condensed and solid.

It was clear that he had laid an extremely deep foundation during the Body Refining realm!

"A month ago, he had only just broken through to the Body Refining realm."

"Yet in such a short time, he has advanced to the Qi Refining level."

"Could it be that this old man misjudged him before?"

"Could this boy actually be a monstrous genius with astonishing cultivation talent?"

Stormy waves surged in Liu Mu's heart.

For the first time, he felt that Chen Changqing was not so simple.

He mused that perhaps the reason Chen Changqing's cultivation had been so slow before—wandering around the Qi Nourishing realm for over a year—was simply because he had yet to attain enlightenment.

Now that he had awakened to enlightenment, Chen Changqing's cultivation speed had risen like a rocket.

In a short time, he had crossed the Body Refining realm and broken through to the initial stage of Qi Refining.

"If this kid really is a cultivation genius..."

"Then our Seventh Courtyard has truly found a treasure this time."

Liu Mu sighed inwardly.

Among the Mount Shu Sect's Outer Sect Seven Courtyards, the Seventh Courtyard where he belonged had always been at the bottom of the crane's tail, receiving the fewest resources.

It was precisely because they lacked talented disciples that they found it difficult to rise.

If Chen Changqing could rise to prominence, the Seventh Courtyard could turn over a new leaf with him!

Thinking of this, Elder Liu Mu was inwardly excited, though his face remained calm.

"Changqing!"

"Since you have advanced to the Qi Refining realm, you no longer need to guard the mountain gate."

"That way, you can devote yourself wholeheartedly to cultivation."

What Elder Liu Mu had not expected was that Chen Changqing shook his head upon hearing this.

"Elder, this disciple would rather continue guarding the gate!"

"Hm?"

Elder Liu Mu froze, looking at Chen Changqing with a face full of confusion.

Is there really someone who likes guarding the gate?

His reason for telling Chen Changqing not to guard the mountain gate was so that Chen Changqing could devote more time to cultivation.

Seeing Liu Mu's baffled expression, Chen Changqing smiled slightly and explained.

"Elder."

"Guarding the mountain gate is actually quite good."

"Not only is it peaceful, but I can cultivate properly as well."

For Chen Changqing, if he stopped guarding the mountain gate, Elder Liu Mu might assign him to cultivate together with the other disciples of the Seventh Courtyard.

If that truly happened, with so many people and so many eyes around, it would instead affect his idle cultivation.

How could that compare to the freedom of guarding the mountain gate?

He could be carefree and at ease, while cultivating in peace without being disturbed!

"Hm?"

After hearing Chen Changqing's explanation, Elder Liu Mu frowned slightly, feeling that something was strange.

But after giving it another thought, he nodded.

"Very well. Since you wish to guard the mountain gate, I'll let you do as you please!"

As he spoke, he swept his sleeve, and a Storage Bag flew out and landed in Chen Changqing's hand.

"Take the low-grade spirit stones inside and use them for cultivation."

"Consider them your reward."

Chen Changqing's eyes lit up. He hurriedly accepted the Storage Bag from Liu Mu, bowed, and said in thanks,

"Thank you, Elder!"

Elder Liu Mu waved his hand, signaling Chen Changqing to leave.

Chen Changqing did not linger either, turning around and departing.

After leaving the courtyard, he opened the bag Elder Liu Mu had given him and took a glance inside. To his surprise, it contained dozens of low-grade spirit stones.

"So many? Why is Elder Liu Mu suddenly treating me so well? Could he have discovered something?"

Chen Changqing pondered in secret.

At the same time, Elder Liu Mu watched Chen Changqing's departing figure and sighed inwardly.

"I hope this old man's investment will pay off."

"Chen Changqing, don't disappoint this old man..."