Chapter 513 - 221: Shock
Gong Nansong frowned, his brow furrowed. "You and I both know the strength of the twenty-ninth floor’s Gatekeeper. A battle formation of two Late-stage Astral Force puppets is comparable to a seasoned Late-stage Astral Force master... If he can really..."
Elder Feng’s gaze was sharp. She said slowly, "If he passes, it means his combat strength far exceeds his Realm. His potential must be re-evaluated!"
In that very moment, under the watchful eyes of the crowd—
The massive stone stele beside the Celestial Treasure Tower suddenly shimmered with light!
Under the gazes of countless eyes, the number after Chen Qing’s name suddenly jumped!
Twenty-nine!
And his rank, with unstoppable momentum, shot madly upward, instantly crushing name after name before it. Finally, it defiantly locked in at—
Eighth place!
Silence!
A deathly silence!
It was as if an invisible hand had violently seized time itself, freezing everyone’s movements, expressions, and voices.
The previous discussions... all sounds came to an abrupt halt.
Shock was written on every face, as if they had just witnessed something utterly impossible.
The next instant!
BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!
Like a long-dormant volcano suddenly erupting, a massive uproar and cries of astonishment instantly shattered the brief silence, soaring to the heavens and making everyone’s ears ring!
"The... the twenty-ninth floor?! He passed! He really passed the twenty-ninth floor!!"
"Eighth! Ranked eighth! Heavens! He shot straight into the top ten!"
"How is that possible?! Isn’t he only at Mid-stage Astral Force?! How could he possibly clear the twenty-ninth floor?!"
"A monster! Another monster has been born! After Wu Anren and He Shuang, he’s the third one!"
"A True Successor Candidate! This man definitely has the potential to challenge for the position of a True Disciple!"
"Look! He’s coming out!"
From the entrance of the Celestial Treasure Tower, Chen Qing’s figure slowly emerged.
His face was slightly pale and his breathing was rapid. The front of his robes was torn, revealing faint bloodstains, and the arm holding his spear trembled slightly. He had clearly just endured an exceptionally brutal battle and expended a great deal of energy.
His gaze swept over the square, which had gone from dead silent to erupting in a thunderous clamor. Facing the countless gazes fixed on him—filled with shock, awe, curiosity, and disbelief—he simply pressed his lips together, his expression neutral. He then dragged his exhausted body away, one step at a time.
Wherever he went, the crowd subconsciously parted to form a path, their complex gazes following his retreating figure.
Shen Xiuyong, Qiao Hongyun, and the others were speechless for a long time, their eyes filled with nothing but wild joy and shock.
Shang Lujing’s pupils contracted. Watching Chen Qing walk past, he unconsciously clenched his fists. ’Eighth... the twenty-ninth floor... He actually... really did it!’
A powerful sense of crisis welled up within him.
Zhuo Xiaoyun took a deep breath, her face showing clear emotion for the first time. She looked at Chen Qing as if seeing him for the first time.
The twenty-ninth floor. This height was far beyond her imagination.
At first, she had only thought of Chen Qing as a talented young man worth befriending. Now she understood that she had, in the end, still underestimated his strength.
Xiao Bieli watched this scene quietly. Suddenly recalling his master’s words, a bitter smile touched his lips.
’It seems now that the closest I ever got to Chen Qing was the day I lost to him.’
In a corner of the square, Wu Anren, who was conversing in low tones with a few acquaintances, raised an eyebrow slightly.
’I originally thought that here on Xu Wang Mountain, only He Shuang could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with me, or perhaps Luo Qianjue at most.’
’It seems I’ll have to add Chen Qing to that list now.’
Not far away, He Shuang, who was standing alone, also slowly lifted her gaze.
Her eyes fell on Chen Qing’s name and lingered there for several breaths.
’This guy, not even thirty years old, has come from behind to reach the twenty-ninth floor, almost catching up to me.’
’The waters of Xu Wang Mountain run deeper than I imagined.’
Where the members of the Chaoyang Sect were gathered, the atmosphere was even more oppressive.
The sneer on Ruan Hongjin’s face had long since frozen, replaced by an incredulous pallor and a hint of terror.
He subconsciously glanced at Liu Wu beside him.
Liu Wu’s expression was as dark as a stormy sea.
By clearing the twenty-ninth floor, Chen Qing had begun to show his extraordinary talent. He undoubtedly now qualified as a True Successor Candidate!
He was essentially the third person, right behind Wu Anren and He Shuang!
This fact struck Liu Wu’s heart like a heavy hammer.
’I originally thought that while Chen Qing had some talent, his foundation was ultimately shallow and he was no cause for concern. Given time, I would have found a way to deal with him.’
’But now, he has leaped forward and shown the potential of a "True Successor Candidate." His status is about to become completely different. He’s no longer someone I can manipulate at will.’
’From this day on, Chen Qing will definitely receive more attention and a greater share of resources. If I try any tricks now, the difficulty will multiply, and I might even get burned myself!’
Liu Wu thought to himself, ’It seems I’ll have to reconsider this matter carefully.’
Elsewhere, Zhu Yu of the Fiery Sun Sect gazed in Chen Qing’s direction, his face a mask of complex emotions.
’Based on Chen Qing’s performance today, our paths in the future will likely be worlds apart.’
In a distant pavilion, the interest in Elder Huo’en’s eyes grew more intense.
"Investigate! Immediately find out every detail about this Chen Qing! His background, his master, his preferences, his relationships—the more detailed, the better!"
He said to the young woman beside him, "Although this boy failed to pass the thirtieth floor, he already possesses the potential of a True Successor Candidate. In my opinion, it would be best to make our move as soon as possible."
Every True Successor Candidate is someone with a chance to challenge for the position of True Disciple.
Leaving aside whether they can become the Sect Leader in the future, their potential is immense. Most will become high-ranking members of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect. Befriending them and building a good relationship now has everything to gain and nothing to lose.
The young woman dared not delay, immediately bowing in acknowledgment.
In another pavilion, Deng Ziheng clapped his hands and laughed heartily, his face full of gratification and surprise. "Excellent! What a good lad! You’ve given me another huge surprise! The twenty-ninth floor! To achieve this with a Mid-stage Astral Force Cultivation... that level of combat strength and potential is truly remarkable. I knew my judgment wasn’t wrong!"
He had been quite optimistic about Chen Qing before, and this outcome only served to confirm his keen eye.
Gong Nansong nodded from the side. "This boy really knows how to hide his strength... He didn’t let a single whisper out before, and when he finally erupted, it was earth-shattering! His disposition, foundation, and combat strength are all of the highest caliber."
"Brother Deng, looking at it now, do you have any regrets?"
He had once proposed that Deng Ziheng take Chen Qing as a disciple, but the latter had politely declined.
"He is indeed a rare gem of talent, but as for regrets, I have none."
Deng Ziheng shook his head slightly, though a trace of worry flickered in his eyes. "It’s just that he’s still young, after all. I worry that a single misstep could ruin his future."
Chen Qing’s current strength and potential were on par with Wu Anren and He Shuang. He belonged to the tier of True Successor Candidates and was qualified to compete for the position of a True Disciple.
Of course, compared to the accumulated experience of the other two, Chen Qing was still a step behind in terms of his foundation.
The waters of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect run deep. A disciple like Chen Qing, with no backing, could easily drown with a single careless misstep.
Such cases were not without precedent.
A faint smile finally appeared on Elder Feng’s calm, placid face. She slowly set down her wine cup, her gaze profound. "Elder Deng, Elder Gong, we need to pay close attention to this boy’s future movements and guide him. If he can truly secure this position, or even advance further... I will personally report it to the Sect Leader."
Her tone now carried an obvious weight of importance.
.....