Inside the grand hall, there was complete silence.
All eyes were fixed on the young boy with delicate features standing in the corner of the hall, expressions of utter astonishment on their faces.
No one expected that after Qi Chan'Er, a genius with a Fourth Grade Spirit Root, appeared and established dominance with her Qi Refining Fourth Layer Cultivation, making everyone despair and abandon the competition for the inner sect quota, another person would stand up and declare a challenge.
However, this time, unlike the previous two Qi Refining Second Layer contenders, this was an undeniable Qi Refining Fourth Layer, and the age seemed very similar to Qi Chan'Er.
Moreover, the person's appearance was unfamiliar to most people, quite unknown.
Obviously, a true dark horse had entered the arena.
"Impossible..."
At the front of the hall, the Preaching Elder looked at the young boy in the hall with a slightly dazed expression, his eyes filled with disbelief.
Initially, he thought the inner sect quota was already in the bag for his granddaughter. Who could have known that an unknown young boy would suddenly appear, also at the Qi Refining Middle Stage, to compete for the quota with his granddaughter?
No, not completely unknown; the boy's face seemed somewhat familiar...
The Preaching Elder's mind raced, and the next moment, he suddenly recalled... Wasn't this the Immortal Seed he had personally met four years ago?
The other party's Evergreen Technique was even bestowed by him personally.
Back then, when the other party first entered the main vein, he was still a mortal. But now, only four years later, he's already in the Qi Refining Middle Stage, competing with his granddaughter for the inner sect quota?
How is that possible?
On the other side, Qi Chan'Er's eyes turned to Qi Chuan, her delicate face showing signs of shock.
She knew her own talent.
But even for her, reaching the current realm took five years of continuous effort, with help from resources bestowed by her grandfather to achieve this.
Therefore, she couldn't imagine that there was another person her age who had reached the same realm.
Could it be this person also has a Fourth Grade Spirit Root, or even higher?
No, this person seems familiar...
Staring at the boy's delicate face, Qi Chan'Er couldn't help but widen her eyes in disbelief.
She also vaguely recalled the events from four years ago.
This person... is the Immortal Seed from back then?
But wasn't he... a Lower Eighth Grade Spirit Root?!
"Incredible! Another genius..." Not far away, Qi Baicang turned to look at Qi Chuan, feeling moved.
But the next moment, he suddenly froze in shock.
Isn't this his younger relative, Ah Chuan?
No wonder the voice sounded somewhat familiar...
But he's at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer, how could that be?
Qi Baicang's mind buzzed, completely unable to react.
Elsewhere, Qi Li and Qi Fire both looked at Qi Chuan's face, naturally recognizing him, and were utterly surprised.
"Isn't he the clan brother Qi Chuan, who was tested with us in the Spirit Testing Ceremony and won the title? He's at Qi Refining Fourth Layer now? Terrifying... Is this the Eighth Grade Spirit Root?"
Meanwhile, at the top of the hall, Clan Leader Qi Wuyou and the other elders looked at Qi Chuan's figure in the hall with a moment of silence, their eyes filled with astonishment.
Because they already knew Qi Chan'Er was at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer and had basically secured the inner sect quota, most of their attention rested on Qi Chan'Er.
But who could have expected another person to appear and rival Qi Chan'Er, who has a Fourth Grade Spirit Root?
Moreover, it seemed he reached the Qi Refining Fourth Layer at the same age!
Cultivators have remarkable memories, and as a clan leader or elder, with a main vein of barely a hundred people, they naturally had some understanding of each clan member.
Soon, they recalled a rough overview of Qi Chuan, who rose from the Spirit Testing Ceremony four years ago, indeed also fourteen years old now.
But this meant he only started cultivation four years ago and reached this realm?
This...
Thinking of this, Clan Leader Qi Wuyou and several elders looked at the Preaching Elder, eyes filled with inquiry.
"He's a Lower Eighth Grade Spirit Root..."
Noticing their gazes, the Preaching Elder understood their intention. The clan leader and these elders knew of Qi Chuan, but not necessarily about his Spirit Root, which, as the Preaching Elder, he naturally knew.
Immediately, the Preaching Elder stated Qi Chuan's Spirit Root situation with a complex expression.
Lower Eighth Grade Spirit Root, four years of cultivation, Qi Refining Fourth Layer?
The elders exchanged glances, their eyes filled with shock.
How could this be possible?
Even if, for personal reasons, he's extremely suited to the Evergreen Technique, this wouldn't be possible! It might be faster, but not this outrageous.
Could it be there's some special bloodline or physique in his body?
Regardless, Qi Chuan's situation was right in front of them. Reaching such a realm at this age gave him enough qualifications to compete for the inner sect quota.
Immediately, all the elders looked towards Clan Leader Qi Wuyou, waiting for his decision.
Qi Wuyou looked at the two in the hall, seeing Qi Chan'Er clenching her teeth and fists nervously, while Qi Chuan appeared calm.
With two such talented cultivators emerging, as a clan leader, Qi Wuyou was quite pleased internally.
However, deciding was genuinely causing Qi Wuyou to hesitate.
Judging by age and cultivation, both reached Qi Refining Fourth Layer at fourteen, making them evenly matched.
But Qi Chan'Er had the advantage of a Fourth Grade Spirit Root, far superior to Qi Chuan's Lower Eighth Grade Spirit Root; theoretically, her cultivation talent was higher, with more potential.
However, equally, Qi Chuan had cultivated for a year less, starting cultivation at ten years old, unlike Qi Chan'Er, who underwent Spirit Testing at nine by the Preaching Elder and began main vein cultivation.
In this regard, compared to Qi Chan'Er's five-year journey to Qi Refining Fourth Layer, Qi Chuan's Four Years and Four Realms progress was even more astonishing.
"Hmm... What do the elders think?" Inwardly hesitating, Qi Wuyou asked the elders, intending to hear their thoughts first.
"Well..."
The elders exchanged glances, finding it difficult to decide.
"My granddaughter is of Fourth Grade Spirit Root, she has the advantage..." The Preaching Elder hesitated but spoke up for his granddaughter's benefit.
"But don't forget, Qi Chuan achieved Four Years and Four Realms!" the Exchange Pavilion Elder pointed out.
Hearing this, the Preaching Elder paused, unable to respond, finally bowing slightly and saying, "It's still up to the clan leader to decide."
"Clan Leader, elders, no need to be troubled."
Just as the clan leader and elders struggled to make a decision, Qi Chuan's voice echoed in the hall.
Their eyes turned towards the voice to see Qi Chuan with a slight smile as he spoke, "I think, why not choose me!"
Hearing this, a few elders slightly furrowed their brows.
In the absence of a word from the clan leader, and when hesitating, Qi Chuan's move was somewhat disrespectful.
"Why?"
Hearing Qi Chuan's words, Qi Chan'Er turned to glare at him, with a hint of defiance in her eyes. The inner sect quota was too important for her to give up easily. As long as there's a chance, she must strive to win it, especially when she wasn't lacking.
She would only willingly concede the quota if the other party provided undeniable proof.
"Because... of this."
Upon hearing this, Qi Chuan smiled slightly. His strength wasn't just in his cultivation realm.
He then quickly formed a seal with one hand, his lips moving imperceptibly, while his left palm raised slightly, and mana surged forth, swiftly forming a red fireball.
It was the Fireball Technique!
However, the red fireball formed at this moment was about the size of a fist, with dim flames flickering atop it, emanating intense heat that distorted the surrounding space.
This was... the Great Success Fireball Technique!
In an instant, all breaths were held in suspense.